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Food Procurement and Distribution – PDS & NFSA, Shanta Kumar Committee, FCI restructuring, Buffer stock, etc.

[19th Septmeber 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Equalising Primary Food Consumption in India

op-ed snap | Art and Culture | Mains Paper 3: PDS, Buffer Stock & Food Security

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2019] What are the reformative steps taken by the Government to make food grain distribution system more effective?

Linkage: The article’s proposal to restructure the PDS by trimming excess cereal entitlements and expanding pulse distribution directly links with UPSC 2019’s question. It highlights how reformative steps—like targeted subsidies, rationalised stocking by FCI, and focus on nutritional security beyond cereals—can make the food grain distribution system more effective. Thus, it connects poverty reduction with sustainable and equitable food security reforms.

Mentor’s Comment

The recent NSS household consumption survey, coupled with World Bank estimates, has painted a contrasting picture of India’s poverty and food deprivation. While global narratives celebrate the near-eradication of extreme poverty, ground-level consumption data tells a more sobering story, half of rural India still struggles to afford two simple thalis a day. This article unpacks the deeper meaning of food security beyond calorie intake, critiques the existing Public Distribution System (PDS), and explores how restructuring subsidies, especially towards pulses, can equalise food consumption in India. For UPSC aspirants, the debate is not only about statistics but also about welfare priorities, distributional justice, and the role of the state in ensuring dignified living standards.

Introduction

India has long battled poverty and hunger, but the release of the 2024 NSS Household Consumption Survey and the World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Brief (2025) has reshaped the debate. The World Bank report claims that extreme poverty has fallen from 16.2% in 2011-12 to just 2.3% in 2022-23, a historic achievement if true. Yet, when food consumption is measured through the “thali index” rather than calorie-based poverty lines, stark disparities emerge: 50% of rural India and 20% of urban India could not afford two thalis a day in 2023-24. This contradiction raises a crucial policy question—how can India ensure not just calorie intake but nutritional adequacy and equal access to primary food consumption?

The contrasting narratives of poverty in India

  1. World Bank Estimate: Extreme poverty has “virtually disappeared,” with only 2.3% living below $2.15/day.
  2. Thali Index Reality: Despite rising incomes, half of rural India could not afford two balanced meals (thalis) daily in 2023-24.
  3. Deprivation Gap: The difference arises because food is residual expenditure after households spend on essentials like rent, health, and transport.

Why measure poverty through the thali meal?

  1. Beyond Calories: Traditional poverty lines only measure calorific intake, ignoring nutrition and satisfaction.
  2. Balanced Meal: A thali (rice, dal, roti, vegetables, curd, salad) represents a self-contained, nutritious unit of food consumption.
  3. Cost Factor: Crisil estimates a home-cooked thali costs â‚ą30. Many households fall short of affording even two thalis/day per person.

How effective is the Public Distribution System?

  1. Food Deprivation with PDS: Even after including PDS food supplies, deprivation persists—40% rural and 10% urban cannot afford two thalis daily.
  2. Subsidy Distribution: In rural India, a person in the 90–95% expenditure class receives 88% of the subsidy given to the poorest 5%, despite much higher consumption capacity.
  3. Urban Progressivity: The PDS is more progressive in urban areas, but still, 80% receive subsidised or free food, including those not in need.

Why are cereals not enough

  1. Equalised Cereal Consumption: Both the poorest and richest consume similar amounts of rice and wheat, showing PDS success but also its limits.
  2. Expenditure Share: Cereals now account for only 10% of average household expenditure, so increasing cereal subsidy has diminishing returns.
  3. Need for Protein: Pulses consumption is half in the poorest 5% compared to the richest 5%, highlighting protein inequality.

Policy path: Equalising food consumption through pulses

  1. Expand PDS Coverage: Redirect subsidies towards pulses, the main protein source for many Indians.
  2. Rationalise Cereals Subsidy: Trim excess rice/wheat entitlements, especially for better-off groups, reducing stocking costs for FCI.
  3. Compact and Targeted PDS: By focusing on pulses and eliminating subsidies beyond the “two thali/day” norm, the system becomes both cost-effective and equitable.
  4. Global Significance: Achieving equalised food consumption across social classes would be a unique welfare success story worldwide.

