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Electoral Reforms In India

[22nd August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Poll integrity and self-sabotage, parties and the ECI

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

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2019] On what grounds a people’s representative can be disqualified under the Representation of People Act, 1951? Also mention the remedies available to such person against his disqualification.

Linkage: The Representation of People Act, 1951 provides the legal foundation for ensuring free and fair elections, including grounds for disqualification such as corrupt practices, electoral offences, and irregularities. The issue of flawed electoral rolls and voter fraud, as highlighted in this article, connects directly with the broader framework of the RPA. While the Act prescribes remedies against wrongful disqualification, its effectiveness depends heavily on accurate voter lists, active oversight by parties, and neutrality of the ECI. Thus, the credibility of electoral rolls is not only an administrative concern but also a legal and constitutional safeguard under the RPA, 1951.

Mentor’s comments

India’s democracy depends not just on strong institutions but also on the integrity of political actors. The ongoing debate around flawed electoral rolls, the role of the Election Commission of India (ECI), and political parties’ complicity exposes serious challenges. This article unpacks how poll integrity is being compromised and how both parties and the ECI are shaping voter trust.

Introduction

Electoral rolls are the backbone of free and fair elections, yet duplicate entries, ghost names, and ineligible voters continue to mar them. These flaws enable impersonation and multiple voting, weakening public faith in the system. While the ECI faces criticism, political parties too are responsible for neglecting local structures and prioritising short-term electoral wins.

The contrast is sharp: In the 1990s under T.N. Seshan, the ECI was hailed as a global model of electoral probity. Today, suspicion surrounds the institution, raising doubts about whether both the ECI and political parties are failing in their constitutional roles.

The Fall of the Election Commission’s Credibility

  1. From Trust to Suspicion: Once among India’s most trusted institutions, the ECI’s opacity and lack of accountability now fuel mistrust.
  2. Contrast with the Past: T.N. Seshan’s tenure saw strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, monitoring of expenses, and the EPIC system to curb bogus voting.
  3. Present Decline: Instead of fixing flawed rolls, the ECI made inspections harder, deepening suspicion over its neutrality.

How Political Parties Weakened Themselves

  1. Shift from Ground to Tech: Local campaigns with house visits and meetings are being replaced by social media, phone calls, AI tools, creating an illusion of connection.
  2. Reliance on Consultants: Campaign strategy and candidate selection now rest with professional consultants, centralising power and weakening grassroots.
  3. Neglect of Local Cadres: Once the backbone of political parties, local workers are sidelined, leaving little vigilance against electoral fraud.

The Booth Level Agent System and Its Vulnerabilities

  1. Role of BLAs: Booth Level Agents (BLAs) are meant to be the vital link between voters, parties, and the ECI by verifying draft rolls.
  2. Safeguards in Place: Rules cap BLAs at 10 applications a day; exceeding 30 requires personal verification by officers.
  3. Failures in Practice: Cases like Mahadevapura (Karnataka) reveal inactive BLAs, manipulations, and possible bias, showing safeguards are poorly enforced.

Opportunities for Political Redemption

  1. Reviving Local Units: The crisis is a chance for parties to strengthen grassroots structures, not just depend on consultants.
  2. Kerala’s Example: Parties there are now diligently flagging duplicate voters and multiple IDs during local elections.
  3. Historical Warning: Weak grassroots units once undermined land reforms post-Independence; neglect today risks hollowing out democracy again.

The Deeper Democratic Implications

  1. Beyond Elections: Roll revisions, though routine, are crucial to maintaining democratic fairness.
  2. Erosion of Trust: Prioritising short-term electoral gains over constitutional values leaves institutions hollow.
  3. Democracy at Risk: Weak local organisations and complicit institutions together may end up surrendering democracy itself.

Conclusion

The integrity of India’s democracy depends not just on robust institutions but also on vigilant political participation at the grassroots. The ECI must reclaim its credibility by ensuring transparency, while political parties must revive their local cadres to safeguard electoral rolls. Without these corrective steps, the erosion of trust may reach a tipping point where democracy is hollowed out from within.

Value Addition

T.N. Seshan’s Reforms in the 1990s

  1. Strict Enforcement of MCC – First CEC to rigorously implement the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), curbing misuse of official machinery.
  2. Curbing Electoral Malpractices – Took action against bribery, muscle power, and use of religion/caste in campaigns.
  3. Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) – Introduced voter ID cards to check bogus voting.
  4. Monitoring Poll Expenditure – Set strict limits on candidate expenses and ensured scrutiny of accounts.
  5. Independent Authority of ECI – Asserted autonomy of the Election Commission, making it a powerful guardian of free and fair elections.
  6. Public Trust Restored – Citizen surveys during the 1990s ranked ECI among the most credible institutions.

Why it matters: T.N. Seshan’s tenure is often cited as the “gold standard” of electoral probity, offering a benchmark against which today’s decline in trust and credibility is judged.

Mapping Microthemes

  1. GS Paper II (Polity & Governance): Electoral integrity, role of ECI, political accountability.
  2. GS Paper I (History & Society): Weakening of grassroots political movements.
  3. GS Paper III (Technology): Impact of AI-driven campaigns and professional consultants.
  4. GS Paper IV (Ethics): Institutional neutrality, self-restraint, erosion of trust.

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Electoral Reforms In India

[21st August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: India’s democracy is failing the migrant citizen

op-ed snap | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Federalism

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2022] Discuss the role of the Election Commission of India in the light of the evolution of the Model Code of Conduct.”

Linkage: Just as the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) evolved as a tool by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure free and fair elections in a changing political landscape, the present crisis of migrant disenfranchisement in Bihar shows the need for the ECI to evolve its mechanisms to safeguard inclusivity similarly. The deletion of 3.5 million migrant voters highlights that electoral integrity today is not only about regulating political behaviour (through MCC) but also about ensuring universal participation by adapting to realities of circular migration, dual belonging, and portable identities. Strengthening ECI’s role in creating mobile and flexible voter registration systems, like Kerala’s migration surveys or cross-State verification, would be a natural extension of its democratic mandate.

Mentor’s Comment

The article highlights a silent but serious crisis unfolding in Bihar, where nearly 3.5 million voters, largely migrants, have been deleted from electoral rolls due to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). This not only exposes flaws in India’s electoral infrastructure but also deepens the democratic deficit in migrant-heavy States. For UPSC aspirants, this issue links to democracy, citizenship, federalism, migration, and social justice, making it highly relevant for GS 2 (Polity & Governance) and GS 1 (Society).

Introduction

In a democracy of 1.4 billion citizens, every vote matters. Yet, millions of India’s migrant workers are quietly being left out of the democratic process. In Bihar, where migration is both an economic lifeline and a survival strategy, the recent mass deletion of 3.5 million voters (4.4% of the total electoral roll) raises critical questions about representation, inclusivity, and the design of India’s electoral system. The crisis is not an isolated administrative lapse but a systemic failure rooted in an outdated model of citizenship tied to permanent residence, ignoring the realities of circular and seasonal migration.

The disenfranchisement of Bihar’s migrants in the news

  1. Mass deletion: Nearly 3.5 million voters were deleted under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
  2. Reason given: “Permanently migrated”, migrants absent during house-to-house verification.
  3. Permanent loss of rights: These voters cannot vote either in host States (where they work) or in home States (where their names are deleted).
  4. Democratic rupture: Bihar’s voter turnout is already low, 53.2% in the last four Assembly elections, compared to 66.4% in Gujarat and 70.7% in Karnataka.
  5. Scale of migration: 7 million annual outflow from Bihar, of which 4.8 million migrate seasonally. Around 2.7 million return during October–November festivals, yet many will be unable to vote this year.

Electoral system and the migrant challenge in India

  1. Sedentary citizen model: Voter registration tied to proof of residence and in-person verification.
  2. Documentation barriers: Migrants often live in rented rooms, construction sites, or slums with no accepted address proof.
  3. Regionalism & exclusion: Migrants in host States are seen as “outsiders” with fears of electoral influence discouraging registration.
  4. Dual belonging demonised: Migrants contribute economically in host States but are denied political identity both at origin and destination.

Studies revealing migrant exclusion in electoral participation

  1. TISS Study (2015): “Inclusive Elections in India” (funded by ECI) confirmed marginalisation of migrants.
  2. Triple burden: Administrative barriers, digital illiteracy, social exclusion.
  3. Correlation: Higher migration = Lower voter turnout in source States.
  4. Mobile data estimates: 7 million circular migrants annually from Bihar, proving large-scale exclusion.

Welfare exclusions and the migrant voting crisis

  • One Nation One Ration Card Scheme (2019):
    1. Limited uptake: only 3.3 lakh households from Bihar availed portability by May 2025.
    2. Barriers: Dual residency, bureaucratic hurdles, fear of losing entitlements.
    3. Parallel with voter IDs: migrants keep origin-based documents for security.
  • Cross-border complexities: Along the 1,751 km India-Nepal border, traditional “roti-beti” ties now face exclusion due to restrictive documentation, disproportionately affecting women.

Reforms to safeguard migrant voting rights

  1. Portable voter identity: Mobile, flexible, and portable voter ID system.
  2. Cross-verification model: Coordination between origin and destination States to prevent disenfranchisement.
  3. Local bodies’ role: Panchayats and civil society to aid migrant re-registration.
  4. Kerala model of migration surveys: Replicate in high-migration States like Bihar and UP.
  5. Immediate halt to blanket deletions: Safeguard against the “largest silent voter purge in post-Independence India.”

Conclusion

Migrants embody India’s paradox, economic backbone but political invisibility. The deletion of millions of voters from Bihar is not just an administrative failure; it is a systemic denial of democratic rights. If India’s electoral infrastructure does not adapt to the realities of migration, democracy risks leaving behind its most hard-working and vulnerable citizens. Ensuring portable electoral rights is not charity, it is the essence of a living democracy.

Value Addition

Constitutional and Legal Angle

  • Article 326: Provides for universal adult suffrage — any exclusion of migrant workers undermines this fundamental principle.
  • Representation of People Act, 1950 & 1951: While they govern electoral rolls and voting procedures, they are silent on portable voting rights for internal migrants.
  • Supreme Court in PUCL vs Union of India (2003): Declared the right to vote as part of freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a). Denial to migrants raises constitutional concerns.

Scale of the Problem – National Context

  • Census 2011: 45.6 crore internal migrants in India (37% of the population).
  • Economic Survey 2017: ~9 million people migrate annually for work, education, or marriage.
  • Migrants form a huge electoral constituency, yet remain politically invisible.

Policy/Election Commission (EC) Initiatives Beyond Bihar

  • EC’s Remote Voting Machine (RVM) Proposal, 2023: Aimed to allow migrants to vote from remote locations, but postponed after opposition from political parties.
  • E-EPIC (Electronic Voter Photo ID Card), 2021: Step toward portability but lacks full integration across States.

Comparative Global Insights

  • Philippines: Overseas absentee voting law enables migrants abroad to vote in national elections.
  • Mexico: Postal voting rights for citizens abroad.
  • South Africa: Mobile registration and voting stations in migrant-dense areas.
  • India lags in creating portable political rights for its massive migrant population.

Democratic & Governance Implications

  • Political alienation → weakens democratic legitimacy in migrant-heavy States (Bihar, UP, Odisha).
  • Rise of sub-nationalism → exclusion in host States deepens identity politics.
  • Urban governance: Migrants in cities are tax contributors (indirectly via consumption) but lack political representation → urban policies ignore their needs.

Ethical & Social Justice Dimension

  • Ambedkar’s warning: “Political democracy cannot last unless… social democracy is its foundation.” Excluding the poor migrants fractures this balance.
  • Gandhian perspective: True Swaraj is when “the last man” (Antyodaya principle) participates in democracy — migrant exclusion violates this ethic.

Mapping Microthemes

  • GS Paper I (Society): Migration, regionalism, exclusion of vulnerable groups.
  • GS Paper II (Polity & Governance): Electoral reforms, federal coordination, democratic rights.
  • GS Paper III (Economy): Migration as economic survival strategy.
  • GS Paper IV (Ethics): Justice, fairness, and democratic inclusivity.

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

[20th August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Making India’s climate taxonomy framework work

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

PYQ Relevance

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

Linkage: If such a theme on international climate governance and mechanisms can be asked, then India’s Climate Finance Taxonomy also becomes a significant area. It connects global agreements like the Paris Agreement (Article 6.4) with India’s domestic instruments such as the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme and green bonds.

Mentors Comment

In May 2025, the Ministry of Finance released the draft Climate Finance Taxonomy, India’s first attempt to formally define what counts as climate-aligned investment. The framework seeks to mobilise green finance, prevent greenwashing, and give clarity to investors. Its success, however, depends on strong review systems, accountability, and stakeholder engagement.

Introduction

The draft taxonomy marks a turning point in India’s climate governance. This is India’s first unified framework for climate finance, introduced amid rising greenwashing risks and investor uncertainty. Arriving alongside the operationalisation of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme and the rise of green bonds, it comes at a moment of growing pressure to align finance with net-zero goals. As a “living framework,” it promises adaptability to evolving national and global priorities. But without transparency, legal coherence, and institutional accountability, the taxonomy risks undermining India’s climate finance ecosystem instead of strengthening it.

