General Studies Paper-3

Context

• India’s power sector is grappling with technical and administrative hurdles, compounded by macroeconomic constraints that could shape the nation’s economic trajectory.

About Power Sector of India

• Installed Capacity and Energy Mix: As of mid-2025, India’s total installed power capacity has reached 476 GW, with non-fossil fuel sources contributing 49% of this mix. It includes:
  • Thermal (Coal, Gas, Diesel): 240 GW; ~50.5 %
  • Solar: 110.9 GW; ~23.3%
  • Wind: 51.3GW; ~10.8%
  • Hydro: 46.9GW; ~9.8%
  • Nuclear: 8.8GW; ~1.8%
• Surge in Renewable Energy: Installed renewable capacity tripled — from 76 GW to over 226 GW between 2014 and 2025.
  • Solar power alone grew more than 39-fold, and wind energy continues to expand, especially in onshore installations.
  • India’s target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 is ambitious but achievable, with over 176 GW of renewable projects under implementation.
• Demand and Future Projection: India’s electricity demand is growing at 7–9% annually, with peak demand rising even faster.

How India’s Power Sector Impacting the Economy?

• GDP Growth and Industrial Expansion: Reliable power supply is essential for manufacturing, services, and emerging tech like data centers and electric vehicles.
  • Industrial and commercial power demand rose by over 3× and 4.5× respectively between 2001 and 2022, reflecting modernization across sectors.
• Employment and Investment: The sector supports millions of jobs across generation, transmission, distribution, and renewables.
  • Infrastructure investments — like ₹6.4 lakh crore in transmission and distribution projects under the National Infrastructure Pipeline—stimulate local economies and create skilled employment.
• Rural Development and Electrification: Universal household electrification has unlocked latent demand in rural areas, improving productivity, education, and healthcare outcomes.
  • Over 2.8 crore households were connected to the grid under schemes like Saubhagya and DDUGJY.
• Energy Security and Trade: India now exports electricity worth over USD 1.5 billion annually, with plans for undersea transmission links to the Middle East.
  • Diversification into renewables enhances energy independence and reduces import bills for coal and gas.
• Climate and Sustainability Goals: India’s commitment to 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 supports its pledge to reduce carbon intensity by 45%.
  • Transitioning to clean energy reduces long-term environmental costs and aligns with global climate finance opportunities.

Major Challenges in India’s Power Sector

• Electricity as a Hidden Tax on Manufacturing: Indian firms effectively pay twice the efficient cost of power, imposing a ‘100% tax’ on production.
  • Half of this stems from distribution inefficiencies, while the other half arises from cross-subsidisation, where industries and commercial users subsidize households and agriculture.
  • Large firms escape this burden through captive power or negotiation, and Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) limit their ability to expand, create jobs, and compete globally.
• Subsidies Shift from Agriculture to Households: Electricity subsidies consume about 1.2–1.3% of GDP.
  • Earlier, agriculture was the main beneficiary, but now households account for nearly half, and parity is approaching.
  • Between 70–85% of subsidies flow to middle-class and rich households.
• Global Stakes: China is rapidly becoming an ‘electro-state’, electrifying its economy with renewables and positioning itself to dominate future industries like AI, electric vehicles, and data centers.
  • If India fails to reform its power sector, it risks falling behind in this global race.

Other Challenges in India’s Power Sector

• Distribution and Grid Challenges: Distribution Companies (DISCOM) have accumulated losses exceeding ₹6.77 lakh crore by 2022–23.
  • DISCOMs suffer from inefficiency, political interference, and chronic bailouts.
• High Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) Losses: National average AT&C losses hover around 25%, compared to 6–7% in developed countries.
  • These losses stem from outdated infrastructure, theft, and poor metering.
• Fuel Shortages and Supply Gaps: Coal remains a dominant energy source, but domestic production hasn’t kept pace with demand.
  • It leads to underutilization of generation capacity and increased reliance on imports.
• Tariff Distortions: Electricity tariffs are often politically manipulated, with cross-subsidies burdening industrial users.
  • Delays in tariff revisions and differential pricing structures discourage investment and efficiency.
• Low Capacity Utilization: Despite increased installed capacity, actual generation lags due to fuel shortages and unviable Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
• Regulatory and Policy Fragmentation: Overlapping jurisdictions between central and state governments complicate reforms.
  • Implementation of progressive policies like open access and subsidy targeting remains uneven.
• Renewable Integration Challenges: While India has committed to 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, grid modernization and storage solutions lag behind.
  • Balancing intermittent renewable sources with base-load demand is still a technical hurdle.

