Context: The RBI report has highlighted that Education loans have been growing at a notable pace in recent years and in this regard, a further boost is expected with the newly launched ‘Pradhan Mantri Vidyalaxmi Scheme’.
Relevance of the topic:Prelims- Key facts about the scheme and its provisions.
About PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme:
It is a Central Sector scheme under the Ministry of Education that seeks to provide financial support to meritorious students so that financial constraints do not prevent them from pursuing higher studies.
The initiative stems from the National Education Policy 2020, which had recommended that financial assistance should be made available to meritorious students through various measures in both public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
Key features:
Institutions Covered: Meritorious students of the top 860 Higher Education institutions, including-
Top 100 HEIs (both Government + Private) ranked in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
State Govt HEIs (ranked 101–200 in NIRF).
All Central Government Institutions: ~660 institutions.
Digitalisation: Students can apply through the Vidyalaxmi portal, which links major public and private banks. The portal provides a simplified digital application process and facilitates loan tracking.
Loan conditions:
Collateral free, guarantor free loan to cover the full amount of tuition fees and other expenses related to the course.
Loans up to ₹ 7.5 lakhs are backed by a 75% credit guarantee from the Government of India, encouraging banks to expand coverage.
For students with annual family income up to ₹ 8 lakhs, the scheme will provide 3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹ 10 lakh.
Students with up to Rs. 4.5 lakhs annual family income are eligible for full interest subvention.
Sync with other schemes: This will supplement the already existing Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS) and Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (CGFSEL), schemes under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP), being implemented by the Department of Higher Education.
Context: Recently, hundreds gathered at the Krishna Menon Museum and Art Gallery in Kozhikode, Kerala to witness the Kandakarnan Thira performance.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims- Kandakarnan Thira Art form, Theyyam
About Kandakarnan Thira:
It is a ritual danceand a part of the Theyyam art form which is primarily performed in the temples and groves in the Malabar region of Kerala.
Theyyam (the dance of God) is a broad ritual dance form and living tradition practiced in Malabar region of Kerala. It involves worshipping deities through dance, drama, music, art and rituals.
Kandakarnan Thira is a unique form of Thira dedicated to Kandakarnan, a fierce guardian deity, who is believed to protect humanity from diseases.
Who performs?
The dance is performed by artists from the Malaya community, who are also known as "perumalayan".
What does it symbolise?
The Kandakarnan Thira performance represents the survival of the human race from contagious diseases.
The performer wears a headgear (crown) that is about 20 feet tall and has 16 torches attached to their hips. The performer's face also has marks left behind by smallpox.
What are the rituals?
The performance is often accompanied by musicians and takes place at night. The ritual involves invoking deities, walking on red-hot embers, and performing in sacred shrines and ancestral temples.
Context: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the launch of its first analog or simulated space mission at Leh in Ladakh.
What are Analog Space Missions?
Analog missions are field tests in locations that have physical similarities to the extreme space environments. NASA engineers and scientists work with government agencies, academia, and industry to gather requirements for testing in harsh environments before they are used in space.
Tests include:
New technologies, robotic equipment, vehicles, habitats, communications, power generation, mobility, infrastructure, and storage.
Behavioural effects – such as isolation and confinement, team dynamics, menu fatigue etc.
Significance: Analog missions provide space agencies with data about strengths, limitations, and the validity of planned human-robotic exploration operations. They also define ways to combine human and robotic efforts to enhance scientific exploration.
India’s first Analog Mission:
Located in Leh, Ladakh, the mission includes a compact, inflatable habitat namedHab-1 which will simulate life in an interplanetary habitat.
Aim: To study the challenges of extra-terrestrial conditions, as part of efforts towards developing a long-term human spaceflight programme.
Hab-1 is designed to mimic environments on Mars and the Moon. The simulation will explore the conditions of an interplanetary habitat, testing new technologies, robotic equipment, vehicles, habitats and communications.
The mission is spearheaded by ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre and brings together partners from AAKA Space Studio, the University of Ladakh, IIT Bombay, and is supported by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.
Why was Ladakh chosen?
Ladakh’s extreme isolation, dry climate, and barren, high-altitude terrain make it ideal for simulating conditions similar to Mars and the Moon.
Similarities:
Both Moon and Ladakh have extremely dry environments.