Conclusion

The thali index reveals a hidden crisis of food deprivation that headline poverty numbers obscure. While cereal consumption has been equalised through decades of PDS efforts, the next frontier lies in ensuring protein security via pulses distribution. Rationalising subsidies and targeting them effectively can not only optimise public spending but also equalise primary food consumption across India, a feat that would stand as a benchmark in global welfare policy.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough

How the DeepSeek-R1 AI model was taught to teach itself to reason

Explained | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

Introduction

Reasoning, the ability to reflect, verify, self-correct, and adapt, has historically been considered uniquely human. From mathematics to moral decision-making, reasoning shapes every facet of human civilisation. Large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 have shown glimpses of reasoning, but these were achieved with human-provided examples, introducing cost, bias, and limits. In September 2024, researchers at DeepSeek unveiled their model R1, which demonstrated reasoning through reinforcement learning (trial and error with rewards), without supervised fine-tuning. This represents a paradigm shift in how machines may learn, reason, and potentially evolve intelligence.

Why is DeepSeek-R1 in the News?

For the first time, an AI model has taught itself to reason without human-crafted examples. The results were dramatic: DeepSeek-R1 improved from 15.6% to 86.7% accuracy in solving American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) problems, even surpassing the average performance of top human students. It also demonstrated reflection (“wait… let’s try again”) and verification—human-like traits of reasoning. The scale and quality of progress mark this as a milestone in AI research, contrasting sharply with traditional methods that heavily relied on human-labelled data.

What is Reinforcement Learning in AI?

  1. Definition: Reinforcement learning (RL) is a trial-and-error method where a system receives rewards for correct answers and penalties for wrong ones.
  2. DeepSeek’s Application: Instead of providing reasoning steps, the model was only rewarded for correct final answers.
  3. Outcome: Over time, R1 developed reflective chains of reasoning, dynamically adjusting “thinking time” based on task complexity.

How Did DeepSeek-R1 Achieve Self-Reasoning?

  1. R1-Zero Phase: Started with solving maths/coding problems, producing reasoning inside <think> tags and answers in <answer> tags.
  2. Trial-and-Error Learning: Wrong reasoning paths were discouraged, correct ones reinforced.
  3. Emergence of Reflection: Model started using “wait” or “let’s try again,” indicating self-correction.

What Were the Major Successes?

  1. Mathematical Benchmarks: R1-Zero improved from 15.6% to 77.9%, and with fine-tuning, to 86.7% on AIME.
  2. General Knowledge & Instruction Following: 25% improvement on AlpacaEval 2.0 and 17% on Arena-Hard.
  3. Efficiency: Adaptive thinking chains—shorter for easy tasks, longer for difficult ones—conserving computational resources.
  4. Alignment: Improved readability, language consistency, and safety.

What Are the Limitations and Risks

  1. High Energy Costs: Reinforcement learning is computationally expensive.
  2. Human Role Not Fully Eliminated: Open-ended tasks (e.g., writing) still require human-labelled data for reward models.
  3. Ethical Concerns: Ability to “reflect” raises risks of generating manipulative or unsafe content.
  4. Need for Stronger Safeguards: As AI reasoning grows, so does the risk of misuse.

Why Does this Matter for the Future of AI?

  1. Reduces Dependence on Human Labour: Cuts costs and addresses exploitative conditions in data annotation.
  2. Potential for Creativity: If reasoning can emerge from incentives, could creativity and understanding follow?
  3. Shift in AI Training Paradigm: From “learning by example” to “learning by exploration.”
  4. Global Implications: Impacts education, coding, mathematics, governance, and ethics of AI.

Conclusion

DeepSeek-R1 marks a turning point in AI evolution. By demonstrating reasoning through reinforcement learning alone, it challenges the notion that human-labelled data is indispensable. Yet, this very capability opens new debates—about creativity, autonomy, and control. For policymakers and citizens alike, the task is to harness AI’s promise while ensuring safety, fairness, and ethical integrity.

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2023] Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does Al help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of Al in healthcare?

Linkage: The breakthrough of DeepSeek-R1 shows how AI can now reason through reinforcement learning without human-labelled data, making it more efficient and adaptive. Such reasoning ability can enhance clinical diagnosis by enabling AI to self-correct and refine decision-making in complex medical cases. However, as with healthcare AI generally, the privacy threat persists if sensitive patient data is fed into models without strong safeguards.