Key Policies and Reforms in India’s Power Sector

• Electricity Act, 2003: Introduced competition, open access, and consumer protection.
  • Enabled license-free generation and distribution, power trading, and mandatory metering.
  • Established State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) and promoted rural electrification.
• National Electricity Policy (NEP) & Tariff Policy: It laid the foundation for affordable, reliable electricity for all.
  • Tariff Policy (2006, revised in 2016) emphasized cost-reflective tariffs, renewable integration, and efficiency.
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY): Focused on rural electrification and feeder separation for agricultural and non-agricultural loads.
  • Strengthened sub-transmission and distribution infrastructure in villages.
• SAUBHAGYA Scheme: It aims to achieve universal household electrification.
  • Over 2.8 crore households were connected to the grid, improving rural productivity and welfare
• Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY): Aimed at financial turnaround of state-owned distribution companies (DISCOMs).
  • Focused on reducing AT&C losses, improving billing efficiency, and eliminating the gap between cost and revenue.
• National Power Portal: Centralized data and analytics for generation, transmission, and consumption.
• One Nation, One Grid: Unified national grid enables seamless power flow across regions.
  • Enhances reliability, efficiency, and market integration.
• Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS): Launched to modernize DISCOMs with smart meters, feeder automation, and loss reduction targets.
  • Linked financial support to performance metrics.

Way Forward: Toward an Electricity Revolution

• Breaking the Cycle of Inefficiency:
  • Radical simplification of electricity tariffs, based only on technical factors.
  • Elimination of cross-subsidies, ensuring users pay only efficient costs.
  • Targeted subsidies for genuinely poor households, ending benefits for the rich.
  • Shared transition costs between the Centre and states to finance reforms.
  • Orderly exits for unviable discoms to increase reform pressure.
• India’s power distribution remains one of the last monopolistic bastions of the public sector. Telecommunications reform in the 1990s sparked the IT revolution; similar competitive reforms in electricity could unleash a new wave of productivity and growth.

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• India has nearly 63 million people with disabilities (NFHS-5), yet their representation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education remains marginal.
• Despite progressive legislations such as the Right to Education Act (2009) and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act (2016), systemic barriers hinder inclusion. This contradicts global norms like the UNCRPD (2006) and SDG-4 on inclusive education.

Why Inclusivity in STEM Matters?

• Equity & Potential: Empirical evidence shows disabled students perform at par with peers when given opportunities.
• Innovation Driver: Disability awareness has historically spurred innovation — e.g., optometry for vision correction, Graham Bell’s telephony experiments.
• National Progress: Inclusive STEM supports Digital India, AI, space research, and aspirations for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Barriers to STEM Access

• Policy vs. Practice Gap: India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions inclusive education for all. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016mandates a 4% reservation in government and aided higher education institutions for students with disabilities.
  • Most institutions fail to meet this quota, and even when they do, it’s often not applied departmentally—especially in STEM fields.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Campuses lack accessible classrooms, laboratories, and hostels.
  • Many older institutions have no lifts, ramps, or accessible toilets.
  • The National Building Code (2016) is seldom enforced in new constructions.
• Academic Exclusion: Laboratories are designed with fixed-height benches and inaccessible equipment.
  • Experiments and pedagogy are not adapted for students with visual or mobility impairments.
  • As a result, students with disabilities are systematically discouraged from pursuing STEM.
• Attitudinal bias: STEM disciplines are often deemed ‘unsuitable’ for disabled students.
• Horizontal quotas: Admissions are not tailored to their needs, reducing their chances of entry.
• Lack of assistive technology: Tools that could bridge the gap are either unavailable or underutilized.

Related Government Initiatives

• Scholarship Schemes under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) offer financial aid for tuition, devices, and maintenance.
• Inclusive Teaching Modules by NCERT and CIET promote awareness and capacity-building among educators.
• Digital Technology for Children With Special Needs, a CIET-NCERT training program, equips educators to use ICT tools for inclusive classrooms.
• Vocational and Remedial Support is provided through initiatives like the Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS).
• CBSE’s National Teachers’ Conference 2025 encourages innovative teaching strategies for diverse learners, including those with disabilities.

What Needs to Change

• Accessibility Audits and Investments: Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) need to conduct regular accessibility audits to identify barriers and invest in infrastructure upgrades.
  • These measures should be seen not as expenses but as essential steps toward inclusivity.
• Technology and Innovation: With modern technology, inclusive STEM education is possible:
  • Speech-activated equipment for mobility-impaired students.
  • AI and sensor-based interfaces to convert visual data into audio or vice versa.
  • Flexible lab designs to accommodate diverse learners.
• Sensitisation and Training: Administrators, faculty, and students require sensitisation programmes to overcome biases and encourage inclusivity.
  • Policies need to be implemented in both letter and spirit, ensuring that opportunities are genuinely accessible.