Ladakh’s rocky, barren terrain resembles the terrain of the Moon and Mars.
Dissimilarities:
The Moon has virtually no atmosphere, whereas Mars has a thin atmosphere, whereas, Ladakh is a part of Earth’s atmosphere.
The Moon has no water vapour in its atmosphere, Mars has some water vapour, whereas Ladakh's atmosphere, through dry, still contains some moisture.
The Moon has an intense thermal radiation caused by the direct sunlight which is hard to replicate on Earth.
Significance:
Hab-1 allows scientists to study the effects of isolation and confinement on human health and performance and includes essentials such as a hydroponics farm, kitchen, and sanitation facilities. This setup will help study the challenges astronauts will face in a base station beyond Earth and prepare them accordingly.
Ladakh’s environment presents an opportunity for researchers to gather critical data that will support India’s Gaganyaan program and future missions.
Context: The 44th ASEAN Summit, held in Vientiane, Laos, highlighted the growing concerns in the Southeast Asia region, particularly the deepening crisis in Myanmar.
Go through the neighboring countries of Myanmar and the Indian states sharing land border with Myanmar(#PreFact)
Background of Myanmar crisis
In 2021, Myanmar’s military seized control in a coup, dismantling the country’s democratic government and attempting to reinstate the authoritarian rule in the country.
The present crisis has unleashed unforeseen consequences such as instability and rising crime across Southeast Asian region.
Present situation:
Myanmar is currently embroiled in a brutal civil war between the military junta and various resistance groups, including Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and the People’s Defence Forces (PDFs).
After the junta forcibly seized power, it encountered broad armed resistance, with opposition groups now controlling significant areas, including six key border trade routes.
The junta’s reluctance to cooperate with international peace efforts has aggravated the conflict.
Myanmar’s economy is nearing collapse, with dwindling foreign reserves, escalating foreign debt which amount to USD 10 – 11 bn, and deepening poverty. Amid a severe forex shortage and rising inflation, many international businesses are withdrawing, while the junta heavily relies on Chinese-backed infrastructure projects and loans.
Agricultural output has plummeted due to conflict, and economic forecasts predict worsening conditions. The UN and ILO have warned of widespread poverty, job losses, and a looming humanitarian crisis, with Myanmar’s survival increasingly dependent on Chinese support.
Implications of Myanmar’s instability:
Trade distortion: The ongoing crisis in Myanmar disrupts regional flow of trade, particularly along key border routes with countries like Thailand, China, and India. The conflict-related shutdowns, lack of stable governance have reduced trade efficiency due to increased costs.
Security of neighboring countries:Myanmar’s conflict poses security challenges for neighboring nations as violence and unrest spill across borders. Thailand, in particular, faces challenges with the flow of refugees, arms trafficking etc.
Humanitarian crisis: The present tussle between junta and resistance groups has led to widespread displacement of innocent people (around 18.6 million) who are forced out of their homes and are in need of urgent assistance (UN reported it).
Extremism: Continuous instability and repression provides a breeding ground for extremism, as disenfranchised groups may turn to radical ideologies in response to political exclusion and violence.
India’s ‘Act East’ policy, aimed at using Myanmar as a land bridge to Southeast Asia, cannot advance without stability in Myanmar.
Myanmar’s instability has led to a rising influx of refugees into India’s northeastern states, stretching their limited resources and impacting local communities in Mizoram and Manipur.
As resistance groups in Myanmar might seek safe havens or resources in Indian states, local sympathies could arise, particularly in border regions.
Efforts for Peace in Myanmar:
ASEAN’s role:
It’s Five-Point Consensus (#PreFact), calling for an end to violence, inclusive dialogue, and humanitarian assistance, remains largely ignored by Myanmar’s military, exposing ASEAN’s limited influence in the region.
ASEAN allowed Myanmar to send a representative to the 44th summit in Laos, showcased a pragmatic approach to keep dialogue open with the junta. ASEAN’s consensus-based decision-making continues to limit response effectiveness, especially with divided stances among members ( On one hand Indonesia, Malaysia wants a stronger action and on the other countries like Thailand maintains closer relations with military government).
