General Studies Paper-2

Context

• The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Union Government and all States on Presidential reference on the President and Governor’s powers.
  • The SC seeks opinion on whether the President and Governors can be judicially compelled to act within prescribed timelines on Bills passed by State legislatures.

Background

• Recently, the Supreme Court verdict laid down a timeline for the President and governors to decide on state bills.
• Generally, the Governor is not bound by any time limit to act on a Bill.
  • This creates a situation where the Governor can simply not act on a Bill indefinitely this is referred to as a “Pocket Veto”, although the term is not officially used in the Constitution.
• The Supreme Court ruled that Governors cannot delay or withhold assent to Bills indefinitely once they are passed or re-passed by the state Assembly.
• The ruling set a timeline for the Governor to act on Bills:
  • One month for re-passed Bills.
  • Three months if the Bill is withheld contrary to Cabinet advice.
• It raises questions about the scope of judicial authority under Article 142, and whether the courts can enforce accountability on constitutional functionaries like Governors and the President.
• President Droupadi Murmu sought the Supreme Court’s advisory opinion under Article 143 on whether the President and governors need to follow timelines to decide on state bills.

Article 143 Presidential Reference

• Article 143(1): The President can refer any question of law or fact that is of public importance to the Supreme Court for its advisory opinion.
  • The Court may choose to answer or decline, however, if the court chooses not to respond, it must record its reasons.
  • The opinion is not binding, but is highly respected: In Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (1991), the court reiterated that advisory opinions are entitled to “due weight and respect” and are “normally followed.” However, it refrained from settling the question of their binding nature, observing that the issue could be revisited at a more appropriate time.
  • The court is bound to limit itself strictly to the questions referred by the President and cannot exceed the scope of the Reference.
• The Constitution extended the provision in the Government of India Act, 1935 to seek the opinion of the Federal Court on questions of law to questions of fact as well, including certain hypotheticals.
  • Article 145(3) requires any such reference to be heard by five judges, after which the SC returns the reference to the President with the majority opinion.
  • Need for the Article: Under the Constitution, the President acts on the aid and advice of the Cabinet.
  • The advisory jurisdiction allows the President the means to seek independent advice to act on certain constitutional matters.
• It is a power that the President has invoked on at least 15 occasions since 1950.

Can the court overturn its April 8 ruling through the Reference?

• In the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Reference, the Supreme Court held that:
  • Article 143 cannot be used by the executive to seek a review or reversal of settled judicial decisions.
  • The Court warned against framing questions that indirectly reopen previously decided cases.
• In Natural Resources Allocation (2012), the SC clarified:
  • There is no constitutional bar on the Court refining or restating a legal opinion under Article 143(1).
  • This is permissible as long as the core reasoning and rights of parties in the original case remain unaffected.
  • Therefore, the April 8 judgment is final and binding. However, its legal findings may still be refined or elaborated upon by the Constitution Bench.
• The current Reference includes 14 questions of law, which are largely related to the April 8 ruling but are not limited to it.
• It raises broader issues on the scope and use of the Supreme Court’s discretionary powers under the Constitution.

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• Recently, the Union Minister of State for Education presented in response to a written question in Parliament, highlighting student suicides in India.

Students Suicice in India

• According to the NCRB’s Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) Report, 7.6% of total suicides in 2022 were by students, 2,248 student suicides were directly attributed to exam failure.
• It marks a slight decline from 8.0% in 2021 and 8.2% in 2020.

Factors Responsible for Student Suicide

• Individual vulnerabilities: Low self-esteem, impulsivity, trauma histories, history of physical or sexual abuse, and learning and intellectual disability.
• Family Pressures: Over-anxious and over-ambitious parents, dysfunctional family, criticisms, comparisons with peers and lack of support in the family, alcoholism, violence, psychological and economic problems in the family increases suicidal risk.
• Systemic flaws: One-point evaluation, media hype around results, and lack of career guidance.
• Institutional stressors: Pressure on teachers and students to achieve 100% pass rates.

Case Study: Kota

• India’s obsession with competitive entrance exams has led to the rise of coaching hubs like Kota, Rajasthan, where over 200,000 students enroll annually.
• The intense study schedules, isolation, and lack of recreational outlets have contributed to 29 suicides in Kota alone in 2023.

Policy Initiatives and Mental Health Interventions

• Tele-MANAS Programme: A national tele-mental health helpline (dial 14416), with over 1.36 million calls handled across 42 centers in 31 states & UTs .
• District Mental Health Programme (DMHP): Offers suicide prevention services and life skills training in schools.
• National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS): Aims to reduce suicide rates by 10% by 2030 through media sensitization, healthcare strengthening, and limiting access to lethal means.
• Manodarpan Programme: A flagship initiative by the Ministry of Education offering psychological support through helplines and live sessions.
• It has reached lakhs of students across the country.
• Anti-Drug Campaigns: Recognizing addiction as a rising issue among youth, the Centre has intensified outreach efforts alongside mental health support.
• UGC Advisories: Urges higher education institutions to prioritize physical fitness, emotional well-being, and student welfare.
• Stress Management Workshops: Institutions like IIT-Madras, IIT-Delhi, and IIT-Guwahati have begun conducting resilience-building sessions under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme.
• Supreme Court’s Intervention (2025): Declared a ‘suicide epidemic’ among students and recommended flexible curricula, continuous assessment, and campus mental health support.