Way Forward: Inclusive Innovation

• To truly democratize STEM education, India needs to:
  • Invest in accessible infrastructure across campuses;
  • Train faculty in inclusive pedagogy and universal design;
  • Deploy assistive technologies tailored to STEM learning;
  • Ensure departmental-level implementation of disability quotas;
  • Foster a culture of respect and representation in scientific communities.

General Studies Paper-3

Context

• In an era of global economic uncertainty and rising protectionism, like the recent U.S. hike on Indian steel and chemical products, India’s tourism sector stands out as a resilient, inclusive, and tariff-proof engine of growth.

About Tourism Sector in India

• Current Statistics (2023–24): India’s tourism sector has rebounded strongly post-pandemic, with both domestic and international travel showing impressive growth:
  • Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs):52 million (2023), up 47.89% from 2022;
  • Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Arrivals: 9.38 million (2023), up 18.9% from 2022;
  • Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs): Domestic visitor spending ₹14.64 trillion (2023), up 15% from 2019;
  • Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs): ₹2.3 lakh crore (2023), up 31.5% from 2022;
• GDP Contribution: About 5% to India’s GDP (Global average of 10%); Countries like Spain and the UAE earn around 12% of GDP from tourism;
• Global Ranking: India ranks 39th in the Travel & Tourism Development Index (World Economic Forum) 2024; Strong performance in:
  • Price Competitiveness: 18th;
  • Air Transport Infrastructure: 26th;
  • Ground & Port Infrastructure: 25th;

Tourism’s Transformative Potential

• Tourism Vision @2047: 100 million foreign tourists by 2047; Focus on adventure, wellness, heritage, and niche tourism segments;
  • Raising tourism’s share of GDP from 5% to 10% over the next decade could:
  • Add $516 billion annually to the economy;
  • Create 40 million new jobs;
  • Boost foreign exchange earnings to $130–140 billion;
• India currently has 1,80,000 branded hotel rooms and 1.5 million unbranded ones. Both categories need to triple to meet demand and keep prices competitive.

Why Is Tourism Tariff-Proof?

• Contrast with Tariff-Vulnerable Sectors: Key sectors like steel, chemicals, telecom equipment, and medical devices are vulnerable to tariffs that can reduce competitiveness, shrink export volumes, and lead to job losses.
• However, tourism, by contrast, is insulated from these risks.
• No Border Duties: When a foreign tourist visits India, they spend money on hotels, food, transport, and experiences—all within India.
  • There are no import/export tariffs involved, making tourism immune to global trade wars or protectionist policies.
• Direct Foreign Exchange Earnings: In 2024, India earned $28 billion (₹2.45 lakh crore) in foreign exchange from inbound tourism.
  • It is not subject to customs duties, unlike goods exports which can be taxed or restricted by other countries.
• Economic & Strategic Value: Tourism supports millions of jobs across urban and rural India.
  • It has one of the highest economic multipliers—every rupee spent by a tourist flows through multiple sectors like transport, crafts, and hospitality.

Related Efforts & Initiatives

• Budgetary Provision: ₹2,541 crore for tourism development (FY 2025–26) for infrastructure, skill development, travel facilitation, and heritage conservation.
• Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits, like Buddhist Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit.
  • Financial assistance to states/UTs for infrastructure and amenities.
  • Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme: Development ofpilgrimage sites and spiritual destinations.
  • To enhance religious tourism and visitor experience.
• E-Visa Expansion: It is available under 7 sub-categories including e-Tourist Visa; e-Medical Visa; and e-Ayush Visa.
  • It has 5-year multiple entry, 1-year multiple entry, 1-month double entry options.
• Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification: Online training platform to create a pool of certified tourist guides.
• Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP): Training programs for hospitality and tourism workers. It aims to improve service standards and employability.
• MUDRA Loans for Homestays: Financial support for individuals to start or upgrade homestay businesses.
  • Performance-Linked Incentives to States: Rewards for effective destination management, cleanliness, and marketing.
• Heal in India Initiative: It promotes India as a global medical tourism hub. It includes visa facilitation, private sector collaboration, and upgraded healthcare infrastructure.

