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

Introduction

India’s clean energy story has entered a defining phase. With 24.5 GW of solar capacity added in 2024, India now stands as the third-largest solar power contributor in the world, after China and the U.S. This achievement reflects not only technological progress but also the country’s growing global leadership in renewable energy. Yet, behind this success lies a serious constraint, the widening climate finance gap, estimated at over $2.5 trillion by 2030. Without adequate and innovative financing, India’s clean energy momentum risks slowing down, threatening its ability to stay on course for its 1.5°C-aligned climate targets.

Why in the News

India added 24.5 GW of solar capacity in 2024, emerging as the third largest contributor globally, after China and the U.S., a historic leap for a developing country. Recognised in the UN Secretary-General’s 2025 Climate Report alongside Brazil and China, India has shown that clean energy growth can power both employment (over 1 million jobs) and GDP (5% contribution). However, the optimism hides a crisis: a climate finance gap exceeding $2.5 trillion by 2030, threatening to stall India’s 1.5°C-aligned pathway. The stakes are massive — India’s global credibility, energy security, and development model now depend on how swiftly it can scale climate finance.

The Economic Momentum of India’s Clean Energy Transition

24.5 GW solar addition (2024): Makes India the third-largest solar contributor globally, marking a defining milestone in renewable energy leadership.
Global recognition: The UN 2025 Climate Report identifies India as a leading developing nation in scaling solar and wind energy.
Employment boost: Renewable energy employed over 1 million people in 2023, with off-grid solar alone employing 80,000 (2021).
GDP contribution: Renewables added 5% to India’s GDP growth, underscoring its macroeconomic importance.
International Solar Alliance (ISA): India’s leadership in creating ISA has positioned it as a norm-setter in global clean energy diplomacy.

Where Lies the Climate Finance Gap?

Massive funding shortfall:

$1.5 trillion required (IRENA) by 2030 for a 1.5°C pathway.
$2.5 trillion+ estimated by the Ministry of Finance for national targets — double the earlier projections.
Finance distribution gaps: Needed for battery storage, green hydrogen, grid strengthening, sustainable agriculture, and transport transition.

Green bonds surge:

Cumulative GSS+ debt issuance: $55.9 billion (2024), up 186% since 2021.
Green bonds: Account for 83% of total sustainable issuance.
Private sector dominance: 84% of green bond issuance.
Key concern: MSMEs and agri-tech innovators face barriers in accessing concessional finance and risk-sharing tools.

How Can India Unlock Climate Finance?

Public finance as catalyst: National and State governments must use budget allocations and fiscal incentives to de-risk green investments.
Blended finance models:
- Credit enhancement tools (partial guarantees, subordinated debt) to improve risk-return profiles.
- Performance or loan guarantees to unlock finance for Tier II & III cities.
Domestic institutional capital:
- Mobilising funds from EPFO, LIC, pension and insurance funds for green portfolios.
- Requires regulatory reforms, ESG frameworks, and green project pipelines.

Policy Innovations and Carbon Market Potential

Carbon Credit Trading Scheme: Offers a new finance stream, provided it remains transparent, regulated, and equitable.
Adaptation and Loss & Damage Financing: Focus must extend beyond mitigation to resilience building.
Tech-driven climate finance:
- Use of Blockchain for finance tracking.
- AI-based risk assessment for green portfolios.
- Tailored blended finance suited to India’s socio-economic landscape.

Private Sector and Sovereign Initiatives in Climate Finance

Sovereign Green Bonds: Successful issuance has crowded-in private capital for green projects.
SEBI-regulated Social Bonds: Directed funds to education, healthcare, and climate action.
Solar Park Scheme: Competitive auctions have encouraged private investment in large-scale solar infrastructure.

Conclusion

India’s clean energy transition stands at a defining crossroad — its success no longer depends on technology or intent, but on finance. The renewable boom has demonstrated economic and employment dividends, but without a parallel rise in climate finance mechanisms, it risks plateauing. To sustain momentum, India must blend innovation, public-private synergy, and institutional capital. The clean energy rise must now be matched by a climate finance revolution.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2022] Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective? Explain.

Linkage: The article complements the 2022 question by highlighting that India’s progress toward meeting 50% renewable energy by 2030 hinges on bridging its $2.5 trillion climate finance gap. It emphasizes that shifting fiscal support and private capital from fossil fuels to renewables is crucial to sustain this transition.

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Internal Security Trends and Incidents

A red sunset? Why Maoist movement is on the decline

Explained | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: External State & Non-State Actors: Challenges To Internal Security.

Introduction

For nearly six decades, the Maoist insurgency has tested India’s state capacity, governance, and security architecture. Born from socio-economic inequalities and agrarian distress, it once posed a threat spanning the “Red Corridor” from Andhra Pradesh to Bihar. However, in 2025, India seems to be witnessing what could be a historical inflection point, a near end of the movement. The combination of relentless security operations, developmental outreach, and ideological erosion has pushed the insurgency to its lowest ebb in history, limited now to just 38 districts.

Why is this in the news?

For the first time in six decades, the Maoist movement has reached the brink of extinction. This sharp decline is a historic reversal from the early 2000s, when the insurgency had spread across nearly 180 districts, posing an existential challenge to internal peace.

The Union Home Ministry’s data for 2025 reveals:

270 Maoists killed, 680 arrested, and 1,225 surrendered.
The insurgency is now confined to 38 districts, a dramatic fall from its 2005 peak.
Top Maoist leaders, including Mallojula Venugopal Rao, have called for the “cessation of armed struggle”, signaling an ideological collapse within.
This represents a turning point in India’s counter-insurgency history, where military, governance, and psychological strategies appear to have converged successfully.

What led to the decline of the Maoist movement?

Relentless Security Operations
1. Persistent operations by security forces under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and state police coordination have dismantled Maoist strongholds.
2. Leaders such as Katta Ramachandra Reddy and Kalayari Reddy have been neutralized, causing organizational paralysis.
Curtailment of Resources: Maoists face acute shortages of arms, ammunition, and funding, with security blockades choking supply lines across Bastar-Dandakaranya region.
Collapse of Ideological Unity:
1. Internal ideological fractures deepened after the deaths of key leaders like Kishenji and Charu Majumdar.
2. Letters by surviving leaders calling for surrender reflect a moral fatigue within the movement.
Tribal Alienation: Once rooted in tribal grievances, the Maoist narrative lost resonance as tribal communities began benefiting from welfare schemes, education, and employment programs.

Has this happened before? Understanding the cyclical pattern

Historical Fluctuations: The Maoist movement, born in Naxalbari (West Bengal, 1967), has seen cycles of rise and suppression.

1. 1970s: Spread into Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha.
2. 1990s: Revival through the People’s War Group (PWG).
3. 2000s: Peak insurgency affecting nearly 180 districts.

Distinctiveness of 2025 Phase: Unlike previous lulls, this decline is structural, not temporary—rooted in the erosion of ideology and grassroots support rather than mere state force.

Is the movement really over?

Residual Threats Persist:
1. Maoist influence lingers in border areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha.
2. Their transition to smaller, mobile guerrilla units may prolong low-intensity violence.
Surrender vs. Rehabilitation:
1. While many cadres have surrendered, effective reintegration policies—jobs, skill-building, and psychological counseling—remain key to ensuring they don’t relapse into militancy.
Need for Vigilance: Experts warn against complacency. Maoism thrives in governance vacuums—where corruption, displacement, or inequality persist, new movements could emerge.

What lessons does this offer for internal security and governance?

Integrated Strategy Works: A mix of security action, development, and psychological outreach has proven effective—embodying the “Samadhan Doctrine” (Solution through Smart Leadership, Aggressive Strategy, Motivation, and Action).
Development as Deterrence: Expanding roads, schools, and welfare programs in tribal areas helped dismantle Maoist influence.
Institutional Coordination: Joint efforts by the Centre and States, under continuous review of MHA, have created sustained momentum.

Conclusion

The “Red Sunset” of the Maoist insurgency is not just a victory of arms but a triumph of governance and persistence. India’s approach, combining security precision with socio-economic inclusion, offers a replicable model for countering internal conflicts.

However, sustaining peace will depend on addressing root causes, land alienation, forest rights, and local governance deficits, lest another insurgency rises from the same soil.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2022] Naxalism is a social, economic and development issues manifesting as a violent internal security threat. In this context, discuss the emerging issues and suggest a multilayered strategy to tackle the menace of Naxalism.

Linkage: The 2025 developments highlighted in “A Red Sunset” perfectly exemplify how the government’s multi-dimensional approach, combining security operations, socio-economic welfare, and ideological disengagement, has yielded tangible results. It reinforces the UPSC 2022 theme that Naxalism is not merely a law-and-order issue but a socio-economic one demanding a holistic, multilayered strategy.

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Waste Management – SWM Rules, EWM Rules, etc

Cost of convenience, health hazards a a side effect of using digital tools

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

Introduction

India’s embrace of the digital revolution has been rapid and transformative. From smartphones to smart homes, electronics have become integral to urban living. However, this transformation carries a dark underbelly: the mounting crisis of e-waste. In 2025, India generated 2.2 million tonnes of e-waste, becoming the third-largest generator globally, after China and the United States. Despite having a formal recycling capacity of over 2.2 million MT, more than half of India’s e-waste is still processed informally, exposing millions to toxic substances. The issue is not just environmental but also a public health catastrophe, disproportionately affecting the poor and marginalised.

Why is e-waste in the news?

India’s e-waste problem is no longer a distant warning but an immediate crisis. The country has seen a 150% surge in e-waste since 2017–18 (0.71 MT to 2.2 MT in 2025), with projections of doubling by 2030. Cities like Seelampur (Delhi), Moradabad (UP), and Bhiwandi (Maharashtra) have emerged as hotspots of informal recycling, where toxic fumes and crude dismantling methods poison both workers and residents. Despite 322 formal recycling units, informal handlers dominate the sector, creating one of the sharpest contrasts between policy design and ground reality.

The Escalating Burden of E-Waste

Third-largest generator: India stands only behind China and the U.S., producing 2.2 MT of e-waste in 2025.
Rapid growth: A 150% surge in seven years, expected to double by 2030.
Urban hotspots: Over 60% of e-waste originates from just 65 cities; major hubs include Seelampur, Mustafabad, Moradabad, and Bhiwandi.

Why informal recycling is a ticking time bomb

Crude methods: Manual dismantling, open burning, and acid leaching without protective equipment.
Toxic substances: Release of over 1,000 hazardous chemicals, including heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium), POPs (dioxins, furans), and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀).
Alarming air quality: PM₂.₅ levels in Seelampur exceed 300 µg/m³ — over 12 times higher than WHO’s safe limit of 25 µg/m³.

How does e-waste impact human health?

Respiratory illnesses: Workers show 76–80% prevalence of chronic bronchitis, asthma, persistent coughing (MDPI Applied Sciences, 2025).
Neurological damage: Lead exposure linked to cognitive impairment, reduced IQ, attention deficits. WHO warns millions of children are at risk.
Skin & ocular disorders: Rashes, burns, dermatitis; in Guiyu (China), exposure linked to miscarriages and preterm births.
Genetic and systemic effects: DNA damage, oxidative stress, altered immune functions; children show higher vulnerability.
Syndemic environment: E-waste risks compound poverty, malnutrition, and unsafe housing, worsening outcomes for urban poor.

Policy response: Progress and gaps

E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022: Strengthened Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), mandatory registration, incentives for formalisation.
Weak enforcement: As of 2023–24, only 43% of e-waste was officially processed.
Legal hurdles: Capping of EPR credit prices led to legal disputes with manufacturers.
Gap: Informal handlers still dominate, undermining scientific recycling capacity.

The Way Forward

Formalise the informal: Integrate kabadiwalas through skill certification, PPE provision, healthcare, social security.
Strengthen enforcement: Empower Pollution Control Boards, mandate digital tracking & audits.
Expand medical surveillance: Health camps and long-term studies, especially on children in hotspots.
Foster innovation: Promote local recycling technologies, decentralised treatment hubs.
Raise awareness: Mass campaigns and school-level education on e-waste.

Conclusion

India’s digital empowerment cannot come at the cost of environmental collapse and human suffering. The e-waste crisis is not only a question of waste management but also of justice and public health. Unless India formalises its informal sector, strengthens enforcement, invests in technology, and raises awareness, the cost of convenience will continue to erode both ecosystems and human dignity.

PYQ Relevance

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

Linkage: The article on e-waste directly links to this PYQ as it highlights impediments like dominance of informal recycling, weak enforcement of E-Waste Rules, and lack of awareness, while also suggesting safe disposal measures such as formalisation, digital tracking, PPE use, decentralised hubs, and scientific recycling methods.

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US policy wise : Visa, Free Trade and WTO

Can diaspora please stand up

Explained | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Indian Diaspora

Introduction

The Indian-American diaspora is often hailed as one of the most successful immigrant groups in the United States, with the highest median household income among all ethnicities, six Fortune 500 CEOs, governors, Congress members, and leaders in federal agencies like the CDC and FBI. However, recent U.S. policy shifts, such as increased tariffs on Indian goods, restrictions on H-1B visas, and sanctions affecting India’s strategic infrastructure, have highlighted the limits of diaspora influence. Despite its success, the community faces a pressing question: will it remain silent, or rise to defend India’s interests when challenged abroad?

