General Studies Paper-1

Context

• The Prime Minister paid tributes to freedom fighter Mangal Pandey on his birth anniversary.

Mangal Pandey

• He was born on 19 July 1827 in Nagwa village, Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh, India.
• Mangal Pandey is renowned for his role as a sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry of the British East India Company and for sparking the Indian Rebellion of 1857, widely regarded as India’s First War of Independence.

Major Events

• He refused to use the newly introduced Enfield rifle because it was believed that the new Enfield Pattern 1853 rifle-musket issued to the sepoys of the East India Company came with a cartridge dipped in beef and pork fat, which made it anathema to both Hindu and Muslim sepoys, who had to bite open the cartridge to load the weapon.
• On March 29, 1857, he mutinied and fired at his Senior Sergeant Major.
• He was overpowered and hanged on April 8, 1857, by the order of a Court Martial at Lal Bagan in Barrackpore.
• On 9 May 1857, 85 sepoys in Meerut refused to use new rifle cartridges believed to be coated with cow and pig fat.
• They were dismissed and sentenced to 10 years in jail for disobedience.

Contributions

• He played a crucial role in sparking the Revolt of 1857 which eventually led to the end of East India Company rule and the beginning of direct governance by the British Crown under the Government of India Act, 1858.
• It appointed a Viceroy as the Crown representative in India in place of the Governor General of India.
• Lord Canning became the First viceroy under this new system.

Legacy

• He was executed by the British in 1857 and  is synonymous with courage and determination.
• He was a pioneering warrior of the country who challenged British rule.
• His story of courage and valour will continue to be a source of inspiration for the people of the nation.

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are rapidly expanding their strategic partnership, marking a significant evolution from traditional trade ties to future-focused cooperation in energy, innovation, and sustainability.

About India–UAE Strategic Partnership

• Economic Milestones and Trade Integration:
  • Bilateral Trade: More Than $100 billion (five years ahead of target); India’s third-largest trade partner after China and US.; Largely attributed to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), including the Virtual Trade Corridor, a key pillar of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).
  • Investment Momentum: UAE investments in India have reached $23 billion, with $4.5 billion committed in 2024 alone.
    • The Bilateral Investment Treaty, finalized in 2023, has provided a stable legal framework for this surge in capital flows.
  • Jaywan Card: UAE’s national payment card is built on India’s rupee card stack.
  • UPI-Aani Integration: It aims to enable cross-border digital payments and CBDC interoperability (Scheduled for November 2025).
• Technology and Defense Cooperation
  • Nuclear Energy as a Growth Sector: The UAE currently generates 25% of its electricity from nuclear energy (5.6 GW) and aims to double its capacity by 2030.
  • The Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE)—involving the US, UAE, and India—alongside French collaborations, is turning nuclear energy into a cornerstone of clean energy cooperation.
  • India’s participation in the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant — the first multi-unit nuclear facility in the Arab world — underscores the UAE’s confidence in India’s nuclear expertise.
• Defense Engagements: Defense cooperation has risen to the secretary level, including joint military exercises like Desert Cyclone, Desert Flag, and the India-France-UAE Trilateral Exercise.
  • Indian companies are increasingly active in major defense expos such as IDEX and the Dubai Airshow, contributing to projects including Tejas fighter components and drone systems.
• Education, Space, and Critical Minerals
  • Educational Collaborations: These strengthened with the launch of IIT Abu Dhabi’s PhD program, IIM Ahmedabad’s Dubai campus, and IIFT Dubai, further integrating human capital development into bilateral goals.
  • Space: Collaborative efforts are underway in precision medicine and space exploration, leveraging India’s human capital and the UAE’s infrastructure.
  • Critical Minerals: MoU in 2024 to secure global supply chains for lithium, cobalt, and rare earths.
  • Green Hydrogen: Building a transnational value chain, with production targets of 5 MMT (India) and 1.4 MMT (UAE) by 2030.
• Connectivity and Clean Energy Corridors
  • India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) Initiative: It envisions a seamless flow of containers, data, and energy through interconnected grids and subsea cables.
  • I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE, US) Initiative: Plans are advancing for food parks in Gujarat and renewable energy projects targeting 60 GW in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• Geopolitical Positioning and Africa Outreach
  • Leveraging UAE’s Global CEPA Network: To tap into the UAE’s 25 other CEPAs, enhancing market access and manufacturing potential—especially for energy-intensive sectors.
  • Africa as the Next Frontier: The UAE’s entry into BRICS and initiatives like Bharat Africa Setu offer India a strategic route to expand into African markets, with the UAE serving as a vital gateway.
  • Cultural Symbolism: The BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi stands as a powerful symbol of religious tolerance and shared values, reinforcing the cultural depth of the India-UAE relationship.

