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GS Paper: GS2

  • How grassroots movements and campaigns are shaping India

    INTRODUCTION

    India’s development story is incomplete without recognising the individuals, communities and voluntary organisations working at the grassroots who transform adversity into resilience. Through examples from Subroto Bagchi, Bela Bhatia, and other chroniclers of grassroots India, the article illustrates how local aspirations, bottom-up leadership, and rights-based activism challenge structural inequalities and drive social transformation. These experiences expose gaps in State capacity while showcasing how community-driven initiatives produce sustainable, inclusive models of development.

    WHY IN THE NEWS

    Grassroots movements are in focus because recent literature, from Subroto Bagchi’s The Day the Chariot Moved to Bela Bhatia’s India’s Forgotten Country and Jayapadma R.V.’s Anchoring Change, documents the lived realities of India’s marginalised communities with unprecedented detail. These books reveal striking facts: India’s 96% unorganised workforce, only 2% formally skilled youth under 30, and deepening wage disparities despite economic growth. The narratives demonstrate how individuals like Nunaram Hansda and Muni Tigga overcome systemic barriers, and how activists expose entrenched caste, gender, and tribal injustices. The scale of these challenges, combined with inspiring micro-successes, makes the current wave of grassroots documentation a critical moment for rethinking India’s development model.

    What drives grassroots transformation in India?

    1. Human Stories as Development Indicators: Lived experiences of individuals reveal how opportunity and support systems create upward mobility.
    2. Persistent Structural Barriers: Stereotypes, bureaucratic sloth, corruption, and political inertia undermine access to education, health, and employment.
    3. People-Led Leadership: Many government servants and community workers defy systemic limitations to deliver results, becoming catalysts of local change.

    How does Odisha’s grassroots skilling experience illustrate systemic change?

    1. Scale of Engagement: Bagchi travelled 3,000 km across 30 districts in 30 days to assess ground realities, highlighting the importance of proximity to people for effective policy.
    2. Skill Crisis in India: With 96% of India’s workforce in the unorganised sector, and only 2% formally skilled youth, grassroots skilling becomes central to development.
    3. Personal Transformation as Social Capital: Stories like Muni Tigga, who travelled 37 km daily for wages before becoming an ITI-trained loco pilot, show skilling as empowerment.
    4. Nano-Unicorns: Bagchi’s concept of “nano unicorns” captures how individuals with basic resources but strong intent can transform their lives through new skills.

    How do grassroots narratives expose inequalities and violence?

    1. Caste and Tribal Oppression: Bela Bhatia’s work reveals untouchability, caste massacres, bonded labour, and routine violence against Dalits and Adivasis across States.
    2. Conflict and Displacement: Her documentation of Maoist-State conflict in Bastar exposes how communities face both insurgent and State excesses.
    3. Gendered Violence and Social Vulnerability: Widows, bonded labourers, and women in tribal regions face routine brutality, which grassroots activism brings to attention.
    4. Invisible Suffering: These accounts highlight the “real India”, hunger, widowhood, communal discrimination and armed oppression that rarely enters mainstream policy narratives.

    How do civil society organisations shape alternative models of development?

    1. Voluntary Organisations as Drivers: Works like Grassroots Development Initiatives in India show how NGOs empower marginalised communities through rights-based frameworks.
    2. Reframing Development: Civil society corrects narrative asymmetry by shifting discourse from failure to micro-successes and replicable design principles.
    3. Community-Based Innovations: Grassroots Innovation Movements shows diverse local innovations emerging across India, South America, and Europe.
    4. Alternative Governance: These movements challenge centralised, technocratic models and emphasise participation, dignity, and sustainability.

    What lessons do 75 years of grassroots interventions offer?

    1. Micro-Successes Matter: Anchoring Change argues that hidden successes across sectors demonstrate scalable principles for future development.
    2. Civic Action as Corrective Force: Grassroots interventions often succeed where State mechanisms fail, especially in reaching the marginalised.
    3. Sustainable Development Principles: Design principles such as local participation, contextual solutions, and trust-building emerge repeatedly.
    4. Relevance for India’s Future: These examples underline the need to integrate grassroots wisdom into policy design and leadership structures.

    CONCLUSION

    The collective narratives of grassroots India reveal a profound truth: systemic change does not always originate in government offices or corporate boardrooms. It emerges from forests, hamlets, slums, and skill centres where individuals confront injustice, inequality, and adversity every day. By documenting these experiences, writers and activists show that India’s development depends not just on economic indicators but on human dignity, justice, and opportunity. These stories emphasise that a resilient, equitable future for India must recognise and elevate grassroots leadership.

    Defining Grassroots Movements (Scholarly Grounding)Charles Tilly (Scholar of Social Movements)

    • “Grassroots activism involves sustained, organised public efforts that emerge from ordinary people rather than elites or formal institutions.”
    • Relevance: Highlights movements in Odisha, Bastar, Dalit-Adivasi regions driven by ordinary citizens.