The Review Architecture for a Living Framework

  1. Two-tier review system: Suggestion of annual reviews for short-term corrections and five-year reviews for deep reassessment.
  2. Annual reviews: Triggered by implementation gaps, international obligations, or stakeholder feedback, with structured timelines, documentation protocols, and public consultation.
  3. Five-year reviews: Linked with India’s NDC cycle and global stocktake under the UNFCCC; ensures long-term resilience in a changing climate finance ecosystem.

Key aspects of the Substantive Review

  1. Legal coherence: Taxonomy must align with Energy Conservation Act, SEBI norms, Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, and India’s international commitments.
  2. Harmonisation: Review should remove overlaps, clarify redundancies, and integrate with green bonds, blended finance, and environmental risk disclosures.
  3. Content clarity: Definitions must remain readable, coherent, and technically precise. Quantitative thresholds (e.g., emissions reduction, energy efficiency benchmarks) must be regularly updated with empirical data.
  4. Inclusivity: Framework must remain accessible to MSMEs, informal sector, agriculture, and small manufacturing with staggered compliance timelines and proportionate expectations.

Strengthening Governance through Accountability Structures

  1. Standing unit in the Ministry of Finance: Dedicated body within the Department of Economic Affairs or an expert committee involving financial regulators, climate science institutions, civil society.
  2. Public dashboards: Mechanisms to receive inputs, document experiences, and publish reports.
  3. Transparency: Annual review summaries and five-year revision proposals should be made public in consolidated formats to enhance investor trust and policy coherence.

Significance of the Climate Finance Taxonomy for India’s Green Transition

  1. Carbon Credit Trading Scheme: Soon to be fully operational, requiring clear rules for market credibility.
  2. Green bonds: Entering mainstream portfolios and stock exchanges, need alignment with taxonomy standards.
  3. Public investment flows: Rising pressure to align fiscal spending with long-term climate goals.
  4. Risk of failure: A weak or opaque taxonomy could undermine India’s net-zero transition by encouraging greenwashing and eroding investor trust.

Conclusion

India’s climate taxonomy is more than a definitional exercise, it is a governance tool that can determine the credibility of India’s climate finance system. A “living document” is meaningful only if it is kept alive through active review, structured revision, and transparent engagement. By embedding legal coherence, inclusivity, and accountability, India can ensure the taxonomy becomes a reliable foundation for mobilising investments, reducing greenwashing, and achieving its climate goals.

Value Addition
  • Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement: Provides a framework for carbon market instruments with legal and editorial review mechanisms; offers a model for India’s taxonomy to ensure transparency, credibility, and alignment with global norms.
  • Carbon Market Types:
    • Compliance Markets: Mandated by law (e.g., EU ETS, upcoming India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme).
    • Voluntary Markets: Corporate/individual offsetting of emissions beyond legal requirements.
  • Green Bonds in India:
    • First Sovereign Green Bonds issued in 2023 worth ₹16,000 crore.
    • Used for renewable energy, clean transport, and climate adaptation projects.
    • Support India’s target of net-zero by 2070 and deepen climate finance flows.

Mapping Microthemes

  • GS Paper II: Governance, public consultation, accountability mechanisms.
  • GS Paper III: Climate finance, carbon markets, sustainable development, green bonds, energy efficiency.
  • GS Paper IV: Ethical finance, transparency, preventing greenwashing.

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Hunger and Nutrition Issues – GHI, GNI, etc.

The path to ending global hunger runs through India

op-ed snap | Social Justice | Mains Paper 1: Poverty & Development Issues

UPSC Mains Relevance

[UPSC 2017] Hunger and Poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India still today. Evaluate how far successive governments have progressed in dealing with these humongous problems. Suggest measures for improvement.

Linkage: India’s recent success in reducing undernourishment by 30 million people and transforming its PDS shows definite progress in tackling hunger and poverty, aligning with welfare-driven governance. Yet, challenges of affordability, malnutrition, and nutrition security highlight that while gains are visible, deeper reforms in agrifood systems and social protection are still required.

Mentor’s Comment

The world is finally seeing a decline in hunger after years of setbacks. At the centre of this shift is India, whose food security programmes have reduced undernourishment at an unprecedented scale. For UPSC aspirants, this story reflects governance, technology, and welfare delivery working together.

Introduction

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 report shows undernourishment fell to 673 million people globally in 2024, down from 688 million in 2023. India has been decisive in this progress, reducing hunger for nearly 30 million people in just two years. The Public Distribution System (PDS) alone supports over 800 million beneficiaries with digital efficiency unmatched in scale. This progress stands in sharp contrast with the bleak COVID-era surge in hunger and makes India a global anchor in the journey towards SDG 2 – Zero Hunger.

India’s Pathway to Ending Hunger:

Transformation of the Public Distribution System (PDS)

  1. Digital shift: Aadhaar-based targeting, real-time tracking, and biometric authentication improved delivery.
  2. Portability: One Nation One Ration Card enabled migrants and vulnerable households to access entitlements anywhere.
  3. Rapid Scale of support: Over 800 million people received subsidised food grains during the pandemic.

Shifting of Focus from Calories to Nutrition

  1. High Cost of Healthy Diets: Over 60% of Indians cannot afford nutrient-rich foods due to inflation, poor cold chains, and weak market linkages.
  2. Nutrition-Centric Schemes: PM POSHAN (2021) and ICDS are addressing dietary diversity and nutrition sensitivity.
  3. Dual Challenge: Even as hunger declines, malnutrition, obesity and micronutrient deficiencies are rising.

Need for Agrifood System Structural Reforms

  1. Boosting Production of Nutrient-Rich Foods: Pulses, fruits, vegetables, and animal products must be scaled for affordability.
  2. Reducing Post-Harvest Losses: About 13% of food is lost between farm and market due to weak cold storage and logistics.
  3. Supporting Women-Led Enterprises and Farmer Producer Organization: Promoting climate-resilient crops enhances both nutrition and livelihoods.

Digital governance drives agrifood transformation

  1. AgriStack & e-NAM: Enhance planning, digital logistics, and market access for farmers.
  2. Geospatial Tools: Enable better agricultural mapping and nutrition-sensitive targeting.
  3. Data-Driven Agriculture: Improves service delivery and strengthens supply-demand alignment.

Why is India’s success globally significant?

  1. Leadership in Global South: India’s digital and governance innovations can be replicated in developing nations.
  2. Global SDGs: With only five years left for 2030 SDGs, India’s example shows that hunger reduction is possible with political will and smart investments.
  3. Symbol of Hope: FAO calls India’s progress not just a national achievement but a contribution to global food security.

Conclusion

India’s recent performance marks a historic pivot in the fight against hunger. The country has shown that scale, digital governance, and targeted welfare can turn crisis into opportunity. Yet, the journey forward must emphasise nutrition, resilience, and inclusivity not just calories. If sustained, India will not only feed itself but also light the path for global hunger eradication.

Value Addition

Reports & Indices

  • State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 (SOFI Report) – Global undernourishment fell from 688 million (2023) to 673 million (2024); India reduced undernourishment from 14.3% to 12% (30 million fewer hungry people).
  • FAO Food Loss Report – Around 13% of food is lost between farm and market in India, affecting affordability.

SDG Linkage

  • SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) – Ending hunger by 2030.
  • SDG 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing) – Tackling malnutrition, obesity, micronutrient deficiencies.
  • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production) – Reducing food loss and wastage.

Keywords with UPSC Relevance

  • Calorie-to-Nutrition Shift – Moving beyond staple food security to nutrient-rich diets.
  • Hunger Paradox – Coexistence of undernourishment and obesity/micronutrient deficiency.

Examples for Enrichment in Answers

  • COVID-19 Response – India’s rapid PDS scale-up fed 800+ million people, one of the largest welfare interventions globally.
  • Digital Governance – ONORC portability cited as a global best practice by the World Bank and FAO.
  • Women-led FPOs – Strengthening climate-resilient crops while improving local nutrition outcomes.

Microtheme Mapping:

  • GS Paper I – Hunger and poverty, demographic vulnerabilities.
  • GS Paper II – Governance, digital welfare, social justice, schemes.
  • GS Paper III – Agrifood systems, logistics, cold chains, technology in agriculture.

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Judicial Reforms

[18th August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: A case for judicial introspection

op-ed snap | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Representation Of People's Act

PYQ Relevance

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

Linkage: The 2016 ECI reforms sought to strengthen electoral transparency and fairness, while the current debate on the 2023 Act vs. Baranwal judgment highlights how the independence of ECI itself is under threat. Together, they show that both institutional autonomy and procedural reforms are essential for improving the quality of democracy.

Mentor’s Comment:

The credibility of elections is the lifeline of any democracy. Recent controversies around the appointment of Election Commissioners and the weakening of institutional safeguards have put India’s electoral integrity under the spotlight. This article unpacks the constitutional debates, judicial interventions, legislative countermeasures, and comparative global experiences to help aspirants understand the stakes involved in preserving the Election Commission of India (ECI) as an independent constitutional body.

Introduction

The Election Commission of India (ECI) ensures that elections are free, fair, and impartial. In 2023, the Supreme Court’s Anoop Baranwal case gave more independence to the ECI by including the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in the appointment process. But Parliament quickly passed a law removing the CJI and putting a Cabinet Minister in his place. The Court did not stop this change, and elections in 2024 were conducted under this new system. This has raised doubts about whether the ECI can act independently from the government.

Current debate over who controls ECI appointments

  1. Nullification of Baranwal judgment: The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. replaced the CJI with a Cabinet Minister (nominated by the PM) in the selection panel, reversing judicial attempts to ensure independence.
  2. Supreme Court’s refusal to stay the law: In Dr. Jaya Thakur v. Union of India (2024), the SC upheld the Act’s validity for the time being, allowing the government’s version to prevail in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
  3. Failure of judicial vigilance: A potentially independent ECI could have overseen elections more impartially, but judicial reluctance meant the executive retained control.
  4. Global parallels: Scholars like Landau and Dixon (2020) warn how courts sometimes legitimize authoritarian regimes by siding with executive dominance in electoral matters.

Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023): The Supreme Court’s big step for ECI independence

  1. Article 324 interpretation: The Court held that appointments to the ECI must be insulated from the executive’s exclusive control.
  2. Role of CJI: Inclusion of the Chief Justice in the selection committee was seen as a safeguard against partisanship.
  3. Warning against pliability: The judgment noted that a “pliable ECI” could become a tool for perpetuating power, undermining free and fair elections.

The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023: Parliament’s counter to the Court

  1. Executive dominance: By excluding the CJI and including a Cabinet Minister, the law tilted the balance back towards government control.
  2. Presumption of validity: The SC’s refusal to strike down or stay the Act demonstrated a conservative approach, prioritizing legislative supremacy over constitutional safeguards.
  3. Practical implications: The 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were conducted under an ECI shaped by this executive-heavy framework.

Global lessons on electoral manipulation

  1. Authoritarian strategies: According to Landau & Dixon, regimes in Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia used courts and electoral commissions to legitimize manipulated outcomes.
  2. Pre-election manipulation: Autocrats often consolidate institutions (courts, ECs) well before elections, creating a tilted playing field.
  3. Positive global model: South Africa’s Chapter Nine institutions, including its Electoral Commission, provide a framework for independent, fourth-branch institutions to safeguard democracy.

Fourth pillar of democracy: Autonomous Institutions

  1. Beyond traditional separation: Modern democracies recognize institutions beyond Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary such as independent ECs, CAGs, Information Commissions.
  2. Imaginative interpretation: In the Baranwal case, the Court attempted to evolve the ECI into such a fourth branch institution, enhancing checks on executive power.
  3. Legislative reversal: The 2023 Act effectively nullified this innovation, raising questions about India’s commitment to electoral impartiality.

The road ahead for electoral reforms: Restoring faith in Democracy

  1. Reinstating CJI in the selection panel: This would revive the spirit of the Baranwal verdict.
  2. Fresh appointments through a reformed process: Ensuring a genuinely independent ECI could require re-selection of commissioners.
  3. Truth Commission role: A reformed ECI could investigate alleged instances of electoral fraud, restoring voter confidence.

Conclusion

The ECI is not just another administrative body, it is the custodian of the democratic process. The dilution of judicial safeguards in its appointment mechanism risks eroding the integrity of elections, thereby weakening the very foundation of democracy. Restoring the spirit of Baranwal by reinstating the CJI’s role in appointments and insulating the ECI from executive control remains the most urgent democratic reform.

Mapping Microthemes (GS relevance)

  • GS-II (Polity & Governance): Electoral reforms, Independence of constitutional bodies, Separation of powers.
  • GS-I: Role of institutions in shaping democratic practices.
  • GS-III: Impact of political manipulation on governance outcomes.
  • GS-IV (Ethics): Constitutional morality, impartiality, institutional integrity.

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Internal Security Trends and Incidents

The Waning of Insurgency: Decline of Naxalism in India

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

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2013] Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is showing a downward trend, but still affects many parts of the country. Briefly explain the socio-economic issues that contribute to LWE, and the measures taken by the government to address them.