Concerns & Challenges Need To Address

• Geopolitical Sensitivities: India’s balancing act amid Israel-Gaza tensions and UAE’s evolving stance in West Asia presents diplomatic challenges.
• Trade & Economic Concerns: Despite CEPA’s success, trade remains concentrated in a few sectors like gems and petroleum. Diversifying exports into tech, pharma, and renewables is still a work in progress.
• Regulatory Loopholes & Irregularities: A loophole in the India-UAE Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) allowed traders to import gold disguised as platinum alloy, causing ₹1,700 crore in revenue loss.
• Silver imports from UAE jumped 647x in one year, raising concerns about value-add compliance and misuse of GIFT City’s relaxed regulations.
• Labor Rights & Humanitarian Issues: Migrant Indian workers in the UAE face challenges under the Kafala sponsorship system, including passport confiscation, wage delays, and poor living conditions.
• Strategic & Security Challenges:UAE’s growing ties with China, including defense deals, may complicate India’s strategic calculus in the region.
• UAE’s financial support to Pakistan raises concerns about funds being diverted to anti-India activities.
• Diplomatic & Institutional Gaps: India and UAE lack a dedicated strategic dialogue platform like 2+2 Dialogue to address defense and political issues holistically.
• Indian exporters face hurdles like mandatory Halal certification, affecting processed food exports.

Conclusion

• The evolving India–UAE strategic partnership exemplifies how two complementary economies can build resilient supply chains, drive sustainable development, and pioneer cooperation in nuclear and advanced technologies. With shared visions and coordinated policies, both countries are positioning themselves as global innovation and trade hubs in a rapidly changing world.

General Studies Paper-3

Context

• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands has released the Global Wetland Outlook for 2025.

About Global Wetland Outlook for 2025

• It offers the most current global evaluation of the condition, trends, value and policy responses concerning wetlands.
• Produced by: The Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) of the Convention on Wetlands.
• Eleven broad wetland types are evaluated encompassing: Seagrass, Kelp Forests, Coral Reefs, Estuarine Waters, Salt Marshes, Mangroves, Tidal Flats, Lakes, Rivers and Streams, Inland Marshes and Swamps, and Peatlands (Mires).

Major Findings

• Wetland loss continues: Since 1970, an estimated 411 million hectares of wetlands have been lost worldwide, representing a 22% decline in global extent.
  • The average rate of wetland loss was -0.52% per annum (ranging from -1.80% to -0.01%, depending on wetland type).
• Wetland degradation is widespread: Recently, wetland declines are notable in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa, however, the extent of degradation also increased in Europe, North America, and Oceania.
• Reasons for Degradation: Urbanisation, industrial and infrastructure development are the three most important drivers of wetland degradation and loss across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • In North America and Oceania, invasive species were a larger concern, and in Europe drought was the main cause.
• High Value Resource: The 1,425 million ha of remaining wetlands give an estimated $7.98 trillion to $39.01 trillion benefits to people, every year.
  • If all remaining wetlands are effectively managed until 2050, they will provide a net present value (NPV) greater than $205.25 trillion over this time period.
• Conservation of healthy and functioning wetlands is cheaper than restoration: Average costs for restoring wetlands can range from $1,000 per hectare (per annum, Int$) to over $70,000 per hectare.
• The global financing gap for wetlands: Current estimates show that biodiversity conservation funding accounts for just 0.25% of global GDP, highlighting the significant underinvestment in nature, including wetlands.

