💥UPSC 2026, 2027 UAP Mentorship November Batch
Talk to Mentor

Type: Explained

These Newscards correspond to the explained section of various newspapers. They become immensely important for both prelims and mains and special attention needs to be paid to them

Bills/Act/LawsDOMREthicsExplainedHistorical SitesIndia MappingIOCRop-ed snapPIBPrelims OnlySC JudgementsSchemesSpeciesStatesWorld Mapping

Forest Conservation Efforts – NFP, Western Ghats, etc.

What’s the plan to relocate forest tribes?

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

Introduction

The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has drafted a new policy framework titled “Reconciling Conservation and Community Rights” to ensure that any relocation from tiger reserves aligns with the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) and ensures community consent, accountability, and post-relocation monitoring. This follows increasing complaints from Scheduled Tribes that relocations are being conducted without proper consent, despite the FRA granting them rights to reside within traditional habitats.

What is the significance of the new policy framework?

  1. Institutional reform: The framework proposes a National Framework for Community-Centric Conservation and Relocation involving both the Environment and Tribal Affairs Ministries.
  2. Integration of agencies: Suggests joint procedural standards, timelines, and accountability mechanisms across ministries.
  3. Centralized database: Recommends creation of a National Database on Conservation-Community Interface (NDCCI) to record data on relocations, compensation, and post-relocation outcomes.
  4. Independent audits: Mandates annual independent audits by empanelled agencies to ensure FRA compliance and voluntary consent in relocation projects.

Why was this policy needed now?

  1. Implementation gaps: Multiple representations from States and tribal groups highlighted “serious concerns” about non-implementation of FRA in tiger reserves.
  2. Violation of rights: Tribes alleged coercion into relocation despite the FRA allowing habitation within reserves.
  3. Poor monitoring: The Ministry noted lack of data and follow-up on families relocated from reserves since 2007.
  4. Scale of issue: Over 1,566 villages have been relocated from tiger reserves since 2007, affecting 55,000 families; another 94,000 families remain within reserve areas.

What safeguards does the framework propose?

  1. Voluntary relocation: Relocation only if consent is obtained at both Gram Sabha and household levels.
  2. Right to reside: Reaffirms that forest-dwelling communities cannot be relocated without exercising FRA rights to remain in traditional habitats.
  3. Scientific validation: Any relocation must be justified through demonstrable ecological necessity.
  4. Ethical relocation: Proposes “voluntary, scientifically justified, and dignity-based” resettlement, monitored by the NDCCI and independent auditors.

How does the framework address inter-ministerial coordination?

  1. Collaborative approach: Establishes a joint mechanism between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) for approval, execution, and evaluation of relocations.
  2. Defined accountability: Ensures that both ministries share equal responsibility in monitoring and redressal of rights violations.
  3. State participation: State governments to designate nodal officers to ensure compliance with FRA provisions before any relocation.

What challenges remain on the ground?

  1. Administrative inertia: State agencies often bypass FRA provisions, citing wildlife protection laws.
  2. Inadequate consultation: Many Gram Sabhas report incomplete or manipulated consent processes.
  3. Livelihood uncertainty: Compensation often delayed or inadequate, leading to impoverishment post-relocation.
  4. Social dislocation: Tribes such as the Jenu Kuruba in Karnataka allege forced displacement without restoration of ancestral land rights.

How does this align with India’s conservation policy?

  1. Balancing dual goals: The framework emphasizes that tiger conservation and tribal rights are not mutually exclusive.
  2. Legal synchronization: Seeks to harmonize FRA (2006) with Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) directives.
  3. Ethical conservation: Shifts focus from coercive protectionism to participatory conservation involving local communities.

Conclusion

The proposed framework is a crucial step toward redefining India’s conservation ethics by embedding human rights into environmental protection. Its success will depend on genuine participation of tribal communities, transparent auditing, and strict accountability from both central and state authorities. Only then can India achieve inclusive conservation that respects both its people and its tigers.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2025] Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.

Linkage: It directly aligns with the issue of forest tribe relocation, where development often entails displacement for conservation followed by inadequate rehabilitation efforts. This highlights the need for a rights-based, consent-driven framework ensuring dignity and livelihood security for displaced tribal communities.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Climate Change Negotiations – UNFCCC, COP, Other Conventions and Protocols

Climate change is driven by human need and greed

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

Introduction

Climate change has long been discussed in terms of rising temperatures and carbon emissions, but historian Sunil Amrith reframes it as a moral and historical crisis. His work The Burning Earth explores how human ambition, industrialisation, and inequality have shaped the Anthropocene. The interview highlights that solving the crisis requires not just technology, but a transformation in values, governance, and global justice.

Central Ideas and Dimensions

  1. Human Ambition and the Roots of the Climate Crisis
    1. Moral Dimension: Amrith draws from Mahatma Gandhi’s dictum, “The world has enough for everyone’s need but not enough for everyone’s greed.” Industrialisation, driven by greed rather than necessity, transformed humanity’s relationship with nature.
    2. Historical Continuity: Post-industrial societies viewed nature as a source of endless exploitation; colonised nations inherited these extractive systems.
    3. Colonial Legacy: European colonial powers intensified extraction in Asia and Africa, embedding global inequalities in resource use and emissions.
  2. Industrialisation and Technological Faith: A Limited Solution
    1. Technological Optimism: Many assume industrial progress can “fix” climate problems through innovation and decarbonisation.
    2. Historical Warning: Industrialisation was never morally neutral; it was driven by moral ambition and economic expansion.
    3. Inequality in Transition: The Global South is now being asked to decarbonise rapidly despite having contributed less to historical emissions.
    4. Example: The ‘Green Transition’ narrative often benefits rich economies while transferring economic burdens to poorer ones.
  3. Climate Change as a Political, not Merely Technical, Problem
    1. Political Process: Climate negotiations are shaped by historical responsibility and inequality in emission shares.
    2. Distribution of Responsibility: Developed countries hold disproportionate responsibility, yet developing countries bear heavier adaptation costs.
    3. Injustice of Geography: Those least responsible like communities in the Global South face the worst climate impacts.
    4. Global Debate: The question of who should pay and who should adapt is as pressing as the question of how to reduce emissions.
  4. Humanities and the Ethics of Climate Discourse
    1. Beyond Science: Amrith calls for humanities’ involvement, history, anthropology, and moral philosophy, to interpret climate change as a human story.
    2. Changing Relationship with Nature: Understanding industrialisation’s moral and emotional roots can help reshape our relationship with the planet.
    3. Broader Lens: Integrating social, cultural, and ethical frameworks prevents oversimplified “technological salvation” narratives.
  5. The Limits of Techno-fixes and the Role of Human Values
    1. Bill Gates’ View: Technology can solve climate change even if temperatures rise by 1.5°C.
    2. Amrith’s Counterpoint: Even if emissions stopped tomorrow, warming would continue due to locked-in carbon cycles.
    3. Moral Reorientation: Sustainable future demands restraint, compassion, and fairness, not mere efficiency or profit.
    4. Systemic Realisation: Human welfare, not human power, should guide policy; prosperity cannot be measured by GDP alone.

Conclusion

Amrith’s argument reframes the climate crisis as a mirror to human civilization reflecting not just carbon levels, but our collective morality. The path ahead demands ethical reawakening, equitable governance, and historical responsibility, not just green technology. Climate change is not a scientific failure; it is a civilizational test of whether humanity can outgrow its own greed.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2017] ‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change?
Linkage: Climate change is a recurring UPSC theme in GS 3 and Essays. This article adds depth by linking human greed and moral failure to India’s climate vulnerability, especially in Himalayan and coastal regions.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

Where states stand on revenue collections, before and after GST

Explained | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

Introduction

Introduced in 2017, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) replaced multiple indirect taxes at both Central and State levels, including excise duty, service tax, and VAT, creating a unified national tax framework. The recent data released by the Central Government for October 2025 indicates a 4.6% year-on-year increase in total revenue collection to ₹1,95,936 crore. However, the state-wise analysis has revealed an emerging concern: while some states have achieved strong revenue growth, others are struggling to reach even pre-GST revenue-to-GDP ratios.

Why in the News

The latest data on GST revenue collection highlights contrasting fiscal trajectories across Indian states. Despite record-high GST collections nationally, several states’ tax-to-GDP ratios remain lower than before 2017, indicating a possible erosion of state fiscal autonomy. The issue has gained attention because:

  1. Sixteen states and Union Territories now earn a smaller share of revenue from GST than pre-GST taxes.
  2. The aggregate revenue from subsumed taxes has declined from 6.1% of GDP in 2015-16 to 5.5% in 2023-24.
  3. The average GST-to-GDP ratio over the past seven years is 2.6%, below the pre-GST average of 2.8%.
  4. This reversal is significant as it questions the efficacy of India’s largest tax reform and the viability of fiscal federalism under GST.

How did GST Change the Tax Landscape?

  1. Unified Tax Framework: GST subsumed indirect taxes such as excise duty, VAT, and service tax under a single national structure, simplifying compliance.
  2. Revenue Flow Shift: Revenue previously collected by states under independent taxes now flows through a shared GST mechanism, altering fiscal control.
  3. Increased Central Dependence: States became dependent on GST compensation cess and Centre’s transfers for revenue stability, altering fiscal autonomy.
  4. Short-term Gains: Initially, GST led to better compliance and formalization, resulting in short-term revenue surges.

How Are States Performing After GST?

  1. Diverse Outcomes: According to PRS Legislative Research, state-level GST revenues continue to trail the pre-GST levels as a share of GSDP.
  2. Declining Tax-to-GDP Ratio: Aggregate revenue from subsumed taxes fell from 6.1% (2015-16) to 5.5% (2023-24).
  3. Below-Average GST Performance: The seven-year average GST-to-GDP ratio (2.6%) is lower than the pre-GST average (2.8%).
  4. Top Performers: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana have shown robust post-GST growth in tax collection.
  5. Lagging States: J&K, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha recorded revenue decline from subsumed taxes as a percentage of GSDP.

Which States Have Been Worst Affected?

  1. Northeastern States: Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Manipur saw an improvement in tax-to-GSDP ratios.
  2. Northern and Central States: Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha saw a decline in subsumed tax revenues.
  3. Urban-Rural Divide: Industrial and service-oriented states benefited, while agrarian and resource-dependent states witnessed fiscal compression.
  4. GST Compensation End: After 2022, when the GST compensation guarantee ended, fiscal stress intensified for states heavily reliant on the compensation mechanism.

What Does the Data Reveal About Fiscal Federalism?

  1. Centre-State Revenue Imbalance: 20 out of 36 states/UTs now collect less than 40% of their revenue from GST, deepening fiscal asymmetry.
  2. Medium-term Fiscal Impact: The 15th Finance Commission projected a GST-to-GDP ratio of 7%, but current data reflects underperformance.
  3. Long-term Fiscal Risks: Declining state revenue autonomy may affect social spending and capital expenditure, widening regional disparities.
  4. Compliance Inefficiency: Multiple tax slabs, refund delays, and compliance burdens continue to affect smaller states’ GST efficiency.

