Introduction and Why in the News
Artificial Intelligence, once hailed purely as an efficiency enhancer, is now at the centre of ethical, cybersecurity, and accountability debates. The AI@Work roundtable in Mumbai, moderated by industry and data leaders, highlighted that as organisations adopt AI to accelerate operations, they are simultaneously confronting unprecedented risks. These risks arise from data breaches and AI unpredictability to physical and digital intrusions. Globally, the scale of the threat is stark: over 36,000 AI-driven cyber incidents have been detected recently, revealing vulnerabilities that demand robust governance mechanisms. The focus is shifting from innovation for profit to AI for responsible, transparent, and accountable governance.
How is AI reshaping governance and business operations?
- AI as a catalyst: AI is transforming industries, automating functions, and unlocking efficiency, especially in large corporations like HPCL.
- Governance shift: The emphasis is moving from using AI for automation to using it for secure, ethical, and explainable decision-making.
- Corporate accountability: Company Boards are now integrating AI risk management as part of business strategy and compliance mechanisms.
What are the major cybersecurity challenges emerging from AI integration?
- Dual challenge: HPCL and similar enterprises face both digital intrusions and physical tampering, such as pipeline or fuel data manipulation.
- Data breaches and tampering: AI systems amplify vulnerabilities by collecting, analysing, and predicting based on sensitive data.
- AI unpredictability: As one executive noted, AI “can behave unpredictably”, even making errors like confusing CAPTCHA, reflecting how AI mimics but doesn’t fully understand human behaviour.
- Evolving threats: Traditional cybersecurity tools like SIEM systems are being replaced by AI-based predictive defence models.
How are organisations building responsible AI frameworks?
- Ethical design: Companies are embedding AI hygiene protocols involving legal, ethical, and operational reviews.
- Cross-functional training: AI safety and compliance are being promoted through employee retraining and AI literacy initiatives.
- Accountability culture: “Who builds, who manages, and who owns AI” is now being formalised as part of corporate accountability structures.
- AI governance frameworks: Emphasis on explainability, transparency, and traceability of AI decisions.
How is India’s corporate sector responding to data and cybersecurity concerns?
- AI-based monitoring: Firms like HPCL have set up ATOM – Autonomous Threat Operations Machines capable of detecting and neutralising threats within minutes.
- Prioritisation of data integrity: Secure perimeters, application firewalls, and endpoint safety are now standard.
- Rise of human-AI synergy: Human oversight remains essential even as AI automates responses.
- New compliance model: AI-driven auditing and data lineage tools enhance traceability and prevent tampering.
Why is accountability and explainability central to future AI governance?
- Ownership and transparency: AI accountability now spans design to deployment stages.
- Explainability: Organisations must show how AI works, not just that it works, to maintain compliance.
- Ethical responsibility: AI ethics involves documenting data sources, audit trails, and decisions for regulatory and consumer trust.
- Broader awareness: Employees and consumers alike are being educated about AI literacy and bias detection.
Conclusion
The shift of AI conversations towards governance and cybersecurity signifies India’s entry into a new phase of responsible innovation. As AI pervades every domain, from finance to fuel, the focus must remain on trust, transparency, and traceability. Building ethical AI ecosystems that value both progress and protection is now essential for sustainable digital governance.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2023] Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does AI help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of AI in healthcare?
Linkage: Both the article and the question highlight how AI, while enhancing efficiency in fields like healthcare and governance, raises critical concerns over data privacy, transparency, and ethical accountability.
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Why in the News?
In his Mann Ki Baat broadcast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon citizens to commemorate 150 years of our national song “Vande Mataram”.
About Vande Mataram:
- Overview: Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay around 1875, originally in Sanskrit (Bengali script) and later included in his novel Anandamath (1882), depicting the Sannyasi Rebellion against British rule.
- Meaning: It means “I bow to thee, Mother”, symbolising devotion to the motherland, unity, and the spirit of sacrifice.
- First Rendition: First sung publicly by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Indian National Congress Session, transforming it into a nationalist anthem.