Recommendations:

• Financing: Wetlands must be incorporated into financing mechanisms like those under the KM-GBF, which aims to mobilise billions annually.
• Unlock a private and public mix of financing to invest in wetlands as nature-based solutions.
• The Global Wetland Outlook 2025 calls for immediate action from policymakers, businesses, and society.
• Achieving this requires strong political will, public support, and will require significant resource mobilization. There is an urgent need to boost funding for nature.

What is a Wetland?

• A wetland is an ecosystem in which the land is covered by water—salt, fresh, or somewhere in between—either seasonally or permanently. It functions as its own distinct ecosystem.
• It includes water bodies such as lakes, rivers, underground aquifers, swamps, wet grasslands, peatlands, deltas, tidal flats, mangroves, coral reefs, and other coastal areas as well.
• These wetlands can be classified into three segments such as inland wetlands, coastal wetlands, and human-made wetlands.

Wetlands in India

• India includes high-altitude wetlands of the Himalayas, floodplains of rivers such as Ganges and Brahmaputra, lagoons and mangrove marshes on the coastline, and reefs in marine environments.
• India has around 4.6% of its land as wetlands, 91 Wetlands of India covering are under the List of Wetlands of International Importance.
• Presently, India stands first in South Asia and third in Asia in terms of number of designated sites.

Importance of Wetlands

• Biodiversity Hotspots: Wetlands are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth, supporting a wide variety of plant and animal species.
• Water Filtration and Purification: They act as natural filters, trapping and removing pollutants and sediments from water.
• Flood Control and Water Regulation: Function as natural buffers against floods by absorbing and slowing down excess water during heavy rainfall or storm events.
• Carbon Sequestration: The waterlogged conditions in wetlands slow down the decomposition of organic matter, leading to the accumulation of carbon in the soil.
• Economic Benefits: Wetlands support various economic activities, including fisheries, agriculture, and tourism. They provide valuable resources for local communities and contribute to the overall economy.

General Studies Paper-3

Context

• The Union Minister of Culture and Tourism has said that the government is committed to raising the contribution of tourism in the country’s economy to 10% by 2047.

India’s Tourism Sector: Key Highlights

• India’s tourism sector, rich in heritage, culture, and diversity, is emerging as a global favorite and a key driver of economic growth.
• India’s economy is $4 trillion today, expected to reach $32 trillion by 2047.
• Tourism contributes 5–6% to India’s economy currently.
• The aim is for tourism to contribute 10% of the economy by 2047 — aligning with global benchmarks.
• India received 1.8% of world tourism receipts and attained a rank of 14th worldwide in world tourism receipts during 2023.
• Projected Growth: Tourism sector expected to grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 24%.
• Spiritual tourism: Every Indian state offers diverse and unique cultural experiences.
• Sustainability Focus: Emphasis on sustainable tourism development alongside growth.

Types of Tourism offered in India

• Bounded by the Himalayan ranges in the north and edged by a coastline surrounded by three seas, India has historical sites and royal cities, golden beaches, mountain retreats, rich cultures and festivities.
• Adventure tourism: This involves exploration of remote areas and exotic locales and engaging in various activities.
  • For adventure tourism in India, tourists prefer to go trekking to places like Ladakh, Sikkim, and Himalayas.
• Spiritual Tourism: The diversity of religions, cultures, and languages of India is unique and unparalleled supporting spirituality.
• Beach Tourism: India’s vast coastline and islands provides ample opportunities for tourism.
  • Kerala, Goa, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep islands attract tourists in large numbers all around the year.
• Cultural tourism: India is known for its rich cultural heritage and an element of mysticism, which is why tourists come to India to experience it for themselves.
• The various fairs and festivals that tourists can visit in India are the Pushkar fair (Rajasthan), Taj Mahotsav (Uttar Pradesh), and Suraj Kund mela (Haryana).
• Wildlife tourism: India has a rich forest cover which has exotic species of wildlife – some of which are even endangered and very rare. This has boosted wildlife tourism in India.
• Medical tourism: Tourists from all over the world come to India to avail themselves of cost-effective but superior quality healthcare in terms of surgical procedures and general medical attention.

