Indian Society

Reforming Sports Administration in India: National Sports Governance Rules, 2026

Context: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) has notified the National Sports Governance Rules, 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The rules aim to institutionalise transparency, athlete representation, gender equity, and electoral integrity in National Sports Federations (NSFs).

About National Sports Governance Rules, 2026

  • Statutory governance framework applicable to all National Sports Federations recognised by the Government of India.
  • Seeks to correct long-standing issues of opaque elections, administrative capture, and athlete exclusion.
  • Mandates structural reforms in governance, elections, and representation.

Key Provisions of the Rules

1. Athlete Representation (SOM Inclusion)

• NSFs must include at least four Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs) in their General Body.
• Eligibility Conditions:
– Minimum age: 25 years
– At least one year retired from active sports
• Merit Grading: A 10-tier achievement system prioritises Olympic, World Championship, and international medalists for governance roles.

2. Gender Equity Measures

• 50% of SOM nominees must be women.
• Executive Committees must have a minimum of four women members.
• Aims to correct chronic gender under-representation in sports governance.

3. Election Oversight Mechanism

• Establishes a National Sports Election Panel (NSEP).
• Responsible for supervising NSF elections to ensure:
– Free and fair conduct
– Transparency
– Absence of political or factional manipulation

4. Disqualification Norms

• Individuals convicted by courts and sentenced to imprisonment are barred from:
– Contesting NSF elections
– Holding committee positions
• Strengthens ethical standards and institutional credibility.

5. Mandatory Bye-law Alignment

• All NSFs must amend constitutions/bye-laws within six months.
• Non-compliance can lead to derecognition and withdrawal of government support.

Significance of the Rules

  • Athlete-Centric Governance: Institutionalises athlete voices in decision-making.
  • Gender Justice: Aligns sports administration with constitutional equality principles.
  • Electoral Integrity: Reduces litigation, factionalism, and administrative paralysis.
  • Global Alignment: Conforms to IOC-recommended governance standards.
  • Performance Linkage: Better governance improves athlete welfare, preparation, and outcomes.

Implementation Challenges

  • Resistance from Incumbents: Entrenched administrators may resist power redistribution.
  • Operational Capacity: Smaller federations may struggle to identify eligible SOMs.
  • Legal Challenges: Election outcomes and disqualifications may face litigation.
  • Compliance Lag: Uniform bye-law amendments across federations may be delayed.

Way Forward

Capacity Building: Training programmes for athlete-governors and federation officials.

Digital Election Systems: Use secure e-voting and online compliance monitoring.

Independent Audits: Annual governance audits linked to funding and recognition.

Judicial Backing: Fast-track courts for sports governance disputes.

Outcome Review: Periodic evaluation linking governance reforms to medal performance.

Conclusion

The National Sports Governance Rules, 2026 mark a decisive shift from personality-driven sports administration to rule-based, athlete-led governance. If implemented effectively, they can transform Indian sports from governance fragility to global competitiveness.

Counting Ahead: How Census 2027 Redefines India’s Population Mapping

Context: India will begin the first phase of the Population Census 2027—the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLHC)—from April 2026. This preparatory phase lays the administrative and digital foundation for the full population enumeration scheduled later, marking a significant transformation in how India counts and understands itself.

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What is the Houselisting and Housing Census?

The Houselisting and Housing Census is not a headcount of people. Instead, it focuses on mapping the physical and housing infrastructure of the country to prepare an accurate sampling frame for population enumeration.

Key elements include:

  • Structure Listing: Enumeration of every building, house, and household—residential and non-residential.
  • No Personal Data: Unlike the Population Enumeration phase, it excludes individual demographic details.
  • Housing Conditions: Data on construction material, number of rooms, ownership status, access to electricity, toilets, drinking water, and household assets.
  • Digital Geotagging: Each structure will receive a unique latitude–longitude coordinate using Digital Layout Mapping, improving spatial accuracy.

This phase ensures that no household is missed during the actual population count.

What Makes Census 2027 Different?

Census 2027 represents a structural break from earlier censuses, both technologically and substantively.

