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Forest Conservation Efforts – NFP, Western Ghats, etc.

[5th November 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: India’s forests hold the future

op-ed snap | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] Environmental pollution is a major environmental issue in India. Discuss the various mitigation measures to deal with this problem and also the government’s initiatives in this regard.

Linkage: Even though no direct linking PYQ is found. But here forest restoration and carbon sink creation are key mitigation measures in controlling pollution and ensuring ecosystem resilience.

Mentor’s Comment

India’s revised Green India Mission (GIM) signals a decisive shift in the nation’s ecological vision from expanding forest area to restoring ecosystem resilience. The article examines the ambitious plan to restore 25 million hectares by 2030, challenges in afforestation design, and how India can convert green cover into genuine carbon and community assets.

Introduction

India stands at the crossroads of economic growth and ecological sustainability. The recent revision of the Green India Mission (GIM) underscores the goal of restoring 25 million hectares of degraded forest and non-forest land by 2030, directly linked to India’s climate pledge of creating a carbon sink of 3.39 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. The central question now is not just how much land India restores, but how well it does so.

Why in the News

The release of the revised Green India Mission blueprint (2025) marks a crucial development in India’s environmental policy. For the first time, the emphasis shifts from mere tree planting to ecological restoration and community participation. With India’s forests showing a 12% decline in photosynthetic efficiency (IIT Kharagpur-BITS Pilani, 2025), the focus on quality over quantity becomes imperative. The GIM’s success or failure will significantly impact India’s climate commitments and rural livelihoods dependent on forests.

Afforestation in India: From Quantity to Quality

  1. New Scientific Evidence: A 2025 IIT Kharagpur study found a 12% decline in photosynthetic efficiency of dense forests due to rising temperatures and soil drying.
  2. Beyond Canopy Cover: The discovery challenges the old assumption that “more trees mean more carbon sinks” and instead emphasizes ecological resilience.
  3. Shift in Mission Focus: Between 2015-2021, ₹575 crore was disbursed for afforestation; forest and tree cover rose from 21.16% to 25.17% by 2023 yet qualitative degradation persists.

What Are the Core Gaps in India’s Afforestation Strategy?

  1. Community Participation: Despite the Forest Rights Act (2006) empowering local communities, many plantation drives bypass their consent, eroding trust and legitimacy.
  2. Ecological Design: Monoculture plantations of eucalyptus and acacia reduce biodiversity, leaving forests vulnerable to drought and pests.
  3. Financing and Implementation: The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) holds ₹95,000 crore, but fund utilization remains inconsistent. Delhi, for instance, used only 23% of funds between 2019-2024.

What Are the Emerging Success Stories?

  1. Odisha: Joint Forest Management Committees are now part of revenue-sharing and planning processes.
  2. Chhattisgarh: Forest departments are experimenting with biodiversity-sensitive plantations and promoting village carbon markets.
  3. Himachal Pradesh: Launched biochar programmes to reduce fire risk and generate carbon credits.
  4. Tamil Nadu: Nearly doubled mangrove cover in three years, advancing coastal carbon storage.

How Can India Finance and Implement Effective Restoration?

  1. Utilizing CAMPA Funds: Efficient allocation and transparent dashboards can ensure accountability.
  2. Innovative Tools: Integration of carbon markets, adaptive management, and public dashboards can align national and state-level efforts.
  3. Technical Training: Expanding institutes like IIFM Bhopal or the upcoming Byrnihat Ecological Institute to train field staff in ecological design.
  4. Public-Community Collaboration: Linking local monitoring with national reporting systems will enhance ground-level legitimacy and data reliability.

What Lies Ahead for India’s Forest Future?

  1. Smarter Restoration: Focus must shift from planting to ecological engineering using native species and local hydrology.
  2. Inclusive Climate Action: Empowering communities ensures climate justice and sustainable forest governance.
  3. National Movement Approach: Collaboration between civil society, research institutions, and local communities can transform GIM from a government scheme to a people’s mission.

Conclusion

India’s forests are more than carbon sinks, they are the nation’s ecological infrastructure. The revised Green India Mission represents a shift from greenwashing metrics to resilient ecosystems. With rigorous monitoring, community inclusion, and scientific restoration, India can make its forests not only a tool for carbon sequestration but a foundation for climate-resilient growth.

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Renewable Energy – Wind, Tidal, Geothermal, etc.

[4th November 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The case for energy efficiency

op-ed snap | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

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 question relates to India’s renewable energy transition and the feasibility of meeting its 2030 targets. The article links by emphasizing that without efficiency and subsidy realignment, rising renewable capacity alone cannot ensure a cleaner grid.

Mentor’s Comment

India’s clean energy transition faces a paradox: even as renewable capacity doubles, the electricity flowing into homes is becoming dirtier. The rise in India’s grid emission factor despite record renewable expansion reveals deep systemic challenges, capacity-generation mismatch, demand peaks, and underutilization of renewables. This editorial decodes why energy efficiency, the “first fuel”, must become central to India’s decarbonisation strategy.

Introduction

India’s non-fossil fuel sources now account for about 50% of total installed capacity, yet its grid emission factor (GEF) has worsened from 0.703 tCO₂/MWh in 2020-21 to 0.727 tCO₂/MWh in 2023-24 (Central Electricity Authority). This anomaly highlights that while renewable capacity has expanded, fossil-fuel-based generation still dominates. To make India’s grid cleaner and more reliable, scaling up energy efficiency and flexibility is essential.

Why Is India’s Grid Getting Dirtier Despite More Renewables?

  1. Grid Emission Factor (GEF): This measure of carbon intensity has increased instead of falling, reflecting rising dependence on coal during peak demand hours.
  2. Installed capacity doesn’t always equate to generation: Renewables deliver less electricity annually compared to thermal or nuclear sources.
  3. Coal’s dominance: Fossil fuels continue to meet the marginal demand, making India’s grid more emission-intensive even with rising renewable capacity.

What Explains the Capacity-Generation Mismatch?

  1. Low capacity utilisation: Solar and wind plants run at only 15-25% utilisation, versus 65-90% for coal and nuclear.
  2. Temporal mismatch: Solar peaks during afternoon hours, while demand peaks at night, requiring fossil backup.
  3. System inflexibility: Lack of energy storage, flexible grids, and responsive pricing structures forces reliance on coal during non-solar hours.
  4. Data point: In 2023-24, renewables (including hydro) supplied only 22% of total electricity; the rest came from fossil fuels.

How Can Energy Efficiency Bridge the Gap?

  1. First fuel approach: Efficiency reduces demand before generation, lowering peak load, reducing reliance on coal during evening peaks.
  2. Economic benefit: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) reports savings of 200 million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE) between FY2017-FY2023. This is equivalent to 1.29 GT of CO₂ and savings of ₹76,000 crore.
  3. Enabler of renewables: Efficiency flattens demand peaks, preventing renewable curtailment and enhancing integration of solar and wind.
  4. Preventing lock-in: Replacing old, inefficient technologies avoids long-term carbon lock-ins.

What Policy and Structural Changes Are Needed?

  1. Battery integration: Enabling homes and offices to connect storage systems for balancing demand.
  2. Appliance efficiency: Transition to 4-star and 5-star appliances with updated standards.
  3. Market mechanisms: Incentives for consumers to shift electricity usage to periods of high renewable availability.
  4. Scrappage policy: Phasing out inefficient fans, motors, and air conditioners through targeted rebates.
  5. RTC renewable procurement: Promote Round-the-Clock (RTC) renewable electricity, currently costing less than ₹5/kWh, to replace coal power.

Why Energy Efficiency Must Be at the Core of Decarbonisation Strategy

  1. Invisible yet indispensable: Efficiency is distributed and diffuse, but without it, India’s energy transition remains incomplete.
  2. Global comparison: Nations like France, Norway, and Sweden have achieved GEFs of 0.1-0.2 tCO₂/MWh via high efficiency and nuclear-hydro mix.
  3. India’s targets: National Electricity Plan (2023) projects India’s GEF to fall to 0.548 by 2026-27 and 0.430 by 2031-32.
  4. Integrated approach: A balance of renewable expansion, storage, and efficiency measures is key to achieving India’s Net Zero by 2070 target.

Conclusion

India’s clean energy paradox underscores that generation capacity alone cannot drive decarbonisation. Efficiency, flexibility, and policy coherence must shape the next phase of transition. Making energy efficiency the “first fuel” and embedding it across homes, industries, and infrastructure will determine how India powers its future while keeping its grid truly green.

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Port Infrastructure and Shipping Industry – Sagarmala Project, SDC, CEZ, etc.

[3rd November 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Cruising ahead, India’s shipping sector needs help from the government to thrive

op-ed snap | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2021] Investment in infrastructure is essential for more rapid and inclusive economic growth. Discuss in the light of India’s experience.

Linkage: This question assesses the role of infrastructure investment in driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth, a core theme under GS Paper III. It directly links to the article’s discussion on India’s renewed focus on port-led development and maritime self-reliance as catalysts for national growth and strategic autonomy.

Mentor’s Comment

The article highlights India’s renewed focus on its maritime and shipping sector, a domain long overshadowed by globalisation-led neglect and privatisation. As the government signals intent to revive indigenous shipping strength, the discussion becomes crucial for UPSC aspirants studying issues of economic infrastructure, logistics, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and India’s maritime strategy under GS Paper 3 (Infrastructure: Transport and Shipping).

Introduction & Why in the News

At the India Maritime Week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined that shipping is not merely a business but a strategic national asset. This marks a policy shift, after decades of liberalisation and privatisation which weakened India’s domestic fleet and shipbuilding capacity. With the pandemic exposing India’s dependence on foreign-owned ships, the government has now initiated fresh investments, port reforms, and fleet strengthening measures to make Indian shipping globally competitive once again.

Reclaiming India’s Maritime Strength

  1. Decline under Liberalisation: Over two decades of globalisation and privatisation led to weakened domestic shipping, with the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) losing state backing and market share.
  2. Loss of Strategic Autonomy: Reliance on foreign ships reduced India’s ability to secure trade routes and logistics during crises.
  3. Pandemic Wake-up Call: COVID-19 disruptions exposed this overdependence, renewing calls for self-reliance and fleet revival.

How Government Policies Shaped the Sector’s Decline

  1. Privatisation and Reduced Support: The ideological shift toward liberalisation led to reduced state ownership and limited investment in domestic capacity.
  2. Withdrawal of Favourable Policies: Earlier advantages like first rights to transport India’s oil were withdrawn, eroding SCI’s competitiveness.
  3. Diluted Strategic Intent: Shipping became treated as a commercial, not strategic, enterprise unlike in major maritime nations such as China or South Korea.

The Post-Pandemic Realisation: Shipping as Strategic Infrastructure

  1. Strategic Leverage: Post-COVID, the government realised that control over shipping fleets = control over supply chains, a critical factor during disruptions or wars.
  2. National Interests and Protectionism: As Western nations turned protectionist, India reoriented towards building indigenous capacity to ensure secure maritime logistics.
  3. New Investments Announced: Major port-related projects and transshipment hubs like Chennai and Kolkata were revived to strengthen domestic capabilities.

Reforms and Initiatives: Building Self-Reliant Maritime Power

  1. Port-Led Development: Under the landlord model, India’s ports now share revenue with private players, encouraging efficiency and foreign participation.
  2. Transshipment Hubs: Development of Chennai and Kolkata projects reflects India’s ambition to capture cargo movement currently routed via Colombo or Singapore.
  3. Shipbuilding Incentives: Moves toward strengthening shipbuilding and ship repair capacity ensure domestic employment and reduce outflow of forex.
  4. Indian Seafarer Training: Focus on education and skill development enables Indian crew to compete internationally and serve domestic fleet expansion needs.

Private Sector Role and Strategic Leverage

  1. Private Shipping Companies: Encouraged to register ships in India and operate via local subsidiaries to enhance fleet size.
  2. Financial Autonomy: SCI’s balance sheet strengthening and port reforms attract new investors.
  3. Insurance and Ancillary Services: Government aims to extend support to marine insurance, finance, and logistics for creating a complete maritime ecosystem.