    Paulo Freire-Pedagogy of the Oppressed

    • He describes grassroots mobilisation as the process through which the oppressed develop critical consciousness and challenge unjust systems.
    • Relevance: Bela Bhatia’s work with oppressed communities mirrors Freire’s idea of conscientisation.

    Partha Chatterjee-“Politics of the Governed”

    • Grassroots activism represents the “politics of the governed,” where marginalised groups negotiate with or resist State power.
    • Relevance: Movements against caste atrocities, displacement, bonded labour.

    Rajni Kothari-People’s Movement

    • Grassroots movements arise when institutions fail to address social justice.
    • Relevance: Odisha’s skilling push, Maoist conflict areas, Adivasi rights struggles

    Andre Béteille-Inequality and Social Structure

    • Grassroots actions are essential because institutions reflect the inequalities they are meant to correct.
    • Relevance: The article’s reflections on caste discrimination, tribal exploitation, gendered violence.

    Examples of Grassroots Movements & Campaigns in India

    These examples strengthen UPSC answers while complementing the themes in the article.

    1. Chipko Movement (Uttarakhand)
      1. Women-led forest protection campaign
      2. Classic example of community ownership, ecological consciousness
    2. Narmada Bachao Andolan (MP-Gujarat-Maharashtra)
      1. Medha Patkar leading displaced communities
      2. Connects with Bela Bhatia’s narratives on displacement & state-people conflict
    3. Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), Rajasthan
      1. Led to the creation of RTI Act
      2. True example of local transparency movement and aligns with themes of accountability in article
    4. Kudumbashree (Kerala)
      1. Women SHG-based poverty alleviation network
      2. More than 40 lakh women empowered and parallels female empowerment stories in article
    5. Tribal Movements in Bastar & Niyamgiri
      1. Dongria Kondh agitation
      2. Protecting land rights, forests, identity  connects directly to Bela Bhatia’s activism
    6. Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA)
      1. Informal sector women organising for rights
      2. Links to the article’s data: 96% of India’s workforce is unorganised
    7. The Right to Food Campaign (Rajasthan-Jharkhand)
      1. Led to legal recognition of the Right to Food (NFSA 2013)
      2. Resonates with themes of hunger, vulnerability, and social security
    8. Swachhagrahis under Swachh Bharat
      1. Local foot-soldiers transformed sanitation at the community level
      2. Example of modern grassroots mobilisation within state systems
    9. Pani Panchayats (Maharashtra)
      1. Community-led water management
      2. Echoes idea of “nano unicorns” where local solutions lead to large impact
    10. Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF)
      1. Works in digitally dark villages
      2. Links to article’s emphasis on digital divide & skilling

    Why Grassroots Movements Matter 

    1. They resolve governance gaps: Where bureaucracy fails, community institutions fill the vacuum.
    2. They build social capital: According to Putnam: “Networks of civic engagement improve societal efficiency.” Grassroots campaigns strengthen trust, cooperation, and shared goals.
    3. They decentralise democracy: True meaning of 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.
    4. They reveal the “invisible India”: Tribal women, bonded labourers, landless farmers 
    5. They catalyse policy innovation: Many national laws (RTI, FRA 2006, NFSA) emerged from grassroots struggles.
    6. They humanise development: Bagchi’s writing makes abstractions like skilling or growth felt through human narratives.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2021] Can Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations present an alternative model of public service delivery to benefit the common citizen? Discuss the challenges of this alternative model.

    Linkage: Grassroots movements in the article show how civil society delivers services where the State falls short, making this PYQ directly relevant. The topic is important because India’s governance gaps increasingly require community-led, bottom-up models to ensure inclusion and accountability.

  • Tuberculosis incidence falling in India by 21% a year: WHO report

    Why in the News?

    The World Health Organization’s Global TB Report 2025 says India’s TB incidence dropped 21% from 237 to 187 per lakh between 2015 and 2024, almost twice the global decline rate of 12%.

    Tuberculosis incidence falling in India by 21% a year: WHO report

    About Global TB Report 2025:

    • Publisher: Released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in November 2025.
    • India’s TB Incidence Decline: Fell 21 percent from 237 to 187 cases per lakh (2015–2024), nearly double the global decline of 12 percent.
    • Treatment Coverage: Reached 92 percent, with 26 lakh cases diagnosed in 2024.
    • Mortality Reduction: Dropped from 28 to 21 deaths per lakh between 2015–2024.
    • Key Drivers: Community-based screening, molecular diagnostics (CBNAAT / Truenat), Ni-kshay digital tracking, and TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

    About Tuberculosis (TB):

    • What is it: Bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis mainly affecting the lungs; spreads through air via coughing/sneezing.
    • Types of TB:
      • Pulmonary TB: Affects lungs, highly contagious.
      • Extrapulmonary TB: Affects organs like spine, kidneys, brain, or lymph nodes.
      • Latent TB: Dormant infection, asymptomatic but may reactivate.
      • Active TB: Symptomatic and infectious stage.
      • Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB): Resistant to standard drugs due to incomplete or improper treatment.
    • Medicine Regimens:
      • Drug-sensitive TB: 6-month course- 2 months of HRZE (Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol) + 4 months of HR.
      • MDR-TB: Resistant to Isoniazid and Rifampicin; treated with 18–24-month regimen using Bedaquiline, Linezolid, Levofloxacin, Clofazimine, and Cycloserine.
      • Preventive Therapy: Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) for HIV-positive persons and close contacts of TB patients.

