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Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

Reviving civic engagement in health governance

op-ed snap | Social Justice | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education
[UPSC 2018] Appropriate local community level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All’ in India. Explain.

Linkage: Define “Health for All,” stress the role of community-level interventions, give examples, analyse challenges, and suggest improvements. The article illustrates this through doorstep schemes and participatory platforms like VHSNCs, showing both their potential and the need for empowered local engagement to achieve universal health coverage.

Mentor’s Note: As states roll out doorstep healthcare schemes like Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam in Tamil Nadu and Gruha Arogya in Karnataka, the delivery of medical services has never been closer to people’s homes. But are citizens equally close to influencing the policies that shape their health systems? This article examines the role, challenges, and future of civic engagement in India’s health governance, critical for UPSC aspirants studying governance, social justice, and public health policy.

Introduction:

The health sector in India has witnessed significant decentralisation and outreach in recent years, with state-level doorstep healthcare schemes targeting non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and improving last-mile service delivery. While these programmes mark a leap in proactive care, the real test of a healthy democracy lies in the citizens’ ability to meaningfully engage with health governance. Public participation affirms democratic values, improves accountability, and ensures policies reflect community realities. However, despite institutional mechanisms like Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) and Mahila Arogya Samitis, citizen participation remains sporadic and often symbolic.

The Subject of Citizen Engagement in Health Governance

Historically, health governance was a government-led function. However, it has evolved to include a diverse range of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, professional medical bodies, hospital associations, and trade unions. This multi-actor landscape underscores the need for robust civic participation.

The Rationale for Civic Engagement in Health Governance

  1. Democratic Empowerment: Affirms citizens’ rights and dignity in decision-making.
  2. Affirms self-respect and counters epistemic injustice: Ensures that the knowledge and lived experiences of communities are incorporated into policy-making.
  3. Accountability & Anti-Corruption: Inclusive participation challenges elite capture and opaque systems.
  4. Improved Health Outcomes: Fosters collaboration with frontline workers and enhances service uptake.
  5. Fosters collaboration and trust: Encourages mutual understanding between providers and communities.

Institutional Frameworks for Participation

  1. Rural Mechanisms: VHSNCs, Rogi Kalyan Samitis under NRHM (2005), with untied funds for local initiatives.
  2. Urban Platforms: Mahila Arogya Samitis, Ward Committees, NGO-led forums.
  3. Design Intent: Inclusion of women and marginalised groups, local problem-solving.

Committees that are involved in local health services:

  • Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) – Rural-level platforms under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), meant to involve communities in planning and monitoring local health services.
  • Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS) – Hospital/health facility–level bodies to manage resources and improve service delivery.
  • Mahila Arogya Samitis (MAS) – Women-led urban community groups under the National Urban Health Mission for health awareness and monitoring.
  • Ward Committees – Urban local body forums for community participation in service delivery, including health.
  • NGO-led Committees – Non-government platforms facilitating civic participation in health planning and monitoring.

Challenges to Effective Engagement

  1. Structural Issues
    1. Committees not formed in some areas; where present, plagued by: Ambiguous roles, Irregular meetings, Poor intersectoral coordination and Social hierarchies limiting participation
  1. Mindset Barriers
    1. Policymakers view communities as beneficiaries rather than rights-holders.
    2. Target-based evaluation such as the number of individuals reached overshadows participatory processes. It results in a system that prioritizes numerical targets over qualitative engagement.
    3. Dominance of medical professionals with little public health training. This leads to hierarchical and medicalized systems that are disconnected from community realities.
    4. Promotions based on seniority, not expertise.
  1. Resistance Factors
    1. Fear of accountability pressure.
    2. Regulatory capture by dominant interests.
    3. Unequal playing field in decision-making.

Consequences of Weak Engagement

  1. Communities resort to protests, legal actions, and media campaigns.
  2. Health inequities persist due to unaddressed structural barriers.
  3. Policy alienation reduces trust in public health systems.