Why is this in the news?

In recent months, the Trump administration unleashed a series of punitive measures: slapping 50% tariffs on Indian goods, imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications (of which Indians receive 70%), restricting student visas, and sanctioning India’s strategic infrastructure projects like the Chabahar port. These measures directly affect Indian professionals, businesses, and students in the U.S. Surprisingly, the celebrated Indian-American diaspora has responded with muted or absent voices, raising serious concerns about the costs of silence. This marks a sharp contrast: while India has celebrated its diaspora as “soft power champions,” their political engagement on issues of consequence appears weak.

What makes the Indian-American diaspora so influential?

High economic success: Highest median household income among ethnic groups, concentration of CEOs, professionals, and leaders in U.S. politics and administration.
Symbol of integration: From Bollywood films to biryani, diaspora blends nostalgia with modern influence.
Strategic assets: Strong presence in STEM, academia, corporate America, and policymaking.

Why is the diaspora silent on anti-India measures?

Fear of backlash: Second-generation Indian-Americans feel their American identity questioned if they oppose U.S. policy too strongly.
Fragmentation: Divided by region, religion, political orientation; no unified lobbying voice.
Political caution: Many supported Trump for pro-business stance or Hindu nationalist sentiment but hesitated to confront his administration.
Practical concerns: Rising costs for H-1B visas, employment restrictions on STEM graduates, yet little public opposition.

What are the consequences of this silence?

Weakening of India’s strategic position: If diaspora fails to defend against hostile U.S. measures, it undermines India’s global partnerships.
Loss of moral voice: Diaspora loses legitimacy as defenders of India’s interests.
Encouragement of further punitive actions: Silence signals complicity, emboldening further sanctions and restrictions.
Cultural reductionism: Diaspora risks being seen as only symbolic carriers of Bollywood, biryani, and Bharatanatyam rather than political actors.

What should be the role of the diaspora?

Bridge-builder: Act as advocates for India when U.S. policies hurt strategic ties.
Political engagement: Use lobbying capacity, financial resources, and media influence to defend India’s interests.
Principled advocacy: Support India not just through nostalgia or identity politics but through substantive action.
Moral responsibility: As beneficiaries of U.S. democracy, they must speak truth to power, not remain bystanders.

Conclusion

The Indian-American diaspora stands at a crossroads: to remain silent and symbolic or to act as a true strategic partner for India. Its wealth, numbers, and influence offer immense potential to shape narratives in Washington, but silence risks rendering it irrelevant. For India, the diaspora must be more than a cultural soft-power asset, it must become a political and moral force that safeguards India’s interests globally.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2020] Indian diaspora has a decisive role to play in the politics and economy of America and European Countries. Comment with examples.

Linkage: The article highlights how the Indian-American diaspora, despite its economic and political clout, has remained largely silent on hostile U.S. measures like tariffs and H-1B restrictions. This directly links to the PYQ as it shows both the potential role of diaspora in shaping politics and economy abroad, and the limits of its current influence when it fails to actively advocate for India.

Value Addition

Size and Spread

Largest diaspora in the world – 18 million (UN DESA, 2021).
Major hubs – USA (4.8 mn), UAE (3.5 mn), Saudi Arabia (2.5 mn), UK (1.6 mn), Canada (1.7 mn), Australia (0.7 mn).

Economic Role

Remittances – India received $125 billion in 2023 (World Bank), highest globally.
Investment channels – NRI deposits (over $141 billion in Indian banks).
Entrepreneurship – Indian-Americans own ~80,000 businesses in the US, employing ~200,000 people.

Diplomatic and Strategic Role

Lobbying in the US – India Caucus in US Congress, among the largest country caucuses.
Strengthening bilateral ties – Diaspora played a role in the US–India nuclear deal (2008).
Community mobilisation – Helped India’s COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy; strong mobilisation for relief during natural disasters (Kerala floods, Nepal earthquake).

Cultural and Soft Power Influence

Bollywood & cuisine – Bollywood films rank in top 10 foreign releases in Gulf and US theatres; Indian food chains like Patel Brothers in US are cultural hubs.
International Day of Yoga (21st June) – Promoted by diaspora across 170+ countries.
Cricket diplomacy – Popularised Indian Premier League abroad; diaspora support in stadiums gives visibility.

Challenges and Criticism

Brain drain vs. brain gain – Loss of skilled talent, though remittances compensate.
Fragmentation – Religious, regional, and political divides weaken unified lobbying.
Political caution – Reluctance to challenge host-country policies that hurt India.
Exploitation in Gulf – Migrant workers face poor labour conditions and weak legal recourse.

Initiatives by India

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) – Celebrated biennially since 2003.
Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) – Allows lifelong visa, parity with NRIs in most fields (except politics & purchase of agricultural land).
Scholarship Program for Diaspora Children (SPDC) – Assists NRI/PIO children studying in India.
Madad Portal & e-Migrate – For welfare and grievance redressal of emigrants.

Comparative Diaspora Roles in Other Countries

China – Chinese diaspora heavily invests in home-country infrastructure, strong lobbying in US.
Israel – Jewish diaspora played a decisive role in US foreign policy.
Ireland – Irish-American lobby influenced US policy on Northern Ireland.

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Women empowerment issues – Jobs,Reservation and education

The transformation of girls education

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

Introduction

“Beti padhegi toh kya karegi?” — a once common phrase in Indian households, captures the deep-rooted gender bias against girls’ education. In sharp contrast, India today is witnessing a remarkable transformation where girls’ education is not only improving literacy rates but also shaping health, fertility, workforce participation, and leadership outcomes. This transformation, spearheaded by initiatives like Kanya Kelavani in Gujarat and later Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) at the national level, represents a structural and cultural shift in Indian society.

Why is this transformation in the news?

Girls’ education in India is witnessing measurable improvements backed by accountability and systemic policy pushes. The nationwide BBBP initiative, initially launched in 100 gender-critical districts, has led to a visible improvement in sex ratio at birth (919 in 2015-16 to 929 in 2019-21), reduced female dropout rates, and higher female literacy in states like Gujarat. These achievements are striking because they stand in contrast to decades of entrenched female foeticide, poor infrastructure for girls, and deep social stigma. For the first time, policy, leadership, and public movements have converged to change mindsets at scale, making this one of the most significant social transformations of contemporary India.

The Gujarat Model of Change

Multi-pronged approach: Tackled female foeticide and illiteracy not just with laws but also through perception change, infrastructure, and incentives.
Kanya Kelavani Campaign (2003): Focused on awareness, provision of toilets for girls (a major dropout factor), and community participation.
Striking impact: Female literacy rate in Gujarat rose to 70% (above national average of 64%); dropout rates reduced by 90% in targeted districts.
Symbolic leadership: PM Modi auctioned personal gifts raising ₹19 crore for girls’ education, alongside a personal donation of ₹21 lakh, signalling public ownership of the movement.

Scaling Success Nationwide: Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao

Launched in 2015: Nationwide expansion of Gujarat’s lessons to prevent female foeticide and promote education.
Inter-ministerial coordination: Involved Women and Child Development, Health, and Education ministries for an integrated push.

Impact:

1. Sex ratio at birth: Improved from 919 (2015-16) to 929 (2019-21).
2. Wider coverage: Expanded beyond the initial 100 critical districts to pan-India.
3. 20 out of 30 States/UTs performing better than national average sex ratio (930).

The Ripple and Multiplier Effects of Educated Girls

Demographic shift: Educated women marry later, have fewer children; Total Fertility Rate fell to 2.0 (below replacement).
Health outcomes: More likely to seek institutional deliveries and prenatal care; Infant Mortality Rate reduced from 49 (2014) to 33 (2020).
Economic participation: Rising visibility in healthcare, STEM, education, entrepreneurship, armed forces, and tech leadership.
Intergenerational impact: Children of educated mothers perform better in school, with healthier outcomes.
Changing mindsets: In Madhya Pradesh, 89.5% aware of BBBP, and 63.2% credited it with motivating families to send daughters to school.

Challenges Ahead

Labour force participation: Despite progress, overall female labour participation remains low.
Regional disparities: Some states and districts lag significantly in sex ratio and enrollment.
Cultural inertia: Early marriages, dowry, and gendered household expectations still restrict education gains.

Conclusion

The transformation in girls’ education marks one of the most profound social revolutions in India. From Gujarat’s Kanya Kelavani to the nationwide BBBP, the shift is not only about literacy but about empowering women to be leaders, professionals, and change-makers. As the article highlights, when you educate a girl, you transform a society. Sustaining this momentum will be crucial for India’s journey towards equity, development, and inclusive growth.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2021] Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu?

Linkage: The article shows that while education and schemes like BBBP have triggered change, sustained mindset shifts through community engagement, legal safeguards, and leadership-driven social movements are equally vital to challenge India’s patriarchal milieu.

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Labour, Jobs and Employment – Harmonization of labour laws, gender gap, unemployment, etc.

More Women join the labour force, but are they really employed?

Explained | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Issues relating growth and development, employment

Introduction

The female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) is often viewed as a proxy for gender equality and economic dynamism. India’s FLFPR dropped from 31.2% in 2011-12 to 23.3% in 2017-18 but has dramatically risen to 41.7% in 2023-24. At first glance, this looks like a success story. However, closer scrutiny reveals that most women are being absorbed into agriculture, unpaid household enterprises, and low-paying self-employment, rather than formal or secure wage jobs. The paradox is clear: more women are being “counted” in the labour market, but their earnings and economic independence remain stagnant or declining.

Why is female labour force participation in the news?

Sharp rise in FLFPR: Jumped from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24.
First-time reversal: After years of decline, the participation rate is rising again.
Underlying concern: Despite more women “working,” earnings have fallen, and secure wage jobs remain elusive.
Contradiction: Participation has grown, but instead of diversifying into services/industry, women are moving back into agriculture.

What explains the rise in female participation?

Rural women as drivers: Most of the rise is accounted for by women in rural India.
Shift from domestic duties: Share of women reporting “domestic duties” fell from 57.8% (2017-18) to 35.7% (2023-24).
Rise in unpaid helpers: Share of “helpers in household enterprises” rose from 9.1% to 19.6%.
Self-employment increase: “Own account workers and employers” rose from 4.5% to 14.6%.

Are women moving to better jobs?

Agriculture dominance: Share of rural women in agriculture rose from 71.1% (2018-19) to 76.9% (2023-24).
Decline in other sectors: Women’s share in both secondary (industry) and tertiary (services) sectors has fallen.
Blurring boundaries: Women’s unpaid household work overlaps with helper roles in household enterprises, making it questionable whether this should count as “employment.”

What about earnings and job quality?

Declining real earnings: Except for casual workers, earnings have declined across categories—self-employed, salaried, and even employers.
Vulnerability of self-employment: More women are reporting self-employment, but this has not translated into higher income.
No wage expansion: Growth in FLFPR has not been accompanied by secure wage-based jobs.

Why does this matter for India’s economy and gender equality?

False signal of empowerment: Higher FLFPR without earnings security reflects distress-driven participation, not genuine empowerment.
Economic vulnerability: Rising unpaid and low-paid work lowers household resilience and women’s autonomy.
Policy challenge: Employment growth is not keeping pace with women’s entry into the workforce, pointing to structural issues in India’s labour market.

Conclusion

The sharp rise in India’s female labour force participation hides more than it reveals. Women are being pushed into unpaid or poorly paid work, especially in agriculture and household enterprises, while real earnings are falling. This suggests that India’s growth story is not translating into dignified employment for women. For true gender equality, the focus must shift from mere participation numbers to quality, security, and remuneration of women’s work. Only then will women’s economic empowerment become a reality.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2023] Distinguish between ‘care economy’ and ‘monetized economy’. How can the care economy be brought into a monetized economy through women empowerment?

Linkage: The article highlights women’s shift from domestic duties to unpaid helper roles, directly linking the care economy to the challenge of integrating it into the monetized economy through women’s empowerment.

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Terrorism and Challenges Related To It

An anti-terror role that defies logic

Explained | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: External State & Non-State Actors: Challenges To Internal Security.

Introduction

The global fight against terrorism is rooted in credibility, trust, and collective responsibility. Yet, the United Nations’ recent decision to entrust Pakistan with leadership positions in the Taliban Sanctions Committee and as Vice-Chair of the UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee has sparked disbelief. For a country long accused of sheltering terrorists, from Osama bin Laden to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, this appointment is not just ironic but deeply unsettling. Coupled with financial support such as the IMF’s billion-dollar loan to Pakistan despite concerns of terror financing, these developments expose critical vulnerabilities in the UN system. For India, which continues to suffer from cross-border terrorism, this represents a significant diplomatic and security challenge.

Why is this in the news?