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Foreign Policy Watch: India-China

Should India overlook boundary issues while normalizing ties with China?

Explained | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: India & Its Neighborhood - Relations

Introduction

The India-China relationship has historically oscillated between cautious cooperation and sharp confrontation. The latest Modi–Xi meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit reopened bilateral trade, air connectivity, and emphasised peace at the border. Yet, the memory of the 2020 Galwan clashes looms large. At stake is the central question: Can India afford to set aside the boundary dispute for the sake of wider cooperation, or would that compromise its strategic autonomy and long-term security?

Why is this debate in the news?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s China visit marks the first high-level attempt in five years to restore normalcy after Galwan. The move is significant as it reflects India’s willingness to restart engagement despite recent military tensions and China’s continued strategic partnership with Pakistan. The revival of trade and connectivity signals pragmatism, but it raises the question of whether unresolved boundary tensions can remain compartmentalised. This sharp contrast with the hostility of recent years makes the issue both urgent and unprecedented.

Can India normalise ties without resolving the boundary issue?

  1. Historical Precedent (1988, 1990s): Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to Beijing in 1988 initiated the idea of cooperation in other domains while border talks continued separately. Both sides agreed to maintain peace and tranquility along the LAC despite unresolved sovereignty disputes.
  2. Galwan Disruption (2020): The deadly clash exposed the fragility of this arrangement and highlighted China’s aggressive posture, a setback far greater than earlier skirmishes.
  3. Current Diplomatic Push: Since 2020, both countries have restored disengagement through buffer zones, with the 2024 Border Patrol Agreement marking an important breakthrough, including restoration of patrol rights in Demchok and Depsang.

What explains China’s actions and insecurities?

  1. Article 370 Effect: Chinese analysts linked Galwan to India’s constitutional move in Jammu & Kashmir, which Beijing opposed.
  2. Economic Competition: During the U.S.-China trade war, Beijing feared India aligning with Washington to grab supply-chain opportunities.
  3. India’s Growth Factor: China increasingly perceives India’s demographic dividend and economic rise as a potential threat, at a time when its own population is shrinking.
  4. Manufacturing Prowess: Despite insecurities, China’s dominance is overwhelming—accounting for 45% of global manufacturing output, highlighted by India’s Economic Survey 2024-25.

How fragile is the current normalisation?

  1. Possibility of Galwan-2: Any fresh military clash could derail progress entirely, as mistrust remains deep-rooted.
  2. Chinese Perception of India: Beijing no longer treats India as a peer but as a regional player to be managed, often subordinated to its ties with Pakistan.
  3. Infrastructure Build-up: China continues rapid military expansion on the Tibetan plateau, forcing India to invest heavily in its own LAC infrastructure.
  4. Diplomatic Asymmetry: Even as dialogue continues, China shows little real interest in a final border settlement.

Can India-China cooperation coexist with China’s South Asia strategy?

  1. China’s Trilateral Mechanisms: Beijing is building frameworks like Pakistan-China-Afghanistan and Pakistan-China-Bangladesh, which aim to sideline India.
  2. Strategic Rivalry: China views India as a long-term competitor; India counters with its own diplomatic cards.
  3. Interdependence Factor: Despite rivalry, both economies remain connected—India dependent on China’s manufacturing, and China wary of India’s market potential.

Conclusion

India cannot afford to overlook the boundary issue entirely, as sovereignty and security form the bedrock of foreign policy. Yet, pragmatic engagement, through trade, connectivity, and multilateral platforms, remains equally important. A calibrated approach that safeguards territorial integrity while leveraging cooperation where possible may be the most realistic path forward.

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2014] With respect to the South China Sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and ever flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China.

Linkage: The South China Sea tensions highlight China’s assertive behaviour in territorial disputes, which parallels its aggressive stance on the India-China boundary issue, especially after Galwan. Just as freedom of navigation is contested in the maritime domain, peace and tranquility along the LAC is fragile despite agreements like the 2024 Border Patrol pact. Thus, bilateral issues centre on sovereignty, security dilemmas, and China’s attempts to limit India’s strategic space in both continental and regional contexts.