The Way Forward: Two-Pronged Strategy

  1. Empowering Communities
    1. Information dissemination: Disseminate information on health rights & governance platforms.
    2. Fostering civic awareness: Civic awareness programmes and health literacy from school level.
    3. Intentional outreach: Targeted outreach to marginalised groups.
    4. Capacity building: Provide tools, training, and resources for effective participation.
  1. Sensitising Governance Actors
    1. Moving beyond blame: Shift perception from “poor awareness” to recognising structural determinants of health.
    2. Collaborative partnership: View communities as partners, not passive recipients.
    3. Activating platforms: Ensure platforms are functional, inclusive, and outcome-linked.

Conclusion:

Doorstep delivery of healthcare addresses physical accessibility, but without robust civic engagement, it risks becoming a one-way service delivery mechanism devoid of democratic accountability. True transformation requires communities to be seen and to see themselves, as co-creators of health systems, with institutional structures that are inclusive, functional, and empowered.

Value Addition- Extra Mile

Beneficiary model and a rights-holder model in health governance:

  • The beneficiary model perceives citizens as passive recipients of welfare schemes, where success is judged by coverage and numbers rather than the quality or inclusivity of service delivery.
  • In contrast, the rights-holder model positions people as active stakeholders with enforceable rights, capable of influencing health policies, demanding accountability, and shaping programmes to suit community needs.
  • In the Indian context, the predominance of the beneficiary mindset often results in top-down schemes, token participation, and limited empowerment, as seen in the functioning gaps of platforms like VHSNCs.
  • The rights-holder approach, by empowering communities with knowledge, tools, and representation, can foster participatory governance, address structural inequities, and improve health outcomes.
  • Way forward: Moving from a beneficiary to a rights-holder model requires mindset change among governance actors, strengthening community platforms, and embedding accountability mechanisms to ensure people are partners, not passive recipients, in health governance.

Key Concepts: 

  • Participatory Governance: A governance model where citizens actively shape decisions and policies; here, it means communities influencing health planning through platforms like VHSNCs rather than being passive recipients.
  • Epistemic Injustice – When certain voices or local knowledge are undervalued; in health governance, marginalised communities’ lived experiences are often ignored in policy decisions.
  • Elite Capture – When influential groups dominate participatory spaces; in health committees, medical professionals or local elites may overshadow ordinary citizens’ concerns.
  • Regulatory Capture – When regulatory bodies act in favour of dominant interests; in healthcare, policy and oversight may get skewed toward medical-industrial interests instead of community needs.

International Parallel: WHO’s Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) on “Health for All” emphasised community participation.

Quote for Enrichment: “Nothing about us without us” – slogan for participatory policy-making.

Mapping Micro-Themes:

Paper Micro Theme Example
GS-II Community participation in health VHSNCs, Mahila Arogya Samitis
GS-II Governance mindset shift/Citizen-Centric Administration Moving from beneficiary model to rights-holder model
GS-II and GS-III Health inequalities Marginalised groups lacking access
GS-II and

GS -IV

 Accountability in public health Preventing elite capture
GS-III Science and Technology (Health Tech) Health Information Systems and Data and Governance
GS-IV Ethics in governance Respecting agency and dignity
GS-IV Probity in governance Citizen engagement in reducing corruption and ensuring integrity in the health sector
GS-IV Empathy and Compassion Need for health administrators and to develop empathy for community realities and structural challenges

Practice Mains Question:

“Proactive healthcare delivery without participatory governance risks creating service dependency rather than empowerment.” Discuss with reference to recent state-level health initiatives in India. (250 words)

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Industrial Sector Updates – Industrial Policy, Ease of Doing Business, etc.

What will be the impact of Google antitrust case?