Conclusion

The GST has achieved its unification objective but has not yet ensured revenue equity across states. While high-compliance, industrial states have benefited, smaller and agrarian states remain fiscally strained. The data underscores the need for recalibrating the GST architecture, simplifying slabs, improving IT infrastructure, and enhancing fiscal transfers, to align with the spirit of cooperative federalism and fiscal balance.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2019] Enumerate the indirect taxes which have been subsumed in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. Also, comment on the revenue implications of the GST introduced in India since July 2017.

Linkage: It evaluates the impact of GST on Centre-State revenue balance and indirect tax structure post-2017.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Surrogacy in India

The Second Issue: On Surrogacy for a Second Child

Explained | Social Justice | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

Introduction

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 stipulates that an “intending couple” is eligible for surrogacy only if they do not have any surviving child, biological, adopted or via surrogacy, except where the child is physically or mentally challenged or has a life-threatening disorder.A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court by a couple facing secondary infertility who seek to use surrogacy to have a second child. Their argument: the law’s restriction interferes with the reproductive choices of citizens and treats primary and secondary infertility differently.

What is the law’s objective and rationale

  1. Objective of the Act: The primary stated purpose is to prohibit commercial surrogacy, regulate fertility and surrogacy clinics, and protect surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy.
  2. Eligibility restriction: Section 4(iii)(C)(II) mandates the ‘no surviving child’ condition for an intending couple.
  3. Rationale for restriction: The government’s position is that the use of another woman’s body for surrogacy demands strict regulation; therefore, limiting eligibility helps prevent exploitation and commercialization.
  4. Court’s interim view: The Supreme Court has indicated the restriction appears “reasonable” but is examining whether the ban on surrogacy for couples with a surviving child amounts to a violation of reproductive choice.

How does the law differentiate primary and secondary infertility

  1. Secondary infertility defined: In this context, it refers to couples unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term despite having borne a child naturally earlier.
  2. Law’s silence on distinction: The Act does not expressly differentiate between primary and secondary infertility in defining “infertility” for eligibility. The petitioners argue the statute uses “infertility” generically and should be read to include secondary infertility.
  3. Effect of the distinction: As a result of the clause, a couple with one surviving (healthy) child is barred from surrogacy for a second child, even if they face medical infertility. The petition argues this amounts to unreasonable discrimination.

Why is this matter significant now?

  1. Reproductive autonomy at stake: The case raises the question whether reproductive choice including whether and how many children to have falls under the fundamental right to privacy and reproductive autonomy (Article 21).
  2. Scale of the issue: Secondary infertility affects a substantial number of couples; the law’s bar effectively restricts access to surrogacy for many intending parents. The article emphasises that restricting access solely because a couple already has a child may not align with the law’s stated objective.
  3. Precedents of regulation being diluted: The Court recently relaxed age restrictions for couples who had frozen embryos prior to the law’s enactment, signalling willingness to interpret surrogacy law expansively.
  4. Contradiction with other family-related rights: There is no law in India capping the number of children a person may have naturally; yet, the surrogacy law imposes a “one-child existing” rule. This invites scrutiny of rational basis for differentiation.

What are the potential implications of a broader interpretation”

  1. Facilitating access: A more expansive reading allowing surrogacy for intending parents would align the law with reproductive autonomy and reduce arbitrary differentiation.
  2. Safeguard against exploitation: The law can maintain its core safeguards against commercialisation and exploitation while enabling access for medically infertile couples seeking a second child.
  3. Policy coherence: It would harmonise the surrogacy statute’s eligibility norms with the lack of statutory restriction on the number of natural children and prevent unjust exclusion of couples.
  4. Legal precedent: A favourable interpretation could open up examination of other eligibility criteria under the Act (such as age or marital status) in light of constitutional rights.

What are the counter-arguments and concerns?

  1. Risk of commercial surrogacy revival: Critics argue liberalising eligibility may inadvertently open doors to exploitation of surrogate mothers and a resurgence of commercial surrogacy in disguised form.
  2. Resource and monitoring constraints: Greater eligibility implies more oversight burden on regulatory infrastructure (ART clinics, surrogacy boards, monitoring of insurance/compensation).
  3. State interest in regulation: The restriction can be defended as within the State’s margin of appreciation to regulate surrogacy in public interest, preserving dignity of women and children.
  4. Potential slippery slope: Expanding eligibility might raise questions about single individuals, LGBTQ+ couples or live-in partners accessing surrogacy, aspects the law currently restricts.

Conclusion

The surrogacy debate in India reflects the evolving tension between state regulation and personal autonomy. While the law rightly seeks to prevent exploitation and commercialisation, it must not overlook the constitutional promise of reproductive freedom and equality. A more inclusive, rights-based interpretation, sensitive to medical realities like secondary infertility, would uphold both ethical safeguards and individual dignity, aligning the law with India’s vision of gender justice and compassionate governance.

Value Addition: Surrogacy Law in India

Legal Framework:

Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021

  • Objective: Regulate surrogacy procedures, prohibit commercial surrogacy, and ensure ethical practices in assisted reproduction.
  • Type allowed: Only altruistic surrogacy (no monetary compensation except medical expenses and insurance).
    • Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021
  • Objective: Regulate ART clinics and banks; maintain records, screening, and ethical standards for gamete donation and IVF processes.
  • Together, these Acts create a twin legal framework governing all forms of medically assisted reproduction in India.

Key Provisions of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021

  1. Eligibility of intending couple:
    • Must be Indian citizens, legally married, and aged:
      • Husband: 26–55 years
      • Wife: 23–50 years
    • Must possess a certificate of infertility from a District Medical Board.
    • Must not have any surviving child (biological, adopted, or through surrogacy), except if the child is mentally/physically challenged or suffers a life-threatening disorder.
  2. Eligibility of surrogate mother:
    • Must be a married woman with a child of her own.
    • Age limit: 25–35 years.
    • Can act as a surrogate only once in her lifetime.
    • Must be a close relative of the intending couple.
    • Must obtain a certificate of medical and psychological fitness.
  3. National and State Surrogacy Boards: Oversee implementation, formulate policies, and ensure ethical compliance.
  4. Penal provisions:
    • Commercial surrogacy, sale/purchase of human embryos, and exploitation of surrogate mothers attract imprisonment up to 10 years and fine up to ₹10 lakh.

Objectives and Rationale

  1. Prevent commercial exploitation: Protects poor women from being coerced into surrogacy for financial gain.
  2. Ensure child welfare: Guarantees the child’s legal status and parentage from birth.
  3. Promote ethical medical practices: Prevents unregulated fertility clinics and misuse of technology.
  4. Align with constitutional morality: Balances individual reproductive rights with social ethics and public health considerations.

Judicial and Policy Developments

  1. SC observations (2023–2025):
    • Examining secondary infertility cases to test whether barring surrogacy for a second child violates reproductive autonomy under Article 21.
    • Previously allowed age relaxation for couples with frozen embryos prior to enactment of the Act.
  2. Delhi High Court (2023): Directed the government to reconsider rules preventing single women or widows from accessing surrogacy, citing discrimination concerns.
  3. Policy evolution: Shift from the 2015 ban on foreign commercial surrogacy to a 2021 framework permitting only altruistic domestic surrogacy.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2023] Explain the constitutional perspectives of Gender Justice with the help of relevant constitutional provisions and case laws.

Linkage: This question is key as it tests understanding of Articles 14, 15 and 21 on women’s equality and autonomy. This is central to debates like the Surrogacy Act 2021, which restricts reproductive choice and raises issues of bodily rights and gender justice.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Electoral Reforms In India

Why the nomination process needs reform

Explained | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Representation Of People's Act

Introduction

The Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951, empowers the Election Commission of India (ECI) and returning officers to scrutinize nominations to ensure candidates meet legal qualifications. However, excessive procedural formalism has made nomination scrutiny a potential chokepoint where even minor clerical errors can disqualify legitimate contenders. This procedural rigidity, instead of filtering unqualified candidates, has evolved into a tool of exclusion, undermining electoral fairness and the voter’s right to choice, a core tenet of representative democracy.

Why is the Nomination Process in News?

A young woman from Darda Nagar Haveli recently had her nomination for a municipal election rejected without hearing or clarification, sparking outrage. The issue resonates nationally because it reveals how India’s nomination process. Once a procedural safeguard now functions as a gatekeeping mechanism, often silencing genuine candidates on technical grounds. This marks a sharp contrast with the intended democratic spirit of the RPA and represents a major procedural failure in the electoral framework.

How Does India’s Nomination Process Work?

  1. Legal Framework: Governed by Section 33 to 36 of the RPA, 1951.
  2. Returning Officer’s Power: The RO decides on validity; their decision is final at the nomination stage.
  3. Grounds for Rejection: Nomination can be rejected for “defective or incomplete declaration,” even if trivial.
  4. Judicial Context: The Resurgence India v. Election Commission (2014) case held that a wrong declaration is disqualifiable, but an incomplete one is not. Yet, in practice, both are often treated alike.

What Are the Problems in the Existing Process?

  1. Excessive Proceduralism
    • Focus on compliance over intent: The system overemphasizes technical correctness of forms rather than substantive eligibility.
    • Example: Minor errors like mismatched affidavits, late filings, or missing entries in Form 26 (assets/liabilities) can lead to disqualification.
  2. Discretionary Power and Arbitrary Rejection
    • Unilateral authority: ROs can reject nominations without appeal or review, creating room for bias or manipulation.
    • Violation of Article 326: Denies both the candidate’s right to contest and the voter’s right to choose.
  3. Delay and Lack of Rectification
    • No correction window: Candidates have no opportunity to correct clerical errors before rejection.
    • Contrast: Countries like the UK and Canada allow rectification before the final list is published.
  4. Facilitation vs Filtration
    • Wrong design philosophy: The nomination process should facilitate participation, not filter out candidates on hyper-technical grounds.
    • Outcome: Bureaucratic compliance is rewarded over democratic legitimacy.

How Have Other Democracies Addressed This?

  1. UK Model: Allows candidates to correct nomination papers within a defined time.
  2. Canada: Uses a post-scrutiny correction period to avoid unjust disqualifications.
  3. United States: Courts can overturn wrongful exclusions promptly through expedited hearings.

These systems treat nomination scrutiny as an inclusive process ensuring access, not exclusion, emphasizing facilitation over filtration.

What Can Be Done to Reform the Process?

  1. Institutional Reform
    • Independent Review Mechanism: Introduce an appeal or review system within 24 hours for rejected nominations.
    • Digital Scrutiny System: Online form submissions and auto-validation to reduce human error and bias.
  2. Procedural Reforms
    • Correction Period: Allow 48-hour correction for minor defects, akin to GST return rectifications.
    • Uniform Scrutiny Guidelines: Draft model SOPs by the Election Commission for all states.
  3. Accountability Reforms
    • Recordable Decisions: ROs must record written reasons for rejections; such records should be reviewable by the ECI.
    • Transparency Measures: Make all nominations, scrutiny notes, and rejections publicly available online.