Major innovations include:

  • Fully Digital Census: India’s first census conducted entirely through mobile applications with real-time data upload.
  • Self-Enumeration: Citizens can voluntarily fill census details online before enumerator visits, reducing errors and costs.
  • Expanded Indicators: New questions on digital access, gender identity, climate-induced migration, and cooking fuel.
  • Comprehensive Caste Enumeration: The first full caste count since 1931, providing crucial data for social policy.
  • Central Monitoring: A Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) will track progress, flag inconsistencies, and ensure quality control.
  • Faster Data Release: Digital workflows aim to publish final population figures within 6–9 months, compared to several years earlier.
  • Policy Integration: Machine-readable datasets will be shared with ministries via APIs, strengthening evidence-based governance.

Why the Houselisting Phase Matters

Accurate housing data is essential for:

  • Urban planning and housing policy
  • Targeted delivery of welfare schemes
  • Infrastructure planning (water, sanitation, electricity)
  • Disaster preparedness and climate resilience mapping

Errors at this stage can cascade into systemic undercounting in the population phase.

What Comes Next?

The second phase—Population Enumeration (PE)—will record detailed demographic, social, economic, and educational data for every individual residing in India.

Together, the two phases will produce the most granular and policy-relevant census dataset in India’s history.

Conclusion

Census 2027 is not merely a counting exercise—it is a digital governance reform. By beginning with a robust, geotagged housing census, India is repositioning its population data architecture to meet the demands of a complex, mobile, and climate-affected society.

India’s Need for Nutritional Transformation

Context: India’s policy focus is gradually shifting from ensuring food security to achieving nutritional security.
This transition reflects the need to address chronic malnutrition, rising non-communicable diseases, and environmental pressures, through the promotion of functional foods and smart proteins.

Functional Foods and Smart Proteins

  • Functional Foods: Nutrient-enriched foods offering added health benefits, such as zinc-fortified rice (IIRR, Hyderabad) and iron pearl millet (ICRISAT).
  • Smart Proteins: Alternative proteins produced via plant-based, fermentation-derived, or cultivated meat technologies. Start-ups like GoodDot and Blue Tribe Foods are pioneering plant-based products; Zydus LifeSciences has entered fermentation protein R&D.

Why India Needs Nutritional Reform

  • Persistent Malnutrition: 35.5% of children are stunted, 19% wasted (NFHS-5).
  • Protein Deficit: Daily average intake (~47 g) below FAO’s 60 g norm.
  • Urban–Rural Divide: Urban diets contain 25–30% more protein (NITI Aayog, 2023).
  • Health Concerns: India has 77 million diabetics and 25 million obese adults (IDF 2023; WHO 2024).
  • Environmental Challenge: Livestock contributes 18–20% of GHG emissions; smart proteins can reduce emissions by 90%.
  • Economic Opportunity: Global alternative protein market may reach $240 billion by 2030.

Challenges

  1. Regulatory Vacuum: No FSSAI standards yet for cultivated or fermentation-based foods.
  2. Public Perception: Only 28% Indians trust lab-made foods (NCAER 2024).
  3. Infrastructure Deficit: Fewer than 15 large fermentation plants in India (DBT 2024).
  4. Affordability: Functional foods cost 20–30% more.
  5. Skill Gap: Less than 10% of food-science graduates specialise in nutritional biotechnology.

Way Forward

  • National Nutrition Innovation Policy: Integrate DBT, FSSAI & MoHFW to regulate and promote functional foods, similar to Japan’s FOSHU model.
  • FSSAI Framework: Define standards and safety testing for smart proteins.
  • Public–Private Partnerships: Expand BIRAC and NITI Aayog incubators for R&D.
  • Farmer Inclusion: Incentivise bio-fortified crops via MSP and procurement.
  • Awareness & Education: Include nutrition literacy in school curricula.
  • Skill Development: Establish nutritional biotechnology programs in agricultural universities.