Challenges

• Infrastructure Deficiencies: Many tourist destinations in India suffer from inadequate infrastructure, including poor road conditions, insufficient public transportation, and inadequate facilities in popular tourist areas.
• Environmental Degradation: Increased tourism lead to environmental problems such as pollution, overuse of natural resources, and damage to wildlife and ecosystems.
• Lack of Standardization: There is a lack of standardized quality control across various services in the tourism sector, from hotels and restaurants to tour operators. This inconsistency affect the overall tourist experience.
• Seasonality: Many tourist destinations face seasonal fluctuations, with high tourist numbers during peak seasons and low numbers during off-seasons.
• Marketing and Promotion Challenges: Effective marketing strategies are often lacking, and there is a need for better promotion of lesser-known destinations.
• Cultural Sensitivity and Management: Managing cultural heritage responsibly while balancing tourism needs is challenging.

Government Initiatives

• Enhancing Connectivity and Investment: In the 2025 budget, the Finance Minister announced a landmark initiative to develop 50 top tourist destinations in partnership with states through a challenge mode.
  • This initiative aims to elevate tourism infrastructure, improve ease of travel, and strengthen connectivity to key sites.
• Swadesh Darshan Scheme: This scheme was launched to develop theme-based tourist circuits across the country.
• It focuses on creating world-class infrastructure, including roads, amenities, and signage, to improve the tourist experience.
• Revitalizing Spiritual Tourism: Recognizing the deep cultural and spiritual significance of religious tourism, the government will prioritize the development of sites associated with pilgrimage and heritage.
  • The Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) will continue to play a crucial role in enhancing infrastructure at major pilgrimage sites and heritage cities.
• Medical Tourism: Medical tourism and the “Heal in India” initiative will be promoted in partnership with the private sector, enhancing India’s position as a premier global healthcare destination.
• Atithi Devo Bhava Campaign: This initiative promotes hospitality and the cultural ethos of treating guests with utmost respect and care.
  • It includes training programs for service providers in the tourism sector.
• Visa Reforms: The introduction of e-visa facilities for citizens of many countries has simplified the process for obtaining a visa to visit India. This move aims to attract more international tourists.
• Support for Sustainable Tourism: The government is promoting eco-friendly and sustainable tourism practices through various schemes and guidelines, including the promotion of responsible tourism.
• Measures to Facilitate Employment-Led Growth in the 2025-26 Budget:
• Providing MUDRA loans for homestays;
• Providing performance-linked incentives to states for effective destination management including tourist amenities, cleanliness, and marketing efforts and;
• introducing streamlined e-visa facilities along with visa-fee waivers for certain tourist groups.

Conclusion

• The Government of India is committed to positioning the country as a global leader in tourism by enhancing infrastructure, boosting employment, and promoting diverse tourism segments.
• The “Heal in India” initiative and Medical Value Travel sector underscore India’s growing prominence as a premier healthcare destination.
• With a strong emphasis on ‘Seva’ and ‘Atithi Devo Bhava,’ India is set to redefine its tourism landscape and establish itself as a world-class destination.

General Studies Paper -2

Context

• Despite its emergence as a global economic force and digital innovator, India continues to face serious challenges in gender equality, as highlighted by the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report (2025).
• India ranks 131 out of 148 countries, with particularly low scores in economic participation and health and survival—critical pillars for achieving gender parity.

Key Structural Issues

• Health and Survival:
  • Sex Ratio at Birth: India’s sex ratio at birth remains among the most skewed globally, reflecting a persistent societal preference for sons.
  • Healthy Life Expectancy: Women now have a lower healthy life expectancy than men, a reversal of the expected trend.
  • Anaemia Prevalence: Nearly 57% of Indian women aged 15–49 are anaemic (NFHS-5), severely impacting their ability to learn, work, and carry pregnancies safely.
  • Neglect of Women’s Health: Chronic underinvestment in reproductive health, preventive care, and nutrition—especially for rural and low-income women—undermines national progress.
• Economic Participation and Opportunity
  • Low Labour Force Participation: India ranks 143rd on the Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex. Female labour force participation remains stubbornly low.
  • Wage Gap: Women earn less than a third of what men do.
  • Lost Economic Potential: Closing the gender gap could have added $770 billion to India’s GDP by 2025, but the opportunity has not been realized.
  • Slow Progress: At the current rate, it may take over a century to close the global economic gender gap, with India lagging behind even this slow trajectory.
• The Burden of Unpaid Care Work
  • Invisible Labour: Indian women perform nearly seven times more unpaid domestic work than men (Time Use Survey), yet this work remains invisible in national accounting and is underfunded in public policy.
  • Underrepresentation: Women are grossly underrepresented in decision-making spaces, from boardrooms to budget committees, leading to policies that often overlook women’s lived realities.