Pakistan, accused for decades of harbouring terrorists and backing attacks on Indian soil, has been elevated to leadership in global counter-terrorism mechanisms. The timing is striking: the move came just weeks after the April 2025 Pahalgam attack where terrorists killed Indian tourists, followed by India’s Operation Sindoor against terror launchpads. To add to the irony, Pakistan also assumed the UNSC Presidency in July 2025. This is not the first time the UN has made such questionable appointments (Libya on Human Rights, Saudi Arabia on Women’s Rights), but Pakistan’s case is especially alarming given its record of state-sponsored terror. The decision casts doubt on the UN’s integrity, raises questions about its vetting process, and undermines India’s global campaign to expose Pakistan as a terror sponsor.

How has Pakistan’s role in terrorism been established?

Osama bin Laden Shelter: Found in Abbottabad, near Pakistan’s military academy.
Cross-border attacks: From the 2008 Mumbai attacks to the 2019 Pulwama bombing and the 2025 Pahalgam attack, evidence points to Pakistan-backed groups.
Terror groups supported: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and networks across Afghanistan and Balochistan.
Public protection of terrorists: Hafiz Saeed, despite being a UN-designated terrorist, continues to appear at PoK launchpads and public events under the watch of Pakistan’s security forces.

Why is Pakistan’s UN role a paradox?

Contradiction with objectives: Pakistan’s terror links directly undermine the goals of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.
FATF leniency: Removal from the FATF grey list in 2022 despite unresolved financing concerns highlights weak vetting.
Geopolitical trade-offs: Powerful nations enable Pakistan’s elevation to secure their own strategic and economic interests.
Dangerous precedent: It signals that state-sponsored terror can be diplomatically whitewashed.

What loopholes in the UN system does this expose?

Selection flaws: No stringent vetting for compliance with counter-terrorism standards.
Inconsistent moral compass: Earlier cases include Libya chairing the UNHRC and Saudi Arabia heading UN Women’s Rights Commission.
Financial contradictions: IMF’s $1 billion loan in May 2025, just after the Pahalgam attack, raises ethical red flags.
Rewarding duplicity: Pakistan even announced ₹14 crore compensation to families of terrorists, including kin of JeM chief Masood Azhar.

How does this affect India’s security and diplomacy?

Narrative war: Pakistan may use its position to shift blame for regional instability onto India.
UNSC power play: As vice-chair, Pakistan can obstruct India’s efforts to sanction Pakistan-based terrorists.
Taliban equation: Pakistan could derail India’s outreach to the Taliban regime.
Increased threats: Likely escalation of infiltration, asymmetric warfare, and cyber-attacks on India.

What counter-measures can India adopt?

Diplomatic alliances: Leverage partnerships with UNSC members to balance Pakistan’s influence.
Narrative building: Intensify global campaigns via media, academia, and diaspora to expose Pakistan’s duplicity.
Engage Taliban directly: Humanitarian missions in Kabul to weaken Pakistan’s monopoly.
Security strengthening: Bolster intelligence and counter-infiltration mechanisms.
Push for accountability: Advocate for periodic reviews and performance audits of UN counter-terrorism bodies.

Conclusion

The UN’s decision to entrust Pakistan with counter-terrorism roles is more than a diplomatic anomaly, it is a strategic failure with global repercussions. For India, it signifies a heightened threat environment, a greater diplomatic challenge, and a call for proactive global engagement. What begins as “a seat at the table” could soon translate into control over the agenda. The real danger is not Pakistan’s presence in UN committees but the global community pretending it does not matter.

UPSC Relevance

[UPSC 2015] Terrorist activities and mutual distrust have clouded India-Pakistan relations. To what extent the use of soft power like sports and cultural exchanges could help generate goodwill between the two countries? Discuss with suitable examples.

Linkage: Pakistan’s elevation to UN counter-terrorism roles despite its proven terror links deepens mutual distrust with India, underscoring why soft power avenues like sports and cultural exchanges remain fragile yet essential tools to rebuild limited goodwill.

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Agricultural Sector and Marketing Reforms – eNAM, Model APMC Act, Eco Survey Reco, etc.

More Women employed in agriculture, but half of them are unpaid

Explained | Agriculture | Mains Paper 1: Primary, Secondary, & Tertiary Sector Industries In Various Parts Of The World

Introduction

Women-led development is increasingly recognised as a structural game-changer for India’s economic ambitions. Nowhere is this more urgent than in agriculture, which not only sustains livelihoods but also employs the largest share of India’s female workforce. However, while women’s participation in farming has risen sharply due to men shifting to non-farm jobs, their contributions remain largely invisible, unpaid, and undervalued. This contradiction calls for a deeper exploration of systemic inequities and emerging opportunities to turn agriculture into a vehicle for women’s empowerment and national growth.

The Feminisation of Agriculture: Numbers Behind the Shift

Surge in women workers: Women’s employment in agriculture rose by 135% in a decade, now accounting for 42% of the agricultural workforce.
Unpaid work: The number of women as unpaid family workers increased 2.5 times, from 23.6 million in 2017–18 to 59.1 million in 2023–24 (PLFS).
Regional inequities: In States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, over 80% of women workers are in agriculture, and more than half receive no wages.
National picture: Today, one in three working women in India is unpaid.

Why Women’s Work in Agriculture Remains Invisible

Lack of recognition: Women are not officially recognised as farmers despite constituting a large share of labour.
Skewed land ownership: Only 13–14% of land holdings are in women’s names, limiting access to credit, insurance, and government support.
Wage gap: Women earn 20–30% less than men for equivalent agricultural tasks.
Concentration in low-value work: Women are locked into subsistence farming and low-margin tasks without decision-making power.
Macro impact: Despite higher participation, agriculture’s share in GVA fell from 15.3% (2017–18) to 14.4% (2024–25), reinforcing inequities instead of enabling empowerment.

Global Trade Trends as an Opportunity

India–U.K. FTA: Expected to boost agricultural exports by 20% within three years, covering 95% of agricultural and processed food products duty-free.
Export-oriented crops: Women already have strong representation in spices, tea, millets, rice, dairy- sectors poised for expansion.
From labourers to entrepreneurs: With training, credit access, and market linkages, women could transition to income-generating entrepreneurs in value-added exports.

Technology as a Game-Changer

Digital agriculture: Platforms like e-NAM, mobile advisory services, precision tools connect women to markets and pricing systems.
Language and literacy gap: Women face low digital literacy, language barriers, and lack of devices, restricting adoption.
Promising models:
1. BHASHINI platform and Microsoft–AI4Bharat’s Jugalbandi provide multilingual, voice-first government access.
2. L&T Finance’s Digital Sakhi programme has built digital and financial literacy among rural women in seven States.
3. Odisha’s Swayam Sampurna FPOs and Jhalawari Mahila Kisan Producer Company (Rajasthan) leverage digital tools for branding and exports.

Structural Reforms Needed

Land reforms: Promote joint or individual land ownership to strengthen women’s eligibility for formal support.
Labour reforms: Recognise women as independent farmers to ensure fair wages, rights, and credit.
Value chain inclusion: Shift women into higher-margin activities like processing, branding, packaging, and exporting.
Institutional support: Scale multi-stakeholder programs (government, NGOs, FPOs) to dismantle structural inequities.

Conclusion

The feminisation of agriculture in India highlights a double-edged reality: while women have become indispensable to the sector, their economic contributions remain unrecognised and unpaid. With global trade shifts, digital innovations, and land-labour reforms, India now stands at a crossroads. Whether women remain invisible labourers or emerge as empowered entrepreneurs will depend on how decisively policymakers, private actors, and civil society act to bridge systemic inequities. Women’s empowerment in agriculture is not just a gender issue, it is central to India’s economic transformation.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] Distinguish between gender equality, gender equity and women’s empowerment. Why is it important to take gender concerns into account in programme design and implementation?

Linkage: The question probes the conceptual clarity between equality, equity, and empowerment while testing their application in real policy frameworks. It aligns with the article as the feminisation of agriculture highlights how ignoring gender concerns in land, labour, and trade programmes perpetuates invisibility of women’s work, whereas equity-driven reforms can transform participation into genuine empowerment.

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Food Processing Industry: Issues and Developments

What an empty plate of food should symbolise

Explained | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Food Processing & Related Industries In India

Introduction

Globally, nearly one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted, undermining both food security and climate action. For India, the cost of post-harvest losses is about ₹1.5 trillion every year, almost 3.7% of its agricultural GDP. Beyond economics, this wastage squanders nutrition, water, energy, and labour, aggravating the climate crisis. The problem is not consumer-driven, as in developed nations, but arises early in the value chain, in handling, processing, and distribution. International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) highlights this as both a challenge and an opportunity: to build resilient, efficient, and climate-smart food systems.

Why is Food Loss in the News?

The recent FAO–NIFTEM–GCF study has provided the first sector-, state– and operation-wise estimates of greenhouse gas emissions from post-harvest losses and retail waste in India, covering 30 crops and livestock products. The findings are striking: even modest losses in cereals like paddy account for over 10 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions annually due to rice’s methane intensity. Overall, food loss generates more than 33 million tonnes of emissions every year. For a country aiming to balance food security with climate commitments, this is both alarming and unprecedented in scale.

The Economic Burden of Food Loss

₹1.5 trillion annual cost: Post-harvest losses in India amount to nearly 3.7% of agricultural GDP.
Sectoral vulnerability: Fruits and vegetables suffer 10–15% losses; even staples such as paddy (4.8%) and wheat (4.2%) are significantly affected.
Farmer incomes at risk: Such losses reduce food availability and directly affect the livelihood security of millions of farmers.

The Climate Connection

Greenhouse gas emissions: Food loss from 30 key commodities produces 33 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions annually.
Cereal losses critical: Paddy alone contributes over 10 million tonnes of emissions due to methane intensity.
Livestock products’ footprint: Wastage in dairy and meat is equally damaging, given their heavy resource requirements.
Link with SDGs: India has integrated SDG 12.3.1 (Global Food Loss and Waste) into its National Indicator Framework for systematic monitoring.

Where Do the Losses Occur?

Early supply chain stages: Losses in India occur during handling, processing, and distribution, unlike high-income countries where waste is consumer-driven.
Infrastructure gaps: Lack of modern cold chains, refrigerated transport, and efficient storage are major bottlenecks.
Fragmented supply chains: Weak value-chain integration adds to inefficiency and wastage.

Practical Solutions in Sight

Cold chain modernisation: Programmes like PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) focus on modernising storage, processing, and logistics.
Affordable technologies: Solar cold storage, low-cost cooling chambers, and moisture-proof silos can reduce spoilage for smallholders.
Digital interventions: IoT sensors, AI-driven forecasting, and tracking tools like the FAO Food Loss App (FLAPP) (launched in 2023, used in 30+ countries) improve efficiency.
Circular economy practices: Redirecting surplus to food banks/community kitchens and converting unavoidable waste into compost, feed, or bioenergy.
Policy support: Subsidies, credit guarantees, and low-interest loans are needed to scale up solutions.

Shared Responsibility Across Stakeholders

Government: Integrate food loss reduction in climate strategies and invest in infrastructure.
Private sector: Adopt circular business models and scalable innovations.
Civil society & academia: Drive awareness and research.
Consumers: Practice mindful consumption and support redistribution mechanisms.

Conclusion

An empty plate should symbolise nourishment received, not the silent wastage of resources and opportunities. Reducing food loss in India is not just about saving food — it is about strengthening farmer incomes, ensuring food security, cutting emissions, and meeting global sustainability goals.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2019] Examine the scope of the food processing industries in India. Elaborate the measures taken by the government in the food processing industries for generating employment opportunities.

Linkage: Food loss and waste directly highlight the gaps in India’s food processing sector, where inadequate cold chains, fragmented supply chains, and weak storage infrastructure undermine both farmer incomes and climate goals, making this question highly relevant.

Value Addition

International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW): Observed on September 29; raises global attention to the issue of food loss and waste undermining food and climate security.

Value Chain and Food Processing Sector in India

Economic Significance

Contribution to GDP : Food processing sector contributes about 10% of manufacturing GDP and nearly 13% of India’s exports.
Employment Potential : Provides large-scale rural and semi-urban employment, with strong potential for women and smallholder farmers.

Infrastructure and Policy Interventions

Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) : Umbrella scheme for cold chains, mega food parks, and agro-processing clusters.
Mega Food Parks : Around 42 Mega Food Parks sanctioned across the country to integrate farm-to-market supply chains.
Operation Greens (TOP to TOTAL) : Price stabilisation and value chain strengthening for perishable crops like tomato, onion, potato.
PLI Scheme for Food Processing (2021) : ₹10,900 crore outlay to boost exports, ready-to-eat, organic, and marine food products.

Post-Harvest Losses and Value Chain Gaps

High Economic Losses : NABCONS (2022) estimated ₹1.5 trillion annual post-harvest losses, equivalent to 3.7% of agricultural GDP.
Crop-wise Losses : Fruits and vegetables face 10–15% losses; paddy 4.8%; wheat 4.2%.
Comparative Gap : Only 10% of India’s produce is processed, compared to 65–70% in developed nations.