    Various Government Interventions for TB Prevention:

    • National TB Programme (NTP), 1962: India’s first structured TB-control effort; introduced BCG vaccination and district-level treatment services.
    • Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP), 1993: Adopted the DOTS strategy; achieved nationwide coverage by 2006, improving standardized treatment and cure rates.
    • Ni-kshay Portal, 2012: Launched as a national digital platform for TB case notification, tracking, and treatment monitoring across public and private sectors.
    • Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, 2018: Introduced nutritional support of ₹500 per month to all notified TB patients through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
    • National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination (2017–2025): Implemented in phased manner; structured around Detect, Treat, Prevent, Build, promoting CBNAAT/Truenat and decentralised care.
    • National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), 2020: Renamed and upgraded from RNTCP; targets TB elimination by 2025 with universal free diagnostics, treatment, and surveillance.
    • Ni-kshay Sampark Helpline, 2023: Launched as a nationwide toll-free platform for patient counselling, treatment support, and follow-up.
    • Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative, 2022: Enabled individuals, NGOs, corporates to adopt TB patients for nutritional and diagnostic support under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan framework.
    • TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, 2024: Large-scale screening campaign covering 19 crore individuals; detected 24.5 lakh TB cases, including asymptomatic infections.

  • Discord between Supreme Court and Centre over tribunals

    Introduction

    Tribunals were established to reduce case pendency and offer specialized adjudication. However, the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 and earlier ordinances have led to repeated confrontations between the judiciary and the executive. The heart of the issue is who controls tribunal appointments, tenure, and conditions of service, key determinants of their independence.

    Why in the News

    The Supreme Court’s hearing of petitions challenging the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, has revived tensions between the judiciary and the executive. The Act reintroduced provisions similar to those struck down in 2021, raising serious questions on legislative overreach and separation of powers.
    The friction highlights a persistent constitutional conflict, whether the government can re-legislate provisions nullified by the judiciary, thereby potentially undermining judicial independence.

    Legislative-Judicial Tug of War

    1. Recurring Conflict: The 2021 Act was re-enacted despite similar provisions being struck down in the Madras Bar Association cases.
    2. Old Tussle: The conflict dates back to the Finance Act, 2017, which merged and restructured tribunals, transferring appointment powers to the executive.
    3. Judicial Stand: The Supreme Court, through Rojer Mathew v. Union of India (2019), emphasized that executive control compromises judicial independence.

    Why Tribunals Matter

    1. Quasi-judicial bodies: Provide speedy, specialized dispute resolution in fields such as taxation, company law, and environmental regulation.
    2. Caseload reduction: Designed to reduce the burden on High Courts and the Supreme Court.
    3. Constitutional relevance: Operate within the framework of Articles 323A and 323B, upholding efficiency while ensuring justice.

    Key Provisions under Scrutiny

    1. Four-year tenure: Petitioners argued that short tenures for tribunal members increase executive dependence and curb independence.
    2. Minimum age of 50: Limits the entry of younger judges and advocates, discouraging fresh perspectives.
    3. Centre’s ordinance powers: By re-promulgating similar provisions struck down earlier, the executive bypassed judicial verdicts, violating separation of powers.
    4. Judicial recommendation ignored: Despite the Supreme Court’s suggestion for five-year terms and reduced executive control, the Centre retained earlier structures.

    Centre’s Counter-arguments

    1. Efficiency claim: The Union Government maintained that its framework ensures administrative uniformity and timely appointments.
    2. Vacancy delays: The government cited delays due to tribunal restructuring, e.g., 22 vacancies each in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) as of 2022.
    3. Assurance of autonomy: Claimed that the Act “balances independence with accountability,” keeping tribunals within executive purview but without judicial interference.

    The Larger Constitutional Question

    1. Judicial Independence: Re-enactment of struck-down provisions challenges the finality of judicial pronouncements under Article 141.
    2. Separation of Powers: Raises concerns over legislative encroachment into the judicial domain.
    3. Checks and Balances: Highlights the tension between Parliament’s sovereignty and constitutional supremacy.

    Broader Implications for Governance

    1. Precedent for defiance: If sustained, it may embolden future legislations to circumvent judicial review.
    2. Public trust erosion: Undermines citizen confidence in the impartiality of quasi-judicial institutions.
    3. Administrative justice: Weakens the intent behind tribunals to provide independent, expert, and speedy justice.

    Conclusion

    The discord over tribunals reflects a larger struggle for institutional balance in India’s democracy. While the Centre seeks administrative control, the judiciary insists on independence as the bedrock of rule of law. The resolution of this dispute will determine how India upholds the integrity of constitutional institutions in the years ahead.

