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GS Paper: GS2

  • India needs the anchor of a National Security Strategy 

    Why in the news? 

    The newly elected National Democratic Alliance government is confronted with several longstanding and complex national security issues.

    Strategic Relations with the US and Competition with China:

    • China’s Multifaceted Challenges: China poses an unprecedented array of interconnected challenges, including a significant naval build-up, geoeconomic clout in South Asia, and leverage in global supply chains.
    • Strategic Relations with the US: India must navigate its strategic partnership with the United States while managing competition with China.
    • Global Conflicts Impact: Distant conflicts, such as those in Ukraine and Gaza, reveal new technologies and tactics of war that could spread to India’s neighbourhood, influencing its strategic relations and defence strategies.

    Challenges Involved in the near future for the Indian Government:

    • Decisions on Military Investments: The government must decide on key defence projects, such as building another aircraft carrier and implementing theaterisation.
    • Holistic National Security: There is a need to step back and consider national security holistically, rather than making piecemeal decisions that could waste resources and undermine national goals.
    • Managing Strategic Risks: Addressing strategic risks like climate change, pandemics, and China’s growing influence requires coordinated, long-term policy efforts.
    • Synchronizing Efforts: Various arms of the government, including the military and national security agencies, need to synchronize their efforts more effectively.

    Blueprint for Expanding Power:

    • Comprehensive Strategic Assessment: A National Security Strategy (NSS) would compel the government to thoroughly review threats, opportunities, and global security trends.
    • Framework for Long-Term Planning: An NSS would provide a coherent framework for long-term strategic planning, helping to allocate resources effectively and develop necessary military capabilities and international partnerships.
    • Signaling Intent to Allies and Adversaries: An NSS would clarify India’s strategic intent, signaling its role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean and its stance on regional security issues.
    • Coordinated National Security Efforts: An NSS would align the efforts of different national security agencies and military branches, fostering better coordination and integration.

    Issue of Accountability:

    • Transparency and Accountability: An NSS would serve as a tool to ensure that the government’s policies are transparent and accountable to Parliament and the citizens.
    • Adherence to Political Leadership’s Intent: It would help ensure that the bureaucracy adheres to the political leadership’s strategic direction.
    • Public Document: A strong NSS should be a public document, endorsed by the Prime Minister, to synchronize efforts across the government and signal political intent both domestically and internationally.
    • Rational Decision-Making: An NSS would help identify trade-offs and opportunity costs, enabling political leaders to make informed, rational decisions for long-term national growth and security.

    Conclusion: Develop a coherent strategic framework within the NSS that outlines India’s national security objectives, priorities, and methodologies for achieving them. This framework should guide decision-making on defense investments, international partnerships, and response strategies to global challenges like climate change and pandemics.

    Mains PYQ:

    Q What introduces friction into the ties between India and the United States is that Washington is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy, which would satisfy India’s National self-esteem. (UPSC IAS/2019)

  • ICC issues arrest warrants for Russian defence leaders 

    Why in the news?

    On Monday, June 24, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for former Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and current Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov for “alleged international crimes” related to the Ukraine war.

    Who are the Russian leaders and what effect does the move have on them?

    • Sergei Shoigu: Former Russian Defence Minister, key ally of Putin, led the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, removed from his post in May 2024.
    • Valery Gerasimov: Current Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Deputy Defence Minister since November 2012, seen as the most powerful man in the government after Putin and Shoigu.
    • Impact on Shoigu and Gerasimov: Both have suffered reputational damage since the war began, criticized by Russian nationalists for failing to swiftly win the war against Ukraine.

    What do the ICC charges say?

    • Charges Against Shoigu and Gerasimov: Directing attacks at civilian objects, causing excessive incidental harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects.
    • Responsibility: The two officials bear individual criminal responsibility for their actions, ordering the commission of crimes, and failing to exercise proper control over their forces.
    • Specific Acts: Missile strikes against Ukrainian electric infrastructure, constituting multiple acts against a civilian population.

    What is ICC?

    • Establishment: Headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, established under the 1998 Rome Statute.
    • Purpose: Investigates and tries individuals charged with genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
    • Membership: 123 countries are party to the Rome Statute, including Britain, Japan, Afghanistan, and Germany. The USA, India, and China are not members.
    • Function: Prosecutes heinous offences when a country’s own legal system fails to act, unlike the ICJ which deals with inter-state disputes.
    • Jurisdiction: Limited to offences occurring after July 1, 2002, committed in a country that ratified the agreement or by a national of a ratifying country, or cases referred by the UN Security Council.

