Introduction
Madhya Pradesh contributes nearly 60% of India’s soybean output, earning its title as the Soy State. However, falling yields, poor returns, and uncertain government support are driving young farmers away from cultivation. The state, which once symbolized India’s success in expanding oilseed production, from 300,000 hectares in the 1970s to over 12 million hectares today, is now facing a turning point. Issues surrounding MSP, seed quality, and potential soybean imports have triggered widespread concern among cultivators.
Declining Interest in Soybean Cultivation
- Generational shift: Young farmers are abandoning soybean farming despite their families’ legacy due to poor income and rising costs.
- Low profitability: Farmers report earnings of only ₹5,000–₹6,000 per quintal, while production costs remain high due to fertilizers, diesel, and seed expenses.
- Falling acreage: MP’s soybean acreage fell from 5.7 million hectares in 2023 to 5.1 million hectares in 2024, marking a 10% decline.
- Shift to alternatives: Many farmers are switching to urad, moong, maize, or cash crops that offer higher or more stable returns.
Why Are Farmers Losing Faith in MSP?
- Improper implementation: Though the Centre announced ₹4,600 per quintal as MSP, most farmers sell below it due to lack of procurement infrastructure.
- Ceiling price issue: The government fixed a “ceiling price” of ₹4,300 per quintal for private buyers, making market rates unprofitable for producers.
- Limited procurement centres: Farmers complain of delayed payments and unavailability of buyers at MSP, forcing distress sales.
- Mismatch with cost of cultivation: Even after MSP hikes, real income remains stagnant due to higher input costs.
The Threat of Soybean Imports
- Policy uncertainty: Reports of possible U.S. soybean imports have caused panic among domestic farmers.
- Price depression: Imported soybean meal could reduce domestic demand, pushing prices below MSP levels.
- Industry divide: Processors argue that imports are needed to stabilize edible oil prices, but cultivators fear it will cripple local production.
- Farm unions’ protest: The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) and farmers’ groups have demanded a ban on import proposals, calling it a “death blow” to the domestic industry.
What Are the Structural Problems Behind the Soybean Crisis?
- Seed quality issues: Farmers allege substandard seeds, resulting in poor germination and low yields.
- Inadequate extension services: Absence of updated agronomic practices and low use of scientific techniques hinder productivity.
- High input costs: Fertilizers, pesticides, and labour costs have nearly doubled over the last five years.
- Climate vulnerability: Irregular rainfall and pest infestations (like girdle beetle and stem fly) have further reduced yields.
- Weak farmer organizations: Lack of effective cooperatives and marketing federations reduces farmers’ bargaining power.
How Has Soybean Production Shaped India’s Agricultural Growth?
- Historical expansion: From 300,000 ha in the 1970s to 12 million ha today, soybean has been India’s fastest growing crop.
- Export potential: Soymeal exports to East Asia once contributed significantly to India’s agri-trade surplus.
- Edible oil dependence: Soybean accounts for nearly 35% of India’s oilseed area and plays a key role in reducing import dependency.
- Policy linkage: The crop was promoted under Technology Mission on Oilseeds (1986), which revolutionized oilseed cultivation patterns.
Reviving Faith in Oilseed Farming
- Long term MSP assurance: A 3 year guaranteed MSP policy can restore confidence and reduce uncertainty.
- Seed innovation: Investment in high-yielding, pest-resistant seed varieties through ICAR and private collaboration.
- Market infrastructure: Expansion of procurement centres and digital payment systems to ensure fair realization.
- Diversification support: Incentivizing mixed cropping and integrated farming models to mitigate risk.
- Value chain strengthening: Promotion of domestic processing units and branding for soybean-based products.
Conclusion
The “Soy State” stands at a crossroads. The crisis in Madhya Pradesh reflects the larger policy dilemma of India’s agricultural system, balancing market liberalization with farmer protection. Unless structural issues like MSP implementation, seed quality, and import regulation are addressed, India risks losing self-reliance in a crop that transformed its rural economy. The need of the hour is a farmer-centric reform agenda that enhances profitability, productivity, and predictability in oilseed cultivation.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2018] What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilise the yield of the crops in the system?
Linkage: UPSC’s recurring theme of agriculture and crop diversification finds direct relevance here. The soybean crisis in Madhya Pradesh mirrors the same structural issues of monocropping stress, declining productivity, and need for diversified cropping systems to ensure long-term yield stability and farmer resilience.
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Introduction
The proposal for a mega port at Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar is being presented as a milestone in India’s maritime rise, intended to transform the country into a regional logistics hub comparable to Colombo or Singapore. Yet, experts argue that this vision rests on flawed economic assumptions, geographical isolation, and logistical weaknesses. The project’s viability is in question, as it lacks the organic trade ecosystem necessary for sustainable growth.
Why in the News?
The Great Nicobar port project has been in focus due to its scale, ₹75,000 crore investment aimed at creating a massive transshipment hub with long-term geopolitical and economic significance. It’s projected as India’s entry into the global maritime league. However, this marks a sharp contrast with earlier models of port development that grew around organic trade clusters and industrial hinterlands, not in remote ecological zones. The controversy centers on economic overestimation and environmental underestimation, making it one of the most debated infrastructure projects in recent years.
Is the economic rationale of the port sound?
- Flawed Assumptions: The project assumes India can capture transshipment traffic from Colombo and Singapore, but transshipment thrives on connectivity, carrier loyalty, and trade density, none of which currently exist at Nicobar.
- Absence of Hinterland: Unlike Colombo, which is connected to industrial networks, Nicobar lacks any comparable economic base, making port sustenance difficult.
- Dependence on Subsidies: Without a strong domestic trade ecosystem, the port would require massive subsidies to remain operational, contradicting long-term economic logic.
Why geography makes the project inherently difficult?
- Remoteness: Great Nicobar is 1,200 km from mainland India, severely limiting cost-effective logistics.
- Lack of Connectivity: Poor access to support industries, dry ports, and container parks increases shipping costs and delays.
- Comparative Disadvantage: Other regional ports (Colombo, Singapore, Klang) already have integrated logistics and deep-water infrastructure, leaving Nicobar at a permanent disadvantage.
Does strategic utility justify economic risk?
- Strategic Overreach: Supporters link the project to India’s naval presence and eastern maritime security, yet this rationale is weak for a commercial port.
- No Clear Defence Objective: India’s navy already operates from INS Baaz, and duplicating facilities under civilian guise increases financial and administrative strain.
- Limited Security Value: The port adds little to India’s surveillance or deterrence posture compared to existing assets in the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
How logistics and trade realities contradict projections
- Trade Patterns: Global shipping lines are deeply entrenched in established networks like Colombo and Singapore, where carrier commitments drive decisions.
- Operational Constraints: Indian ports, even major ones, struggle with high port-calling and handling costs, illustrated by Krishnapatnam Port (Andhra Pradesh), which still depends on government facilitation.
- Organic Hubs vs. Engineered Hubs: Great Nicobar, unlike Vizhinjam (Kerala) or Vadhavan (Maharashtra), lacks a supportive industrial corridor to sustain container flow.
Is there a precedent for success or failure?
- Colombo’s Model: Success based on decades of carrier relationships, industrial integration, and trust-based trade routes.
- Indian Experience: Vizhinjam shows progress but is still dominated by a single operator (MSC), revealing dependency rather than competitiveness.
- Lesson Learned: Without reciprocal liner relationships or industrial hinterland, a port remains a mirage of connectivity.
Conclusion
The Great Nicobar port embodies ambition divorced from ground realities. With limited economic viability, high environmental cost, and questionable strategic logic, it represents a misplaced vision of growth. Port-led development must emerge from organic trade evolution, not state-engineered projects in ecologically fragile zones. The focus should shift toward strengthening existing ports, coastal shipping, and integrated logistics, ensuring India’s maritime rise is both sustainable and strategic.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2021] Investment in infrastructure is essential for more rapid and inclusive economic growth. Discuss in the light of India’s experience.