Demographic Shifts: The Ageing Challenge

• Rising Elderly Population: By 2050, senior citizens are expected to make up nearly 20% of India’s population, with a significant proportion being very old women, especially widows.
• Dependency Ratio: If women continue to be excluded from the workforce, the dependency ratio will rise, straining the economy and fiscal stability.
• Economic Necessity: Gender equality is not just a rights issue—it is a demographic and economic imperative for sustaining growth as the population ages and fertility rates decline.

Policy Gaps and Recommendations

• Care Infrastructure:
  • Invest in Care Services: Building childcare centres, elder care services, and expanding maternity benefits would ease the unpaid work burden and enable millions of women to join or re-enter the workforce.
  • Learning from Global Models: Countries like Uruguay and South Korea have successfully integrated care economies into their development plans, offering valuable lessons for India.
• Recognition and Redistribution
  • Policy Integration: Central and State governments must account for unpaid care work through time-use surveys, gender budgeting, and direct investment in care infrastructure.
• Health and Social Protection
  • Budget Prioritization: Increased allocations for women’s health, especially at the primary care level, are essential for improving well-being and economic inclusion.
  • Integrated Policies: Connecting health, labour, and social protection policies is crucial for reversing negative trends.
• Other approaches are to expand access to education and skill training, boost economic participation, improve health and safety, enhance political and legal empowerment, leverage technology and financial Inclusion, engage communities and shift cultural norms.

Conclusion

India’s frameworks and ambitions for gender equality exist, but real investment is needed in:

• Public health systems that prioritize women’s needs
• Care services that redistribute unpaid work
• Policies that empower women as active builders of the economy

General Studies Paper -3

Context

China’s transformation from the world’s largest polluter to a global clean energy superpower is the result of decades of strategic planning, massive state investment, and technological dominance across the renewable energy supply chain.

About the Green Energy

• It has emerged as a cornerstone of sustainable development, as the world confronts the climate crisis.
• It refers to energy generated from natural, renewable sources that have minimal environmental impact and produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions.
• These sources include solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, biomass and geothermal energy.

Global Landscape

• Globally, renewables provided 40.9% of electricity in 2024 — the highest share since the 1940s.
• Solar alone added 474 TWh, making it the fastest-growing source for the 20th consecutive year.
• The US and EU are investing billions to reshore clean energy industries.
• Brazil and Germany are expanding bioenergy and offshore wind.
• Africa is emerging as a new frontier, with China leading nuclear and solar investments.

China’s Green Energy Revolution

• China, once the world’s largest emitter, has rapidly transformed into a clean energy superpower — reshaping global supply chains, investment flows, and technological leadership.
• Policy & Legal Framework: 11th Five-Year Plan (2006–2010); Renewable Energy Law (2005).
• Massive Investment: $940 billion in renewables in 2024, up from $10.7 billion in 2006.
• State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs): Entities like State Grid and Huaneng execute national plans with speed and scale.
• China’s SOEs account for 55% of global renewable energy investment, turning clean energy into a tool of statecraft.
• Global Supply Chain Dominance: From raw material extraction (polysilicon, lithium) to manufacturing and exports, China has consolidated control over every stage of clean energy production.
• Using Next-Gen Tech: China is focusing on next-gen technologies like AI-powered smart grids, Green hydrogen, and Thorium-based nuclear reactors in its renewable energy push.
• Export Strategy: Through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China builds solar parks, wind farms, and hydropower stations across 61 countries.