- Role in Freedom Struggle: Became a rallying cry for revolutionaries in Swadeshi Movement, sung in protests, prisons, and meetings representing Ma Bharati as a symbol of resistance and national pride.
- Official Status: In 1937, the Indian National Congress adopted its first two stanzas as the National Song; on January 24, 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad granted it equal status with Jana Gana Mana in the Constituent Assembly.
- Structure & Style: Comprises six stanzas, combining Sanskrit precision and Bengali rhythm, praising India’s nature, strength, and divinity.
- Translations & Music: Sri Aurobindo translated it into English (Karmayogin, 1909); V.D. Paluskar and Ravi Shankar popularised musical renditions.
- Cultural Symbolism: Personifies India as the Divine Mother, transcending religious and regional divides; played instrumentally at the end of Parliamentary sessions.
[UPSC 2016] ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Boycott’ were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the
Options: (a) Agitation against the Partition of Bengal *
(b) Home Rule Movement
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement
(d) Visit of the Simon Commission to India |
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Why in the News?
East Timor (Timor-Leste) was formally admitted as the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
What is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?
- Establishment: Founded in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand through the Bangkok Declaration.
- Purpose: To promote economic growth, political stability, regional peace, and cultural cooperation in Southeast Asia.
- Membership: 11 nations – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and East Timor.
- Institutional Pillars:
- Political-Security Community,
- Economic Community,
- Socio-Cultural Community.
- Legal Framework: The ASEAN Charter (2008) gave it a legal identity and deepened integration on the EU model.
- Economic Scale: Represents 680 million people with a combined GDP > $3.8 trillion, making it a leading global growth hub.
- External Partnerships: Engages India, China, Japan, USA, Australia, etc., through forums like the East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Plus Six.
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About East Timor (Timor-Leste):
- Location: Situated in Southeast Asia, occupying the eastern half of Timor Island, bordered by Indonesia (west) and Australia (south).
- Colonial History: A Portuguese colony for 400+ years until Indonesia’s invasion in 1975, shortly after a brief independence.
- Independence: Achieved full sovereignty in 2002 following the UN-supervised 1999 referendum ending 24 years of occupation.
- Demographics: Population ≈1.4 million; 42% below poverty line; two-thirds under age 30, making employment creation a core policy focus.
- Economy: Dependent on oil and gas revenues, now diversifying toward agriculture, tourism, and digital infrastructure due to depleting reserves.
- Political Leadership: Led by PM Xanana Gusmao and President Jose Ramos-Horta (1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate).
- Regional Integration: Became ASEAN’s 11th member in Oct 2025, marking the bloc’s first expansion since 1999.
| [UPSC 2009] Consider the following countries:
1. Brunei Darussalam 2. East Timor 3. Laos Which of the above is/are member/members of ASEAN?
Options: (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?
The IUCN’s World Heritage Outlook 4 has downgraded India’s Western Ghats, Manas, and Sundarbans National Parks to “Significant Concern” due to climate change, tourism, invasive species, and road expansion.
About IUCN World Heritage Outlook:
- Overview: Launched in 2014 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to evaluate the long-term conservation prospects of all natural and mixed UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- Cycle & Methodology: Conducted every three years (2014, 2017, 2020, 2025) using scientific data, field reports, remote-sensing, and expert review to assess retention of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).
- Coverage: The 2025 edition (World Heritage Outlook 4) assesses 200+ sites worldwide, measuring their state, threats, and management effectiveness.
- Assessment Categories:
- Good – Values secure.
- Good with Some Concerns – Moderate threats.
- Significant Concern – Serious pressures.
- Critical – Imminent loss of key values.
Key Findings World Heritage Outlook 4:
- Global Trends: “Positive outlook” sites fell from 63 % (2020) to 57 % (2025); ≈40 % of sites now face significant or critical challenges.
- Dominant Threats: Climate change has overtaken hunting and logging as the leading pressure, joined by tourism overload, invasive species, and infrastructure expansion.
- Management Gaps: Only half of sites effectively funded or staffed; weak law enforcement and community participation slow recovery.