Technology and Innovation in Value Chains

IoT and AI : Used for forecasting, tracking, and real-time storage monitoring.
Affordable Storage Solutions : Solar cold storage, low-cost cooling chambers, and moisture-proof silos reduce wastage.
Digital Platforms : FAO’s Food Loss App (FLAPP) (2023) monitors value-chain losses; adopted in 30+ countries.

Sustainability and Circular Economy

Resource Efficiency : Cutting losses conserves embedded water, energy, and labour.
Surplus Redistribution : Food banks and community kitchens absorb edible surplus.
Waste Conversion : Composting, animal feed, and bioenergy generation from unavoidable waste.
Global Commitments : Strengthens India’s alignment with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Case Study Box: Food Processing and Value Chain in India

Case Study 1: Tumkur Mega Food Park, Karnataka

Launched : Under PMKSY.
Facilities : Cold storage, warehousing, quality control labs, logistics hubs
Impact :
- Reduced post-harvest losses of perishable crops.
- Generated ~5,000 direct and indirect jobs.
- Enhanced farmer linkages with retail chains and exporters.

Case Study 2: Operation Greens – Onion Price Stabilisation (Maharashtra, 2018–19)

Problem : Frequent onion price crashes and volatility in Maharashtra.
Intervention : Subsidised transport and storage under Operation Greens (TOP to TOTAL).
Impact :
- Prevented distress sales by farmers.
- Stabilised retail onion prices for consumers.
- Demonstrated the role of value chain management in food security.

Case Study 3: Amul Dairy Cooperative (Gujarat)

Model : Farmer-owned cooperative integrating production, processing, and distribution.
Impact :
- Dairy farmers receive better price realisation.
- Efficient cold chain logistics reduce milk spoilage.
- Became a global model of agri-value chain success.

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

Analysing Indian State’s macro-fiscal health

Explained | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

Introduction

India’s federal system depends heavily on States for delivering core welfare, infrastructure, and development. For much of the 2000s, reforms and tax buoyancy allowed States to report surpluses, better spending, and healthier balance sheets. However, the COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point: revenues plummeted while emergency spending skyrocketed, forcing States into unprecedented borrowing. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)’s decade-long analysis highlights this transition, exposing systemic stress points in India’s fiscal federalism.

Why is this issue in the news?

India’s States, once showing signs of fiscal prudence with even surpluses, now find themselves trapped in a debt spiral. The pandemic alone pushed almost every State into record borrowing, reversing earlier trends. For example, Uttar Pradesh, once lauded for surplus budgets, reported a revenue surplus of only ₹2,000 crore, down sharply from ₹37,000 crore in FY20. Kerala, which borrowed ₹80,575 crore in 2020-22, saw its debt mount to unsustainable levels. The contrast is stark: States that earlier prospered through buoyancy and reforms are today weighed down by heavy fiscal deficits and repayment burdens.

How has the States’ borrowing changed over time?

Sharp rise post-pandemic: Borrowings spiked everywhere during the pandemic, with Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu reporting unprecedented debt levels.
Uttar Pradesh’s decline: From a revenue surplus of ₹37,000 crore in 2019-20, UP fell to only ₹2,000 crore.
Kerala’s crisis: Borrowed ₹80,575 crore between 2020-22 and exceeded ₹1.04 lakh crore later, making it one of the most indebted States.
National trends: From 2017 to 2022-23, States’ gross borrowings rose from ₹5.6 lakh crore to ₹8.2 lakh crore, reflecting widespread fiscal strain.

Why are States borrowing so heavily?

Emergency spending: The pandemic forced huge expenditures on health, welfare, and relief, while revenues collapsed.
Welfare paradox: Despite borrowing, States continue with high welfare commitments such as free electricity, pensions, and subsidies.
GST regime pressures: Dependence on GST compensation and delayed transfers added strain to State finances.
Capital expenditure trade-offs: More money went into welfare subsidies than infrastructure, raising concerns of long-term growth stagnation.

What are the fiscal risks emerging?

Debt sustainability: States like Punjab, Kerala, and Rajasthan carry some of the heaviest debt burdens relative to GSDP.
Revenue shortfall: Weak own-tax revenues coupled with GST dependency reduce fiscal space.
Deficit pressures: Gross fiscal deficit (GFD) levels remain elevated, restricting maneuverability.
Crowding out growth: Excessive borrowing for subsidies diverts funds from capital creation, weakening long-term competitiveness.

How are States coping with fiscal pressures?

Raising borrowings: Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu remain among the largest borrowers.
Cutting investments: Many States reduced capital expenditure to fund populist schemes.
Seeking Centre’s support: GST compensation and Union transfers remain critical lifelines.
Relying on lotteries and land: Kerala and other States turn to non-tax sources like lottery revenues or land monetisation.

What is the way forward for States’ fiscal health?

Prudent fiscal management: Focus on long-term debt sustainability instead of short-term populism.
Rationalised welfare: Targeted subsidies over blanket schemes to avoid unsustainable fiscal stress.
Strengthened GST framework: Ensure timely compensation and greater autonomy in tax mobilisation.
Balanced expenditure: Redirect focus toward capital creation and infrastructure while safeguarding essential welfare.

Conclusion

The macro-fiscal health of Indian States has reached a critical juncture. The transition from buoyancy and surpluses in the 2000s to widespread borrowing and debt stress post-pandemic illustrates both structural vulnerabilities and political compulsions. While welfare commitments reflect democratic imperatives, unchecked populism coupled with weak revenue growth risks undermining fiscal stability. The future of India’s growth story rests not only on the Centre but equally on how States recalibrate their spending priorities and borrowing practices.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] Examine the pattern and trend of public expenditure on social services in the post-reforms period in India. To what extent this has been in consonance with achieving the objective of inclusive growth?

Linkage: The article’s discussion on States’ rising welfare spending, shrinking capital outlays, and mounting debt post-pandemic directly links to this PYQ by questioning whether such expenditure patterns genuinely advance inclusive growth.

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WTO and India

India at the Crossroads: Navigating WTO Pressures After China’s SDT Exit

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

Introduction

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has long been a battleground where developing nations, including India and China, defended their need for lenient subsidy caps, longer compliance timelines, and tariff protections. China’s self-exit from Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) concessions, despite retaining its developing country tag, signals a dramatic shift in the global trade order. For India, which has depended on SDT since its 1995 WTO accession, this development comes amid escalating US trade pressures, Trump-era tariff wars, and growing criticism of India’s subsidy regimes. The question is not only about trade but about food security, farmer livelihoods, and future economic strategy.

Why is this development significant?

First-time shift: China, the world’s second-largest economy, has for the first time announced it will not seek SDT despite being classified as a developing country.
Sharp contrast: Since 1995, SDT flexibilities have been central to India’s WTO negotiations; China’s withdrawal isolates India’s position.
Big stakes: India subsidises around $50 billion annually to low-income farmers and channels over $40 billion into Minimum Support Price (MSP) schemes, directly impacting 1.4 billion people.
Striking implications: If phased AMS (Aggregate Measurement of Support) cuts are enforced, subsidies may fall by 20–30% per decade, with a 10–15% rural income drop and worsening food insecurity.

How has India historically benefited from SDT?

Tariff flexibility: Allowed India to impose 100%+ tariffs on sensitive goods such as branded medicines, automobiles, and luxury goods.
Agriculture support: Article 6.2 exemptions for low-income farmers and public distribution schemes like MSP ensured food and livelihood security.
Special treatment: Shielded India from disputes, despite often breaching the 10% subsidy cap under AMS rules.
Trade defence: Enabled India to resist developed country pressures, citing its developing nation status.

What challenges does India face now?

Coercive reduction: Phased AMS cuts threaten to undermine National Food Security Act (NFSA) provisions.
Malnutrition risk: With 35% of children under five malnourished, subsidy rollback could worsen hunger and inequality
Export vulnerability: Without SDT, India’s MSMEs and farmers face tougher competition in global markets.
US/EU pushback: Developed nations already accuse India of trade distortion, citing examples like MSP and high farm subsidies.

What options does India have?

Recalibrate subsidies: Shift from price support to income support (direct cash transfers), reducing WTO disputes.
Promote Green Box subsidies: Focus on R&D, extension services, and sustainability programs which are WTO-compliant.
Negotiate transitional safeguards: Demand longer compliance windows to cushion the shift.
Defend digital/data sovereignty: Push for data localisation rights and tiered tariff structures in new trade deals.

What should India’s strategic plan look like?

Phased tariff liberalisation: Gradually reduce non-essential SDT protections while safeguarding food security.
Boost MSME competitiveness: Use the ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) to integrate small businesses into global e-commerce.
Intellectual property balance: Protect generic drug exports while resisting pressure for stronger IP regimes.
Coalition building: Revive alliances like the G33 to collectively defend agricultural and food security concerns.
Domestic reforms: Enhance farm productivity and diversify exports to reduce dependence on SDT shield.

Conclusion

China’s withdrawal from SDT marks a turning point in global trade politics. India now faces mounting pressure to reform its subsidy structure, align with WTO disciplines, and balance food security with competitiveness. The way forward lies not in clinging to outdated protections but in crafting innovative, WTO-compliant support systems that secure farmer welfare while projecting India as a responsible global player. Strategic coalition-building, calibrated reforms, and smart diplomacy will decide whether India emerges weakened or empowered in the new trade order.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2018] What are the key areas of reform if the WTO has to survive in the present context of ‘Trade War’, especially keeping in mind the interest of India?

Linkage: China stepping back from SDT intensifies calls for WTO reforms in subsidy rules, dispute settlement, and fair treatment of developing nations, directly testing India’s ability to safeguard food security and farmer support while pushing for a more equitable trade order.

Value Addition

WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) – Article 6.2 Exemptions

Provision: Allows developing countries to provide investment subsidies and input subsidies to low-income or resource-poor farmers without it being counted under the AMS cap.
India’s Use: India justifies its fertilizer, electricity, and irrigation subsidies under this clause to protect small farmers who form nearly 85% of the farming community.
Relevance: Central to defending India’s MSP and food security programs in global negotiations.

Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS)

Definition: WTO’s metric for calculating trade-distorting farm subsidies (amber box), capped at 10% of the value of production for developing countries.
India’s Issue: With large MSP and food procurement under NFSA, India is often accused of breaching this cap. Example – Rice subsidies have repeatedly attracted scrutiny in WTO disputes.
Relevance: Reform of AMS rules is India’s key demand in WTO negotiations, arguing current methodology undervalues developing nations’ needs.

Green Box vs Amber Box Subsidies

Amber Box: Trade-distorting subsidies (e.g., MSP, procurement at administered prices).
Green Box: Non-trade distorting subsidies like agricultural R&D, extension services, crop insurance, and environmental protection.
India’s Position: Heavy reliance on amber box through MSP and PDS; however, India is now trying to expand its green box spending on crop diversification, climate-resilient agriculture, and digital extension services.
Relevance: Diversifying support to green box can shield India from WTO disputes while modernising agriculture.

G33 Coalition

About: A group of 47 developing countries led by India, China, and Indonesia, advocating flexibility in agriculture negotiations.
India’s Role: Spearheads demands for a ‘Special Safeguard Mechanism’ (SSM) and permanent solution for public stockholding (PSH) of food grains.
Relevance: Strengthens India’s negotiating leverage by projecting its subsidy and food stockholding as a collective developing-world concern, not just a national exception.

National Food Security Act (2013) (NFSA)

Provision: Legally entitles 75% of rural and 50% of urban population to subsidised food grains through PDS.
Conflict with WTO: Heavy procurement at MSP and distribution under NFSA is seen as trade-distorting. Critics argue this exceeds the 10% AMS cap.
Relevance: WTO restrictions on subsidies could directly affect India’s food security safety net covering over 800 million people.

ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce)

Concept: A government-backed initiative to democratise e-commerce by creating an open-source, interoperable digital network for buyers and sellers.
Trade Defence: Seen as India’s strategic response to global e-commerce giants (Amazon, Walmart-Flipkart), ensuring fair competition for MSMEs.
Relevance: In WTO’s ongoing e-commerce negotiations, ONDC is a shield for India to resist pressure for blanket liberalisation of digital trade and data flows, while protecting domestic digital sovereignty.

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Foreign Policy Watch: India – EU

India-EU Strategic Agenda

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

Introduction

The India–European Union (EU) relationship has traditionally been overshadowed by India’s closer ties with the U.S. and Russia. However, the release of the EU’s Strategic Agenda for India, ahead of the 2026 leaders’ summit, is a milestone. It lays out a comprehensive framework across five pillars:

Economy & Trade

Global Connectivity

Emerging Technologies

Security & Defence

People-to-People Ties

With trade volumes nearing EUR 180 billion (goods + services), EU FDI nearly doubling in five years, and ambitious connectivity projects like the India–Middle East–Europe Corridor, this document represents Europe’s intent to recalibrate its Asia policy with India at the centre.

Why in the News?