Conclusion

India’s renewed emphasis on shipping marks a strategic reassertion of maritime sovereignty. As the government invests in ports, fleet expansion, and seafarer training, the focus must remain on integrating private capacity with national goals. True maritime power will come not from tonnage alone, but from strategic control over logistics, shipbuilding, and manpower. With sustained policy backing, India can transform from a cargo-dependent nation to a maritime leader.

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India’s Bid to a Permanent Seat at United Nations

[1st November 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The case for a board of peace and sustainable security

op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] Terrorism has become a significant threat to global peace and security. Evaluate the effectiveness of the United Nations Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) and its associated bodies in addressing and mitigating this threat at the international level.

Linkage: The BPSS proposal aligns with the recurring UPSC theme of UN reform and institutional effectiveness. It can serve as an additional point in answers evaluating the effectiveness of the UNSC and its bodies like the CTC.

Mentor’s Comment

The United Nations, despite its founding vision to preserve peace, faces a persistent structural crisis, peace agreements fail, transitions stall, and conflicts reignite. In this context, former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao’s proposal for a “Board of Peace and Sustainable Security (BPSS)” marks a profound call for institutional reform. This article dissects the argument, structure, and implications of this proposed board through a UPSC-relevant analytical framework.

Introduction

The UN Security Council (UNSC), envisioned to prevent conflict and sustain global peace, continues to struggle with institutional paralysis and outdated structures. Across continents, peace efforts collapse because international systems abandon political engagement too early.
A new institutional vision, a Board of Peace and Sustainable Security (BPSS), is proposed to infuse continuity, coordination, and political strategy into global peace efforts.

Why in the news?

As the UN marks its 80th anniversary, its credibility is under intense scrutiny. While conflicts proliferate, peace agreements remain fragile and transitional mechanisms fail. The UNSC’s structural limitations, lack of political continuity, and inability to sustain long-term engagement make reform urgent. The proposed Board of Peace and Sustainable Security aims to fill this vacuum by institutionalising sustained political engagement before, during, and after conflict. This is significant because it represents one of the first major reform ideas that seeks to integrate peacekeeping with political strategy and regional cooperation, without challenging UNSC authority.

A clearly defined institutional purpose

  1. Institutional void: The UNSC lacks sustained political engagement capacity. The BPSS would institutionalize political accompaniment beyond peace agreements.
  2. Complementary role: It would not replace or challenge the UNSC or Secretary-General but reinforce implementation and coordination.
  3. Mandate: Ensures continuity in peace efforts by reinforcing national and regional ownership of peace processes and reducing relapse into conflict.
  4. Scope: Works on reinforcing national capacities, coordinating peacekeeping with regional organizations, and ensuring peace agreements translate into durable political outcomes.

Why is reform of the UN system urgent?

  1. Loss of continuity: Peacebuilding institutions within the UN lose momentum due to ad-hoc missions. BPSS seeks to sustain political engagement beyond immediate crises.
  2. Structural inertia: Waiting for comprehensive UNSC reform delays urgent action; thus, pragmatic institutional innovation is required within existing frameworks.
  3. Authority for change: Under Article 22, the UN General Assembly already holds power to create subsidiary bodies like BPSS without requiring Charter amendments.
  4. Reform from within: Instead of replacing the UNSC, BPSS enhances coordination, ensuring peace agreements transition into stable governance systems.

What will make the Board credible and representative

  1. Rotational membership: Around two dozen member states, elected for fixed terms, representing all regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Caribbean, West Asia).
  2. Avoiding elite capture: The body should represent inclusivity, not hierarchy, ensuring small and middle powers have a say.
  3. Regional linkages: Works with regional hubs (Addis Ababa, Jakarta, Brasilia, New York) to ensure peace processes reflect local ownership.
  4. Consultative participation: Civil society and regional organizations will have a structured role in deliberations, enhancing legitimacy and field coordination.

How will the BPSS function in practice?

  1. Style of functioning: Not another bureaucratic forum, but a continuing engagement body ensuring follow-through once UN missions end.
  2. Operational continuity: Prevents premature withdrawal of peacekeeping efforts; sustains political engagement through periodic review and coordination.
  3. Integration: Works in coordination with the Secretary-General, Peacebuilding Commission, and UNSC to align peacekeeping with political strategies.
  4. Focus on youth and fragile states: Ensures peace presence remains where political institutions are nascent.
  5. Conflict prevention: Reduces relapse risk by merging early-warning with long-term political strategies and governance support.

How will the BPSS strengthen sustainable security?

  1. Beyond short-term peacekeeping: Moves from reactive missions to proactive stability frameworks.
  2. Sustainable security concept: Integrates security, governance, and development rather than treating them in silos.
  3. Inclusive approach: Aligns local, regional, and global stakeholders, reflecting the interconnected nature of modern conflicts.
  4. Institutional learning: Retains experience from past missions to inform future interventions.
  5. Principled reform: Sustains political momentum, not episodic intervention, ensuring peace is treated as an ongoing political project.

Conclusion

The proposed Board of Peace and Sustainable Security reimagines peace not as an event but as a process requiring sustained political accompaniment. It seeks to anchor peacekeeping within a strategy of governance, development, and institutional resilience. This reform is not just administrative, it represents a return to the original ideals of the UN Charter, adapting them for a multipolar and conflict-prone world. Sustainable peace demands political continuity, inclusivity, and long-term commitment, principles the BPSS embodies.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough

[31st October 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: AI’s rewriting the rule of education

op-ed snap | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

PYQ Relevance

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

Linkage: The PYQ highlights AI’s role in improving efficiency while raising privacy concerns. This theme directly relates to ethical and responsible use of AI in education.

Mentor’s Comment

India’s education system is witnessing a paradigm shift. The government’s decision to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into school curricula from as early as Class 3 (2026-27) marks a decisive break from conventional learning. It signals not just a content shift, but a pedagogical revolution, from rote learning to personalised, data-driven education. The move holds immense promise but also raises profound questions on inclusivity, teacher readiness, and ethical adaptation.

Introduction

India’s AI-enabled education initiative, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, seeks to embed AI learning across the entire K-12 spectrum. The objective is to build a tech-savvy, future-ready workforce capable of thriving in a knowledge-driven global economy. However, as India gears up for this transformation, the focus extends beyond hardware and software, it includes teacher capacity-building, curriculum redesign, and equitable access to technology.

Why in the News

India will become one of the first major education systems globally to introduce AI at the school level. This move marks a sharp contrast to traditional “one-size-fits-all” models, where uniform pedagogy dominated classrooms.

The Ministry of Education’s pilot programs have already trained over 10,000 teachers since 2019, in collaboration with Intel, IBM, and premier national institutes. Yet, the scale of reform, covering over 9 million educators, poses a massive challenge. AI’s integration represents not only an educational reform but also a socio-economic turning point, redefining teacher roles, learning processes, and workforce readiness.

How is AI Transforming Teaching and Learning?

  1. Personalised Learning: AI-powered platforms analyse student behaviour, learning speed, and comprehension to design custom lessons, ensuring each learner’s unique needs are addressed.
  2. Enhanced Engagement: Adaptive systems use gamified interfaces and feedback loops to sustain learner attention and motivation.
  3. Human-AI Synergy: AI acts as an assistant, not a replacement, to educators, allowing teachers to focus on empathy, creativity, and conceptual depth.
  4. Real-Time Feedback: Automated assessment tools provide instant analytics on student performance, aiding teachers in timely interventions.

How Are Teachers Being Equipped for AI Education?

  1. Teacher Upskilling: Over 10,000 educators trained under pilot projects since 2019 by MoE in collaboration with Intel and IBM.
  2. Curriculum Integration: AI modules embedded within existing NEP frameworks from kindergarten to Class 12.
  3. Pedagogical Shift: Teachers transition from content delivery to concept facilitation, focusing on AI-driven planning, analytics, and adaptive mentoring.
  4. Challenge of Scale: India’s 9 million teachers require reskilling; success depends on effective outreach and digital readiness.

What Are the Opportunities and Disruptions Ahead?

  1. Employment Generation: AI adoption projected to create four million new jobs by 2030, with rising demand for digital adaptability.
  2. Skill Realignment: Emphasis on critical thinking, empathy, and creativity, complementing AI’s automation capabilities.
  3. Workforce Transition: AI-enabled education aims to prepare students for jobs that do not yet exist, requiring continuous learning.
  4. Economic Implication: According to NITI Aayog, AI could add up to two million jobs in India’s tech sector in the next decade

Does AI Ensure Inclusivity and Accessibility

  1. Breaking Barriers: AI tools help overcome language, disability, and learning challenges, enabling wider access.
  2. Customised Content: AI-powered language processing supports non-native speakers and visually impaired learners.
  3. Digital Divide Concern: Equal access to AI resources remains uneven, demanding policy interventions for infrastructure parity.
  4. Diversity Support: In a multilingual India, AI can act as a bridge between learners of different socio-linguistic backgrounds.

Could AI Become the Great Equaliser in Education?

  1. Equitable Opportunities: AI democratises learning by offering universal access to quality resources.
  2. Smart Governance: Data-driven insights help design evidence-based educational policies.
  3. Social Equity Impact: Reduces dependence on geography or school infrastructure, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education).
  4. Ethical Imperatives: Algorithmic fairness, data protection, and bias elimination remain essential for sustainable AI deployment.

Conclusion

AI’s integration into education represents a transformative leap rather than a linear reform. The focus must remain on teacher empowerment, inclusive infrastructure, and ethical governance to ensure the AI revolution benefits all. India’s model, if executed successfully, could emerge as a global benchmark for equitable, adaptive learning in the 21st century.

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

[30th October 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: A decade after Paris Accord, an unstoppable transition

op-ed snap | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] Write a review on India’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015) and mention how these have been further strengthened in COP26 (2021). In this direction, how has the first Nationally Determined Contribution intended by India been updated in 2022? (Answer in 250 words)

Linkage: The question builds directly on the Paris Agreement’s decade-long progress and India’s evolving role from commitment at Paris (2015) to enhanced ambition at COP26 and updated NDCs in 2022. This reflects the ongoing Paris to post-Paris transition architecture discussed in the article.

Mentor’s Comment

Ten years after the Paris Agreement, the world stands at a pivotal juncture. Despite unprecedented challenges, rising global temperatures, extreme weather, and persistent dependence on fossil fuels, the Paris framework has redefined multilateral climate cooperation. This article examines how the Paris Agreement has evolved into a transformative global instrument, its tangible outcomes, India’s role, and the emerging roadmap for climate justice and transition.

Introduction

Adopted at COP21 in 2015, the Paris Agreement marked a watershed in global climate diplomacy. It sought to limit global warming well below 2°C and ideally to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. A decade later, while emissions continue to rise and devastating consequences are visible, from floods in Uttarakhand and Punjab to glacial melt in Jammu & Kashmir. The Agreement has managed to bend the trajectory of warming from a catastrophic 4°C-5°C to approximately 2°C-3°C by the century’s end. This course correction, though insufficient, underscores that collective climate action works, and that multilateralism remains the only viable path to sustainable futures.

Why in the News

The year 2025 marks a decade of the Paris Agreement, a milestone being commemorated at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where nations are reviewing global progress toward climate neutrality by 2050.

What makes the Paris Agreement a Turning Point?

  1. Low Carbon Transition Catalyst: The Agreement has been instrumental in shifting the global economy from fossil fuels to renewable and efficient energy systems.
    • Example: Solar, wind, and hydroelectricity now anchor new job creation and green industries worldwide.
  2. End of Fossil Dominance: Ten years ago, fossil fuel use dominated energy production. Today, clean energy is mainstream, driven by technological and policy innovation.
  3. Global Policy Integration: The Paris framework integrates differentiated responsibilities, ensuring fairness for developing countries while enabling ambition from industrialised economies.

How Has International Collaboration Strengthened Climate Action?