- Positive Models: China (Mt Wuyi, Mt Huangshan) and Sri Lanka (Sinharaja) show improvement through youth involvement and sustainable tourism.
- Policy Relevance: Serves as a “litmus test for global conservation”, informing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) and supporting the 30×30 goal.
Key Findings on India’s Western Ghats:
- UNESCO Status: Inscribed in 2012 as a serial World Heritage Site; one of the world’s eight hottest biodiversity hotspots across six states (Gujarat → Tamil Nadu).
- 2025 Outlook Rating: Classified as “Significant Concern” due to rising ecological stress and habitat fragmentation.
- Biodiversity: Home to 325 globally threatened species; endemics include Nilgiri tahr, Malabar civet, Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri flycatcher.
- Major Threats:
- Hydropower & Infrastructure – e.g., ₹ 5,843 crore Sillahalla Pumped Storage Project (1,000 MW) altering river systems.
- Unregulated Tourism – garbage, wildlife disturbance, elephant conflicts.
- Monoculture Expansion – tea, coffee, rubber replacing native forests.
- Climate Shift – upslope migration of species like the Black-and-Orange Flycatcher.
- Invasive Flora – eucalyptus and acacia reducing soil fertility.
- Conservation Imperatives: Strengthen eco-sensitive zone rules, restore corridors, and expand community-based initiatives (Eco-Development Committees, MGNREGS).
- Regional Significance: Regulates South India’s monsoon and river systems (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri) sustaining 245 million people.
- Outlook Note: Despite threats, recovery is achievable through landscape-level management, sustainable tourism, and native vegetation restoration.
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Why in the News?
The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has begun the wet commissioning of the first 250 MW unit of the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP), India’s largest hydropower installation.
About Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP):
- Overview: A run-of-the-river hydroelectric project located on the Subansiri River at Gerukamukh, straddling Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in the Lower Subansiri district.
- Developer: Implemented by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited, India’s leading central public-sector hydropower enterprise.
- Installed Capacity: 2,000 MW (8×250 MW), the largest hydroelectric project in India upon completion.
- Dam Structure: A concrete gravity dam, 116 m high from riverbed (130 m from foundation) and 284 m long, built to withstand high flood discharge and seismic activity of the Eastern Himalayas.
- Reservoir & Components: Features a 34.5 km reservoir, five diversion tunnels, eight spillways, and a surface powerhouse on the right bank.
- Power Output & Benefits: Expected to generate 7,500 MUs annually (90% dependable year), contributing to clean power supply, flood moderation, irrigation, and drinking water for downstream Assam.
- Timeline: Construction began 2005, stalled 2011 due to environmental protests, resumed October 2019 after NGT clearance and PMO intervention.
- Recent Milestone: In October 2025, NHPC began wet commissioning of the first 250 MW unit, marking the project’s operational phase.
Back2Basics: Subansiri River
- Overview: Arises in the Tibetan Himalayas, flows southeast through Miri Hills (Arunachal Pradesh), entering Assam, and joins the Brahmaputra at Lakhimpur.
- Tributary Importance: Largest right-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra, contributing ~7.9% of total river flow.
- Catchment Area: Covers 32,640 sq. km, combining steep Himalayan terrain and fertile plains.
- Local Name: Known as the “Gold River” due to historic alluvial gold traces in its sands.
- Ecological Significance: Supports endemic fish species, riparian forests, and floodplain livelihoods across Dhemaji and Lakhimpur.
- Strategic Relevance: Its high gradient and perennial discharge make it ideal for renewable hydropower, central to Northeast India’s energy security.
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| [UPSC 2024] Recently, the term “pumped-storage hydropower” is actually and appropriately discussed in the context of which one of the following? Options: (a) Irrigation of terraced crop fields
(b) Lift irrigation of cereal crops
(c) Long duration energy storage*
(d) Rainwater harvesting system |
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Why in the News?
The Government of India has announced the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar as Padma-style national awards for excellence in science, technology, and innovation.
Key Highlights of 2025 Awards:
- Vigyan Ratna: Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (posthumously) – astrophysicist and cosmologist known for the Hoyle–Narlikar theory.