    Value Addition

    Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021

    Background & Context

    1. The Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 replaced the Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021.
    2. Aimed at streamlining tribunal functioning and reducing dependence on multiple bodies, but reintroduced provisions previously struck down by the Supreme Court in the Madras Bar Association cases.

    Key Features of the Act

    1. Tenure: Chairperson, 4 years or till 70 years (whichever earlier); Members, 4 years or till 67 years.
    2. Minimum Age: Mandates a minimum age of 50 years for appointment, excluding younger judicial talent.
    3. Search-Cum-Selection Committee: Chaired by the Chief Justice of India or his nominee, but final appointments rest with the Central Government.
    4. Abolition of Certain Tribunals: Dissolved 9 appellate tribunals including the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal and Intellectual Property Appellate Board, transferring jurisdiction to High Courts.
    5. Uniform Terms & Conditions: Standardised salary, tenure, and service conditions across tribunals.

    Landmark Judicial Interventions

    1. Rojer Mathew v. Union of India (2019): Directed review of tribunal reforms under Finance Act, 2017.
    2. Madras Bar Association v. Union of India (2021): Struck down provisions on tenure and appointment as unconstitutional.
    3. Union of India v. Madras Bar Association (2021, July): Reaffirmed judicial supremacy over tribunal independence.

    Constitutional and Administrative Value

    1. Articles 323A & 323B: Empower Parliament and State Legislatures to create tribunals but subject to judicial review.
    2. Basic Structure Doctrine: Tribunal autonomy linked to independence of the judiciary, a basic feature of the Constitution.
    3. Rule of Law: Any dilution of independence violates constitutional morality and judicial accountability.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2018] How far do you agree with the view that tribunals curtail the jurisdiction of ordinary courts? In view of the above, discuss the constitutional validity and competency of the tribunals in India.

    Linkage: The question directly relates to the ongoing SC-Centre conflict over the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021. This relates to the understanding of Articles 323A & 323B, judicial independence, and the balance between tribunal efficiency and constitutional validity.

  • ​Fishing troubles: On India, Sri Lanka, the Palk Bay fishing issue

    Introduction

    The Palk Bay, a narrow strip separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, has historically been a shared fishing zone. However, repeated arrests of Indian fishermen for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) underline a persistent challenge. Bottom trawling, a destructive fishing practice, has been the core issue fueling ecological degradation, diplomatic tension, and economic distress. The recent arrest on November 9, 2024, reopens the debate on reconciling traditional livelihoods with sustainable and legal marine resource use.

    Why in the news?

    The arrest of 14 Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy marks another flashpoint in the Palk Bay fishing dispute. This incident is significant because:

    1. Persistence of conflict: Despite decades of talks, fishermen from both nations continue to cross maritime boundaries for catch-rich zones.
    2. Scale of problem: Over 128 fishermen from Tamil Nadu remain in Sri Lankan custody, with boats seized.
    3. Diplomatic urgency: The issue features regularly in bilateral meetings, yet lacks a lasting policy resolution.
    4. Ecological threat: The practice of bottom trawling continues to damage coral beds and marine biodiversity, making it a cross-border environmental crisis.

    Why do Tamil Nadu fishermen continue to cross the IMBL?

    1. Livelihood dependence: For thousands of families, fishing remains the only sustainable income source. The depletion of nearshore fish stocks has pushed them toward Sri Lankan waters.
    2. Cost-pressure fishing: Each voyage involves high operational costs, forcing fishermen to maximize yield through fast, large-scale trawling.
    3. Traditional persistence: The term “tradition” is often invoked to justify trawling, despite its destructive ecological footprint.
    4. Rapid voyages: Quick trawling runs enhance profitability but heighten the risk of arrest and confiscation.

    What is bottom trawling and why is it destructive?

    1. Definition: Bottom trawling involves dragging weighted nets along the seabed.
    2. Ecological damage: It destroys coral reefs, seabed habitats, and fish spawning grounds.
    3. Stock depletion: Leads to overfishing and long-term decline of commercially valuable species.
    4. Conflict trigger: Sri Lankan fishermen, especially from the Northern Province, oppose bottom trawling as it depletes shared marine resources vital for their post-war recovery.

    What are the diplomatic and institutional mechanisms in place?

    1. Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries: Met in Colombo on October 29, 2024 to address arrests and sustainable fishing practices.
    2. Bilateral discussions: Fishermen’s representatives met counterparts in March 2024, but lacked formal sanction or actionable outcomes.
    3. Pending initiatives: The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna-led People’s Power Party in Sri Lanka, in power for over a year, has yet to show urgency in resolving the dispute.

    What policy solutions have been suggested?

    1. Research collaboration: Proposal for a Palk Bay Research Station for ecosystem monitoring and sustainable fishing methods.
    2. Technology transition: Gradual shift from bottom trawling to deep-sea fishing and small-boat operations.
    3. Incentivization: Financial and policy support to Tamil Nadu fishermen to switch to non-destructive gear and practices.
    4. Diplomatic liberalism: New Delhi may consider easing travel and fishing permits within limits to facilitate safe, sustainable livelihoods.
    5. Regulatory measures: Imposing a progressive ban on bottom trawling in Indian waters to signal intent and compliance.