Explained | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth

The Google–Competition Commission of India (CCI), anti-trust case is a pivotal moment for India’s digital market regulation. It revolves around allegations that Google abused its dominant position in the Android ecosystem to indulge in anti-competitive practices, especially through mandatory Google Play Billing System (GPBS) usage and bundling of proprietary apps. The matter now rests with the Supreme Court, which will hear appeals from Google, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), and the Alliance Digital India Foundation (ADIF) in November 2025.

Background: The Core Dispute in Brief

CCI’s Key Findings (2022)

  1. Abuse of Dominance under Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2002.
  2. Mandatory use of Google Play Billing System (GPBS) for in-app purchases (15–30% commission).
  3. Self-preferencing — exempting YouTube from GPBS, giving it a cost advantage.
  4. Bundling of Google apps (Search, Chrome, YouTube) with Android licensing.
  5. Imposed a ₹936.44 crore fine and behavioural remedies (decoupling payment system, transparency in billing data, no use of developer data for competitive advantage).

Google’s Defence

  1. Open-Source Nature: Open-source Android with no obligation to install Google apps if the Play Store is not licensed.
  2. Pre-installation improves user experience and security.
  3. Security and User Experience: GPBS ensures fraud protection and global distribution reach.
  4. Exemptions for in-house services reflect different business models.
  5. Market Competition: Success of major Indian apps (like PhonePe and Paytm) on the Android platform as proof of competitive market

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) Ruling (March 2025)

  1. Upheld parts of CCI’s findings (bundling & GPBS abuse).
  2. Reduced penalty to ₹216.69 crore (proportionality principle).
  3. Struck down some remedies, reinstated two key transparency-related directions in review.

Broader Implications and Stakeholders

  1. Consumers: More choice and possibly lower in-app prices via alternative payment gateways; risk of Android ecosystem fragmentation.
  2. Indian Startups & Developers: Level playing field, competitive payment options, and stronger bargaining power against Big Tech.
  3. Smartphone Manufacturers (OEMs): Greater flexibility to pre-install own services or use alternative Android versions without losing Play Store access.
  4. Google & Global Tech: May need to re-evaluate global Android business model; could trigger similar regulations in other countries.
  5. Regulatory Bodies: Will define CCI’s role in digital market regulation and set precedent for balancing innovation, competition, and consumer rights.

Conclusion

The Google antitrust case is not just about app payments — it is about defining the rules of engagement in India’s platform economy. The Supreme Court’s verdict will influence how innovation, competition, and consumer rights are balanced in the digital age. It could either mark a new era of platform accountability or reinforce the status quo, shaping the way over a billion Indians interact with their smartphones

 

Value Addition:

Antitrust:

  • It refers to a set of laws and regulations designed to prevent monopolies, stop abuse of market dominance, and ensure fair competition in the market.
  • Purpose: Protect consumers, encourage innovation, and maintain a level playing field for businesses.
  • Example in India: The Competition Act, 2002, enforced by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), is India’s primary antitrust law
  • Example globally: The Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) in the U.S.
  • In simple words: Antitrust laws stop big companies from becoming so powerful that no one else can compete with them fairly.

 

Mapping Micro Themes

Subject Topic Name Micro Theme Example
GS Paper -II Regulatory Institutions Role, functions, and challenges of statutory bodies like CCI & quasi-judicial bodies like NCLAT CCI’s penalty on Google for abuse of dominance; NCLAT’s partial reversal
Government Policies Policy needs for digital governance & fair digital ecosystem Draft Digital Competition Bill; TRAI’s consultation on platform regulation
Judicial Intervention Role of judiciary in interpreting digital economy laws Supreme Court hearing Google–CCI appeal
GS Paper-III Competition Law Abuse of dominance, anti-competitive practices, cartelisation in the digital economy Google Play Billing System commission model
Digital Economy Impact of Big Tech on market structure, innovation, startups App developers’ reduced bargaining power due to Google’s policies
Innovation vs Regulation Balancing tech growth and preventing monopolistic behaviour CCI’s remedies vs Google’s claim of user experience efficiency
Digital Public Goods Need for open, fair ecosystems for inclusive growth UPI as an open-access payment system in contrast to GPBS
Platform Neutrality Equal treatment for all apps/services on digital platforms Ban on self-preferencing in EU’s Digital Markets Act

 

PYQ Linkage

[UPSC 2020] How is the Government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine from patenting by pharmaceutical companies?