This development is significant because it is the first time the EU has released a detailed, forward-looking strategic agenda exclusively for India. Traditionally, India–EU ties have been seen as underwhelming compared to India–US or India–Russia ties. But with EUR 120 billion goods trade in 2024 (a 90% increase over the last decade) and the EU emerging as India’s largest trading partner, the stakes have never been higher. What makes this moment compelling is the convergence: Europe seeks predictability away from U.S. uncertainty, and India seeks diversification in partners. The scale of planned cooperation, from AI and nuclear fusion to migration and maritime security, signals that India–EU ties are set to move from rhetoric to institutionalised, multi-sectoral partnership.

How significant is the economic partnership? (Pillar 1 – Economy & Trade)

Largest trading partner: EU is India’s biggest trade partner; India is EU’s largest in the Global South.
High-value trade: Goods trade at EUR 120 bn in 2024 (+90% in 10 years); services add EUR 60 bn.
FDI surge: EU FDI in India EUR 140 bn in 2023 (doubled in 5 years).
Employment impact: 6,000 European companies directly employ 3 million Indians.
Future goals: Negotiations on FTA, Investment Protection Agreement (IPA), Geographical Indications (GI), and air transport deal.

How are India and the EU shaping global connectivity? (Pillar 2 – Global Connectivity)

Global Gateway: EU’s EUR 300 bn infrastructure programme aligned with India’s MAHASAGAR initiative.
EU-India Connectivity Partnership (2021): Framework for joint digital, energy, and transport projects.
IMEC (India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor): Revival of historical trade routes via rail, maritime, clean hydrogen, and digital infrastructure.
Digital corridor: Blue Raman cable (11,700 km) connecting EU–Africa–India with secure, high-speed internet.
Green shipping: Joint efforts for sustainable maritime corridors to cut carbon dependency.

How will cooperation in emerging technologies unfold? (Pillar 3 – Emerging Technologies)

Complementary strengths: EU = regulation, research, green tech; India = startups, datasets, frugal innovation.
Innovation hubs: Proposed EU-India platforms on critical tech domains.
Startup partnership: Collaboration with European Innovation Council & Start-up India.
AI applications: Joint work on large language models, multilingual NLP, climate-focused AI.
Nuclear cooperation: Euratom-India pact on nuclear safety, waste, security, and fusion energy.

What are the prospects in security and defence? (Pillar 4 – Security & Defence)

Strategic Dialogue (2025): Maritime, cyber, counter-terrorism, and non-proliferation as focus areas.
Security of Information Agreement: To enable sharing of classified intelligence.
Indo-Pacific role: EU aligning with India as a stabilising force in the region.
Naval cooperation: Proposed link between EU Naval Force & Indian Navy in Western Indian Ocean.
Defence industry: EU–India Defence Forum under consideration to build resilient supply chains.

Why are people-to-people ties central to this partnership? (Pillar 5 – People-to-People Ties)

Migration scale: 825,000 Indians in EU (2023); largest group with EU Blue Cards.
Visa access: 1 million Schengen visas issued in 2024 (many multiple-entry).
Education mobility: Focus on Erasmus+ expansion, Union of Skills, recognition of qualifications.
Talent mobility: Balancing India’s workforce needs with the EU’s labour market.
Strategic timing: EU’s education appeal grows as U.S. under Trump curtails research openness.

Issues and Complications in India–EU Relations

Stalled Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in the past: Negotiations began in 2007 but stalled due to disagreements over tariff reductions, intellectual property rights, and services access. This history raises doubts about the 2025 deadline.
Agricultural sensitivities: India’s reluctance to open its farm sector clashes with EU’s push for market access and strict sanitary and phytosanitary standards.
Regulatory frictions: The EU’s strict data protection regime (GDPR), climate-linked trade measures like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and sustainability norms could penalise Indian exports.
Human rights and political conditionalities: The EU often raises concerns about human rights, labour laws, and democratic freedoms, which India perceives as interference in internal matters.
Slow EU decision-making: Unlike bilateral partnerships with the US or Russia, negotiations with the EU are often complicated by the need for consensus among 27 member states.
Strategic divergence: The EU still lacks a coherent Indo-Pacific strategy compared to the Quad or NATO, limiting its security role. India, on its part, prioritises strategic autonomy and may be hesitant to align too closely with Western blocs.

Way Forward

Conclude the FTA swiftly: India and the EU must avoid past deadlocks by ensuring flexibility on tariff and regulatory issues, especially in agriculture, services, and data protection.
Deepen strategic convergence: Institutionalise the proposed EU–India Security and Defence Partnership, enhancing naval cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and expanding counter-terrorism and cyber security frameworks.
Leverage connectivity initiatives: Ensure timely execution of flagship projects like IMEC and the Blue Raman digital corridor, aligning them with India’s own initiatives (MAHASAGAR, Sagarmala) to strengthen regional integration.
Balanced tech cooperation: Create safeguards for responsible AI, nuclear safety, and emerging tech to ensure mutual trust while tapping into EU’s regulatory strengths and India’s innovation ecosystem.
Migration and education synergy: Streamline recognition of Indian qualifications in Europe and negotiate mobility partnerships that align with India’s demographic advantage and EU’s labour market shortages.
Sustain political momentum: Regular high-level summits, parliamentary dialogues, and Track-II diplomacy should be pursued to prevent bureaucratic inertia from stalling this ambitious agenda.

Conclusion

The India–EU strategic agenda signals a qualitative shift in the partnership, moving beyond transactional trade ties to a multi-pillar strategic convergence. With ambitious timelines, such as concluding the FTA by 2025, and big-ticket projects like IMEC and nuclear fusion cooperation, both sides are investing political capital. For India, this means access to technology, markets, and security partnerships that complement ties with the U.S. and Indo-Pacific allies. For the EU, this provides an anchor in Asia’s fastest-growing economy and a reliable partner in turbulent global politics.

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2023] The expansion and strengthening of NATO and a stronger US-Europe strategic partnership works well in India.’ What is your opinion about this statement? Give reasons and examples to support your answer.

Linkage: The India–EU Strategic Agenda complements a stronger US–Europe partnership by giving India parallel, diversified strategic options in trade, technology, and security; together, they reinforce India’s strategic autonomy while balancing China’s rise. NATO’s strengthening secures Europe’s defence, freeing the EU to deepen economic and technological engagement with India, as seen in IMEC, AI cooperation, and FTA talks.

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J&K – The issues around the state

Listen to Ladakh

Explained | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Federalism

Introduction

Ladakh has historically been a symbol of loyalty, sacrifice, and national integration. From its soldiers’ valour in wars to its monasteries embodying peace, it has stood by India unfailingly. However, the grant of Union Territory status in 2019 has created unexpected discontent, with Ladakhis now demanding constitutional safeguards, ecological balance, and meaningful empowerment. Delhi’s response to Ladakh is not just a matter of regional governance but also of strategic national importance.

Why in News (Timeline of Demands)

August 2019: Ladakh granted Union Territory (UT) status after abrogation of Article 370. Initially welcomed in Leh but caused discontent in Kargil.
2020–21: Fears of demographic change, land alienation, and ecological damage surface; demand for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule grows.
2021: Formation of Leh Apex Body (Buddhist leaders) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (Muslim leaders). Despite historic rivalry, both groups unite demanding constitutional safeguards.
2022–23: Protests intensify for empowerment of Hill Councils, job reservation, and land protection.
2024–25: Discontent spills into the streets; Ladakh witnesses unprecedented Buddhist–Muslim solidarity. Calls grow louder for legislative assembly or statehood, beyond Sixth Schedule status.

Ladakh’s legacy of loyalty and sacrifice

Military contributions: From 1947 raids to the 1999 Kargil War, Ladakhis have consistently defended India’s frontiers. Heroes like Colonel Chewang Rinchen and Sonam Wangchuk embody this spirit.
Cultural resilience: Monasteries, mosques, and local traditions reflect Ladakh’s unique identity and trust in India’s unity.

Why discontent has emerged after 2019

Union Territory status: While celebrated initially, it stripped Ladakh of legislative empowerment, leaving governance centralised.
Fear of marginalisation: Locals worry about land, jobs, and ecology in the absence of Sixth Schedule protections.
Geostrategic location: Proximity to Chinese and Pakistani borders heightens the stakes of dissatisfaction.

Community unity and mobilization

Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance: For the first time, Buddhists and Muslims have forged a common platform.
Shared agenda: Demands include strengthened Hill Councils, greater representation, and protection of Ladakh’s unique ecological and cultural heritage.
Grassroots mobilization: Local movements are engaging with Delhi directly, seeking dialogue and recognition.

Delhi’s challenge and way forward

Triangular balance: Policies must reconcile development, ecology, and empowerment.
Prudent engagement: The Centre must avoid delay, ensure quiet consultations, and expand local representation.
Strategic necessity: Addressing Ladakh’s demands is vital to prevent alienation in a sensitive frontier region.

National and strategic significance

Security implications: Every decision has ripple effects across the Line of Actual Control and Pakistan frontiers.
Democratic ethos: Empowering Ladakh demonstrates India’s ability to blend federalism with strategic caution.
Symbolic importance: How Delhi treats Ladakh will echo in other sensitive regions seeking greater autonomy.

Conclusion

Ladakh’s loyalty to India has been unquestionable. Yet its current grievances demand sensitive handling. By combining development with ecological protection and democratic empowerment, Delhi can reaffirm Ladakh’s trust and secure this frontier for future generations. This is a test of India’s governance maturity and strategic foresight.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2022] While the national political parties in India favour centralisation, the regional parties are in favour of State autonomy. Comment

Linkage: Ladakh after its 2019 Union Territory status is a live case of the centralisation vs. autonomy debate. The Centre justified direct control citing security and integration, reflecting the national parties’ bias for centralisation. Yet, Ladakh’s Buddhist and Muslim groups now demand Sixth Schedule safeguards and stronger Hill Councils, echoing the regional push for autonomy to protect land, ecology, and culture. This tension captures the essence of the PYQ — the challenge of balancing national integration with regional aspirations in India’s federal system.

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Citizenship and Related Issues

Citizens, domicile, migrants: Why should we worry about Provincial Citizenship?

Explained | Indian Society | Mains Paper 1: Communalism, Secularism, Regionalism

Introduction

Indian citizenship was envisioned as singular and uniform, rising above provincial or ethnic divides. Yet, as Ranjan’s recent research (2025) and Sarkar’s reflections suggest, the rise of provincial citizenship has complicated this narrative. Rooted in nativist politics and tied to emotional belonging to one’s State, this phenomenon is altering the politics of domicile, migration, and rights. While the COVID-19 migrant crisis exposed vulnerabilities of inter-state labour, subsequent domicile policies and debates around NRC, SIR, and regional protectionism have re-opened constitutional fault lines. The issue compels us to revisit constitutional provisions, historical warnings, and contemporary challenges to Indian federalism.

Why in the News

The discussion on provincial citizenship has gained traction because it reflects a sharp break from the constitutional promise of uniform Indian citizenship. Jharkhand’s domicile politics, post-2000, demonstrates how regional grievances can weaponize ‘sons of the soil’ sentiment. J&K’s domicile rules post-2019 abrogation illustrate how domicile is used as a tool of inclusion and protection. Assam’s migration-linked exclusions add another layer of contestation. For the first time, an “unofficial citizenship” has become powerful enough to rival the official national framework, forcing judicial interventions and challenging the foundational principle of equality under Article 16(2). This is no longer a marginal issue but a structural problem, shaping electoral politics and democratic legitimacy.

What is meant by Provincial Citizenship?

Concept: Rooted in nativist politics, it emphasizes belonging to a State rather than to India as a whole.
Political use: Gains leverage in regional elections by mobilising ‘locals’ against ‘outsiders’.
Entanglement: Blurs lines between spatial identity, freedom of movement, and constitutional citizenship.

Issues with Provincial Citizenship

Exclusion & Discrimination: Creates second-class citizens among internal migrants, violating the spirit of Articles 15, 16(2), 19.
Fragmentation of National Unity: Undermines the principle of one nation, one citizenship, fostering parochialism and regionalism.
Economic Inefficiency: Restricts labour mobility, hurting industries and services in cities dependent on migrant workers.
Judicial Burden: Conflicts between migrants’ rights and domicile rules often end up in Supreme Court adjudication, showing gaps in political resolution.

Benefits of Provincial Citizenship

Local Identity & Belonging: Strengthens emotional connection of “sons of the soil” to their State.
Protection of Vulnerable Groups: In J&K, domicile rules safeguarded historically excluded groups like Valmikis, Gorkhas, and West Pakistan refugees.
Equitable Resource Allocation: Ensures locals are not overshadowed by migrants in jobs, education, and land rights.
Democratic Mobilisation: Acts as a rallying point in regional politics, giving voice to sub-national concerns.

How has Jharkhand become a case study?

Statehood in 2000: Did not end sub-nationalist demands but transformed them into domicile-based politics.
Domicile politics: Used to articulate majoritarian grievances against minority elites.
Departure: Unlike Sixth Schedule areas, it encompassed the entire State, challenging federal norms and Article 16(2).

What role does Jammu & Kashmir and Assam play?