Conclusion

India’s next frontier in public health lies in nutritional transformation — moving from quantity to quality. A coordinated policy, supported by innovation, regulation, and behavioural change, can make nutrition the foundation of sustainable development.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)

Context: The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), stands among the world’s largest poverty alleviation and women-led livelihood programmes. It focuses on empowering rural households, particularly women, through collective organisation, financial inclusion, and sustainable livelihoods.

Background and Evolution

Launched in 2011, the mission was restructured from the earlier Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY). In 2016, it was renamed to honour Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Antyodaya philosophy — uplifting the poorest of the poor.

It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with a funding ratio of 75:25 between the Centre and States, and 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States.

Objectives of DAY-NRLM

  1. Social Mobilisation and Inclusion: Organising rural poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and federations.
  2. Financial Inclusion: Facilitating access to affordable credit and digital banking.
  3. Sustainable Livelihoods: Promoting diversification in agriculture, livestock, and microenterprises.
  4. Skill Development: Enhancing youth employability through training and placement.
  5. Empowerment and Convergence: Strengthening women’s leadership and linking SHGs to government programmes and markets.

Achievements and Impact (as of 2025)

Focus AreaAchievements
Mass MobilisationOver 10 crore rural women organised into 90 lakh SHGs across India.
Financial EmpowermentSHGs accessed ₹11 lakh crore in collateral-free loans with >98% repayment rate (MoRD, 2025).
Community Workforce3.5 lakh Krishi/Pashu Sakhis and 48,000 Bank Sakhis offering doorstep financial and livelihood services.
Livelihood Diversification4.62 crore Mahila Kisans trained in sustainable agriculture; 3.7 lakh microenterprises supported through SVEP.
Skill Development17.5 lakh youth trained and 11.48 lakh placed via DDU-GKY; 40.99 lakh youth settled in self-employment via RSETIs.
Market IntegrationSHG products promoted through SARAS Aajeevika Melas, branding, and e-commerce partnerships.

Significance

  • Women-Led Development: Over 90% of SHG members are women, making DAY-NRLM a cornerstone of gender-inclusive growth.
  • Financial Resilience: SHGs have emerged as micro-banking hubs, improving credit access in rural areas.
  • Local Entrepreneurship: Encourages village-level enterprises in food processing, handicrafts, and services, promoting Atmanirbhar Bharat in rural India.
  • Skill Ecosystem: Integration with DDU-GKY and RSETIs ensures rural youth employability and entrepreneurship.

Conclusion

The DAY-NRLM reflects India’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and women-driven rural transformation. By combining collective action, skill development, and digital inclusion, it continues to serve as a model for community-led poverty eradication and self-reliance.

India’s Demographic Dividend as a Time Bomb

Context: India’s vast youth population promises a demographic dividend. However, without education and skills aligned to the AI-driven future, it risks becoming a demographic time bomb.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Issues in India’s education system & challenges of AI-driven transformations in the job market. 

Rabindranath Tagore once remarked, “Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for she was born in another time.” India’s education system is preparing students for the jobs of yesterday while the future of work is being rapidly shaped by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other disruptive technologies. 

With 800 million people below the age of 35, India’s youth population is considered its biggest asset. However, without appropriate reforms in education and skill development, this demographic dividend risks turning into a demographic liability.

Core Issues

  • The Indian education system remains outdated and examination-centric, with limited focus on employability and career readiness.
  • Curriculum update cycles run on three-year timelines, while technology and industry demands change at a much faster pace.
  • Increasing disconnect between degrees and job skills is leading to high underemployment and unemployability among graduates.
  • Despite multiple government skill-development initiatives, outcomes remain fragmented and insufficient. 

Causes of the Crisis: 

  • Curriculum Lag: Educational curricula do not adapt quickly enough to changing industry needs.
  • Narrow Career Awareness: Surveys show that 93% of high school students are aware of only seven career options, while the economy offers more than 20,000.
  • Examination-Centric Pedagogy: Schools prioritise rote learning and marks over creativity, problem-solving, and practical skills.
  • Ineffective Skill Missions: Programs like Skill India Mission, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra, Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana and SANKALP (Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion) etc. function in silos with weak industry integration.
  • Digital Tools but Analog Mindsets : Despite smartphones and EdTech platforms, most tools are used for test preparation, not job-ready skill development.