Linkage: It directly aligns with The Mirage of Port-Led Development in Great Nicobar article. Both examine how infrastructure-led growth can be unsustainable without economic and logistical foundations. The Nicobar port exemplifies the limits of infrastructure expansion without inclusive or organic economic linkages.
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Why in the News?
This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in the PIB Explainers.
About National Blockchain Framework (NBF):
- Launched: September 2024 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) with a ₹64.76 crore budget.
- Objective: Establish a unified, secure, and scalable blockchain architecture for governance and public service delivery.
- Purpose: Promote trust, transparency, and interoperability across digital systems through a permissioned blockchain network deployed at NIC data centres in Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Hyderabad.
- Impact: Enables ministries, regulators, and state governments to develop Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) solutions for faster, tamper-proof, and verifiable transactions.
Core Components of the NBF Ecosystem:
- Vishvasya Blockchain Stack:
- Indigenous modular platform serving as NBF’s backbone.
- Offers Blockchain-as-a-Service, distributed infrastructure, and open APIs for seamless e-Governance integration.
- Ensures permissioned, secure, and scalable operations across departments.
- NBFLite (Blockchain Sandbox):
- A testing environment for startups, academia, and innovators to build and validate blockchain prototypes.
- Preloaded with smart contract templates for governance and supply chain applications.
- Praamaanik:
- A blockchain-based mobile app verification system to authenticate legitimate applications and curb fake or malicious software.
- Enhances digital trust and cybersecurity in app ecosystems.
- National Blockchain Portal:
- A unified digital interface for blockchain adoption across government and industry.
- Acts as a repository of standards, policies, and interoperability guidelines under MeitY’s blockchain strategy.
Applications in India’s Governance:
- Certificate & Document Chain: Digitally secures government-issued documents (e.g., birth, caste, CBSE certificates) to prevent forgery; 34 crore+ verifications completed on blockchain platforms.
- Property Chain: Records and verifies land and property transactions transparently, enabling instant ownership validation; Aims to reduce litigation and expedite land record updates.
- Judiciary Chain: Provides immutable records of judicial data, facilitating e-delivery of notices, bail orders, and summons; 665 judiciary documents verified as of October 2025.
- Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS): Links police, prosecution, and judiciary databases on blockchain for seamless evidence and case management; 39,000+ documents verified on the blockchain.
- Logistics Chain (Aushada): Tracks pharmaceutical supply chains in Karnataka from production to hospital delivery, ensuring drug authenticity and quality.
- TRAI’s Blockchain for Telecom: Uses Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) for tracking SMS transmissions and combating spam; covers 1.13 lakh registered entities.
- RBI’s Digital Rupee Pilot: Demonstrates blockchain-based Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) for traceable and real-time retail transactions.
- NSDL’s Blockchain Platform: Introduces Debenture Covenant Monitoring for capital markets, ensuring real-time compliance and investor protection.
- CoE for Blockchain Technology (NIC): Acts as a consulting and training hub for ministries to pilot and scale blockchain applications using open-source systems like Hyperledger Fabric and Ethereum.
[UPSC 2020] With reference to “Blockchain Technology” consider the following statements:
1. It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls.
2. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only.
3. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 only (d) 1 and 3 only* |
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Why in the News?
The Union Ministry of Culture will formalise partnerships with around 20 institutions under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, a flagship national initiative for manuscript conservation, digitisation, and research.
About Gyan Bharatam Mission:
- Overview: It is a flagship national mission of the Ministry of Culture (GoI) to preserve, digitise, and promote India’s manuscript heritage.
- Launch: Approved as a Central Sector Scheme (2024–2031) with an outlay of ₹482.85 crore.
- Background: Builds upon the National Mission for Manuscripts (2003), which documented over 44 lakh manuscripts.
- Objective: To integrate traditional conservation with modern digital technologies including AI, cloud storage, and blockchain authentication.
- Core Goal: Establish a National Digital Repository (NDR), a unified, globally accessible platform showcasing India’s intellectual and cultural heritage.
- Vision Alignment: Supports Viksit Bharat @2047 and India’s role as a Vishwa Guru in global knowledge preservation.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive Scope: Covers identification, conservation, digitisation, translation, and public dissemination.
- Survey & Documentation: Creation of a national manuscript inventory through Manuscript Resource Centres (MRCs).
- National Digital Repository (NDR): Uses AI-based Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR) for searchable digital access.
- Institutional Network: Implements through Cluster Centres and Independent Centres for nationwide coordination.
- Scientific Conservation: Strengthens Manuscript Conservation Centres (MCCs) for preventive and curative preservation.
- Funding Structure: 70% upfront release and 30% post-verification based on measurable outcomes.
- Public Engagement: Promotes youth and researcher participation via Gyan-Setu AI Innovation Challenge.
- Quality Assurance: Ensures accountability through third-party audits, utilisation checks, and review mechanisms.
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Why in the News?
The Prime Minister called the National Makhana Board a “revolution” in India’s farm value chain, aiming to formalise and commercialise makhana cultivation.
National Makhana Board (NMB)
- Objective: To enhance production, processing, value addition, and export competitiveness of makhana (fox nut) through a structured national framework.
- Establishment: Constituted in 2025 under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries with an initial outlay of ₹100 crore to institutionalise India’s makhana value chain.
- Functions: Provides training, technical support, quality regulation, and export facilitation, aligning makhana with schemes such as PM-FME, One District One Product (ODOP), and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Regional Presence: Operates regional centres in Darbhanga, Purnea, and Katihar (Bihar) for farmer outreach and capacity building.
- Institutional Linkages: Coordinates with ICAR, NABARD, and agricultural universities to promote high-yield varieties (HYVs), mechanised harvesting, and standardised processing.
- Governance Structure: Comprises Central and State officials, FPO representatives, and industry experts ensuring multi-stakeholder participation.
- Core Goals: Expand exports, ensure fair farmer pricing, and build sustainable livelihoods for makhana-growing communities.
|
About Makhana:
- Overview: Edible seed of the prickly water lily (Euryale ferox), found in freshwater wetlands across South and East Asia.
- Nutritional Profile: Protein-rich, low-fat, and mineral-dense, recognised globally as a superfood.
- Cultural & Medicinal Use: Integral to Ayurveda, Unani, and Chinese medicine; used for blood pressure control, fertility, and immunity.
- Policy & Branding: Listed under ODOP, backed by branding and export support; granted GI tag “Mithila Makhana” (2022).
- Global Market: Valued at USD 43.5 million (2023), projected to reach USD 100 million by 2033, positioning India as global leader.
- Export market: Almost 30% to US, UAE 20%, UK 15% , Canada 10%, Singapore 7-8%.
Makhana Cultivation in India:
- Geographic Concentration: Bihar produces ≈ 90 % of India’s makhana from Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnea, Katihar, Saharsa districts.
- Agro-Climatic Needs: Thrives in stagnant ponds/lakes, 20–35 °C temperature, 100–250 cm rainfall, and loamy soils.
- Area & Yield: Grown on 15,000 ha producing ≈ 10,000 tonnes annually; HYVs like Swarna Vaidehi and Sabour Makhana-1 yield 3–3.5 t/ha vs 1.7–1.9 t/ha earlier.
- Other States: Cultivated marginally in West Bengal, Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, MP, Rajasthan, UP.
- Challenges: Labour-intensive manual harvesting, limited mechanisation, and high input costs.
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Why in the News?
The Reserve Bank of India released draft “Capital Market Exposure Directions, 2025” to overhaul rules on banks’ exposure to capital markets.