Linkage: The question resonates with the article’s focus on the downward curve of Naxalism while stressing that socio-economic deprivations among tribals and the rural poor have historically sustained the movement. It also connects with the state’s twin approach of security operations and development interventions that are gradually weakening Left Wing Extremism.

Mentor’s Comment: The narrative of militancy in India is shifting. While the world warns of AI-fuelled terrorism and increasingly sophisticated threats, India is witnessing a rare counter-trend, a decline in ideologically-driven insurgencies such as Naxalism. This moment is not just a statistic; it’s a significant turning point in the country’s internal security landscape, marking the potential closure of a decades-long chapter that once defined violent dissent in India.

Introduction

At a time when global terrorism persists ranging from lone-wolf attacks to fears of AI-enabled bio-terrorism India is witnessing an unprecedented success story. Naxalism, an ideologically-driven insurgency that once gripped large parts of the country, is in clear decline. For the first time, the Union Home Minister has set a timeline, predicting its “final demise” by mid-2026.

The Changing Global and Indian Terrorism Landscape

How does global terrorism contrast with India’s current experience?

  1. Persistent global threat: A quarter-century after 9/11, jihadist violence remains potent, with incidents such as IS-inspired vehicle rammings in Europe and the U.S.
  2. Emerging AI-driven dangers: Concerns over terrorists accessing bio-weapons or misaligned AI pose new challenges.
  3. India’s divergence: While global trends show intensification, India is experiencing a declining curve in ideologically-oriented militancy, particularly Naxalism.

From ‘Spring Thunder’ to a Fading Echo — The Rise and Decline of Naxalism

  1. Revolutionary origins: Inspired by Mao, Ho Chi Minh, and Che Guevara, the late 1960s Naxalite movement attracted students, intellectuals, and marginalized groups.
  2. Loss of ideological cohesion: Splits into regional factions eroded the all-India character of the movement.
  3. Degeneration into violence: From targeted political action, it shifted to indiscriminate killings, losing public sympathy.

Why is Naxalism Declining?

  1. Sustained Offensive (2024 onwards): Coordinated security operations across states have eliminated thousands of cadres.
  2. Major Losses: Even the banned CPI (Maoist) admitted 357 cadres killed in one year, over one-third of them women.
  3. Leadership & Territorial Shrinkage: The removal of top leaders like Ganapathi and confinement of the insurgency to the Dandakaranya region reflect its weakening base.
  4. Weakening: Infighting and loss of ideological cohesion have eroded its strength.

India’s Approach vs. U.S. ‘War on Terror’

  1. U.S. model: Heavy reliance on brute force in places like Somalia and Yemen.
  2. India’s model: A calibrated strategy with checks on use of force, mindful of the Naxalites’ local roots. The SAMADHAN Doctrine—Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation, Intelligence, Technology use, Local action plans, and choking finances—has guided the campaign.

India’s Approach vs U.S. ‘War on Terror’

  1. Ideological vs non-ideological targets: U.S. campaigns focused on jihadists abroad; India’s on militants embedded in local communities.
  2. Checks and balances: India traditionally limited brute force, using it selectively.
  3. Community linkage: Naxalites often lived among villagers, complicating security responses.

Original Naxalites vs. “Urban Naxals”

  1. Original movement: The 1960s “Spring Thunder Over India” drew inspiration from Mao and Che Guevara, but degenerated into fragmented violence.
  2. Contemporary misuse: Today’s “urban naxals” are loosely-knit intellectual critics of government policy, lacking the ideological foundation of the original movement. Misclassification of the two risks policy errors.

The ‘Urban Naxal’ Misclassification Problem

  1. Original movement’s structure: Marxist-Leninist framework with defined goals and ideology.
  2. Today’s ‘urban naxals’: Loosely connected intellectuals critical of government policies, lacking direct insurgent links.
  3. Policy risk: Mislabeling can distort understanding, leading to inappropriate responses and latent security risks.

Conclusion

The decline of Naxalism marks an inflection point in India’s internal security narrative. Yet, premature declarations of victory must be avoided, as history shows insurgencies can mutate or re-emerge. Accurate threat classification, addressing root grievances, and avoiding cognitive blind spots will be key to ensuring that the “end of Naxalism” is indeed a lasting reality.

Value Addition 

  1. Decline of the “Red Corridor”: Once widespread, Naxal influence is now confined to limited forest belts.
  2. Development & Governance: Infrastructure, education, healthcare, and tribal rights reforms have severed the Naxal-village link.
  3. Internal Security Gains: Security forces are freed for other challenges; development projects can now expand into previously inaccessible regions.

Practice Mains Question

Discuss the factors contributing to the decline of Naxalism in India and examine the implications for the country’s internal security architecture.

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Higher Education – RUSA, NIRF, HEFA, etc.

[14th August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The Ceding of Academic Freedom in Universities

op-ed snap | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2014] Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of students? Discuss in light of the growing challenges.

Linkage: This PYQ directly links to the article’s core theme of academic autonomy by addressing whether premier institutions should have greater freedom in curriculum design, student selection, and governance. The article highlights how over-regulation, political interference, and funding control erode such freedoms across Indian universities. Answering this PYQ can draw on the article’s arguments for institutional autonomy, diversity, and the dangers of one-size-fits-all regulation.

Mentor’s Comment

Academic freedom is central to nurturing innovation, fostering critical thought, and sustaining democratic accountability in higher education. It ensures that universities remain spaces for questioning, debate, and independent research, free from undue political or bureaucratic interference. In the Indian context, constitutional guarantees under Articles 19(1)(a) and 21, along with policy frameworks like the NEP 2020, lay a foundation for such autonomy, yet over-regulation and ideological pressures often undermine it. This article illustrates these challenges vividly, linking them to global patterns and emphasising the need for reforms that safeguard autonomy while ensuring institutional accountability.

Introduction

Academic freedom is the lifeblood of higher education, enabling questioning, debate, and independent thought. Any restriction on this freedom undermines knowledge creation, weakens the teaching–learning process, and, in the long run, hampers the nation’s intellectual, social, and economic progress.

Core Arguments in Favour of Academic Freedom in Universities

  1. Universities as Centres of Critical Inquiry:
    1. Universities must be spaces where students and faculty can challenge existing ideas, debate openly, and explore new perspectives.
    2. Questioning is not rebellion, it is the foundation of knowledge development.
    3. Freedom for Students & Faculty: Students need the right to ask questions without fear. Faculty must have autonomy to challenge conventional wisdom in their fields.
  2. Institutional Autonomy:
    1. Universities must independently decide curriculum and pedagogy.
    2. External political or bureaucratic interference in academic content dilutes intellectual rigour.
    3. Universities contribute ideas for science, technology, economic policy, and social reform.
    4. Act as “conscience-keepers” through public intellectual engagement.
    5. Autonomy fosters accountability but accountability should be through transparent institutional mechanisms, not political intervention
    6. Rankings, despite flaws, can help ensure performance-based accountability
  3. Impact on Innovation & Society:
    1. Restricting academic discourse narrows creativity in research and stifles innovation.
    2. Over time, the economy, society, and polity bear the cost through diminished problem-solving capacity.
  4. Open Intellectual Spaces:
    1. Universities should freely invite diverse voices and speakers.
    2. Restricting platforms for dialogue harms learning outcomes and social progress.

Erosion of Academic Autonomy: Challenges and Way Forward

  1. Freedom in Research:
    1. Universities and faculty must set research priorities and agendas free from political or ideological bias.
    2. Funding should be based on peer review, not prejudice or preference.
    3. Fundamental research needs time, resources, and tolerance for dissenting views.
    4. Lack of such an environment partly explains why Indian universities have not produced Nobel laureates in recent decades.
  2. The Indian Reality:
    1. Curricula are regulated and straitjacketed; reading lists are often politically vetted.
    2. Promising non-mainstream research, especially in humanities and social sciences, is discouraged.
    3. Government-controlled funding bodies can indirectly dictate research themes.
    4. Even private universities self-censor to avoid antagonising political authorities.
  3. Regulation and Autonomy:
    1. UGC Act, 1956 grants regulation powers but often centralises control.
    2. NEP 2020 proposes Higher Education Commission of India to streamline governance but risks uniformity over diversity.
    3. Autonomy must be administrative, financial, and academic with accountability ensured via transparent governance systems, not political directives.

Case in Point – Academic Freedom Under Strain in India

  1. JNU Reading List Controversy (2019): Certain texts removed from syllabi for “ideological bias.”
  2. IIT-Madras Student Group Derecognition (2015): Suspension after alleged criticism of government policies.
  3. Ashoka University Resignations (2021 & 2023): Faculty exits over lack of institutional support for academic freedom.
  4. UGC Advisory (2022): Urged avoidance of events critical of government policies.

Global Context

  1. Restrictions in democracies (Argentina, Hungary, Türkiye) and authoritarian states (China, Russia, Vietnam).
  2. The US faced funding cuts under the Trump administration, risking erosion of its innovation edge.
  3. China limits social sciences freedom but maintains merit-based appointments in top institutions.

Conclusion

Academic freedom is not a privilege, it is a necessity for national growth. Curtailing it is an attack on the very roots of innovation, democratic engagement, and societal advancement.

Value Addition

India’s Academic Freedom Snapshot

  1. Academic Freedom Index 2023: Low score; declining trend since 2013
  2. QS World University Rankings – Few Indian universities in global top 200; autonomy cited as a factor
  3. NAAC Accreditation: Less than 35% of HEIs accredited
  4. UGC Autonomy Regulations: 82 universities granted autonomy (2018–2023)
  5. Global Comparison: US, UK, Germany ranked significantly higher in academic freedom

Regulation of Indian Universities

  1. University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956: regulates standards, allocates funds, recognises institutions.
  2. AICTE: governs technical education institutions
  3. NAAC: accredits higher education institutions
  4. National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 proposes:
    1. Higher Education Commission of India (single regulator)
    2. Academic, administrative, and financial autonomy
    3. Flexibility in curriculum and interdisciplinarity
  • Challenges:
    1. Political interference in appointments and syllabus
    2. Over-centralisation vs. institutional diversity
    3. Risk of self-censorship in private institutions

Mapping Micro Themes

GS Paper Topic/Theme Micro Theme Example
GS Paper II Education & Rights Academic freedom as a democratic necessity Art. 19(1)(a) & 21 protecting campus speech
GS Paper II Higher Education Regulation UGC, NEP 2020, institutional autonomy IIT autonomy reforms
GS Paper III Innovation & R&D Freedom boosting research productivity Correlation between autonomy and patents

Practice Mains Question

Essay: “The quest for uniformity is the worst enemy of creativity.”

  1. Evaluate the relationship between academic freedom and democratic accountability in India.

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Organ & Tissue Transplant- Policies, Technologies, etc.

[13th August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Clear the myths, recognise organ donation as a lifeline

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

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2018] Appropriate local community level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All’ in India. Explain.        

Linkage: Organ donation supports “Health for All” by requiring grassroots awareness, local leader engagement, and trained counsellors at PHCs to address myths and secure consent. Integrating it into programmes like Ayushman Bharat ensures equitable access to life-saving transplants beyond metros.

Mentor’s Comment:

Organ transplantation is one of modern medicine’s greatest achievements, yet India’s deceased donor rate is among the lowest globally. This editorial breaks myths, outlines systemic gaps, and suggests awareness and policy measures, crucial for UPSC aspirants studying public health, ethics, and governance.

Introduction

On World Organ Donation Day (August 13), India’s organ shortage stands out starkly. Annual transplants rose from 4,990 in 2013 to 18,378 in 2023, but only 1,099 came from deceased donors. The donation rate remains just 0.8 per million, far behind Spain’s 45+, causing over half a million preventable deaths each year. Myths, misinformation, and mistrust worsen the crisis, making awareness drives, medical transparency, and strong policy reforms urgent.

Scale of India’s Organ Donation Gap

  1. High fatalities: 5 lakh+ deaths yearly due to organ shortage
  2. PYQ LinkageLow deceased donor rate: 0.8/million vs Spain’s 45+/million
  3. Growing numbers, limited impact: 18,378 transplants in 2023 but majority from living donors.

Prevailing Myths and Misconceptions

  1. Body disfigurement fear: Retrieval preserves appearance for rites
  2. Religious objections: All major faiths endorse donation as compassion
  3. Brain death mistrust: Legal safeguards under Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 ensure ethical process

Eligibility Beyond Young Accident Victims

  1. Older donors viable: Kidneys, liver segments, lungs, corneas possible from natural deaths
  2. Tissue donations are valuable: Bone, skin, heart valves save/improve lives

Strengthening Awareness and Trust

  1. Community workshops: Address myths, explain medical protocols
  2. Education integration: Include donation ethics in schools/colleges
  3. Media storytelling: Use real donor-recipient cases to inspire
  4. Medical leadership: Train healthcare staff for sensitive family outreach

Policy Measures for Closing the Gap

  1. Presumed consent model: Opt-out system like Spain, Croatia
  2. Family support systems: Ensure transparency, grievance redressal
  3. Dedicated coordination teams: Guide families with empathy

Conclusion

India stands at a moral and medical crossroads. Organ donation must shift from being a rare, heroic act to a societal norm supported by robust legal safeguards and empathetic outreach. Busting myths, embedding awareness into education, and exploring bold policy innovations like presumed consent could ensure no Indian dies for want of an organ. On World Organ Donation Day, the call is clear: pledge, register, and respect the choice to give life.