Western response:
The United States and the United Kingdom have initiated a crucial step towards an intervention in Myanmar by introducing a UN Security Council resolution in 2022. It strongly condemned Myanmar’s military regime and called for an end to the violence, as well as the release of political prisoners, including the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
India’s approach towards Myanmar:
Discontinuation of Free Movement Regime (FRM): Due to concerns over regional stability and an influx of refugees, Government of India has decided to end the Free Movement Regime(#PreFact) with Myanmar. This move faces opposition from several Indian state governments, putting India in a delicate balancing act.
Agreement for socio-economic development: India and Myanmar signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) under the Quick impact Projects framework, focusing on areas like agriculture, vocational training, disaster management, and education etc.
Financial support: India has committed $250,000 to support the Quick Impact Projects and to uplift the communities in Myanmar.
Way forward for India to bring stability in the region:
End strategic inaction: India can no longer afford inaction regarding Myanmar's crisis; New Delhi must adopt a proactive approach to address the stakes involved.
Launch a Peace-making platform: Establish a “Gandhi Peace Mission” within the Prime Minister’s Office, supported by the National Security Council and Ministry of External Affairs, to institutionalize India’s peace efforts.
Initiate an outreach programme: Begin by sending a delegation, including a representative from Manipur, two senior Buddhist monks, and former diplomats experienced with Myanmar, to engage directly with all stakeholders (ethnic groups, democratic factions, and the military) and initiate dialogue.
Leverage Religious Diplomacy: Include top Buddhist leaders like Venerable Chalinda Bhante and Dr. Lam, who have shown interest in negotiating with influential Burmese Buddhist monks, fostering peace through mass prayers and reconciliation in line with Buddhist principles.
As a key gateway to Southeast Asia, Myanmar’s challenges complicate India’s efforts to counter China’s influence, necessitating a balanced approach emphasizing strategic rationality and commitment to democratic values.
Context: Israel’s parliament passed bills to ban UNRWA from operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The Knesset also voted to designate UNRWA a terrorist organisation, cutting all ties with the agency. This could lead to the breakdown of Gaza's already fragile aid distribution system, intensifying the humanitarian crisis in which nearly 2 million displaced Palestinians are facing severe shortages of food, water, and medicine.
Reasons for Israel’s actions:
Israel has argued that the UNRWA’s role is obsolete, and its work to aid Palestinian refugees and their descendants has been an obstacle to a peace settlement.
However, Israel has itself not meaningfully recognised the foundation of a Palestinian state, thus perpetuating the longstanding territorial conflict.
Israel accusedsome of UNRWA’s employees in Gaza of participating in the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas.
But the agency denies aiding armed groups on purpose. The agency also mentioned that it has been sharing the list of its employees with Israel for a long time.
Bills has passed by Israel’s parliament:
The first Bill bars UNRWA from operating any representative office, providing any service, or conducting any activity, directly or indirectly, in Israel’s sovereign territory.
The second Bill cuts all ties between government employees and UNRWA, and takes away the legal immunities of the agency’s staff.
The Bills will stop UNRWA from operating in Gaza and the West Bank as Israel controls access to both these Palestinian territories and could also force the agency to relocate its headquarters from East Jerusalem.
The ban on the agency will only deepen the suffering of Palestinians.
Since the beginning of the war, almost all of Gaza’s 2 million people have been reliant on UNRWA for basic necessities, including food, water, and hygiene supplies.
Along with the Palestinian Red Crescent, UNRWA handles almost all UN aid distribution in the territory.
The UN agency also recently helped implement an emergency polio vaccination campaign in Gaza to prevent the infectious virus that can cause paralysis from spreading.
In the West Bank, UNRWA currently provides services for 19 refugee camps, more than 90 schools, and several health services, including prenatal care.
Objective: To provide aid to about 700,000 Palestinians who were forced to leave their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
Operating since May 1, 1950.
Operating regions: Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank; Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan- where Palestinian refugees took shelter after their expulsion.
What does it do?
It runs education, health, relief and social services, microfinance and emergency assistance programmes inside and outside refugee camps in these areas.
An estimated 5.9 million Palestinian refugees, most of whom are descendants of the original refugees, currently access the UNRWA’s services.
Funds: It is funded mostly by voluntary contributions from donor states such as the United States, Germany, the European Union, etc. It also gets a limited subsidy from the UN, which is used only for administrative costs.
