The Hindu

Need to protect India’s Linguistic Secularism

Context: Recently, there have been a few instances of linguistic violence against non-Marathi speakers in Maharashtra. India’s diversity in religion and language is one of the primary factors which protects the secular character of the nation, ensuring its unity and integrity.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Features of Indian secularism; Article 29, Article 343, Eighth Schedule, Census 2011 data on languages.

Mains: Official vs National Language debate, Threats to Indian secularism and linguistic diversity.

Indian Secularism

Unlike Western secularism, which calls for a complete separation of religion and state, Indian secularism is rooted in tolerance and equality granting all citizens the Freedom of Conscience and Religion.
The state has no official religion, making India truly secular.
Indian secularism also addresses linguistic pluralism. It is neither pro-religion nor anti-religion or language, but actively seeks to prevent communalism, whether religious or linguistic, making diversity a foundation of national unity.

Constitutional Provisions to protect Linguistic Diversity:

As per the data of Census 2011, India has a total of 121 languages and 270 mother tongues. Such diversity needs to be protected; each and every language irrespective of region or State must be shown respect. This is the only way to protect India’s linguistic secularism.

In order to protect linguistic diversity, the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution includes 22 languages.
Article 29: Incorporates that any section of citizens of India including minority groups shall have the right to protect their language, script or culture, and that language cannot be the ground for discrimination. No State is permitted to go out of it in the name of a distinct language or culture.
Article 343: As India is a Union of States, Article 343 enshrines that the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. The states are free to choose their own official language.

India’s religious and linguistic diversity is a key pillar of its secular character, ensuring unity and integrity. However, these aspects can also become sources of conflict, as seen in recent communal and linguistic tensions like in Maharashtra.

Threat to India’s Linguistic Diversity: Linguistic Tensions and Identity Politics

Many Southern and North-eastern States have historically resisted the imposition of Hindi, fearing cultural and linguistic domination.
Dravidian Movement in Tamil Nadu strongly opposed Hindi imposition, instead promoting Tamil and English as symbols of cultural pride and autonomy.
Maharashtra has emerged as one of the most sensitive States on the language debate. The recent violence against non-Marathi speakers reflects identity politics, and not genuine concern for cultural protection.

India’s secular fabric is deeply woven into its religious and linguistic diversity. Protecting this diversity is not merely a cultural or political obligation, but a constitutional imperative.

In a globalising world, a conservative leaning towards religion or language will lead to a fragmentation of society and tear apart the secular fabric.

Also Read: What makes the Indian Constitution Secular?

AI is Reshaping Indian Manufacturing

Context: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming manufacturing worldwide and in India by enabling smarter production with higher efficiency and innovation.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Emerging Technologies (AI, Digital Twins, Cobots), Government Schemes (India AI Mission)

Mains: AI in Manufacturing: Applications, significance, challenges.

The global AI-in-manufacturing market is projected to grow from $4.1 billion in 2024 to over $25 billion by 2029.

AI Adoption in Indian Manufacturing

AI adoption in manufacturing jumped from 8% in FY23 to 22% in FY24 reflecting a sharp rise in sector-wide integration.
AI is rapidly transforming Indian manufacturing, from legacy units to new plants, by enhancing productivity, reducing waste, and enabling smarter design.

AI Applications across the Factory Floor:

AI is powering improvements across every layer of the factory.

On the shop floor, predictive maintenance uses sensor data to anticipate equipment failures, reducing downtime by up to 30%.
AI vision systems identify micro-level defects in real time, improving quality assurance.
Cobots (collaborative robots guided by AI) support workers in physically demanding or repetitive tasks. These machines respond to human cues, enabling safer, more efficient man-machine collaboration.
AI powered CCTVs are helping ensure SOP compliance.
Machine learning supports predictive maintenance and smart procurement.
Digital twins simulate layouts, energy use and asset health, helping engineers optimise operations virtually.
In planning and logistics, AI enhances forecasting and enables more agile scheduling. IBM estimates that AI-led planning improves responsiveness by over 20%.