Looking Ahead

• The Ministry of Education is drafting legislation to establish the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) — a unified regulatory body aimed at improving governance and transparency in higher education.
  • It aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for a ‘light but tight’ regulatory framework.
  • Currently, higher education oversight is fragmented:
    • UGC: Non-technical education
    • AICTE: Technical institutions
    • NCTE: Teacher education

HECI aims to integrate these functions under a single regulator, building on a 2018 draft bill that proposed repealing the UGC Act.

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• The Vice-President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar becomes the third Vice-President in India’s history to resign before completing his term, after V.V. Giri and R. Venkataraman in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution of India.

Election of Vice-President of India

• The Vice-President of India is elected by the method of indirect election, with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting is by secret ballot (Article 66).
• Eligibility criteria:
  • He should be a citizen of India and have completed 35 years of age
  • He should be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
  • He should not hold any office of profit under the Union government.
• Electoral college:
  • It consists of both elected and nominated members of the Parliament.
  • It does not include the members of the state legislative assemblies.
  • The nomination of a candidate for election to the office of Vice-President must be subscribed by at least 20 electors as proposers and 20 electors as seconders.
  • All doubts and disputes in connection with the election of the Vice President are inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court, whose decision is final (Article 71).

Term of Office

• The Vice-President holds office for a term of five years and can resign at any time by addressing the resignation letter to the President.
• He is also eligible for reelection to that office.
• Constitutional Provisions for Removal: Under Article 67(b), the Vice President can be removed through a resolution passed by a majority in the Rajya Sabha and subsequently agreed upon by the Lok Sabha.
  • A 14-day notice is mandatory before such a resolution can be moved.
  • If the office falls vacant by resignation, removal, death or otherwise, then an election to fill the vacancy should be held as soon as possible after the occurrence of the vacancy.
• The newly elected vice-president remains in office for a full term of five years from the date he assumes charge of his office.

Functions of Vice-President

• He acts as the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha (Article 64). In this capacity, his powers and functions are similar to those of the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
• He acts as President when a vacancy occurs in the office of the President due to his resignation, impeachment, death or otherwise (Article 65).
• When the Vice-President acts as President, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha takes over the Vice-President’s duties as Rajya Sabha Chairman.

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• India, a country with immense talent and growing ambitions in the global sporting arena, is poised for a strategic transformation with the introduction of the National Sports Policy 2025.

About

• The new policy supersedes the existing National Sports Policy, 2001.
• It lays out a visionary and strategic roadmap to establish India as a global sporting powerhouse and a strong contender for including the 2036 Olympic Games.

Policy is Anchored on Five Key Pillars

• Excellence on the Global Stage: Strengthen sports programs from the grassroots to elite levels.
  • Build world-class systems for training, coaching, and holistic athlete support.
• Sports for Economic Development: It seeks to promote sports tourism and attract major international events to India.
• Encourage private sector participation.
• Sports for Social Development: Promoting participation among women, economically weaker sections, tribal communities, and persons with disabilities through focused programs.
• Sports as a People’s Movement: The policy aims to drive mass participation and a culture of fitness through nationwide campaigns and community-based events.
• Integration with Education (NEP 2020): In alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, the NSP 2025 proposes to integrate sports into school curricula.

Strategic Framework:

• Governance: Establish a robust regulatory framework for sports governance, including legal framework.
• Private Sector Funding & support: Develop innovative financing mechanisms and engage private sector participation through PPPs and CSR.
• Technology & Innovation: Leverage emerging technologies, including AI and data analytics, for performance tracking, research, and program implementation.
• National Monitoring Framework: Create a national framework with well-defined benchmarks, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and time-bound targets.
• Model Policy for States: The NSP 2025 will serve as a model for States and Union Territories, encouraging them to revise or formulate their own policies in alignment with national objectives.
• Whole-of-Government Approach: The policy calls for integration of sports promotion into the activities, schemes, and programs of all Ministries and Departments to achieve a holistic impact.

Need for the Policy

• The Paris Olympics ended with India securing six medals — one silver and five bronze — to place 71st in the medals tally.
• It was ranked below nations with much smaller populations including Georgia, Kazakhstan and North Korea.
• The United States, with less than a quarter of India’s population, topped the charts with 126 medals followed by China with 91.
• India has now won just 41 Olympic medals in total since its debut in 1900, all at the Summer Games.
• The country’s performance led to many questions about the need for a sporting culture.

Significance of the Policy

• Focuses on identifying and nurturing talent from a young age through structured pathways.
• Advocates for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in infrastructure development.
• Recognizes the economic potential of sports—including job creation, tourism, and manufacturing.
• Integrates sports science, medicine, psychology, and nutrition for athlete development.
• Aligns with Fit India Movement, Khelo India, and Viksit Bharat @2047 goals.

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.