Linkage: This question demands explaining legal, institutional, and international mechanisms (like TKDL, Patents Act provisions, WIPO engagement) that protect India’s traditional medicinal knowledge from unfair patenting. Similarly, in the Google–CCI case, India is using competition law and regulatory bodies to protect local digital market interests against global corporate dominance, ensuring fair competition and safeguarding the domestic innovation ecosystem.

 

Practice Mains Question:

“In the context of India’s Competition Act, 2002, discuss how the Google–CCI case reflects the challenges of regulating digital platform dominance. Suggest measures to balance innovation and market fairness.”

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Oil and Gas Sector – HELP, Open Acreage Policy, etc.

Assuaging concerns: On India and ethanol-blended fuel

Explained | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Introduction:

Ethanol blending with petrol, mixing ethyl alcohol derived from biomass with conventional fuel, began globally in response to the oil shocks of the 1970s, with countries like the U.S. and Brazil leading the way. In India, the push is driven by three key factors:

  1. Import substitution to save foreign exchange
  2. Price advantage compared to petrol
  3. Lower carbon footprint

The Government of India has set a target of 20% ethanol blending (E20) by 2025, aiming to save $10 billion annually in import costs. Yet, technical limitations, uneven economic benefits, and food security concerns demand a careful, transparent approach.

Rationale Behind Ethanol Blending in India

  1. Import Substitution: Reducing dependency on crude oil imports.
  2. Economic Benefit: Estimated savings of $10 billion annually.
  3. Environmental Considerations: Ethanol is considered carbon-neutral as the CO₂ emitted during combustion is offset by plant absorption during growth.
  4. Waste Utilisation: Use of C-heavy molasses, broken rice, and maize to avoid wastage and enhance rural income.

Economic and Agricultural Concerns

  1. Uneven Benefits:
    1. Farmers, traders, and distillers benefit differently: sugarcane-growing regions may profit disproportionately.
    2. Maize, being less water-intensive, is promoted for ethanol feedstock, but scaling up acreage and productivity has its limits.
  2. Food Security Risks: Initial use of non-edible or surplus produce avoids conflict, but once ethanol supply chains are entrenched, prioritising food over fuel during shortages may become politically difficult.
  3. Hidden Imports: Fertilizers and other agricultural inputs required for ethanol crops may lead to forex outflow, negating some import savings.

Technical and Engineering Challenges

  • Efficiency Penalty:
    1. Ethanol has lower energy density than petrol, leading to reduced fuel efficiency.
    2. Material durability issues: corrosion of fuel systems and engine parts.
  • Vehicle Compatibility:
    1. BS-II (since 2001) norms allow safe use up to E15.
    2. Vehicles sold since 2023 can handle E20, but older vehicles may face damage.
    3. Lack of consumer choice in fuel type is a concern.
  • International Experience:
    1. U.S. and Brazil’s long history shows ethanol blending is feasible with proper engineering, norms, and market flexibility.

Policy Framework and Transparency Issues

  1. India has two ethanol-specific fuel norms and is moving towards E27 (Brazil model).
  2. Price benefits not visible at fuel stations despite earlier claims.
  3. Absence of clear consumer disclosures on vehicle compatibility.
  4. Need for automakers to publish past model ethanol limits and mitigation measures.
  5. Insurance policies must cover ethanol-related damages.

Conclusion

Ethanol blending offers India a chance to reduce oil imports, utilise agricultural surplus, and move towards greener energy. However, policy success depends on technical readiness, transparency, equitable benefits, and food security safeguards. A balanced roadmap, combining engineering upgrades, farmer diversification, consumer choice, and global best practices, is essential for a sustainable ethanol economy.

