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GS Paper: GS3

  • “Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves” initiative targets the 35 to 40% of India’s tigers living outside protected areas

    Why in the News

    The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s (MoEFCC) new “Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves” (TOTR) initiative addresses the 35 to 40% of India’s tiger population living outside formally protected areas. It is built on two pillars, conflict reduction and community coexistence, across 40 forest divisions in nine states.

    Pillars of the Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves (TOTR) initiative

    1. Conflict reduction: The first pillar focuses on reducing human-tiger conflict incidents in forest divisions where tigers range outside the boundaries of formally notified reserves.
    2. Community coexistence: The second pillar builds mechanisms for local communities to coexist with tigers present in shared, non-reserve landscapes, rather than treating their presence as purely a conservation enforcement problem.
    3. Coverage: The initiative spans 40 forest divisions across nine states, reflecting the geographic spread of India’s tiger population beyond reserve boundaries.

    Why does India need a policy specifically for tigers outside reserves?

    1. Population share at stake: With 35 to 40% of India’s tiger population living outside protected areas, conservation policy focused only on reserve boundaries misses a large share of the actual tiger population.
    2. Corridor dependence: Tigers outside reserves typically use forest corridors connecting reserves, and conflict in these corridors threatens the genetic connectivity between reserve populations.
    3. Land use pressure: Non-reserve forest divisions face agricultural and settlement pressure that formally protected reserves do not, making conflict management here structurally harder than inside a reserve.

    Conclusion

    1. The Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves initiative extends India’s tiger conservation focus beyond reserve boundaries to the corridors and shared landscapes where a large share of the tiger population actually lives. Its success will depend on whether conflict reduction and community coexistence measures can be sustained in areas without a reserve’s formal protection status.

    Back2Basics

    Conservation Status

    • IUCN Red List: Endangered (EN)
    • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I species (highest level of legal protection).
    • CITES: Appendix I.

    Tiger Reserves in India

    • Total Tiger Reserves: 58 (under the National Tiger Conservation Authority).
    • Largest Tiger Reserve: Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana).
    • Smallest Tiger Reserve: Bor Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra).
    • State with the most Tiger Reserves: Madhya Pradesh (9).
    • Latest Tiger Reserve: Madhav Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh), notified in 2025.

    Tiger Population

    • India’s tiger population increased from 1,411 (2006) to 3,682 (2022), reflecting the success of sustained conservation efforts under Project Tiger and landscape-based protection.
    • India is home to over 70% of the world’s wild tiger population, making it the global stronghold for tiger conservation.

    Project Tiger

    • Launched in 1973 by the Government of India to ensure a viable population of tigers in their natural habitats through habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, scientific monitoring, and community participation.

    National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

    • The NTCA is a statutory body established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (through the 2006 amendment) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
    • It formulates policies and standards for tiger conservation, oversees the management of Tiger Reserves, approves reserve notifications, and monitors implementation of Project Tiger across the country.

  • Over 70% of police personnel favour immunity for use of force, “Status of Policing in India 2025” finds

    Why in the News

    The “Status of Policing in India 2025” report finds that over 70% of police personnel favour immunity for using force without accountability. The report also flags that National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) custodial injury data is unreliable, undermining independent verification of police conduct.

    Why does the immunity preference expose an accountability gap?

    1. Majority preference: A 70% plus preference for immunity among serving police personnel indicates the demand for accountability protection is not a fringe view but a majority institutional stance.
    2. Data unreliability: If NCRB custodial injury data is unreliable, external oversight bodies cannot independently verify whether force used against civilians was proportionate, regardless of internal police attitudes.
    3. Compounding effect: An accountability averse police culture combined with unreliable official data on custodial injury creates a structure where excessive force is both preferred by personnel and difficult to prove externally.

    Conclusion

    1. The central idea is that police demand for immunity and unreliable custodial injury data reinforce each other, since neither internal culture nor official data currently supports independent verification of force used against civilians. Addressing this requires fixing NCRB data reliability before any accountability reform on use of force can be meaningfully enforced.

    Back2Basics

    National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB): Statutory body under the Ministry of Home Affairs that compiles crime and criminal justice statistics across India, including custodial injury and death data.