  1. International Solar Alliance (ISA): A joint initiative by India and France, launched at COP21, represents a symbol of cooperative multilateralism in climate governance.
    • Impact: Expanded to 120+ member countries, delivering results through capacity building, training, and renewable energy transitions.
    • Example: The 8th Assembly of the ISA in 2025 reaffirmed its mission of universal solar access and climate resilience.
  2. France-India Climate Partnership: Reinforced at the COP30 session, this partnership embodies shared leadership in sustainable energy and adaptation.

How Has Climate Finance Evolved in the Last Decade?

  1. Predictable and Inclusive Finance: France and other EU members advocate for innovative, predictable climate finance through instruments like the Green Climate Fund and Loss and Damage Fund.
    • Example: One-third of France’s climate finance supports adaptation and early warning systems (CREWS).
  2. Global Solidarity Vision: At COP30, France emphasized “Global Solidarity Levers” ahead of 2030, urging equity in climate transition financing.
  3. Bridging the North-South Divide: The Paris framework institutionalized common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), making financial and technological flows more equitable.

What Are the Emerging Priorities in the Climate Transition?

  1. Natural Carbon Sinks: Ecosystems like forests, mangroves, and oceans, from the Amazon to the Sundarbans, are recognized as vital allies in carbon sequestration.
    • Policy Implication: Strengthening biodiversity conservation underpins adaptation and mitigation goals.
  2. Empowerment of Non-State Actors: Climate progress now depends on the collective efforts of local governments, businesses, and citizens to translate ambition into implementation.
    • Example: Broad-based agreements post-COP21 enable tangible, community-level results.
  3. Science and Disinformation: The IPCC’s evidence-based advocacy remains central to the fight against climate misinformation, ensuring that policy aligns with scientific truth.

What Lies Ahead?

  • Irreversibility of the Transition: The Paris transition cannot be reversed, it is now a necessity, not a choice.
  • Challenges Ahead: While adaptation and mitigation face obstacles, technological innovation, renewable investment, and inclusive policy frameworks are defining the next decade.
  • Global Cooperation Imperative: The next phase must focus on accelerating collective ambition, ensuring climate justice, and empowering vulnerable communities.

Conclusion

The Paris Agreement, despite its limitations, symbolizes the enduring power of collective resolve. The decade-long experience affirms that sustained multilateral action, grounded in fairness and scientific integrity, can bend the arc of climate destiny. The transition is not just unstoppable, it is the blueprint for humanity’s survival in the Anthropocene.

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Global Geological And Climatic Events

[29th October 2025] The Hindu OpED: Relief, Rehabilitation: India’s east coast and cyclones

op-ed snap | Geography | Mains Paper 1: Geographical Features & Their Location

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2014] Tropical cyclones are largely confined to the South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?

Linkage: Cyclones are a recurring topic in GS Paper 1 (Geography) and GS Paper 3 (Disaster Management) due to their climatic, socio-economic, and governance relevance. The PYQ links directly to this theme as it explains the geophysical reasons behind the east coast’s high cyclone frequency and sets the context for India’s preparedness and rehabilitation strategies.

Mentor’s Comment

The recurring cyclones on India’s eastern coast highlight not only the country’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events but also the evolution of its disaster management framework. The recent Cyclone Montha once again tested India’s readiness, reflecting both commendable progress and continuing challenges in disaster response, livelihood security, and post-disaster rehabilitation.

Why in the News

Cyclone Montha, which began intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal on October 27-28, 2025, has revived memories of devastating cyclones such as the 1977 Andhra cyclone and the 1999 Odisha super cyclone, each claiming nearly 10,000 lives. Although Montha was not as intense, it tested disaster preparedness mechanisms across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The event underlines both improved resilience and the persisting socio-economic costs of cyclones in India’s coastal belt, a region that historically faces the brunt of Bay of Bengal storms during October-November.

Introduction

India’s eastern coastline, especially Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, has long been vulnerable to tropical cyclones. Historically, the Bay of Bengal has produced some of the world’s deadliest cyclonic events. While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have strengthened forecasting and evacuation systems, the scale of livelihood disruption, property damage, and rural distress continues to make post-cyclone rehabilitation a critical governance concern.

Why is India’s East Coast So Vulnerable to Cyclones?

  1. Geographical Exposure: The Bay of Bengal’s funnel shape and warm waters create conditions for cyclogenesis, making the east coast more cyclone-prone than the west.
  2. Seasonal Concentration: Historically, October-November are peak months, with nine of twelve major cyclones (18th-20th century) recorded during this period.
  3. High Human Impact: The 1977 Andhra and 1999 Odisha cyclones each caused ~10,000 deaths, highlighting the historic vulnerability.

How Prepared Are India’s Coastal States Today?

  1. Institutional Mechanisms: Strengthened Union and State disaster management authorities and IMD’s early warning systems have made large-scale loss of life “a thing of the past.”
  2. Evacuation Efficiency: Nearly 10,000 people evacuated from Andhra’s Kakinada and Konaseema during Cyclone Montha.
  3. Red Alert Response: Prompt deployment of NDRF teams and coordinated district-level action in red-alert zones of southern Odisha.

What Are the Persisting Gaps and Challenges?

  1. Property and Livelihood Loss: Even with reduced fatalities, damage to homes, livestock, and agriculture remains high, affecting underprivileged sections.
  2. Economic Vulnerability: Cyclones disrupt milch animals, draught animals, and poultry, impacting rural incomes and food security.
  3. Infrastructure Fragility: Despite improvements, coastal roads, electricity grids, and communication lines remain highly exposed to storm surges and floods.

What Has Been Learnt from Past Disasters?

  1. Adaptive Governance: Following disasters like Cyclone Gaja (2018), governments have adopted structural and non-structural mitigation measures, including cyclone shelters, embankments, and mangrove restoration.
  2. Skill Enhancement: Continuous upgrading of disaster management knowledge and coordination among states such as Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu.
  3. Community Engagement: Enhanced public awareness and local volunteer networks contribute to faster evacuations.

What Should Be the Way Forward for Relief and Rehabilitation?

  1. Holistic Recovery Approach: Combine immediate relief with long-term livelihood restoration and climate-resilient infrastructure.
  2. Inclusive Policy Execution: Focus on the most vulnerable coastal communities, particularly fishers and small farmers.
  3. Leadership Accountability: Political and administrative leadership must ensure effective implementation of rehabilitation and reconstruction measures post-disaster.

Conclusion

India’s eastern coastline remains a climatic frontier where human resilience is tested year after year. The evolution from reactive relief to proactive risk reduction marks a significant policy success. Yet, the persistence of livelihood loss and infrastructure fragility calls for stronger implementation, community engagement, and leadership accountability. Relief and rehabilitation must now evolve into a model of climate-adaptive, inclusive coastal development.

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Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

[28th October 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: A start for North-South carbon market cooperation

op-ed snap | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2014] Should the pursuit of carbon credit and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) set up under UNFCCC be maintained even though there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth.

Linkage: The CBAM-ICM linkage revives the same carbon market logic envisioned under the UNFCCC’s CDM. It aligns India’s emission pricing with global trade, ensuring growth and decarbonisation move together.

Mentor’s Comment

The EU-India partnership is entering a decisive phase with the linking of the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) to the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a move that could redefine global climate cooperation. For the first time, carbon prices in India will be recognized at the EU border, preventing Indian exporters from facing double penalties and paving the way for North-South market integration. However, operational hurdles, technical mismatches, and sovereignty concerns remain significant.

Why in the News

Recently, the European Union (EU) and India announced a new comprehensive strategic agenda that includes linking the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). This is the first ever initiative to integrate a developing country’s carbon pricing mechanism with a developed region’s border carbon tax system. It marks a potential breakthrough in addressing carbon leakage, ensuring fair trade, and advancing global decarbonisation. But the success of this partnership depends on overcoming institutional, technical, and political challenges.

Introduction

India’s carbon market is still evolving, while the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) is among the most advanced in the world. The decision to explore a linkage between India’s system and the EU’s CBAM represents a strategic step toward equitable carbon trade. This enables exporters to receive recognition for domestic carbon prices. However, the process involves complex alignment in regulatory design, pricing structures, and compliance verification. This makes this both a historic opportunity and a significant challenge for India’s climate diplomacy.

What is the Current Status of India’s Carbon Market?

  1. Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS): India’s carbon market, under the CCTS, is still in its early stages of evolution.
  2. Institutional Framework: Built around robust auction structure, cap-setting processes, and independent verification, yet lacks full fledged coverage of sectors.
  3. Implementation Issues: Current credits often stem from project-based emissions reductions rather than comprehensive, economy wide mechanisms.
  4. Price Gap: The absence of a clear carbon price per tonne makes integration with CBAM technically difficult.
  5. Penalty Gaps: Without strong enforcement and penalties for non-compliance, credibility remains low.

Why is Linking CBAM with ICM a Big Deal?

  1. Breakthrough for Indian Exporters: Linking ensures Indian exporters are not penalised twice, once through domestic carbon pricing and again at EU borders.
  2. Incentive for Early Decarbonisation: It rewards early climate compliance, encouraging Indian industries to adopt clean technologies.
  3. Global Policy Recognition: The move signals India’s emergence as a serious carbon market player. This gives legitimacy to its domestic emissions trading framework.
  4. Bridge between North and South: The linkage promotes North–South cooperation on climate action, addressing long-standing inequities in global carbon governance.

What are the Major Challenges in Linking CBAM and ICM?

  1. Regulatory Equivalence: The EU will only deduct Indian carbon prices if market integrity and environmental standards match its ETS standards.
  2. Technical Alignment: Requires mirroring compliance-grade features of the EU ETS, a complex task for India’s bureaucratic and regulatory machinery.
  3. Carbon Price Disparity: The EU carbon price (currently €60-€80 per tonne) far exceeds India’s expected initial range (€5-€10 per tonne).
  4. Double Burden Risk: Exporters may face both EU CBAM costs and domestic compliance costs, raising fears of competitiveness loss.
  5. Political Sensitivity: Recognising EU’s CBAM could be seen as legitimising an external mechanism that India has formally resisted at WTO and COP negotiations.

What are the Broader Strategic and Economic Implications?

  1. Trade and Diplomacy: Successful integration could make India a model developing economy for carbon-trade compatibility.
  2. Industrial Decarbonisation: Linking CBAM with ICM will push industries toward clean technologies, supporting India’s Net Zero 2070 target.
  3. Geopolitical Leverage: Creates space for climate diplomacy and green technology investments from Europe.
  4. Risk of Trade Disruptions: Failure to align standards could result in EU refusing deductions, escalating trade disputes.
  5. WTO Dimension: Any misalignment could destabilise trade flows, creating tension between climate goals and trade rules.

What are the Possible Ways Forward?

  1. Institutional Strengthening: Develop a transparent, compliance-grade Indian carbon market mirroring the EU ETS structure.
  2. Pricing Reform: Establish comparable carbon price ranges and market stability mechanisms.
  3. Verification and Integrity: Set up independent verification systems recognized by EU regulators.
  4. Political Engagement: Maintain diplomatic negotiation channels to balance sovereignty with cooperation.
  5. Domestic Industry Support: Provide financial backing to exporters during transition to avoid competitiveness loss.

Conclusion

The EU-India carbon market linkage represents a defining experiment in global carbon governance. Its success will depend on institutional credibility, pricing comparability, and political balance. If executed effectively, it could become a template for future North–South cooperation, ensuring that climate responsibility is shared equitably and not imposed asymmetrically.

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[27th October 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The contours of constitutional morality

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

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2021] Constitutional Morality’ is rooted in the Constitution itself and is founded on its essential facets. Explain the doctrine of ‘Constitutional Morality’ with the help of relevant judicial decisions.

Linkage: This topic is highly significant for UPSC Mains, especially in GS Paper II (Polity & Governance) and GS Paper IV (Ethics), as it tests the understanding of how ethical governance aligns with constitutional principles.