J&K (Post-2019): Domicile introduced to safeguard minorities like Valmikis, Gorkhas, West Pakistan refugees after abrogation of Article 370.
Assam: NRC and SIR processes highlight anxieties around migration and exclusion.

How does this challenge the idea of One Citizenship?

Undermines Article 15, 16, 19: Domicile restrictions contradict equality and mobility rights.
Supreme Court interventions: Conflicts between migrants and provincial citizenship often need judicial resolution.
Multiple vocabularies: Terms like citizen-outsiders (Roy), differentiated citizenship (Jayal), paused citizens (Sharma), hyphenated nationality (Sarkar) capture fragmented realities.

Is this a new phenomenon or an old concern?

Historical context: Myron Weiner’s Sons of the Soil (1978) already flagged migration-linked conflicts.
SRC Report 1955: Explicitly warned that domicile rules undermine the concept of common Indian citizenship.
Newness: The idea has now moved from reports and theory to an active political reality.

Way Forward

Constitutional Balance: Uphold national citizenship guarantees while allowing limited affirmative safeguards for locals.
Labour Protections: Create a national migrant workers framework to ensure portability of rights and benefits.
Dialogue & Federal Coordination: Encourage Centre–State mechanisms to harmonise domicile policies with constitutional provisions.
Judicial & Policy Oversight: Courts to curb excesses, and Parliament may revisit domicile laws as warned by the States Reorganisation Commission (1955).
Promote Inclusion: Foster constitutional morality and fraternity so regional protections don’t become exclusionary.

Conclusion

The rise of provincial citizenship shows that the unity of Indian citizenship is being tested not by foreign threats but by internal contestations of belonging. Jharkhand’s domicile struggles, Assam’s NRC anxieties, and J&K’s experiments demonstrate that citizenship is increasingly layered, contested, and politicised. Unless reconciled, such provincial claims may fracture the inclusive national vision of Akhanda Bharat and weaken democratic federalism.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] Why do large cities tend to attract more migrants than smaller towns? Discuss in the light of conditions in developing countries.

Linkage: This article is best linked with the GS1 PYQ “Why do large cities tend to attract more migrants than smaller towns?” as it directly discusses internal migration, mobility vs sedentarism, and the allure of metropolises for rural workers despite precarity, highlighted starkly during COVID-19. It also adds depth by showing how migrants face exclusion through provincial citizenship and domicile politics, raising constitutional questions under Articles 15, 16(2), and 19 and reflecting federal tensions. For UPSC, it is relevant across GS1 (urbanisation, migration, regionalism), GS2 (citizenship, federalism, rights), GS3 (labour and economic vulnerabilities), and GS4 (constitutional morality vs exclusion), making it a rich theme that connects social realities with polity and governance debates.

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Differentiated Banks – Payment Banks, Small Finance Banks, etc.

Swipe, Tap, Spend: How UPI is a decisive step towards formalization of Indian Economy

Explained | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

Introduction

India’s journey towards a cash-lite economy has been marked by a staggering rise in UPI transactions, reflecting a decisive shift in household and business payment patterns. From groceries to loans, from investments to utility bills, UPI has emerged as the backbone of everyday economic life. This transformation is not merely technological but a structural change towards the formalisation of the economy, reducing cash-dependency while boosting transparency and traceability in transactions.

Why is UPI making news now?

Staggering growth: In April–June 2025, 34.9 billion person-to-merchant transactions occurred through UPI, worth ₹20.4 lakh crore, equal to 40% of private final consumption expenditure, up from 24% two years ago.
Shift from ATMs: Cash withdrawals, once dominant, have halved despite the economy doubling in size—falling from ₹2.6 lakh crore (2018) to ₹2.3 lakh crore (2025).
Wider impact: UPI is now used not only for routine consumption but also for debt repayments, investments, and financial services, signalling a major step in economic formalisation.

How has household spending been transformed?

Digital dominance: Household payments, earlier cash-heavy, are increasingly routed through UPI across income classes.
Food & beverages: In April–June 2025, households spent ₹3.4 lakh crore on food and beverages via UPI—17% of all UPI transactions and 21% of household expenditure.
Non-food items: Payments include utilities, medicines, petrol, taxi rides, and electronics, accounting for two-thirds of person-to-merchant transfers.

What about precautionary savings and cash usage?

Decline in cash holdings: Household currency holdings fell from 12.5% of gross savings (2020–21) to just 3.4% in 2023–24.
Changing behaviour: While cash remains important for land, gold, and election financing, its share in household savings has been on a consistent decline.

How is UPI impacting financial formalisation?

Formalisation of firms and workers: Increased traceable transactions complement reforms like GST registrations and EPFO contributions, enhancing formalisation.
Beyond consumption: UPI in July 2025 facilitated ₹93,857 crore debt repayments and ₹61,080 crore investments into securities—indicating a structural integration of households into formal financial markets.

What are the larger implications for the economy?

Scaling up formal economy: Digital payments extend across small, medium, and big-ticket transactions, shrinking the space for the informal sector.
Global context: Countries like Germany also have high cash usage despite digitisation—India’s transformation is striking in scale.
Policy question: With the public currency-to-GDP ratio falling from 12.9% (2022) to 10.9% (2025), the debate is whether India has reached an inflection point towards becoming a sustained cash-lite economy.

Conclusion

UPI’s ascendancy reflects not just a technological success but a social and economic restructuring of India. By shifting transactions from cash to traceable platforms, it has enhanced formalisation, reduced leakages, and encouraged financial inclusion. The challenge ahead lies in ensuring this transformation is sustainable while safeguarding against risks like digital divides, cybersecurity threats, and over-dependence on electronic infrastructure.

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2023] What is the status of digitalization in the Indian economy? Examine the problems faced in this regard and suggest improvements.

Linkage: This PYQ is important as UPSC often tests themes of digitalisation, financial inclusion, and formalisation of the economy under GS3. The article helps answer it by showing UPI’s role in reducing cash reliance and formalising payments, while also pointing to persisting challenges like cash use in land, gold, and elections.

Value Addition

Benefits of UPI

Digitalisation of the Economy:

1. UPI has made India the world’s largest real-time digital payments ecosystem (over 50% of global real-time transactions, as per the ACI Worldwide 2023 report).
2. Strengthens transparency, traceability, and reduces black money circulation.

Financial Inclusion:

1. UPI transactions span urban malls to rural kirana stores, enabling low-cost access for the unbanked.
2. Integration with Aadhaar, Jan Dhan, and mobile numbers creates a seamless financial ecosystem.

Globalisation × Formal & Informal Economy:

1. Shifts large segments from cash-heavy informal sector to traceable, formal payments.
2. Helps MSMEs and street vendors gain access to credit as digital history substitutes collateral.

Economic Growth and Development:

1. Boosts consumption visibility, enabling better policy targeting.
2. Encourages formal lending and investments—e.g., ₹93,857 crore in debt repayments via UPI (article data).

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Right To Privacy

How are courts protecting personality rights?

Explained | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

Introduction

Personality rights, the right to control one’s name, image, likeness, and voice, have become a critical issue in India’s courts. With AI enabling deepfakes, voice cloning, and digital impersonation, Bollywood celebrities like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff have approached courts to restrain unauthorised commercial exploitation of their persona. While these judicial interventions protect individual dignity and brand equity, they also raise complex questions about the balance between Article 21 (privacy and autonomy) and Article 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech and expression).

Why is this in the news?

The Delhi High Court recently issued orders protecting Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan from AI-generated misuse of their images and voices. This is significant because:

Novel threat: It highlights how AI deepfakes and voice cloning are creating unprecedented risks for identity and privacy.
Judicial trend: Courts are extending personality rights protections to celebrities such as Karan Johar, Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, and Arijit Singh.
Big problem: Without regulation, AI-driven impersonation undermines trust, dilutes brand equity, and strips individuals of control over their identity.
Turning point: Courts are now explicitly linking personality rights to Article 21 of the Constitution, signalling a constitutional recognition of digital dignity.

How are personality rights defined in India?

Safeguards: Personality rights protect name, likeness, image, voice, signature, and other unique traits.
Legal foundation: Rooted in common law doctrines of privacy, publicity, and defamation, supported by judicial precedents.

Statutory framework:

Copyright Act, 1957: Sections 38A & 38B grant performers exclusive and moral rights over their performances.
Trade Marks Act, 1999: Allows registration of names/signatures as trademarks (e.g., Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra).
Tort of Passing Off: Prevents misrepresentation of a celebrity’s persona as endorsement.

How have courts shaped personality rights?

R. Rajagopal v. State of Tamil Nadu (1994): Supreme Court recognised the right to control one’s identity, grounding it in privacy under Article 21.
Rajinikanth case (2015): Madras HC restrained unauthorised use of the actor’s persona in a film.
Anil Kapoor case (2023): Delhi HC granted wide-ranging protection, clarifying that free speech covers parody/satire but not commercial misuse.
Jackie Shroff case (2024): Court restrained misuse of his persona on e-commerce and AI platforms.
Arijit Singh case (2024): Bombay HC recognised risks of voice cloning through AI.

Do personality rights restrict free expression?

Free speech scope: Article 19(1)(a) allows criticism, parody, satire, and lampooning of public figures.

Judicial caution:

DM Entertainment v. Baby Gift House (2010): Caricatures and parodies do not usually infringe publicity rights.
Digital Collectibles v. Galactus Funware (2023): Material already in the public domain may be used without implying endorsement.
Balancing test: Courts strike a balance between creative freedom and protection of dignity/brand equity.

Why is regulation urgently needed?

Fragmented protections: Enforcement is currently piecemeal, relying on case law.
Digital threats: Generative AI expands risks of impersonation and deepfakes.
Disproportionate impact: Ordinary citizens, especially women targeted through revenge porn, face greater harm.
Policy need: Experts call for a comprehensive legislative framework to clearly define exceptions and ensure free speech is not chilled.

Conclusion

The judiciary is laying down crucial guardrails for personality rights in the digital age, particularly against AI-driven impersonation. However, without a clear legislative framework, judicial interventions remain reactive. The challenge lies in balancing dignity and privacy with freedom of speech, ensuring that protections do not turn into censorship while still safeguarding individuals, from Bollywood celebrities to ordinary citizens, against misuse of their identity.

[UPSC 2024] Right to privacy is intrinsic to life and personal liberty and is inherently protected under Article 21 of the constitution. Explain. In this reference discuss the law relating to D.N.A. testing of child in the womb to establish its paternity.

Linkage: The PYQ on Right to Privacy under Article 21 examines autonomy over personal identity, like in DNA testing. This article is relevant as it shows courts extending privacy into personality rights against AI misuse, with case laws and statutes providing examples to balance privacy and free speech in UPSC answers.

Value Addition

Global Context & Reports

WIPO Intellectual Property Report (2022): Notes rapid rise of personality/IP litigation due to digital commerce.
UNESCO Report on AI & Ethics (2021): Warns against deepfakes undermining democratic discourse and human dignity.
US “Right of Publicity” Laws: Celebrities can sue for unauthorised commercial use of their persona, providing comparative perspective.
EU GDPR (2018): Protects personal data, extending indirectly to digital identity misuse.

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The Left we need: The Legacy of Indian Socialism

Explained | History | Mains Paper 1: Post-Independence

Introduction

Once a vibrant stream of India’s political life, socialism today survives only on the margins, overshadowed by dominant political narratives. The Samajwadi Ekjutata Sammelan attempted to revive this forgotten legacy by recalling socialist icons, showcasing their contributions, and highlighting the ideological resources they left behind. Unlike European social democracy or Marxism, Indian socialism, particularly articulated by Ram Manohar Lohia, offered a distinct doctrine—integrating caste, gender, and cultural politics with economic equality and Gandhian satyagraha. At a time when the world grapples with inequality, climate change, and rising authoritarianism, revisiting Indian socialism is not just about remembering the past, but about reclaiming tools for the future.

Why in the News?

The 90th anniversary of the socialist movement was commemorated through a large convention in Pune, bringing together activists, veterans of the Emergency resistance, and younger voices. This event is significant because it highlights the amnesia and disjunction surrounding socialism in India today, where even icons like JP, Usha Mehta, and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay are remembered for roles outside the socialist tradition. The Sammelan underscored a major problem: the ideological vacuum created by the neglect of Indian socialism, just when its core ideas, on inequality, sustainable development, cultural politics, and resistance to authoritarianism, are urgently needed. The striking aspect is not just nostalgia, but the contrast between socialism’s past centrality and its near invisibility in today’s discourse.

The Legacy of Indian Socialism

Founding of Congress Socialist Party (1934): Socialist stream within Congress connected political freedom with social and economic equality.
Quit India Movement: JP, Lohia, Usha Mehta and others led underground resistance, marking socialism’s high point in the freedom struggle.
Post-Independence Role: Departure from Congress to form an independent opposition, mobilising backward castes and the poor, especially in the Hindi belt.
Emergency Resistance: Socialist leaders like Rajkumar Jain, Vijay Pratap, and Anand Kumar stood against authoritarianism, spending months in jail.

Why is Socialism Fading from Public Memory?