Strategic Pathways for Growth

• Develop World-Class Destinations: The Union Budget’s plan to develop 50 destinations in partnership with states is a strong start.
  • Each state needs at least one world-class hub combining infrastructure, sustainability, and branding.
• Streamline Travel Facilitation: Simplified e-visas, shorter immigration queues, and seamless arrivals are essential.
  • With Indian airlines expanding by 1,000 aircraft, connectivity can be leveraged to attract more visitors.
• Leverage Digital Storytelling: The future lies in content-led promotion. By partnering with influencers and global platforms, India can amplify its presence through AI-enabled curation and digital campaigns.
• Unlock Private Investment: Including tourism infrastructure in the Harmonised Master List can catalyse PPP investments in hotels, ropeways, wayside amenities, and convention centres.
• Strengthen Domestic Tourism: The Dekho Apna Desh campaign can be scaled into a national movement.
• With 86% of revenues already from domestic tourism, making interstate travel more affordable will enhance cultural exchange and economic redistribution.

General Studies Paper-3

Context

• India has registered 56.75 lakh electric vehicles by February 2025, reflecting the rapid adoption of clean mobility.

About

• Electric two-wheeler (e-2W) sales hit 11.49 lakh units, up 21% from the previous year’s 9.48 lakh.
• The Government of India has set a vision to achieve 30% EV penetration by 2030, aligning with the global EV30@30 initiative.
• India has set its sights on an ambitious green horizon, aiming to slash projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030.
• India also aims to cut the economy’s carbon intensity to below 45% by 2030 and ultimately transform into a net-zero nation by 2070.

What are Electric Vehicles?

• An electric vehicle (EV) operates on an electric motor, instead of an internal-combustion engine that generates power by burning a mix of fuel and gases.
• Therefore, such a vehicle is seen as a possible replacement for current-generation automobiles in order to address the issue of rising pollution, global warming, depleting natural resources, etc.

Challenges in Adoption

• High Initial Cost: The upfront cost of purchasing an electric vehicle in India is relatively high compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.
• This cost includes not only the vehicle itself but also the cost of batteries.
• Limited Charging Infrastructure: The availability of charging infrastructure remains a significant barrier to EV adoption in India.
• Range Anxiety: Range anxiety, or the fear of running out of battery charge before reaching a charging station, is a prevalent concern among Indian consumers considering EVs.
• Battery Technology and Supply Chain: India relies heavily on imported lithium-ion batteries, which increases costs and makes EVs vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.
• Consumer Awareness and Education: Many consumers in India lack awareness and understanding of electric vehicles, including their benefits, technology, and available models.

Government Initiatives

• National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (2020) and FAME-I: NEMMP was brought into effect to accelerate the adoption and production of electric vehicles (EVs).
• As part of this mission, the FAME India Scheme (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) was implemented from 2015 to 2019 to encourage the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles.
• FAME II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) — Phase II: Launched in 2019, the scheme focuses on increasing EV adoption, expanding the e-bus network, and strengthening the charging infrastructure.
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component Industry in India (PLI-Auto): Launched in 2021, the scheme aims to boost domestic manufacturing of Advanced Automotive Technologies (AAT).
• Major players like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra have stepped up with significant EV production investments.
• A key mandate is that companies must ensure at least 50% domestic value addition (DVA) to qualify for incentives.
• PM E-Drive: The scheme was launched in 2024 and is being implemented until 2028.
• The key objective is to speed up the transition to electric vehicles by offering upfront incentives for EV purchases and encouraging the development of charging infrastructure.
• Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India 2024 (SPMEPCI): To draw global automakers to invest, the scheme grants approved applicants a five-year window to import Completely Built-in Units (CBUs) of electric four-wheelers (e-4W) valued at a minimum CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) of USD 35,000 at a significantly reduced customs duty of 15%.
• India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI): NITI Aayog unveiled the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) in 2025. It is designed to track, measure, and compare how States and Union Territories are progressing on their electric mobility ambitions.
• Based on these results, regions are ranked as frontrunners with thriving ecosystems; Delhi, Maharashtra, and Chandigarh are leading as ‘Frontrunners’ in the recent IEMI score.

Suggestions by NITI Aayog

• Moving from incentives to Mandates: Announce a clear policy, with target timelines, for Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) adoption.
  • Design a progressively more stringent plan for mandating the production and purchase of EVs and disincentivising the continued use/production of ICE vehicles.
• Saturation instead of thin distribution: Design and start a saturation program to support 5 cities over 5 years.
  • Have entities in the States to manage this program.
  • Scale up to 20 cities and then to 100 cities.
• Enable financing for e-Buses and e-Trucks: Create a pooled fund with contributions from the public budget and multilateral institutions.
  • Design and launch an appropriate scheme to channel the funds.
• Scale up research for new battery technologies: Set up an academia-industry-government partnership for accelerating research on new battery chemistries.