    1. India’s Rs 40,000 crore mine closure corpus opens a circular economy opportunity, but needs inter ministry coordination

      Why in the News

      India has accumulated a Rs 40,000 crore mine closure corpus, alongside the 2025 Mine Closure Guidelines, opening opportunities for circular economy activity and eco-tourism at exhausted mine sites. Realising this potential requires coordination across the Coal, Mines and Environment Ministries, a structure that does not currently exist.

      What does the Mine Closure Guidelines framework provide for?

      1. Corpus purpose: The Rs 40,000 crore corpus is built from contributions mining companies make toward the eventual environmental restoration of a mine site.
      2. Progressive closure: The 2025 guidelines push miners toward progressive closure, restoring parts of a mine as operations wind down rather than waiting until full exhaustion.
      3. Repurposing scope: Restored sites can potentially host circular economy activity, such as reprocessing mine waste, or be converted into eco-tourism destinations.

      Why does inter ministry coordination remain the binding constraint?

      1. Divided jurisdiction: Mine closure decisions touch the Ministry of Coal, the Ministry of Mines, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, each with separate approval processes.
      2. No single owner: No single ministry currently holds end to end responsibility for converting a closed mine site into a productive circular economy or tourism asset.
      3. Execution gap: The problem is not the availability of funds in the corpus, but the absence of an institutional mechanism to direct that money toward a repurposing plan across ministries.

      Conclusion

      The mine closure corpus and the 2025 guidelines create the financial and regulatory basis for circular economy and eco-tourism use of closed mine sites. Whether that potential is realised depends on whether the Coal, Mines and Environment Ministries build a coordinated execution mechanism, not on the size of the corpus itself.

      1. Rupee’s Real Effective Exchange Rate turns undervalued, more so than the yuan

        Why in the News

        India’s Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) has moved from overvalued, above 100 until mid-2025, to undervalued at around 91 in June 2026. The rupee is now more undervalued than China’s yuan, a shift driven by oil price volatility and the West Asia war.

        What is the Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER)?

        1. Definition: REER measures a currency’s value against a trade weighted basket of other currencies, adjusted for inflation differentials, with 100 as the base year benchmark.
        2. Above 100: A REER above 100 signals overvaluation, meaning the currency is more expensive than its trade weighted fair value, hurting export competitiveness.
        3. Below 100: A REER below 100 signals undervaluation, meaning exports become cheaper and more competitive in foreign markets.
        4. Current reading: The rupee’s REER at around 91 in June 2026 places it firmly in undervalued territory, a reversal from above 100 as recently as mid-2025.

        Why does rupee undervaluation matter now?

        1. Export competitiveness: An undervalued rupee makes Indian exports cheaper relative to competitors, a potential offset to the tariff pressure Indian exporters face from the United States.
        2. Oil price link: Volatility from the West Asia war affects oil import costs, which in turn move the rupee’s value against the dollar and the wider currency basket.
        3. Comparative position: The rupee being more undervalued than the yuan reverses a longstanding pattern where China’s currency was seen as the more actively managed, undervalued one.
        4. Policy dilemma: Sustained undervaluation aids exporters but raises import costs, including for oil, creating a trade off the Reserve Bank of India must weigh in its currency management.

        Conclusion

        The rupee’s shift from overvalued to undervalued reflects oil price and West Asia conflict volatility more than a deliberate policy choice. Whether this undervaluation becomes a durable export advantage or reverses with oil price stabilisation remains the open question.

      2. Madhya Pradesh farmers march to Bhopal demanding 100% moong procurement at MSP

        Why in News?

        Around 2,000 Madhya Pradesh farmers under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha marched to Bhopal demanding 100% moong procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP), against the current 25% cap under the central Price Support Scheme, along with fixes to fertiliser distribution.

        Key Highlights

        1. Scale: Around 2,000 farmers marched to Bhopal.
        2. Organiser: March organised under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha banner.
        3. Demand: 100% moong procurement at MSP, against the current 25% cap.
        4. Scheme cited: Current cap operates under the central Price Support Scheme.
        5. Additional demand: Fixes to fertiliser distribution.