 

Value Addition

Ethanol: Definition & Types

  • Ethanol: Ethyl alcohol (C₂H₅OH), a renewable biofuel produced by fermenting sugar/starch-based crops or cellulosic biomass.
  • Blended Fuel: Petrol mixed with ethanol in specific proportions (e.g., E10, E20, E27)

Key Facts for UPSC

  • National Policy on Biofuels 2018 (amended 2022): Advanced target for 20% blending (E20) by 2025–26 from 2030.
  • Sources in India: Sugarcane juice, C-heavy molasses, damaged food grains, maize, surplus rice.
  • Economic Impact: $10 billion/year projected forex savings with E20 blending (MoPNG & NITI Aayog’s joint report “Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020–25”)
  • Environmental Impact: Estimated reduction of 27 million tonnes CO₂/year at E20 (NITI Aayog’s 2021 roadmap document, calculated based on life-cycle emissions studies).

Global Comparisons

Country Current Blending Standard Notable Feature
Brazil E27 Long-standing flex-fuel vehicle ecosystem
USA E10–E15 Voluntary blending with incentives
India Target E20 by 2025–26 Mandatory programme via OMCs

Vehicle Compatibility Norms

  • BS-II (since 2001): Safe up to E15.
  • Since 2023: Vehicles designed for E20 compatibility.
  • Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs): Can run on any ethanol-petrol mix (0–100%).

Related Schemes & Initiatives

  • Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme: Launched 2003, scaled up post-2014.
  • PM–JIVAN Yojana: Supports 2G ethanol projects using lignocellulosic biomass.
  • SATAT Scheme: Promotes compressed bio-gas (CBG) as transport fuel.

 

Micro Theme Mapping

Paper Topic Micro Theme Example
GS Paper III Sustainable Development/Pollution Biofuel production from agricultural residues Ethanol from C-heavy molasses, broken rice under EBP Programme
GS Paper III Food–Fuel Debate Balancing ethanol feedstock with food security Maize promotion for ethanol with lower water footprint
GS Paper I Urbanisation- Urban Challenges Waste generation pressure in cities Indore’s waste segregation success
GS Paper IV Transparency Public disclosure in environmental compliance Automakers’ ethanol compatibility disclosures

 

PYQ Linkage

“[UPSC 2018] What are the impediments in disposing the huge quantities of discarded solid wastes which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment?

Linkage: India’s solid waste disposal is hampered by poor segregation, inadequate processing plants, and weak enforcement of rules. Toxic waste removal suffers from limited treatment capacity and high costs. Solutions include scientific landfills, incineration, bioremediation, and EPR. Waste-to-energy projects like ethanol from crop residues show sustainable disposal in action.

 

Practice Mains Question

  1. Critically analyse the potential of ethanol blending as a sustainable fuel solution for India. Discuss the associated challenges in terms of technology, agriculture, and policy transparency.

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Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.

[pib] MSS+ Technology in Road Construction

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: S&T - Applications In Everyday Life

Why in the News?

The CSIR–Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi, has developed MSS+ (Modified Mix Seal Surfacing Plus) technology for eco-friendly, durable, and low-cost road surfacing.

About MSS+ Technology:

  • Developer: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research – Central Road Research Institute (CSIR–CRRI), New Delhi.
  • Year of Development: 2021 (in collaboration with J.M.V.D. Industries).
  • Pilot Project: First road in Uttar Pradesh built near Lucknow in 2022; Used for 202 km of roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in 2025.
  • Composition: Crushed natural aggregate, customised modified bitumen emulsion, mineral admixture.
  • Preparation: Mix made at ambient temperature, eliminating heating of aggregate or bitumen.
  • Laying: 25–30 mm thickness using conventional asphalt pavers.