General Studies Paper-3

Context

• The United States has imposed 50% tariffs on a wide range of Indian merchandise exports starting August 27, 2025.

About

• The move combines the 25% tariff announced in July 2025 and an additional 25% “penalty tariff” in August 2025 linked to India’s purchases of Russian oil and defence imports.
• Key sectors affected include textiles, apparel, gems and jewellery, shrimp, carpets, leather, and furniture — all of which are labour-intensive and job-generating industries.
• Major Goods Exempted from Tariffs: Pharmaceuticals, Electronics and Petroleum products.

Impact on India’s Economy

• Trade Impact: India’s exports to the US could fall from $87 billion in FY25 to $49.6 billion in FY26, a decline of 43%.
  • The US accounts for 20 per cent of merchandise exports from India and 2 per cent of the GDP.
• Domestic Concerns and Industry Demands:
  • Gems & Jewellery Council (GJEPC): Demanding a duty drawback/ reimbursement scheme covering 25–50% of tariffs to protect competitiveness.
  • Textile Industry is seeking Immediate cash support, Loan moratoriums, Fast-tracking FTAs with the EU and other partners to diversify export markets.
  • Job Protection: Industries fear widespread layoffs in labour-intensive export hubs like Surat (diamonds), Tiruppur (textiles), and Andhra Pradesh (shrimp farming).
  • Competitors Benefiting: Countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, and China face lower tariff rates and are expected to capture India’s lost market share.

India initiatives to mitigate the impact

• E-Commerce Export Hubs (ECEHs): Proposed to provide integrated logistics, warehousing, and customs clearance facilities for online exporters.
• Consultations with Industry Stakeholders: Ongoing dialogue with MSMEs, global e-commerce giants, and retailers to balance regulatory reforms.
• Exploring Inventory-Based E-Commerce: Discussions underway to assess whether this model can reduce compliance burden for MSMEs.
• Tariff Negotiations: Efforts are being made to ensure India’s sensitive export sectors remain competitive despite global protectionism.

Way Ahead

• Short-Term Relief Measures:
  • Targeted subsidies, duty drawback, or reimbursement schemes for heavily hit sectors.
  • Temporary financial support packages to prevent job losses.
• Diversification of Export Markets:
  • Accelerate FTA negotiations with EU, UK, and Gulf nations.
  • Explore African and Latin American markets for textiles, gems, and marine products.
• Enhancing Competitiveness: Promote technology adoption, product innovation, and value addition in textiles and gems.

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has written to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, urging that particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) be separately enumerated in the upcoming census.
  • While data on Scheduled Tribes was collected during the 2011 Census, data separately for PVTGs was not collected.

Who are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)?

• In 1973, the Dhebar Commission set up a separate category for Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs).
• In 1975, the Union identified 52 tribal groups as PTGs.
  • In 1993, 23 more groups were added to the list. Later, in 2006, these groups were named PVTGs.
• PVTGs are a more vulnerable group among tribal groups in India.
  • These groups have primitive traits, geographical isolation, low literacy, zero to negative population growth rate, and backwardness.
  • Moreover, they are largely dependent upon hunting for food and a pre-agriculture level of technology.
• Out of more than 700 tribal communities, there are 75 tribal communities identified as PVTGs residing in 18 States and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • As per the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the PVTG population is estimated to be 45.56 lakh.
  • Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh are the top three in terms of PVTG population.

Challenges Faced by the PVTGs

• Marginalisation: Due to their isolation, small population size, and distinct socio-economic and cultural traits.
• Limited Access to Services: Poor access to healthcare, education, and other basic facilities.
• Discrimination and Vulnerability: Subject to social discrimination and displacement from development projects and natural disasters.
• Lack of Political Representation: Minimal role in decision-making due to low political visibility.

Why the Census Matters?

• Better Resource Allocation: Helps the government to channel resources effectively for infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
• Targeted Welfare Schemes: It will enable the design and delivery of focused development programmes.
• Improved Planning: Provides data for long-term development strategies and policy decisions.
• Support for Research and Governance: Offers reliable information for the judiciary, policymakers, and scholars to study trends in migration, urbanisation, employment, and fertility.

Government Initiatives

• PM-JANMAN Scheme: It was launched on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in 2023 in Jharkhand, targeting 75 PVTGs communities.
• Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) Development Program: The PVTG program targets the most vulnerable tribal communities, focusing on improving access to healthcare, education, clean water, and electricity.
  • Around 7 lakh PVTG families across 22,000 habitations in 200 districts benefit from comprehensive development plans under this initiative.