Conclusion

India’s electoral democracy must evolve from a bureaucratic to a participatory model. The nomination process, meant to protect electoral integrity, should not become an instrument of disenfranchisement. Reform should focus on substantive eligibility, procedural fairness, and digital transparency. This ensures that every qualified citizen has a fair opportunity to contest preserving the spirit of democracy envisioned in the Constitution.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2017] To enhance the quality of democracy in India, the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful?

Linkage: Electoral reforms in specific and Election Commission in particular is a recurring theme in UPSC mains exam. This 2017 PYQ covers procedural and legal reforms including nomination scrutiny, transparency in funding, and fair competition.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough

India AI: Governance Guidelines

Explained | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence has evolved from an assistive tool to an autonomous decision-maker, influencing governance, economy, security, and social life. Recognizing both its potential and perils, the Government of India, through MeitY’s drafting committee (July 2025), released the India AI Governance Guidelines.It is  rooted in the vision of “AI for All”. The framework aims to foster inclusive growth, innovation, and ethical use of AI, ensuring that India’s AI journey is safe, transparent, and globally credible.

Why in the News

For the first time, India has articulated a unified, principle-based framework on AI governance, a techno-legal and institutional roadmap aligning AI with constitutional values and national priorities. It promotes voluntary frameworks over strict regulation marking a shift from restraint to responsible innovation.

What are the Core Principles Guiding India’s AI Governance?

  1. Seven Sutras: Trust, People First, Innovation over Restraint, Fairness & Equity, Accountability, Understandable by Design, Safety, Resilience & Sustainability. These are adapted from the RBI’s FREE-AI Committee report and designed to be sector-neutral and technology-agnostic.
  2. Trust as Foundation: Builds confidence in AI systems by ensuring transparency, safety, and ethical use.
  3. People First: Emphasizes human oversight and empowerment, preventing machine dominance.
  4. Innovation over Restraint: Encourages experimentation with accountability, not prohibition.
  5. Fairness & Equity: Prevents algorithmic discrimination and digital exclusion.

How Does the Framework Promote AI Development and Infrastructure?

  1. Compute Expansion: Over 38,000 GPUs made available to startups and researchers at subsidized rates.
  2. AIKosh Data Platform: Houses 1,500 datasets and 217 models from 20 sectors, ensuring data accessibility with privacy.
  3. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Combines Aadhaar, UPI, and Bhashini for scalable, low-cost AI deployment.
  4. MSME Enablement: AI-linked loans via SIDBI & Mudra, tax rebates for certified AI adoption, and starter packs for sectors like textiles and logistics.

How Does India Address Risk and Regulation in AI?

  1. Balanced Regulation: No separate AI law yet existing laws (IT Act, DPDP Act, Copyright Act, etc.) govern AI harms.
  2. Key Risk Areas: Deepfakes, data poisoning, discrimination, loss of control, national security threats.
  3. India-specific Risk Framework: Classifies harms empirically and promotes voluntary, proportionate compliance.
  4. Content Authentication: Suggests watermarking and provenance tools aligned with global C2PA standards.

How Will Institutions Enforce AI Safety and Accountability?

  1. AI Governance Group (AIGG): Apex inter-ministerial body chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser, coordinating AI policy across ministries.
  2. Technology & Policy Expert Committee (TPEC): Offers domain expertise on law, data, security, and governance.
  3. AI Safety Institute (AISI): Anchors technical safety, risk research, and international collaborations like the Global Network of AI Safety Institutes.
  4. Accountability Measures:
    • Graded Liability System based on role and risk.
    • Transparency Reports, Grievance Redressal Systems, Peer Monitoring, and Self-certifications for compliance.

What is India’s Global and Long-term Vision for AI Governance?

  1. Foresight & Diplomacy: Positions India as a voice of the Global South in AI governance debates (G20, UN, OECD).
  2. AI Incident Reporting System: Centralised database tracking AI harms for national security and regulatory learning.
  3. Techno-Legal Architecture: Concepts like DEPA for AI Training embed consent and privacy by design.
  4. Action Plan:
    • Short-term: Build institutions and awareness.
    • Medium-term: Develop standards, risk frameworks, and legal clarity.
    • Long-term: Evolve global leadership and adaptive legal frameworks.

Conclusion

India’s AI Governance Guidelines represent a paradigm shift from regulation to enablement, balancing innovation with public trust. By rooting governance in human values, institutional cooperation, and digital infrastructure, India positions itself as a responsible AI power, one that prioritizes inclusivity, transparency, and resilience. The framework sets a precedent for the Global South, reflecting India’s vision of “AI for All, AI for Good”.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2023] e-governance, as a critical tool of governance, has ushered in effectiveness, transparency and accountability in governments. What inadequacies hamper the enhancement of these features?

Linkage: The AI Governance Guidelines integrate e-governance and AI to improve transparency, accountability, and citizen-centricity. This addresses the same governance challenges this question targets.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Freedom of Speech – Defamation, Sedition, etc.

What constitutes Contempt of Court in India

Explained | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Executive & Judiciary

Introduction

Recent remarks made against the Chief Justice of India and the Supreme Court have sparked nationwide debate on whether such statements amount to contempt of court. This incident is significant as it goes beyond personal criticism, it questions the authority of India’s top court and raises issues regarding the balance between free speech and judicial independence. The spread of such remarks through social media amplifies their impact, prompting discussions about protecting the dignity of the judiciary while upholding democratic accountability.

Understanding the Concept of Contempt

  1. Constitutional Reference: The term ‘contempt of court’ appears in Article 19(2) as a valid ground for imposing reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech and expression.
  2. Lack of Procedural Guidelines: The Constitution does not specify how contempt proceedings should be initiated; these are governed by statutory provisions.
  3. Courts of Record: Under Articles 129 and 215, the Supreme Court and High Courts are designated as Courts of Record, implying their judgments serve as precedents and they possess the power to punish for contempt.

Types of Contempt and Their Legal Basis

  1. Governing Law: The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 provides the legal framework for contempt proceedings.
  2. Classification: Section 2(a) of the Act divides contempt into civil and criminal.
    • Civil Contempt: Wilful disobedience of any court judgment, decree, direction, or undertaking.
    • Criminal Contempt: Publication or act that:
      • Scandalizes or lowers the authority of any court.
      • Prejudices or interferes with judicial proceedings.
      • Obstructs the administration of justice.

How Contempt Differs from Mere Disobedience

  1. Broader Implication: Contempt extends beyond disobedience. It encompasses disruption of justice delivery and diminishing public faith in the judiciary.
  2. Objective: Ensures that the judicial process remains uninfluenced and the authority of courts remains intact.
  3. Public Order Impact: Any act that weakens confidence in the justice system indirectly threatens the rule of law.

Freedom of Criticism vs Judicial Dignity

  1. Legitimate Criticism: The law recognizes that fair criticism of judicial decisions is not contempt.
  2. Boundary of Legality: Criticism crosses into contempt when it transgresses limits of fairness, becomes malicious, or undermines the authority of the court.
  3. Balance Required: Maintaining equilibrium between transparency and respect for institutions is vital to constitutional morality.

Significance of Recent Controversy

  1. Erosion of Judicial Authority: Remarks against the Chief Justice are not just personal; they symbolically attack the institution itself.
  2. Amplification via Social Media: Online circulation transforms isolated opinions into mass narratives, posing greater risks to judicial credibility.
  3. Trigger for Debate: Highlights the need for clear boundaries between criticism, activism, and contempt, particularly in digital public discourse.

Conclusion

Contempt of court serves as a constitutional safeguard for maintaining judicial integrity and authority. However, in a democracy, constructive criticism is vital for institutional reform. The challenge lies in ensuring that such criticism remains responsible, reasoned, and respectful. As public discourse migrates online, India’s legal system must re-examine the contours of contempt to preserve both judicial dignity and freedom of speech, two essential pillars of constitutional morality.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2019] Do you think that the Constitution of India does not accept the principle of strict separation of powers rather it is based on the principle of checks and balances? Explain.

Linkage: This topic is important for both Prelims and Mains. While direct questions can be asked in both, in the mains examination it can be well integrated into various judicial topics. Like in this 2019 question, contempt jurisdiction is part of this checks-and-balances system. Judicial contempt powers are mechanisms for internal checks within the democratic structure.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Electoral Reforms In India

A nationwide SIR

Explained | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Federalism

Introduction

India’s Election Commission (ECI) has launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR 2.0) of electoral rolls to address a persistent issue, duplicate and multiple voter entries across constituencies and states. As the electoral roll forms the foundation of Indian democracy, its accuracy directly determines the legitimacy of elections. The initiative represents a nationwide, paperless, tech-driven approach that seeks to align the voter database with digital verification systems, ensuring that every vote counts once and only once.

Understanding the SIR and its Objective

  1. Definition: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR), under the Representation of the People (RPA) Act, 1950, aims to ensure the integrity of electoral rolls and prevent duplication and impersonation.
  2. Objective: To update, verify, and purify the voter database by leveraging technology, interlinked databases, and field-level verification.
  3. Legal Basis: Under Section 22 and 23 of the RPA, 1950, corrections, deletions, and transfers of voter entries are authorized to maintain roll accuracy.
  4. Context: This follows recent legal scrutiny and concerns raised after instances of double voting and duplicate EPIC numbers across states.

Why Duplicate Entries Are a Major Concern

  1. Erosion of Electoral Integrity: Duplicate or multiple entries lead to bogus voting, undermining free and fair elections.
  2. Systemic Weakness: Failures in linking EPIC (Elector Photo Identity Card) data and inter-state coordination have enabled repeated entries.
  3. Case Example: In Prashant Kishor’s case, the same EPIC number was found in two constituencies, revealing system-level flaws.
  4. Administrative Burden: Duplicate entries strain the ECI’s verification apparatus, consuming time, manpower, and digital resources.
  5. Loss of Public Confidence: Recurring discrepancies in electoral lists weaken voter faith in institutional fairness and neutrality.

How the Electoral Roll is Being Purified

  1. Tech Integration: The Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) use National Voters’ Service Portal (NVSP), AI-driven duplicate detection, and data cross-verification through NIC and CDAC systems.
  2. Field-Level Verification: Enumerators conduct doorstep distribution and validation of forms to identify discrepancies.
  3. Automated Detection: Use of Common Photo Identity Card (EPIC) data and facial/ID match algorithms ensures high accuracy in identifying duplication.
  4. Legal Safeguards: Voters are given an opportunity to rectify records within six months under the law before deletion.
  5. Accountability Mechanism: EROs are held responsible for false deletion or oversight in duplication verification.