Amnesia: Young people today conflate socialists with communists or Maoists, erasing the distinctiveness of the socialist tradition.
Disjunction in Memory: JP Narayan is remembered as Gandhian, Kamaladevi for handicrafts, Usha Mehta as freedom fighter—none as socialists.
Neglect of Ideas: Unlike communists, socialists lacked a robust academic subculture and access to English-speaking opinion-makers.
Absence of Popular Recall: Figures like Yusuf Meherally, Achyut Patwardhan, Madhu Limaye, and S.M. Joshi remain unknown to today’s youth.

Distinctive Ideas of Indian Socialism

Expanded Equality: Beyond economics, it included caste, gender, race, nationality, relevant to debates on women’s reservation, caste census, and subquotas.
Alternative Development Model: Critiqued technocratic-industrial path; emphasised sustainable well-being, now crucial amid climate change.
Satyagraha as Politics: Advocated Gandhian non-violent resistance as an alternative to violence or electoralism.
Cultural Politics: Rooted in Indian languages and traditions, countering hegemonic cultural nationalism with inclusive symbols.

Why Does Indian Socialism Matter Today?

Counter to Inequality: Rising global inequality makes Lohia’s expanded framework urgent.
Democratic Deepening: Socialists played key role in mobilisation of backward castes and poor, essential for inclusive democracy.
Resistance to Authoritarianism: With a consistent history of fighting Emergency and excesses, socialism offers principled tools to resist authoritarian regimes.
Global Relevance: By abjuring Eurocentric roots, Indian socialism contributed a new doctrine to world thought.

Conclusion

The decline of Indian socialism is not just the fading of a political ideology but the loss of a moral and intellectual compass that once challenged inequality and authoritarianism. The Sammelan in Pune reminded us that socialism is more than an electoral project; it is a resource for reimagining democracy and justice in the 21st century. Whether or not the label survives, its ideas remain indispensable. The real challenge lies in recalling, renewing, and repurposing socialism to confront contemporary crises.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2020] Since the decade of the 1920s, the national movement acquired various ideological strands and thereby expanded its social base. Discuss.

Linkage: Since the 1920s, the national movement diversified ideologically with strands like socialism, which linked political freedom with social and economic equality. Socialists such as JP and Lohia expanded the movement’s base by mobilising peasants, backward castes, women, and workers, while also shaping resistance during Quit India and the Emergency. This ideological pluralism deepened democracy and widened the social foundations of Indian politics.

Value Addition

History of Socialism in Pre-Independent India

Early Currents (1920s–1930s)

Global Influence: The Russian Revolution (1917) electrified Indian youth. Marxist ideas about class struggle and collective ownership inspired a generation disillusioned with colonial exploitation.
Indian Context: The non-cooperation movement (1920–22) radicalised many students and workers. Young leaders like S.A. Dange, M.N. Roy, Nalini Gupta, Muzaffar Ahmad started bringing socialist ideas into India.
Labour & Peasant Movements: The formation of AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress, 1920) and Kisan Sabhas gave socialism a practical ground.

Formation of the Congress Socialist Party (1934)

Background: Many young nationalists within the Congress felt that Congress under Gandhi was too focused on political freedom without a social revolution.
Founding: The Congress Socialist Party (CSP) was founded in Patna, 1934 by Jayaprakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Deva, Ram Manohar Lohia, Yusuf Meherally, and others.

Objectives:

Radicalise the Congress by linking freedom with social & economic equality.
Advocate land reforms, redistribution of wealth, end of caste discrimination.
Maintain distance from the Communists but work inside the Congress unlike them.

Impact: CSP became the ideological left-wing of the Congress, drawing in students, workers, peasants, and socially progressive leaders.

Role in the Quit India Movement (1942)

Context: With the launch of Quit India (August 1942), much of the mainstream Congress leadership was arrested.

Socialist Contribution:

Socialists like JP, Lohia, Usha Mehta, Aruna Asaf Ali kept the movement alive underground.
Usha Mehta ran the Secret Congress Radio, broadcasting messages against British rule.
JP and Lohia organised clandestine networks, strikes, and sabotage against colonial infrastructure.

Significance: This gave socialism a heroic image of sacrifice and resistance, showing it could sustain the national struggle when the mainstream was paralysed.

Peasant & Worker Mobilisation

Kisan Sabhas: Led by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati in Bihar and N.G. Ranga in Andhra, peasants were mobilised against landlordism, high rents, and colonial agrarian policies.
Labour Strikes: Socialist leaders engaged with trade unions and AITUC, mobilising railway workers, mill workers, and dockyard labourers.
Linkage with Socialism: These movements translated the abstract ideals of socialism into mass struggles, rooting the ideology in agrarian and working-class realities.

Other Key Developments

Students’ Movement: Socialist ideas found strong resonance in the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and later the Socialist Youth movements.
Princely States Movements: Socialists often took leadership in agitations in princely states (like Travancore, Hyderabad), linking freedom with social justice.
Intellectual Contribution: Leaders like Acharya Narendra Deva (theorist), JP (activist organiser), Lohia (thinker & mass mobiliser) gave socialism in India both intellectual depth and activist energy.

Summary

By the 1940s, socialism in India was not merely an imported ideology—it had become a home-grown political stream, deeply connected to the freedom struggle. Its distinctiveness lay in:
Rooting Marxist equality in Indian realities of caste, agrarian hierarchy, and colonial exploitation.
Combining Gandhian satyagraha with socialist radicalism.
Mobilising peasants, workers, students, women, and backward castes, thereby expanding the social base of the national movement.

Socialist Principles in the Indian Constitution

Explicit Reference:

Preamble (42nd Amendment, 1976): India declared to be a “Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic.”

Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP):

Article 38: Promote welfare of people through a just social order.
Article 39: Equitable distribution of resources, prevention of wealth concentration, protection of workers’ rights.
Article 41: Right to work, education, and public assistance.
Article 43: Living wage, decent working conditions, and participation of workers in management.
Article 47: Duty of state to improve public health, nutrition, and prohibition of intoxicants.

Comparative Analysis: Indian vs. Western Socialism

Aspect	Western Socialism	Indian Socialism
Origins	Industrial Revolution (Europe, 19th c.), Marxist critique of capitalism.	Freedom struggle (20th c.), influenced by Gandhi + Lohia + JP + Marxism.
Focus	Class-based equality (workers vs capitalists).	Multi-dimensional equality (caste, class, gender, nationality).
Method	Revolution (Marxist), or reform (social democracy).	Democratic, non-violent satyagraha + electoral politics.
State Role	Welfare state ensuring redistribution, public ownership of key industries.	Mixed economy with state-led planning (Nehruvian model) + constitutional guarantees.
Culture & Identity	Largely secular, materialistic basis.	Rooted in Indian culture, language, symbols (Lohia’s “cultural politics”).
Developmental Model	Industrialisation as progress.	Critique of technocratic-industrial model, stress on sustainability & decentralisation.

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Mother and Child Health – Immunization Program, BPBB, PMJSY, PMMSY, etc.

Lessons from India’s Vaccination Drive

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

Introduction

Vaccination is among the most effective and cost-efficient public health measures, credited with saving millions of lives globally. India, with its Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), runs the world’s largest vaccination campaign annually, covering over 2.6 crore infants and 2.9 crore pregnant women. From eliminating polio and maternal/neonatal tetanus to spearheading COVID-19 vaccine development, India has emerged as a global leader in immunisation. Yet, challenges remain in ensuring last-mile delivery, tackling vaccine hesitancy, and integrating disease surveillance with vaccination systems.

Expanding Reach through Mission Indradhanush

Mission Indradhanush (MI): Launched in 2014 to achieve 90% full immunisation coverage, up from 62% in 2014 (NFHS-4).
Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI): Began in 2017, targeting low-coverage and missed populations.
Impact: By 2023, 12 phases of MI/IMI had vaccinated 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women.
Integration: Linked with Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and Extended Gram Swaraj Abhiyan for greater outreach.

What Has India Achieved through UIP?

Decline in Mortality: Under-5 mortality dropped from 45 to 31 per 1,000 live births (2014–2021, SRS 2021).
Expanded Vaccination Basket: 6 new vaccines added in the last decade (e.g., Rotavirus, Pneumococcal Conjugate, Measles-Rubella).

Disease Elimination Milestones:

Polio-free since 2011.
Maternal and neonatal tetanus eliminated in 2015.
Yaws eradicated in 2016.
Recognition: Measles and Rubella Champion Award (2024).

What Challenges Continue to Plague India’s Vaccination Efforts?

Remote Populations: Hard-to-reach and migratory groups remain under-covered.
Vaccine Hesitancy: Clusters with low awareness and misinformation hinder uptake.
Pandemic Disruption: COVID-19 disrupted routine services, leading to measles outbreaks (2022–2024).
Immunity Gaps: Outbreaks showed clustering of unimmunised children.

How Has Technology Transformed Vaccine Delivery?

Digital Platforms:

U-WIN: End-to-end vaccination record tracking, modeled on Co-WIN.
eVIN & Cold Chain MIS: Real-time vaccine stock and logistics monitoring.
SAFE-VAC: Vaccine safety reporting.

Pandemic Success:

COVID-19 vaccination began Jan 16, 2021.
By Jan 2023: 220 crore doses, 97% with one dose, 90% with both.
Equity & Outreach: Enabled “anytime-anywhere” access for migratory groups.

What Lessons Has India Shared with the World?

Vaccine Maitri: Supported low- and middle-income countries, reflecting Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
Domestic Manufacturing: Self-reliance through Make in India strategy.
Global Leadership: World’s largest vaccine manufacturing hub, shaping global vaccine futures.

Conclusion

India’s vaccination drive demonstrates the transformative power of political will, technological innovation, and community participation. While achievements like polio eradication, COVID-19 vaccine success, and award-winning Measles-Rubella campaigns inspire global emulation, challenges of equity, hesitancy, and surveillance integration demand continued attention. The future lies in adopting a One-Health approach and strengthening linkages between disease surveillance and immunisation to ensure pandemic preparedness and universal vaccine coverage.

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2022] What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work? What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines?

Linkage: This question is important for UPSC as it tests both the scientific principle of vaccine development and India’s capacity to innovate during crises like COVID-19. The article links by showing how vaccines, once developed, were scaled through UIP, Mission Indradhanush, and digital tools like U-WIN, reflecting the bridge between science and governance. It also highlights India’s global role via Vaccine Maitri and WHO recognition, making it a holistic case study for GS 3: Science & Technology and Public Health.

Value Addition

Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)

Definition: World’s largest immunisation programme, launched in 1985, providing free vaccines against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases.
Coverage: Annually vaccinates 2.6 crore infants and 2.9 crore pregnant women.
Relevance: Illustrates inclusive public health coverage, state capacity, and preventive healthcare.

Mission Indradhanush (MI) / Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)

MI (2014): Launched to increase full immunisation coverage from 62% (NFHS-4, 2015–16) to 90%.
IMI (2017): Focused on low-coverage areas and “left-out” children/women.
Outcome: By 2023, 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women vaccinated under 12 phases.
Relevance: Example of targeted governance and convergence with Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.

Zero-dose Outreach

Definition: Identifying and reaching children who have received no vaccines at all (first contact point for immunisation).
Importance: Critical for equity in healthcare since such children often belong to marginalised, remote, or migratory populations.
Relevance: Reflects SDG-3 (Good Health and Well-being) and commitment to leaving no one behind.

U-WIN / eVIN / SAFE-VAC

U-WIN: Successor to Co-WIN, a digital platform for real-time tracking of vaccination for pregnant women and children up to 16 years; enables portability for migrants.
eVIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network): Ensures real-time monitoring of vaccine stocks.
SAFE-VAC: Module for adverse events reporting and ensuring vaccine safety.
Relevance: Showcases digital governance in health → transparent, accountable, efficient delivery.

One-Health Approach

Concept: Integrates surveillance of human, animal, and environmental health systems.
Need: 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic (e.g., COVID-19).
Application: Strengthens pandemic preparedness and ties immunisation with wider health surveillance.
Relevance: A forward-looking framework for epidemic resilience and sustainable public health.

Vaccine Maitri

Definition: India’s global vaccine diplomacy initiative during COVID-19, supplying vaccines to 100+ countries.
Impact: Cemented India’s role as “Pharmacy of the World”; strengthened ties with developing countries.
Relevance: Example of health diplomacy, South-South cooperation, and global public good.

Reports & Data

NFHS-4 (2015–16)

Report Name: National Family Health Survey – Round 4.
Finding: India’s full immunisation coverage was 62% in 2014.
Significance: Provided the baseline for Mission Indradhanush.
Relevance: Evidence-based policymaking; highlights gaps in equity and access.

Sample Registration System (SRS) 2021

Significance: Clear evidence of immunisation’s role in improving child survival.
Relevance: Shows how preventive healthcare directly impacts SDG-3 (Health & Well-being).

Measles-Rubella (MR) Campaign (2017–19)

Coverage: 34.8 crore children aged 9 months–15 years vaccinated.
Significance: Largest catch-up campaign globally.
Relevance: Example of mass public mobilisation and vaccine diplomacy readiness.