Digital Ecosystem Driving AI:

IoT Sensors: Capture real-time data from machines, materials, and the environment.
Edge Computing: Allows instant responses for tasks like robotic actuation and safety control.
Cloud Platforms: Provide the scale to train models, run digital twins, and coordinate cross-site operations.
Autonomous Control Systems & Agentic AI: Enable systems to learn, plan, and optimize with minimal human intervention. Increase adaptability and efficiency in manufacturing workflows.
Integration through APIs & Hubs: Connect AI systems with ERP, supply chain, and production platforms and ensure seamless data flow and organisational decision-making. This ensures insights are shared across the organisation to enable better decision-making.

Advantages of AI in Manufacturing

Operational Efficiency:
- Predictive maintenance, automated inspections, and real-time stock tracking lower costs and improve compliance.
- Improve yields and reduce energy use.
- Unlock smarter, safer, and more efficient operations.
- Real-time data is being leveraged to drive smarter decisions, higher throughput and more sustainable, customer-centric outcomes.
Innovation:
- Generative tools speed up design.
- AI-driven customisation enables personalisation at scale.
- Companies that embed AI across their value chain, from R&D to delivery, are more agile, responsive, and future-ready.

Challenges in AI adoption

High integration cost.
Talent shortage - lack of AI Skilled professionals in manufacturing.
Data governance and model transparency concerns.
A 2024 survey found that 44% of manufacturing leaders remain cautious about scaling generative AI due to concerns around hallucinations and explainability.

Global Capability Centers in India

Context: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organised the Inaugural Edition of the Global Capability Centers (GCCs) Summit in New Delhi recently.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Global Capability Centers: Status, Issues and Way Forward.

What are Global Capability Centers?

Global Capability Centres (GCCs) or Captive Centres are offshore offices or subsidiaries set up by multinational corporations (MNCs) to handle various business processes and services.
These centres are responsible for tasks including IT support, data analytics, finance, human resources, BPO etc.
Over time, GCCs have evolved from being simple support centres to becoming strategic hubs that drive innovation. GCCs now provide a scale and range of services including- product development, operations, R&D, engineering, software, data scientists etc.

Status of Global Capability Centers in India:

India has emerged as one of the world’s largest GCC destinations. Key GCC hubs are located in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Mumbai, and the National Capital Region (NCR).

The GCC sector contributes $68 billion as direct gross value addition (GVA) which is 1.6% of India’s GDP. Estimates suggest GVA from GCCs could rise to $200 billion by 2030.
GCCs in India currently employ nearly 2.16 million people. Estimates suggest it is expected to grow to 2.8 million by 2030.
Over 1800 GCCs are currently operational in India at present which are projected to increase to 5000 by 2030.
Setup rate of engineering R&D GCCs has grown 1.3 times faster than the overall GCC setup over the last 5 years, indicating a clear shift towards high-value-added work in India.

The Indian government is working on a comprehensive National Framework for GCCs to further accelerate their growth.

Factors conducive to the growth of GCCs:

Govt. initiatives: Strong physical and digital infrastructure supported by strategic initiatives like Digital India and Ease of Doing Business Reforms have created a conducive environment.
Specific policies by states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana in physical and digital infrastructure development have enabled GCC clustering in these regions.
India’s talent pool remains a critical competitive advantage with approximately 2.1 million STEM graduates entering the workforce annually. There is approximately 35% female participation in the GCC workforce.
Cost-effectiveness: Engaging Indian talent is more cost-effective as compared to other countries. It is estimated that GCC operations cost 30-50% in India less than the US, the UK and Australia.

Challenges Associated with GCCs

Clustered development in few states: About 95% of GCCs in India are concentrated at six major locations, and the challenge is to expand this base to Tier-2 cities. Lack of digital infrastructure, power outages, unreliable internet connectivity, and traffic congestion can impact their expansion in Tier-2 cities.
Regulatory Issues: Due to a lack of National level GCC policy, different states of India have varied GCC policies. There are also concerns related to dispute resolution mechanisms, and the lengthy appellate process.
Transfer Pricing: Safe Harbour Regime was introduced to provide certainty in transfer pricing for MNCs. Industry experts have recommended safe harbour margin rates of 14-15% aligning with global trends, as the current transfer pricing margin rates of 17-24% is detrimental for MNCs’ revenues and operations, and discourages GCC expansion.
Operational Challenges: Conflicts between cross-border data transfers laws and regional laws create significant operational challenges for GCCs. E.g., Balancing EU-US Data Privacy Framework and India’s data mandates under the DPDP Act 2023.
IP issue: Despite hiring Indian engineers, GCCs retain innovation and intellectual property (IP) abroad. There is also a risk of IP theft or disputes. The multi-jurisdictional nature of GCC operations further complicates IP ownership and enforcement, with differing legal frameworks and limited cross-border IP protection.