India’s Learning From China’s Green Energy Success

• Reducing Import Dependence: India slashed solar module imports from China by 76% in 2023.
  • Imposed 40% customs duty on solar modules and 25% on solar cells;
  • Boosted domestic manufacturing through the PLI scheme for solar and batteries;
• Strengthening Grid and Storage: Recognizing China’s early grid bottlenecks, India is investing in:
  • Green Energy Corridors;
  • Battery storage systems;
  • Pumped hydro projects (51 GW expected by 2032).
• Decentralized and Inclusive Growth: Unlike China’s centralized SOE model, India is promoting:
  • Rooftop solar through PM Surya Ghar Yojana;
  • Agri-PV and PM-KUSUM for rural solar deployment;
  • Hybrid tenders combining solar, wind, and storage for grid stability.
• Critical Minerals and Technology Independence: India is formulating a critical minerals framework to reduce reliance on China for lithium, cobalt, and rare earths.
• Exempted 12 critical minerals and 35 capital goods from import duties to support domestic innovation.

General Studies Paper -3

Context

• India has reached 50% of its total installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, achieving its NDC target five years early.
• However, these sources contribute less than 30% to actual power generation.

India’s Renewable Energy Capacity

• Overall Renewable Energy Growth:
  • Record capacity addition: 29.52 GW added in FY 2024–25.
  • Total installed RE capacity: Reached 220.10 GW as of March 2025 (up from 198.75 GW).
  • Target: Progressing toward 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 under Panchamrit goals.
• Solar Energy:
  • Leading contributor:83 GW added in FY 2024–25 (vs. 15.03 GW in previous year).
  • Total installed solar capacity: 105.65 GW.
• Wind Energy:
  • New capacity addition:15 GW in FY 2024–25 (up from 3.25 GW).
  • Total installed capacity: 50.04 GW
• Bioenergy & Small Hydro:
  • Bioenergy total capacity: 11.58 GW, including 0.53 GW from off-grid/waste-to-energy.
  • Small Hydro capacity: 5.10 GW, with 0.44 GW under implementation.
• Project Pipeline:
  • Projects under implementation: 40 GW
  • Projects tendered: 06 GW
• Emerging solutions:29 GW from hybrid, (Round-the-Clock) RTC, peaking power, and thermal+RE bundling.
  • India stands 4th globally in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity, 4th in Wind Power capacity & 5th in Solar Power capacity (as per REN21 Renewables 2024 Global Status Report).
  • The leading states in India for renewable energy capacity are Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

What are the Challenges?

• Low Capacity Utilisation Factor (CUF): Clean energy sources are intermittent and weather-dependent. Hence, their actual output is much lower despite high capacity.
  • Eg: Solar CUF: ~20%, Wind CUF: ~25–30%, Coal CUF: ~60%, Nuclear CUF: ~80%.
• Base Load Dependency on Coal: Coal continues to supply over 75% of India’s electricity demand, especially at night when solar isn’t available.
  • India’s grid still depends heavily on thermal sources for round-the-clock (RTC) power.
• Storage and Transmission Limitations: Lack of grid-scale battery storage prevents storing surplus daytime solar energy.
  • Transmission planning is not in sync with the pace of RE (renewable energy) installation.
• Time-Insensitive Tariff Structures: India currently lacks time-of-day (ToD) pricing, discouraging daytime solar consumption.
  • Uniform tariffs provide no incentive for consumers or discoms to shift loads to peak solar hours.
• Land and Regulatory Constraints: Land aggregation issues for large-scale solar or hybrid projects.
  • Delays in regulatory clearances, especially for hybrid renewable systems and storage infrastructure.

Why is there a need to increase Capacity Utilisation Factor?

• Energy Security: India’s energy demand is expected to double by 2040. Inefficient use of clean energy slows diversification and increases coal dependence.
• Climate Commitments: Under its updated NDCs (2022), India committed to:
  • 50% of total installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030 (already achieved) and Reduction in emissions intensity by 45% (from 2005 levels).
  • Yet, current clean energy usage (~28%) risks undercutting actual emission reduction.
• Air Pollution and Public Health: Continued coal dominance contributes to air pollution, with India housing 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities.
• Economic Impact: Inefficient RE usage leads to underutilisation of investments in solar/wind, poor returns for developers, and higher electricity costs for discoms.