        What is the Price Support Scheme (PSS)?

        1. A component of the PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan).
        2. Implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
        3. Provides physical procurement of notified pulses, oilseeds and copra at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) when market prices fall below MSP.
        4. Procurement is undertaken by Central Nodal Agencies in coordination with State governments.

        What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)?

        1. MSP is the minimum price at which the government purchases crops from farmers to protect them from sharp price declines.
        2. Recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and announced by the Central Government.
        3. MSP is currently announced for 23 crops.

        “[2018, GS3, 10 marks] What do you mean by Minimum Support Price (MSP)? How will MSP rescue the farmers from the low-income trap?”

        [2020] Consider the following statements:

        1.In the case of all cereals, pulses and oil-seeds, the procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) is unlimited in any State/UT of India.
        2.In the case of cereals and pulses, the MSP is fixed in any State/UT at a level to which the market price will never rise.

        Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
        a) 1 only
        b) 2 only
        c) Both 1 and 2
        d) Neither 1 nor 2

      3. ICMR-NICPR validates oral therapy SHetA2 to block HPV’s cancer causing proteins

        Why in News?

        The Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR) has validated an oral small molecule therapy, SHetA2, that blocks Human Papillomavirus (HPV)’s cancer causing proteins, potentially treating pre-cancerous and cancerous cervical lesions. The molecule has been transferred to Emcure for larger human trials.

          Key Highlights

          1. Therapy: SHetA2, an oral small molecule drug.
          2. Mechanism: Blocks HPV oncoproteins (E6 and E7), which drive cervical cancer development.
          3. Target: Designed to treat pre-cancerous (CIN) and cancerous cervical lesions.
          4. Validating body: ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR).
          5. Next stage: Technology transferred to Emcure for advanced human clinical trials.
          6. Significance: Represents a potential non-surgical, oral treatment for HPV-related cervical disease.

          What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?

          1. HPV is a common DNA virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes.
          2. It is transmitted mainly through sexual contact.
          3. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types, especially HPV-16 and HPV-18, is the leading cause of cervical cancer.
          4. HPV is also associated with cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, penis and oropharynx.

          How Does SHetA2 Work?

          1. Inhibits the activity of HPV’s E6 and E7 oncoproteins.
          2. Restores the function of tumour suppressor proteins (p53 and Rb), allowing abnormal cells to undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis).
          3. May help prevent progression from pre-cancerous lesions to invasive cervical cancer.

          Significance

          1. Offers a non-invasive oral treatment option for HPV-related cervical lesions.
          2. May reduce the need for surgical procedures in early-stage disease.
          3. Supports India’s efforts to reduce the burden of cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers among women.
          4. Demonstrates the growing role of indigenous biomedical research and public-private collaboration.

          Government Initiatives

          1. National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) includes cervical cancer screening.
          2. Introduction of Cervavac, India’s indigenous HPV vaccine, to expand cervical cancer prevention.
          3. Promotion of HPV vaccination, screening and early diagnosis under national health programmes.

          [2021] Consider the following statements:
          1. Adenoviruses have single-stranded DNA genomes whereas retroviruses have double-stranded DNA genomes.
          2. Common cold is sometime caused by an adenovirus whereas AIDS is caused by a retrovirus.
          Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

          [A] 1 only

          [B] 2 only

          [C] Both 1 and 2

          [D] Neither 1 nor 2

        1. All four dengue virus serotypes found co-circulating nationally, ICMR-VRDL study finds

          Why in News?

          A two year Indian Council of Medical Research-Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ICMR-VRDL) surveillance study finds all four dengue virus serotypes co-circulating nationally, raising hyperendemicity concerns and complicating future vaccine rollout.

            Key Highlights

            1. Study duration: Conducted over two years through nationwide surveillance.
            2. Conducting body: ICMR-Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) Network.
            3. Key concern: Simultaneous circulation of all serotypes indicates hyperendemicity, increasing the risk of severe dengue and complicating vaccine strategies.
              • Note: A serotype is a distinct subgroup or variation of a microorganism (such as a bacterium or virus) classified by the specific antigens found on its surface

            What is Dengue?