Way Forward

Enhanced outreach strategies to attract global players and facilitate GCC expansion beyond the US companies to other countries.
Comprehensive framework involving dialogue between the Centre and state governments and Industry bodies to promote the geographic spread of GCCs to Tier-2 cities.
Identifying best practices from existing GCC hubs in India to provide direction for emerging locations to attract GCCs.
For regulatory simplification, GCCs need a national-level single-window clearance and rationalisation of the safe harbour margins in transfer pricing.
Concessional tax rates to GCCs for engaging in R&D and IP creation.
Creation of digital economic zones housing GPU-based data centres, academia, startups and co-located workspaces. This will facilitate the shift beyond traditional business functions to engineering R&D, AI, and emerging technologies with specialised skills development.

India has evolved from a cost-arbitrage destination to an innovation-driven economy powered by emerging technologies. GCCs have played a vital role in India’s economic landscape by creating high-value jobs, fostering skill development & employment, and facilitating knowledge transfer.

Also Read: IT Sector in India

Why is Corporate Investment lagging behind?

Context: According to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth fell to 1.2% in May 2025, the lowest in nine months.

Despite various government steps like tax cuts, infrastructure spending (capex), and low interest rates, private sector investment is not picking up and lagging behind.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Trends & factors associated with Low corporate investment.

State of Corporate Investment in India

The 2024-25 Economic Survey expressed concern, noting that:

The corporate sector is enjoying record-high financial performance. However, there has been negligible growth in hiring and employee compensation.
Private-sector Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) in machinery, equipment, and intellectual property has grown only 35% cumulatively over four years- indicating weak investment momentum.

Why is Corporate Investment Lagging Behind ?

Low Consumer Demand: After COVID-19, overall demand in the economy is weak. When people are not buying enough, companies see no reason to invest in expanding production.
Underutilisation of Existing Capacity: Firms are hesitant to invest when their existing facilities are not being used to full capacity, fearing low returns from added production.
Slow Export Demand: The global economic slowdown, combined with rising trade protectionism and tariff regimes (such as the reciprocal tariff measures by the US), has weakened external demand for Indian goods. This uncertain global environment discourages firms from undertaking export-oriented investments.
Delay in Impact of Government Capex Projects: Projects like ports and highways have long gestation periods, the time lag between investment and tangible economic returns delays their crowd-in effect on private investment. So, their benefits do not immediately encourage private investment.
High Import Content in Capex: A part of the government's capital expenditure goes into imported machinery and technology. This does not help Indian industries and reduces the positive impact on local demand.
Low Labour Intensity of Projects: Many infrastructure projects use heavy machines instead of workers. This means fewer jobs are created, so income and consumption do not rise much.
Low interest rates are not enough: Even if loans are cheap, companies would not borrow unless they believe they can sell their products and make profits.
Weak Link profits and investment: The assumption that higher profits will automatically lead to greater private investment is flawed. As per renowned economist Kalecki, firms can choose to invest but cannot ensure profits. In a weak demand environment, profitability alone does not incentivise capacity expansion.

Thus, tax cuts or higher earnings do not translate into investment unless backed by strong demand prospects.

Way Forward

Increase government expenditure to act as an external stimulus for reviving investment.
Focus on reviving demand, as investment will follow recovery, not lead it.
Prioritise high-multiplier and short-gestation projects to generate quicker economic impact.
Minimise import content in capex to ensure maximum domestic demand generation.
Promote labour-intensive investments to boost employment and consumption.
Recognise that low interest rates alone cannot drive investment without demand.
Restore both credit flow and business confidence, as both are necessary for recovery.

The slowdown in corporate investment in India is mainly due to weak demand and delays in the impact of government spending, not because companies lack profits or funds.

QR code-based Aadhaar Verification App

Context: UIDAI is set to launch a QR code-based App to enable Aadhaar updates from home with enhanced verification and data control.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key Features of QR code-based Aadhaar App.