What is Capital Market Exposure (CME)?
It simply means how much a bank is involved in the stock market and related financial activities.
When banks deal with the capital market, they can do this in two main ways:
- Direct Exposure: When the bank itself invests in shares, bonds, or mutual funds, just like an investor would. Example: if a bank buys shares of a company or invests in government bonds, that’s direct exposure.
- Indirect Exposure: When the bank gives loans linked to the stock market, for example, lending money to stockbrokers, mutual funds, or investors who want to buy shares.
Because the stock market goes up and down, these activities are riskier than normal banking (like giving home or business loans). So, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) keeps a close watch and sets limits on how much banks can invest or lend in the capital market. |
About Draft Norms on Capital Market Exposure, 2025:
- Objective: To modernise, unify, and simplify rules on banks’ capital-market lending and investment exposures.
- Expanded Scope: Permits acquisition-finance lending for corporates and higher credit limits for individuals participating in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Follow-on Public Offerings (FPOs), and Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs).
Key Features of the Draft CME Norms:
- Exposure Limits:
- Direct exposure (investments + acquisition finance) capped at 20 percent of Tier-1 capital on solo and consolidated bases.
- Aggregate exposure (direct + indirect) capped at 40 percent of consolidated Tier-1 capital.
- Acquisition Finance:
- Banks may finance up to 70 percent of acquisition cost, with borrowers contributing 30 percent equity from own funds.
- Permitted only for listed companies with sound financials and independent valuations compliant with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) norms.
- Aggregate acquisition-finance exposure limited to 10 percent of Tier-1 capital; not allowed for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), or related parties.
- Individual Market-Participation Loans:
- Maximum loan per individual increased to ₹ 25 lakh; up to 75 percent of subscription value may be financed with a 25 percent margin.
- Shares allotted under IPOs, FPOs, or ESOPs must be pledged and lien-marked to the lending bank.
- Loans Against Securities:
- Capped at ₹ 1 crore per individual for eligible securities (government securities, mutual-fund units, listed shares, or high-rated corporate debt).
- Banks must maintain prudent LTV ratios and adopt internal risk-control systems for valuation and monitoring.
Need for Such Norms:
- Modernisation: Replaces fragmented rules with a unified prudential framework.
- Corporate Expansion: Enables M&A financing, supporting Indian firms’ global competitiveness.
- Retail Participation: Encourages individual investment and deepens equity-market access.
- Risk Containment: Exposure caps and buffers ensure stability and discipline in bank lending.
- Global Alignment: Harmonises with Basel III and international acquisition-finance standards.
- Economic Impact: Enhances financial depth, liquidity, and investment-led growth in capital markets.
| [UPSC 2023] Which one of the following activities of the Reserve Bank of India is considered to be part of ‘sterilisation?
Options: (a) Conducting ‘Open Market Operations’ *
(b) Oversight of settlement and payment systems
(c) Debt and cash management for the Central and State Governments
(d) Regulating the functions of Non-banking Financial Institutions |
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PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2025] The reform process in the United Nations remains unaccomplished because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance. Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard.
Linkage: UN is an important and recurring UPSC theme, often asked through its agencies and reform debates. This question is crucial as it probes the East–West power imbalance that hinders UN reform, echoing the article’s call for a more representative global order. |
Mentor’s Comment
The article reviews the United Nations (UN) at 80 years, analysing its evolution, global role, and urgent need for institutional reform. It explores India’s position on UNSC restructuring, challenges of multilateralism, and the UN’s normative impact on global governance. For UPSC aspirants, the theme directly links with GS Paper II, international institutions, global order, and India’s diplomacy.
Introduction
Formed after World War II to preserve peace and promote human dignity, the UN evolved from a Cold War arena to a forum for cooperative problem-solving. The institution remains indispensable but requires deep reform to stay relevant in a multipolar and interconnected world.
Reforming the UN: Adapting to a Shifting Global Order
- Foundational Context: Established in 1945 as a peace mechanism ensuring collective security, equality of states, and global legal order
- Changing Landscape: Transitioned from bipolarity (US–USSR) to unipolarity and now multipolarity marked by fragmented alliances and transnational threats such as climate change and cyber warfare.
- Institutional Lag: UNSC composition reflects post-1945 power hierarchy. Exclusion of emerging powers, India, Japan, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, undermines legitimacy and efficiency.
- Legitimacy and Representation: Outdated representation erodes the Council’s credibility, weakening enforcement capacity and consensus-building.
UN’s Humanitarian and Normative Relevance
- Humanitarian Operations: UNHCR, WFP, and UNICEF deliver critical relief during conflicts and disasters, providing food, shelter, and protection.
- Peacekeeping Mandate: Blue Helmets ensure limited stability in fragile regions, sustaining fragile ceasefires and aiding post-conflict recovery.
- Norm Creation: UN conventions and declarations define global standards for human rights, gender equality, and sustainable development.
The SDGs (2015) frame a universal agenda for inclusive and sustainable growth.
- Symbolic Value: Represents a global forum for dialogue, ensuring that multilateralism remains the default mechanism for peace and justice.
Institutional Weaknesses and Reform Imperatives
- Erosion of Liberal Multilateralism: Rising nationalism and protectionism weaken commitment to collective decision-making.
- Structural Constraints: Permanent members’ veto power perpetuates paralysis in humanitarian crises.
- Financial Fragility: Budgetary shortfalls from delayed dues (notably by major contributors) constrain operational capacity and staffing.
- Operational Agility: Requires digitisation, decentralised response mechanisms, and enhanced decision-making authority at field levels.
India’s Strategic Position in Global Governance
- India’s Credentials: World’s largest democracy, major troop-contributor to peacekeeping missions, and growing economic power.
- UNSC Reform Advocacy: Demands structural reform ensuring equitable and inclusive representation of developing nations.
- Strategic Autonomy: Follows independent policy avoiding bloc alignment while protecting regional and developmental interests.
- Vision for Reform: Supports dignity-based multilateralism ensuring sovereignty, cooperation, and equity among nations.
Mandate for Renewal and Reform
- Council Reconfiguration: Expands permanent and non-permanent seats to reflect current geopolitical realities.
- Institutional Agility: Enhances crisis responsiveness through digital integration, rapid funding, and empowered missions.
- Moral Authority: Restores credibility by reaffirming adherence to international law and ethical neutrality in decision-making.
- Member-State Commitment: Ensures predictable funding and sustained political backing from member nations to strengthen UN institutions.
Conclusion
The UN remains a vital, evolving institution balancing ideals with realpolitik. Its effectiveness depends on reform, representation, and renewed moral purpose. Relevance in the 21st century rests on its ability to become more inclusive, responsive, and legitimate.
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Introduction
Global momentum on climate change is waning. The U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the EU’s cautious stance, and Brazil’s focus on implementation have created a leadership vacuum. India, backed by consistent domestic policies and credible renewable achievements, is being viewed as a stabilising force in climate negotiations.
Current Global Context and India’s Position
- Leadership Vacuum: Developed economies show declining enthusiasm for climate leadership due to economic pressures and energy insecurity.
- India’s Steady Role: India maintains policy continuity and cross-party consensus on climate goals, avoiding divisive politics.
- Emerging ‘Axis of Good’: Expanding partnerships with Europe, Brazil, and developing nations for climate technology and forest cooperation.
- Implementation Emphasis: COP30 expected to focus on execution of existing commitments rather than new pledges.
The Financing Challenge and Implementation Gap
- Adaptation Finance Deficit: Global climate finance needs estimated at $1.3 trillion annually by 2035, highlighting dependence on private and multilateral funding.
- Means of Implementation: Finance, technology transfer, and capacity building remain central to effective execution.
- Blended Finance Approach: Encourages combining public, private, and philanthropic resources for adaptation sectors like agriculture and water.