    Does ICC have the power to prosecute Russia?

    • Russia’s Stance: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that any decision of the ICC was “null and void” due to Russia not being an ICC member.
    • Effect on Leaders: Putin and other leaders risk arrest if they travel to a state party to the ICC, which is obliged to arrest them under international law. This deepens Russia’s isolation from the West.
    • Ukraine’s Position: Ukraine is not a State Party to the Rome Statute but has accepted ICC’s jurisdiction over alleged crimes occurring on its territory under Article 12(3) of the Statute. This requires Ukraine to cooperate with the ICC without delay or exception.

    Conclusion: The ICC’s charges against Russian leaders highlight significant legal and geopolitical challenges, deepening Russia’s isolation and emphasizing the need for global accountability in addressing war crimes and international conflicts.

    Mains question for practice: 

    Q In light of the recent arrest warrants issued against Russian leaders, discuss the effectiveness and limitations of the ICC in prosecuting individuals from non-member states.15M

  • [26th June 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Agony still in Manipur, a year later

    PYQ Relevance: 

    Q What are the two major legal initiatives by the state since Independence, addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (ST)? (UPSC IAS/2017)
    Q Why are the tribals in India referred to as ‘the Scheduled Tribes’? Indicate the major provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment. (UPSC IAS/2016)

    Mentors’ comment: The Meiteis and Kuki-Zos are the two major ethnic communities in Manipur engaged in a violent conflict since May 2022. The Meiteis, the dominant group in the Imphal valley, have demanded Scheduled Tribe status, which the Kuki-Zos in the hills oppose fearing loss of land and jobs. The conflict has led to over 220 deaths, thousands injured, and tens of thousands displaced, creating a humanitarian crisis.

    Let’s learn!

    Why in the news?

    The absence of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was notable at the high-level security meeting on Manipur convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on June 17, 2024.

    Background issue:

    • Communities Involved: The primary conflict is between two major ethnic communities in Manipur: the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo tribes.
    • Violence and Casualties: The clashes have resulted in significant violence, including attacks on civilians and property. The conflict has led to a considerable loss of life, with casualties reported on both sides.
    • Displacement: The violence has caused widespread displacement within Manipur. Both Meiteis and Kuki-Zos have been forced to flee their homes, contributing to a humanitarian crisis in the region.
    • Reason: The roots of the conflict are deep-seated and include historical grievances and disputes over land, resources, and political representation.

    Issues related to High-Level Security Meeting:

    • Exclusion from High-Level Meetings: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was conspicuously excluded from a high-level security meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on June 17, 2024.
    • Centralized Control: Speculations arose about an undeclared President’s Rule in Manipur, indicating that the State government’s authority in handling the ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki-Zo tribes has been significantly diminished.
    • Appointment of Officials: The Director General of Police and Security Adviser for Manipur were appointed from outside the State following the outbreak of violence, highlighting a shift in administrative control away from local authorities.

    Recent challenges:

    • Misguided Separation Strategy: An attempt to create a buffer zone between the warring communities by dividing responsibilities between central forces and state police backfired.
    • Lack of Resolution Efforts: While violence temporarily subsided, underlying causes of discord between Meiteis and Kuki-Zos were not addressed, allowing tensions to persist and escalate unpredictably.
    • Presence of Security Forces: Despite a large deployment of around 70,000 personnel, the strategy has focused on managing rather than resolving the conflict, leading to sustained distrust and communal tensions.

    Impact on Meiteis and Kuki-Zos communities:

    • Casualties and Displacement: Official figures report 225 deaths, with significant displacement and mutual ethnic cleansing affecting both Meiteis and Kuki-Zos communities.
    • Blurred Victim-Perpetrator Lines: Over time, the distinction between victims and perpetrators has become less clear, complicating reconciliation efforts and deepening communal divisions.
    • Humanitarian Impact: The conflict has exacted a heavy toll on lives and properties, necessitating empathy and shared acknowledgement of suffering as a basis for reconciliation and eventual peace-building.