Mentor’s Comment

Constitutional morality lies at the heart of India’s democratic ethos, acting as the invisible moral compass that guides law, governance, and justice. The article, written by Justice K. Anand Venkatesh, explores how morality is embedded within constitutional functioning. It is not embedded as a sentimental ideal, but as a living principle that upholds the dignity of institutions and individuals alike. In a time when popular morality often clashes with constitutional values, this debate assumes renewed urgency.

Introduction

The Supreme Court of India has repeatedly reaffirmed the link between law and morality, from P. Rathinam v. Union of India (1994) to the Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala (2018). The concept of constitutional morality, originally discussed by Greek historian George Grote in 1846, has resurfaced as a vital restraint against arbitrary governance and populist impulses. It demands adherence to constitutional values, equality, liberty, justice, and fraternity, by all organs of the State and its citizens.

Why in the News

Recent judicial pronouncements have revived debates around constitutional morality as a guiding force for both lawmakers and administrators. Justice Venkatesh’s commentary highlights that democracy without moral discipline risks degenerating into majoritarian rule, where transient popular sentiments override fundamental rights. The renewed emphasis on cultivating constitutional morality reflects India’s struggle to reconcile ethical governance with political pragmatism.

Evolution and Context of Constitutional Morality

  1. Historical Roots: Greek historian George Grote coined “constitutional morality” to describe citizens’ disciplined adherence to constitutional norms ensuring liberty and restraint in governance.
  2. Indian Adoption: The term entered Indian discourse through Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who viewed it as essential for the successful working of democracy in a diverse society.
  3. Judicial Recognition: The Supreme Court acknowledged the interlinkage of law and morality in P. Rathinam (1994). It emphasized the law’s moral purpose , “to conserve not only the safety and order but also the moral welfare of the State.”
  4. Hart-Devlin Debate: In the 1960s, the famous Hart-Devlin debate discussed whether the law should enforce moral standards. This is an idea that continues to influence Indian jurisprudence.

What Distinguishes Constitutional Morality from Popular Morality

  1. Constitutional Morality: Reflects adherence to constitutional principles such as rule of law, equality before law, and institutional propriety.
  2. Popular Morality: Represents transient societal opinions or majoritarian values, often inconsistent with constitutional ethics.
  3. Judicial Balancing: Courts have often upheld constitutional morality against majoritarian pressures, as seen in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018), where decriminalization of homosexuality was justified on constitutional grounds rather than social acceptance.
  4. Outcome: Promotes stability, fairness, and inclusivity in democratic functioning.

Judicial Approach and Key Judgments

  1. S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994): Reinforced secularism as a constitutional principle forming part of basic structure.
  2. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973): Introduced the “basic structure doctrine,” embedding constitutional morality as a restraint on legislative excess.
  3. Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala (2018): Stressed that constitutional morality must prevail over religious or social morality, allowing women’s entry into Sabarimala Temple.
  4. Navtej Singh Johar (2018): Affirmed that constitutional morality demands protection of individual autonomy and dignity, even if social morality disagrees.
  5. State (NCT of Delhi) v. Union of India (2018): Asserted that constitutional functionaries must act within “constitutional morality,” not political expediency.

Challenges in Practising Constitutional Morality

  1. Institutional Erosion: Weakening of legislative debate and executive accountability dilutes constitutional culture.
  2. Majoritarian Pressures: Electoral populism often overrides institutional restraint and judicial independence.
  3. Moral Ambiguity: Absence of a codified moral code makes enforcement of constitutional morality subjective.
  4. Public Awareness: Limited civic understanding of constitutional ethics hampers its internalization at citizen level.

Way Forward

  1. Cultivation of Ethical Citizenship: Strengthens democratic maturity through civic education and moral training.
  2. Institutional Accountability: Ensures public functionaries act within constitutional boundaries through transparent checks.
  3. Judicial Vigilance: Maintains the moral compass of the State through continued emphasis on rights-based interpretation.
  4. Political Restraint: Encourages lawmakers to prioritize constitutional conscience over populist demand.

Conclusion

Constitutional morality ensures that democracy functions not merely through elections but through adherence to constitutional ethics. It provides a moral foundation for governance, ensuring that justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity are lived realities, not abstract ideals. In an era of polarization, it acts as the Republic’s moral compass, binding the State and its citizens to the spirit of the Constitution.

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

[25th October 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Respect the health rights of India’s children

op-ed snap | Social Justice | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2020] In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are needed particularly in the fields of geriatric and maternal health care. Discuss.

Linkage: Just as maternal and geriatric health require targeted policies, this article highlights the urgent need for child specific pharmaceutical regulation, reinforcing that inclusive social development demands age-segmented health care frameworks addressing the unique vulnerabilities of each group.

Mentor’s Comment

The tragic deaths of 25 children in Madhya Pradesh due to contaminated cough syrup have reignited a critical debate on India’s regulatory failure in child health and pharmaceutical safety. The incident exposes deep gaps in monitoring, quality control, and the larger question of how India safeguards its youngest citizens’ right to health. For UPSC aspirants, this issue links to public health governance (GS-2), ethical administration (GS-4), and inclusive growth (GS-3), all central to understanding India’s social contract with its people.

Why in the News?

Twenty five children lost their lives after consuming contaminated cough syrup, a tragedy that shocked the nation. The pediatrician involved reportedly received a ₹2.54 lakh commission for prescribing the syrup, raising questions about medical ethics, accountability, and the systemic failure of regulation. This is not an isolated case, since 2022, contaminated syrups from India have caused deaths in Gambia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and Cameroon, denting India’s image as the “pharmacy of the Global South.” The issue marks a repeated failure of quality control and enforcement, despite India having one of the largest pharmaceutical industries in the world.

Where the Focus Needs to Be

  1. Regulatory framework: The emphasis must shift from blame to building robust regulatory architecture for the distribution of pediatric medicines.
  2. Child health protection: India must uphold its constitutional commitment under Article 39(f), ensuring children’s right to health and development.
  3. Legal ecosystem: Existing laws, such as the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act and National Policy for Children 2013, must evolve to cover medicine safety for children.

How Inadequate Oversight Endangers Children

  1. Weak pharmacovigilance: Insufficient clinical data and lack of dedicated pediatric testing result in drugs for adults being extrapolated for children.
  2. Dosage disparity: Absence of age-specific dosage guidelines often leads to overmedication and severe side effects.
  3. Special needs ignored: Pediatric pharmacology demands unique formulations, but most drugs are designed with adults as the reference.
  4. Ethical breach: The commission based medical practice further erodes trust, especially when children’s lives are at stake.

What the Global Framework Teaches India

  1. Regulatory precedents: The European Union’s Paediatric Use Marketing Authorisation and the U.S. Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) mandate pediatric testing for all drugs.
  2. Holistic approach: These frameworks ensure drug safety through clinical data collection, financial incentives for manufacturers, and legal enforcement.
  3. Indian gap: India lacks such comprehensive laws; existing rules focus only on general health safety, not pediatric-specific provisions.

Why Pediatric Medicines Need Special Policy Attention

  1. Essential medicine concept: The WHO defines essential medicines as those meeting priority health needs. Pediatric formulations should be an integral part of this.
  2. Affordability: Without public support, many families cannot afford safe alternatives, forcing them to buy untested drugs.
  3. Domestic R&D: India’s dependency on adult-tested formulations highlights the absence of child focused pharmaceutical innovation.
  4. Education and regulation: Pharmacists and caregivers need training to ensure proper dosage and drug choice.

How India Can Reform Pediatric Drug Policy

  1. Zero tolerance on contamination: Strong penalties and criminal accountability for substandard and spurious drugs.
  2. Independent regulator: A separate Pediatric Drug Safety Division within CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation).
  3. Integrated surveillance: Real time data monitoring for adverse pediatric drug reactions through digital reporting.
  4. International benchmarking: Alignment of India’s pediatric drug policy with WHO and OECD standards.
  5. Public awareness: Dissemination of safety information to parents, caregivers, and schools.

Need for India Data

  1. Evidence based policy: India must base its pediatric drug policy on domestic child health data rather than extrapolations from adult studies or foreign datasets.
  2. Malnutrition link: Toxicity of contaminated syrups is worsened by underlying malnutrition, emphasizing a multi sectoral child health approach.

Conclusion

India’s children represent 39% of its population, yet policy neglect leaves them vulnerable to unsafe drugs and unethical practices. The current crisis is not just about regulatory lapses but about violating the fundamental right to health and life under Article 21. India must institutionalize a child-specific pharmaceutical policy, backed by strict monitoring, ethical medical practices, and international standard oversight. Ensuring safe, affordable, and regulated pediatric medicines is not merely a policy choice, it is a moral obligation and constitutional duty.

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Foreign Policy Watch: United Nations

[24th October 2025] The Hindu Oped: The UN matters, as a symbol of possibility

op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Important International Institutions

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2025] The reform process in the United Nations remains unaccomplished because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance. Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard.

Linkage: UN is an important and recurring UPSC theme, often asked through its agencies and reform debates. This question is crucial as it probes the East–West power imbalance that hinders UN reform, echoing the article’s call for a more representative global order.

Mentor’s Comment

The article reviews the United Nations (UN) at 80 years, analysing its evolution, global role, and urgent need for institutional reform. It explores India’s position on UNSC restructuring, challenges of multilateralism, and the UN’s normative impact on global governance. For UPSC aspirants, the theme directly links with GS Paper II, international institutions, global order, and India’s diplomacy.

Introduction

Formed after World War II to preserve peace and promote human dignity, the UN evolved from a Cold War arena to a forum for cooperative problem-solving. The institution remains indispensable but requires deep reform to stay relevant in a multipolar and interconnected world.

Reforming the UN: Adapting to a Shifting Global Order

  1. Foundational Context: Established in 1945 as a peace mechanism ensuring collective security, equality of states, and global legal order
  2. Changing Landscape: Transitioned from bipolarity (US–USSR) to unipolarity and now multipolarity marked by fragmented alliances and transnational threats such as climate change and cyber warfare.
  3. Institutional Lag: UNSC composition reflects post-1945 power hierarchy. Exclusion of emerging powers, India, Japan, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, undermines legitimacy and efficiency.
  4. Legitimacy and Representation: Outdated representation erodes the Council’s credibility, weakening enforcement capacity and consensus-building.

UN’s Humanitarian and Normative Relevance

  1. Humanitarian Operations: UNHCR, WFP, and UNICEF deliver critical relief during conflicts and disasters, providing food, shelter, and protection.
  2. Peacekeeping Mandate: Blue Helmets ensure limited stability in fragile regions, sustaining fragile ceasefires and aiding post-conflict recovery.
  3. Norm Creation: UN conventions and declarations define global standards for human rights, gender equality, and sustainable development.
    The SDGs (2015) frame a universal agenda for inclusive and sustainable growth.
  4. Symbolic Value: Represents a global forum for dialogue, ensuring that multilateralism remains the default mechanism for peace and justice.

Institutional Weaknesses and Reform Imperatives

  1. Erosion of Liberal Multilateralism: Rising nationalism and protectionism weaken commitment to collective decision-making.
  2. Structural Constraints: Permanent members’ veto power perpetuates paralysis in humanitarian crises.
  3. Financial Fragility: Budgetary shortfalls from delayed dues (notably by major contributors) constrain operational capacity and staffing.
  4. Operational Agility: Requires digitisation, decentralised response mechanisms, and enhanced decision-making authority at field levels.

India’s Strategic Position in Global Governance

  1. India’s Credentials: World’s largest democracy, major troop-contributor to peacekeeping missions, and growing economic power.
  2. UNSC Reform Advocacy: Demands structural reform ensuring equitable and inclusive representation of developing nations.
  3. Strategic Autonomy: Follows independent policy avoiding bloc alignment while protecting regional and developmental interests.
  4. Vision for Reform: Supports dignity-based multilateralism ensuring sovereignty, cooperation, and equity among nations.