How Technology is Transforming Voter Verification

  1. Digital Synchronization: SIR 2.0 uses centralized databases for unified record-keeping across states.
  2. EPIC-Database Linkage: Integration with Aadhaar and other ID repositories facilitates cross-verification while preventing fraudulent entries.
  3. Machine Learning Models: These identify patterns of duplication and commonalities across datasets.
  4. Paperless Process: Transition from manual to cloud-based verification reduces procedural errors.
  5. Accountability Enhancement: Real-time dashboards enable monitoring of deletions, corrections, and transfers.

Challenges and Procedural Gaps

  1. Administrative Lapse: Failures stem not from technology but from poor implementation and follow-up by EROs.
  2. Inconsistent Updates: Delay in updating inter-constituency migration data leads to overlapping entries.
  3. Procedural Redundancy: Revisions often become ritualistic exercises without systemic correction mechanisms.
  4. Accountability Deficit: Lack of penal action against negligent officials reduces deterrence.
  5. Digital Divide: Areas with limited connectivity face challenges in real-time digital verification.

Way Forward

  1. Institutional Accountability: Make EROs answerable for errors through performance audits.
  2. Continuous Roll Updating: Transition from annual revision to dynamic roll management.
  3. Citizen Participation: Introduce crowdsourced error reporting through verified portals.
  4. Data Integration: Extend linkage with Aadhaar, PAN, and DigiLocker for authentication.
  5. Transparency Mechanism: Establish public dashboards for tracking deletion and addition records.
  6. Legal Framework: Consider amending the RPA to provide statutory backing for digital roll management.

Conclusion

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR 2.0) symbolizes India’s move towards a digitally verifiable democracy, but its success depends on administrative accountability as much as on technology. Ensuring a clean, accurate, and dynamic electoral roll is not a technical formality, it is a democratic imperative. Only a transparent, error-free voter database can sustain public faith in India’s electoral integrity.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] Examine the need for electoral reforms as suggested by various committees with particular reference to the “one nation-one election” principle.

Linkage: It addresses electoral reform as a structural and procedural issue under the Representation of the People Act (RPA, 1950), the same law governing the SIR initiative. It connects with the broader reform drive for efficient, error-free elections.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Cyber Security – CERTs, Policy, etc

Compound effect: On digital arrest scams

Explained | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Cyber Security

Introduction

The Supreme Court of India’s recent directive for a comprehensive probe into proliferating digital scams underscores the scale and sophistication of cyber fraud plaguing Indian citizens. The Court’s focus on “digital arrest” scams, where criminals impersonate law enforcement officials to extort money highlights a disturbing transformation in global cybercrime: industrial-scale scam operations embedded in Southeast Asian conflict zones.

Why in the News

For the first time, the Supreme Court has intervened directly to address the globalised architecture of digital scams targeting Indian citizens. These scams run from “scam compounds” in Myanmar, Cambodia, and other parts of Southeast Asia combine human trafficking, digital slavery, and organised crime. Thousands of Indians have fallen victim, some trafficked to operate scams, others defrauded online. The situation represents both a national security concern and a humanitarian crisis, demanding urgent multilateral action.

Understanding the ‘Scam Compound’ Phenomenon

  1. Industrial-scale operations: Scam compounds operate from conflict-ridden or special economic zones in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, exploiting weak governance.
  2. Cross-border architecture: These are not isolated crimes but coordinated, transnational enterprises involving militias, private entities, and local regimes.
  3. Digital slavery model: Trafficked individuals are forced, under threat and torture, to perpetrate scams such as “digital arrest,” “pig butchering,” and crypto investment frauds.
  4. State complicity: In Myanmar, regime-backed Border Guard Forces allegedly facilitate these compounds, converting scams into revenue streams for military operations.

KK Park Cyber Scam Hub in Myanmar

How the Digital Scam Network Operates

  1. Recruitment through deception: Victims are lured by fake job ads in cities like Bangkok, offering attractive salaries under visa-free entry regimes.
  2. Trafficking & confinement: Once recruited, they are trafficked into border regions controlled by ethnic militias in Myanmar and held captive in “digital sweatshops.”
  3. Coercive work environment: Workers face violence, sexual harassment, and torture if they fail to meet scam targets.
  4. Key scam types:
    1. “Digital arrest scams” impersonation of law enforcement to extort money.
    2. “Pig butchering scams” combining online romance and crypto fraud.
  5. Crypto laundering networks: Proceeds are funneled via money mules and institutions like Cambodia’s Huione Pay, then converted into cryptocurrency to evade tracing.

Why Southeast Asia Became the Epicentre

  1. Conflict & weak governance: Myanmar’s post-2021 coup turmoil has enabled militia-run economies.
  2. Borderland lawlessness: Regions under Border Guard Forces function beyond formal state oversight.
  3. Economic desperation: Regional instability and poverty create fertile recruitment grounds.
  4. Regime complicity: Militias tax scam centres to fund armed operations, sustaining a vicious cycle of profit and repression.

India’s Dual Crisis

  1. Forced scam labour: Thousands of Indian citizens trafficked and enslaved in these compounds.
  2. Domestic victimisation: Thousands more in India fall prey to online frauds orchestrated by these same captives.
  3. Diplomatic and enforcement challenge: Tackling both victim rescue abroad and fraud prevention at home requires synchronised national and international coordination.

Policy Imperatives and India’s Way Forward

  1. Public awareness campaigns: The Reserve Bank of India and Union Ministries must amplify citizen education about emerging digital fraud patterns.
  2. Cybercrime infrastructure: Strengthening cyber policing, digital forensics, and cross-border data sharing frameworks.
  3. Regional cooperation: Collaborate with China, Thailand, Vietnam, and affected ASEAN nations to forge joint task forces.
  4. Diplomatic pressure: Use bilateral and multilateral diplomacy to pressurise Myanmar’s junta and Cambodia’s regime to dismantle scam hubs.
  5. Global recognition: Mobilise the United Nations to classify this crisis as a modern manifestation of slavery needing urgent international intervention.

Conclusion

The proliferation of scam compounds across Southeast Asia exposes the dark underbelly of the global digital economy where technology meets trafficking. For India, the challenge is dual: protect citizens from victimisation and rescue those coerced into perpetration. This crisis demands that India integrate cyber security, diplomacy, and human rights enforcement under one coordinated regional framework.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2021] Keeping in view India’s internal security, analyse the impact of cross-border cyber attacks. Also, discuss defensive measures against these sophisticated attacks.

Linkage: This question directly relates to the rise of transnational scam compounds in Southeast Asia that exploit digital networks to target Indian citizens. It underscores the urgent need for coordinated international and domestic cyber defense frameworks.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Hunger and Nutrition Issues – GHI, GNI, etc.

Need to shift focus from food security to nutrition security

Explained | Indian Society | Mains Paper 1: Poverty & Development Issues

Introduction

India’s post-Green Revolution success ensured adequate food grain availability and established the foundation for food security through schemes like the Public Distribution System (PDS) and National Food Security Act (2013). However, caloric sufficiency has not translated into nutritional adequacy. Over 35% of Indian children remain stunted, and anaemia affects over half of women of reproductive age (NFHS-5). The Prime Minister’s address at ESTIC emphasizes the need for biofortified crops, sustainable fertilizers, and innovation-led solutions to make nutrition, not just food, accessible and affordable.

Why in the News

Prime Minister Modi’s call for a shift from food security to nutrition security at the first ESTIC represents a significant policy evolution. For the first time, a national scientific forum has explicitly linked agriculture, health, and technology to address malnutrition. This highlights India’s new priority: from ensuring “enough food for all” to ensuring “healthy food for all.”

What is Nutrition Security and How is it Different from Food Security?

  1. Food Security ensures availability and access to sufficient food to meet caloric needs.
  2. Nutrition Security ensures access to safe, diverse, and balanced diets that meet both energy and micronutrient requirements.
  3. Holistic scope: It includes food diversity, clean water, healthcare, and education, linking agriculture to overall well-being.
  4. Policy evolution: India’s focus must evolve from distributing cereals to promoting dietary quality, fortified foods, and local nutrition systems.

Why is Nutrition Security Critical for India?

  1. Persistent Malnutrition: Over three decades after economic liberalization, India still ranks low in the Global Hunger Index (111/125 in 2023).
  2. Hidden Hunger: Deficiencies of iron, vitamin A, zinc, and iodine affect productivity and cognitive growth.
  3. Economic cost: Malnutrition can cause an annual GDP loss of 2-3%, according to World Bank estimates.
  4. Demographic Dividend: Nutritional well-being determines the cognitive and physical potential of India’s young population.

What are the Major Challenges to Achieving Nutrition Security?

  1. Calorie-centric PDS: Current public distribution primarily ensures cereals (rice/wheat) with low nutritional diversity.
  2. Agricultural bias: Focus remains on yield maximization, not on nutrient content or crop diversification.
  3. Socio-cultural patterns: Poor dietary habits, gender-based food discrimination, and lack of nutrition awareness persist.
  4. Implementation gaps: Fragmented nutrition programmes (like ICDS, Poshan Abhiyan, Mid-day Meal) lack convergence and data monitoring.
  5. Climate stress: Rising temperatures affect micronutrient quality of crops and food affordability.

What Strategies Can Strengthen Nutrition Security in India

  1. Biofortification: Development of nutrient-rich crop varieties (e.g., iron-rich bajra, zinc wheat) to tackle hidden hunger.
  2. Crop diversification: Encouraging millets, pulses, and coarse grains through missions like the International Year of Millets 2023.
  3. Fortification of staples: Government’s push for fortified rice in all social schemes (PDS, ICDS, MDM) by 2024.
  4. Integrated policies: Poshan 2.0 integrates various nutrition initiatives under one umbrella for targeted delivery.
  5. Community-based models: Promoting local kitchen gardens and women SHGs for decentralized nutrition access.
  6. Nutrition-sensitive agriculture: Linking agriculture with public health goals via cross-sectoral planning and R&D.

How Can Science and Technology Catalyze Nutritional Transformation?

  1. Genomic mapping: Identifying crop genes that enhance micronutrient profiles and resilience.
  2. Low-cost fertilizers: Innovations for soil and plant health, directly impacting food nutrition levels.
  3. Digital nutrition monitoring: Use of AI for dietary tracking, malnutrition mapping, and localized health data.
  4. Clean energy for cold chains: Affordable storage systems to prevent nutrient loss post-harvest.
  5. Public-private R&D: Funding mechanisms like the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (₹1 lakh crore) can boost nutrition-focused innovation.

What are the Policy and Governance Interventions for Nutrition Security?

  1. National Nutrition Mission (Poshan Abhiyaan): Convergence-based approach using real-time monitoring and community mobilization.
  2. Food Fortification Policy: Fortified rice, edible oils, and milk distributed under welfare schemes.
  3. Mid-day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN): Integration of eggs, fruits, and regional food habits into school nutrition.
  4. Anaemia Mukt Bharat & ICDS: Focused maternal and child health interventions.
  5. NFSA Reforms: Potential inclusion of nutrient-diverse baskets beyond rice and wheat.
  6. NITI Aayog’s SDG Localization: Linking nutrition with sustainable agriculture and local governance through district-level nutrition action plans.