Government Initiatives to Improve Clean Energy Utilisation

• Green Energy Corridor (GEC): Aims to strengthen the transmission infrastructure to evacuate renewable energy efficiently from generation points to demand centres.
• PM-KUSUM Scheme: Promotes installation of solar pumps and grid-connected solar power plants in rural areas to reduce diesel usage and support farmers.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission: Seeks to promote the production and use of green hydrogen to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in sectors like refining, steel, and fertilisers.
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Provides financial incentives for domestic manufacturing of high-efficiency solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and advanced battery storage systems.
• Renewable Energy Hybrid Policy: Encourages setting up of projects that combine solar and wind energy in the same location to increase capacity utilisation and reliability.

Way Ahead

• Grid Modernisation and Smart Management: Invest in smart grids with real-time demand-supply balancing.
  • Enable time-of-day pricing, especially to promote daytime solar usage.
• Battery and Storage Infrastructure: Accelerate deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) through VGF (Viability Gap Funding) or PLI.
  • Hybrid Projects (solar-wind-hydro with BESS) should be fast-tracked.
• Decentralised Renewable Energy: Promote rooftop solar, solar pumps, and mini-grids to relieve base-load pressure.
• Revamp Tariff and Market Design: Introduce differential tariffs for peak vs off-peak periods.
  • Set up green power markets on energy exchanges with open access for industries.
• Land and Transmission Reforms: National portal for land aggregation and clearance tracking.
  • Integrated transmission planning to synchronise RE project pipelines with grid readiness.
• Policy Predictability: Ensure long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
  • Reduce DISCOM risks through payment guarantees or tripartite mechanisms.

General Studies Paper -3

Context

The Union Cabinet approved the “Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana” for a period of six years.

PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

• It is the first dedicated scheme focused on agriculture and allied sectors. It is inspired by the Aspirational Districts Programme of NITI Aayog.
• Total outlay: Rs 24,000 crore per annum
• Resource pool: Convergence of 36 existing schemes from 11 Central Ministries /Departments, along with state schemes and private sector participation.
• Coverage: 100 districts, with at least one from every state/UT.
  • It will be identified on the basis of three key indicators- low productivity , low cropping intensity and low credit disbursement.
• Targeted beneficiaries:7 crore farmers
• Implementation period: 6 years (starting from 2025-26)
• Objectives of the scheme:
  • Enhance agricultural productivity, promote crop diversification and encourage sustainable agricultural practices,
  • Strengthen post-harvest storage at panchayat and block levels,
  • Improve irrigation infrastructure,
  • Provide long-term and short-term credit to farmers.

Implementation of the scheme

• For effective implementation and monitoring of the scheme , committees will be formed at the district, state and national level.
• The District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan (DAAAP) will be finalized by the District Dhan Dhanya Committee.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Progress will be tracked monthly using a dashboard based on 117 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• NITI Aayog will guide and review district plans.
• Each district has a Central Nodal Officer for periodic review.

General Studies Paper -3

Context

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for June 2025 has been released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)

• The PLFS gives estimates of key employment and unemployment Indicators.
• These indicators are:
• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): It is the percentage of persons in the labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.
• Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.
• Unemployment Rate (UR): UR is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed among the persons in the labour force.
• Current Weekly Status (CWS): The activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of last 7 days preceding the date of survey.

Major Highlights

• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) among persons of age 15 years and above was 54.2 % during June 2025 as compared to 54.8% during May, 2025.
• LFPR in rural areas was 56.1% and LFPR in urban areas was 50.4%.
• Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in rural areas among persons of age 15 years and above was 53.3% during June, 2025.
• WPR in urban areas among persons of the same age group was 46.8% with the overall WPR at the country level observed as 51.2%.
• The unemployment rate for females and males of all ages above 15 was 5.6%.
• While for men, the rate remained same as of May, for females, there was a decrease in UR by 0.1 percentage point.
• While the rural unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points, the urban unemployment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points between May and June.
• The marginal decline in LFPR and WPR was largely influenced by seasonal agricultural patterns, intense summer heat limiting outdoor physical work, and a shift of some unpaid helpers, particularly from higher-income rural households, towards domestic chores.