Conclusion

• PVTGs are one of the most marginalized and socio-economically backward vulnerable sections of the population. Thus, it was imperative to have a “consolidated database” on their population and socio-economic indicators.
• The precise enumeration of PVTGs will help the implementation of targeted welfare schemes.

General Studies Paper-3

Context

• Recently, the Parliament of India passed the ‘Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025’ that is designed to curb addiction, financial ruin and social distress caused by predatory gaming platforms that thrive on misleading promises of quick wealth.

Need For Promotion & Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025

• India’s online gaming sector is booming — with over 650 million smartphone users, a youthful population, and a rapidly growing digital economy.
• According to the MeitY data:
  • Over 45 crore Indians have been negatively affected by online money games.
  • Estimated ₹20,000 crore in financial losses have occurred due to unregulated platforms.
  • Cases of suicide, addiction, and family distress linked to compulsive gaming have been reported.
• Economic Gaps: The sector is projected to reach ₹66,000 crore by 2028, growing at 14.5% CAGR.
  • Illegal offshore betting markets receive $100 billion annually from India, causing an estimated $45 billion loss in tax revenue.
• Money Laundering Threat: Online money gaming platforms — often operating in legal gray zones — enabled:
  • Untraceable financial transactions, especially via offshore accounts and cryptocurrencies.
  • False promises of profit, luring users into high-stakes betting.
  • Capital flight, undermining domestic financial stability.
• Crypto Risks: India already has nearly 100 million crypto wallets, making it easy for users to bypass the banking system entirely. It could:
  • Increase untraceable financial transactions;
  • Facilitate capital outflows;
  • Undermine efforts to combat money laundering;
• Social & Psychological Harm: The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies gaming disorder as a health condition, marked by:
  • Loss of control over gaming habits;
  • Neglect of daily activities;
  • Continued play despite harmful consequences.

Key Features of the Bill

• The Bill takes a dual approach: it bans harmful online money games while encouraging constructive digital gaming. It promotes:
  • E-sports: Competitive digital sports requiring strategy and teamwork.
  • Online social games: Skill-based, casual games for entertainment and learning.
  • Educational games: Tools for cognitive and academic development.
• On the other hand, Bill prohibits:
  • Online money games involving betting or gambling, regardless of whether they’re based on skill or chance.
  • Advertisements and financial facilitation of such games.
• Institutional Framework: The Bill establishes:
  • An Online Gaming Authority to oversee regulation, policy support, and strategic development.
  • A national-level legal framework to unify state policies and safeguard digital sovereignty.

Major Concerns Surrounding the Online Gaming Bill, 2025

• Blanket Ban on Real-Money Gaming: Industry bodies like the E-Gaming Federation and All India Gaming Federation argue that the blanket ban could cripple a legitimate, job-creating sector, affecting over 2 lakh jobs.
• Risk of Driving Users to Illegal Platforms: Banning regulated platforms may push users toward offshore and dark web gambling sites, which are harder to monitor and more prone to money laundering and terror financing.
  • These platforms often use cryptocurrencies, mule bank accounts, and mirror websites to evade detection.
• Investor Sentiment and Economic Fallout: The Indian gaming industry, projected to reach $9 billion by 2029, may face a massive drop in foreign investment.
• Enforcement Challenges: Implementing the ban is complex due to the ease of domain switching, app cloning, and cross-border operations.
  • Warrantless searches and broad enforcement powers could raise privacy and civil liberty concerns.

How Bill Combats The Issue of Money Laundering?

• Complete Ban on Online Money Games: All games involving monetary stakes — whether skill-based or chance-based — are prohibited.
• It includes fantasy sports, poker, rummy, and betting apps.
• By banning real-money games and severing their financial lifelines, the Bill:
• Disrupts laundering networks that rely on gaming platforms as fronts.
• Protects users from financial exploitation and addiction.
• Preserves India’s digital economy from reputational and fiscal damage.
• Ban on Financial Facilitation: Banks and financial institutions are barred from processing payments for banned games.
  • It cuts off the formal financial pipeline that enables laundering.
• Prohibition of Advertisements: Advertising of online money games is outlawed, preventing platforms from attracting new users into laundering schemes.
• Strict Penalties: Violations can result in up to 3 years imprisonment, fines up to ₹1 crore, or both.
• Centralized Oversight: An Online Gaming Authority will monitor compliance and coordinate enforcement across states.
  • It helps close jurisdictional gaps that offshore platforms exploit.