Context: The severe cyclonic storm Dana started landfall close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara along the Odisha coast, the India Meteorological Department said.
Key facts about Cyclone Dana
Six hours prior to the landfall, the outer layer of the cyclonic storm surrounded Odisha’s coastal region, causing widespread rain and wind.
The Bay of Bengal had become turbulent with waves violently crashing on to the shore.
Trees were uprooted and power infrastructure was hit at isolated places in Bhadrak and Kendrapara districts, while disaster response forces cautiously moved to remove obstructions on roads.
As a precautionary measure, the Odisha government had evacuated 5.84 lakh people to different cyclone shelters where food and other facilities were made available.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a type of low-pressure weather system that forms over tropical or subtropical waters. They are characterized by strong winds, heavy rainfall, and a low-pressure centre. Different names know tropical cyclones depending on their location, such as hurricanes in the Atlantic and north-eastern Pacific, Willy-willy in North West Australia, typhoons in the northwest Pacific, and cyclones in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Factors which facilitate their formation:
Warm water: Tropical cyclones form over warm tropical or subtropical waters with a surface temperature of at least 26.5°C. The warmth of water provides the energy needed to fuel the storm.
Moist air: Tropical cyclones require moist air to form. Moisture provides fuel for thunderstorms that make up the storm.
Low wind shear: Wind shear is the change in wind speed or direction with height. Low wind shear is essential for the development of a tropical cyclone because it allows the storm to maintain its organization and strength. (High wind shear removes the heat and moisture they need from the area near their center. Shear also distorts the shape of a hurricane by shearing it (blowing the top away from the lower portion), so that the vortex is tilted. A tilted vortex is usually a less efficient heat engine--the delicate balance of inflowing low-level winds and outflowing upper-level winds that ventilate the storm gets disrupted.)
A pre-existing weather disturbance: Tropical cyclones typically form from pre-existing weather disturbances, such as a tropical wave or an area of low pressure. These disturbances provide the initial rotation and organization needed for a tropical cyclone to form.
Converging winds: Tropical cyclones form in areas where winds are converging and rising, which allows for the development of thunderstorms and the low-pressure area of the tropical cyclone.
Coriolis force: It helps the wind to rotate. This is the reason that cyclones are not formed at the Equator.
It's worth noting that all these conditions have to be met and in the right balance; otherwise, the tropical cyclone would dissipate or fail to form. Also, the storm needs to be in an environment where it can maintain its strength and not be disrupted by other weather systems or wind shear.
IMD uses a color-coded warning system to classify the severity of tropical cyclones. The system uses four colors: Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red.
Green: This color is used for cyclones that are not expected to cause significant damage. The IMD issues a "Green" warning for cyclones that are likely to cause light to moderate rainfall and winds of up to 40 km/h.
Yellow: This color is used for cyclones that are expected to cause moderate damage. The IMD issues a "Yellow" warning for cyclones that are likely to cause heavy rainfall and winds of 40-60 km/h.
Orange: This color is used for cyclones that are expected to cause substantial damage. The IMD issues an "Orange" warning for cyclones that are likely to cause very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and winds of 60-100 km/h.
Red: This color is used for cyclones that are expected to cause severe damage. The IMD issues a "Red" warning for cyclones that are likely to cause extremely heavy rainfall and winds of more than 100 km/h.
The warning system is designed to help people prepare for a cyclone, and to take appropriate action to protect themselves, their families, and their property. The color code is based on the forecasted wind speed, rainfall, and surge height. The IMD also issues forecasts and updates on the progress of the storm and provides advice on what actions to take in response to the storm.
Context: Today, apart from solar energy being the major factor in the climate patterns, it is also a transformative, democratising force in electricity generation. Distinct from traditional sources of energy which require extensive infrastructure and intermediary transmission lines, solar energy can now be harnessed directly at its point of use in homes. It is now a home product.
Solar energy is empowering women
Environmental sustainability and societal structures: Decentralized solar energy enables individuals and communities to generate power locally, significantly benefiting environmental sustainability and societal structures.
It economically empowers marginalized groups, especially women, who often face limited access to energy.
Examples include women salt farmers in Gujarat who shifted from diesel to solar pumps, increasing income and reducing emissions.