Benefits Offered:

  • Eco-Friendly: No thermal process → significantly reduces carbon emissions.
  • Durable: Provides strong wearing course, enhanced skid resistance, and prevents water infiltration.
  • Cost-Effective: Reduced energy requirement lowers construction costs.
  • All-Weather Use: Can be laid in varied weather conditions due to ambient temperature application.
[UPSC 2020] In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint?

1. Copper slag 2. Cold mix asphalt technology 3. Geotextiles 4. Hot mix asphalt technology 5. Portland cement

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

 

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Foreign Policy Watch: United Nations

Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3)

IOCRworld map | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Important International Institutions

Why in the News?

The 3rd UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in Awaza, Turkmenistan, adopted the Awaza Declaration to boost investment, address challenges, and promote sustainable growth in 32 landlocked nations.

Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3)

About Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs):

  • Overview: 32 UN-recognized countries with no direct access to the sea, collectively home to over 600 million people.
  • List of LLDCs:
    1. Africa: Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
    2. Asia: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
    3. Europe: Armenia, Azerbaijan, North Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia.
    4. South America: Bolivia, Paraguay.
  • Challenges:
    • Dependence on transit countries for global market access.
    • Higher trade and transport costs (often twice those of coastal countries).
    • Limited connectivity, slower growth, and vulnerability to climate impacts.
  • Past Conferences:
    • 2003 (Almaty) – Almaty Programme of Action.
    • 2014 (Vienna) – Vienna Programme of Action (2014–2024).
    • 2025 (Awaza) – Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034).

Structure and Functioning:

  • LLDC Conferences: Held every 10 years to review progress and set a new action framework.
  • Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034) – Priority Areas:
    • Structural transformation, science, technology, and innovation.
    • Trade facilitation and regional integration.
    • Transit, transport, and connectivity.
    • Climate resilience and adaptation.
    • Monitoring and implementation.
  • Stakeholder Participation:
    • UN member states, transit countries, donor agencies, NGOs, private sector, and academia.
  • Mechanisms:
    • UN-wide monitoring framework covering 323 initiatives.
    • Partnerships for infrastructure and digital connectivity.
    • Climate Negotiating Group under UNFCCC for LLDC-specific challenges.
[UPSC 2013] Which one of the following countries is landlocked?

Options:  (a) Bolivia* (b) Peru (c) Suriname (d) Uruguay

 

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Global Geological And Climatic Events

In news: Dardanelles Strait

Prelims Onlyworld map | Geography | Mains Paper 1: Geographical Features & Their Location

Why in the News?

The Dardanelles Strait in northwestern Turkey has been temporarily closed to maritime traffic due to forest fires near Canakkale, prompting evacuations and firefighting operations.

About Dardanelles Strait:

  • Location: Northwestern Turkey; separates Gallipoli Peninsula (Europe) from Troad/Biga Peninsula (Asia).
  • Connection: Links Aegean Sea → Sea of Marmara → Bosporus → Black Sea.
  • Dimensions: Length 61 km, width 1.2–6.5 km, average depth 55 m, max depth 103 m.
  • Historical Name: Hellespont, named after mythical princess Helle; current name from ancient city of Dardanus.
  • Currents: Surface current flows from Sea of Marmara to Aegean; saline undercurrent in reverse.
  • Ports: Gallipoli, Eceabat, Çanakkale.

Strategic & Economic Importance:

  • Part of Turkish Straits system with Bosporus; only maritime link between Black Sea and Mediterranean.
  • Critical for Black Sea nations’ trade (Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, etc.).
  • Major route for grain, oil, energy shipments from Black Sea region to global markets.
  • Governed by Montreux Convention (1936) for warship passage.
  • Vital for NATO naval strategy and maritime security.
[UPSC 2008] Through which one of the following Straits does a tunnel connect the United Kingdom and France?

Options: (a) Davis Strait (b) Denmark Strait (c) Strait of Dover* (d) Strait of Gibraltar

 

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The Crisis In The Middle East

Gaza War Impact on IMEC

Places in newsPrelims Only | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

Why in the News?