Key Concepts:

Zero-dose Outreach

Definition: Identifying and immunising children who have not received a single vaccine.
Importance: They represent the most vulnerable clusters (remote, migratory, socio-economically deprived).
UPSC Link: Equity in health, SDG-3, “Leaving no one behind”.

One-Health Lens

Definition: Integrated surveillance of human, animal, and environmental health.
Why: 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic (e.g., COVID-19, Nipah).
Application: Prevents epidemics by connecting immunisation with disease surveillance across ecosystems.
UPSC Link: Pandemic preparedness, sustainable health governance.

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Foreign Policy Watch: India-United States

With US withdrawing from multilateralism, India has both risks and opportunities

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

Introduction

The United Nations (UN) was envisioned in 1945 as the cornerstone of a rules-based global order. Yet, 80 years later, it faces one of its gravest challenges. US President Donald Trump’s second term has unleashed a sweeping retreat from multilateralism, leaving the UN structurally weakened and financially strained. His push for sovereignty-driven unilateralism, withdrawal from critical agreements and institutions, and deep funding cuts have left a vacuum increasingly filled by China. For India, this turbulence is both a threat and an opportunity to shape a new multilateralism.

Trump’s Shift from Multilateralism to Unilateralism

America First Doctrine: Trump has framed sovereignty as the fundamental principle of international relations, rejecting supra-nationalism.
UN Critique: He claims to have done “a better job than the UN Security Council” in maintaining peace, boasting of “ending seven wars” within eight months of his second term.
First-term precedent: Withdrawals from the Paris Agreement, UNESCO, Human Rights Council, Iran Nuclear Deal signalled this trend.
Second-term escalation: Guided by Project 2025 (Heritage Foundation manifesto), Trump has cut >80% of US contributions to UN operations, including peacekeeping and global health.

How is the UN Being Undermined?

Massive Funding Cuts: US contributions slashed from 22% to a fraction, crippling UN’s financial base.
Institutional Withdrawals: Exit from WHO, UNESCO, Human Rights Council and halting support for the Paris Agreement & Climate Loss and Damage Fund.
Policy Rejection: No support for sustainable development or climate mitigation under Trump’s agenda.
Domestic Politics Spillover: Appeals to his populist base that frames liberals as “war party” and paints the UN as an obstruction.

China’s Expanding Role in Global Governance

Strategic Positioning: Beijing systematically places its nationals in influential leadership, technical, and administrative posts.
New Initiatives: Promotes “Global Development, Global Security, Global Civilisation, Global Governance” — aligned with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Funding Power: Contributes around $680 million (~20% of UN budget), second only to the US.
Outcome: While not yet supplanting US dominance, Chinese activism is making Beijing an indispensable player.

Decline of Multilateralism: A Structural Problem

Historical High Point: Around 2000 with WTO launch & Millennium Development Goals.
Erosion Factors: Populist nationalism, US-China rivalry, US-Russia vetoes paralyzing UNSC, and transatlantic divisions.
Current Paralysis: Even humanitarian crises are stalled by veto politics.
Reform Blockage: Calls for UNSC expansion remain frozen, while agencies face financial crisis and inefficiencies.

India’s Opportunities and Responsibilities

Financial Contribution Gap: India contributes $38 million (<1%), far below its stature as the world’s 4th largest economy.
Comparative Figures: US: $820 million (22%), China: $680 million (20%).
Strategic Priorities: Instead of old demands (like UNSC expansion), India should focus on:
1. AI governance
2. North-South coalitions
3. UN reforms for efficiency
Moral Leadership: As a long-standing Global South champion, India must pay more and lead more to shape new rules.

Conclusion

The UN at 80 stands fragile, buffeted by American retreat and Chinese ambition. Trump’s second-term disruption has turned long-standing weaknesses into systemic crises. Yet, neither the US nor China enjoys universal legitimacy. For India, the moment is decisive: it can no longer lament but must shoulder the responsibility of building a multilateralism that works in an age of rivalry and rapid change.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2019] Too little cash, too much politics, leaves UNESCO fighting for life. Discuss the statement in the light of US’ withdrawal and its accusation of the cultural body as being ‘anti-Israel bias’.

Linkage: It highlights how US funding withdrawal and political accusations cripple UN agencies like UNESCO, leaving them under-resourced and delegitimised. Similarly, Trump’s second-term cuts — over 80% reduction in US contributions and exits from WHO, UNESCO, HRC — show how financial muscle and politics erode multilateral institutions.

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LGBT Rights – Transgender Bill, Sec. 377, etc.

Trans People deserve better

Explained | Social Justice | Mains Paper 2: Laws, Institutions & Bodies Constituted For The Vulnerable Sections

Introduction

The struggles of India’s transgender community highlight the deep chasm between constitutional guarantees of equality and the lived reality of marginalisation. Despite progressive measures such as the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, welfare schemes, and quotas in education and employment, access to these rights often remains obstructed by bureaucracy, social prejudice, and tokenism. The issue is not confined to a minority group alone; it reflects a larger national loss of talent, creativity, and human capital. Denial of dignity and opportunities to gender minorities undermines India’s democratic fabric, making it imperative that policies move beyond symbolic gestures towards genuine representation, enforceable protections, and inclusive development. This article is a stark reminder that policy is not paperwork, but life itself.

Legal & Policy Framework for Transgender Rights in India:

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019

Comprehensive protections – The Act prohibits discrimination against transgender persons in education, employment, healthcare, housing, and access to public services.
Legal recognition – It affirms the right of individuals to be recognised as transgender and ensures access to identity documents in accordance with their self-perceived gender.
Obligations on institutions – Schools, workplaces, and healthcare institutions are legally bound to create safe, inclusive environments, though implementation remains weak.
Critical limitation – While progressive, the Act has faced criticism for requiring medical boards’ involvement in recognising gender, which many activists argue undermines the principle of self-identification upheld in NALSA v. Union of India (2014).

NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index

Measuring inclusivity – The Index tracks progress towards Sustainable Development Goals, with transgender inclusion mapped to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
Policy relevance – States are ranked on inclusivity measures, encouraging competitive federalism to adopt progressive policies.
Limitations – Despite formal inclusion in metrics, ground-level impact remains limited, with most States lagging in transgender-specific initiatives.

National Portal for Transgender Persons (2020)

Ease of certification – A digital platform was launched to streamline self-identification and certification of transgender persons without cumbersome physical verification.
Access to welfare schemes – The portal links beneficiaries to scholarships, healthcare support, and livelihood initiatives.
Barrier reduction – Aimed to reduce harassment and delays in government offices, but digital literacy and awareness remain challenges.

Government Schemes and Initiatives:

SMILE Scheme (2022)

Full form: Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise.
Livelihood support – Offers vocational training, financial assistance, and rehabilitation to transgender persons and others in vulnerable conditions (e.g., beggars).
Holistic rehabilitation – Focus on dignity through sustainable income opportunities, not just short-term aid.

Garima Greh (Shelter Homes for Transgender Persons)

Safe housing – Provides temporary shelter to transgender persons in need, particularly those facing family rejection or homelessness.
Rehabilitation support – Along with accommodation, offers skill-building, counselling, and reintegration programmes.
Geographical spread – Shelters are being established in multiple States, though demand far outstrips supply.

National Transgender Welfare Board

Advisory role – Created to guide and monitor welfare schemes, policies, and rights protection for transgender persons.
Policy advocacy – Acts as a bridge between community needs and government initiatives.
Challenge – Effectiveness has been questioned due to limited representation from grassroots transgender voices.

Why do policies remain hollow for transgender persons?

Hollow quotas – Promises on paper, but weak implementation and bureaucratic humiliation in accessing them.
Selective dispersal – Corruption and leakages mean benefits rarely reach genuine beneficiaries.
Urban-rural gap – Schemes concentrated in cities, leaving rural transgender communities excluded.
Insensitive officials – Lack of sensitisation among staff, police, and service providers reinforces stigma.
Economic marginalisation – Limited job opportunities push many into begging or unsafe livelihoods.
Weak accountability – No penalties for institutions failing to ensure inclusivity.
Data deficit – Census undercounts transgender population, weakening policy design.
Fragmented ecosystem – Welfare spread across ministries with poor coordination and monitoring.

Why is access to basic needs still a challenge?

Considerable Population– Over 4.87 lakh individuals identified as transgender, under the ‘Other’ gender category as per the 2011 census.
Housing discrimination – Landlords refuse to rent, neighbours ostracise, and societies erect silent barricades, denying stability.
Public ridicule – Buses, markets, and streets are unsafe; everyday survival requires courage against humiliation.
Hunger and survival – With families abandoning them, many trans persons face destitution, leaving them vulnerable to unsafe livelihoods.

How does exclusion repeat historical injustices?

Historical parallels – Denial of rights to African-Americans and women earlier hollowed democracies; similarly, denying rights to trans persons repeats history’s mistakes.
Loss of talent – Every trans child forced out of school means a lost scientist; every denied home displaces an artist; every humiliation silences a leader.

Why is representation in politics critical?

Beyond symbolism – Representation is structural, not tokenistic. Without trans voices in legislatures, policies reproduce privilege and blind spots.
Absence in institutions – No trans person has been appointed to media boards despite censor boards clearing derogatory content against them.

What are the urgent priorities for reform?

Education – Scholarships, inclusive curricula, and anti-bullying measures are essential to prevent dropouts.
Healthcare – Affordable, state-supported gender transition and mental health care; transition is survival, not cosmetic.
Employment & housing – Anti-discrimination laws must be enforced with penalties, ensuring workplace inclusion and rental protections.

Way Forward

Enforceable protections – Move from symbolic promises to penalties for violations in housing, jobs, and education.
Political representation – Reserved seats or political pathways must ensure gender minorities are participants in policymaking.
Educational reform – Gender-sensitive curricula and anti-bullying frameworks to prevent dropouts.
Cultural shift – Mainstream media, schools, and workplaces must promote respect and positive representation, not ridicule.
Holistic inclusion – From healthcare to public spaces, dignity must be guaranteed as a right, not charity.

Conclusion

The resilience of transgender persons cannot substitute for rights. A nation that sidelines its gender minorities sidelines its own conscience and potential. Policy must no longer be about trans persons but must be shaped with them. The denial of dignity is not a transgender issue—it is a national issue of justice, equality, and democratic maturity. India’s claim to global leadership will remain hollow until all its citizens, regardless of gender identity, can live with dignity.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2019] Development and welfare schemes for the vulnerable, by its nature, are discriminatory in approach.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.

Linkage: This article’s critique of hollow quotas and tokenistic welfare for transgender persons directly links to the PYQ by showing how schemes meant for the vulnerable, instead of empowering, often reinforce exclusion and discrimination.

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Introduction

Why in the News

The Economic Momentum of India’s Clean Energy Transition

Where Lies the Climate Finance Gap?

How Can India Unlock Climate Finance?

Policy Innovations and Carbon Market Potential

Private Sector and Sovereign Initiatives in Climate Finance

Conclusion

PYQ Relevance

Introduction

Why is this in the news?

What led to the decline of the Maoist movement?

Has this happened before? Understanding the cyclical pattern

Is the movement really over?

What lessons does this offer for internal security and governance?

Conclusion

PYQ Relevance

Introduction

Why is e-waste in the news?

The Escalating Burden of E-Waste

Why informal recycling is a ticking time bomb

How does e-waste impact human health?

Policy response: Progress and gaps

The Way Forward

Conclusion

PYQ Relevance

Introduction

Why is this in the news?

What makes the Indian-American diaspora so influential?

Why is the diaspora silent on anti-India measures?

What are the consequences of this silence?

What should be the role of the diaspora?

Conclusion

PYQ Relevance

Value Addition

Size and Spread

Economic Role

Diplomatic and Strategic Role

Cultural and Soft Power Influence

Challenges and Criticism

Initiatives by India

Comparative Diaspora Roles in Other Countries

Introduction

Why is this transformation in the news?

The Gujarat Model of Change

Scaling Success Nationwide: Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao

Impact:

The Ripple and Multiplier Effects of Educated Girls

Challenges Ahead

Conclusion

PYQ Relevance

Introduction

Why is female labour force participation in the news?

What explains the rise in female participation?

Are women moving to better jobs?

What about earnings and job quality?

Why does this matter for India’s economy and gender equality?

Conclusion

PYQ Relevance

Introduction

Why is this in the news?

How has Pakistan’s role in terrorism been established?

Why is Pakistan’s UN role a paradox?

What loopholes in the UN system does this expose?

How does this affect India’s security and diplomacy?

What counter-measures can India adopt?

Conclusion

UPSC Relevance

Introduction

The Feminisation of Agriculture: Numbers Behind the Shift

Why Women’s Work in Agriculture Remains Invisible

Global Trade Trends as an Opportunity

Technology as a Game-Changer

Structural Reforms Needed

Conclusion

PYQ Relevance

Introduction

Why is Food Loss in the News?

The Economic Burden of Food Loss

The Climate Connection