- Pipeline Creation: Necessitates project,ready mechanisms at the national and state levels to attract investments.
India’s Achievements and Strategic Leverage
- Emission Stabilisation: Power sector emissions plateaued as renewable integration expands.
- Renewable Leadership: Non,fossil fuel sources account for ~50% of installed power capacity.
- Decoupling Trend: Energy demand growth no longer proportional to emissions growth, indicating structural change.
- Green Industry Shift: Corporate groups (Adani, Reliance) invest heavily in green hydrogen, solar, and renewables driven by market value creation.
Adaptation,Driven Growth and Dual,Benefit Projects
- Integrated Projects: Initiatives like PM,KUSUM use solar energy in agriculture, reducing diesel dependence and improving income security.
- Co,benefit Design: Projects combining adaptation (resilience) and mitigation (emission reduction) yield long,term sustainability.
- Sectoral Innovation: Solar,powered cold,chain storage and electric buses illustrate scalable, cost,efficient climate solutions.
- Aggregation Advantage: National,scale schemes can reduce costs, increase service access, and enhance local resilience.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Adaptation Planning
- Current Commitment: 50% of power capacity from non,fossil sources by 2030; aligned with Paris Agreement goals.
- Green Hydrogen Linkage: Recognition of renewable energy’s role in hydrogen production can strengthen India’s NDC profile.
- Industrial Decarbonisation: Industry identified as a “hard,to,abate” sector; emphasis on electrification, alternative materials, and carbon markets.
- Adaptation Priority List: Proposal for a “wish list” of adaptation projects under carbon markets, adaptable by States.
- Carbon Market Strategy: Promotes participation in high value areas (solar + storage) rather than single,stream credits.
Should India Lead Globally?
- Moral Credibility: Low per capita emissions and proactive domestic policy lend legitimacy to India’s global stance.
- Strategic Interest: Leadership enhances India’s role in shaping financial flows and green technology frameworks.
- Implementation Expertise: India’s experience with renewable deployment and welfare,linked schemes adds operational credibility.
- Risk and Responsibility: Global leadership must balance ambition with developmental imperatives for energy access and equity.
Conclusion
India’s leadership on climate change is neither symbolic nor premature, it is pragmatic, equity,driven, and implementation oriented. With stable governance, scalable models, and growing private participation, India can anchor the next phase of global climate action by ensuring that commitments translate into outcomes.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2021] Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parses (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)? What are the commitments made by India in this conference?
Linkage: This question assesses understanding of India’s climate diplomacy from COP26 to future summits under the UNFCCC framework. The article extends this trajectory by highlighting India’s shift from pledge to performance, emphasizing implementation, adaptation finance, and renewable energy leadership ahead of COP30.
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Introduction
Tamil Nadu’s northeast monsoon, traditionally spanning October to December, has arrived early for the second consecutive year, bringing intense and localized rainfall. While excess rainfall was once viewed as a boon for agriculture and water storage, climate change has made “excess” a liability, causing flash floods, crop destruction, and structural damage. The situation is compounded by simultaneous inflows from Kerala via the Mullaperiyar Dam, creating a dual-flood scenario that tests the resilience of Tamil Nadu’s urban systems, infrastructure, and disaster governance.
Urban Flooding: A Consequence of Unsustainable Development
- Impervious surfaces: Extensive concretization and asphalt paving prevent rainwater infiltration, resulting in rapid surface runoff that overwhelms drainage systems.
- Inadequate drainage networks: Poor maintenance and blockage of stormwater drains lead to flash floods and prolonged inundation in low-lying areas.
- Infrastructure shutdowns: Power authorities resort to preventive power cuts to avoid electrocution risks, compounding public inconvenience and economic losses.
- Sewage overflows: Heavy rainfall triggers untreated wastewater discharge into streets and waterbodies, leading to public health crises and water contamination.
Agricultural Distress and Soil Degradation
- Waterlogging and root suffocation: Excess moisture damages crop roots, washes away seeds, and erodes nutrient-rich topsoil, reducing long-term fertility.
- Fungal and pest proliferation: Moist environments facilitate fungal infections and pest outbreaks, lowering crop yields.
- Nutrient runoff: Heavy rain carries fertilizers and pesticides into reservoirs, degrading water quality and aquatic ecosystems.
- Economic losses: Repeated crop failure translates into financial vulnerability for farmers and food supply disruptions.
Health and Environmental Risks of Prolonged Rainfall
- Vector-borne diseases: Stagnant water acts as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, leading to malaria, dengue, and Japanese encephalitis outbreaks.
- Zoonotic transmission: Flooded environments increase exposure to leptospirosis and scrub typhus.
- Infrastructure corrosion: High humidity and seepage promote mold growth and building decay, undermining structural integrity.
- Water contamination: Overflowing sewage and agricultural runoff mix into drinking sources, causing gastrointestinal and waterborne diseases.
Rising Flood Risk: The Mullaperiyar–Vaigai Connection
- Dual monsoon exposure: Kerala receives rainfall from the southwest monsoon, while Tamil Nadu depends on the northeast monsoon. Overlapping patterns cause simultaneous water inflows.
- Mullaperiyar Dam’s critical role: Located in Kerala’s Idukki district but operated by Tamil Nadu, the dam diverts water to Tamil Nadu’s Vaigai basin.
- Catchment saturation: Heavy rains in Kerala rapidly fill the reservoir, forcing Tamil Nadu to open shutters to ensure dam safety.
- Two-directional flooding: Released water flows both toward Kerala’s Periyar basin and Tamil Nadu’s Vaigai, creating cross-border flood pressure.
- Ground situation: With all 13 shutters open, Theni district faces submergence even as local rains intensify, turning “shared water” into a shared crisis.
Infrastructure and Economic Impact
- Rising water tables: Continuous rainfall elevates the groundwater level, weakening building foundations and road structures.
- Loss of load-bearing capacity: Saturated soil causes foundation shifting, cracks, and collapses in the long term.
- Economic burden: Damage repair, relocation, and agricultural losses lead to high fiscal costs for the State exchequer.
- Social impact: Displacement, psychological distress, and livelihood loss add a human dimension to the flood crisis.
Reassessing the “Excess is Good” Paradigm
- Changing monsoon patterns: Climate change is causing shorter, more intense bursts rather than steady rainfall, overwhelming absorptive capacity.
- Policy recalibration: Tamil Nadu must prioritize water storage optimization, urban resilience, and inter-State coordination.
- Adaptive planning: Future strategies must integrate real time dam management, rainwater harvesting, and climate resilient agriculture.
Conclusion
Tamil Nadu’s monsoon experience underscores that climate resilience is not merely about rainfall volumes but about water management capacity. Balancing inter-State water sharing, strengthening urban drainage systems, and adopting adaptive agricultural practices are crucial. The Mullaperiyar conundrum reflects the urgent need for cooperative federalism in climate adaptation, a lesson not just for Tamil Nadu but for all monsoon-dependent states in India.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2023] Why is the South-West Monsoon called ‘Purvaiya’ (easterly) in the Bhojpur region? How has this directional seasonal wind system influenced the cultural ethos of the region?
Linkage: The monsoon is a recurring UPSC theme. Tamil Nadu’s experience, where the northeast monsoon defines urban life, agriculture, and inter-State dynamics, parallels Bhojpur’s example. This shows how regional monsoon variations influence both ecological realities and local ethos across India.
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Why in the News?
The Supreme Court of India, led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), directed the Jharkhand government to submit an undertaking to notify a new wildlife sanctuary in the Saranda Forest, West Singhbhum district.
Judicial Background and Case Chronology:
- Origin: Stemmed from NGT’s July 2022 order directing Jharkhand to notify Saranda as a Wildlife Sanctuary or Conservation Reserve.