Mandate for Renewal and Reform

  1. Council Reconfiguration: Expands permanent and non-permanent seats to reflect current geopolitical realities.
  2. Institutional Agility: Enhances crisis responsiveness through digital integration, rapid funding, and empowered missions.
  3. Moral Authority: Restores credibility by reaffirming adherence to international law and ethical neutrality in decision-making.
  4. Member-State Commitment: Ensures predictable funding and sustained political backing from member nations to strengthen UN institutions.

Conclusion

The UN remains a vital, evolving institution balancing ideals with realpolitik. Its effectiveness depends on reform, representation, and renewed moral purpose. Relevance in the 21st century rests on its ability to become more inclusive, responsive, and legitimate.

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US policy wise : Visa, Free Trade and WTO

[23rd October 2025] The Hindu Oped: Immigration and the politics of fear

op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Effect Of Policies & Politics Of World On India'S Interests

PYQ Relevance

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

Linkage: This article explores how anti-immigration politics in the West, particularly in the UK and US, are reshaping narratives around migrants and minorities, directly affecting the Indian diaspora’s political influence, integration, and image abroad. It also relates to how domestic nativism in developed nations influences India’s soft power and global engagement strategy.

Mentor’s Comment

The debate on immigration has taken a darker turn across the Western world, shifting from managing illegal immigration to rejecting legal migrants on cultural or racial grounds. This piece examines the rise of fear-driven politics in the United Kingdom and the United States, where populist leaders exploit insecurities about identity and belonging. It connects these global trends to India’s own discourse on “infiltrators,” highlighting how such politics corrodes the moral and spiritual foundation of nationhood. For UPSC aspirants, this article is a rich resource for themes under GS Paper 2 (Polity & Governance, International Relations) and GS Paper 4 (Ethics & Society).

Introduction: The New Politics of Immigration

Immigration has always been an emotionally charged issue, balancing national security, cultural identity, and humanitarian values. But the tone of the conversation has changed drastically. Once focused on border control and illegal entry, the global discourse, led by figures like Donald Trump and echoed by British leaders, is now turning against legal migrants themselves. The recent developments in the United Kingdom, coupled with populist rhetoric in the U.S., mark a disturbing shift from policy debates to identity-based fear-mongering. It signals a new era where politics thrives on division, and where the very definition of nationhood is under siege.

Why in the News?

At the UN General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump openly urged Europe to “end the failed experiment of open borders,” marking the first time an American leader exported his anti-immigrant ideology so aggressively to other nations. The U.K. soon reflected similar sentiments, not just against illegal immigrants but against those living legally under Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). The political shift shows how nativist populism has evolved from fringe rhetoric to mainstream governance, posing moral and democratic questions for societies that once celebrated diversity.

How Has Immigration Politics Shifted in the UK?

  1. Shift from legality to identity: The focus has moved from illegal immigration control to questioning legal migrants’ right to belong.
  2. Historic continuity: Britain has witnessed recurring anti-immigrant waves, from Enoch Powell’s 1968 “Rivers of Blood” speech to Brexit’s “Take Back Control” slogan.
  3. Turning point: Trump’s UN speech and UK’s Reform Party rhetoric signify a pivot, from economic capability to cultural exclusion.

What Recent Events Sparked the Debate?

  1. Mass rallies: Far-right leader Tommy Robinson led a 1,50,000-strong “Unite the Kingdom” rally, posing as a free speech movement but fuelled by anti-immigration anger.
  2. Imported ideology: French politician Eric Zemmour warned of the “great replacement”, the idea that European people are being replaced by immigrants from Muslim-majority regions.
  3. Policy proposal: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party proposed scrapping Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and replacing it with stricter five-year visas.
  4. Consequences: Even current ILR holders and retirees would face uncertainty, eroding the social contract between the state and its residents.

How Has the Labour Government Responded?

  1. Raising the bar: New Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood extended ILR eligibility from 5 to 10 years, with higher English proficiency, employment verification, and volunteering requirements.
  2. Moral hierarchy: This creates a two-tier society, citizens who live freely and migrants forced to constantly prove their worth.
  3. Political motive: Labour’s move reflects a competitive hardline stance to match Reform UK’s popularity and counter populist fear politics.

How Is Race Re-entering the Immigration Discourse?

  1. Racial undertones: Conservative politician Robert Jenrick’s remark about “not seeing another white face” reveals how immigration rhetoric is slipping into racial anxiety.
  2. From migrants to race: The debate is no longer about work permits or visas; it’s now about who belongs and who looks British.
  3. American parallels: Trump’s attempt to revoke birthright citizenship and the spectacle of deporting Indian immigrants in shackles echo the same moral crisis, dehumanisation of the “other.”

What Lessons Does This Hold for India?

  1. Mirroring patterns: In India too, discourse on “infiltrators” and “termites” has been used for populist mobilisation.
  2. Ernest Renan’s vision: The 19th-century philosopher described a nation as a “spiritual principle”, based on shared memories and mutual consent, not race or religion.
  3. Moral erosion: When “present consent”, the will to live together, is weakened, nations lose their moral foundation.
  4. Performative cruelty: Treating migration as a threat rather than a socio-economic phenomenon serves political ends, not human progress.

Conclusion

The politics of fear around immigration reflects a deeper crisis, of identity, belonging, and moral leadership. When democratic societies redefine “worthiness” in racial or cultural terms, they betray the inclusive principles that built them. In both the West and India, the challenge is not just managing immigration but reaffirming what it means to be a nation. As Renan reminded us, a nation exists not by blood or border, but by the desire to live together. Upholding that desire, amid fear and division, is the true test of our times.

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Air Pollution

[22nd October 2025 ] The Hindu Op-ed: Unreliable air and noise data, real-time deception

op-ed snap | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2023] Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the WHO. How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve these revised standards?

Linkage: This PYQ directly links to the article’s focus on unreliable air quality data and weak monitoring under NCAP. Since pollution is a recurring UPSC theme, it highlights how aligning India’s policies with updated WHO standards demands scientific integrity and credible data.

Mentor’s Comment

When truth itself is blurred by flawed data, governance becomes an illusion. India’s air and noise monitoring systems, meant to be the foundation of environmental policy, are now under scrutiny for misleading the nation with inaccurate data. This is not just a story about malfunctioning sensors but about the collapse of scientific integrity, accountability, and public trust. The issue is no longer technical; it is constitutional, affecting citizens’ Right to Health and Life.

Why in the News

Two major failures in India’s environmental monitoring systems, Delhi’s Real-Time Air Pollution Network and Lucknow’s National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network, have exposed disturbing lapses in data integrity and governance. For the first time, even raw government data is being accused of misleading the public by understating pollution levels. Sensors placed in less polluted areas, faulty installations under tree cover, and outdated noise regulations have collectively raised alarm. This is significant because policy credibility, public health, and India’s global environmental reputation now stand compromised.

Introduction

Environmental governance in India has entered a critical phase. Despite massive investments and advanced technology, monitoring systems for air and noise pollution have failed to inspire confidence. When environmental data is unreliable, policies derived from it lose direction. As Delhi continues to suffocate under toxic smog and Lucknow’s soundscape exceeds permissible decibel levels, the larger question emerges — can real-time governance be meaningful when real-time data is deceptive?

Policy Built on Sand: When Data Loses Credibility

  1. Flawed Sensors: Multiple audits, including the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, reveal that several air-quality sensors in Delhi are placed behind walls or under tree cover, leading to inaccurate readings.
  2. Misleading Reports: Delhi’s official Air Quality Index (AQI) often shows “moderate” levels even as citizens gasp through toxic smog, undermining public trust.
  3. Governance Crisis: When data itself is unreliable, policy decisions on stubble burning, vehicular restrictions, and industrial emissions lose legitimacy.
  4. International Impact: Weak monitoring erodes India’s credibility under the Paris Agreement and WHO Air Quality Standards.

Sound of Silence: Noise Monitoring Failure in Lucknow

  1. Defective Network: Lucknow’s National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network fails to record accurate decibel levels; sensors are either malfunctioning or poorly calibrated.
  2. Outdated Regulation: India continues to rely on the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, which are inadequate and below WHO standards.
  3. Weak Enforcement: Penalties are minor, compliance is poor, and urban noise remains unregulated, especially around airports and religious places.
  4. Constitutional Concern: The Supreme Court recently transferred pleas on noise around Delhi Airport to the NGT, acknowledging that noise is a public health and fundamental rights issue under Articles 19 and 21.

Science or Spectacle: Technology Without Transparency

  1. Spectacle over Substance: Governments deploy shiny monitoring hardware but ignore scientific calibration and audits.
  2. Opacity in Data: Citizens are misled when real-time pollution data is selectively downplayed to show moderate levels.
  3. Public Deception: Misleading indices delay judicial intervention and suppress citizen voices demanding clean air.
  4. Democratic Erosion: Governance becomes a contest between citizens and industries, with flawed numbers protecting inaction.

The Human Cost: Health and Life Expectancy

  1. Health Impact: Exposure to NO₂ and PM2.5 not only weakens lungs but also accelerates myopia and aggravates asthma in children.
  2. Data from Reports: The Air Quality Life Index (Energy Policy Institute) shows that if Delhi met WHO air standards, life expectancy would rise by 8.2 years.
  3. National Toll: Across India, air pollution cuts life expectancy by nearly 5 years, making this a silent epidemic.
  4. Flawed Data = Lost Lives: When monitoring fails, policies fail, and citizens continue to breathe poison unknowingly.

Restoring Credibility: Science as the Foundation

  1. Independent Oversight: India lacks an independent audit panel for environmental monitoring, unlike global norms.
  2. Enforcement Gaps: Though CPCB has clear guidelines on sensor location and calibration, implementation remains lax.
  3. Need for Citizen Oversight: Making raw data publicly accessible and encouraging third-party audits will restore trust.
  4. Beyond Bureaucracy: Environmental monitoring should be treated not as a formality, but as a scientific and ethical duty.

Conclusion

India’s real-time air and noise monitoring crisis is a wake-up call. The credibility of environmental governance rests not on political optics but on scientific truth. Without transparent data and independent audits, policies lose legitimacy and citizens lose trust. The real cost is borne not in GDP but in children’s lungs and sleepless nights. Science, integrity, and public accountability must anchor India’s environmental data revolution, else we risk turning real-time monitoring into real-time deception.

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Foreign Policy Watch: India-China

[18th October 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Better global governance led by China and India

op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: India & Its Neighborhood - Relations

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2023] Virus of Conflict is affecting the functioning of the SCO.” In the light of the above statement, point out the role of India in mitigating problems.

Linkage: This PYQ is important as it tests India’s diplomatic balance within the SCO, amid regional rivalries. The article connects by showing how the Xi–Modi meeting and Global Governance Initiative reflect India’s role in restoring trust and strengthening multilateralism within the SCO framework.

Mentor’s Comment

As the world enters a phase of geopolitical churn and institutional fatigue, the call for a reformed, people-centric global governance system grows louder. The 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic ties and the 80th year of the UN offer a historical moment: two Asian giants, once colonised, now rising powers, can redefine global order. For UPSC aspirants, this theme bridges multilateral diplomacy, global reforms, and India’s evolving foreign policy—key areas across GS Paper 2 and IR essays.

Introduction

The year 2025 marks a milestone in both bilateral and global history. India and China, home to over 2.8 billion people, commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations, even as the United Nations celebrates its 80th anniversary. Against the backdrop of unilateralism and weakening multilateralism, the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) proposed by China, with India’s cooperation, offers a blueprint for a more equitable international order. As Asia’s two leading powers move from rivalry to partnership, their convergence could transform the world’s governance architecture, symbolising a decisive shift toward multipolarity and shared prosperity.

Why is the India-China cooperation in 2025 a landmark moment?

  1. Historical Context: The two leaders, Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi, have met 18 times since 2014, an unprecedented frequency symbolising sustained engagement despite border tensions.
  2. Symbolic Restoration: The bilateral meeting at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan (2024) and now at the 25th SCO Summit in Tianjin (2025) reflects a conscious reset in relations.
  3. Global Expectation: Their 19th meeting during the Tianjin Summit is being seen globally as a moment to restore balance to multilateral decision-making, especially amid Western dominance fatigue.
  4. Public Diplomacy: Both sides emphasise “partners, not rivals,” signaling a shift from competition to cooperation.