Key Features of the New App

The QR based app will allow individuals to update their Aadhaar details from their homes.
Except for biometric updates like fingerprints or iris scans, most changes, including name, address, and mobile number will soon be possible online, using the App equipped with advanced verification protocols.
Authenticated government databases such as PAN, passport, driving licence, and PDS and MNREGA registries will be used to cross-verify user-submitted information.
The App enables secure QR code-based Aadhaar sharing offering users control over when and how their data is shared. E.g., while checking in at a hotel, the customers can share a full or masked version of their e-Aadhaar through secure, mobile-to-mobile channels, only with explicit consent.
The proposed App is expected to go live by the end of 2025.

Why is the QR-based Aadhaar App introduced ?

The QR-based Aadhaar app has been introduced to solve the following existing challenges in the Aadhaar update and usage ecosystem.

Digital Exclusion of Vulnerable Groups: 1 in 3 users struggled to update Aadhaar, and 20% failed to do so. 30% of homeless people and 27% of third-gender individuals lacked Aadhaar. Barriers include lack of documentation and gender misclassification, leading to denial of services and exclusion from welfare schemes.
Privacy and Consent Risks: Centralised linking of Aadhaar to multiple services raises data misuse and surveillance concerns.
Low Awareness and Low Digital Literacy: Aadhaar’s digital features continue to be underutilised. Many users, particularly in rural areas, rely on physical photocopies rather than e-Aadhaar.

Significance of QR-based Aadhaar App:

Empowers users to control their identity, dictate access, and minimise data exposure.
Can reduce paperwork and also help prevent the use of forged documents.

The government is also strengthening regulations on privacy, consent, and the responsible use of Aadhaar-linked personal data by amending the Aadhaar Act to align it with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023 with the aim to:

Provide users greater control over their data by emphasising data minimisation.
Provide the right to erasure - Users can request deletion of Aadhaar-linked data.
Prevent Aadhaar data reuse beyond the original purpose without fresh consent.

Assessing India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme Targets

Context: The Indian government recently notified greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity targets for entities across key industrial sectors under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS).

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme.

What is the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) ?

Launched in 2023 under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022.
It is a market based mechanism designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by pricing carbon and facilitating trading of carbon credits.
CCTS introduces carbon pricing through two key mechanisms to ensure comprehensive carbon reduction efforts.
- Compliance Mechanism: Mandates energy-intensive industries to meet sector-specific GHG reduction targets. Entities that emit below their set intensity targets earn Carbon Credit Certificates (CCC); while those exceeding targets must purchase credits or face penalties.
- Offset Mechanism: Allows voluntary participation from entities outside the compliance framework to earn carbon credits by reducing emissions.
As of now, 8 heavy industrial sectors are included under the compliance mechanism of CCTS: Aluminium, Cement, Paper and Pulp, Chlor-Alkali, Iron and Steel, Textiles, Petrochemicals, Petroleum Refineries.
Administered by: multiple bodies like the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the National Steering committee for the Indian carbon market.
Trading of Carbon Credit is expected to begin by October 2026.
The CCTS aims to help India achieve its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels.

Assessment of India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme:

Lack of Ambitious Targets:

India’s overall energy emissions intensity is projected to decline by 3.44% per year from 2025 to 2030. The manufacturing sector should ideally reduce its emissions intensity by 2.53% per year.
But current CCTS targets for industries show only a 1.68% per year drop. This suggests the CCTS targets are not ambitious enough to achieve India's NDC targets and decarbonisation goals.

Limited Sectoral Coverage:

CCTS currently covers only 8 of the 9 heavy industrial sectors.
Several major emitters are excluded like- thermal power plants, transport, agriculture, and MSMEs, limiting the scope and impact of the scheme.

Sectoral vs. Economy-Wide Focus

The scheme largely focuses on sectoral/entity-specific targets rather than an integrated, economy-wide reduction strategy. This narrow focus on select industrial players may risk intra-sector credit trading without meaningful reduction in national-level emissions.

A robust carbon market should drive aggregate decarbonisation with participation of major sectors, and not just trading between a few large players.

Why must India recognise its Open Ecosystems?

Context: Deserts and other open ecosystems are often viewed as barren or degraded lands. Land degradation is now synonymously used with desertification.

However, a functioning desert with its intricate food webs, seasonal rhythms and cultural continuities also holds significance and is far more alive than a monoculture plantation.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Wastelands; Significance of Wastelands.