Value Addition
  1. Ethical dimension: Organ donation as a moral responsibility and act of altruism (GS4)
  2. Comparative policy analysis: Presumed consent systems in Europe (Spain, Croatia)
  3. Health policy reforms: Strengthening National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) functioning
  4. Behavioral change models: Role of social proof, cultural integration, and trust-building in public health campaigns.

Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994

  1. Provides a legal framework for removal, storage, and transplantation of human organs/tissues for therapeutic purposes.
  2. Recognizes brain death as a legal definition of death, enabling cadaver organ donation.
  3. Regulates hospitals, mandates authorization committees to approve donations (esp. for unrelated donors).
  4. Prohibits commercial trading of organs; penalizes violations with imprisonment and fines.
  5. Amended in 2011 to include tissues (e.g., cornea, skin) and strengthen enforcement.

National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO): Apex body under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

  1. Maintains the National Waiting List & Organ Allocation Registry
  2. Coordinates procurement, distribution, and transplantation at the national level
  3. Provides training, guidelines, and awareness campaigns
  4. Oversees ROTTOs (Regional) and SOTTOs (State) for decentralized coordination

Current Affairs Linkage

  1. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) has issued a landmark advisory recommending priority in organ transplants for women patients and relatives of deceased donors, a direct attempt to correct a deep-seated gender imbalance in organ transplantation.
  2. This is significant because, despite women making up 63% of living organ donors in 2023, they represented only 24% to 47% of beneficiaries across organ categories.

Ethical challenges/dilemmas related to organ donation for GS-IV:

  1. Informed Consent & Autonomy: Ensuring the donor (or family) fully understands the implications and voluntarily agrees, without coercion.
  2. Equitable Allocation: Distributing organs fairly, avoiding favoritism, wealth or influence-based bias.
  3. Transparency vs. Privacy: Balancing public accountability with the donor’s and recipient’s confidentiality.
  4. Cultural & Religious Sensitivities: Respecting diverse beliefs while promoting organ donation awareness.
  5. Prevention of Commercialization & Exploitation: Safeguarding against organ trade, coercion of vulnerable groups, and unethical incentives.

Micro Theme Mapping

GS Paper Topic Micro Themes Example
GS Paper II Health Organ donation rates & public health policy India’s 0.8 donors/million vs Spain’s 45/million
GS Paper II Governance Legal safeguards in brain death declaration Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994
GS Paper II Education Health awareness through curriculum Introducing organ donation in schools/colleges
GS Paper IV Ethics Compassion and altruism in health decisions Faith leaders endorsing organ donation

Practice Mains Questions:

“In India, organ donation is more a matter of societal will than medical capacity.” Critically examine, suggesting measures to improve donation rates. (250 words)

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

Reviving civic engagement in health governance

op-ed snap | Social Justice | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education
[UPSC 2018] Appropriate local community level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All’ in India. Explain.

Linkage: Define “Health for All,” stress the role of community-level interventions, give examples, analyse challenges, and suggest improvements. The article illustrates this through doorstep schemes and participatory platforms like VHSNCs, showing both their potential and the need for empowered local engagement to achieve universal health coverage.

Mentor’s Note: As states roll out doorstep healthcare schemes like Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam in Tamil Nadu and Gruha Arogya in Karnataka, the delivery of medical services has never been closer to people’s homes. But are citizens equally close to influencing the policies that shape their health systems? This article examines the role, challenges, and future of civic engagement in India’s health governance, critical for UPSC aspirants studying governance, social justice, and public health policy.

Introduction:

The health sector in India has witnessed significant decentralisation and outreach in recent years, with state-level doorstep healthcare schemes targeting non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and improving last-mile service delivery. While these programmes mark a leap in proactive care, the real test of a healthy democracy lies in the citizens’ ability to meaningfully engage with health governance. Public participation affirms democratic values, improves accountability, and ensures policies reflect community realities. However, despite institutional mechanisms like Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) and Mahila Arogya Samitis, citizen participation remains sporadic and often symbolic.

The Subject of Citizen Engagement in Health Governance

Historically, health governance was a government-led function. However, it has evolved to include a diverse range of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, professional medical bodies, hospital associations, and trade unions. This multi-actor landscape underscores the need for robust civic participation.

The Rationale for Civic Engagement in Health Governance

  1. Democratic Empowerment: Affirms citizens’ rights and dignity in decision-making.
  2. Affirms self-respect and counters epistemic injustice: Ensures that the knowledge and lived experiences of communities are incorporated into policy-making.
  3. Accountability & Anti-Corruption: Inclusive participation challenges elite capture and opaque systems.
  4. Improved Health Outcomes: Fosters collaboration with frontline workers and enhances service uptake.
  5. Fosters collaboration and trust: Encourages mutual understanding between providers and communities.

Institutional Frameworks for Participation

  1. Rural Mechanisms: VHSNCs, Rogi Kalyan Samitis under NRHM (2005), with untied funds for local initiatives.
  2. Urban Platforms: Mahila Arogya Samitis, Ward Committees, NGO-led forums.
  3. Design Intent: Inclusion of women and marginalised groups, local problem-solving.

Committees that are involved in local health services:

  • Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) – Rural-level platforms under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), meant to involve communities in planning and monitoring local health services.
  • Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS) – Hospital/health facility–level bodies to manage resources and improve service delivery.
  • Mahila Arogya Samitis (MAS) – Women-led urban community groups under the National Urban Health Mission for health awareness and monitoring.
  • Ward Committees – Urban local body forums for community participation in service delivery, including health.
  • NGO-led Committees – Non-government platforms facilitating civic participation in health planning and monitoring.

Challenges to Effective Engagement

  1. Structural Issues
    1. Committees not formed in some areas; where present, plagued by: Ambiguous roles, Irregular meetings, Poor intersectoral coordination and Social hierarchies limiting participation
  1. Mindset Barriers
    1. Policymakers view communities as beneficiaries rather than rights-holders.
    2. Target-based evaluation such as the number of individuals reached overshadows participatory processes. It results in a system that prioritizes numerical targets over qualitative engagement.
    3. Dominance of medical professionals with little public health training. This leads to hierarchical and medicalized systems that are disconnected from community realities.
    4. Promotions based on seniority, not expertise.
  1. Resistance Factors
    1. Fear of accountability pressure.
    2. Regulatory capture by dominant interests.
    3. Unequal playing field in decision-making.

Consequences of Weak Engagement

  1. Communities resort to protests, legal actions, and media campaigns.
  2. Health inequities persist due to unaddressed structural barriers.
  3. Policy alienation reduces trust in public health systems.

The Way Forward: Two-Pronged Strategy

  1. Empowering Communities
    1. Information dissemination: Disseminate information on health rights & governance platforms.
    2. Fostering civic awareness: Civic awareness programmes and health literacy from school level.
    3. Intentional outreach: Targeted outreach to marginalised groups.
    4. Capacity building: Provide tools, training, and resources for effective participation.
  1. Sensitising Governance Actors
    1. Moving beyond blame: Shift perception from “poor awareness” to recognising structural determinants of health.
    2. Collaborative partnership: View communities as partners, not passive recipients.
    3. Activating platforms: Ensure platforms are functional, inclusive, and outcome-linked.

Conclusion:

Doorstep delivery of healthcare addresses physical accessibility, but without robust civic engagement, it risks becoming a one-way service delivery mechanism devoid of democratic accountability. True transformation requires communities to be seen and to see themselves, as co-creators of health systems, with institutional structures that are inclusive, functional, and empowered.

Value Addition- Extra Mile

Beneficiary model and a rights-holder model in health governance:

  • The beneficiary model perceives citizens as passive recipients of welfare schemes, where success is judged by coverage and numbers rather than the quality or inclusivity of service delivery.
  • In contrast, the rights-holder model positions people as active stakeholders with enforceable rights, capable of influencing health policies, demanding accountability, and shaping programmes to suit community needs.
  • In the Indian context, the predominance of the beneficiary mindset often results in top-down schemes, token participation, and limited empowerment, as seen in the functioning gaps of platforms like VHSNCs.
  • The rights-holder approach, by empowering communities with knowledge, tools, and representation, can foster participatory governance, address structural inequities, and improve health outcomes.
  • Way forward: Moving from a beneficiary to a rights-holder model requires mindset change among governance actors, strengthening community platforms, and embedding accountability mechanisms to ensure people are partners, not passive recipients, in health governance.

Key Concepts: 

  • Participatory Governance: A governance model where citizens actively shape decisions and policies; here, it means communities influencing health planning through platforms like VHSNCs rather than being passive recipients.
  • Epistemic Injustice – When certain voices or local knowledge are undervalued; in health governance, marginalised communities’ lived experiences are often ignored in policy decisions.
  • Elite Capture – When influential groups dominate participatory spaces; in health committees, medical professionals or local elites may overshadow ordinary citizens’ concerns.
  • Regulatory Capture – When regulatory bodies act in favour of dominant interests; in healthcare, policy and oversight may get skewed toward medical-industrial interests instead of community needs.

International Parallel: WHO’s Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) on “Health for All” emphasised community participation.

Quote for Enrichment: “Nothing about us without us” – slogan for participatory policy-making.

Mapping Micro-Themes:

Paper Micro Theme Example
GS-II Community participation in health VHSNCs, Mahila Arogya Samitis
GS-II Governance mindset shift/Citizen-Centric Administration Moving from beneficiary model to rights-holder model
GS-II and GS-III Health inequalities Marginalised groups lacking access
GS-II and

GS -IV

 Accountability in public health Preventing elite capture
GS-III Science and Technology (Health Tech) Health Information Systems and Data and Governance
GS-IV Ethics in governance Respecting agency and dignity
GS-IV Probity in governance Citizen engagement in reducing corruption and ensuring integrity in the health sector
GS-IV Empathy and Compassion Need for health administrators and to develop empathy for community realities and structural challenges

Practice Mains Question:

“Proactive healthcare delivery without participatory governance risks creating service dependency rather than empowerment.” Discuss with reference to recent state-level health initiatives in India. (250 words)

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Primary and Secondary Education – RTE, Education Policy, SEQI, RMSA, Committee Reports, etc.

[11th August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Language Lessons

op-ed snap | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Federalism
[UPSC 2020] National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goals-4 (2030). It intended to restructure and re-orient the education system in India. Critically examine the statement.        

Linkage: NEP 2020 broadly supports SDG-4 through its focus on universal access, equity, and quality, but faces implementation challenges due to India’s socio-cultural diversity and federal structure. The NEP 2020’s emphasis on multilingualism aligns with SDG-4 goals of inclusive and equitable quality education, but the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka cases show that its three-language policy faces resistance where it clashes with local linguistic and cultural priorities. This highlights the challenge of balancing national education reforms with state-specific needs while still aiming for SDG-4 targets

 

Mentor’s Note:

India’s language debate tests the balance between national policy goals and state linguistic autonomy, a key aspect of federalism. While NEP 2020’s three-language formula aims at unity through multilingualism, southern states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka favour a two-language model to protect cultural identity and shape education on their own terms. This is as much about governance and diversity as it is about language. This issue is highly relevant for UPSC GS Paper 2 – Governance, Constitution, Federalism, and Education Policy.

 

Introduction:

India’s education system is shaped not only by pedagogy but also by its multilingual and multicultural character. The NEP 2020 recommends a three-language policy, with at least two being native to India, aiming to promote linguistic diversity and national integration. However, Tamil Nadu’s State Education Policy (SEP) and Karnataka’s proposed SEP prioritize local languages + English over Hindi or any other third compulsory language, reflecting deep-rooted socio-political contexts. This ongoing debate exemplifies the delicate balance between national policy frameworks and state-specific educational priorities.

The Two-Language Policy in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka:

Tamil Nadu’s Approach

  1. Continues the two-language policy: Tamil + English.
  2. Makes Tamil compulsory up to Class 10 across all boards.
  3. Promotes critical thinking, digital literacy, climate education, and social justice.
  4. Focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) education and special support for tribal, disabled, and first-generation learners.
  5. Seeks uniform, high-quality public education as a priority.

Karnataka’s Proposed Approach

  1. Kannada (or mother tongue) + English as compulsory languages.
  2. Medium of instruction: Kannada or mother tongue up to Class 5, preferably till Class 12.
  3. Discontinuation of the three-language policy (Hindi as third language removed).
  4. Development of state-specific curriculum, moving away from NCERT textbooks.
  5. Bilingual teaching methods for better learning outcomes.

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Three-Language Policy

NEP’s Recommendation:

  1. Three-language formula at school level.
  2. Two local languages (mother tongue/regional language).
  3. One other Indian language (often Hindi, though not mandatory).
  4. Based on the Kothari Commission (1968) suggestion to encourage multilingualism.

Intended objectives:

  1. Promote national unity by encouraging communication across linguistic regions.
  2. Preserve linguistic diversity by ensuring regional languages remain central to education.
  3. Enhance linguistic versatility to prepare students for mobility within India.
  4. Strengthen early learning through mother tongue instruction in primary classes, as supported by UNESCO research.