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Iran’s Nuclear Program & Western Sanctions

US revokes sanctions waiver on Chabahar Port

Prelims Only | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Effect Of Policies & Politics Of World On India'S Interests

Why in the News?

The U.S. has ended the 2018 waiver that let India use Iran’s Chabahar Port for Afghanistan’s reconstruction, revoking it within 10 days.

US revokes sanctions waiver on Chabahar Port

About Chabahar Port:

  • Location: Deep-water port in Sistan-Baluchistan province of Iran, on the Gulf of Oman at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Unique Feature: The only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian Ocean.
  • Distances: Kandla Port, Gujarat – 550 nautical miles, Mumbai – 786 nautical miles from Chabahar.
  • Structure: Comprises Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari terminals.
  • Connectivity Potential: Its proximity to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India and position on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) gives it the ability to become a major commercial hub.
  • INSTC: A multi-modal route linking the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran, and onward to northern Europe via Russia.

India’s Engagements for Chabahar Port:

  • Tripartite Agreement (2016): India, Iran, and Afghanistan agreed to develop the Shahid Beheshti terminal, marking India’s first foreign port project.
  • Infrastructure Goals: Develop the port and build a rail line to Zahedan, bypassing Pakistan to reach Afghanistan and Central Asia.
  • Recent Developments: In May 2024, India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) signed a 10-year lease to operate Shahid Beheshti.
  • Commitments: India pledged $120 million in equipment and a $250 million credit line.
  • Operations: India supplied 6 harbour cranes; facilitated shipments of 2.5 million tonnes of wheat and 2,000 tonnes of pulses to Afghanistan.

Implications of US Sanctions for India:

  • Economic Setback: Jeopardises India’s â‚ą200 crore investment and future projects.
  • Connectivity Loss: Cuts India’s only direct maritime gateway to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and INSTC.
  • Strategic Impact: Weakens India’s counter to China’s Gwadar Port in Pakistan under CPEC.
  • Diplomatic Strain: Risks tensions with Iran (strategic partner) and the United States (major trade partner).
  • Operational Challenges: Sanctions may deter shippers, insurers, and suppliers, slowing port activity.
[UPSC 2017] What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?

Options: (a) India’s trade with African countries will enormously increase.

(b) India’s relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened.

(c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia *

(d) Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India

 

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7 Natural Heritage Sites from India added to UNESCO’s Tentative List

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

Why in the News?

Seven natural heritage sites from India were added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites, raising India’s tally from 62 to 69 places.

About the 7 newly added UNESCO Tentative List Sites:

Site

Detailed Facts
Deccan Traps (Panchgani & Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra) • One of the world’s largest volcanic provinces (~66 mya)
• Basalt lava flows covering ~500,000 sq. km
• Step-like “trap” topography, fossil beds, red bole layers
• Linked to end-Cretaceous mass extinction
• Part of Western Ghats; within Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary
St. Mary’s Island Cluster (Udupi, Karnataka) • Four islands in Arabian Sea near Udupi
• Famous for hexagonal/polygonal rhyolitic lava columns (~85–88 mya)
• Formed during breakup of India–Madagascar
• Declared National Geo-heritage Monument (2016)
• Rare acidic lava formations, unique in India
Meghalayan Age Caves (East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya) • Mawmluh Cave is type locality for Meghalayan Age (~4,200 years ago)
• Records global drought event in late Holocene
• Meghalaya has longest sandstone cave (Krem Puri – 24.5 km)
• Karst systems preserve stalagmites, paleoclimate archives
• Culturally significant to Khasi tribes; threatened by mining
Naga Hill Ophiolite (Nagaland) • 200 km belt of uplifted oceanic crust & mantle rocks
• Composed of gabbro, peridotite, basalt
• Formed at supra-subduction / mid-ocean ridge zones
• Later thrust onto Indian continental plate
• Only major ophiolite exposure in India; National Geological Monument
Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Hills, Andhra Pradesh) • Quaternary-age coastal red sand mounds (~12,000–18,500 years old)
• Spread over 5 km near Visakhapatnam
• Derived from ancient Khondalite rocks
• Record climate shifts, sea-level oscillations, monsoon history
• Mesolithic–Neolithic artefacts found; National Geo-heritage Monument
Tirumala Hills (Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh) • Famous for Eparchaean Unconformity (1.5 billion-year gap)
• Boundary between Archaean gneiss & Proterozoic quartzites
• Hosts Silathoranam natural arch, rare erosional landform
• Hills rise to ~900 m; part of Cuddapah Basin
• Combines geological, tectonic, and spiritual significance
Varkala Cliff (Kerala) • Coastal cliff escarpment up to 80 m high
• Exposes Mio-Pliocene Warkalli Formation (1.3–25 mya)
• Fossiliferous sedimentary rocks beside sea (rare in India)
• Natural springs and aquifers emerge from cliff face
• Declared National Geological Monument; major tourism hub (Papanasam Beach)