Desert and other Open Ecosystems

Deserts and other open ecosystems such as grasslands, savannas, scrublands, and open woodlands are often viewed as degraded lands or broken ecosystems which need to be fixed.
On official maps, millions of hectares of these ecosystems are classified as wastelands- a term inherited from colonial land-use categories.
In policy terms, a wasteland is seen as land waiting to be corrected usually by (i) planting trees, (ii) converting it into agriculture, (iii) paving it over for industrial use. This perception has led to large-scale efforts to “green” deserts through afforestation, irrigation schemes, and even climate engineering.
However, this narrow view ignores the deep ecological, historical and cultural significance of deserts and other open landscapes.

Significance of Desert Ecosystems:

Deserts occupy nearly one-third of the Earth’s terrestrial surface, and are home to uniquely adapted plants, animals, and human cultures.

India's deserts, grasslands and savannas are home to rare and endemic species like the Great Indian Bustard, caracal, and Indian wolf which are not found elsewhere.
These ecosystems store carbon deep in the soil.
Millions of pastoral groups such as the Dhangar, Rabari, Kuruba etc depend on these ecosystems for grazing.
These landscapes support rich indigenous knowledge systems related to animal husbandry, grazing cycles, and weather patterns.
Early civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley emerged in desert climates. The harsh desert conditions prompted humans to develop complex societies and technologies that could invent ingenious ways of irrigation to survive in otherwise inhospitable conditions.

Way Forward

We need policies that recognise ecosystem diversity, reward soil carbon storage, and support pastoralist land use.

Deserts, grasslands, and savannas should be recognised as distinct valuable ecosystems- not wastelands.
Shift from the term “desertification” to “land degradation” to avoid unjust vilification of deserts.
Reversing degradation in drylands requires careful restoration that respects native vegetation, focuses on soil and moisture conservation, and draws from indigenous knowledge of land management.
Recognize pastoral communities as biodiversity stewards and integrate their traditional knowledge into restoration policies.
Low-tech solutions like water harvesting, rotational grazing, and protecting natural regrowth in place of greenwashing projects that aim to plant millions of trees to “green” the desert.

Are Existing Mechanisms effective in preventing Custodial Violence?

Context: The gruesome death of a security guard in police custody in Tamil Nadu is yet another grim addition to the long and growing list of custodial deaths in India.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Existing mechanisms to prevent Custodial Violence in India.

Mains: Custodial Violence in India: Safeguards, Limitations, Reforms needed.

Existing mechanisms to prevent Custodial Violence in India

1. Constitutional Safeguards:

Article 21 guarantees the fundamental right to protection of life and personal liberty.
- No person shall be deprived of their life except according to the procedure established by law.
- It provides the right to live with dignity and free from any form of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
Article 22(1): No person who is arrested shall be detained in custody without being informed of the grounds for such arrest.
Article 22(2): Every person who is arrested and detained in custody shall be produced before the nearest magistrate within a period of 24 hours of such arrest.
Article 20(3): No person accused of an offense shall be compelled to be a witness against themselves. Individuals cannot be forced to provide evidence or testimony that may incriminate themselves.

2. Statutory Safeguards:

Section 41A of CrPC: Provides safeguards such as informing the accused of their rights and providing access to legal aid. It ensures that neither the accused’s rights are deprived nor they are unfairly treated during and after the arrest.
Section 176(1)of CrPC: Requires a Judicial Magistrate or Executive Magistrate to launch an investigation when a person passes away while in custody or any other location where the person is receiving institutional or state care.
Section 25 of Indian Evidence Act, 1872: A confession made to a police officer is prohibited and cannot be admitted in evidence. The fundamental principle underlying is that a police officer may subject an arrested person to severe torture and force him to confess to the guilt of a crime that he may not have committed.

3. Judicial Guidelines:

D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997): The Supreme Court laid down strict guidelines related to custodial violence and deaths. These guidelines are to be followed in all cases of arrest and detention until legal provisions are made for the safeguard of a person in custody.
Prakash Singh v. Union of India (2006): The SC mandated the creation of police complaints authorities led by retired judges, at the State and district levels to address complaints against police misconduct.
Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh (2020): The SC mandated the installation of CCTV cameras in police stations and lockups, and affirmed victims’ right to access the footage.