    Way forward: 

    • Inclusion of Local Leadership: Ensure the meaningful participation of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and local community leaders in high-level security meetings and decision-making processes. This can help in fostering trust and ownership of initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict.
    • Address Root Causes: Conduct a comprehensive assessment to identify and address the underlying causes of ethnic tensions, such as historical grievances, competition over resources, and political representation. Develop policies and initiatives that aim at long-term reconciliation rather than short-term management of conflict.

    Source: 

    https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/agony-still-in-manipur-a-year-later/article68332570.ece#:~:text=There%20seem%20to%20be%20no,placed%20in%20virtual%20animated%20suspension.

  • NTA Reform Panel to Check Irregularities in Exams

    Why in the News?

    A seven-member high-level committee was constituted under the chairmanship of K. Radhakrishnan, former ISRO Chairman, by the Ministry of Education to reform the National Testing Agency (NTA).

    About National Testing Agency (NTA)

    • NTA is a premier, specialist, autonomous and self-sustained testing organization to conducts entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions.
    • It was established in 2017 with a grant amount of Rs.25 crore from the Union Government.
    • NTA is responsible for conducting exams such as:
      • Joint Entrance Examination – Main (JEE Main)
      • National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) as well as NEET PG
      • National Eligibility Test (NET)
      • Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)
      • Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT).
    • The NTA is chaired by an eminent educationist who will be appointed by the Ministry of Education.
    • There will be a Board of Governors comprising members from user institutions.

    National Testing Agency (NTA) Under Scrutiny

    • The NTA has been criticized after the NEET paper leak controversy and the subsequent scrapping of exams like UGC-NET due to “lack of integrity”.
    • The committee aims to establish a robust process for conducting various entrance examinations end to end.

    NTA Reform Panel: Committee Composition

    • Committee Head: K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman of ISRO and Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT-Kanpur.
    • Two-Month Timeline: The committee aims to meet ten times over the next two months to develop comprehensive recommendations.
    • Key Issues and Focus Areas:
      • Data Security Protocol: Develop a manual to fix a data security protocol to prevent question paper leaks.
      • Printing and Process Integrity: Review processes for printing question papers, onboarding printers, and training staff to minimize external participation.
      • Organisational Restructuring: Consider adding a data security vertical in the NTA organogram and implementing transparent processes, requiring organizational restructuring.
    • Examination Investigation and Security:
      • Root Cause Analysis: The committee will investigate the initial cause of question paper leaks to identify and plug gaps.
      • Modes of Examination: Examine different modes of conducting examinations:
    1. JEE (Mains) and JEE (Advanced) are computer-based tests.
    2. NEET-UG is conducted in pen-paper Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) mode.

    Challenges faced by NTA

    • Infrastructure Limitations: Currently, India lacks the infrastructure to conduct computer-based tests online for more than three lakh students simultaneously.
    • Large-Scale Exams: NEET-UG involves up to 24 lakh students appearing in pen and paper OMR mode at once.

    Conclusion

    • The reforms are critical to restoring the integrity of entrance examinations in India, ensuring secure and fair testing processes.
    • The committee’s recommendations will play a pivotal role in shaping the future operations of the NTA and entrance examination protocols.

    Back2Basic:  University Grants Commission (UGC)

    Details
    Establishment
    • Came into existence on 28th December, 1953.
    • Became a statutory organization by an Act of Parliament in 1956.
    Legislation The UGC Act, 1956.
    Nodal Ministry Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education).
    Responsibilities
    • Providing funds to universities and colleges.
    • Coordination, determination, and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination, and research in institutions of higher education.
    Mandate
    • Promoting and coordinating university education.
    • Determining and maintaining standards of teaching, examination, and research in universities.
    • Framing regulations on minimum standards of education.
    • Monitoring developments in collegiate and university education.
    • Disbursing grants to universities and colleges.
    • Serving as a link between the Union and state governments and institutions of higher learning.
    • Advising Central and State governments on measures necessary for the improvement of university education.
    Unique Distinction Only grant-giving agency in India with the dual role of funding and maintaining standards in higher education institutions.
    Functions
    • Promoting and coordinating university education.
    • Determining and maintaining standards of teaching, examination, and research in universities.
    • Framing regulations on minimum standards of education.
    • Monitoring developments in collegiate and university education.
    • Disbursing grants to universities and colleges.
    • Serving as a link between the Union and state governments and institutions of higher learning.
    • Advising Central and State governments on measures necessary for the improvement of university education.
    Link Role Acts as a vital link between Union and State governments and institutions of higher learning.
    Advisory Role Advises the Central and State governments on necessary measures for the improvement of university education.