What is changing in the global governance discourse?

  1. Erosion of Trust: The early 21st century witnessed rising unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism, eroding faith in international institutions.
  2. UN at 80: The UN system, though foundational, now faces criticism for its limited representation of developing nations and sluggish response to global crises.
  3. Reform Imperative: The question before humanity is not just “who governs” but “how governance is shared.” The article highlights the need for reform without rupture, evolving existing systems rather than replacing them.
  4. Asia’s Moment: The decline of Western dominance and the rise of Asia and Eurasia are redefining the rules of the game, with India and China at the center.

What is the Global Governance Initiative (GGI)?

  1. New Vision: The GGI, announced by President Xi at the Tianjin SCO Summit, aims to correct the deficit in global governance by promoting a fair, inclusive order.
  • Five Core Principles:
    1. Sovereign Equality: Respect for all nations’ independence and dignity; greater democracy in international relations.
    2. Rule of Law: Equal application of international law and rejection of double standards.
    3. Multilateralism: Strengthening the UN as the core platform for global decision-making.
    4. People-Centric Approach: Governance should prioritise well-being, safety, and fulfillment of citizens globally.
    5. Real Results Orientation: Developed nations must shoulder more responsibility, while developing nations must cooperate for shared solutions.
    6. Essence: The GGI is not about creating parallel institutions but reforming and improving existing ones to respond effectively to modern challenges.

How can India-China cooperation strengthen multilateralism?

  1. Shared Responsibilities: Both countries, as major developing economies and SCO/BRICS members, bear the responsibility to defend international fairness and justice.
  2. Strategic Coordination: The leaders’ dialogue stresses communication on major international and regional issues to bridge divides in the Global South.

Complementary Visions:

  1. China’s “community of shared future for mankind”
  2. India’s “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (One Earth, One Family, One Future)
  3. Together, they embody the moral and developmental leadership needed for a post-Western global order.
  4. Practical Gains: Resumption of direct flights, maintenance of border stability, and enhanced trade cooperation show concrete steps toward normalisation.

What challenges lie ahead for India-China collaboration?

  1. Trust Deficit: Lingering border disputes and differing political models may slow strategic trust-building.
  2. Competing Ambitions: While both aspire to leadership in the Global South, perception management and narrative balance will be crucial.
  3. Western Reaction: The West may perceive India-China cooperation as a counterweight to transatlantic power, potentially complicating India’s strategic autonomy.
  4. Need for Institutionalisation: Long-term progress demands institutional mechanisms, track-II dialogues, multilateral coordination cells, and joint UN reform working groups.

Conclusion

The India-China partnership in 2025 signals more than a diplomatic milestone, it represents a potential rebalancing of world order. As the UN turns 80, the call for shared leadership between emerging powers grows urgent. If pursued with mutual trust and strategic maturity, the GGI-led collaboration can make the 21st century truly an Asian century rooted in equity, inclusivity, and sustainability. In a fractured world, cooperation, not competition, may be the only path to survival and progress.

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

[17th October 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Ensure safeguards for India’s carbon market

op-ed snap | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2015] Should the pursuit of carbon credit and Clean Development Mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even though there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth.

Linkage: The article directly aligns with this PYQ as it examines how India can sustain carbon credit mechanisms while ensuring justice and inclusivity in its domestic carbon market. It stresses that ethical safeguards and equitable benefit-sharing are essential to reconcile climate finance with India’s growth needs.

Mentor’s Comment

In an era when climate markets are rapidly gaining traction, India’s push to create its own carbon credit trading system represents a major step towards balancing growth and sustainability. However, as global experiences reveal, the promise of carbon markets often hides complex questions of equity, consent, and justice. This article examines how India can build a just, transparent, and credible carbon market, drawing lessons from global failures and aligning with its developmental and environmental priorities.

Why in the News

India is rolling out its Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), a landmark move that will create a domestic carbon market for emission trading and offset generation. The scheme comes amid a global boom in carbon credits, with 175–180 million credits retired annually. Yet, recent controversies such as the Northern Kenya Rangelands Carbon Project suspension by Verra (2023, 2025) have exposed how poorly governed carbon projects can violate community rights and reproduce colonial-style exploitation. This makes it crucial for India to institutionalize safeguards to prevent land alienation, ensure free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), and guarantee fair benefit-sharing, especially for farmers and marginalized communities who stand at the frontline of climate action.

Introduction

The industrial era’s growth model has pushed the Earth beyond its planetary boundaries, creating a need to decouple economic expansion from environmental degradation. For developing nations like India, degrowth is neither feasible nor just. The path forward lies in green growth, powered by cleaner energy, sustainable agriculture, and carbon crediting mechanisms that reward climate-positive behavior.

However, as India builds its carbon market, it must ensure that climate justice is not sacrificed at the altar of climate finance.

Growth and Sustainability, A Delicate Balance

  1. Decoupling growth from pollution: The industrial revolution model is no longer viable; India must grow while reducing emissions through renewable energy, micro-irrigation, and sustainable farming.
  2. Equitable development: Developing countries cannot afford “degrowth”; instead, they must innovate for green growth pathways that align prosperity with environmental protection.
  3. Indian examples: Rapid progress in solar energy and micro-irrigation exemplifies how growth and sustainability can reinforce each other.

What Are Carbon Credits and Why Do They Matter?

  1. Definition: A carbon credit represents a certified reduction or removal of greenhouse gases (GHGs), measured in CO₂-equivalents.
  2. Generation sources: Created through mitigation activities like renewable energy or sequestration measures such as reforestation, agroforestry, and biochar.
  3. Global scenario: Annually, about 175–180 million credits are retired, with most originating from renewable energy and nature-based projects like REDD+.
  4. India’s initiative: The CCTS sets emission-intensity benchmarks for industries and includes voluntary offsetting mechanisms, managed through a national registry and trading platform.
  5. Emerging sectors: Draft methods for biomass, compressed biogas, and low-emission rice cultivation have already been released.

The Promise and Peril of Carbon Projects

  1. Untapped agricultural potential: Despite 64 Indian projects listed under Verra, only four are registered, none have issued credits yet, largely due to weak farmer engagement and training gaps.
  2. Risk of exploitation: Without safeguards, carbon projects can mirror colonial plantation logic, especially as carbon prices rise.
  3. Global warning signs: The Northern Kenya Rangelands Carbon Project (2012) faced suspension for bypassing consent and misrepresenting community participation.

Violations documented:

  1. Lack of FPIC from indigenous communities.
  2. Projects implemented on unregistered community land.
  3. Enforced by armed rangers; governance opaque.
  4. 2025 Kenyan court judgment confirmed absence of public participation.
  5. Parallel cases: The Lake Turkana Wind Project fenced 150,000 acres of community land — cutting herders off from water and grazing.

India’s Vulnerability: A Warning from Kenya

  1. Community impact: Carbon projects on village commons, forest fringes, or grazing lands can disrupt traditional livelihoods without proper consent.
  2. Caste and equity issues: Agricultural carbon projects have shown tendencies to exclude marginalized caste farmers, offering minimal benefits.
  3. Regulatory gap: India’s CCTS prioritizes procedural compliance but neglects land rights, FPIC, and benefit-sharing — leaving space for exploitation.
  4. Potential consequence: Without reforms, India risks replicating extractive climate models that alienate vulnerable communities.

Towards a Fair and Transparent Carbon Market

  1. Balanced regulation: Overregulation deters genuine actors, while underregulation invites exploitation. India needs a “light but firm” regulatory model.

Core safeguards needed:

  1. Transparency: Mandatory disclosure of benefit-sharing agreements.
  2. Community consent: Institutionalize FPIC before project initiation.
  3. Adaptive regulation: Policies that evolve through stakeholder consultations.
  4. Trust building: Incorporate third-party audits and grievance redressal.
  5. Justice as the foundation: Climate action must empower, not exploit, those sustaining the land.

Conclusion

India’s journey toward a low-carbon future cannot rely solely on markets, it must rest on ethics, equity, and empowerment. As the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) takes shape, the focus must move beyond procedural compliance to protecting land rights, ensuring free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), and guaranteeing fair benefit-sharing with those who nurture the environment. Learning from global pitfalls, India has the opportunity to design a carbon market that is transparent, just, and inclusive, turning climate finance into a true instrument of climate justice and sustainable development. Only then can India demonstrate that growth and green governance are not competing goals, but two sides of the same equitable future.

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

[16th October 2025 ] The Hindu Op-ed: Navigating the global economic transformation

op-ed snap | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2019] The long-sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalised nations has disappeared on account of its new found role in the emerging global order.

Linkage: The question reflects India’s shift from moral leadership to strategic pragmatism in global affairs. The article builds on this, urging India to reclaim that leadership by shaping a fair, inclusive global economic order for the Global South.

Mentor’s Comment

The tectonic shifts in the world economy today echo the reshaping of global power equations. Salman Khurshid’s article presents a comprehensive analysis of how populist politics, state capitalism, and digital colonialism are reshaping the global economic order. This piece unpacks those arguments and situates them in a UPSC-relevant analytical frame, connecting them to India’s strategic choices and the future of the Global South.

Introduction: Why in the News

The world economy is undergoing a seismic transformation, marked by the U.S.–China great-power rivalry, reshaped trade flows, and the rise of state-driven capitalism. This shift is more than cyclical; it is structural, redefining the principles of globalisation itself. For the first time in decades, both economic and political systems are converging towards protectionism and state control, breaking away from the neoliberal consensus that defined the post–Cold War era. The article underscores how these disruptions open a rare opportunity for India and the Global South to shape a fairer and more inclusive global economic order.

Understanding the New Economic Paradigms

How are populist autocrats reshaping capitalism?

  1. State–capital fusion: Populist autocrats have created a “state-capital Gordian knot”, replacing laissez-faire capitalism with systems that serve oligopolies in exchange for political loyalty.
  2. Corporate dominance: Crony-capitalists now influence state policies, prioritising corporate gains over citizen welfare — mortgaging public assets and weakening the social contract.
  3. Socio-political consequences: This model centralises power, marginalises public accountability, and distorts market competitiveness — leading to plutocracies, not democracies.

Why are traditional power politics resurfacing in the economic sphere?

  1. Resurgent statecraft: America’s recalibration to “Make America Great Again” marks a return of economic nationalism.
  2. Strategic control: U.S. actions — shifting Taiwan’s chip manufacturing, securing Panama routes, weaponising rare earths, and asserting dominance in the Arctic — reflect geo-economic containment of China.
  3. Ecological imperialism: By controlling supply chains and energy corridors, global powers are expanding influence under the guise of “strategic autonomy.”
  4. Global instability: These assertive spheres of influence have led to conflicts and genocides, reigniting the dangers of zero-sum geopolitics.

How is digital colonialism reshaping global economies?

  1. Big Tech dominance: Cloud capitalists have captured value chains and data flows, influencing politics and governance.
  2. Digital imperialism: Initiatives like the AI Action Plan, Cloud Act, and SWIFT weaponisation allow powerful states to dominate financial and cyber infrastructure.
  3. Erosion of sovereignty: Over 100 central banks are piloting state-backed digital currencies, which could ease transactions but risk undermining national autonomy.
  4. Political risks: Digital finance systems complicate political funding, giving populist regimes more tools for manipulation.

How have aid withdrawals widened global inequalities?

  1. Funding collapse: G-7 nations’ $44 billion cuts in developmental aid could push 5.7 million Africans into poverty by 2026.
  2. Ripple effects: In Nepal, reduced grants for small enterprises led to eight lakh migrations, intensifying domestic dissatisfaction.
  3. Humanitarian fallout: 16.7 million people lost access to the World Food Programme in 2023, sparking recruitment into militias across the Sahel region.
  4. Moral crisis: Retrenchment of aid reflects a shift from shared prosperity to self-preservation, amplifying instability in the Global South.