Associated Challenges:

Lack of Sensitisation:
- Police personnel often normalise custodial violence as a necessary means to achieve justice, especially when the formal legal process is seen as slow and ineffective.
- Public reaction to custodial violence is inconsistent and often shaped by the nature of the case.
Legal Issues:
- India lacks a stand-alone domestic law criminalising torture.
- India has signed but not ratified UNCAT (United Nations Convention Against Torture). This reflects a lack of political will to implement international human rights obligations.
- Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 permits the use of material recovered (as evidence) as a result of confessions from the accused. This loophole enables the continued use of custodial torture to produce evidence that is admissible in court.
Weak Institutional Accountability:
- Minimal compliance with the SC mandate (2020) to install CCTV cameras in police stations. Acts of torture often occur outside police stations. Even where cameras are installed, the access to the footage is usually denied citing non-functionality of cameras.
- Absence of Police Complaints Authorities: Most States have failed to establish these authorities. Even if they exist, their credibility is compromised by the inclusion of serving police officers as members.
- Lapses in Magisterial Oversight: Magistrates often fail to fulfil their intended role, which includes scrutinising the grounds for arrest, physically examining the accused for signs of torture, and engaging meaningfully with them to uncover any evidence of mistreatment.
- Medico-legal examinations are often reduced to a mere formality. This systemic failure contributes to the abysmally low conviction rates in cases of custodial torture and deaths.
Absence of authoritative data on custodial violence. In the absence of accurate data, the accountability mechanisms remain weak.

Law Commission’s 273rd Report (2017) recommends enacting a stand-alone Anti-Torture law in India and ratification of the UN Convention against Torture, amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1973, and the Evidence Act, 1872.

NHRC Guidelines for Police Reforms (2021)

Set up Police Complaints Authorities: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the State Governments to set up the Authorities at the State/UT and district level, as per the judgment in Prakash Singh vs. Union of India, 2006. The status of compliance should be displayed on the websites of the Ministry and the State Home Departments.
Add Section 114 B to Indian Evidence Act, 1872: Implement recommendations of the 113th report of the Law Commission to add Section 114 B to the Indian Evidence Act. This would ensure that in case a person sustains injuries in police custody, it is presumed that the injuries were inflicted by the police and the burden of proof to explain the injury lies on the authority concerned.
Make legal framework technology-friendly to speed up the criminal justice system. Install CCTV cameras with night vision in all police stations immediately to ensure accountability.
Community Policing: Involvement of trained social workers and law students with police stations as part of community policing and incorporating community policing in police manuals, laws and advisories.

Way Forward

Set up district-level mental health units with mandatory quarterly counselling, and refresher sensitisation courses for detainees and for officers. This will institutionalise mental wellness within law enforcement.
Reforms in Police training: The curriculum needs a redesign to include human rights sensitisation, trauma-informed investigation methods and community policing models.
Implement robust training programmes that not only equip police personnel with modern policing methods, but also sensitise them to their own implicit biases.
Technology as a safeguard: CCTV cameras in areas where people are in custody should be operational, tamper-proof, and subject to real-time audits.
Comprehensive Anti-Custodial Violence Law with time-bound investigation mechanisms, mandatory video documentation of interrogations, and civil society involvement in oversight.

“Every custodial death not just marks the end of one life but also the failure of the state’s moral contract with its people.”

To break this cycle, India needs to invest not just in policing but also in the emotional, ethical, and structural reform of law enforcement. This is needed so that the institution is viewed not as a symbol of unyielding authority, but of service, restraint, and human responsibility.

Need to Safeguard the Right to Vote

Context: The Supreme Court of India has directed the Election Commission (EC) to consider Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards (EPIC), and ration cards as acceptable documents for the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The move is aimed at improving access and reducing wrongful exclusions.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Universal Adult Suffrage (UAS) in India; Right to Vote.

Universal Adult Suffrage (UAS) in India

Article 326 of the Constitution grants every adult citizen the right to vote, regardless of gender, caste, religion, education, or property.
61st Constitutional Amendment 1989: Initial threshold of 21 years of age for being eligible to vote was lowered to 18 by the 61st CAA.
Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) established democracy as part of the ‘basic structure’ doctrine. For this ideal to function meaningfully, people should be able to freely decide the fate of their government (through voting), an unassailable right that shapes governance.
Two Key laws operationalised this inclusive vision:
- Representation of the People Act 1950 which governs the preparation and revision of electoral rolls.
- Representation of the People Act 1951 Act which regulates election conduct, candidature, and electoral offences.
Under Article 324 the Election Commission (EC) serves as a constitutional guardian of elections, with powers of superintendence, direction, and control. EC’s key duty is to prepare accurate electoral rolls, guided by Section 19 of the RPA 1950, which mandates that any citizen aged 18 or above, ordinarily resident in a constituency and not disqualified, is entitled to be registered.