Conclusion

India’s food story has been one of abundance without adequacy. As the nation aspires to become a developed economy by 2047, the focus must shift from feeding the population to nourishing it. Nutrition security integrates agriculture, health, gender equity, and science, symbolizing a mature, human-centered development vision. The future lies in a “Nutrition Revolution”, where innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability converge to ensure every Indian is not just fed, but well-nourished.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle?

Linkage: It captures the core developmental challenge of transforming food sufficiency into nutrition sufficiency. It emphasizes how malnutrition erodes human capital and inclusive growth.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Foreign Policy Watch: United Nations

What are the challenges with the High Seas Treaty

Explained | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

Introduction

The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, establishes a legal framework to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas outside national control. It covers nearly two-thirds of the ocean’s surface. Adopted under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, it aims to address threats from climate change, overfishing, and pollution through tools like Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). Ratified by over 60 nations in 2024, it will come into effect in January 2026. This makes it one of the most comprehensive global conservation instruments after the Paris Agreement.

Why in the News? 

The High Seas Treaty being ratified by 60+ nations represents a historic step in ocean governance, a domain previously beyond formal protection. For the first time, the international community has agreed on a legally binding mechanism to preserve marine life that exists outside any country’s jurisdiction. This is strikingly different from the earlier regime under UNCLOS, which lacked clear provisions for protecting biodiversity.

What is the High Seas Treaty About?

  1. Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ): Creates an all-inclusive framework to conserve and manage marine biodiversity beyond national boundaries.
  2. Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs): Recognised as a common heritage of humankind, ensuring equitable benefit-sharing between nations.
  3. Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs): Establishes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to safeguard biodiversity and improve climate resilience and food security.
  4. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): Mandates prior assessment of projects with potential cross-border or cumulative ecological impact.
  5. Capacity Building and Technology Transfer: Facilitates scientific collaboration, especially for developing nations, combining modern science and indigenous knowledge.

Major Challenges with the High Seas Treaty

  1. Uncertainty over Core Principles
    1. Common Heritage vs. Freedom of High Seas: The “common heritage” principle promotes equitable access and benefit-sharing, while “freedom of the high seas” allows unrestricted navigation and resource use.
    2. Partial Application: The treaty applies the “common heritage” principle only partially, especially for MGRs, reflecting a compromise rather than resolution.
    3. Result: Creates ambiguity in rights and responsibilities of states in exploration, research, and benefit distribution.
  2. Ambiguity in Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs) Governance
    1. Undefined Governance Mechanism: Earlier, no clear framework existed for using or sharing MGRs.
    2. Biopiracy Concerns: Developing nations fear exploitation by developed countries, who could monopolize genetic discoveries and profits.
    3. Equity Gap: The lack of clarity risks excluding Global South nations from scientific and commercial benefits.
  3. Implementation and Enforcement Gaps
    1. Jurisdictional Complexity: The high seas lie beyond national boundaries, making monitoring and enforcement difficult.
    2. Institutional Limitations: While UNCLOS provides a broad legal foundation, there’s no dedicated global enforcement body to ensure compliance.
    3. Dependence on Voluntary Reporting: Could weaken accountability, especially in regulating corporate activities.
  4. Financial and Technological Inequities
    1. Unequal Capabilities: Developing countries lack access to marine technologies for monitoring and sustainable use.
    2. Technology Transfer Gap: The treaty mandates capacity-building, but without specific funding mechanisms, commitments may remain rhetorical.
    3. Risk: Could widen the North-South divide in ocean research and benefit sharing.
  5. Balancing Conservation and Development
    1. Sustainable Use vs. Conservation: Striking a balance between environmental protection and economic opportunities (like deep-sea mining or biotechnology) remains contentious.
    2. Unclear Prioritization: Without clear hierarchy between ecological and developmental objectives, policy conflicts may persist.

Conclusion

The High Seas Treaty represents a landmark effort to bring order and justice to the global commons. Yet, the true test lies in resolving philosophical ambiguities and ensuring equitable implementation. Without robust funding, technology sharing, and accountability mechanisms, it risks becoming another well-intentioned but weak global accord. For India, aligning its Blue Economy strategy with the treaty’s framework will be key to ensuring both ecological and economic dividends.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2022] Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997.

Linkage: Both Kyoto Protocol and High Seas Treaty are UN-backed frameworks aimed at addressing global commons issues, air and ocean respectively.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear power sector likely amendments in winter session

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

Introduction

India’s nuclear sector, long constrained by legal rigidity and liability concerns, is on the verge of transformation. Two yet-to-be-proposed amendments to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010, and the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, mark a potential inflexion point for India’s atomic energy policy. These changes aim to attract private participation, foreign technology, and financing for nuclear power at a time when India is seeking reliable base-load alternatives to coal amid renewable intermittency.

Why in the News

The Government of India is preparing two key amendments to the overarching legislation governing the nuclear energy sector. These include:

  1. Easing provisions under the CLNDA, which has so far deterred private and foreign suppliers due to its unique liability clause.
  2. Tweaking the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, to permit private capital participation in nuclear projects, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

This move is significant because private participation in nuclear power generation would be a first in India’s history, potentially unlocking foreign investments, advanced technology, and new energy security pathways.

India’s Atomic Sector: The Turning Point

  1. Policy Stagnation: India’s nuclear sector has been constrained by a state monopoly and the restrictive liability regime under CLNDA 2010.
  2. Base-load Pressure: The growing share of renewables has created an urgent need for dependable, round-the-clock power sources to stabilise the grid.
  3. Technology Imperative: Advanced nuclear technologies like Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and SMRs offer scalability, modularity, and carbon-neutral power generation.

What are the Proposed Legal Amendments?

Liability Law and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (CLNDA)

  • Objective: To create a mechanism for compensating victims in the event of a nuclear accident while easing supplier liability.
  • Issue: Section 17(b) allows the operator to seek recourse from suppliers, discouraging foreign firms from supplying equipment.
  • Yet to be proposed Change: Easing or redefining supplier liability to allow greater participation by private and foreign firms such as Westinghouse (US) and Framatome (France).
  • Expected Impact: Unlocks foreign investment, technology transfer, and cost-effective reactor construction for the upcoming fleet of nuclear projects.

Atomic Energy Act, 1962-Enabling Private Entry

  • Current Restriction: The Act allows only government entities to construct and operate nuclear power plants.
  • Yet to be proposed Amendment: Permitting private entities to invest in and operate select reactor types, especially Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
  • Outcome: Encourages joint ventures between state-owned NPCIL and private players to accelerate capacity addition.
  • Strategic Aim: To create a hybrid public-private nuclear ecosystem focused on innovation, faster project execution, and flexible deployment.

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): The Next Frontier

  1. Definition: Compact, factory-assembled nuclear reactors that can be transported and installed modularly.
  2. Government Focus: NPCIL announced domestic SMR design by March 2024; Reliance Industries, Adani Power, and Tata Power have shown interest.
  3. Advantages:
    1. Scalability: Easier to construct and replicate than large nuclear plants.
    2. Flexibility: Ideal for decentralised base-load generation alongside renewables.
    3. Lower Risk: Smaller footprint and enhanced safety features.
  4. Global Trend: Aligns India with global leaders like the US, Russia, France, and China in SMR technology development.

Why Private and Foreign Participation Matters

  1. Capital Infusion: Nuclear power projects are capital-intensive; private entry reduces fiscal burden on the exchequer.
  2. Technology Access: Enables partnerships with established players like Westinghouse, GE-Hitachi, and Framatome.
  3. Diversification: Strengthens India’s energy mix amid pressure to phase down coal.
  4. Climate Goals: Supports India’s Net Zero 2070 target by ensuring low-carbon, base-load power generation.

Strategic Significance for India’s Energy Security

  1. Energy Reliability: Addresses intermittency of renewables through stable nuclear base-load.
  2. Geopolitical Leverage: Strengthens India’s bargaining position in global nuclear technology markets.
  3. Make in India Synergy: Promotes domestic manufacturing of nuclear components and reactors.
  4. Export Potential: Long-term goal of turning India into an SMR export hub for developing economies.

Conclusion

These likely to be proposed amendments mark a historic liberalisation of India’s nuclear policy, balancing liability protection with private and foreign participation. As India expands its clean energy basket, nuclear power is emerging as the bridge between renewables and reliability, supporting a long-term vision of sustainable, secure, and carbon-neutral growth.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2017] Give an account of the growth and development of nuclear science and technology in India. What is the advantage of fast breeder reactor programme in India?

Linkage: The PYQ connects past technological indigenization in nuclear science with current policy liberalization through CLNDA and Atomic Energy Act amendments. Both mark India’s shift toward advanced, self-reliant, and globally integrated nuclear energy development.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Panchayati Raj Institutions: Issues and Challenges

The vision of Model Youth Gram Sabha

Explained | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Panchayats & Local Bodies

Introduction

The Gram Sabha, enshrined in Article 243A of the Constitution (73rd Amendment, 1992), is the cornerstone of India’s Panchayati Raj system. It represents every registered voter in a village and empowers them to deliberate on budgets, plans, and governance priorities. However, despite its revolutionary potential, public participation, especially among youth, has remained minimal.

The Model Youth Gram Sabha seeks to correct this by introducing structured simulations where students, teachers, and professionals engage in decision-making processes. This move shifts civics from a theoretical subject to a lived democratic experience.

Why in the News

For the first time, India is institutionalizing a Model Youth Gram Sabha across 28 States and Union Territories, involving over 600 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and 2200 Kendriya Vidyalayas. This initiative, launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Aspirational Bharat Collaborative, brings Panchayati Raj simulations into school and college curricula. It aims to turn civic learning into active democratic participation, bridging the gap between youth education and local governance.

This development is significant because it transforms village-level democratic institutions into educational tools, helping young citizens internalize governance, decision-making, and accountability, critical for a vibrant democracy.

The Vision of Model Youth Gram Sabhas

Why is the Model Youth Gram Sabha significant?

  1. Grassroots Democracy in Action: Embeds participatory governance within the Panchayati Raj structure, empowering youth to experience real governance processes like village budgeting and development planning.
  2. Educational Innovation: Moves beyond classroom civics by integrating simulation-based learning that mirrors Gram Sabha debates, resolutions, and deliberations.
  3. Nationwide Outreach: Involves 600+ Jawahar Navodaya and 2200+ Kendriya Vidyalayas, training 1,238 teachers from 24 states, demonstrating large-scale civic inclusion.

What are the key features of the initiative?