What challenges and opportunities emerge for India and the Global South?

  1. Debt and inequality: Neoliberal globalisation fostered sovereign debt traps and extreme wealth concentration in the Global North.
  2. Poverty crisis: The World Bank’s 2022 Poverty and Shared Prosperity Report notes 47% of humanity lives below the $6.85 poverty line, while 735 million suffer hunger.
  3. Collaborative alternatives: India and the Global South can construct a New Economic Deal through debt-relief frameworks, institutional reforms, and South–South cooperation.
  4. Strategic vision: Building bipartisan international ties and fair trade alliances through BRICS and regional groupings will ensure resilience against Western hegemony.

How must India recalibrate its domestic policies to lead globally?

  1. State leadership: The government must play a commanding role in strategic sectors — energy, data, infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture — as done by East Asian economies.
  2. Anti-monopoly mechanisms: Creating sovereign wealth funds (like Norway) and enforcing anti-trust norms can prevent oligarchic dominance.
  3. Reimagining PSUs: Instead of privatisation, redeploying PSUs like China’s state-owned enterprises can serve national and geopolitical goals.
  4. Knowledge economy: Heavy investment in research, education, and innovation will secure India’s place as a globally competitive power.
  5. True non-alignment: India’s foreign policy must remain substantive, not performative — driven by consensus and independence rather than partisan interests.

Conclusion

The global economic transformation is not merely about trade or finance; it is about who controls the architecture of global interdependence. As old hierarchies fracture and new alignments emerge, India stands at a crossroads, between aligning with entrenched powers or leading a new era of equitable globalization. The coming decade will test whether the Global South can collectively author a future defined by justice, sustainability, and shared prosperity. The moment is precarious, but also profoundly promising.

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Foreign Policy Watch: India-Australia

[15th October 2025 ] The Hindu Op-ed: Powering up the Australia-India clean energy partnership

op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2022] Clean energy is the order of the day. Describe briefly India’s changing policy towards climate change in various international fora in the context of geopolitics.

Linkage: The India–Australia Renewable Energy Partnership (REP) exemplifies India’s evolving climate diplomacy — shifting from being a climate “follower” to a global clean energy collaborator. It reflects how India aligns geopolitical strategy with green transition, using partnerships like REP to ensure both sustainability and supply chain autonomy.

Mentor’s Comment

At a time when the world is rethinking its clean energy priorities amidst climate vulnerabilities and geopolitical flux, the Australia–India Renewable Energy Partnership (REP) emerges as a beacon of cooperative strength. This article examines how two Indo-Pacific democracies can forge a resilient, balanced, and future-ready clean energy ecosystem — turning climate ambition into implementable strategy.

Introduction

In a decade defined by climate urgency and energy transition, India and Australia are deepening collaboration in renewable energy to reduce carbon footprints and diversify critical supply chains. With Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen visiting New Delhi, both nations are poised to convert their shared climate vision into tangible outcomes under the India–Australia Renewable Energy Partnership (REP). The partnership arrives at a pivotal moment when the Indo-Pacific region is reeling under frequent climate disasters and when overdependence on China for clean energy inputs threatens energy security.

Why This Is Big News

The India–Australia clean energy partnership represents a strategic shift from bilateral intent to operational collaboration. It marks the first large-scale joint response by the two democracies to build resilient, China-independent supply chains for renewable technologies.

This is significant because the Indo-Pacific averages nearly 10 climate disasters per month, and projections show up to 89 million climate refugees by 2050. Both countries now aim not merely for targets but for structural autonomy in critical minerals, hydrogen, and solar ecosystems — signalling a new phase of climate diplomacy.

A Climate-Vulnerable Region

  1. Harshest impacts: The Indo-Pacific region witnesses some of the world’s most severe climate consequences, with recurring floods, cyclones, and droughts.
  2. Alarming projections: Between 1970–2022, it averaged 10 climate-related disasters monthly; by 2050, 89 million people may be displaced.
  3. India’s leadership: India targets 500 GW of non-fossil electricity by 2030 (with 280 GW solar) and has achieved 50% non-fossil capacity already — five years ahead of schedule.
  4. Australia’s climate push: It has raised its emission-reduction ambition to 62–70% below 2005 levels by 2035, aligning with its net-zero goal.

The Supply Chain Challenge

  1. Dependence on China: China refines 90% of rare earth elements and manufactures 80% of global solar modules, giving it near-monopoly power.
  2. India’s dilemma: Faces import dependence for rare earth magnets and battery materials, affecting EV and wind sectors.
  3. Australia’s gap: Despite being rich in lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, it lacks refining and downstream industries.
  4. Pandemic exposure: The COVID-19 crisis exposed global supply fragility; China’s export restrictions further underlined the danger of single-country dependence.
  5. Industry impact: Example, an Indian EV manufacturer’s production halved in July due to component shortages.

What the Renewable Energy Partnership (REP) Offers

  1. Comprehensive framework: REP spans eight key areas, solar PV, green hydrogen, energy storage, circular economy, solar supply chains, two-way investments, and capacity building.
  2. Collaborative platforms: Introduces a Track 1.5 Dialogue, connecting policy, industry, and academia to translate ideas into pilot projects.
  3. Focus areas: Promotes joint R&D, investment in refining, hydrogen economy, and cross-training of skilled personnel.
  4. Strategic significance: Seeks to create an Indo-Pacific clean energy hub resilient to geopolitical shocks.

Complementary Strengths: Why Collaboration Works

Australia’s edge:

  1. Critical mineral base — rich in lithium, rare earths.
  2. Stable regulations and a focus on green jobs under its Net Zero Jobs Plan.

India’s advantage:

  1. Demographic dividend — 65% population below 35 years.
  2. PLI schemes and Skill India fostering clean-tech manufacturing.
  3. Expanding domestic demand for solar, hydrogen, and battery systems.

Synergistic model: Together, they can integrate Australia’s minerals with India’s manufacturing and labour pool, creating a regional clean energy ecosystem that is both inclusive and secure.

Why This Partnership Matters for the Indo-Pacific

  1. Climate resilience: Joint efforts show that democracies can lead energy transitions without autocratic dependencies.
  2. Geopolitical signalling: It strengthens Quad cooperation (India–Australia–Japan–US) by aligning clean energy goals.
  3. Economic dividends: Builds green value chains that can generate jobs and diversify trade beyond fossil fuels.

Conclusion

The Australia–India Renewable Energy Partnership is more than a bilateral initiative, it is a climate-security compact for the Indo-Pacific. By combining Australia’s resource advantage with India’s innovation and manpower, both nations can anchor a sustainable energy future independent of geopolitical coercion. In doing so, they not only contribute to global net-zero targets but also demonstrate how democratic collaboration can address shared vulnerabilities with foresight and resilience.

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Renewable Energy – Wind, Tidal, Geothermal, etc.

[14th October 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: A green transition accelerating at express speed

op-ed snap | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

PYQ Relevance:

 

[UPSC 2020] 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 transition is inherently linked to climate change mitigation, conservation, and pollution control. Recent topics include CCUS, India’s updated climate commitments (NDCs), and balancing development with environmental protection.

Why in the News?

The successful trial of India’s first hydrogen-powered coach at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, in July 2025 marks a critical milestone in the Indian Railways’ decarbonisation strategy.

Introduction:

With a target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, four decades ahead of India’s national goal, the Indian Railways is reshaping its energy, infrastructure, and financing architecture to become a global model for sustainable mobility.

Carrying over 24 million passengers and 3 million tonnes of freight daily, this transition directly supports India’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

India’s Energy Transition Context (2025):

  • As of June 2025, over 50% of India’s installed power capacity (476 GW total) comes from non-fossil sources, five years ahead of its 2030 Paris target.
  • Renewables: Solar (110.9 GW) and wind (51.3 GW) continue rapid expansion; nuclear capacity adds 8.8 GW.
  • Electrification: 100% village electrification achieved, with household access nearing universality.
  • Challenges:
    • Fossil fuel reliance: Coal consumption rose to 21.98 EJ in 2023, up from 6.53 EJ in 1998, with petroleum demand increasing in agriculture.
    • Energy equity gaps: Access to clean cooking fuel remains uneven; LPG adoption under PM Ujjwala Yojana suffers from affordability constraints.

Green Transition and Decarbonisation Efforts in Railways:

  1. Network Electrification: Over the past decade, the Indian Railways has electrified nearly 45,000 km of its broad-gauge network, bringing 98% of routes under electrification. This has drastically reduced diesel use and greenhouse gas emissions, marking a major shift toward energy efficiency.
  2. Renewable Integration: Renewable power capacity has reached 756 MW (553 MW solar, 103 MW wind, 100 MW hybrid). Over 2,000 stations and offices are now powered by solar energy, reducing grid dependence and promoting clean traction power.
  3. Net-Zero Buildings: Several railway complexes and offices have received the “Shunya” Net-Zero label from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) for achieving energy neutrality and carbon efficiency.
  4. Hydrogen for Heritage Initiative: This flagship programme aims to deploy 35 hydrogen-powered train units, with the first prototype hydrogen coach rolled out in 2025, representing a major milestone in green rail mobility.
  5. Freight and Efficiency Gains: Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) are projected to prevent 457 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions over the next 30 years. The goal is to increase the rail freight modal share from 27% to 45% by 2030, cutting road-sector emissions.
  6. Complementary Actions: Railways are also expanding biofuel blending, green building construction, and rolling stock modernisation with regenerative braking and energy-efficient locomotives.

Hydrogen Coach Technology and Innovation:

  1. Fuel-Cell Mechanism: The hydrogen coach uses fuel-cell technology to generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, producing only water vapour as the by-product, ensuring zero tailpipe emissions.
  2. Operational Context: Designed for non-electrified heritage routes where full electrification is uneconomical, these trains combine lightweight coach design, aerodynamic efficiency, and AI-based traction optimisation to minimise operational costs.
  3. Global Positioning: With this innovation, India joins the league of nations such as Germany and Japan that are pioneering hydrogen-based railway systems as part of a wider low-carbon transport transition.

Climate Finance and Institutional Architecture:

  1. Green Financing Framework: India has issued ₹58,000 crore worth of sovereign green bonds since FY2023, with ₹42,000 crore specifically allocated to electric locomotives, metros, and suburban rail projects.
  2. IRFC’s Role: The Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) pioneered a $500 million green bond in 2017 for refinancing electric locomotive projects, and in 2025 extended a ₹7,500 crore loan to NTPC Green Energy to support renewable generation for traction power.
  3. Multilateral Support: The World Bank’s $245 million Rail Logistics Project (2022) aims to decongest corridors and reduce transport-sector emissions through improved infrastructure efficiency.
  4. Institutional Integration: Together, these instruments embed climate goals into national capital budgeting, aligning transport infrastructure with India’s low-carbon growth pathway.

Policy and Operational Priorities:

  1. Renewable Power Procurement: Long-term contracts with solar and wind producers are critical to ensure that electrified routes are powered by green energy rather than coal-based electricity.
  2. Green Mobility Hubs: Major stations are being redesigned as multi-modal eco-hubs with integration of EV charging stations, e-buses, and bicycle-sharing systems.
  3. Freight Decarbonisation: Emphasis on electric, LNG, and hydrogen-fuelled trucks for last-mile logistics, reducing the carbon footprint beyond rail.
  4. Rolling Stock Modernisation: Accelerated adoption of lightweight aluminium coaches, regenerative braking, and energy-efficient locomotives.
  5. Behavioural Initiatives: Introduction of green certification for trains, carbon labelling of freight, and public awareness programmes to mainstream sustainability.

Projected Outcomes by 2030:

  1. Net-Zero Achievement: The Indian Railways aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, preventing an estimated 60 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, equivalent to removing 13 million cars from the roads.
  2. Economic Impact: Fuel cost savings from electrification and energy efficiency could exceed ₹1 lakh crore by 2030, freeing capital for further green infrastructure.
  3. Global Benchmark: The Indian Railways is positioned to become the world’s first large rail system to achieve net-zero operations, setting a global precedent for state-run low-carbon transport.