Criticism and Challenges:

  • Perceived Hindi Imposition:
    • In non-Hindi speaking states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the inclusion of Hindi as the third language is seen as a political and cultural imposition.
    • Historical background: Tamil Nadu’s anti-Hindi agitations (1960s) shape continued resistance.
  • Demand for English as a Medium:
    • Parents and students increasingly prefer English-medium education for global competitiveness.
    • Concerns that a strong emphasis on Hindi may reduce the focus on English proficiency, which is linked to employment and higher education abroad.
  • Federalism Concerns:
    • Education is in the Concurrent List; States argue they should have autonomy to design curricula and decide language policy.
    • Central guidance seen as overreach into state cultural identity.
  • Implementation Gaps:
    • Shortage of qualified teachers for multiple languages.
    • Logistical difficulty in providing quality instruction in three languages, especially in rural schools.

Constitutional & Federal Dimensions:

  1. Education is a subject in the Concurrent List.
  2. Article 345: States can adopt any one or more languages for official use.
  3. Article 351: Directive for development of Hindi.
  4. 8th Schedule: Recognizes 22 languages, protecting linguistic diversity.
  5. Cooperative Federalism: Centre and States must align education policy without overriding local aspirations.

Critical Issues Beyond Language:

  1. Equity in Public Education: Need to strengthen government schools for uniform quality.
  2. Access & Inclusion: Support for marginalized communities.
  3. Curriculum Modernization: Integrating digital skills, climate education, and critical thinking.
  4. Resource Allocation: Pending ₹2,152 crore education funds for Tamil Nadu highlight fiscal federalism concerns.

Conclusion:

Language policies should respect India’s diversity and focus on improving education quality. The Centre must work with states, not over them, to improve schools, modernize curriculum, and ensure equal opportunities.

Value Addition:

Examples for Enrichment

  1. Kothari Commission (1968) – promoted three-language formula but warned against imposition.
  2. Sri Lanka’s language policy conflict – example of risks in linguistic dominance.
  3. World Bank Learning Poverty Index – shows importance of mother tongue teaching.
  4. ASER 2023: Mother tongue learning helps early literacy.
  5. UNESCO 2023 Report: Supports teaching in the local language for better outcomes

Mapping Micro-Themes:

GS-I Cultural diversity, linguistic identity, regionalism

  • Cultural Identity: Language as a marker of state pride
GS-II Federalism, education policy under Concurrent List, Centre–State relations, Constitutional provisions on language

  • Federalism: Illustrates cooperative federalism challenges
  • Equity in Education: Inclusion for marginalized groups
  • Policy Dispute: Example of Centre–State tension on education
GS-III Human capital development, role of education in economic growth
GS-IV Ethics in policy: respect for diversity, fairness, inclusion

Practice Mains Question

“Language in education is both a cultural right and a tool for development. Discuss the recent shift of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka towards a two-language formula in the context of federalism and inclusive education.” (250 words)

 

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Trade Sector Updates – Falling Exports, TIES, MEIS, Foreign Trade Policy, etc.

[9th August 2025] OPED With tariffs, India’s growth rate needs a careful watch

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

The recent U.S. decision to impose a 25% reciprocal tariff and an additional 25% penal levy on India’s exports marks a sharp turn in bilateral trade relations. While aimed at narrowing the U.S. trade deficit and influencing India’s crude sourcing from Russia, these measures risk slowing India’s GDP growth, widening the Current Account Deficit, and adding pressure on the rupee, making it a key test for India’s economic resilience in an era of rising protectionism.

 

Context:

The United States has imposed two major trade measures against India in August 2025:

  1. 25% Reciprocal Tariff (effective August 7) — in response to U.S. trade imbalance with India.
  2. 25% Penal Levy (effective August 29) — as a consequence of India’s continued oil imports from Russia.

Both actions together could significantly affect India’s exports, GDP growth, and the Current Account Deficit (CAD).

India–U.S.A Trade Snapshot:

  1. Merchandise trade surplus in 2024–25: $41.18 billion in India’s favour.
  2. The U.S. is targeting both exports and imports to narrow this gap.
  3. The penal levy also acts as a non-tariff barrier pushing India to source crude from costlier markets like the U.S. itself.

Potential Economic Implications for India

The combined effect of these tariffs and the penal levy could have severe consequences for India’s economic health.

  • Impact on Trade Balance and Current Account Deficit (CAD):
    1. Export Decline: The immediate and most direct impact will be a sharp decline in India’s exports to the US. Assuming a high import elasticity of -1, the article suggests that exports could fall by 25%.
    2. Widening Trade Deficit: Even with this decline, the overall trade deficit for India is estimated to widen by about 0.56% of GDP.
    3. Current Account Deficit: It is projected to increase from 0.6% to 1.15% of GDP due to the US reciprocal tariffs alone.
  • Effect on GDP Growth Rate:
    1. The decline in exports and the widening of the trade and current account deficits will have a ripple effect on the overall economy.
    2. When both the reciprocal tariffs and the penal levy are taken into account, the total reduction in the growth rate could be even more significant, exceeding 0.6 percentage points.
  • Currency and Inflationary Pressures
    1. Currency Depreciation: This can happen due to the uncertainty and trade deficit. The rupee-dollar exchange rate has already seen pressure, hovering over ₹87.5 since the tariffs were announced.
    2. Inflation: A shift away from Russian oil towards potentially more expensive crude sources, coupled with rising global oil prices, could put significant pressure on domestic inflation.

India’s Strategic Response and Mitigating Factors:

  • Diplomatic and Trade Negotiations:
    1. Negotiating with the US: There is still room for negotiation with the US, especially since a comprehensive trade deal has not been finalized.
    2. Highlighting Unilateralism: India needs to work with other nations to draw global attention to the discriminatory and inequitable nature of the US’s actions, particularly the penal levy imposed over oil imports.
  • Domestic Policy Adjustments:
    1. Diversification of Export Markets: In the long term, reducing dependence on a single large market like the US is crucial.
    2. Review of Import Tariffs: India’s own import tariffs negatively affect its exports. A strategic review and reduction of these tariffs could boost export competitiveness by lowering input costs for Indian producers.
  • Role of Other Factors:
    1. New Trade Agreements: India’s recent Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK and ongoing negotiations with the European Union could help moderate the adverse impact on the CAD by opening up new markets.
    2. Exchange Rate: The depreciation of the rupee, while a sign of pressure, can also act as a natural buffer by making Indian exports cheaper and more competitive in global markets.

To counter the economic impact of US tariffs, India’s path forward must be two-fold: proactive diplomatic engagement to challenge protectionism, and focused domestic policy reforms to boost export competitiveness. By diversifying its trade partners and refining its own tariff policies, India can fortify its economic resilience against external shocks.

 

Value Addition:

Key Economic Terms

  1. Current Account Deficit (CAD) – when a country imports more goods, services, and capital than it exports.
  2. Import elasticity with respect to tariffs – percentage change in imports in response to a percentage change in tariffs.
  3. Non-tariff barriers – policy measures other than tariffs that restrict imports/exports (e.g., quotas, licensing).
  4. Merchandise trade surplus – when export value exceeds import value for goods.
  5. Exchange rate depreciation – decline in the value of a currency relative to others.

Mains Practice Question:

“Unilateral trade measures by major powers pose a significant challenge to the principles of free and fair trade. In light of recent US tariffs on India, discuss the potential economic consequences for India and critically evaluate the policy options available to mitigate these risks.” (Answer in 250 words)

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Foreign Policy Watch: India-Pacific Island Nations

[8th August 2025] ​The Hindu Op-ed: Mending ties: On state visit of Philippines President to India

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

Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to India strengthened bilateral ties through a Strategic Partnership Agreement, focusing on defence cooperation, Indo-Pacific security, and future trade collaboration, while also serving broader strategic goals in ASEAN and Indo-Pacific diplomacy.

Key Highlights of the Visit:

  1. Strategic Partnership Agreement: The Philippines becomes only the fifth country (after Japan, Vietnam, Australia, and South Korea) with which India has signed such an agreement.
  2. Maritime and Defence Cooperation: The Indian Navy held its first joint maritime exercise with the Philippine Navy in the South China Sea. India reaffirmed its support for the 2016 UNCLOS Arbitration Award favouring the Philippines in its dispute with China. Discussions were held to expand defence exports, especially BrahMos missiles and other Indian military hardware. New agreements include exchanges between all three services and Coast Guards.
  3. Connectivity and People-to-People Ties: Both countries agreed to begin direct flights and ease visa restrictions to facilitate travel and business.
  4. Economic and Trade Dimensions:
    • Bilateral trade remains modest at $3.3 billion (2024-25).
    • Investments are growing in technology and pharmaceuticals.
    • Talks to launch a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) have been initiated.
    • India’s decision to revise the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) reflects renewed trade diplomacy.

India’s Broader Indo-Pacific Strategy:

  1. Indo-Pacific strategy beyond the spectrum of Quad: India’s engagement with the Philippines shows its intention to look beyond the Quad (India, USA, Japan, Australia) in Indo-Pacific diplomacy. India is pushing for multipolar partnerships, focused on maritime security, trade resilience, and a rules-based international order.
  2. ASEAN & Indo-Pacific Messaging: The Philippines is the incoming chair for ASEAN in 2026 and the coordinator for the ASEAN-India comprehensive strategic partnership. This gives India a crucial partner to enhance its engagement with the bloc.

Dimensions of India-Philippines Relations

Historical and Cultural Links:

  • Diplomatic relations were formally established on November 26, 1949, soon after both nations gained independence.
  • Historical ties and shared civilizational links, though not fully documented, point to a long-standing connection.
  • A Treaty of Friendship was signed in 1952.
  • India’s “Look East Policy” (1992) and subsequent “Act East Policy” (2014) have been instrumental in revitalizing and intensifying the relationship.
  • 2019: BrahMos missile deal initiated, the Philippines becomes the first foreign buyer

Common Issues and Contemporary Challenges:

  • South China Sea Dispute: Both countries face challenges from China’s expansive territorial claims and assertive actions. India supports international law and a rules-based order, which aligns with the Philippines’ interests.
  • Terrorism and Maritime Security: Both nations are susceptible to terrorism and face non-traditional security threats, making cooperation in these areas crucial.
  • Economic Liberalization and Trade: Navigating the complexities of global trade, especially in the face of protectionist policies from major powers like the U.S., is a common challenge that both countries are addressing through initiatives like the potential PTA.

The recent meeting has elevated India-Philippines ties to a new level, rooted in mutual concerns over regional security, strategic autonomy, and economic cooperation. As ASEAN dynamics evolve and geopolitical tensions rise, such partnerships provide stability and avenues for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. India’s outreach to the Philippines affirms its commitment to an inclusive regional order and diversified diplomacy.

Mains Practice Question:

  1. The recent elevation of India-Philippines relations to a Strategic Partnership is part of India’s larger Indo-Pacific vision. Discuss the significance of this development in the context of ASEAN, regional security, and India’s Act East Policy.

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Foreign Policy Watch: India-China

[7th August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Decoding China, the lessons for a vulnerable India

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

Recent actions by China, such as the withdrawal of engineers from India, are not isolated events but a deliberate geo-economic manoeuvre. This strategy is driven by China’s apprehension of a rising India and its ambition to maintain a ‘unipolar Asia’. 

Recent Actions Undertaken by China against India’s interest:

  1. Recalling over 300 Chinese engineers from iPhone manufacturing facilities in India.
  2. Restricting exports of rare earths and critical minerals to India.
  3. Informal trade restrictions on the export of capital equipment including high-end manufacturing equipment for electronics assembly heavy-duty boring machines and solar equipment to India.

China’s Geo-economic Manoeuvre against India:

“It is a meticulously calibrated stratagem, designed to arrest India’s burgeoning manufacturing ambitions.”

  • Impending Technology Transfer: The withdrawal of the Chinese engineers reflects China’s calculated move to Disrupt technology transfer and Stall India’s capacity-building in advanced electronics manufacturing. By pulling out talent, it ensures that ‘India’s learning curve in high-precision, high-efficiency manufacturing remains steep.’
  • Subtle yet potent strategy: As India positions itself in global supply chains through initiatives like Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, any delay in technology adoption weakens India’s global competitiveness.
  • Weaponization of Supply Chains: By restricting exports of rare earths, critical minerals, and high-end manufacturing equipment, China leverages its control over global supply chains to disrupt India’s industrial ambitions. These informal trade restrictions are non-transparent and hence are hard to contest, create uncertainty and increase costs.
  • Weaponising Overcapacity: Price War as Strategy: China’s industrial overproduction is used deliberately to crash prices and drive out competition. BYD in electric vehicles is flooding global markets with ultra-cheap products. This makes it hard for nations like India to compete fairly, stalling local industries.

Difference in Manufacturing Ecosystems of India and China:

China

India
Systemic Industrial Dominance:

1. Not accidental, but strategic: China’s industrial pre-eminence is not trivial, it has been built through decades of strong policies, investments, and planning.