Back2Basics: UNESCO’s Tentative List

  • What is it: An inventory of cultural and natural sites that a member country plans to nominate for future World Heritage status.
  • Requirement: A site must stay on this list for at least one year before nomination.
  • Purpose: Allows UNESCO to assess Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and plan conservation.
  • Note: Not all sites on the Tentative List become World Heritage Sites.
  • World Heritage Sites (WHS): Cultural, natural, or mixed sites recognised under the 1972 World Heritage Convention for their OUV.
  • Categories of WHS:
    • Cultural: Temples, monuments, forts, archaeological remains.
    • Natural: National parks, caves, biodiversity zones.
    • Mixed: Sacred landscapes with both cultural and natural value.
  • 10 Criteria for Selection: A site must satisfy at least one of these:
    • Cultural (i–vi): Masterpiece of human genius; interchange of values; unique cultural testimony; outstanding architecture/landscape; example of settlement/land use; linked to events, traditions, or ideas of universal significance.
    • Natural (vii–x): Exceptional natural beauty; example of Earth’s history; ecological or biological processes; key habitats for in-situ biodiversity conservation and threatened species.
  • India: It is currently a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (2021–2025 term); Has 42 World Heritage Sites (34 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed).
[UPSC 2024] Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO:

1. Shantiniketan 2. Rani-ki-Vav 3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas 4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya

How many of the above properties were included in 2023?

Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two* (c) Only three (d) All four

 

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Historical and Archaeological Findings in News

National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal

Prelims Only | Art and Culture | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

Why in the News?

The PM has recently inspected the progress of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in the Ahmedabad district.

dhol.jpg

About National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal:

  • Location: Lothal, Ahmedabad district, Gujarat, in the Bhal region near the Gulf of Khambhat.
  • Developer: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India.
  • Objective: To showcase India’s 5,000-year-old maritime history, especially the role of Lothal as the world’s earliest dockyard during the Indus Valley Civilization.
  • Historical Significance of Lothal:
    • Built around 2200 BCE as a major Harappan trade and craft centre for beads, gems, and ornaments.
    • Lothal in Gujarati means “Mound of the Dead”, similar to Mohenjo-daro.
    • Excavated by S.R. Rao (1955–1960).
    • Dockyard confirmed through studies (size: 222 x 37 m), once linked with Sabarmati’s old course.
    • Evidence of Lock Gates and Sluice System to regulate flow of water.
    • Trade connections extended to Mesopotamia and other ancient regions.
    • Nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2014); only known port-town of the Indus Valley Civilization.
  • Features of the Complex:
    • Exhibition halls, maritime park, amphitheater, museum, and research/educational facilities.
    • Will highlight ancient trade routes, shipbuilding traditions, and navigation techniques.
    • Expected to be a major hub for cultural tourism and heritage education.
[UPSC 2021] Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelling water into connected reservoirs?

(a) Dholavira*  (b) Kalibangan (c) Rakhigarhi (d) Ropar

 

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Innovation Ecosystem in India

Highlights of the Global Innovation Index, 2025

IOCR | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Important International Institutions

Why in the News?

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has released the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025.

About the Global Innovation Index (GII):

  • Overview: Annual ranking of 139 economies by their innovation capacity and success.
  • Publishers: Jointly by Cornell University, INSEAD, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
  • Origin: First published in 2007.
  • Indicators: Uses 80+ metrics across 7 pillars.
  • Structure:
    • Innovation Input Sub-Index: Institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication, business sophistication.
    • Innovation Output Sub-Index: Knowledge and technology outputs, creative outputs.
  • Purpose: Helps governments evaluate how effectively R&D, education, and infrastructure are translated into innovation outcomes.