            1. Dengue is a viral disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV).
            2. It is transmitted by the female Aedes aegypti mosquito (also Aedes albopictus).
            3. The virus has four distinct serotypes: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4.
            4. Infection with one serotype provides lifelong immunity only against that serotype and temporary protection against the others.

            What is Hyperendemicity?

            1. Hyperendemicity refers to the simultaneous circulation of multiple serotypes of the same pathogen in a region.
            2. It increases the likelihood of secondary infections, which can lead to severe dengue due to Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE).

            About the ICMR-VRDL Network

            • Established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
            • Functions as a nationwide network for diagnosis, surveillance and research on viral diseases.
            • Supports early detection and monitoring of emerging and re-emerging viral infections.

            [2017] Consider the following statements:
            1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue.
            2. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible.
            Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

            [A] 1 only

            [B] 2 only

            [C] Both 1 and 2

            [D] Neither 1 nor 2

          1. India’s Record Exports in FY 2025-26

            Why in News?

            India recorded its highest-ever exports of US$ 863.1 billion in FY 2025-26, driven by strong merchandise and services exports and growing benefits from recent Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), particularly with the UAE, UK, Australia, Oman and EFTA.

            Key Highlights

            • Record exports: India’s total exports reached US$ 863.1 billion in FY 2025-26.
              • Merchandise exports: US$ 441.8 billion
              • Services exports: US$ 421.3 billion
            • Top FTA export destinations:
              • ASEAN: US$ 38.4 billion
              • UAE (CEPA): US$ 37.4 billion
              • SAFTA: US$ 25.8 billion
              • UK (CETA): US$ 13.4 billion
              • Singapore (CECA): US$ 11.9 billion
            • Recent FTAs boosted exports:
              • UAE CEPA: 4.45 lakh Certificates of Origin issued; export tariff lines increased from 7,546 to 8,053.
              • Australia ECTA: Certificates of Origin rose from 1,482 (FY21) to an average 45,500+ annually after implementation.
              • Mauritius CECPA: Export tariff lines increased by 20.9%.
              • Oman CEPA: June 2026 exports grew 54.7% month-on-month and 189.6% year-on-year.
              • India-EFTA TEPA: Over 7,885 Certificates of Origin issued since October 2025.
            • Labour-intensive sectors benefited most: Textiles & apparel, Leather & footwear, Gems & jewellery, Marine products, Carpets, Handicrafts, Agricultural products
            • Trade facilitation initiatives:
              • Trade e-Connect: Provides market intelligence, tariff information, Rules of Origin guidance and FTA advisory.
              • Trade Intelligence & Analytics (TIA) Portal: Offers commodity-wise trade analytics and real-time export monitoring.

            Significance

            • Diversifies export markets and products.
            • Enhances global value chain integration.
            • Boosts manufacturing and employment in labour-intensive industries.
            • Improves India’s competitiveness through preferential tariff access.

            [2023] Consider the following statements:
            Statement-I: India accounts for 3.2% of global export of goods.
            Statement-II: Many local companies and some foreign companies operating in India have taken advantage of India’s Production-linked Incentive’ scheme.
            Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

            [A] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-ll is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

            [B] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-l is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

            [C] Statement-l is correct but Statement-II is incorrect.

            [D] Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

          2. Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2026

            Why in News?

            NITI Aayog has released the second edition of the Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2026, providing a comprehensive assessment of the fiscal performance of Indian States during FY 2023–24. The report expands its coverage to include 10 North-Eastern and Himalayan States, in addition to the 18 major States assessed in the inaugural edition.

            Key Highlights

            • Expanded coverage: Evaluates 28 States (18 major States + 10 North-Eastern and Himalayan States).
            • Purpose: Measures the fiscal health of States using a transparent and data-driven framework.
            • Fiscal significance: States account for nearly two-thirds of public expenditure and about one-third of the general government debt.
            • Key finding: Most States recorded moderate fiscal performance, with significant variations across regions.
            • Recommendations: Improve own tax revenue, rationalise committed expenditure, strengthen capital expenditure, enhance public financial management, and ensure debt sustainability.