  • Centre amends Maternity Leave Rules for Surrogacy

    Why in the News?

    • The Centre has notified amended rules allowing women government employees to take 180 days of maternity leave for children born through surrogacy.
      • Changes are introduced in the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972.
      • There were previously no rules granting maternity leave to women government employees for children born through surrogacy.

    Back2Basics: Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 

    • Purpose: The Act aims to regulate surrogacy in India by prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing only altruistic surrogacy.
    • Eligibility Criteria:
      • Only Indian couples who have been legally married for at least five years can opt for surrogacy.
      • The woman must be between 25 to 50 years old, and the man must be between 26 to 55 years old.
      • Both partners must not have any living biological, adopted, or surrogate children.
    • Surrogate Mother Criteria:
      • The surrogate mother must be a close relative of the intending couple.
      • She should be a married woman having her own child and must be 25 to 35 years old.
    • Prohibitions:
      • Commercial surrogacy is banned under this Act.
      • Any form of payment to the surrogate mother beyond medical expenses and insurance coverage is prohibited.
    • Penalties:
      • Engaging in commercial surrogacy can lead to imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine up to Rs 10 lakhs.
    • Regulatory Bodies:
      • The Act establishes a National Surrogacy Board at the national level and State Surrogacy Boards at the state level to oversee the implementation of the law.

    About the Central Civil Services (Leave) (Amendment) Rules, 2024

    • The amendment is issued under this notification, exercising the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution.
      • Article 309 provides that acts of the appropriate Legislature may regulate the recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or any State.
    • Authority: The President of India has made these amendments to the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972.

    Features and Benefits:

    • Surrogacy Inclusion: These amendments specifically address the needs of surrogacy, providing equitable maternity, paternity, and childcare leave benefits to government employees involved in surrogacy.
    • Enhanced Leave Entitlements:
      • Maternity Leave: 180 days for both the surrogate and the commissioning mother.
      • Paternity Leave: 15 days for the commissioning father within six months of the child’s birth.
      • Child Care Leave: Available to the commissioning mother. Female government servants and single male government servants are already allowed childcare leave for a maximum of 730 days (2 years!) during their entire service for the care of their two eldest surviving children.
    • Flexibility and Inclusivity:
      • The amendments aim to provide more flexible and inclusive leave options for government employees, recognizing diverse family structures and reproductive choices.
    • Support for Families:
      • These changes enhance support for government employees, ensuring they can adequately care for their children and family needs, especially in cases of surrogacy.
    • Administrative Implementation:
      • The rules simplify the process for applying for and approving leave, ensuring that employees can easily access their entitlements.

    Impact:

    • Employee Well-being: Improved leave policies contribute to better work-life balance and overall well-being for government employees.
    • Gender Equality: By providing paternity leave and child care leave in surrogacy cases, the rules promote gender equality and shared parenting responsibilities.
    • Organizational Efficiency: Streamlined leave procedures and clear guidelines help maintain productivity and efficiency within government departments.

    PYQ:

    [2020] In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology, “Pronuclear Transfer” is used for:

    (a) fertilization of egg in vitro by the donor sperm

    (b) genetic modification of sperm-producing cells

    (c) development of stem cells into functional embryos

    (d) prevention of mitochondrial diseases in offspring

  • From China tilt to a balancing with Beijing and Delhi  

    Why in the news?

    Amid mounting domestic and foreign policy challenges in Male, Mohamed Muizzu appears to be seeking reconciliation with India.

    Economic Difficulties in Maldives

    • Debt Burden: Maldives faces severe economic strain with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 110% and significant debt servicing obligations, including around $512 million annually in 2024 and 2025.
    • Foreign Reserves: Foreign reserves are critically low at $622 million, insufficient to cover debt maturities and sustain imports amid rising inflation.
    • Dependence on Imports: Heavy reliance on imports for essential goods exacerbates economic vulnerabilities, particularly amidst food and fuel inflation.
    • Revenue Generation: The government struggles with low domestic revenue generation capacity, further complicating fiscal management and debt sustainability.
    • Diversification Efforts: Efforts to diversify economic partnerships beyond traditional allies like India and China reflect a strategy to mitigate economic dependencies and attract diverse investments.

    What do the ties between India and China imply?