2. Covers critical and emerging sectors:

Like, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum computing, 6G telecommunications, Electric Vehicles (EVs)

3. Controls global supply chains:

China does not merely export goods, it orchestrates and controls global supply chains, from raw materials to finished products.

4. Weaponising overcapacity: Overproduction (a sign of weakness elsewhere) is strategically used by China to lower global prices, making it hard for other countries to compete.

5. Aggressive pricing = market capture:

This stifles new competitors and helps China maintain dominance.

6. Economic statecraft by China: China uses its manufacturing power as a geo-economic tool to stay ahead globally and protect its export-driven economy.

 Challenges Faced:

1. Nascent Manufacturing Ecosystem:

Compared to China, India is still in the early stages of becoming a global manufacturing power.

2. Facing many hurdles: Poor infrastructure infrastructure lacunae)

3. Complex government procedures (bureaucratic red tape)

4. High import dependence: India still imports many critical components like Semiconductors, Sophisticated chips, Sensors, Engines

5. Limited local capability:

Even basic assembly-level manufacturing (referred to as “screwdriver technology“) depends on external help.

6. “Make in India” needs outside support:

While the goal is self-reliance, India is still not fully capable of producing independently, especially in high-tech sectors.

India’s Strategic Dilemma: Even as India tries to de-risk from China by aligning with the West, it faces challenges like US tariff hikes on Indian goods and Exemptions given to China despite its pro-Russia stance. This underscores the need for true strategic autonomy building resilient internal capacities rather than over-dependence on foreign goodwill.

Way Forward:

Based on China’s strategy of weaponizing its supply chains, India should adopt a multi-pronged response to enhance its own strategic and economic resilience.

  1. Bolster Domestic Manufacturing: India must double down on initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to reduce its import dependence on high-value electronics and components.
  2. Diversify Supply Chains and Sourcing: Actively seek alternative suppliers and build resilient supply chains with like-minded countries to reduce over-reliance on a single nation for critical goods. For example, India is a part of the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI), a trilateral framework with Japan and Australia.
  3. Invest in Strategic Alliances: India should utilize multilateral platforms such as the Quad and forge bilateral partnerships to secure access to critical minerals and technologies.
  4. Boost Domestic Critical Mineral Exploration: It is essential to intensify domestic exploration and processing of critical minerals through missions like the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) to achieve self-reliance.
  5. Leverage Economic Diplomacy: India should use trade agreements and international forums like the WTO to challenge informal trade restrictions and protect its emerging industries from coercive practices.

China’s aggressive external policies are a direct result of its domestic problems, such as an aging population and economic overcapacity. This forces it to rely on exports, making any competitor like India a perceived threat. As Henry Kissinger said, “Empires have no interest in operating within an international system; they aspire to be the international system.” This highlights the need for India to build its own strategic autonomy and avoid relying on fragile alliances.

 

Value Addition:

Quotes by Famous Scholars that can be used in the India-China Relation Topic:

1. “India lives in a tough neighbourhood. It needs to be wise, not merely strong.” — Shivshankar Menon

2. “In geopolitics, economics is not just policy — it’s a weapon.” — Henry Kissinger

 

Mains Practice Questions:

GS2 (IR): “China’s geo-economic manoeuvres are a reflection of its internal compulsions and not just strategic rivalry.” Elucidate with reference to recent developments in India-China trade relations.

GS3 (Economy): “India’s ambition to become a global manufacturing hub faces challenges both internal and external.” Discuss the role of strategic autonomy in achieving self-reliance in electronics and high-tech sectors.

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Direct Benefits Transfers

[6th August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The technocratic calculus of India’s welfare state

op-ed snap | Social Justice | Mains Paper 2: Schemes For Vulnerable Sections

The promise to deliver social welfare at scale, using data-driven algorithms, may be at the cost of ‘democratic norms’ and ‘political accountability’

India’s welfare model is undergoing a silent but radical transformation. What was once a deliberative system grounded in rights and citizen needs is now morphing into a technocratic model governed by data, code, and efficiency. This shift raises a key question: Can dignity and justice survive when welfare becomes measurable but impersonal?

From Entitlement to efficiency: The new welfare playbook

Over the past decade, India has moved from rights-based entitlements to an algorithm-led delivery model—what scholars call a technocratic calculus.

  • Aadhaar: Over 1 billion enrolled; enables biometric verification to curb duplicate beneficiaries.
  • DBT (Direct Benefit Transfers): 1,206 schemes unified under Aadhaar; ₹3.48 lakh crore saved via leakages plugged.
  • CPGRAMS and grievance portals: 36 digital platforms now streamline complaints.

That’s the infrastructure. But the implications run deeper. This marks a shift from deliberative welfare (based on rights and dialogue) to calculative welfare (based on metrics like coverage, leakage, speed).

Promises vs. Perils:

1. Efficiency vs. Empathy

Welfare delivery is now fast, traceable, and auditable. But it risks treating citizens as data profiles, not as individuals with needs. Algorithms can’t ask moral questions. Bureaucrats avoid hard choices by letting systems decide.

2. Political Accountability Diluted

Leaders now point to dashboards instead of taking responsibility. Decisions on who deserves support are increasingly delegated to code.

3. Institutions Under Strain

  • RTI backlog: Over 4 lakh pending cases (June 2024)
  • Vacant CIC posts: Weakens transparency
  • CPGRAMS: Acts more like a ticketing system, not a democratic grievance platform. Visibility is centralised, but not responsibility.

4. Shrinking Social Sector Investment

  • Welfare spending has dropped from 21% to 17% of GDP (2014–2025)
  • For vulnerable groups (SCs, minorities, labour, nutrition), allocations shrank from 11% pre-COVID to just 3%
  • The paradox: as delivery gets smarter, commitments get thinner.

The Deeper democratic concern:

When welfare turns technical, it becomes less political. Philosopher Habermas warned of this: expert-rule can silence democratic debate. In India’s case, welfare governance is increasingly auditable, but less answerable.

What Needs Fixing? 

  1. Embed human judgement in digital systems: Algorithms should aid, not override, political reasoning.
  2. Revive deliberative spaces: Local bodies, gram sabhas, and social audits must regain teeth.
  3. Reinvest in social sector spending: Efficiency must not justify austerity.
  4. Reimagine grievance redressal: Make platforms citizen-centric, not just data-driven.

Way forward:

  1. Federal Pluralism: Empower States to design context-sensitive welfare regimes, reinforcing federalism and pluralism.
  2. Impact Audits: Institutionalise community-driven impact audits through Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and Gram Panchayat Development Plans.
  3. Platform Cooperatives: Build platform cooperatives in all States with self-help groups as intermediaries, inspired by Kerala’s Kudumbashree.
  4. Civic Engagement: Incentivise civil society to promote grassroots political education and establish legal aid clinics for  stronger community accountability.
  5. Resilience Mechanisms: Strengthen and codify offline fallback systems, human feedback safeguards, and statutory bias audits.
  6. Digital Rights: Embed the “right to explanation and appeal” in digital governance frameworks, in line with UN Human Rights recommendations.

Digital welfare is not the problem. The problem is when it replaces, not supports, democracy. India must blend technology with trust, efficiency with empathy, and code with conscience. Only then can welfare remain a tool for justice—not just for savings.

Possible GS2 Mains Question:

  1. India’s welfare governance has shifted from rights-based entitlement to algorithmic delivery. Critically examine the democratic and institutional implications of this shift. Suggest reforms to align technology with constitutional values.

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Electoral Reforms In India

A Crisis of Trust in Electoral Democracy: The Need for a Transparent and Impartial Election Commission

op-ed snap | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Representation Of People's Act

As questions emerge over the conduct of elections in India, restoring faith in the Election Commission is crucial to safeguarding democratic legitimacy.

Context and Relevance (GS2 – Polity and Governance, Constitutional Bodies):

The Election Commission of India (ECI), a constitutionally mandated body under Article 324, is once again in the spotlight. Following the 2024 general elections, allegations from political leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, have cast a shadow over the Commission’s neutrality and transparency. These charges revive a critical debate: Can India’s democracy survive without full public trust in its electoral machinery? The answer lies in the integrity, independence, and accountability of the Election Commission, one of the bedrocks of India’s representative democracy.

Why Is Electoral Credibility So Vital?

  1. Democratic legitimacy stems not just from elections being conducted, but from them being widely perceived as free, fair, and impartial.
  2. If losers in elections feel the process was biased or manipulated, public trust erodes, similar to a rigged court trial or fixed sporting match.
  3. Thus, electoral bodies must maintain absolute transparency to avoid a crisis of trust.

What are the Allegations?

  1. Discrepancies in Voter Rolls: A Member of Parliament has hinted at large-scale discrepancies in the 2024 elections. Tejashwi Yadav alleged that his name was missing from the electoral rolls in Bihar due to a mismatch in his EPIC (voter ID) number.
  2. Opacity in VVPAT Functioning: The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), a critical component of EVMs, has been flagged for lack of transparency. Unlike the Ballot Unit and Control Unit, the VVPAT contains software and is centrally programmed — raising questions about tamper-proofing and auditability.
  3. Arbitrary VVPAT Tallying: The process of randomly tallying VVPAT slips with EVM counts has become highly discretionary, leading to low public confidence.
  4. ECI’s Defensive Posture: Rather than addressing concerns head-on, the ECI has simply rejected tampering allegations and asked parties to raise objections “at the appropriate time”.

Wider Implications for Indian Democracy

  1. Public Trust in Institutions: Without visible impartiality, even a fair process may be discredited by perception. This impacts citizen engagement, voter turnout, and social cohesion.
  2. Level Playing Field in Elections: If major opposition leaders claim unfair treatment, it undermines the equality of contest fundamental to electoral democracy.
  3. Rule of Law and Accountability: The ECI is not above public scrutiny. While insulated from political pressure, it must remain answerable to constitutional values and public confidence.
  4. Judicial Oversight and Electoral Reforms: Calls may grow for stronger judicial or parliamentary oversight of ECI decisions — or reforms such as: Collegium system for appointing Election Commissioners, Mandatory disclosures of EVM-VVPAT audit protocols.

Way Forward

  1. Ensure Real Transparency: ECI should publish standard operating procedures for VVPAT tallying and voter roll revision.
  2. Independent Audit Mechanisms: Encourage third-party audits and real-time grievance tracking for electoral complaints.
  3. Reform ECI Appointments: Move from Executive-dominated selection to a multi-member collegium including CJI, opposition leaders, and the President.
  4. Digital Literacy and Voter Awareness: Boost public understanding of electoral tech like EVMs and VVPAT to counter misinformation and suspicion.

Conclusion:

India’s electoral democracy is only as strong as its citizens’ belief in its fairness. As a constitutional guardian of that belief, the Election Commission must go beyond legal compliance and strive to uphold both institutional credibility and democratic trust. A recalibration is urgently needed — not just for politicians or parties, but for the citizen-voter, who is the ultimate stakeholder in the democratic process.

 

Sample UPSC Mains Question (GS2 – Polity, 15 Marks)

“The credibility of democratic institutions lies not just in their constitutional design but in public perception of their impartiality.” In light of recent controversies, critically examine the functioning of the Election Commission of India. Suggest reforms to strengthen its autonomy and transparency.

 

Value Addition:

Constitutional Articles related to ECI

  • Article 324: Vests the superintendence, direction, and control of elections in the ECI.
  • Article 325: One general electoral roll for every territorial constituency.
  • Article 326: Elections to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies to be based on adult suffrage.
  • Article 327: Power of Parliament to make provisions with respect to elections.
  • Article 328: Power of State Legislature to make provisions relating to elections.
  • Article 329: Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters.

Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)

  • VVPAT is an independent system attached to EVMs that allows voters to verify that their vote has been cast correctly.
  • It generates a printed slip with the candidate’s name and symbol, visible for 7 seconds before being dropped into a sealed box.
  • First used in India: 2013 in Nagam (Nagaland) by-election.
  • Nationwide use: Mandated by the Supreme Court in 2013; implemented in all 543 constituencies in 2019 General Elections.
  • SC 2019 ruling: 5 random VVPAT slips to be matched with EVMs per Assembly segment to increase transparency.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in India

  • Introduced on experimental basis in 1982 (Parur Assembly, Kerala).
  • Used in some constituencies in 1999 Lok Sabha elections.
  • Nationwide use: Since 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
  • EVMs have no internet connectivity, operate on standalone power, and are considered tamper-proof by EC.
  • Two parts: Control Unit & Balloting Unit, connected via cable.

Recent Issues in News Related to ECI

  • Demand for Collegium-style appointment of Election Commissioners:
    • The Supreme Court in 2023 ruled that CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President on recommendation of a committee comprising PM, LoP, and CJI.
    • Aims to reduce Executive influence and ensure independence of the ECI.
  • Delay in Disqualification under Anti-Defection Law:
    • ECI was criticized for delay in acting on defections in assemblies, e.g., Maharashtra political crisis.
    • Raises questions about the commission’s proactive powers under Tenth Schedule.
  • Electoral Roll Purification & Aadhaar-linkage:
    • Efforts to link voter ID with Aadhaar raised privacy concerns.
    • Opposition raised fears of disenfranchisement, especially of vulnerable communities.