    Conclusion

    The Palk Bay issue is not merely a border dispute, it is a test of India’s ability to balance livelihood protection with ecological responsibility and regional diplomacy. Persuading fishermen to abandon bottom trawling requires education, compensation, and innovation, not coercion. A cooperative framework, rooted in mutual trust and science-based regulation, can transform a contentious boundary into a shared zone of prosperity and peace.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2013] In respect of India-Sri Lanka relations, discuss how domestic factors influence foreign policy.

    Linkage: Domestic political pressures from Tamil Nadu fishermen and state parties shape India’s diplomatic stance toward Sri Lanka. This internal-external linkage influences how New Delhi balances livelihood concerns with bilateral maritime cooperation.

  • What are Exit Polls and How are they Conducted?

    Why in the News?

    As Bihar Assembly Election 2025 concludes, media houses released the exit poll results after 6:30 pm, following Election Commission of India (ECI) restrictions.

    What are Exit Polls?

    • Overview: Exit polls are post-voting surveys conducted immediately after voters leave polling stations to find out how they voted and what influenced their choice.
    • Objective: To give an early indication of election outcomes and study voter behaviour, issues, and demographics before official results.
    • Origin in India: First conducted in 1957 by the Indian Institute of Public Opinion during the 2nd Lok Sabha elections.
    • Methodology: Randomly selected voters are interviewed anonymously after casting their vote; responses are aggregated and analysed statistically to predict seat shares and trends.

    How are Exit Polls conducted?

    • Sampling: Based on random or stratified sampling to reflect gender, caste, religion, and regional representation.
    • Questionnaires: Ask voters which party or candidate they chose and gather demographic or opinion data.
    • Data Collection: Conducted by trained field agents under strict non-interference rules at polling stations.
    • Data Analysis: Responses are weighted and adjusted for turnout and demographics before generating projections.
    • Confidentiality: All answers remain anonymous to preserve voting secrecy.

    Regulation of Exit Polls:

    • Constitutional Basis: Governed by Article 324, empowering the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure free and fair elections.
    • Statutory Law: Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 bans conducting or publishing exit polls from start of the first phase till 30 minutes after last phase ends.
    • Penalties: Violation may lead to two years imprisonment, a fine, or both.
    • Media Rules: Must disclose sample size, method, and margin of error when publishing results.
    • Registration: Polling agencies must be registered with the ECI and follow official publication guidelines.

    Recent Amendments and Practices:

    • Monitoring: The ECI now closely monitors media and digital platforms to prevent early leaks of exit poll data.
    • Digital Coverage: Restrictions apply to social media and online news during multi-phase elections.
    • Publication Control: No state-wise or partial results can be released until polling ends nationwide.
    • Transparency: Media houses must submit methodology and get ECI clearance before publishing exit poll results.
    • Purpose: To prevent misinformation and voter influence during ongoing polling.

    Back2Basics: Difference Between Exit Polls and Opinion Polls

    • Timing: Exit polls are done after voting; opinion polls before voting.
    • Purpose: Opinion polls measure intentions; exit polls reflect actual behaviour.
    • Respondents: Opinion polls survey likely voters; exit polls survey actual voters.
    • Influence: Opinion polls can affect undecided voters; exit polls occur after voting, posing no influence risk.
    • Accuracy: Exit polls are generally more accurate as they are based on real votes.
    • Regulation: Opinion polls are advisory-guided; exit polls are strictly regulated under Section 126A of the RPA, 1951.

  • [11th November 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: A celebration of India-Bhutan ties

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2024] Discuss the geopolitical and geostrategic importance of Maldives for India with a focus on global trade and energy flows. Further, also discuss how this relationship affects India’s maritime security and regional stability amidst international competition.

    Linkage: This PYQ reflects the same strategic framework as India-Bhutan relations; where geography, stability, and mutual trust drive India’s Neighbourhood First and Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision.

    Mentor’s Comment

    The 70th birth anniversary of Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth King of Bhutan, serves as a moment to celebrate not just a monarch’s life but the enduring India-Bhutan partnership that he helped shape. His leadership modernised Bhutan and deepened one of South Asia’s most stable and mutually respectful bilateral relationships built on trust, hydropower diplomacy, and shared values of sustainable development and cultural harmony.

    Introduction

    The former King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, turned 70 on November 11, 2025. Revered by his people as a Bodhisattva King, he ruled Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in 2006 in favour of his son, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Known for introducing the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and steering Bhutan into the modern era, his legacy also symbolizes the deep and evolving friendship between India and Bhutan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Thimphu for the celebrations marks the continuation of this historic bond. This underlines India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and commitment to strengthening Himalayan partnerships.

    The Legacy of a Sage King

    1. Modernisation of Bhutan: King Jigme Singye Wangchuck guided Bhutan into the 21st century with policies balancing economic progress, environmental sustainability, and cultural preservation.
    2. Buddhist Leadership Ethos: Revered almost like a Buddha, he was loved for his humility and focus on inner happiness, embodied in the philosophy of Gross National Happiness.
    3. Abdication for Reform: His voluntary abdication in 2006 for his son represented a rare act of democratic foresight, leading Bhutan towards constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.