Financial inclusion and job creation: Solar energy contributes to financial inclusion and community development by integrating women across the solar value chain.
In 2022, solar employed around 4.9 million people globally, 40% of whom were women. India’s renewable goals aim to create an additional three million jobs by 2030, enhancing opportunities for women and supporting societal progress.
Health and safety: Traditional biomass for cooking exposes women to harmful indoor air pollution. Solar-powered cookers and clean energy solutions reduce health hazards.
High education attainment: With reliable lighting, children, especially girls often tasked with daytime chores, can study in the evenings, boosting their educational attainment.
Social entrepreneurship: Solar initiatives encourage women to become solar entrepreneurs and ambassadors within their communities. Organizations like Solar Sister train women to sell solar products, providing income and fostering leadership.
Reduced labour: Access to solar-powered water pumps, mills, and other machinery reduces time spent on manual labour, enables women to dedicate more time to education, self-improvement, and income-generating activities.
Despite its benefits, the solar industry faces challenges, including geographical imbalances (with investments concentrated in developed nations), sectoral imbalances (large-scale farms over small applications), and manufacturing concentration.
To ensure sustainability, the solar industry must prioritize recycling and waste management for solar materials. Establishing clear producer guidelines, fostering government collaboration, and exploring mobile recycling plants can enhance environmental health in the sector.
The need for a just energy transition necessitates gender-sensitive policies that integrate energy access with sectors like agriculture and rural development. Such inclusivity helps dismantle barriers disproportionately affecting women, promoting a sustainable and equitable energy economy.
Initiatives such as the Barefoot College (India), the Grameen Shakti (Bangladesh), and Solar Sister (Africa) empower women to become solar engineers, benefiting millions and improving community health and safety. For example, We Care Solar’s suitcases reduced perinatal deaths by 72% in Uganda’s health centres.
Context: Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled to the West that he is far from “isolated” despite ongoing sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict at the recently concluded BRICS meeting at Kazan.
Key takeaways from the meet:
BRICS members aim to establish an alternative ‘global financial architecture’; which comprises three main aspects:
Reducing the dominance of Dollar: China and Russia are keen on diminishing the dollar’s leading role in global transactions, driven by their broader geopolitical objectives.
Trade in local currency: India has proposed a consensus-oriented approach, promoting trade in local currencies within BRICS.
Financial integration: India advocates for stronger financial integration among BRICS members without directly challenging the dollar’s prominence.
BRICS countries emphasized on the need of developing a platform BRICS bridge which links central bank digital currencies, which will help in reducing the intermediation costs.
Reasons behind BRICS’s move:
Due to the weaponization of the SWIFT platform, global trade and financial flows have been impacted, as SWIFT links more than 11,000 banks.
Countries like Iran and Russia face exclusion from SWIFT due to geopolitical conflicts, which also impacts third-party nations like India. The geopolitical instability is encouraging more countries to seek alternative systems to mitigate risks. E.g., Saudi Arabia finalized a three-year currency swap deal with China.
BRICS nationsare nurturing the New Development Bank and Contingency Reserve Arrangement as an alternative to Bretton Woods institutions to have a more prominent voice at the global level.
The case of BRICS’s Financial strategy:
The rise of digital currencies, blockchain technology, and the Unified Payments Interface, which can facilitate trade settlements, has made a unified BRICS currency less important.
Moreover, trade deals can be settled in mutually agreed currencies.
Establishing a blockchain-based payment platform and an alternative to the SWIFT messaging system is entirely achievable among a coalition of countries as long as it remains decentralized and free from control by any single nation.
Context: A Constitution Bench of nine judges in an 8:1 majority judgment has upheld the State legislatures’ right to regulate industrial alcohol. (State of U.P. vs. M/s. Lalta Prasad Vaish)
The majority opinion held that the phrase “intoxicating liquor” in Entry 8 of the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution would include industrial alcohol within its ambit.
Background: Entry 8 gives States the power to regulate the production, manufacture, possession, transport, purchase, and sale of “intoxicating liquor”. Various States had challenged the Centre’s position that it had exclusive control over industrial alcohol, a power held under Entry 52 of the Union List.
Key issues: Can “intoxicating liquor” also be defined as “industrial alcohol”?
There are two “overlapping” entries in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, which lays down the division of lawmaking powers between the Centre and the states.