- Petitioner’s Argument: Claimed Saranda was already a “game sanctuary” (1968, Bihar), deemed protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Non-Compliance: State inaction led the case to the Supreme Court, which between Nov 2024–Sept 2025 repeatedly criticised delay and evasive conduct.
- SC Intervention: CJI D. Y. Chandrachud-led Bench (Apr 16, Sept 17 hearings) condemned “dilly-dallying tactics” and demanded clarity on committees altering sanctuary boundaries in mining belts.
Back2Basics: What is a Wildlife Sanctuary?
- Legal Basis: Under Section 18, Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, areas declared by States to protect flora, fauna, and habitats.
- Objective: Preserve ecological integrity, sustain biodiversity, and enable natural regeneration.
- Permissible Use: Limited human activities, grazing, fuelwood, traditional use, allowed with Chief Wildlife Warden’s permission.
- Prohibitions: Hunting, felling, quarrying, mining banned under Sections 27–33.
- Continuity Clause: Section 66(3) deems all pre-1972 “game sanctuaries” as wildlife sanctuaries.
- Governance: Managed by State Forest Department; often part of eco-sensitive zones under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
- Examples: India has 550+ sanctuaries, incl. Chilika, Bhadra, Periyar, many upgraded to national parks or tiger reserves.
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About Saranda Forest:
- Location: West Singhbhum, Jharkhand; ~856 sq km (816 reserved, rest protected forest).
- Etymology: “Saranda” in Ho language = “seven hundred hills.”
- Vegetation: Dense Sal (Shorea robusta) forests with bamboo, mahua, terminalia; among India’s richest Sal ecosystems.
- Waterbodies: the Karo River and the Koina River.
- Ecological Role: Identified by WII as a biogeographic bridge between Jharkhand and Odisha within the Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot.
- Fauna: Asian elephant, four-horned antelope, sloth bear, leopard, civet, diverse birds and butterflies.
- Elephant Corridors: Links to Keonjhar & Sundargarh (OD) and Hasdeo-Arand (CG).
- Threats: Illegal iron/manganese mining, fragmentation, pollution, flagged by Justice M. B. Shah Commission (2014).
- Economic Value: Holds ~26 % of India’s iron ore reserves, mined by SAIL and private lessees.
Significance of Supreme Court’s Ruling (2025):
- Directive: Ordered Jharkhand to notify 31,468 ha (314.68 sq km) of Saranda as a Wildlife Sanctuary, enforcing NGT 2022 order.
- Legal Strengthening: Reinforces Wildlife Act 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, and Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
- Ecological Impact: Grants protection to Sal canopy, corridors, and watersheds, ensuring habitat connectivity with Odisha.
- Mining Clause: Existing valid leases (e.g., SAIL) remain unaffected, balancing economy and ecology.
- Tribal Safeguards: Upholds rights of Ho & Munda Adivasis under FRA 2006 and PESA 1996.
- Outcome: Sanctuary notification to curb deforestation, revive corridors, and enhance carbon sequestration.
- Precedent Value: Sets national model for reconciling mining, tribal rights, and biodiversity in resource-rich landscapes.
| [UPSC 2018] Consider the following statements:
1. The definition of “Critical Wildlife Habitat” is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
2. For the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights.
3. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially decides and declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only* (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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Why in the News?
The Ministry of Culture is commemorating 200 years of Rani Chennamma’s victory over the British, marking her as a pioneering figure in India’s early anti-colonial resistance.
Who was Rani Chennamma?
- Birth and Early Life: Born on 23 October 1778 in Kakati village, Belagavi district, Karnataka, to a Lingayat family known for valour and self-reliance.
- Marriage: Married at the age of 15 to Raja Mallasarja Desai, ruler of Kittur, a small princely state in present-day Karnataka.
- Ascension to Power: After her husband’s death in 1816, and the death of her only son, she adopted Shivalingappa as her heir to secure the throne.
- Conflict with the British: The British East India Company rejected the adoption under the Doctrine of Lapse, declaring Kittur annexed to British India.
- Battle of Kittur (1824): When John Thackery, the British political agent at Dharwad, attacked Kittur with 20,000 troops, she led her army personally and killed Thackery in battle.
- Resistance and Leadership: Trained in horse-riding, swordsmanship, and military strategy, she employed guerrilla tactics and rallied local soldiers and peasants against British forces.
- Defeat and Imprisonment: After initial victory, the British reinforced their attack, captured Kittur Fort, and imprisoned her at Bailhongal Fort, where she died in 1829.
- Historical Position: Recognised as India’s first female freedom fighter, her uprising predates the Revolt of 1857 and symbolizes early defiance against colonial annexation.
Back2Basics: Doctrine of Lapse
- Origin: Introduced by Lord Dalhousie, Governor-General of India (1848–1856), as a tool of colonial expansion under British East India Company rule.
- Core Principle: Stated that any princely state without a natural male heir would be annexed by the British; adopted heirs were not recognised.
- Purpose: Justified British annexations under the pretext of maintaining “good governance” and administrative efficiency.
- Annexed States: Applied to Satara (1848), Sambalpur (1849), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853), and Nagpur (1854), among others.
- Violation of Indian Customs: Contradicted the Indian tradition of adoption and hereditary succession, angering princely rulers across India.
- Impact on Revolt of 1857: The doctrine became one of the major causes of resentment leading to the First War of Independence (1857).
- Abolition: The policy was abandoned in 1859, after the end of Company rule and the assumption of power by the British Crown.
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[UPSC 2014] What was/were the object/objects of Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (1858)?
1. To disclaim any intention to annex Indian States
2. To place the Indian administration under the British Crown
3. To regulate East India Company’s trade with India
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only* (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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Why in the News?
The Kerala government has formally signed the PM Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) agreement with the Union Ministry of Education, seeking approximately ₹1,446 crore to modernize government schools across the State.
About the PM-SHRI Scheme:
- Objective: To upgrade and modernize government schools as model institutions of quality education aligned with New Education Policy, 2020.
- Purpose: Promote inclusive, equitable, and holistic education, integrating digital tools, environmental awareness, and vocational learning.
- Overview: Launched in 2022 by the Ministry of Education as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Scale & Duration: Targets 14,500 schools across India from 2022–23 to 2026–27, after which states will maintain benchmarks independently.
- Funding Pattern: 60:40 (Centre: States/UTs with legislature), 90:10 (North-Eastern & Himalayan States), and 100% Central assistance (UTs without legislature).
Key Features of PM-SHRI Schools:
- Holistic Learning: Focus on creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking beyond rote academics.
- Pedagogical Shift: Promotes experiential, inquiry-driven, and multilingual education with art and technology integration.
- Infrastructure Upgradation: Includes Smart Classrooms, Integrated Science & Computer Labs, Vocational/Skill Labs, Atal Tinkering Labs, and Digital Libraries.
- Green Practices: Encourages solar power use, waste recycling, rainwater harvesting, and organic gardening to create sustainable campuses.
- Assessment Reform: Moves from memorization to competency-based evaluation, measuring conceptual understanding and application.
- Innovation Focus: Acts as incubators of educational innovation, influencing reforms across India’s public school system.
Selection and Monitoring Mechanism:
- Three-Stage Process:
- Stage 1 – MoU signed by States/UTs committing to NEP-aligned reforms.
- Stage 2 – Identification of eligible schools using UDISE+ data.
- Stage 3 – Challenge Mode competition reviewed by an Expert Committee headed by the Education Secretary.
- Monitoring System: Implemented via School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) evaluating academic, infrastructural, and administrative standards.
- Accountability: Continuous digital evaluation, reporting, and performance tracking ensure transparency and sustained improvement.
| [UPSC 2017] What is the purpose of Vidyanjali Yojana?