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Waste Management – SWM Rules, EWM Rules, etc

[4th August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The ‘right to repair’ must include ‘right to remember’

op-ed snap | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2015] India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) which has a database containing formatted information on more than 2 million medicinal formulations is proving a powerful weapon in the country’s fight against erroneous patents. Discuss the pros and cons making this database publicly available under open-source licensing.

Linkage: This question directly discusses the “Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)” and its role in protecting “traditional knowledge” from erroneous patents. This is highly relevant as the source champions the idea of treating repair as a “cultural and intellectual resource” and recognizing “tacit knowledge”.

 

Mentor’s Comment:  In May 2025, the Indian government accepted a report proposing a Repairability Index for mobile phones and appliances, marking a significant policy shift toward sustainable electronics and the Right to Repair. This move comes amid growing global and domestic recognition of repair as a cultural, environmental, and intellectual resource. It ties into India’s digital and AI policy evolution, yet highlights a blind spot — the continued exclusion of informal repair ecosystems from mainstream policy frameworks, even as they remain central to material resilience and circular economy goals.

Today’s editorial analyses the Repairability Index for mobile phones and appliances. This topic is important for GS Paper II (Governance) and GS Paper III (Science and Technology) in the UPSC mains exam.

_

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Why in the News?

Recently, the Indian government made an important move to support eco-friendly electronics by approving a report that suggests a Repairability Index.

What is India’s Repairability Index?

  • India’s Repairability Index was introduced by the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
  • It is part of the broader Right to Repair framework announced in 2022, aimed at empowering consumers, reducing electronic waste, and promoting sustainable consumption practices in line with India’s LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)movement.
  • This index will rank products based on:
    • Ease of repair
    • Availability of spare parts
    • Duration of software support

What is the significance of it?

  • Sustainable consumption – Promotes products that last longer and are repairable. Eg: Smartphones with modular parts like Fairphone (Dutch electronics company known for producing sustainable and repairable smartphones).
  • Informed consumer choices – Enables buyers to compare repairability before purchase. Eg: Choosing a laptop with a higher repair score.
  • Reduction in e-waste – Minimizes discarding of electronics due to minor faults. Eg: Repairing washing machines instead of replacing them.
  • Accountability of manufacturers – Pushes brands to provide spare parts and repair guides. Eg: Brands like Apple offering self-service repair kits.
  • Support for circular economy – Aligns with India’s LiFE initiative and green goals. Eg: Encouraging reuse and repair to lower carbon footprint.

Why is informal repair knowledge important?

India’s Repairability Index promotes affordable, sustainable repairs by valuing informal repair knowledge

  • Affordable & Accessible Repairs: Informal repair shops offer low-cost services, especially in rural and low-income areas. Eg: Mobile repair kiosks in small towns reduce reliance on costly authorized centers.
  • Skill Preservation & Livelihoods: Supports local employment and traditional skills, often passed down informally. Eg: TV/radio technicians in informal markets maintain electronics affordably.
  • E-waste Reduction & Sustainability: Extends product lifespan, minimizing electronic waste and promoting circular economy. Eg: Refurbishing laptops in Delhi’s Nehru Place instead of discarding them.

What are the challenges related to the informal repair sector?

  • No Legal Recognition: Informal repairers lack licensing, social security, and financial support. E.g.: Mobile repairers in small towns operate without official status or access to schemes.
  • Bias Toward Authorized Centres: Policies favour OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) -authorized repairs, sidelining local technicians. Eg: Warranties void if not repaired at authorized service centers.
  • Exclusion from Policy Frameworks: Right to Repair and e-waste policies neglect grassroots repair ecosystems. Eg: Informal markets like Nehru Place not integrated into national repair planning.

Which steps can link repair to AI and sustainability goals?  

  • AI-Powered Predictive Maintenance: AI algorithms detect faults early and recommend timely repairs, reducing waste. Eg: Smart appliances (e.g., washing machines) alert users before breakdowns, helping extend product life.
  • AI-Driven Repair Diagnostics: AI tools assist technicians by analyzing errors and suggesting solutions, even in informal sectors. Eg: Mobile apps using AI (like Bhashini-based tools) guide rural repairers to fix smartphones or electronics.
  • Support for Circular Economy: Integrate AI with repairability data (e.g., India’s Repairability Index) to promote reuse and reduce e-waste.

Way forward: 

  • Recognize Informal Repair Sector: Include informal technicians in policy frameworks and skilling programs under schemes like Skill India.
  • Strengthen India’s Repairability Index: Ensure it includes access to spare parts, repair manuals, and supports local repair ecosystems.
  • Promote Open Access to Repair Tools: Mandate OEMs to share diagnostic tools and data with certified independent and informal repairers.
  • Leverage AI for Inclusive Repair Solutions: Use AI-powered platforms to assist grassroots repairers and map repair needs, boosting sustainability goals.

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Trade Sector Updates – Falling Exports, TIES, MEIS, Foreign Trade Policy, etc.

[2nd August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: What has been missed is India’s digital sovereignty

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

PYQ Relevance:

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

Linkage: The article highlights that data is the “digital era’s most valuable resource” and that compromising its control, including individual data, poses “serious security risks” and affects national competitive advantage. Safeguarding personal data is a crucial component of asserting digital sovereignty.

 

Mentor’s Comment:  The India–UK FTA, recently finalised, is hailed as a “gold standard” but raises concerns over digital sovereignty. India conceded access to source code and government data, weakening regulatory control and AI innovation leverage. The deal also marks a shift from India’s previous global stand on data localisation, contrasting positions taken even by countries like the US.

Today’s editorial analyses the concerns over digital sovereignty in the India-UK FTA. This topic is important for GS Paper II (International Relations) in the UPSC mains exam.

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Why in the News?

The India–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (FTA), officially called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), is in the news because of a significant debate over its provisions for the digital sector and digital sovereignty.

What digital issues arise from the India-UK FTA?

  • Unrestricted Use of Public Data: UK firms gain equal access to Indian public datasets, affecting domestic innovation potential. Eg: British companies can commercially exploit Indian transport or agricultural data.
  • Weakened Data Localization Autonomy: India must engage in consultations before enacting data rules, reducing flexibility.  
  • No Safeguards for Critical Infrastructure: The deal doesn’t exempt sensitive sectors from source code restrictions. Eg: India can’t review software running in strategic areas like nuclear power plants.
  • Lack of Coherent Digital Trade Policy: Commitments were made without a clear digital governance framework. Eg: Digital clauses went unchallenged, unlike the agricultural sector, which had strong negotiation backing.
  • Restricted Source Code Access: India is barred from demanding source code or algorithms, limiting oversight.

What is Source Code?

Source code is the original set of instructions written by a programmer in a human-readable programming language (like Python, Java, or C++) that defines how a software program works.

How does source code access loss affect India’s digital control?

  • Weakens Cyber Sovereignty: Without access to source code, India cannot verify or modify software behavior, increasing reliance on foreign tech. Foreign telecom equipment may have backdoors compromising national security.
  •  Inhibits Regulatory Oversight: Lack of access hinders the ability of Indian regulators to audit algorithms or ensure compliance with local laws. Eg: India can’t fully inspect e-commerce platforms’ pricing algorithms for anti-competitive behavior.
  • Compromises Data Privacy & Security: Source code opacity prevents India from detecting data leaks or unauthorized data transfers.

Why is a digital policy crucial for India’s trade interests?

  • Ensures Data Sovereignty: A strong policy helps India control how data is stored and used globally. Eg: Prevents sensitive health data from being transferred without oversight.
  • Protects Domestic Industry: Clear rules support Indian startups against unfair access by global players. Eg: Limits foreign firms from exploiting local e-commerce data.
  • Strengthens Negotiation Power: Defined digital laws give India leverage in FTA talks. Eg: Helps resist pressure to allow free cross-border data flow in trade deals.
  • Secures National Interests: Policy enables checks on cybersecurity threats and foreign surveillance. Eg: Restricts flow of defence-related digital information.
  • Boosts Digital Economy: Promotes data-driven innovation and economic growth through regulation. Eg: Encourages investment in Indian cloud services by assuring legal clarity.

Way forward: 

  • Reassess Digital Commitments: Review FTA clauses that compromise digital sovereignty and seek renegotiation if needed.
  • Strengthen Data Protection Laws: Enforce robust data localisation and privacy regulations to safeguard national interest.
  • Ensure Source Code Access: Mandate conditional access to critical software for security audits and public interest.
  • Promote Indigenous Tech: Invest in local AI and digital infrastructure to reduce foreign dependency.
  • Align Trade with Policy: Harmonise trade agreements with India’s long-term digital and strategic goals.

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Solar Energy – JNNSM, Solar Cities, Solar Pumps, etc.

[1st August 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Why the world needs better green technologies

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

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2024] The world is facing an acute shortage of clean and safe freshwater. What are the alternative technologies which can solve this crisis? Briefly discuss any three such technologies citing their key merits and demerits.

Linkage: This question directly related to “alternative technologies” to address a critical global environmental and resource crisis (freshwater scarcity). This aligns with the broader theme that the world needs better and diverse green technologies to tackle urgent environmental problems and ensure resource self-sufficiency, as emphasized in the context of energy innovation.

 

Mentor’s Comment: As the push for sustainable energy intensifies, concerns are rising over the efficiency limits of widely used silicon photovoltaics. With the growing need for green hydrogen and land constraints, experts are questioning whether next-gen solar technologies offer better solutions. India must invest in efficient, diverse, and scalable innovations to meet climate goals and ensure energy self-sufficiency.

Today’s editorial analyses the concerns that are rising over the efficiency limits of widely used silicon photovoltaics. This topic is important for GS Paper III (Environment) in the UPSC mains exam.

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Let’s learn!

Why in the News?

Recently, as the global need for clean energy has increased and countries aim to fulfill their climate promises, silicon solar panels have become the most popular choice, changing the look of places from city rooftops to large solar farms in villages.

What limits silicon photovoltaics in meeting India’s climate goals?

  • Low Energy Efficiency: Silicon solar panels have an in-field efficiency of only 15–18%, meaning a significant portion of solar energy is not converted into electricity. Eg: In Rajasthan, more panels are required to meet energy demand, increasing cost and land use due to low conversion efficiency.
  • High Land Requirement: Due to their low efficiency, silicon panels need a larger surface area to generate the same output compared to newer technologies. Eg: The Rewa Solar Park in Madhya Pradesh covers over 1,500 hectares, reducing land availability for agriculture and conservation.
  • Slow Climate Impact: Despite growing solar capacity, CO₂ levels have risen from 350 ppm in 1990 to ~425 ppm in 2025, indicating renewables are not scaling fast enough. Eg: Even after installing 4.45 TWh of renewable energy by 2024, India remains behind on its climate targets.
  • Environmental Footprint of Manufacturing: The production of silicon panels involves high energy use and toxic chemicals, partially offsetting their green benefits. Eg: Most panels are imported from China, where coal-powered factories dominate, adding to indirect emissions.
  • Incompatibility with Advanced Applications: Silicon PVs are less suitable for high-efficiency applications like green hydrogen production, which needs more consistent, high-output energy. Eg: In pilot projects in Gujarat, using silicon panels reduces the overall efficiency of green hydrogen production due to energy losses.

Why rethink electrolysis-based green hydrogen?

  • High Energy Consumption: Electrolysis requires more energy to produce green hydrogen than the energy hydrogen provides when used, making the process energy-inefficient. Eg: In India’s pilot projects in Ladakh, the high electricity input from solar panels results in low net energy gain, raising concerns about economic viability.
  • Storage and Transportation Challenges: Hydrogen has very low density, making it difficult and expensive to store and transport, often requiring high-pressure tanks or cryogenic conditions. Eg: In hydrogen mobility projects, such as those in Delhi, leakage and compression issues have hampered safe and cost-effective deployment.
  • Compounding Energy Losses in Conversion: Using green hydrogen to produce green ammonia or methanol, and then extracting hydrogen back, leads to multiple stages of energy loss. Eg: In proposed export hubs like Vizag, converting hydrogen to ammonia for shipping and then reconverting it abroad reduces overall energy efficiency.

How do land and efficiency issues impact India’s solar push?

  • Low Efficiency Increases Land Requirement: Silicon solar panels with 15–18% efficiency require larger surface areas to generate the same energy as advanced solar technologies. Eg: In Rajasthan’s Bhadla Solar Park, vast desert land is used to compensate for low panel efficiency, which limits deployment in land-constrained states.
  • Urbanisation Limits Land Availability: Rapid urban expansion and the need to conserve green zones reduce the availability of suitable land for large-scale solar projects. Eg: In Mumbai’s metropolitan region, limited open space has pushed the focus toward rooftop solar, which has its own technical and regulatory hurdles.
  • Hinders Achievement of Renewable Energy Targets: The inefficient land-to-energy ratio slows down the pace of solar capacity expansion, affecting progress toward India’s net-zero commitments. Eg: In Tamil Nadu, where land is both fertile and scarce, competing demands between agriculture and solar installations have delayed key solar proposals.

What role can artificial photosynthesis play in renewable energy?