Other Related Initiatives to Counter the Risks of Online Gaming

• Information Technology Act, 2000 and Related Rules: The IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 laid down norms for online gaming platforms.
  • Section 69A of the IT Act empowers the Government to block access to illegal websites or links.
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: Section 111 penalises unlawful economic activities and cybercrimes.
  • Section 112 prescribes punishment for unauthorised betting and gambling.
• Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (IGST Act): Illegal and offshore gaming platforms are regulated under the IGST Act.
  • Online money gaming suppliers must register under the Simplified Registration Scheme.
• Consumer Protection Act, 2019: It prohibits misleading and surrogate advertisements.
  • The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has powers to investigate, penalise and take criminal action against offenders.

Conclusion & Way Forward

• The Bill reflects a strong intent to protect users from addiction and financial harm — but its sweeping scope has sparked debate about whether it sacrifices innovation and economic growth in the process. There is a need to:
• targeted regulation instead of blanket bans.
• clear definitions distinguishing games of skill from gambling.
• robust oversight mechanisms to prevent misuse without stifling innovation.

General Studies Paper-3

Context

• The proposed amendments to key nuclear legislations which aim to address long-standing issues related to supplier liability and private sector participation in nuclear energy, have sparked debate in Parliament.

India’s Nuclear Energy Scenario

• India currently generates only about 3% of its electricity from nuclear sources (8.8 GW across 24 plants), and is projected to rise to 22,480 MW by 2031–32 and 100 GW by 2047 (Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat).
• The Union Budget 2025–26 allocated ₹20,000 crore for a Nuclear Energy Mission, including the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs).

Nuclear Liability and Energy Policy in India: Key Legislations

• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010: It was introduced after global precedents like Bhopal gas tragedy (1984), Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, and Gulf of Mexico oil spill for compensating nuclear accident victims.
  • It channels primary liability to the operator (typically NPCIL) and caps it at ₹1,500 crore.
  • It includes a ‘right of recourse’ clause, allowing the operator to seek compensation from suppliers in case of defective equipment or services.
• Atomic Energy Act (AEA), 1962: It centralizes control of nuclear energy under the government, prohibiting private companies from operating nuclear plants.
  • It empowers the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) to enforce safety standards and oversee radiation protection.

Core of the Debate

• Safety vs. Investment Trade-off: It is argued that diluting supplier liability could compromise safety and accountability, especially in light of past industrial disasters like Bhopal.
• Technology Transfer and Strategic Risks: Concerns persist over technology transfer from foreign suppliers, especially in strategic areas like SMRs.
  • Private companies may be reluctant to share proprietary designs, and national security implications remain a sensitive issue.
• Supplier Liability: India’s CLNDA uniquely includes supplier liability, allowing operators to seek compensation from equipment suppliers in case of accidents.
  • However, the Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC) channels liability solely to the operator.
• Legislative Ambiguity and Delays: The Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project, slated to be the world’s largest, has been stalled for over a decade due to unresolved liability issues.
  • Closed Nuclear Model and Private Sector Exclusion: Amendments in 2015 to AEA 1962 allowed joint ventures with PSUs, however, direct private sector participation remains prohibited, slowing capacity expansion and technological adoption.

Proposed Amendments

• The government has constituted committees to explore amendments to both Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010 and Atomic Energy Act (AEA), 1962, aiming to allow private sector participation in reactor construction and operation.
• These changes are expected to align India’s laws with international norms, particularly the Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC), which India ratified in 2016.

Conclusion

• The debate over nuclear liability and energy policy in India touches on questions of public safety, strategic autonomy, and environmental responsibility.
• As Parliament prepares to deliberate these amendments, the outcome aims to shape India’s energy future and its place in the global nuclear order.

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• India has nearly 63 million people with disabilities (NFHS-5), yet their representation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education remains marginal.
• Despite progressive legislations such as the Right to Education Act (2009) and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act (2016), systemic barriers hinder inclusion. This contradicts global norms like the UNCRPD (2006) and SDG-4 on inclusive education.

Why Inclusivity in STEM Matters?

• Equity & Potential: Empirical evidence shows disabled students perform at par with peers when given opportunities.
• Innovation Driver: Disability awareness has historically spurred innovation — e.g., optometry for vision correction, Graham Bell’s telephony experiments.
• National Progress: Inclusive STEM supports Digital India, AI, space research, and aspirations for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Barriers to STEM Access

• Policy vs. Practice Gap: India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions inclusive education for all. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016mandates a 4% reservation in government and aided higher education institutions for students with disabilities.
  • Most institutions fail to meet this quota, and even when they do, it’s often not applied departmentally—especially in STEM fields.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Campuses lack accessible classrooms, laboratories, and hostels.
  • Many older institutions have no lifts, ramps, or accessible toilets.
  • The National Building Code (2016) is seldom enforced in new constructions.
• Academic Exclusion: Laboratories are designed with fixed-height benches and inaccessible equipment.
  • Experiments and pedagogy are not adapted for students with visual or mobility impairments.
  • As a result, students with disabilities are systematically discouraged from pursuing STEM.
• Attitudinal bias: STEM disciplines are often deemed ‘unsuitable’ for disabled students.
• Horizontal quotas: Admissions are not tailored to their needs, reducing their chances of entry.
• Lack of assistive technology: Tools that could bridge the gap are either unavailable or underutilized.