1. To enable the famous foreign campuses in India.
2. To increase the quality of education provided in government schools by taking help from the private sector and the community.
3. To encourage voluntary monetary contributions from private individuals and organizations so as to improve the infrastructure facilities for primary and secondary schools.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Options: (a) 2 only * (b) 3 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 2 and 3 only |
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Why in the News?
Central Asian countries have endorsed a new six-year Work Programme (2025–2031) under the Central Asian Mammals Initiative (CAMI) to conserve 17 migratory mammal species across shared borders.
What is the Central Asian Mammals Initiative (CAMI)?
- Origin & Launch: Established in 2014 at the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) in Quito, Ecuador.
- Purpose: Aims to halt population decline and ensure long-term survival of migratory mammals across Central Asia’s steppes, deserts, and mountain ecosystems through coordinated conservation.
- Participating Countries: Involves 14 range states, Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
- Framework: Provides a transboundary conservation platform uniting governments, NGOs, and scientific institutions to address poaching, habitat loss, climate threats, and migration barriers.
- Species Focus: Covers 17 migratory mammals, including argali sheep, Asiatic cheetah, snow leopard, saiga antelope, wild yak, wild camel, Przewalski’s horse, and Bukhara deer.
- Work Programme (2025–2031): Adopted at Tashkent (Uzbekistan); prioritises key landscapes, ecological corridors, and community-based conservation partnerships.
- Approach: Integrates science, cross-border policy harmonisation, and pastoral community engagement, promoting coexistence between wildlife and livelihoods.
- Key Partners: Supported by IUCN, WWF, CMS Secretariat, and national agencies to strengthen ecosystem connectivity across Central Asia.
Back2Basics: Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS)
- Objective: To conserve migratory species and their habitats across borders, sustaining ecological networks throughout their migratory ranges.
- Establishment: Signed on 23 June 1979 in Bonn, Germany, under UNEP; entered into force in 1983.
- Unique Mandate: The only global treaty exclusively protecting terrestrial, marine, and avian migratory species.
- Legal Instruments:
- Agreements – binding treaties for specific species/regions.
- MoUs – non-binding cooperation arrangements.
- Conference of the Parties (COP): The CMS decision-making body adopting strategies like CAMI.
- Membership: Over 130 Parties worldwide, promoting science-based conservation and international cooperation.
- Global Significance: Aligns with SDG-15 (Life on Land) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- Next COP: CMS COP15, to be held March 23–29, 2026, in Brazil, will review and advance regional frameworks including CAMI.
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Why in the News?
India’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme was commended by the World Trade Organization (WTO) for significantly enhancing MSME participation in global trade.
What is AEO India Scheme?
- Overview: It is a voluntary certification programme launched by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in 2011 to promote secure and efficient cross-border trade.
- Objective: Identifies and accredits trusted traders demonstrating high customs compliance and supply chain security, offering trade facilitation benefits.
- Evolution: Began as a pilot in 2011, revised in 2016 to merge with the Accredited Client Programme (ACP), aligning with the World Customs Organization (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards.
- Certification Tiers: Consists of AEO-T1, AEO-T2, AEO-T3, and AEO-LO (Logistics Operator) each offering progressively higher benefits based on compliance, solvency, and security.
- Key Benefits: Provides faster customs clearances, deferred duty payments, direct port delivery, reduced inspections, priority adjudication, and dedicated client managers.
About WCO AEO Framework:
- Origin: Established by the World Customs Organization (WCO) under the SAFE Framework of Standards (2005) to enhance trade security and customs modernisation.
- Core Aim: Ensures secure, legitimate trade through collaboration between Customs authorities and private traders.
- Three Pillars:
- Customs-to-Customs cooperation for border coordination.
- Customs-to-Business partnership via AEO certification.
- Customs-to-Other Agencies collaboration for integrated control.
- AEO Concept: Certifies compliant entities as trusted operators, granting simplified and expedited procedures.
- Benefits: Enables faster clearances, mutual recognition between countries, enhanced risk management, and lower transaction costs.
- Global Adoption: Over 90 countries have operational AEO programmes with Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) ensuring standardisation.
- India’s Alignment: India’s AEO model is fully harmonised with the WCO SAFE Framework, ranking among the most comprehensive customs–business partnership systems in the developing world.
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PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2020] Indian diaspora has a decisive role to play in the politics and economy of America and European Countries.” Comment with examples.
Linkage: This article explores how anti-immigration politics in the West, particularly in the UK and US, are reshaping narratives around migrants and minorities, directly affecting the Indian diaspora’s political influence, integration, and image abroad. It also relates to how domestic nativism in developed nations influences India’s soft power and global engagement strategy. |
Mentor’s Comment
The debate on immigration has taken a darker turn across the Western world, shifting from managing illegal immigration to rejecting legal migrants on cultural or racial grounds. This piece examines the rise of fear-driven politics in the United Kingdom and the United States, where populist leaders exploit insecurities about identity and belonging. It connects these global trends to India’s own discourse on “infiltrators,” highlighting how such politics corrodes the moral and spiritual foundation of nationhood. For UPSC aspirants, this article is a rich resource for themes under GS Paper 2 (Polity & Governance, International Relations) and GS Paper 4 (Ethics & Society).
Introduction: The New Politics of Immigration
Immigration has always been an emotionally charged issue, balancing national security, cultural identity, and humanitarian values. But the tone of the conversation has changed drastically. Once focused on border control and illegal entry, the global discourse, led by figures like Donald Trump and echoed by British leaders, is now turning against legal migrants themselves. The recent developments in the United Kingdom, coupled with populist rhetoric in the U.S., mark a disturbing shift from policy debates to identity-based fear-mongering. It signals a new era where politics thrives on division, and where the very definition of nationhood is under siege.
Why in the News?
At the UN General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump openly urged Europe to “end the failed experiment of open borders,” marking the first time an American leader exported his anti-immigrant ideology so aggressively to other nations. The U.K. soon reflected similar sentiments, not just against illegal immigrants but against those living legally under Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). The political shift shows how nativist populism has evolved from fringe rhetoric to mainstream governance, posing moral and democratic questions for societies that once celebrated diversity.
How Has Immigration Politics Shifted in the UK?
- Shift from legality to identity: The focus has moved from illegal immigration control to questioning legal migrants’ right to belong.
- Historic continuity: Britain has witnessed recurring anti-immigrant waves, from Enoch Powell’s 1968 “Rivers of Blood” speech to Brexit’s “Take Back Control” slogan.
- Turning point: Trump’s UN speech and UK’s Reform Party rhetoric signify a pivot, from economic capability to cultural exclusion.
What Recent Events Sparked the Debate?
- Mass rallies: Far-right leader Tommy Robinson led a 1,50,000-strong “Unite the Kingdom” rally, posing as a free speech movement but fuelled by anti-immigration anger.
- Imported ideology: French politician Eric Zemmour warned of the “great replacement”, the idea that European people are being replaced by immigrants from Muslim-majority regions.
- Policy proposal: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party proposed scrapping Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and replacing it with stricter five-year visas.
- Consequences: Even current ILR holders and retirees would face uncertainty, eroding the social contract between the state and its residents.
How Has the Labour Government Responded?
- Raising the bar: New Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood extended ILR eligibility from 5 to 10 years, with higher English proficiency, employment verification, and volunteering requirements.
- Moral hierarchy: This creates a two-tier society, citizens who live freely and migrants forced to constantly prove their worth.
- Political motive: Labour’s move reflects a competitive hardline stance to match Reform UK’s popularity and counter populist fear politics.
How Is Race Re-entering the Immigration Discourse?
- Racial undertones: Conservative politician Robert Jenrick’s remark about “not seeing another white face” reveals how immigration rhetoric is slipping into racial anxiety.