    India-Bhutan Relations: A Model of Neighbourhood Diplomacy

    1. Neighbourhood First Priority: Bhutan was the first foreign country visited by PM Modi in 2014 after assuming office, highlighting Bhutan’s symbolic and strategic importance.
    2. Mutual Cultural Affinity: The relationship is grounded in shared civilizational ethos, Buddhism, and trust, rather than transactional diplomacy.
    3. Joint Celebrations: Modi’s participation in the birthday celebrations reflects India’s continued recognition of Bhutan as a trusted Himalayan partner.

    Hydropower Diplomacy: The Cornerstone of Economic Partnership

    1. Strategic Energy Partnership: India and Bhutan have developed one of South Asia’s most successful hydropower cooperation models, with electricity from Bhutan’s rivers exported to India.
    2. Economic Impact: Projects like the Punasangchhu-I and Punasangchhu-II hydropower projects contribute significantly to Bhutan’s GDP and India’s clean energy imports.
    3. Job Creation and Development: Revenue from hydropower has raised Bhutan’s per capita income, reflecting a sustainable model of bilateral interdependence.
    4. Private Sector Expansion: Future projects are likely to be developed by private Indian companies in collaboration with Bhutanese partners, expanding beyond state-led initiatives.

    Issues of National Security and Strategic Alignment

    1. Advisory Role of the King: Former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck continues to play a strategic advisory role (K4) on national security and foreign policy.
    2. Security Cooperation: India’s Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) works closely with Indian defence forces to secure borders and enhance counter-insurgency cooperation.
    3. Operation All Clear (2003): Bhutan’s successful military operation, supported by India, removed insurgent groups from its territory; a hallmark of trust-based defence partnership.
    4. Geopolitical Balance: Bhutan continues to balance relations with India while cautiously managing ties with China, guided by India’s support in maintaining sovereignty and stability.

    India’s Continued Developmental Support

    1. Hydropower Assistance: India remains Bhutan’s largest partner in hydropower development, ensuring energy security for both nations.
    2. Community Development Projects: Support extends to education, healthcare, and monastic infrastructure, reinforcing India’s soft power in the region.
    3. Trade and Connectivity: India’s assistance in roads, border management, and trade routes enhances regional connectivity under the BBIN framework.

    Conclusion

    The celebration of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck’s 70th birthday is more than an homage to a revered monarch, it is a testament to the unbroken trust, shared development, and mutual respect between India and Bhutan. The hydropower-driven partnership continues to set an example of how small states and large neighbours can coexist through equality, respect, and common vision. As India continues to invest in Bhutan’s progress, this Himalayan partnership stands as a model of enduring regional cooperation and spiritual kinship.

  • We need to move from a caste census with a capital C to one with a small c

    Introduction

    The government’s announcement of a caste census has reignited the social justice debate. After decades of delay, the exercise promises to redefine India’s path toward equality. However, scholars like Anand Teltumbde and sociologist Trina Vithayathil caution that unless thoughtfully designed, the census could become a token gesture perpetuating caste divisions instead of dismantling them.

    Why in the News?

    For the first time in over 90 years, India appears poised to conduct a comprehensive caste enumeration, a long-standing demand of social justice movements. The announcement marked a political and social milestone, yet it raised concerns over methodology, intent, and execution. The last major caste data collection was the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, whose data was never released. Hence, this move represents both continuity and rupture, an opportunity for social reform, but also a test of political sincerity.

    What is the significance of a caste census today?

    1. Historical Backdrop: The last caste enumeration occurred in 1931, and SECC 2011 failed to release its caste data.
    2. Social Justice Milestone: Seen as the next big step in India’s march toward reducing structural caste inequalities.
    3. Relevance to Policy: Data essential for designing targeted affirmative action and inclusive public welfare policies.

    The Peril of a Caste Census

    1. Tokenism Risk: Scholars warn against viewing the caste census as a panacea for social justice without structural reform.
    2. Reinforcement of Hierarchies: Poorly designed enumeration could re-entrench caste identity rather than diminish it.
    3. Ambedkarite Vision: Real emancipation lies in annihilating caste, not merely counting it.

    How do recent scholarly works shape the debate?

    1. Teltumbde’s “The Caste Conundrum”: Advocates linking caste enumeration with transformative social change.
    2. Vithayathil’s “Counting Caste”: Based on bureaucratic fieldwork, highlighting how technical details can determine whether enumeration promotes inclusion or exclusion.
    3. Common Ground: Both scholars stress reflection and purpose, not mechanical data gathering.

    What are the operational and moral questions involved?

    1. Scope and Inclusion: Full enumeration must include all religions (Hindus, Muslims, Christians) and not just OBC, SC, ST categories.
    2. Methodological Integrity: SECC 2011 was flawed, protocols discouraged recording caste among minorities.
    3. Question of Purpose: Census must ask not “what caste are you?” but “how do caste-based structures impact opportunity and power?”