- Vigyan Shri: Eight scientists including Gyanendra Pratap Singh, Yusuf M. Shaikh, K. Thangaraj, Pradeep Thapalil, A.B. Pandit, Venkata Mohan, Mahan Mj, and Jayan N.
- Vigyan Yuva: Fourteen young scientists across biology, physics, and data science domains.
- Vigyan Team: CSIR Aroma Mission – for contributions to India’s flavour and fragrance sector, enhancing rural livelihood and agro-innovation.
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About Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP):
- Establishment: Instituted in January 2024 as India’s national Padma-style award for science and technology excellence, recognising scientists, technologists, and innovators of Indian origin, in India or abroad.
- Purpose: Created to replace legacy awards like the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, ensuring transparency, inclusivity, and broader scientific domain coverage.
- Governing Authority: Administered by the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Committee (RVPC), chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, comprising 17 members from major science ministries and research councils.
- Award Calendar:
- Announcement: Every May 11 on National Technology Day.
- Conferment: Every August 23 on National Space Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan, by the President of India.
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- Vigyan Ratna (VR): For lifetime achievement; up to 3 awards annually.
- Vigyan Shri (VS): For distinguished contributions; up to 25 awards.
- Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB): For scientists under 45 years; up to 25 awards.
- Vigyan Team (VT): For collaborative research groups (≥ 3 members); up to 3 awards.
Coverage & Eligibility:
- Scientific Domains: Thirteen fields including physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, medicine, engineering, agriculture, space science, and innovation.
- Eligibility: Open to Indian citizens and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs); self-nominations not permitted only institutional, departmental, or peer nominations accepted.
- Award Components: Each recipient receives a Sanad signed by the President, a medallion, and a citation booklet; posthumous awards transferred to next of kin.
| [UPSC 2014] For outstanding contribution to which one of the following’ fields is Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize given?
Options: (a) Literature (b) Performing Arts (c) Science* (d) Social Service |
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Why in the News?
Google DeepMind and Google Research has unveiled Cell2Sentence-Scale 27B (C2S-Scale), an AI model based on the Gemma family, marking a major advance in scientific research.
About C2S-Scale:
- Overview: It is a large-language-model (LLM) foundation system created by Google Research, Google DeepMind, and Yale University, designed to interpret the language of cells by converting single-cell transcriptomic data into textual “cell sentences.”
- Foundation & Architecture: Built on the Gamma family of open models with 27 billion parameters, it is among the world’s largest LLMs for biological data analysis.
- Purpose: Bridges single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and natural-language reasoning, allowing biologists to query models conversationally and obtain mechanistic hypotheses instead of raw statistics.
- Experimental Validation: Predicted a CK2-inhibition (silmitasertib + interferon) pathway that increases MHC-I antigen presentation in “cold” tumours, subsequently validated in live-cell assays.
Key Features:
- Parameter Scale: ~27 B parameters showing clear scaling-law gains in biological task performance.
- Data Representation: Converts ranked gene-expression profiles into gene-name sequences, enabling LLMs to treat transcriptomes as text.
- Multimodal Training: Trained on 50 million + single-cell profiles (human + mouse) plus metadata and scientific literature, aligning molecular data with context.
- Functional Range: Performs cell-type identification, perturbation-response prediction, dataset summarisation, cluster captioning, and biological Q&A.
- Reasoning Capability: Generates new, testable hypotheses, extending AI use from pattern detection to biological inference.
- Open-Source Access: Model weights and code released via Hugging Face and partner labs for community replication and benchmarking.
| [UPSC 2025] Consider the following statements:
I. It is expected that Majorana 1 chip will enable quantum computing.
II. Majorana 1 chip has been introduced by Amazon Web Services (AWS).
III. Deep learning is machine learning.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) I and II only (b) II and III only (c) I and III only * (d) I, II and III |
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PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2020] In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are needed particularly in the fields of geriatric and maternal health care. Discuss.