Entry 8 of List II (State List) gives states the power to regulate “the production, manufacture, possession, transport, purchase and sale of intoxicating liquors,” whereas Entry 52 of List I (Union List) allows the Centre to regulate industries as a whole to the extent “declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest”.
As alcohol and other products of fermentation industries that deal with non-drinkable alcohol are included in the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 — a law passed by Parliament — the Centre argued that it “occupied the field” when it comes to industrial alcohol, and that states could not regulate the subject.
States, on the other hand, argued that industrial alcohol can be misused to produce consumable alcohol illegally, which required them to enact legislation.
The key question of Law: Whether a central law, the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act (IDRA), 1951, which listed ‘fermentation industries’ as a scheduled subject on which the Union government could exercise control, had the effect of removing ‘industrial alcohol’ from the regulatory purview of State governments.
Judgment: The ruling set aside the SC’s 1990 judgment in Synthetics & Chemicals Ltd. v State of Uttar Pradesh, which held that “intoxicating liquor” refers only to potable (drinkable) alcohol and, therefore, states could not tax industrial alcohol.
Outcomes of judgment
Increased amount of taxes/revenue: The tax levied on alcohol is a key component of a state’s revenue. With the inclusion of industrial alcohol, states would be able to regulate it accordingly. The additional taxes accruing would be used for funding essential public services.
This judgment along with the recent judgment in which the SC ruled that States can tax mineral rights and mineral bearing lands is going to boost the State’s revenues further.
Clarity on Centre-State Relations: It also clarifies Centre-state relations regarding control over industries. The judgment affirms the power of states to pass laws on subjects in the State List, even in the face of the wide powers granted to the Centre regarding the control of ‘Industries’ as a whole.
Maintaining federal balance: It affirms the principle that when a Central law (Section 18G of Industries Development and Regulation Act, 1951) accidentally steps into areas controlled by the State Governments, the States should not lose their power over those areas, this principle has been respected in this case by checking legislative competence of Centre and maintaining federal balance.
Regulatory clarity: Judgment would bring regulatory clarity over the taxation, which would prove to be positive for manufacturers.
Improved law and order: More powers with respect to regulation and taxation would lead to better checks on the leakage of industrial liquor, which is often used for making illicit liquor responsible for deaths due to it.
About Industrial Alcohol
Industrial alcohol is essentially impure alcohol that is used as an industrial solvent. It is made by mixing chemicals such as benzene, pyridine, gasoline, etc. in ethanol, which is produced by fermenting grains, fruit, molasses, etc., this process is called ‘denaturation’ which turns ethanol into industrial alcohol. This makes the alcohol unfit for human consumption, and significantly lowers its price.
Industries use this impure alcohol to manufacture products like pharmaceuticals, perfumes, cosmetics, and cleaning liquids.
However, this same industrial or denatured alcohol is sometimes used to make illicit liquor, cheap and dangerous intoxicants whose consumption poses severe risks, including blindness and death.
It evaluates conservation efforts using four markers — land management, threats to biodiversity, capacity and governance, and future trends.
The NCI is developed by Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and BioDB.com, a non-profit website dedicated to maintaining biodiversity data.
The NCI is a data-driven analysis assessing each country's progress in balancing conservation and development, aimed at helping governments, researchers, and organisations identify concerns and enhance conservation policies for long-term biodiversity protection.
India with an abysmal score of 45.5 (out of 100) has been ranked 176th in the Global Nature Conservation Index, 2024. The country ranks as one of the five worst performers.
It’s noteworthy to mention that Bhutan, a global biodiversity hotspot, is the only country in Asia that has performed remarkably, ranking 15th globally with a score of 63.1.
Luxembourg, a small European country situated between Belgium, France, and Germany, with its rich biodiversity, is leading the way forward in the rankings with a score of 70.8 out of 100.
It’s also notable to mention that Europe is dominating, with seven of its countries ranking among the top performers.
Context: It has been a decade since Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was enshrined into law.
What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?
CSR is a management concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders.
Section 135 Companies Act, 2013 - CSR provisions are applicable to companies:
With an annual turnover of INR 1,000 crore and more
Or a net worth of INR 500 crore and more
Or a net profit of 5 crore INR and more
The Act mandates companies to spend at least 2% of their average net profit in the previous three years on CSR activities.