  • Direct Conversion of Sunlight into Fuel: Artificial photosynthesis (APS) mimics natural photosynthesis to convert sunlight, water, and CO₂directly into fuels like green methanol or hydrogen, offering a clean, efficient alternative to traditional energy-intensive processes.
  • Bypasses Inefficiencies in Current Technologies: APS has the potential to eliminate multiple energy-loss steps such as electrolysis, storage, and reconversion, thereby enhancing the overall energy efficiency of renewable fuel production systems.

Why invest in next-gen renewable tech like RFNBO? (Way forward)

  • Enhances Energy Independence: Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) can reduce India’s heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels (currently ~85%), promoting energy self-sufficiency in a geopolitically volatile world.
  • Supports Diverse and Efficient Decarbonisation: RFNBO technologies enable the production of cleaner fuels like green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol using renewable electricity, offering higher efficiency and adaptability for industrial and transport sectors.
  • Future-Proofing India’s Energy Strategy: Investing in RFNBO ensures India is aligned with global clean energy innovations, allowing it to meet net-zero targets and remain competitive in emerging green fuel markets.

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Wetland Conservation

[31st July 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Restoring mangroves can turn the tide on India’s coastal security 

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

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2019] Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology.

Linkage: The article explicitly details the importance of mangroves, stating they are “critical in India’s pursuit of climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and the empowerment of coastal communities”. It explains their role as “natural barriers, protecting coastal communities from cyclones, tidal surges, and erosion”, and their significance in “biodiversity conservation”. The article also discusses the threats leading to their “depletion,” such as “urban expansion, aquaculture, pollution, and changing climate patterns”.

 

Mentor’s Comment:  India’s mangrove forests have come into focus due to growing efforts to restore and protect them amid increasing threats from urban expansion, climate change, and pollution. Recent successful restoration projects in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Mumbai, along with support from government missions and private partners, highlight India’s growing role in mangrove conservation. These forests are vital for climate resilience, coastal protection, and biodiversity, making their preservation a national priority.

Today’s editorial analyses India’s growing efforts to restore mangrove forests. This topic is important for GS Paper III (Environment) in the UPSC mains exam.

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Let’s learn!

Why in the News?

Recently, mangrove restoration efforts in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Mumbai have been successful.

What is the extent of Mangroves in India?

  • India’s total mangrove cover is 4,992 sq km, accounting for 0.15% of the country’s geographical area (as per ISFR 2021).
  • West Bengal, Gujarat, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands hold the largest mangrove areas, with West Bengal (Sundarbans) alone covering over 42% of the total.

Why are mangroves vital for climate and coastal resilience in India?

  • Natural Coastal Shield: Mangroves act as buffers against cyclones, storm surges, and coastal erosion. Eg: During the 2004 tsunami, villages protected by mangroves in Tamil Nadu suffered less damage compared to those without them.
  • Climate Change Mitigation: They store “blue carbon” in biomass and deep soil, helping to absorb excess CO₂. Eg: India’s mangroves contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, aiding in climate targets under the Paris Agreement.
  • Biodiversity Hotspots: Provide breeding grounds for fish, crabs, birds, and other marine life. Eg: Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary in Mumbai supports over 180 bird species due to nearby mangroves.
  • Livelihood Support for Communities: Sustain traditional occupations like fishing, honey gathering, and crab farming. Eg: Sunderbans communities rely on mangroves for fishing and honey collection.
  • Disaster Risk Reduction: Reduce the impact of natural disasters by slowing floodwaters and stabilising shorelines. Eg: In Odisha, mangroves helped minimise damage during Cyclone Phailin (2013).

What threatens India’s mangroves?

  • Urbanisation and Industrial Expansion: Mangrove areas are cleared for ports, housing, and industrial zones. Eg: Mangrove loss in Mumbai due to Navi Mumbai airport construction.
  • Aquaculture and Agriculture Encroachment: Conversion of mangrove land into shrimp farms or paddy fields disrupts ecosystems. Eg: Andhra Pradesh lost mangroves to extensive aquaculture projects.
  • Pollution: Discharge of industrial effluents, plastic, and sewage harms mangrove health. Eg: Thane Creek, Mumbai, faces heavy pollution impacting biodiversity.
  • Climate Change and Sea Level Rise: Changes in salinity, temperature, and rising sea levels affect mangrove regeneration. Eg: Sundarbans face submergence and loss due to rising sea levels.
  • Overexploitation of Resources: Excessive collection of wood, honey, and fodder leads to degradation. Eg: In West Bengal, unsustainable practices by local communities reduce forest cover.

How has community involvement aided mangrove restoration in Tamil Nadu?

  • Collaborative Restoration Projects: Community members partnered with institutions like the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department for restoring degraded mangroves. Eg: In Muthupettai’s Pattuvanachi estuary, locals helped implement a 115-hectare restoration plan.
  • Tidal Canal Digging for Hydrology Restoration: Villagers participated in digging 19 major canals to restore natural tidal flow, crucial for mangrove survival. Eg: This intervention successfully revived water movement in Muthupettai, enabling mangrove regrowth.
  • Seed Collection and Plantation: Locals actively collected and planted seeds of native mangrove species like Avicennia and Rhizophora. Eg: Over 4.3 lakh Avicennia seeds and 6,000 Rhizophora propagules were planted by community members.
  • Removal of Invasive Species: Community groups helped clear invasive weeds like Prosopis juliflora, which compete with mangroves for space and nutrients. Eg: In Kazhipattur near Buckingham Canal, Chennai, invasive plants were removed before mangrove restoration began.
  • Support for Green Missions and Monitoring: Local residents supported and maintained mangrove cover under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission, ensuring long-term success. Eg: Community participation helped double Tamil Nadu’s mangrove area from 4,500 ha to 9,000 ha (2021–2024).

What is the role of corporate partnerships in mangrove revival in Mumbai?

  • Financial and Technical Support: Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund invested $1.2 million (₹10.3 crore) in a restoration project along Thane Creek, enabling large-scale ecological rehabilitation.
  • Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration: Partnered with Hasten Regeneration and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to install trash booms that intercept plastic waste, aiming to collect 150 tonnes over 3 years while planting 3.75 lakh mangrove saplings.
  • Community Empowerment and Livelihood Generation: Created paid employment opportunities for local women in planting and maintenance, linking ecological recovery with socio-economic upliftment.

Why is Gujarat leading in mangrove restoration?

  • Ambitious Scale under MISHTI Scheme: Under the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI), launched in 2023, Gujarat planted over 19,000 hectares of mangroves within two years—far exceeding the national five-year target of 54,000 hectares.
  • Strategic Coastal Coverage & Biodiversity Focus: Gujarat holds about 23.6% of India’s total mangrove cover, with major plantations in Kutch, Bhavnagar, Surat, and Dumas-Ubhrat. These areas support critical ecological balance, biodiversity, and local livelihoods.
  • Strong Governance, Planning & Local Institutional Support: Efficient coordination between the Gujarat Forest Department, state environment agencies, and local communities has ensured success. Structured coastal mapping, restoration planning, and promotion of ecotourism-linked livelihoods have further strengthened outcomes.

What are the steps taken by the Indian government? 

  • Green India Mission & State Missions: Through the National Green India Mission and state-level initiatives like the Green Tamil Nadu Mission, the government supports afforestation, ecosystem restoration, and community-based conservation efforts.
  • Inclusion in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Rules: Mangrove areas are designated as Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ) under the CRZ Notification, restricting construction and promoting their protection through legal safeguards and regulatory oversight.

Way forward: 

  • Strengthen Community-Based Conservation: Empower local communities through training, incentives, and formal roles in monitoring and maintaining mangroves to ensure sustainable, long-term protection.
  • Integrate Mangroves into Climate and Development Planning: Recognise mangroves as vital climate infrastructure by integrating them into coastal zone management, disaster resilience strategies, and carbon credit frameworks.

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Child Rights – POSCO, Child Labour Laws, NAPC, etc.

[30th July 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Bihar’s dark side — the hub of girl child trafficking

op-ed snap | Social Justice | Mains Paper 2: Laws, Institutions & Bodies Constituted For The Vulnerable Sections
PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2024] In dealing with socio-economic issues of development, what kind of collaboration between government, NGO’s and the private sector would be most productive?

Linkage: This question is highly relevant because the article explicitly state that child trafficking in Bihar is a severe socio-economic issue rooted in “poverty” and “complete absence of regulatory oversight and social acceptance for girls being commodified.

 

Mentor’s Comment: The trafficking and exploitation of minor girls in Bihar’s orchestra groups has sparked national concern after the rescue of over 270 girls this year alone—many of them subjected to sexual abuse and forced labour. Despite existing laws, trafficking networks thrive due to weak enforcement, poor inter-state coordination, and lack of regulation. The Patna High Court, responding to a plea by child rights groups, has recognized the issue as serious and directed the Bihar government to act urgently. This case highlights the systemic failures in preventing trafficking and calls for a comprehensive, prevention-based strategy to safeguard children from exploitation.

Today’s editorial analyses trafficking and exploitation of minor girls. This topic is important for GS Paper III (Internal Security) in the UPSC mains exam.

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Let’s learn!

Why in the News?

Recently, there has been national concern over the trafficking and abuse of young girls in Bihar’s orchestra groups, after more than 270 girls were rescued this year.  

What factors make Bihar a hub for child trafficking ?

  • Geographical vulnerabilities: Bihar’s porous border with Nepal and seamless railway connectivity to trafficking-prone states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh facilitate trafficking routes.
  • Economic desperation and social acceptance: Deep poverty, especially in rural areas, and a cultural normalisation of girls being commodified contribute to vulnerability.
  • Deceptive recruitment practices: Traffickers exploit aspirations for dance, employment, or marriage, luring families with false promises, especially in districts like Saran, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, and others in the ‘orchestra belt’.
What are the existing laws to prevent child exploitation?

  • Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA): Main law targeting commercial sexual exploitation, penalising brothel-keeping, trafficking for prostitution, and soliciting.
  • Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 370 & 370A: Define and criminalise trafficking for exploitation (e.g., slavery, forced labour), with enhanced punishment for trafficking of women and children.
  • Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015: Provides for protection and rehabilitation of trafficked children as “children in need of care and protection.”
  • Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976: Prohibits bonded and forced labour, often linked with trafficking for labour exploitation, and provides for release and rehabilitation of victims.
  • Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 (amended 2016): Prohibits employment of children below 14 in hazardous occupations, including those linked to trafficking networks.

Why do existing laws fail to curb trafficking despite being comprehensive?

  • Legal Framework Undermined by Weak Implementation

  • Under-enforcement and misclassification: Despite laws like POCSO, JJ Act, and Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, many trafficking cases are filed under generic categories like kidnapping or missing persons, weakening legal accountability.

  • Low conviction rates: There’s a sharp disconnect between the number of rescues and successful prosecutions. Convictions remain low due to lack of evidence, procedural delays, and poor legal follow-through.

  • Weak Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs): Most AHTUs are under-resourced, lack dedicated staff, and suffer from poor inter-state coordination – limiting their effectiveness.

2. Poor Local Vigilance and Community-Level Gaps

  • Community silence and normalisation: In many villages and schools, missing children aren’t reported – either due to fear of police or because migration is seen as normal.
     Eg: In Saran district, Bihar, girls trafficked to orchestras weren’t reported by villagers who assumed they had migrated for work.

  • Delayed or uninformed local response: Panchayats and Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) often lack awareness or training to respond promptly.
     Eg: In East Champaran, a CWC failed to stop a trafficker from taking custody of a minor using a false identity.
  1. Fragmented Inter-Agency Coordination
  • Lack of coordination between police forces: Investigations often stall because police from different states don’t share real-time data or work collaboratively.
     Eg: A girl trafficked from Gopalganj (Bihar) to Howrah (West Bengal) remained untraced for months due to poor inter-state coordination.

  • No unified tracking database: Absence of a centralised system makes it hard to identify trafficking patterns or repeat offenders.
     Eg: Multiple cases from Sitamarhi went undetected because FIRs weren’t cross-referenced.

4. Surveillance and Monitoring Gaps at Transit Points

  • Neglected transport hubs: Unlike railways (monitored by the RPF), bus stands and private vehicles lack surveillance protocols.
     Eg: A trafficking ring used night buses from Muzaffarpur to Odisha, bypassing detection entirely.

What role can technology play in prevention of  trafficking?

  • Real-time Data Sharing for Border Monitoring: Technology-enabled platforms like PICKET (Prevention, Investigation, and Combating of Human Trafficking for Enforcement Tracking) help law enforcement agencies share real-time intelligence at interstate checkpoints.
  • Predictive Analysis and Hotspot Mapping: AI and data analytics can identify trafficking-prone areas, track patterns in missing persons reports, and trigger early alerts.
  • Victim Identification and Case Tracking: Digital tools help maintain a centralised database of trafficked persons, FIRs, and case progress, ensuring follow-up and victim rehabilitation. Eg: A rescued child in Odisha was linked to an FIR in West Bengal using PICKET, allowing swift family reunification and prosecution.

Way forward

  • Strengthen Local and Border Surveillance: Deploy trained staff at village, block, and border levels with access to real-time data for early detection of trafficking.
  • Scale Up Tech Platforms like PICKET: Expand AI-based tracking, digital case monitoring, and inter-state data sharing for coordinated, victim-focused action.

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