Winston Churchill once said, “At the bottom of all tributes paid to democracy is the little man, walking into a little booth, with a little pencil, making a little cross on a little bit of paper…”

His words remain a timeless reminder that the health of any democracy ultimately rests on the sanctity of the ‘right to vote’.

Is Voting a Fundamental Right in India?

Constituent Assembly view: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and K.T. Shah proposed including the right to vote as a fundamental right; the Constituent Assembly’s Advisory Committee ultimately rejected the idea.
Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006): The five-judge bench of the SC held that the ‘right to elect’ is a statutory right under Section 62 of the RPA 1951, and not a fundamental or constitutional right.
Rajbala v. State of Haryana (2016): The two-judge bench of SC described the ‘right to vote’ as a constitutional right, though not a fundamental right. However, the ruling of the larger-bench in the Kuldip Nayar judgment prevails.
Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023): The SC declined to pronounce on the issue, noting that it had already been settled by the Kuldip Nayar judgment.
- In the minority view (dissent opinion), the Justice asserted that the ‘right to vote’ is an expression of Article 19(1)(a) and reflects the essence of Article 21.
- However, the ‘right to elect’ continues to be recognised as a statutory right.

Nevertheless, the courts have regarded the right to vote as an inseparable part of democracy, as it enables citizens to shape governance, making it a democratic imperative vital to the Indian republic’s survival.

John Dewey said, “Democracy is not just a form of government, but a social and personal ideal.”

Why does Electoral Roll Accuracy Matter?

Under Section 21 of the RPA, 1950, the EC is empowered to prepare and revise electoral rolls to ensure their accuracy and integrity.
Inaccuracies in Electoral Roll like mass omissions, ineligible inclusions, duplicates, or incorrect entries undermine the “one person, one vote” principle by enabling impersonation, disenfranchisement, or dilution of votes, which ultimately distorts the people’s mandate.
The Bihar SIR controversy and broader electoral reform debates highlights the core democratic truth:
- India’s democracy depends on electoral rolls that are accurate, inclusive, and accessible.
- Purification of rolls is necessary because just as the exclusion of an eligible voter undermines democracy, so does the inclusion of an ineligible name.

Thus, EC must complete the exercise with a careful balance between genuine vigilance and inclusion to uphold the fairness of the process. The SC’s suggestion to include more accepted documents helps safeguard every genuine elector’s right to be represented.

UAE’s Golden Visa

Context: The UAE government has given clarification on eligibility and investment criteria for its Golden Visa scheme, dismissing the widespread media claims in India about a ₹23 lakh visa as false.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about UAE's Golden Visa.

What is the UAE’s Golden visa?

The UAE’s ‘Golden visa’ is a long-term residence visa which enables foreign talents to live, work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits which include:

entry visa for 6 months with multiple entries to proceed with residence issuance
long-term, renewable residence visa valid for 5 or 10 years
privilege of not needing a sponsor.
ability to stay outside the UAE for more than the usual period of 6 months in order to keep their residence visa valid
ability to sponsor their family members, including spouses and children and domestic helpers
permit for family members to stay in the UAE until the end of their permit duration, if the primary holder of the Golden visa passes away.

Who is a Sponsor?

In the context of the UAE residency system, a sponsor refers to a local individual or organisation (usually an employer or relative) who takes legal responsibility for a foreign national residing in the UAE.
The sponsor has the legal right to cancel the visa of the person they are sponsoring.

Categories eligible for UAE Golden Visa

How much money has to be spent for the visa: AED 2 million for real estate and other investors. Main categories of individuals eligible for the UAE Golden Visa :

Public investors: People willing to invest dirhams (AED) 2 million in an accredited UAE investment fund. There are some requirements for this:
- investors must possess a valid commercial or industrial licence
- a tax certificate to prove annual tax contribution of at least AED 2,50,000
Entrepreneurs: People willing to invest AED 5,00,000 in any project approved by the authorities are eligible. The projects need to be tech-based.
Real estate investors: People owning property worth AED 2 million (not under mortgage) along with proof of residence in the UAE.
Exceptional talent: Doctors, scientists, athletes and domain experts.
Outstanding students, Humanitarian pioneers and Frontline heroes.