    How can the census become a tool for transformation?

    1. Redesign for Equality: Move from a capital C Census (bureaucratic, divisive) to a small c census (reflective, reformist).
    2. Policy Integration: Use caste data to redesign reservation, education, and economic mobility programs.
    3. Ethical Imperative: Must ensure it does not become a tool to perpetuate caste privilege, but a means to dismantle inherited inequities.

    Conclusion

    The caste census, if executed thoughtfully, can become a historic step toward data-backed equality. But if reduced to political arithmetic, it risks becoming a bureaucratic ritual reinforcing caste privilege. The challenge is to move from enumeration to emancipation from a Census that counts people to one that makes people count.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2018] Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, the caste system cannot be eradicated in India. Comment.

    Linkage: It reflects how caste persists through new political and institutional forms. The caste census debate illustrates this continuity between identity and policy in modern India.

  • Financial Sector Assessment (FSA) Report by World Bank

    Why in the News?

    The World Bank’s November 2025 Financial Sector Assessment (FSA) Report says India must deepen financial reforms and boost private capital to reach its $30 trillion economy goal by 2047.

    What is the Financial Sector Assessment (FSA) Report?

    • Overview: It is a joint evaluation by the IMF and World Bank under the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), launched in 1999 to review a country’s financial stability and institutional soundness.
    • Objective: Assesses the resilience, inclusiveness, and stability of the financial system, analysing how well it supports sustainable and equitable growth.
    • Scope: Covers banks, NBFCs, insurance, capital markets, and payment systems, along with regulation, supervision, and crisis management frameworks.
    • Methodology: Uses stress tests, policy diagnostics, and supervisory assessments to evaluate financial soundness and regulatory effectiveness.
    • Frequency: Conducted every 5–7 years, tracking policy reforms and emerging risks in both advanced and emerging economies.

    Key Highlights: India’s FSA Report 2025

    • Improved Stability: Found India’s financial system more diversified, inclusive, and resilient than in 2017, aided by regulatory reforms.
    • Reform Success: Credited India for recovering from the 2010s banking crisis and COVID-19 shocks through RBI’s tighter supervision of banks and NBFCs.
    • Regulatory Strengthening: Praised the extension of RBI’s authority over cooperative banks and scale-based regulation for NBFCs.
    • Digital Financial Inclusion: Highlighted India’s UPI, Aadhaar, and Jan Dhan ecosystem as global benchmarks for financial access and gender inclusion.
    • Capital Market Expansion: Reported capital markets’ size rising from 144% to 175% of GDP since 2017, driven by investor confidence and strong infrastructure.
    • Policy Recommendations: Advised improving credit-risk management, developing conduct-risk oversight for mutual funds, and empowering self-regulatory bodies.
    • Private Capital Mobilization: Urged creation of credit-enhancement and securitization platforms to attract global long-term investors.
    • Strategic Vision: Emphasized that continued reforms, deeper markets, and financial integration are essential to achieving India’s $30 trillion economy goal by 2047.
    [UPSC 2015] Which one of the following issues the ‘Global Economic Prospects’ report periodically?
    Options:
    (a) The Asian Development Bank
    (b) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
    (c) The US Federal Reserve Bank
    (d) The World Bank*

     

  • [10th November 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Burden of proof: On electoral integrity

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2019] In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), what are the challenges before the Election Commission of India to ensure the trustworthiness of elections in India?

    Linkage: This PYQ highlights the core issue of electoral credibility and public trust, mirroring the current allegations of fake voters and data opacity. It reinforces the need for transparency, verifiable mechanisms, and institutional accountability within the Election Commission.

    Mentor’s Comment

    The article “Burden of Proof” brings to light the intensifying debate over the integrity of India’s electoral rolls following allegations by the Leader of the Opposition regarding fake or duplicate voters in Haryana’s 2024 Assembly election. This issue, though political on the surface, raises deep institutional and constitutional concerns about electoral transparency, systemic accountability, and public trust in the Election Commission of India (ECI). For UPSC aspirants, the piece is vital as it interlinks GS Paper 2 (Election Commission, Electoral Reforms, Transparency) and GS Paper 4 (Ethics in Public Institutions).

    Introduction

    Elections lie at the heart of Indian democracy, yet their credibility depends on the robustness of electoral rolls and the transparency of electoral processes. The recent allegations made by Rahul Gandhi regarding the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections, where he claimed over 25 lakh fake voters in the rolls, have reignited discussions around systemic lapses, procedural opacity, and institutional accountability within the Election Commission of India (ECI). The editorial underscores that while the secrecy of the vote is sacrosanct, the process of voting and verification must remain transparent and auditable to uphold electoral faith.

    What are the Allegations and Why Do They Matter?

    1. Mass duplication and fake entries: Rahul Gandhi alleged 25 lakh fake or duplicate voters, including 22 instances of the same woman’s photo used across different booths.
    2. Institutional manipulation: He claimed the manipulation benefited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and undermined the Opposition.
    3. Systemic failure: These charges indicate structural lapses rather than isolated incidents, raising doubts over ECI’s data integrity.