    • Geopolitical Competition: India and China’s engagements in countries like the Maldives reflect a broader competition for influence in the Indian Ocean region. Both countries strategically invest in infrastructure and security partnerships to enhance their regional foothold.
    • Economic Leverage: China’s substantial investments in the Maldives, including infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), provide economic leverage but also raise concerns about debt sustainability and strategic dependencies.
    • Strategic Alignment: While India emphasizes developmental assistance and strategic partnerships focused on security and governance, China’s engagements often prioritize infrastructure development and economic cooperation, reflecting different strategic priorities.
    • Regional Stability: Both India and China play pivotal roles in ensuring stability and security in the Indian Ocean region. Their respective approaches influence regional dynamics and perceptions among neighbouring countries regarding economic partnerships and security alignments.

    India’s stand

    • Balanced Approach: India continues to engage with the Maldives despite geopolitical shifts and maintains a stance of constructive diplomacy, offering economic support and emphasizing mutual respect.
    • Long-term Engagement: Inviting President Muizzu to Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in signals India’s commitment to long-term bilateral relations and stability in the Indian Ocean region.
    • Strategic Importance: India views the Maldives as crucial for maritime security and regional stability, underpinning its continued diplomatic efforts and economic assistance.

    Conclusion: India can increase its economic assistance to the Maldives through grants, concessional loans, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving fiscal management and revenue generation capabilities. And focus on projects that enhance infrastructure resilience, promote sustainable development, and support economic diversification efforts beyond traditional sectors.

    Mains PYQ:

    Q Discuss the political developments in Maldives in the last two years. Should they be of any cause of concern to India? (UPSC IAS/2013) 

  • Finance Commission and Indian Cities

    Why in the news? 

    With the new Lok Sabha and Union government in place, this final piece focuses on how the 16th Finance Commission can drive substantive public finance reforms for India’s cities.

    Note: The Sixteenth Finance Commission has been requested to make its recommendations available by October 31, 2025, covering an award period of 5 years commencing 1st April, 2026.

    16th Finance Commission can catalyse municipal-level financial reforms     

    • Strengthening State Finance Commissions: The Commission should emphasize the need for state governments to constitute state finance commissions on time, provide them with adequate resources, and ensure their recommendations are taken seriously.
    • Fiscal Decentralization: The 16th FC should recommend a formula-based approach for predictable fiscal transfers from state governments to municipalities, moving away from the current practice of ad hoc, discretionary grants. This will enhance the financial autonomy of urban local bodies.
    • Revenue Optimization: The Commission should incentivize municipalities to enhance their own revenues through measures like property tax reforms, user charges, and leveraging land assets. This will reduce their dependence on state grants and promote fiscal responsibility.
    • Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management: The 16th FC can provide incentives for municipalities to adopt fiscal responsibility and budget management frameworks to accelerate municipal borrowings for infrastructure development. This will enable cities to access capital markets for financing their growth.
    • Transparency and Citizen Participation: The 16th FC can encourage municipalities to enhance transparency and citizen participation in urban governance for improved accountability at the neighbourhood level. This will make urban local bodies more responsive to the needs of citizens.

    Need for the Reforms

    • Inadequate Funding and Resource Utilization: Indian cities face significant financial shortfalls and struggle to effectively utilize the funds they have, leading to underdeveloped infrastructure and services.
    • Lack of Accountability: There is minimal accountability regarding how municipal spending improves citizens’ lives, resulting in inefficient use of resources and unmet public needs.
    • Fiscal Decentralization: Cities need predictable fiscal transfers for effective planning, but state governments often delay constituting State Finance Commissions (SFCs) and implementing their recommendations.
    • Revenue Optimization: Cities underutilize their revenue-generating powers due to outdated valuation processes controlled by state governments. Comprehensive reforms are needed at all stages of revenue collection.
    • Transparency and Fiscal Responsibility: The legal framework for financial accounting, reporting, and budgeting is inconsistent across states. Standardized formats, mandatory accounting standards, and management accounting systems are necessary to improve transparency and fiscal responsibility.