            What is the Fiscal Health Index (FHI)?

            • The Fiscal Health Index (FHI) is an annual report released by NITI Aayog to evaluate the fiscal performance of States using objective indicators. It promotes fiscal discipline, financial sustainability, and evidence-based policymaking while encouraging States to improve public financial management.

            Key Parameters of the Fiscal Health Index

            • Quality of Expenditure
            • Revenue Mobilisation
            • Fiscal Prudence
            • Debt Management

            Significance of the Fiscal Health Index

            • Encourages competitive and cooperative federalism.
            • Helps identify strengths and weaknesses in State finances.
            • Supports informed policy decisions and fiscal reforms.
            • Promotes sustainable public finances and efficient resource allocation.
            • Enhances transparency and accountability in fiscal governance.

            Challenges Highlighted by the Report

            • Low own tax revenue in several States.
            • High committed expenditure on salaries, pensions, and interest payments.
            • Rising debt burden in some States.
            • Limited fiscal space for developmental expenditure.
            • Regional disparities in fiscal performance.

          3. Cabinet’s National Investment Policy for Urea (NIPU) 2026

            Why in the News?

            The Union Cabinet has approved the National Investment Policy for Urea (NIPU) 2026, restructuring the return framework for urea manufacturers to attract fresh investment in domestic capacity. This comes against an annual urea subsidy bill of Rs 1,42,175.74 crore for 2025-26.

              What are the Pillars of the National Investment Policy for Urea (NIPU) 2026?

              1. Aim: The policy aims to encourage the establishment of new gas-based urea manufacturing plants across the country to reduce dependence on imports and bridge the gap between domestic production and demand.
              2. The National Investment Policy for Urea-2026 (NIPU-2026) rests on three core pillars: cost separation, assured returns, and foreign exchange risk mitigation.
              3. Return band: The policy sets a Return on Equity (ROE) band of 12 to 16 percent for new urea manufacturing investment.
              4. Cost restructuring: It restructures how production costs are calculated and reimbursed to manufacturers.
              5. Subsidy delivery: Distribution continues through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), credited after retailers confirm sale to farmers.
              6. Self-reliance objective: The stated goal is to reduce India’s dependence on imported urea by making domestic capacity commercially viable.

              Why does urea self-reliance remain unresolved despite this policy?

              1. Subsidy scale: The current annual subsidy bill of Rs 1,42,175.74 crore reflects the price gap between controlled retail urea prices and actual production cost.
              2. Investment history: Previous urea policy revisions have not sufficiently attracted new private investment in domestic plants.
              3. Import dependence: India continues to import a share of its urea requirement despite decades of subsidy support to domestic units.
              4. Farmer price link: Retail urea prices remain fixed for farmers regardless of the ROE band offered to manufacturers.

              Conclusion

              The National Investment Policy for Urea 2026 targets manufacturer incentives rather than farm gate prices, betting that better returns on investment will draw the domestic capacity that decades of subsidy alone did not. Whether the 12 to 16 percent ROE band is sufficient to shift investment decisions remains to be tested against actual capacity additions.

              Value Addition:

              Urea Subsidy Scheme:

              Urea fertiliser subsidy in India is a central government scheme where the state fixes a low Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of ₹242 per 45-kg bag for farmers, while the government pays the remaining high production or import cost directly to manufacturers.

              Scheme Mechanics

              1. Fixed MRP: Farmers pay a low, controlled price of ₹242 per 45-kg bag (excluding taxes and neem-coating charges).
              2. Government Payout: The center pays the difference between the actual high cost of making or importing urea and the low selling price directly to the factory owners.
              3. Control: The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers manages the policy and distribution across the country.

              PYQ Relevance

              [UPSC 2023] What are the direct and indirect subsidies provided to farm sector in India? Discuss the issues raised by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in relation to agricultural subsidies.

              Linkage: The PYQ examines India’s fertiliser subsidy regime and related WTO concerns. NIPU 2026 reforms urea subsidies to boost domestic production while retaining farmer subsidies, linking directly to agricultural subsidy debates.