    How Has the Election Commission Responded?

    1. Technical defense: The ECI has relied on procedural arguments, stating that complaints must be raised within stipulated timelines or through election petitions.
    2. Opaque communication: Its defensive posture and tendency to veil electoral data under “voter privacy” have eroded public confidence.
    3. Avoidance of transparency: Despite being procedural sound, such a stance fails to address the perception of bias or inefficiency.

    Why is Transparency the Core Issue?

    1. Public trust: The ECI’s reluctance to release video footage or electoral roll details fuels suspicions of manipulation.
    2. Privacy vs. accountability: While vote choice must remain secret, voting activity and verification records should be open to scrutiny.
    3. Opacity breeds doubt: By invoking secrecy, the ECI restricts necessary transparency that could restore faith.

    What are the Larger Implications for Democracy?

    1. Erosion of institutional faith: Repeated controversies diminish the moral authority of the ECI.
    2. Systemic trust deficit: Procedural correctness without public communication and transparency undermines democracy’s ethical base.
    3. Global significance: As the world’s largest democracy, India’s electoral credibility carries symbolic importance for democratic legitimacy worldwide.

    Way Forward

    1. Release verifiable data: Publish booth-wise video recordings to prove that alleged duplicate voters did not actually vote multiple times.
    2. Differentiate between secrecy and verification: The act of voting should be private, but records of who voted (not how) can remain public.
    3. Independent scrutiny: A Special Intensive Revision (SIR) can strengthen the credibility of electoral rolls through third-party verification.

    Conclusion

    The editorial’s core argument is that democracy depends not merely on free voting but on verifiable fairness. While the vote’s secrecy is inviolable, the process’s secrecy is dangerous. Rebuilding trust in the Election Commission demands procedural transparency, data openness, and independent auditing mechanisms. Only through public access to verifiable information can the faith of the voter be restored in India’s electoral democracy.

  • Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO)

    Why in the News?

    China has rejected President Trump’s claim of secret nuclear tests, reaffirming its commitment to the CTBT amid renewed U.S. calls for nuclear testing and revived Cold War–style tensions.

    About Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO):

    • Establishment: Formed in 1996 under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to build and operate a verification regime ensuring compliance with the global ban on nuclear explosions.
    • Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
    • Mandate: To monitor adherence to the CTBT through a global verification system capable of detecting any nuclear test anywhere in the world.
    • Verification System: Operates the International Monitoring System (IMS) with 337 facilities, including seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound, and radionuclide stations to detect underground, underwater, or atmospheric nuclear tests.
    • Data Centre: The International Data Centre (IDC) analyses and distributes real-time data to member states, providing early warning of suspicious activities.
    • Preparatory Commission: Functions until the CTBT formally enters into force, maintaining operational readiness and supporting states’ verification capabilities.
    • Scientific Applications: The IMS also contributes to tsunami warning systems, atmospheric research, and disaster response, reinforcing the CTBTO’s global utility beyond disarmament.

    Back2Basics: How are CTBT and NPT related?

    • Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) are closely linked pillars of the global nuclear arms control regime:
      1. Shared Goal: Both aim to prevent nuclear proliferation and promote disarmament.
      2. Scope Difference: The NPT focuses on stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting peaceful nuclear use; the CTBT bans all nuclear explosions for any purpose.
      3. Chronological Link: The NPT (1970) came first, creating the legal framework for non-proliferation; the CTBT (1996) built on it by prohibiting testing, reinforcing the NPT’s disarmament pillar.
      4. Verification and Compliance: The CTBT adds technical verification through the International Monitoring System, complementing NPT’s safeguards under the IAEA.
      5. Disarmament Pathway: Ratification of the CTBT is often viewed as a key step toward fulfilling Article VI of the NPT, which obliges nuclear powers to pursue disarmament.

    Status of the Treaty and Ratification Gap:

    • Adoption: It was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1996 and opened for signature on September 24, 1996.
    • Membership: As of 2025, 187 states have signed and 178 have ratified the treaty.
    • Enforcement: It will become legally binding only after 44 specific “Annex 2” states, those with nuclear technology at the time ratify it.
    • Pending Ratifications: Eight critical states have not ratified the treaty- China, Egypt, Iran, Israel, and the United States (signatories but unratified), and India, Pakistan, and North Korea (non-signatories).
    • Recent Setback: In 2023, Russia revoked its ratification, though it continues to observe a testing moratorium, weakening the treaty’s political momentum.
    • Global Compliance: Despite legal limbo, a de facto moratorium on nuclear testing has largely held since the 1990s; only North Korea has violated it with tests since 2006.
    • Significance: The CTBT remains a cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime, its verification network providing both deterrence and transparency even without formal legal enforcement.
    [UPSC 2015] Consider the following countries:

    1.  China 2. France 3. India 4. Israel 5. Pakistan

    Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?

    (a) 1 and 2 only * (b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only  (c) 2, 4 and 5 only  (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5