Key Highlights of GII 2025:

  • Global R&D growth: Slowed to 2.9% (2024) and 2.3% (2025 projection), down from 4.4% earlier; lowest since the 2010 financial crisis.
  • Top Performers: Switzerland (1st), Sweden (2nd), United States (3rd), followed by Republic of Korea, Singapore, United Kingdom, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, and China (10th).
  • China: Surpassed Switzerland in knowledge and technology outputs; 2nd highest in R&D expenditure; world leader in patent filings.
  • Regional Trends: Europe dominates with 15 of top 25 economies; Southeast, East Asia and Oceania (SEAO) region has 6 economies in top 25.
  • India: Ranked 38th globally with a score of ~40.5; top among lower-middle income countries and in Central & Southern Asia.
    • Strengths: Knowledge and technology outputs (22nd), market sophistication, and human capital and research.
    • Weaknesses: Business sophistication, infrastructure, and institutions remain lagging.
[UPSC 2019] The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the:

Options:

(a) International Monetary Fund  (b) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development  (c) World Economic Forum * (d) World Bank

 

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Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News

Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival

Prelims Only | Art and Culture | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

Why in the News?

The 14th Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival was inaugurated in Manipur.

Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival

About Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival:

  • Overview: An annual agricultural and cultural festival celebrated in Sirarakhong village, Ukhrul district, Manipur.
  • Origin: Began in 2010 to promote the Hathei chilli and its farming traditions.
  • Focus: Highlights the Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged Hathei chilli, which received GI status in 2021.
  • Activities: Involves flag hoisting, Tangkhul Naga cultural events, buyer–seller meets, marketing programmes, exhibitions, and awareness drives on government schemes.

Salient Features of Hathei Chilli:

  • Local Identity: Known as Sirarakhong chilli, indigenous to Ukhrul district.
  • Cultivation: Grown on slopes under the traditional jhum system.
  • Distinct Qualities: Recognised for its bright red colour, unique flavour, and medium pungency.
  • ASTA Value: Possesses a high American Spice Trade Association colour value, making it sought after for food colouring.
  • Nutritional Benefits: Rich in antioxidants, Vitamin C, and calcium, with medicinal value.
  • Uses: Widely used in cooking, pickles, flavouring, food colouring, and processing industries.
  • Uniqueness: Its qualities stem from the soil and climate of Sirarakhong, not reproducible elsewhere.
[UPSC 2018] Consider the following pairs:

Tradition- State

1. Chapchar Kut festival — Mizoram

2. Khongjom Parba ballad — Manipur

3. Thong-To dance — Sikkim

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

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

 

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Textile Sector – Cotton, Jute, Wool, Silk, Handloom, etc.

What is PM MITRA Park?

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

Why in the News?

Prime Minister recently laid the foundation stone for India’s first PM MITRA (Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) Park in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh.

About PM MITRA Scheme:

  • Overview: Introduced by the Ministry of Textiles in 2021, the scheme aims to strengthen India’s textile sector by creating 7 world-class integrated parks.
  • Concept: Designed on the vision “Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign”, each park consolidates the entire textile value chain—spinning, weaving, dyeing, processing, printing, and garment-making—within a single ecosystem.
  • Sites Selected: Tamil Nadu (Virudhunagar), Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh (Dhar), and Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow).
  • Timeline: All parks are targeted to be established by 2026–27, with each covering around 1,000+ acres.
  • Implementation Structure:
    • Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV): Each park will be developed by an SPV jointly owned by the Centre and State Governments, operating in Public–Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
    • Development Capital Support (DCS): Up to â‚ą500 crore per park provided by the Centre to SPVs.
    • Competitive Incentive Support (CIS): Up to â‚ą300 crore per park offered to manufacturing units to encourage rapid implementation.

Key Features and Benefits:

  • Integrated Value Chain: All stages of textile production are located in one hub, reducing transport costs, delays, and inefficiencies.
  • World-Class Infrastructure: Includes incubation centres, design/testing labs, effluent treatment plants, reliable utilities, logistics facilities, and worker hostels.
  • Employment Generation: Each park expected to create ~1 lakh direct and ~2 lakh indirect jobs, especially benefiting women and rural youth.
  • Investment Boost: Scheme aims to attract over â‚ą70,000 crore in investments in the textile sector.

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