    Activities by State Governments

    • Timely Constitution and Implementation of State Finance Commissions: State governments must ensure the timely establishment and effective implementation of SFC recommendations to support fiscal decentralization and provide predictable funding to cities.
    • Updating Valuation Processes: States should regularly update guidance values or circle rates to reflect current market values, enabling cities to optimize revenue collection and ensure financial sustainability.
    • Enhancing Legal and Institutional Frameworks: States should establish and enforce standardized formats for financial accounting, reporting, and budgeting to ensure consistency, transparency, and comparability across municipalities.
    • Empowering Local Governments: States should delegate reasonable expenditure authority to city councils, reducing dependency on state-level approvals and enabling more efficient and responsive local governance.
    • Mandating Transparency and Citizen Participation: States should mandate public disclosure of municipal financial data and project details in machine-readable formats and support the implementation of participatory budgeting to enhance transparency and citizen involvement in governance.

    Conclusion: The 16th Finance Commission can drive critical municipal-level financial reforms by strengthening state finance commissions, promoting fiscal decentralization, optimizing revenues, enhancing fiscal responsibility, and encouraging transparency and citizen participation in governance.

    Mains PYQ:

    Q How is the Finance Commission of India constituted? What do you know about the terms of reference of the recently constituted Finance Commission? Discuss. (15) (UPSC IAS/2018)

  • How the PESA has boosted Forest Conservation in India?

    Why in the News?

    Conservation policies in India have long wrestled with dual conflicts: balancing conservation goals against local communities’ resource extraction needs, and reconciling conservation with the imperative of economic development.

    Structural Mandate of Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA):

    • PESA was passed in 1996 and it mandates local government councils in Scheduled Areas to reserve all chairperson positions and at least half of the seats for Scheduled Tribes (ST).
    • This legislative framework is designed to empower marginalized communities by giving them a direct say in local governance and resource management.

    Implementation in India:

    • Unlike the 73rd Amendment (which applies to non-Scheduled Areas), PESA ensures mandated representation for STs in decision-making bodies.
    • Variations in PESA implementation across states highlight challenges and successes in translating legislative intent into effective governance structures.

    How it Ensures Equitable Representation:

    • Impact on Forest Conservation: The study employs a “difference-in-differences” methodology to analyze the effect of PESA on forest cover. Findings indicate that areas with mandated ST representation under PESA experience lower rates of deforestation and higher afforestation rates compared to areas without such representation.
    • Economic Incentives for Conservation: ST communities, dependent on forest resources for livelihoods, are incentivized to protect forest cover under PESA. This “forest stewardship” mechanism emerges as STs engage in sustainable practices and resist deforestation pressures driven by mining and commercial interests.

    On Democratic Decentralization:

    • Comparison with Administrative Decentralization: The paper distinguishes between administrative decentralization (focused on efficiency) and democratic decentralization. Democratic decentralization, as exemplified by PESA, emphasizes representative and accountable local governance structures with decision-making autonomy over resource management.
    • Single Umbrella Institution: Advocates for consolidating power into a single, empowered institution that integrates both conservation and development objectives. Such an institution would better navigate the complexities of balancing local economic interests with sustainable conservation practices.

    Conclusion: PESA serves as a critical example of how legislative mandates for political representation can drive positive environmental outcomes while addressing socio-economic disparities among forest-dwelling communities in India.

    Mains PYQ:

    Q What are the two major legal initiatives by the state since Independence, addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (ST)? (UPSC IAS/2017)

  • Indian Railways and safety challenges

    Why in the news?

    The turmoil has not subsided since the tragic accident involving the GFCJ container train, which, while travelling at high speed, collided with the 13174 Agartala-Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express, resulting in 11 deaths and approximately 40 injuries.

    Indian Railways: Recent Issues

    • Tragic Accident: The GFCJ container train collided with the 13174 Agartala-Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express, causing 11 deaths and around 40 injuries.
    • Premature Conclusions: The Chairperson of the Railway Board prematurely blamed the container train crew and provided incorrect information about casualties.
    • Slow Rollout of Kavach System: Kavach, an indigenous signalling system to prevent collisions, has been slowly implemented due to limited industrial capacity.
    • Staffing Issues: Indian Railways is overstaffed but has critical vacancies in safety-sensitive positions, leading to stress and overwork for existing staff.
    • Ambiguous Protocols: Ambiguous rules for handling Automatic signal failures create confusion and increase the risk of accidents.

    What are the major challenges that Indian Railways faces?  

    • Safety Concerns: Inadequate measures to prevent collisions and improve overall safety, despite technological advancements.
    • Staffing Shortages: Critical vacancies in essential roles such as loco pilots, train managers, and signal maintainers, lead to overworked staff.
    • Slow Technological Implementation: Delayed implementation of safety technologies like the Kavach system due to limited industrial capacity and lack of focus.
    • Ambiguous Safety Protocols: Poorly drafted rules and unclear protocols for handling signal failures and emergencies.
    • Managerial and Communication Issues: Premature conclusions and miscommunication by top management, undermine trust and effective crisis management.