India’s National Security Council Secretariat recently hosted envoys from the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, Germany, Israel, Jordan, and the EU to review progress on the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

Gaza War Impact on IMEC

About IMEC Project:

  • Part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) for developing connectivity in emerging regions.
  • MoU signed on 10 September 2023 at the G20 New Delhi Summit.
  • Members: India, US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, European Union.
  • Aim: Integrate Asia, Middle East, and Europe to boost transport efficiency, reduce costs, create jobs, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen economic unity.
  • Structure:
    • East Corridor: India to Arabian Gulf.
    • Northern Corridor: Gulf region to Europe.
  • Key Ports:
    • India – Mundra, Kandla, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Mumbai).
    • Middle East – Fujairah, Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Ras Al Khair.
    • Israel – Haifa.
    • Europe – Piraeus, Messina, Marseille.
  • Infrastructure includes: Railway links, ship-to-rail hubs, roads, electricity cables, hydrogen pipelines, and high-speed data cables.

Impact of Gaza War:

  • Derailed work: Conflict from late 2023 halted stakeholder meetings and derailed western leg (Middle East–Europe) progress.
  • Jordan–Israel relations at historic low; Saudi–Israel normalisation stalled.
  • Regional rivalries (e.g., Saudi–UAE trade competition) hinder unified operational planning.

Significance:

  • Economic: EU is India’s largest trading partner; corridor promises faster, cheaper trade with reduced emissions.
  • Strategic: Strengthens India’s role in West Asia and positions it as a connector between Europe and the Middle East.
  • Energy & Technology: Potential for clean hydrogen pipelines, electricity and data cable links.
  • Resilience: Provides alternative to Red Sea shipping routes vulnerable to disruptions.
[UPSC 2025] India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect:

Options: (a) India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran* (b) India to Central Asia via China (c) India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar (d) India to Europe through Azerbaijan

 

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Tribes in News

In news: Kerala’s Muthuvan Tribe

Prelims Only | Indian Society | Mains Paper 1: Salient features of Indian Society

Why in the News?

The Muthuvan Adivasi Samudaya Sangam organised a convention on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

In news: Kerala’s Muthuvan Tribe

About Muthuvan Tribe:

  • Location: Indigenous tribe recognized as STs of the Anaimalai Hills (Kerala & Tamil Nadu); concentrated in Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur districts.
  • Etymology: Name means “one who carries weight on the back”, linked to migration from Madurai carrying children and the king.
  • Origins: Traced to the Pandya Kingdom; divided into Malayalam Muthuvan and Pandi Muthuvan dialect groups.
  • Settlements: “Kudis” deep in hill forests; houses made from reeds, leaves, mud.
  • Population: Around 15,000–25,000; among Kerala’s least educated tribes.
  • Governance: Kani System (village headman) and Chavadis (dormitory for unmarried youth).

Distinct Features:

  • Language: Tamil-related dialect; endangered; preservation efforts underway.
  • Livelihood: Traditionally shifting cultivation (“Virippukrishi”); now grow cardamom, ginger, pepper, lemongrass.
  • Religion: Animism & spirit worship; reverence for Subramanya, Hindu deities, and Kannagi tradition.
  • Customs: Matrilineal descent, tribe endogamy & clan exogamy; collective eating (“koodithinnuthu”); herbal medicine knowledge kept within tribe.
  • Culture: Distinct attire; strong ecological ethics, harmonious forest–wildlife coexistence.
  • Festivals: Thai Pongal is main religious & harvest festival.
[UPSC 2014] Which one of the following statements is not correct about Scheduled Tribes in India?

(a) There is no definition of the Scheduled Tribe in the Constitution of India. (b) North-East India accounts for a little over half of the country’s tribal population. (c) The people known as Todas live in the Nilgiri area. (d) Lotha is a language spoken in Nagaland

 

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