Who is not Eligible?

The UAE has clarified that crypto investors are not eligible for this visa.

Golden Visa available in the US:

Requirement: Applicants who invest $1 million in a non-targeted area or invest $8,00,000 in a targeted, rural area with high unemployment, and create 10 full-time jobs for US workers are eligible for the EB-5 visa.
Benefit: The US EB-5 visa also allows permanent residency.

How is the UAE Golden Visa different from the US Green Card?

The UAE Golden Visa offers long-term but temporary residency, while the US Green Card provides permanent residency.
The Golden Visa has no citizenship pathway, whereas Green Card holders can apply for US citizenship after 5 years (or 3 years if married to a US citizen).

Pandharpur Wari

Context: Every year, in the month of June-July, thousands of devotees in Maharashtra embark on a spiritual journey (yatra) called Pandharpur Wari.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Pandharpur Wari.

Pandharpur Wari

The Pandharpur wari is an annual pilgrimage (yatra) from various parts of Maharashtra to Pandharpur in Maharashtra, the abode of Lord Vitthal (revered form of Lord Vishnu).
It involves carrying the paduka (sacred sandals) of saints in a palki, most notably of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj, from their respective shrines to Pandharpur. Many pilgrims join this procession on foot.
The tradition is more than 700 to 800 years old. Warkari means "one who performs the wari". Warkaris (devotees) walk for nearly 20 days, covering over 250 kilometres on foot.

Along the way, they sing abhangas (devotional songs) and perform kirtans.

Also Read: Bhakti Movement in Maharashtra

India-US Agricultural Tariff Tussle

Context: The US is pressuring India to reduce agricultural tariffs to boost its farm exports. India is resisting due to concerns over food security, MSP, and unfair US subsidies.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Challenges in India-US trade relations; WTO subsidy norms and their impact on Indian agriculture

Contentious issues in India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement

One of the most contentious issues in the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) is the US government’s and the US agri-lobbies’ pressure on India to open its agriculture market. They are pushing India:

To lower high tariffs on key agri-products like Rice and Maize in order to enable US agri-business to significantly expand their presence in India.
To remove restrictions on genetically modified (GM) corn.
Allow imports of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), a byproduct of ethanol production.
Ease limits on Ethanol imports.

What benefits will the US gain?

Through tariff reduction and access to India’s markets, estimated benefits annually:

$235 million/year if India removes restrictions on GM corn.
$434 million/year if the US corn is used for sustainable aviation fuel in India.

$137.5 million in 5 years if India allows imports of DDGS.
The US would benefit from increased soy oil exports.

Why Is India not Agreeing?

India has resisted tariff reduction due to several concerns, all centered around protecting its agricultural sovereignty and food security:

Livelihood uncertainties for Farmers: Opening India’s agriculture to imports would create livelihood uncertainties for farming communities and pose a serious threat to its food security.
Unfair competition from the US subsidies:
- The US’ farm subsidies have consistently increased over the past two decades- from $61 billion in 1995 to $215 billion in 2022. The US provides over $200 billion annually in farm subsidies, enabling its agri-businesses to export (dump) at prices below production cost.
- If India removes tariff protections, Indian farmers without such subsidy levels would be unable to compete, leading to market distortions.
Flawed WTO Subsidy Assessment: The WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) uses a flawed methodology that compares current MSP with international prices from 1986-88, thus, inflating India’s subsidy levels unfairly.

If India yields to pressure and removes or reduces MSP, distressed farmers may abandon the production of critical food crops.

Way Forward

India must:

Refuse to reduce tariffs on key commodities unless the US agrees to significantly reduce its farm subsidies.
Continue to challenge the WTO’s flawed subsidy calculation methodology, pushing for inflation-adjusted or updated international reference prices.
Maintain its strong negotiating position in the WTO and BTA to prevent external pressure from undermining national interests.
Assert that India’s subsidies serve developmental goals, unlike the US, which uses subsidies to dominate export markets.