    What can be the solution?

    • Enhanced Safety Protocols: Strengthen and clarify protocols for Automatic signal failures and other emergency situations.
    • Accelerated Technology Adoption: Fast-track the implementation of safety technologies like the Kavach system, with targets of 4,000 to 5,000 km/year.
    • Increase Recruitment in Critical Areas: Fill vacancies in essential safety roles promptly to reduce stress and workload on existing staff.
    • Encourage Industrial Capacity Building: Support and incentivize allied industries to increase capacity for producing and implementing safety technologies.
    • AI-Enabled Safety Monitoring: Implement AI-enabled applications to analyze digital data from station loggers and train microprocessors for actionable safety insights.
    • Focus on Managerial Accountability: Ensure that managerial issues are thoroughly investigated and addressed to improve overall safety management.

    Steps taken by the government:

    • The government has established the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK), a dedicated fund with a corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crore over 5 years, to finance critical safety asset replacement, renewal, and upgradation.
    • The government has implemented Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems at 6,427 stations as of May 2023, which centrally operate points and signals to eliminate human error-related accidents.

    Conclusion: Strengthen and clarify safety protocols for handling signal failures and emergencies, ensuring clear guidelines and training for staff. Fast-track the implementation of safety technologies like the Kavach system, setting annual targets of 4,000 to 5,000 km to improve overall safety and prevent collisions.

    Mains PYQ:

    Q Why is Public Private Partnership (PPP) required in infrastructural projects? Examine the role of PPP model in the redevelopment of Railway Stations in India. (UPSC IAS/2022)

  • India among a select few countries that have not conducted the Census    

    Why in the news?

    India’s last census was conducted in 2011, and the scheduled Census 2021 has been indefinitely postponed, citing the COVID-19 pandemic. This delay has significant implications for welfare schemes and policy planning reliant on accurate population data.

    Significance of Census Calculation  

    • Foundation for Policy Planning and Governance: Census data forms the foundational basis for policy planning and governance across various sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and social welfare.
    • Allocation of Resources and Welfare Benefits: Census figures are crucial for determining the allocation of resources and distribution of welfare benefits like food subsidies, housing schemes, healthcare facilities, and educational resources.
    • Monitoring Socio-Economic Development: Census data enables monitoring of socio-economic development indicators over time, such as literacy rates, employment patterns, poverty levels, and household incomes.

    Present Observations:

    • Global Comparison: India is among a minority of countries (44 out of 233) that have not conducted the latest census, despite most nations managing to proceed with their census rounds after March 2020, amidst the pandemic. This delay places India alongside conflict-affected countries and those facing economic crises.
    • Regional Context: Among BRICS nations, India is the only country yet to conduct its latest census, contrasting with others such as Brazil, China, South Africa, and Russia, which have completed their census rounds during or after the pandemic.
    • Dependency on Census Data: Census data serves as the primary source for accurate demographic information at grassroots levels, crucial for planning and implementing welfare schemes across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and social security.

    Implications for Society:

    • Welfare Scheme Implementation: The absence of updated census figures hampers the effective implementation of welfare schemes such as the Public Distribution System (PDS), National Family Health Survey, and National Family Security Act. Outdated population data from 2011 leads to inaccuracies in identifying beneficiaries, potentially excluding millions from essential services and entitlements.
    • Education and Social Development: Schemes like the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), aimed at providing quality education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) children, are adversely affected. Allocation decisions based on 2011 census data may not accurately reflect current demographic realities, leading to misplaced resource distribution and missed opportunities for targeted interventions.
    • Economic and Social Planning: Census data plays a pivotal role in economic planning, resource allocation, and policy formulation. Without updated population figures, India faces challenges in devising evidence-based policies that address regional disparities, socio-economic needs, and demographic shifts effectively.

    Conclusion: The indefinite postponement of Census 2021 in India has profound implications for governance, socio-economic planning, and equitable development. Addressing these challenges requires expedited efforts to conduct the census and ensure accurate demographic data to inform inclusive policy frameworks.

    Mains question for practice: 

    Q Discuss the present observations regarding India’s census delay and analyze its implications. 15M