  1. Collaborative Governance Model: Jointly implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Education, and the Aspirational Bharat Collaborative.
  2. Curricular Integration: Encourages schools and colleges to embed Gram Sabha simulations into learning modules.
  3. Phased Launch: Phase I covers 28 States/UTs; future expansion includes Zilla Parishads and State-run schools.
  4. Teacher Training: Specialized workshops to train educators in deliberation techniques and Panchayati processes.

How does it differ from earlier civic education models?

  1. Beyond Theoretical Learning: Unlike Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha mock sessions, MYGS is rooted in real Panchayati Raj frameworks, ensuring practical governance exposure.
  2. UN-aligned Civic Pedagogy: Echoes the UN model of participatory learning but contextualized for Indian democracy.
  3. From Classroom to Village: Encourages field-level participation by linking school students with local Panchayats.

What are the expected outcomes?

  1. Civic Empowerment: Fosters democratic citizenship, making youth aware of rights, duties, and public accountability.
  2. Policy Awareness: Helps future citizens understand budgeting, development priorities, and resolution-making.
  3. Inclusive Governance: Promotes bottom-up participation, especially in rural youth, bridging rural-urban civic divides.
  4. Democratic Habituation: Converts democracy from a concept into a daily lived experience.

How does it contribute to democratic transformation?

  1. Institutional Strengthening: Empowers future voters to engage meaningfully in Gram Sabha and Panchayat processes.
  2. Critical Skills Development: Trains youth in debate, negotiation, and consensus-building, essential for leadership.
  3. Bridging Cynicism and Participation: Reconnects citizens with governance by reducing alienation from political processes.
  4. Future-ready Governance: Ensures continuity of democratic culture through successive generations.

Conclusion

The Model Youth Gram Sabha embodies the next phase of India’s democratic evolution, from representation to participation. By making civic engagement experiential, it nurtures a generation that values governance not as an abstract idea but as a lived responsibility. A future where citizens grow up debating budgets, resolving issues, and fostering transparency at the grassroots will ensure that democracy remains vibrant, inclusive, and self-sustaining.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2015] In absence of a well-educated and organized local level government system, Panchayats and Samitis have remained mainly political institutions and not effective instruments of governance. Critically discuss.

Linkage: This question assesses the effectiveness of Panchayati Raj Institutions and the need for civic capacity to make decentralisation meaningful. It links with how the Model Youth Gram Sabha cultivates governance literacy and participatory skills among youth to strengthen grassroots democracy.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Economic Indicators and Various Reports On It- GDP, FD, EODB, WIR etc

Decoding India’s projected GDP

Explained | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

Why in the News

Union Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India will become a $30 trillion economy in 20-25 years, emphasising India’s “strength-to-strength” growth and the vision of matching the US economy in scale. However, an analysis of India’s GDP trajectory and exchange rate trends over the past 25 years suggests that this goal appears overstated unless the rate of economic growth increases substantially. The divergence between nominal GDP growth and exchange rate depreciation is central to understanding why India may fall short of this projection.

How is the Size of an Economy Measured?

  1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Represents the total annual value of goods and services produced within a country.
  2. Nominal GDP: Expressed in current prices and domestic currency (rupees).
  3. Conversion to USD: For global comparison, GDP in rupees is divided by the exchange rate (₹ per $).
  4. Example: India’s nominal GDP in FY 2024 is ₹330 trillion, translating to about $3.9 trillion at an exchange rate of ₹84.6 per USD.
  5. Comparative Context: The US GDP in 2024 is estimated at $41 trillion, nearly 10 times India’s size.

Where Does the Divergence in GDP Projection Arise?

  1. Historical Growth (25 years):
    • India’s nominal GDP grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3%.
    • The rupee depreciated by 3.08% per year.
    • This combination would yield a net dollar GDP growth of around 7.2% CAGR, resulting in a $31.9 trillion economy by 2048.
  2. Recent Growth (past 11 years):
    • India’s nominal GDP CAGR dropped to 8.2%.
    • The rupee’s depreciation averaged 3.08%, giving a dollar GDP CAGR of just 5.1%.
    • Under this trend, India’s GDP would reach only $17.4 trillion by 2048.
  3. Key Finding: The long-term projection is highly sensitive to assumptions. Small changes in growth or currency value lead to large differences in dollar GDP outcomes.

Why is the $30 Trillion Target Difficult to Achieve?

  1. Slowing Growth Momentum: India’s nominal GDP growth rate has weakened since 2014, reflecting post-pandemic structural and demand-side constraints.
  2. Exchange Rate Depreciation: The rupee has steadily weakened over time, eroding the USD value of India’s output despite growth in rupee terms.
  3. Inflation Differential: India’s higher inflation compared to advanced economies results in faster currency depreciation, reducing the global GDP value.
  4. Projection Assumptions: To achieve $30 trillion, India must sustain a nominal GDP CAGR of ~11% and limit currency depreciation below 2.5%, a historically rare combination.

Is the $30 Trillion Vision Still Useful?

  1. Aspirational Benchmark: The projection serves as a long-term vision anchor for policy and investment decisions, guiding structural reforms.
  2. Strategic Optimism: Such forecasts reflect confidence in India’s demographics, industrial potential, and service exports.
  3. Policy Implication: Even if unattained, the projection pushes economic governance to focus on productivity, export competitiveness, and rupee stability.

What Needs to Change for Realising the Vision?

  1. Sustained High Growth: Requires double-digit nominal growth through manufacturing diversification, digital economy expansion, and logistics reforms.
  2. Rupee Stability: Demands foreign investment confidence, fiscal discipline, and stronger current account performance.
  3. Inflation Control: Stable inflation curbs depreciation and maintains global competitiveness.
  4. Structural Reforms: Continued focus on labour, land, and capital market reforms to support long-term productivity.

Conclusion

India’s $30 trillion projection embodies the nation’s growth ambition, but economic realism demands higher productivity, policy consistency, and exchange rate stability. Without stronger structural momentum, India may remain well below that figure by mid-century. The aspiration, however, serves as a strategic motivator to deepen reforms and strengthen global competitiveness.

Value Addition

Potential vs. Actual GDP

  • Concept: Potential GDP is the highest level of economic output a country can sustain without triggering inflation. Actual GDP is the output the economy is currently producing.
  • Analytical Insight: India’s $30 trillion projection represents potential GDP, based on the assumption of sustained double-digit nominal growth, efficient use of labour, and strong capital formation. However, actual GDP growth depends on real-world constraints such as productivity levels, policy bottlenecks, and infrastructure capacity.
  • Example: Between 2003-08, India’s actual growth (9%) was close to potential, driven by investment and exports. Post-2014, growth averaged ≈6-6.5%, showing an increasing gap due to slowing manufacturing, skill mismatch, and weak private investment.

Nominal vs. Real Growth Distinction

  • Concept: Nominal GDP measures total output using current prices (includes inflation). Real GDP adjusts for inflation, showing actual growth in production volume.
  • Analytical Insight: A rise in nominal GDP may overstate economic progress if inflation is high or the rupee depreciates. Thus, even with strong nominal growth, India’s dollar GDP may stagnate or fall in global rankings.
  • Example: In FY2023-24, India’s nominal GDP grew by 9.6% in rupee terms, but the rupee’s depreciation from ₹79 to ₹83 per USD meant real GDP in dollar terms grew only 5%. This illustrates how inflation and currency value distort perceptions of “growth.”

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2020] Define potential GDP and explain its determinants. What are the factors that have been inhibiting India from realizing its potential GDP?

Linkage: The PYQ tests conceptual clarity on potential GDP, its determinants, and growth constraint. This is a recurring UPSC theme reflecting India’s long-term economic health and reform needs.

 

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Foreign Policy Watch: India-United States

India-US seal 10 year defense partnership framework

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

Introduction

India and the United States have signed a 10-year defence partnership framework (2025-2035), signaling a new phase in their strategic collaboration. The pact provides a unified vision and policy direction for deepening cooperation across logistics, supply chains, joint production, and technology sharing. It underscores the commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, amid growing regional tensions and China’s assertive rise.

Why in the News

This is a landmark development in India-US relations, marking the first-ever decade-long institutionalized defence framework between the two nations. It reflects a qualitative shift from transactional defence cooperation to a strategic partnership architecture. By formalizing continuity in defence ties, the framework aims to sustain policy alignment, interoperability, and deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, making it a cornerstone for regional stability.

Deepening Defence Convergence

  1. Framework Vision: Provides unified strategic direction to strengthen defence cooperation and stability across all military domains (land, air, sea, cyber, and space).
  2. Interoperability Focus: Prioritizes joint logistics, training, and maintenance mechanisms between forces, ensuring mission readiness and operational synergy.
  3. Symbolic Continuity: Extends beyond annual dialogues or ad hoc exercises, ensuring defence engagement remains insulated from political transitions.
  4. Technology Integration: Encourages co-production and co-development of high-end defence platforms such as Super Hercules, Globemaster, Chinooks, Apaches, and M777 howitzers.

Evolution of India-US Defence Partnership

  1. Early Frameworks: The 2015 framework initiated by PM Modi and President Obama laid the foundation for institutional defence cooperation.
  2. Key Milestones:
    • LEMOA (2016): Enabled reciprocal logistics access.
    • COMCASA (2018): Facilitated secure communications interoperability.
    • BECA (2020): Enabled real-time geospatial intelligence sharing.
  3. 2025 Framework Significance: Builds upon these foundational agreements, institutionalizing long-term coordination on strategy, logistics, and supply chain resilience.

Strategic Significance for the Indo-Pacific

  1. Regional Stability: Anchors both nations’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, countering coercive or unilateral actions.
  2. Maritime Domain Awareness: Supports enhanced naval cooperation and situational awareness across key maritime chokepoints.
  3. Military Exercises: Expands the scope of Yudh Abhyas and Malabar exercises for joint readiness.
  4. Quad Convergence: Aligns with broader QUAD objectives in maintaining rules-based order and crisis response architecture.
  5. Geoeconomic Angle: Bolsters defence supply chains and manufacturing cooperation amid China-centric dependencies.

Institutional and Industrial Collaboration

  1. Defence Production: Boosts joint manufacturing of key platforms, LCA Tejas engines, MQ-9B drones, and advanced radar systems.
  2. Private Sector Linkages: Encourages collaboration between Indian and US defence industries, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and General Electric (GE).
  3. R&D Synergy: Promotes innovation under the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) to co-develop futuristic technologies.
  4. Skill Transfer: Enhances training, skill-building, and exchange programs for defence personnel.

Diplomatic and Strategic Implications

  1. Policy Continuity: Reinforces long-term strategic trust and shared security outlook.
  2. Strategic Deterrence: Strengthens collective deterrence against regional instability in the Indo-Pacific.
  3. Bilateral Reliability: Demonstrates resilience of India-US defence ties beyond short-term political cycles.
  4. Global Relevance: Projects both nations as key stakeholders in shaping Indo-Pacific architecture for the 21st century.