Related Government Initiatives

• Scholarship Schemes under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) offer financial aid for tuition, devices, and maintenance.
• Inclusive Teaching Modules by NCERT and CIET promote awareness and capacity-building among educators.
• Digital Technology for Children With Special Needs, a CIET-NCERT training program, equips educators to use ICT tools for inclusive classrooms.
• Vocational and Remedial Support is provided through initiatives like the Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS).
• CBSE’s National Teachers’ Conference 2025 encourages innovative teaching strategies for diverse learners, including those with disabilities.

What Needs to Change

• Accessibility Audits and Investments: Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) need to conduct regular accessibility audits to identify barriers and invest in infrastructure upgrades.
  • These measures should be seen not as expenses but as essential steps toward inclusivity.
• Technology and Innovation: With modern technology, inclusive STEM education is possible:
  • Speech-activated equipment for mobility-impaired students.
  • AI and sensor-based interfaces to convert visual data into audio or vice versa.
  • Flexible lab designs to accommodate diverse learners.
• Sensitisation and Training: Administrators, faculty, and students require sensitisation programmes to overcome biases and encourage inclusivity.
  • Policies need to be implemented in both letter and spirit, ensuring that opportunities are genuinely accessible.

Way Forward: Inclusive Innovation

• To truly democratize STEM education, India needs to:
  • Invest in accessible infrastructure across campuses;
  • Train faculty in inclusive pedagogy and universal design;
  • Deploy assistive technologies tailored to STEM learning;
  • Ensure departmental-level implementation of disability quotas;
  • Foster a culture of respect and representation in scientific communities.

General Studies Paper-1

Context

• All India Speakers’ Conference held in New Delhi, marking the 100th anniversary of Vitthalbhai Patel’s election as the first Indian Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly.

The Central Legislative Assembly (CLA)

• The Central Legislative Assembly (CLA) was the lower house of the Indian Legislature in British India, established by the Government of India Act 1919 as part of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms.
• The 1919 Act created a two-house system: the Central Legislative Assembly (lower house) and the Council of State (upper house).
  • The CLA was constituted in 1921 following the 1920 elections.
• Composition: It had 145 members, with 104 being elected and the remaining 41 nominated by the Governor-General.
• Powers and Functions: CLA could debate the budget and pass resolutions. The members could ask questions, introduce resolutions, and vote on demands for grants.
  • However, the Governor-General retained veto powers and could certify bills even without Assembly approval.
• The CLA was dissolved on August 14, 1947, with the establishment of India’s independence and the formation of the Constituent Assembly.

About Vitthalbhai Patel

• Contribution as Speaker (1925–1930): In 1925, he became the first Indian to be elected as President (Speaker) of the Central Legislative Assembly.
  • He asserted the independence of the legislature from the executive, laying the foundations for parliamentary autonomy.
  • He created the Legislative Department, an innovation that was later accepted by the Constituent Assembly and continues under presiding officers in both Parliament and State legislatures.
• Climbing the Political Ladder: He won a seat in the Bombay Legislative Council (1912) after securing eligibility through property ownership.
  • Advocated free and compulsory elementary education (1917) for Bombay Presidency—though the Bill was never implemented, it reflected his reformist zeal.
  • Entered the Imperial Legislative Assembly in 1920, where he became one of the most active members, posing 62 questions in a single session.
• Differences with Gandhiji: He disagreed with Mahatma Gandhi’s suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922.
  • He became a founding member of the Swaraj Party (1923), a “pro-changer” group that believed in entering legislatures to expose colonial rule from within.

Legacy of Vitthalbhai Patel

• The office of the Speaker of Lok Sabha derives much of its institutional legacy from the President of the Central Legislative Assembly during colonial times.
• Thus, Vitthalbhai Patel is often seen as a precursor to the modern Lok Sabha Speaker.

All India Speakers’ Conference 2025

• Reaffirming the Role of the Speaker: The Speaker is both a guardian of legislative dignity and a servant of democracy, tasked with ensuring impartiality.
• Debate as the Soul of Democracy: Without debate, legislatures risk becoming “lifeless buildings.”
  • Cited objectives of law-making: welfare of people, inclusive development, efficiency, and national security.