- From migrants to race: The debate is no longer about work permits or visas; it’s now about who belongs and who looks British.
- American parallels: Trump’s attempt to revoke birthright citizenship and the spectacle of deporting Indian immigrants in shackles echo the same moral crisis, dehumanisation of the “other.”
What Lessons Does This Hold for India?
- Mirroring patterns: In India too, discourse on “infiltrators” and “termites” has been used for populist mobilisation.
- Ernest Renan’s vision: The 19th-century philosopher described a nation as a “spiritual principle”, based on shared memories and mutual consent, not race or religion.
- Moral erosion: When “present consent”, the will to live together, is weakened, nations lose their moral foundation.
- Performative cruelty: Treating migration as a threat rather than a socio-economic phenomenon serves political ends, not human progress.
Conclusion
The politics of fear around immigration reflects a deeper crisis, of identity, belonging, and moral leadership. When democratic societies redefine “worthiness” in racial or cultural terms, they betray the inclusive principles that built them. In both the West and India, the challenge is not just managing immigration but reaffirming what it means to be a nation. As Renan reminded us, a nation exists not by blood or border, but by the desire to live together. Upholding that desire, amid fear and division, is the true test of our times.
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Why in the News
Global oil prices have fallen by nearly 16% since the beginning of the year, with Brent crude now around $61 per barrel. This decline comes despite geopolitical disruptions such as Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian energy assets and ongoing U.S.–China tariff frictions.
The fall signals a major shift in global oil dynamics, driven by technological advances, demand stagnation in OECD economies, and a surge in production from both OPEC+ and non-OPEC countries. For India, this could translate into substantial fiscal gains and macroeconomic stability, but the relief may be short-lived given the cyclical volatility of the oil market.
Introduction
Crude oil remains the world’s most traded and influential commodity, impacting not just transportation and industry but also fiscal and foreign policy. With over 100 million barrels produced daily, the oil market’s direction affects the global economy’s heartbeat.
In recent months, a fascinating shift has occurred — a supply-driven decline in prices, contradicting traditional geopolitical expectations. For India, this moment offers both an opportunity for economic strengthening and a reminder of the need for strategic resilience in energy planning.
Shifting Dynamics in the Global Oil Market
What is Driving the Decline in Global Oil Prices?
- Technological disruptions: Innovations like shale extraction, horizontal drilling, and deep-sea exploration have boosted supply, lowering dependency on traditional producers.
- Stagnant demand in OECD economies: Due to slow post-COVID recovery, climate action, and EV adoption, demand growth has flattened.
- Emerging market growth plateau: Even China’s demand is tapering, with electric vehicles forming 50% of all new car sales.
- Supply overhang — Global production rose by 5.6 mbpd, outpacing demand growth of 1.3 mbpd, creating a glut that pushed prices down.
How Have Global Producers and Consumers Reacted?
- OPEC+ internal friction: Saudi Arabia wants to restore full production to regain market share, while Russia seeks gradual output increases amid sanctions.
- Consumer advantage: Many countries have used this moment to replenish strategic petroleum reserves, stabilizing short-term demand.
- Floating stockpiles: Over 100 million barrels of unsold crude remain on tankers at sea, an indicator of market saturation.
What Are the Contradictory Forecasts from Key Agencies?
- OPEC’s projection: Expects a slight supply deficit by 2026 (~50,000 bpd short).
- IEA’s projection: Predicts an unprecedented oversupply of 4 mbpd, aligning with think-tank estimates of Brent falling to $50/barrel.
- Divergence significance: Reflects deep uncertainty and potential volatility, crucial for policy planners like India.
What Is the Broader Economic Context Influencing Oil Prices?
- IMF’s World Economic Outlook (2025): Describes global economy as “in flux, prospects remain dim.”
- Global growth slowdown: Projected at 3.2% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2026, with trade expansion slowing to 2.9%, down from 3.5% in 2024.
- Geopolitical wildcards: Any relaxation of sanctions on Russia, Iran, or Venezuela, or renewed West Asian tensions, could again disrupt supply-demand balance.
What Does It Mean for India’s Economy?
- Import advantage: India’s oil import bill was $137 billion in 2024-25; every $1 decline in prices improves the current account deficit by $1.6 billion.
- Fiscal gains: Lower prices reduce subsidies and inflation, improving fiscal space and boosting public capital expenditure.
- Diplomatic breathing room: Reduced reliance on discounted Russian crude may ease U.S. trade frictions.
- Risk of remittance slowdown: A weaker West Asian economy may hit Indian remittances, exports, and investments.
- Cyclical caution: The oil market’s volatility means current relief could be short-lived, underscoring the need for energy diversification.
Conclusion
The decline in global oil prices provides India a strategic tailwind: strengthening fiscal health, reducing inflation, and supporting growth. Yet, this momentary advantage must not breed complacency. The future demands long-term energy resilience, investment in renewables, and strategic petroleum reserves. In an interconnected world, India must use this window to transition towards sustainable and self-reliant energy security before the next price cycle strikes.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2013] It is said the India has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, which can feed the needs of country for quarter century. However, tapping of the resources doesn’t appear to be high on the agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues involved.
Linkage: The 2013 question on India’s untapped shale reserves links to the article’s theme of global oversupply driven by the shale revolution; India’s limited shale development has kept it import-dependent, making lower global oil prices a temporary boon rather than true energy security.
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Why in the News
India’s solar energy sector has achieved a historic milestone — generating 1,08,494 GWh in 2024–25, overtaking Japan and becoming the third-largest producer globally. This achievement mirrors India’s rapid growth in renewable capacity — solar module manufacturing expanded from 2 GW in 2014 to a projected 100 GW in 2025. However, beneath this success lies a dilemma: despite its potential, Indian-made solar modules are 1.5–2 times costlier than Chinese ones, and without robust export markets, the new manufacturing capacity may struggle. Hence, India’s push to emerge as a solar supplier to Africa under the International Solar Alliance represents not just climate diplomacy but a crucial economic strategy.
Introduction
India’s solar revolution is a remarkable blend of climate responsibility, industrial policy, and global ambition. The cost of solar power fell below coal in 2017 — a landmark that catalyzed private and public investment alike. Yet, with China’s dominance in module exports and India’s limited domestic absorption, the future of India’s solar manufacturing depends on securing new markets and deepening its international role as a sustainable energy leader.
India’s Solar Power Success Story
- Massive Growth: India’s solar generation reached 1,08,494 GWh in 2024–25, overtaking Japan (96,459 GWh).
- Manufacturing Leap: Module manufacturing capacity expanded from 2 GW (2014) to 100 GW (2025 projection), a fiftyfold jump.
- Installed Capacity: India’s current installed solar capacity stands at 117 GW (as of September 2025).
- Comparative Rise: India now ranks 3rd globally, behind only China and the US, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IREA).
What are India’s Solar Targets for 2030?
- Climate Commitments: India aims to source 50% of its power from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
- Solar Share: Around 250–280 GW of this will come from solar energy.
- Annual Addition Needed: India must add 30 GW/year until 2030, but has managed 17–23 GW/year in recent years.
- Challenge: This gap reflects issues in scaling production, costs, and grid integration.
Why is Indian Solar Manufacturing Still Costlier?
- Higher Costs: Indian modules are 1.5–2x costlier than Chinese ones.
- Reasons:
- China’s control over raw materials and solar supply chains.
- Superior production lines and economies of scale.
- India’s fragmented ecosystem and dependency on imported inputs.
- Export Comparison:
- India exported 4 GW of modules to the US in 2024 (a temporary gain due to US restrictions on China).
- China exported 236 GW the same year, a staggering 59x lead.
How Can India Sustain Its Solar Manufacturing Boom?
- Need for New Markets: Without external demand, India’s large new capacity may remain underutilized.