Conclusion

The 10-year India-US Defence Partnership represents a strategic deepening and institutional maturity of bilateral defence relations. It embodies both nations’ shared vision of collective security, deterrence, and technological partnership in the Indo-Pacific. By ensuring interoperability and policy continuity, it not only strengthens defence preparedness but also cements India’s emergence as a regional security anchor and a global strategic partner of the United States.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2020] What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Linkage: The question is important as it reflects India’s shifting defence axis from Russia to the US amid Indo-Pacific power realignments. It continues UPSC’s recurring theme of India’s strategic autonomy and evolving role in global security architecture.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Foreign Policy Watch: India-ASEAN

After ASEAN Summit: Group’s importance for India, amid US-China tussle

Explained | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

Introduction

ASEAN, established in 1967, comprises 11 countries, forming one of the world’s most successful regional organizations. With over 40-50% of global trade transiting through the region, ASEAN represents both an economic hub and a strategic pivot in the Indo-Pacific. The 2025 Summit reinforced ASEAN’s centrality amid a shifting balance of power between the US and China, while India emphasized trade cooperation and connectivity.

ASEAN’s Strategic Importance for India

  1. Geopolitical Significance: ASEAN lies at the heart of the Indo-Pacific, acting as a bridge between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
  2. Economic Weight: ASEAN is India’s fourth-largest trading partner after the EU, US, and China.
  3. Strategic Leverage: Provides India a platform to balance China’s regional assertiveness and engage in multilateral security frameworks.
  4. Connectivity Corridor: India’s projects such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and Kaladan Multimodal Project enhance physical and economic connectivity.
  5. Regional Integration: Strengthens India’s participation in regional supply chains, energy cooperation, and maritime trade.

How the US-China Rivalry Shapes ASEAN’s Role

  1. Regional Polarization: ASEAN faces pressure between the US-led security framework and China’s economic dominance.
  2. Maritime Disputes: The South China Sea remains a flashpoint due to overlapping territorial claims, especially involving the Philippines, Vietnam, and China.
  3. Security Realignment: The Philippines has taken an increasingly muscular stand, rejecting China’s claims under the 2016 Hague ruling.
  4. Economic Competition: While China drives trade and infrastructure investment, the US advances Indo-Pacific partnerships emphasizing rule-based order and open seas.
  5. Strategic Autonomy: ASEAN states attempt to maintain neutrality and avoid direct alignment with either power bloc.

India’s Engagement in the ASEAN Framework

  1. Act East Policy: Deepens trade, connectivity, and strategic cooperation in Southeast Asia.
  2. Trade Liberalization: India signed the India-ASEAN FTA in 2009, expanding goods trade and tariff concessions.
  3. Economic Challenges: India exited the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) over market access concerns but remains committed to ASEAN-based trade.
  4. High-Level Diplomacy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific vision and proposed renewed cooperation on connectivity and digital economy.
  5. Institutional Dialogue: India participates in ASEAN-led forums like EAS, ARF, and ADMM+, ensuring consistent engagement.

Lessons from ASEAN for Other Regional Grouping

  1. Institutional Continuity: ASEAN demonstrates sustained dialogue and incremental cooperation since 1967.
  2. Economic Integration: The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and upcoming ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA reflect progressive liberalization.
  3. Replicable Model: Regional blocs like SAARC, BIMSTEC, and BBIN can emulate ASEAN’s approach to consensus-building and functional cooperation.
  4. ASEAN Centrality Principle: Encourages issue-based cooperation despite internal diversity, offering lessons for South Asian regionalism.
  5. Leadership in Transition: Malaysia and Thailand’s evolving chairmanship roles underscore ASEAN’s adaptability in managing complex geopolitics.

Trade and Connectivity Imperative

  1. Physical Infrastructure: Projects such as Kaladan and Trilateral Highway facilitate India’s access to Southeast Asian markets.
  2. Digital and Maritime Corridors: Enhance India’s trade routes and logistical resilience against Chinese dominance.
  3. Supply Chain Diversification: Reduces dependence on China while integrating India with East Asian production networks.
  4. Economic Opportunities: ASEAN’s collective GDP of over $3 trillion presents scope for India’s pharmaceutical, IT, and engineering exports.
  5. Strategic Balancing: Economic linkages act as a counterweight to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Conclusion

ASEAN remains a cornerstone of India’s Indo-Pacific engagement, offering both strategic depth and economic opportunity. As the US-China competition intensifies, India’s sustained engagement, anchored in connectivity, trade, and institutional cooperation, can ensure regional stability, multipolar balance, and long-term strategic autonomy.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] The West is fostering India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China’s supply chain and as a strategic ally to counter China’s political and economic dominance.

Linkage: The article aligns with this PYQ as it highlights ASEAN’s centrality in India’s Indo-Pacific outreach, where Delhi’s engagement acts as a counterbalance to China’s dominance. It reinforces the West’s strategy of integrating India within regional supply chains and strategic coalitions to diversify away from Chinese dependence.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

The debt we owe Sardar Patel

Explained | History | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

Introduction

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, revered as the “Iron Man of India,” was the chief architect of India’s political integration post-Independence. Through his pragmatic diplomacy, courage, and commitment to national unity, he merged 565 princely states into the Indian Union. His ideals of discipline, inclusivity, and moral integrity remain vital for guiding modern India’s governance in the Amrit Kaal era.

Why in the News

Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary reaffirms his unmatched contribution to the unification of India and democratic consolidation. As India enters Amrit Kaal, the period leading up to its centenary of independence, Patel’s legacy of decisive leadership and nation-first philosophy assumes renewed importance. The Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, symbolically embodies his central role in India’s unity and governance ethos.

The Architect of India’s Political Integration

  1. Unification of Princely States: Integrated 565 princely states into the Indian Union post-1947 through negotiation, persuasion, and firm resolve.
  2. Operation Polo (1948): Directed the liberation of Hyderabad from the Nizam’s rule, ensuring integration without prolonged conflict.
  3. Diplomatic and Administrative Skill: Balanced firmness with negotiation, earning the title “Sardar” during the Kheda and Bardoli Satyagrahas.
  4. Vision of National Cohesion: Promoted unity through shared governance, nationalism, and the constitutional integration of diverse territories.

Leadership and Statesmanship Rooted in Inclusivity

  1. Gandhian Influence: Deeply aligned with Gandhi’s ideals of service and integrity, yet maintained independence in judgment.
  2. Integrity in Politics: Declined to contest for the Prime Minister’s post in 1946, respecting Gandhi’s preference for Nehru, a testament to selflessness and discipline.
  3. Ethical Governance: Emphasized humility and restraint as hallmarks of political leadership.
  4. Moral Foundation of Statecraft: Advocated that governance must be rooted in moral strength and national interest rather than personal ambition.

Builder of Administrative and Institutional India

  1. Institutional Foundation: Strengthened civil services, describing the IAS as India’s “steel frame.”
  2. Administrative Vision: Advocated efficiency, accountability, and discipline in the bureaucracy.
  3. Law and Order Consolidation: Ensured stability and continuity during India’s transition from colonial rule to independence.
  4. Economic Realism: Supported pragmatic economic planning rooted in agricultural and industrial development.

Patel’s Relevance in Amrit Kaal

  1. Unity in Diversity: His inclusive nationalism aligns with current goals of cooperative federalism and social harmony.
  2. Decisive Governance: Embodies the need for strong yet empathetic leadership amid complex socio-political challenges.
  3. Internal Security and Integration: Symbolic for managing contemporary issues in Kashmir, Northeast, and border regions.
  4. Vision for Developmental Democracy: His emphasis on grassroots governance resonates with present Panchayati Raj and Digital India initiatives.

Enduring Legacy and National Reverence

  1. Statue of Unity: The 182-metre statue at Kevadia, Gujarat, commemorates his role in shaping independent India.
  2. National Recognition: October 31 is celebrated as “Rashtriya Ekta Diwas” to honour his vision of unity.
  3. Guiding Spirit for Youth: Inspires leadership anchored in discipline, patriotism, and service over power.

Conclusion

Sardar Patel’s leadership exemplified firmness with fairness, strength with compassion, and vision with humility. As India advances through Amrit Kaal, his model of inclusive nationalism, institutional integrity, and unwavering unity must serve as the nation’s guiding ethos.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2022] The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples.

Linkage: This theme echoes Sardar Patel’s foundational role in integrating 565 princely states and shaping India’s federal structure post-1947. His efforts mark the starting point of India’s political reorganization, continued through later phases of state formation and administrative realignment.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Electoral Reforms In India

An amended Constitution Bill, its contentious issue

Explained | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Representation Of People's Act

Introduction

The recently introduced Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill has ignited a significant constitutional and political debate. The Bill seeks to amend Articles 75, 164, and 239AA of the Constitution concerning the Union and State Councils of Ministers. It stipulates that if a Minister is arrested and detained in custody for 30 consecutive days for an alleged offence punishable with imprisonment of two years or more, they shall be removed from office by the President or Governor, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister or Chief Minister respectively.

This proposal, though seemingly procedural, has sparked controversy due to ambiguities around the word “arrest”, the discretionary power of the police, and the possible misuse of detention provisions in politically motivated cases.

Why in the News?

The Bill marks the first constitutional attempt to link a Minister’s continuation in office directly with their criminal custody status, a move never before codified in such explicit terms. It comes amidst increasing arrests of Opposition leaders under stringent laws like PMLA and UAPA, raising concerns about political misuse of arrest powers. The Bill’s intent to ensure ministerial accountability has thus clashed with fears of executive overreach and erosion of constitutional safeguards.

What are the Contentious Provisions of the Bill

  1. Arrest-Based Removal: The Bill mandates removal if a Minister is detained for 30 days for offences punishable with over two years’ imprisonment.
  2. Discretionary Interpretation: The power of arrest under Section 41 CrPC remains discretionary, a police officer may arrest, not must.
  3. Ambiguous Time Limit: The “30 consecutive days” clause lacks clarity on interim bail, custody types, or political context.
  4. Governor/President’s Role: The constitutional head acts solely on the advice of the political executive, not on judicial pronouncements, weakening neutrality.

How Does the Law Currently Treat Arrest and Detention

  1. Judicial Observations: In Joginder Kumar v. State of UP (1994), the Supreme Court ruled that arrest is not mandatory for every cognisable offence; discretion must be exercised responsibly.
  2. Statutory Provisions: Section 41 CrPC empowers arrest without warrant for offences punishable with over seven years’ imprisonment, subject to recorded reasons.
  3. Requirement of Compliance: In Satender Kumar Antil v. CBI (2022), the Supreme Court directed agencies to follow Sections 41 and 41A CrPC before arrest, ensuring proportionality.
  4. BNSS Replacement Issue: The new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) does not mandate arrest but allows discretion, leaving room for misuse.