Government Initiatives to Increase Women Participation in Labour Force:

• Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY): Under PMMY, women can avail of micro-credit loans without collateral to set up small enterprises, helping women overcome barriers related to accessing capital.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme: The scheme works to prevent gender-based discrimination and violence, focusing on changing societal attitudes towards girls.
  • It promotes education, health, and empowerment, which indirectly increases women’s participation in the labor force.
• Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017: The Act extended the maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for women working in establishments with more than 10 employees.
• Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) by NITI Aayog: The platform offers mentorship, networking, funding, and skill development opportunities for women in business.
• Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM): The NRLM, through its SHG component, encourages women in rural areas to form collectives that can access credit, entrepreneurship training, and marketing opportunities.
• National Creche Scheme: This scheme supports working mothers, especially those in the unorganized sector, by setting up daycares in nearby locations where they can leave their children while they work.
  • Mission Shakti is a women empowerment programme launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) for the period 2021-2025.
  • It aims to strengthen interventions for women’s welfare, safety, and empowerment, making women equal partners in nation-building.
  • The Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE KIRAN) program has supported nearly 1,962 women scientists from 2018 to 2023.

Way Ahead

• The marginal increase in urban unemployment, coupled with reduced labour force engagement, reflects ongoing structural challenges in generating quality jobs, especially in the non-agricultural and urban sectors.
• Moreover, the influence of climatic factors such as extreme heat on labour participation highlights the growing relevance of environmental factors in shaping employment trends.
• Continued monthly tracking of labour data will be essential to monitor emerging patterns and to ensure timely, targeted interventions that can address deficiencies in India’s labour market.

General Studies Paper -3

Context

Skill India Mission completed ten years.

About Skill India Mission (SIM)

• Launched on 15 July 2015, World Youth Skills Day, the Skill India Mission provides skill, re-skill, and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill development centres and institutes under various schemes.
• In February 2025, the restructured ‘Skill India Programme’ was approved for 2022-23 to 2025-26, merging Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0), the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), and the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme into a single Central Sector Scheme.
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)– Offers short-term skill training and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for youth nationwide, including rural areas.
• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)– Promotes apprenticeship with financial support for stipends, providing both basic and on-the-job training.
• Jan Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS)– Provides vocational skills to non-literates, neo-literates, and school dropouts (up to 12th standard), focusing on women, SC/ST/OBC, and minorities in rural and low-income urban areas.

Major Achievements (2015–2025)

• Over 6 crore youth skilled: Across 38 sectors, including IT, manufacturing, services, construction, and agriculture.
• Women empowerment: Special initiatives increased female workforce participation in several sectors.
• Recognition: India ranked 11th in the WorldSkills Competition 2022.
• Sector-wise employment: Notable growth—manufacturing (15%), services (20%), construction (25%).

Socio-Economic Impact

• Unemployment reduced: Employability among Indian graduates has risen to 54.81% (India Skills Report 2025).
• Workforce participation increased: Employment rate rose from 36.9% to 37.9% in the same period.
• Inclusive growth: Imparted growth for rural, tribal, LWE-affected, and Northeast regions.
• Entrepreneurship boost: Youth equipped for self-employment, MSMEs, and start-ups.

Challenges

• Quality & Industry Relevance: Skill mismatch continues in several sectors.
• Low absorption by industry: Some trained candidates still face placement hurdles, especially in rural and informal sectors.
• Regional disparities: Uneven implementation and outcomes across states.
• Social biases: Vocational training sometimes seen as inferior to mainstream education.
• Infrastructure and trainer shortage: Gaps in modern equipment and skilled trainers
• Funding Delays: Funding delays and coordination issues between Central and State bodies flagged by the Sinha Committee (2022).

Way Forward

• Digital push: Greater integration of e-learning, AI-driven monitoring, and blended training models.
• Enhanced private sector and global partnerships: Focus on international standards and global value chains.
• Regular impact assessment: Focus on outcomes (job placement, entrepreneurship) beyond just training numbers.