Conclusion:

  1. The hydrogen-powered coach exemplifies the synergy of technology, finance, and policy in achieving sustainable national mobility.
  2. The Railways’ green transformation is both an environmental necessity and a strategic innovation model for the developing world.
  3. Its successful execution will anchor India’s net-zero and green industrialisation vision, proving that scale and sustainability can coexist profitably.

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Citizenship and Related Issues

[11th October 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The real need is a holistic demographic mission

op-ed snap | Indian Society | Mains Paper 1: Population & Associated Issues

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2024] What is the concept of a ‘demographic winter’? Is the world moving towards such a situation? Elaborate.

Linkage: Demographic shifts in border regions can exacerbate tensions, linking the topic to communalism and regionalism.  Illegal migration links directly to organized crime, such as human trafficking, drug trafficking (India’s proximity to illicit opium-growing states is a major concern mentioned in 2018 PYQ), and the potential penetration by external state and non-state actors.

Introduction:

On August 15, 2025, the Prime Minister had announced the launch of India’s Demographic Mission, a comprehensive national initiative aimed at monitoring, managing, and interpreting India’s demographic transitions.

Initially projected as a mechanism to monitor undocumented immigration from Bangladesh and its demographic implications in India’s border regions, the mission’s vision extends to a broader national strategy for demographic management.

The initiative comes at a time when India, now the world’s most populous nation, stands at a demographic crossroads, balancing its youth potential with emerging challenges of migration, ageing, inequality, and social security.

What is the Demographic Mission?

  1. Launch: Unveiled by PM on 15 August 2025, it is a national initiative to monitor, manage, and interpret India’s demographic transitions in a holistic and strategic manner.
  2. Focus: Initially targeted at undocumented immigration from Bangladesh, addressing demographic and border-security implications through biometric systems, AI-based surveillance, and smart fencing.
  3. Expanded Mandate: Evolved into a comprehensive population governance framework, integrating security, social, and developmental objectives across ministries.
  4. Institutional Measures: Includes formulation of a National Refugee Law, implementation of the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRC), and demographic data integration across sectors.
  5. Policy Shift: Moves from population control to capability development, treating demographic potential as a source of economic strength and human capital formation.

Socio-Political Dimensions of Demography:

  1. Reframing the Debate: Shifts the focus from population control to issues of equity, inclusion, and sustainability.
  2. Migration and Identity Politics: Highlights that migration and fertility transitions shape social hierarchies and electoral narratives, influencing policy priorities and identity construction.
  3. Institutional Sensitivity: Calls for embedding demographic awareness in governance, particularly in urbanisation, labour mobility, and welfare systems.
  4. Demographic Diversity as Strength: Treats India’s multi-ethnic and multi-lingual population as an asset for national integration rather than division.
  5. National Integration Framework: Positions demography as a foundation for inclusive federal policy and cohesive nation-building.

Various Issues:

  1. Illegal Immigration: Ongoing influx from Bangladesh strains border security and regional demographics, complicating citizenship and resource distribution.
  2. Migration & Identity Exclusion: Internal migrants lack voting rights and welfare access due to “usual residence” definitions, leading to political marginalisation.
  3. Ageing and Longevity: Rising life expectancy necessitates rethinking retirement age, social security, and elder-care policies.
  4. Regional Inequality: Unequal spread of education, health, and skilling infrastructure widens developmental divides among states.
  5. Policy Insensitivity: Centralised, per capita-based planning ignores population composition, gender ratio, and dependency structures.
  6. Governance Centralisation: Demographic planning remains highly centralised, with limited state participation in design and monitoring.

Various Solutions for Demographic Balance:

  1. Migration Reform: Provide legal recognition of migrant rights, ensure voting portability and welfare mobility, and promote balanced internal migration.
  2. Education and Skill Equity: Build uniform educational and vocational infrastructure and establish regional skill hubs to reduce capability gaps.
  3. Active Ageing Policies: Redefine retirement norms, expand financial security, and create avenues for productive ageing.
  4. Technological Integration: Deploy AI, GIS, and big-data platforms for real-time demographic mapping, analysis, and predictive planning.
  5. Decentralised Demographic Planning: Create federal demographic councils linked with NITI Aayog for region-specific strategies.
  6. Demographic Sensitisation: Mainstream population literacy and demographic research in policymaking, academia, and public discourse.

Global Context and Strategic Positioning:

  1. Youth Advantage: With a median age of 29 years, India stands out amid ageing societies like Japan, Europe, and China.
  2. Human Capital Vision: The mission aligns with India’s aspiration to become the “Skill Capital of the World,” enhancing global labour competitiveness.
  3. Geopolitical Relevance: Integrates population policy into national security and global strategy, positioning demography as a tool of soft power and developmental diplomacy.
  4. Long-Term Significance: By combining population management, human development, and digital governance, the mission redefines India’s demographic policy for the 21st century — linking security, sustainability, and sovereignty.

Way Forward:

  1. Institutionalise Demographic Policy: Establish a National Demographic Council for cross-ministerial coordination.
  2. Focus on Human Capital: Prioritise investments in education, health, and skill ecosystems over mere population management.
  3. Protect Migrant Rights: Legislate a Migrant Workers’ Charter to ensure political and social inclusion.
  4. Reform Social Security: Develop portable pension and healthcare systems adaptable to mobility and longevity trends.
  5. Adopt Data Ethics: Balance demographic surveillance with privacy protection and civil liberties.
  6. Mainstream Demographic Literacy: Integrate population studies into governance, academia, and public administration.

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Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

[10th October 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: India’s mental health crisis, the cries and scars

op-ed snap | Social Justice | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2023] Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian Society.

Linkage: Mental distress is deeply intertwined with societal issues like increasing suicide rates among young women, poverty, marginalization, and the impact of modernization and urbanization.

Introduction:

The National Crime Records Bureau’s Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) 2023 report recorded 1,71,418 suicides, a marginal 0.3% rise from 2022. While the suicide rate per lakh population declined slightly, absolute numbers remain high, underscoring a deep social, economic, and psychological crisis.

National Data and Trends as per ADSI, 2023:

  1. Demographics: Men constituted 72.8% of suicides in 2023.
  2. Leading Causes: Family problems: 31.9%; Illness: 19%; Substance abuse: 7%; Relationship and marriage-related issues: around 10% combined.
  3. Regional Variation: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sikkim, and Kerala had the highest suicide rates, while Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and West Bengal together accounted for over 40% of all cases.
  4. Urban vs Rural: Cities reported consistently higher suicide rates than rural areas, reflecting the psychological stress of urbanisation and competition.

Farmer Suicides and Rural Distress:

  1. Farmer deaths: 10,786 suicides (6.3% of total) in 2023, concentrated mainly in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
  2. Long-term pattern: Over 1,00,000 farmers have taken their lives since 2014. Between 1995 and 2015, nearly 2,96,000 deaths were linked to debt, market volatility, and institutional neglect.
  3. Underlying causes: Debt, crop failure, inadequate price support, and the absence of reliable social safety nets.
  4. Invisible victims: Homemakers and caregivers, particularly women, face rising rates of depression and domestic stress but remain underrepresented in official data.

Student Suicides in India:

  • Rising Trend: Students account for 6–8.1% of all suicides (NCRB data). In 2023, there were 13,892 student suicides, a 65% rise over the decade, outpacing the national average increase.
  • Major Causes: Academic pressure, parental expectations, toxic competition, and poor mental health infrastructure are leading contributors.
  • Psychological Impact: Surveys show high levels of anxiety, depression, and distress, with notable gender disparities in emotional well-being.

Magnitude of Mental Illness in India:

  1. Estimated burden: Nearly 230 million Indians live with mental disorders ranging from depression and anxiety to bipolar disorder and substance use.
  2. Treatment gap: 70–92% of individuals with severe illness receive no formal care.
  3. Lifetime prevalence: 10.6%, according to national health data.
  4. Global comparison: WHO estimates India’s suicide rate at 16.3 per 1,00,000, significantly higher than the global average.

Value Addition:

India’s Mental Health Governance and Legal Framework:

  • Mental Healthcare Act, 2017:
    1. Guarantees the right to affordable, quality mental health care.
    2. Decriminalises suicide and mandates insurance coverage for psychiatric illnesses.
    3. Upholds patient dignity and autonomy under Article 21 of the Constitution.
  • Judicial reinforcement: In Sukdeb Saha vs State of Andhra Pradesh (2025), the Supreme Court reaffirmed mental health as a fundamental right, compelling state accountability.
  • District Mental Health Programme (DMHP): Covers 767 districts, expanding access to outpatient services, suicide prevention, and counselling.
  • Tele MANAS Helpline: A 24×7 service offering over 20 lakh tele-counselling sessions, particularly beneficial in underserved regions.

Supreme Court Intervention:  Sukdeb Saha vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (2025):

  • Overview: The Supreme Court invoked Articles 32 and 141 to issue 15 binding “Saha Guidelines” addressing student suicides and mental health governance in educational institutions.
  • Key Judgment: It upheld mental health as an integral component of the right to life.
  • Key Guidelines include:
    1. Policy Mandate: All institutions must adopt a mental health policy consistent with UMMEED, MANODARPAN, and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
    2. Counseling Requirement: Appointment of one certified mental health counselor in every institution with 100+ students.
    3. Academic Practices: Ban on batch segregation, public shaming, and unrealistic academic targets.
    4. Helpline Visibility: Mandatory display of Tele-MANAS and other helpline numbers in classrooms, hostels, and websites.
    5. Staff Training: Biannual mental health sensitization for teachers and administrators on crisis response.
    6. Inclusivity Measures: Institutions must ensure non-discriminatory support for SC/ST/OBC/EWS, LGBTQ+, and disabled students.
    7. Crisis Management: Establish confidential reporting systems for ragging, discrimination, and assault, with immediate counseling access.
    8. Preventive Steps: Control access to common means of suicide (e.g., rooftops, ceiling fans) and promote interest-based career counseling.

Systemic Gaps and Institutional Failures:

  1. Workforce shortage: Only 0.75 psychiatrists and 0.12 psychologists per 1,00,000 population, below WHO’s minimum of 1.7 psychiatrists and far from the ideal of 3.
  2. Underfunding: Mental health receives only 1.05% of India’s health budget, compared to 8–10% in countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK.
  3. Policy–practice gap:
    • The Mental Healthcare Act (2017) decriminalised suicide and guaranteed the right to care.
    • The National Suicide Prevention Strategy (2022) targeted a 10% reduction in suicides.
    • However, implementation remains weak, and suicides continue to rise.
  4. Non-functional initiatives:
    • The Manodarpan school-based support scheme remains largely inactive.
    • ₹270 crore allocated for mental health is largely unspent.

Persistent Challenges:

  1. Treatment Gaps: 70–92% of individuals with common disorders like depression and anxiety remain untreated.
  2. Infrastructure Deficits: Inadequate availability of psychotropic medicines and rehabilitation services, which meet less than 15% of actual demand.
  3. Stigma and Awareness: Over 50% of Indians still attribute mental illness to personal weakness or shame, limiting early intervention.
  4. Workforce Urban Bias: Mental health professionals remain concentrated in cities, leaving rural areas, where 70% of India’s population lives, largely unserved.

Steps to Strengthen India’s Mental Health System: Way Forward

  1. Budget Expansion: Raise mental health allocation to at least 5% of total health spending, ensuring resources for workforce, infrastructure, and medicine.
  2. Workforce Development: Train and deploy mid-level mental health providers to fill rural gaps and meet WHO’s minimum density.
  3. Integration: Embed mental health into primary health care and universal insurance coverage.
  4. Monitoring: Create a cascade-based national monitoring system to track outcomes, ensure accountability, and guide funding.
  5. Anti-Stigma Campaigns: Institutionalise mental health education in schools and workplaces, aiming for 60% literacy coverage by 2027.
  6. Cross-Ministerial Coordination: Establish a unified framework linking health, education, social justice, and labour for cohesive policy execution.

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