Why Is the Opposition Concerned

  1. Political Misuse: The Opposition fears the amendment could become a tool for harassment, allowing governments to suspend rival Ministers on mere arrest, not conviction.
  2. Erosion of Autonomy: By relying solely on the executive’s advice, the amendment undermines institutional checks.
  3. Precedent of Selective Targeting: High-profile cases under PMLA and UAPA (where Opposition leaders remain under prolonged custody) demonstrate how arrest can substitute conviction in political contexts.
  4. Violation of Natural Justice: Removal from office before guilt is proven contradicts the principle of presumption of innocence.

What are the Judicial and Legal Concerns

  1. Triplet Test Ignored: Bail decisions require evaluation of flight risk, evidence tampering, and witness influence, but the Bill removes such proportionality.
  2. Default Bail Disregarded: Under Section 167(2) CrPC, failure to complete investigation grants bail after 60-90 days. The new Bill’s 30-day threshold ignores this safeguard.
  3. Discretionary Arrest Power: The term “arrest” remains undefined. Custody in economic offences or summons may trigger unjust removal.
  4. Unequal Treatment: The provision applies equally to Union, State, and Delhi Ministers, disregarding the distinct nature of governance in Union Territories under Article 239AA.

Could the Amendment Undermine the Principle of Rule of Law

  1. Blurred Accountability: Judicial oversight over arrests is weakened when executive advice replaces judicial findings.
  2. Undue Political Advantage: The amendment may allow ruling parties to destabilize Opposition governments through strategic arrests.
  3. Separation of Powers Risk: The President and Governor become ceremonial actors, undermining the spirit of checks and balances.
  4. Constitutional Morality at Stake: The move shifts India from rule of law to rule by law, where legality substitutes for legitimacy.

Conclusion

The Amendment Bill’s intent to ensure accountability among Ministers is commendable, but its drafting and scope risk undermining constitutional fairness. The absence of judicial oversight, vague definitions of “arrest,” and political discretion dilute the essence of the rule of law. A balanced reform must incorporate clear judicial safeguards, independent review mechanisms, and uniform arrest protocols, ensuring that no political executive is above the law, nor at its mercy.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2021] To what extent, in your view, the Parliament is able to ensure accountability of the executive in India?

Linkage: Executive Accountability is a recurring theme in UPSC GS Paper 2, focusing on the balance between the executive’s power and parliamentary oversight. The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill directly links to this theme as it alters how ministerial accountability is ensured shifting it from parliamentary control to executive discretion.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Coal and Mining Sector

The race to break China’s rare earth stranglehold

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

Introduction

Rare earth minerals form the backbone of modern industries, from smartphones and electric vehicles to solar panels and missiles. Yet, China controls nearly 70% of global mining and 90% of processing, weaponizing this dominance through export restrictions and technology control. The recent spate of US-led agreements with Australia, Thailand, and Malaysia signals a tectonic shift in global supply chain strategy aimed at ending China’s monopoly.

Why in the News

The US has signed multiple agreements to diversify sourcing of rare earth minerals, a sharp contrast to past decades when Western nations relied on China’s cheap supplies. This urgency arises as China restricts exports and machinery transfers, challenging global industrial autonomy. India too has proposed a ₹7,350-crore scheme to build domestic capacity, underscoring how critical and vulnerable this resource chain has become.

China’s Rare Earth Monopoly

  1. Dominance in Production: China accounts for 70% of global rare earth mining and 90% of processing, having invested heavily since the 1990s.
  2. Weaponization of Supply Chains: China uses export restrictions and licensing to maintain strategic leverage, especially in high-tech and defense manufacturing.
  3. Environmental Cost Advantage: Western nations avoided rare earth mining due to pollution concerns, allowing China to gain mastery in low-cost extraction and processing.
  4. Technology Restriction: Beijing limits the transfer of technology and machinery, preventing rivals from catching up.

Why Rare Earths Matter

  1. Strategic Applications: Essential for EV batteries, solar panels, semiconductors, consumer electronics, and defense equipment (missiles, fighter jets, submarines).
  2. Energy Transition Role: Critical to clean energy technologies and electrification, making them central to global climate goals.
  3. Industrial Dependency: Nearly all modern batteries and chips depend on rare earth inputs, linking them to national security and supply resilience.

The US-Led Diversification Push

  1. Recent Agreements: The US signed deals with Australia, Thailand, and Malaysia to source critical minerals and reduce Chinese dependence.
  2. Strategic Vision: Seeks a transparent and diversified market by 2030, per Lowy Institute projections.
  3. Optimism vs Reality: Despite US optimism, experts predict a decade-long transition before tangible independence from China.
  4. Australia’s Role: Emerging as a long-term alternative supplier, though benefits will accrue only post-2030.

India’s Position and Challenges

  1. Limited Domestic Reserves: India lacks sufficient rare earth resources and depends on imports from South America and Africa.
  2. Policy Push: A ₹7,350-crore scheme aims to boost domestic extraction and processing capacity.
  3. Technology Constraints: China’s machinery restrictions hinder India’s expansion; Japan and Germany’s tech is available but costly.
  4. Strategic Need: India’s electronics and defense manufacturing goals hinge on securing reliable rare earth access.

Why China’s Grip Is Hard to Break

  1. Cost Advantage: China’s large-scale, low-cost production undercuts global competitors.
  2. Controlled Liberalization: By restricting but not banning exports, China maintains market share while disincentivizing new investments abroad.
  3. Decades of Lead: Its dominance results from 30 years of investment, while other nations are only beginning their efforts.
  4. Market Manipulation: Price control and selective technology transfer ensure continued dependence.

Economic and Environmental Trade-Offs

  1. High Environmental Cost: Rare earth mining involves radioactive waste and groundwater contamination.
  2. Policy Dilemma: Nations balancing green commitments against strategic autonomy face a major contradiction.
  3. Australia’s Advisory: Buyers urged to prioritize secure supply chains over the lowest available price, signaling a policy shift from cost to security.

Conclusion

Breaking China’s rare earth stranglehold is not merely an economic goal but a geopolitical necessity. It will require sustained investments, technology-sharing frameworks, and environmental innovation. While the US, India, and allies are recalibrating, China’s cost, experience, and ecosystem advantages mean its dominance may persist until at least 2030. The world’s clean energy and defense ambitions hinge on how successfully nations can build resilient, transparent, and diversified critical mineral supply chains.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2018] With growing energy needs should India keep on expanding its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy.

Linkage: Rare earths are critical for renewable and clean energy technologies (e.g., EVs, solar, wind). This question relates to energy diversification and sustainability, highlighting material dependencies that influence India’s clean energy choices.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Disasters and Disaster Management – Sendai Framework, Floods, Cyclones, etc.

Setting up an early warning system for the Himalayas poses unique challenges

Explained | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Disaster Management

Introduction

The recent rise in Himalayan disasters highlights the urgent need for early warning systems. The 2024 Down To Earth report shows that between 1900 and 2022, India recorded 687 disasters, with 240 in the Himalayan region alone. Disasters include glacial lake outbursts, flash floods, landslides, wildfires, and earthquakes. What was once a region of five disasters between 1902–1962 now witnesses a major event almost every month.

The combination of climate change, infrastructure expansion, and data inaccessibility has created a perfect storm for recurring disasters.

Why in the News?

In October 2025, Mount Everest’s Tibetan side witnessed a sudden blizzard and heavy snowfall, trapping climbers and villagers, a scene that epitomized the Himalayan fragility. At the same time, floods and landslides in Nepal and Darjeeling killed dozens. These incidents are part of an alarming rise in Himalayan disasters, making early warning systems a national security and developmental priority. Unlike coastal or plain regions, setting up Early Warning Systems (EWS) in the Himalayas poses terrain-specific, logistical, and data-related hurdles, which the government and scientists are now racing to overcome.

Why Are the Himalayas Experiencing So Many Disasters?

  1. Climate Change Impact: Rapid glacier retreat, erratic precipitation, and temperature rise have increased frequency of floods and glacial lake outbursts.
  2. Unregulated Development: Road expansion, hydropower tunnels, and tourism infrastructure disturb fragile slopes.
  3. Population Pressure: Rising habitation and migration to high-altitude zones expose more people to risk.
  4. Data Scarcity: Sparse weather stations and inaccessible terrain reduce real-time monitoring.
  5. Cascading Disasters: Earthquakes trigger landslides that block rivers, leading to floods and dam bursts.

Why Are Early Warning Systems Hard to Establish in the Himalayas?

  1. Topographic Challenge: Remote valleys, deep gorges, and shifting glaciers hinder sensor installation and data transmission.
  2. Energy & Connectivity Gaps: Lack of stable power and internet networks limit continuous monitoring.
  3. Institutional Fragmentation: Multiple agencies, IMD, NDMA, SASE, and state authorities, work in silos.
  4. High Cost of Equipment: Advanced sensors and AI-based models require large funding, which is often project-based, not permanent.
  5. Local Integration Issues: Absence of local awareness and training hinders EWS adoption and response effectiveness.

What Have Been the Major Successes or Promising Models?

  1. Swiss Alps Example: In Switzerland’s Blatten village, an EWS prevented a glacial lake collapse by alerting authorities, saving hundreds of lives.
  2. China’s EWS (2022): The Chinese Academy of Sciences created a Himalayan EWS using satellite and AI-based modeling to forecast flash floods and glacial lake outbursts.
  3. Indian Precedents:
    1. IMD and ISRO collaboration on satellite-based flood forecasting.
    2. Uttarakhand’s Rainfall & Landslide Monitoring Network under NDMA.
    3. AI-based predictive systems being piloted by IIT Roorkee for early landslide alerts.

What Are the Key Steps Needed for India’s Himalayan EWS Framework?

  1. Integration with National Data Systems: Unify IMD, ISRO, NDMA, and local data into a National Himalayan EWS Grid.
  2. Local Capacity Building: Train local panchayats, mountain police, and disaster volunteers in EWS interpretation.
  3. AI & Drone-Based Monitoring: Employ machine learning to analyze terrain shifts and use drones for data relay.
  4. Community Ownership: Encourage “Last-Mile Ownership”, enabling communities to maintain sensors and report anomalies.
  5. Cross-Border Cooperation: Engage with Nepal, Bhutan, and China under the HKH (Hindu Kush Himalaya) framework for data sharing.

Relevant Policy and Institutional Frameworks

  1. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030): Calls for risk-informed, multi-hazard early warning systems.
  2. National Disaster Management Plan (2019): Prioritizes mountain-specific disaster risk management.
  3. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE): Focuses on climate-resilient planning for mountain ecology.
  4. NITI Aayog Report on Himalayan States (2018): Advocates “mountain-centric” governance and monitoring systems.

Conclusion

Himalayan resilience is India’s climate frontier. Without an integrated and accessible early warning system, each new disaster deepens ecological and social fragility. Establishing a rugged, community-driven, AI-supported Himalayan EWS is not just a scientific necessity, it is a moral and developmental imperative. Science, policy, and local wisdom must converge to safeguard India’s “Water Tower of Asia.”

 

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.