What are the Benefits of CSR?
For Companies:
Gaining the trust of communities
Attracting and retaining employees
Enhancing corporate reputation and brand building
Attract investors as they include ethics as part of their assessment while investing
Increased profitability as ethical conduct exerts a growing influence on the purchasing decisions of customers
Failure to Consider Holistic View: Companies still have a narrow perception of CSR. They fail to understand that CSR has an impact on mostly all of the stakeholders of the company and it impacts both society and the environment as a whole - Due to a lack of strategic planning, proper experimentation, innovation, and engagement, companies aren't able to make a meaningful impact on their CSR efforts.
Lack of capability in many firms to formulate a long-term robust CSR policy leads to failure in giving definitive directions to CSR spending.
Disconnect with local requirements as there is non-availability of well-organised NGOs in remote and rural areas that can assess and identify real needs of the community.
Duplication of activities by different corporate houses, which results in competitive approach rather than a collaborative approach.
Lack trust and interest of the local community in participating and contributing to CSR activities of companies.
Many CSR initiatives and programs are undertaken in urban areas and localities, leaving the needy and poor in rural areas to miss out on the benefits of CSR.
Issue of geographic equity as 5 states - Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu account for well over one-quarter of all CSR spending.
There is lack of an independent agency that can monitor and accreditate CSR efforts.
Viewed as additional tax which is spent by the firms rather than given to the government. This is in addition to corporate tax which is already one of the highest in the world.
Way Forward
Cooperation between government and corporates: CSR activities should be better aligned and integrated with Government/local administration systems. They should complement and upscale government initiatives rather than create a parallel system and duplicate efforts
Community and employee participation: Improving community relations involving employees in CSR can help motivate them and encourage their personal and professional development by inculcating social and ethical values
Collaboration for efficiency - between NGOs, and agencies involved in environmental and social work will enable better utilisation of CSR funds
Evaluation and monitoring - periodically to prevent fraudulent activities and complete project within the stipulated time
Fair and balanced expenditure: Encouraging corporates to spend in neglected areas such as aspirational districts and NER to have regional parity in socio-economic development
Relaxation and incentives: The government should further provide relaxation and incentives in corporate tax to corporates complying with CSR regulations
High-Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Injeti Srinivas had made the following recommendations:
Extending the scope of CSR applicability to Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), which are within the purview of the MCA, and to Banks registered under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949
Companies are encouraged to forge partnerships when creating assets for public purposes. The ownership shall rest with the public and the company may act as a custodian to operate it and make it self-sustaining
Board of a Company to ascertain the credibility of an Implementing Agency (IA) and carry out necessary due diligence. IAs to be registered with MCA to carry out CSR activities
International organisations may be engaged as partners for designing CSR projects, monitoring and evaluation as well as capacity building of CSR-eligible companies and implementing agencies
The Board of a company may engage a CSR professional, if it so desires, and the Government may prescribe eligibility criteria for such professionals
5% of CSR-mandated companies be identified on a random basis for third-party assessments on a pilot basis
Conclusion
The government is responsible for social development. Corporates cannot replace them in this role but can supplement its role. Corporates can make a meaningful contribution especially if there is a platform that allows them to offer the totality of their skills, technology and resources. With rising fiscal deficit and leakages in the welfare schemes, CSR seeks to address the problems of society in a cost effective manner
Context: The recently released National Electricity Plan document of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) notes that India and Sri Lanka have agreed on the detailed project report (DPR) for building a transmission line between the two countries. This marks a significant milestone in a journey that traces back to 2002.
Key Facts
The project seeks to build a transmission link between New Habarana in Sri Lanka and New Madurai in India, crossing a 120 km stretch of sea.
A detailed project report (DPR) has been agreed upon for the India-Sri Lanka grid interconnection. This will involve a 1000 MW VSC HVDC bipole line connecting New Madurai in India to Mannar in Sri Lanka, built in two phases of 500 MW each, with HVDC terminals at both ends.
Wind industry sources believe the island nation has potential of 65 GW onshore — most of it can be transmitted to India, as Sri Lanka needs very little. This, sources said, is cheaper than offshore wind in India.
National Electricity Plan (Transmission) Highlights