Linkage: Just as maternal and geriatric health require targeted policies, this article highlights the urgent need for child specific pharmaceutical regulation, reinforcing that inclusive social development demands age-segmented health care frameworks addressing the unique vulnerabilities of each group. |
Mentor’s Comment
The tragic deaths of 25 children in Madhya Pradesh due to contaminated cough syrup have reignited a critical debate on India’s regulatory failure in child health and pharmaceutical safety. The incident exposes deep gaps in monitoring, quality control, and the larger question of how India safeguards its youngest citizens’ right to health. For UPSC aspirants, this issue links to public health governance (GS-2), ethical administration (GS-4), and inclusive growth (GS-3), all central to understanding India’s social contract with its people.
Why in the News?
Twenty five children lost their lives after consuming contaminated cough syrup, a tragedy that shocked the nation. The pediatrician involved reportedly received a ₹2.54 lakh commission for prescribing the syrup, raising questions about medical ethics, accountability, and the systemic failure of regulation. This is not an isolated case, since 2022, contaminated syrups from India have caused deaths in Gambia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and Cameroon, denting India’s image as the “pharmacy of the Global South.” The issue marks a repeated failure of quality control and enforcement, despite India having one of the largest pharmaceutical industries in the world.
Where the Focus Needs to Be
- Regulatory framework: The emphasis must shift from blame to building robust regulatory architecture for the distribution of pediatric medicines.
- Child health protection: India must uphold its constitutional commitment under Article 39(f), ensuring children’s right to health and development.
- Legal ecosystem: Existing laws, such as the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act and National Policy for Children 2013, must evolve to cover medicine safety for children.
How Inadequate Oversight Endangers Children
- Weak pharmacovigilance: Insufficient clinical data and lack of dedicated pediatric testing result in drugs for adults being extrapolated for children.
- Dosage disparity: Absence of age-specific dosage guidelines often leads to overmedication and severe side effects.
- Special needs ignored: Pediatric pharmacology demands unique formulations, but most drugs are designed with adults as the reference.
- Ethical breach: The commission based medical practice further erodes trust, especially when children’s lives are at stake.
What the Global Framework Teaches India
- Regulatory precedents: The European Union’s Paediatric Use Marketing Authorisation and the U.S. Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) mandate pediatric testing for all drugs.
- Holistic approach: These frameworks ensure drug safety through clinical data collection, financial incentives for manufacturers, and legal enforcement.
- Indian gap: India lacks such comprehensive laws; existing rules focus only on general health safety, not pediatric-specific provisions.
Why Pediatric Medicines Need Special Policy Attention
- Essential medicine concept: The WHO defines essential medicines as those meeting priority health needs. Pediatric formulations should be an integral part of this.
- Affordability: Without public support, many families cannot afford safe alternatives, forcing them to buy untested drugs.
- Domestic R&D: India’s dependency on adult-tested formulations highlights the absence of child focused pharmaceutical innovation.
- Education and regulation: Pharmacists and caregivers need training to ensure proper dosage and drug choice.
How India Can Reform Pediatric Drug Policy
- Zero tolerance on contamination: Strong penalties and criminal accountability for substandard and spurious drugs.
- Independent regulator: A separate Pediatric Drug Safety Division within CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation).
- Integrated surveillance: Real time data monitoring for adverse pediatric drug reactions through digital reporting.
- International benchmarking: Alignment of India’s pediatric drug policy with WHO and OECD standards.
- Public awareness: Dissemination of safety information to parents, caregivers, and schools.
Need for India Data
- Evidence based policy: India must base its pediatric drug policy on domestic child health data rather than extrapolations from adult studies or foreign datasets.
- Malnutrition link: Toxicity of contaminated syrups is worsened by underlying malnutrition, emphasizing a multi sectoral child health approach.
Conclusion
India’s children represent 39% of its population, yet policy neglect leaves them vulnerable to unsafe drugs and unethical practices. The current crisis is not just about regulatory lapses but about violating the fundamental right to health and life under Article 21. India must institutionalize a child-specific pharmaceutical policy, backed by strict monitoring, ethical medical practices, and international standard oversight. Ensuring safe, affordable, and regulated pediatric medicines is not merely a policy choice, it is a moral obligation and constitutional duty.
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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.
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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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