- Africa as Opportunity:
- Africa uses only 4% of its arable land for irrigation due to lack of rural power.
- India can leverage this gap with solar-powered pumpsets, modeled on its PM Kusum Scheme.
- Diplomatic Leverage: India can push its solar expertise through the International Solar Alliance (ISA), showcasing schemes like PM Surya Ghar (urban rooftop) and PM Kusum (rural solar).
- Strategic Goal: To become a credible second supplier after China in emerging markets like Africa.
Domestic Solar Initiatives as Models for Export
- PM Kusum Scheme: Promotes solar irrigation pumps for farmers, ideal for replication in Africa’s rural power-deficient regions.
- PM Surya Ghar Scheme: Encourages rooftop solar adoption in urban India, demonstrating scalable, decentralized power solutions.
- Outcome So Far: Adoption is moderate, but the models offer policy templates for developing nations.
Conclusion
India’s solar journey is a story of ambition and transition, from an energy importer to a renewable exporter. Yet, sustaining this momentum requires vision beyond borders. Becoming a solar supplier to Africa can ensure India’s manufacturing viability, strengthen climate diplomacy, and cement its place in the global green order. As the world tilts toward decarbonization, India’s light must not just illuminate its homes, but the developing world.
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Why in the News?
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology proposed mandatory labelling of Artificial Intelligence–generated synthetic content on social media to curb deepfakes, under draft amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
2025 Draft Amendment on AI Content:
- AI Regulation: Introduced by MeitY to address synthetic and AI-generated media such as deepfakes.
- Mandatory Disclosure: Users must self-declare AI-generated content; platforms must detect and label undeclared synthetic material.
- Labelling Standards: Labels to cover 10% of image/video area or duration (audio); applies to text, audio, and video formats.
- Platform Obligations: Ensure metadata embedding and automated verification of user declarations.
- Legal Liability: Non-compliance leads to loss of “safe harbour” protection under Section 79(1), making intermediaries liable for hosted content.
- Public Consultation: Comments open till 6 November 2025.
Back2Basics: IT Rules, 2021:
- Legal Basis: Framed under Sections 87(2)(z) and 87(2)(zg) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 to regulate social media, digital news, and OTT platforms.
- Objective: To ensure accountability, transparency, and user protection in India’s digital ecosystem while balancing free speech with responsible governance.
- Evolution: Replaced the IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2011, expanding obligations for intermediaries like Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube, and Instagram.
- Scope: Applies to social media intermediaries, messaging services, digital news publishers, and OTT streaming platforms.
- Compliance Framework: Platforms must appoint Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), Nodal Contact Person, and Resident Grievance Officer (RGO), all based in India.
- Traceability Clause (Rule 4(2)): Mandates messaging services to identify the “first originator” of unlawful content, raising privacy and surveillance concerns.
Regulation of Social Media Content in India:
- Legislative Basis: Governed by the IT Act, 2000, notably Section 69A (blocking powers) and Section 79(1) (safe harbour for intermediaries).
- Obligations: Intermediaries must remove unlawful content within 36 hours of a government or court order.
- 2023 Amendment: Proposed removal of false content about the government; implementation stayed by Supreme Court.
- Judicial Context:
- Shreya Singhal (2015): Struck down Section 66A, upholding free speech.
- K.S. Puttaswamy (2017): Recognised privacy as a fundamental right influencing digital governance.
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Why in the News?
Kerala will be officially declared free from extreme poverty on November 1st, marking a national first in poverty eradication.
To assess this, Kerala relied on NITI Aayog’s assessment of Kerala using its Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
What is Extreme Poverty?
- Overview: According to the World Bank, extreme poverty is defined as living on less than $2.15 per day (2017 Purchasing Power Parity), representing absolute deprivation.
- Revised Thresholds: In 2025, the World Bank updated the extreme poverty benchmark to $3/day (PPP 2021) for low-income countries, reflecting inflation and rising living costs.
- Measurement Basis: It uses Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) to compare cost of living across countries and Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) data as a proxy for income.
- Nature: Extreme poverty signifies absolute poverty, unlike relative poverty, which measures inequality within societies.
- Indicators: It encompasses lack of access to essentials such as food security, safe housing, healthcare, education, clean water, and sanitation.
Extreme Poverty in India:
- Overview: India has achieved major success in reducing extreme poverty through inclusive growth and welfare-based redistribution over the past decade.
- Global Benchmark: As per the World Bank (2025), India’s extreme poverty rate declined from 27.1% (2011–12) to 5.3% (2022–23), among the fastest reductions globally.
- Population Impact: Nearly 270 million people were lifted out of extreme poverty; those living below the $3/day threshold fell from 344 million to 75 million.
- Rural Transformation: The decline was steeper in rural India, supported by flagship programmes like MGNREGA, PM Awas Yojana, National Food Security Act (NFSA), and Ayushman Bharat.
- Social Protection Role: Expansion of direct benefit transfers (DBT), PDS coverage, and rural employment improved income security and consumption stability.
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What has Kerala achieved?
- Milestone: Kerala has been officially declared free from extreme poverty as of November 1, 2025, becoming the first Indian state to achieve this feat.
- Programme Launch: The Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme began in 2021, following one of the first Cabinet decisions of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
- Scale: Out of 64,006 families identified as extremely poor, 59,277 families have been uplifted after targeted interventions across housing, health, and livelihoods.
- Interventions:
- Houses built for 3,913 families and land allotted to 1,338 families.
- Repairs up to ₹2 lakh provided for 5,651 homes.
- Essential documents like ration and Aadhaar cards issued to 21,263 individuals.
- Methodology: Each family was covered through a micro plan, integrating state welfare schemes and social audits with geo-tagged verification.
- Outcome: Kerala now has 0% extreme poverty, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 1) to eradicate poverty by 2030.
- Significance: The achievement demonstrates Kerala’s model of inclusive governance, where local bodies, irrespective of political control, collaborated to ensure last-mile welfare delivery.
[UPSC 2012] The Multi-dimensional Poverty Index developed by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative with UNDP support covers which of the following?
1. Deprivation of education, health, assets and services at household level
2. Purchasing power parity at national level
3. Extent of budget deficit and GDP growth rate at national level
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only *
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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Why in the News?
Andhra Pradesh launched the Great Green Wall project, inspired by Africa’s Great Green Wall, to turn its 1,034 km Bay of Bengal coast into a bio-shield against cyclones and sea-level rise.
About Great Green Wall of Andhra Pradesh:
- Overview: Launched as a flagship coastal afforestation and climate resilience project; Forms part of the state’s Coastal Green Mission, aligning with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and India’s National Coastal Mission.
- Objective: To protect Andhra Pradesh’s 1,034 km Bay of Bengal coastline from cyclones, tsunamis, and sea-level rise.
- Inspired by: Africa’s Great Green Wall, adapted for India’s eastern coastal ecosystems.
- Target: Enhance Andhra Pradesh’s green cover from 30% (2025) to 37% by 2029 and 50% by 2047 through sustained plantation and protection efforts.
Key Features:
- Geographical Coverage: Extends from Tirupati to Srikakulam, spanning the full 1,034 km coastline.
- Width: Green belt stretches up to 5 km inland, with a variable width of 50–200 metres.
- Core Species: Plantation includes mangroves, casuarina, palmyra, bamboo, and other shelterbelt trees.
- Launch Site: Officially inaugurated at Surya Lanka Beach (Bapatla district) on 11 September 2025.
- Community Role: Involves Self-Help Groups, eco-clubs, MGNREGS workers, fishermen, and local coastal communities.
- Integration: Develops green buffers around ports, SEZs, industrial corridors, and aquaculture ponds.
- Funding: Supported by CAMPA, MISHTI, Green Credit Programme, MGNREGS, CSR funds, and District Mineral Funds.
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