Consequences of Inaction: 

  • Rising Unemployment and Underemployment: Only 43% of Indian graduates are considered job-ready (Graduate Skills Index 2025). Even engineering graduates face high unemployment, with 40-50% not securing placements.
  • Youth Disillusionment and Social Instability: The mismatch between expectations and opportunities risks creating frustration and unrest. Historical episodes like the 1990 Mandal protests show how youth frustration can spill into violence and instability.
  • Global Competitiveness at Risk: Without reskilling, India’s workforce may fall behind as AI and automation reshape global labour markets.
  • Demographic Time Bomb: Education without employability can worsen inequality and destabilise society.

Way Forward

  • Curriculum Reform: Shift from rote-based teaching to competency-driven learning that fosters creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving.
  • Early Career Guidance: Institutionalise career counselling in schools to widen awareness of diverse opportunities.
  • Industry-Education Linkages: Establish national skill councils to ensure curricula are updated in real-time with industry demands.
  • Focus on Reskilling and Upskilling: Encourage lifelong learning through flexible programs in emerging fields like AI, robotics, renewable energy, and healthcare.
  • Unified Skilling Mission: Consolidate fragmented schemes under a single, outcome-driven national framework.
  • Public-Private Partnerships: Foster collaboration between government, private sector, and universities to create a robust skill development ecosystem.

India stands at a decisive juncture: its demographic dividend could either power economic growth or explode as a demographic time bomb. Hence, we must not confine students to outdated learning models; instead, we must equip them for a rapidly transforming future.

Outrage over classification of Sylheti as a Bangladeshi dialect 

Context: Sylheti is spoken by over 7 million people in Northeast India and millions more in Bangladesh’s Sylhet Division. The classification of Sylheti as a foreign or Bangladeshi dialect has sparked outrage in Assam's Barak Valley.  

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Sylheti language.

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Sylheti Linguistic Status

  • Sylheti is spoken on both sides of the India-Bangladesh border, notably in Assam’s Barak Valley, and in parts of Meghalaya and Tripura & in the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh.
  • Many speakers identify culturally and linguistically as Bengali, while maintaining Sylheti as their mother tongue.
  • It is often classified as a dialect of Bengali, with the primary argument being mutual intelligibility between the two.
  • However, linguists note that such intelligibility may stem from speakers’ exposure to both languages rather than inherent similarity. The region exhibits diglossia, with standard Bengali used for education and literacy, while Sylheti remains the spoken vernacular in daily life.
  • Sylheti and standard Bengali share almost identical morphology and syntax, but they differ in phonetics. 

Historically, Sylheti had a script known as Sylhet-Nagri, which emerged in the late medieval period under Persian influence. It was used mainly by Sufi mystics for religious and philosophical writings, but it was never widely adopted as a common script.

Historical Background of Sylhet: 

  • 1874: Sylhet was moved from Bengal to Assam to strengthen Assam’s revenue base.
  • From 1874-1947: Sylhet’s status was contested, i.e., Bengal vs Assam, Hindu vs Muslim political leanings.
  • 1947 Partition: A referendum decided Sylhet would join East Pakistan, except for Karimganj (now in Barak Valley, Assam). Many Hindu Sylhetis migrated to India, especially Barak Valley.
  • Pre-Partition migration: Sylheti traders, clerks, and professionals were already settled across Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya long before East Pakistan or Bangladesh existed.

Flood Vulnerability in Informal Settlements: Global South Crisis

Context: A recent global study highlights how flood risk disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, especially slum dwellers in the Global South.

Relevance of Topic: Prelims: Urbanisation trends Mains: Flood Vulnerability in Informal Settlements - reasons, consequences, suggestions.  

According to a 2024 Moody’s Report

  • More than 2.3 billion people are exposed to flooding every year.
  • In India, more than 600 million people are at risk of coastal or inland flooding.

According to Nature Cities Study: 

  • In the Global South, around 33% of informal settlements (housing over 445 million people) are located in flood-exposed regions.
  • India has the world’s largest number of slum dwellers living in vulnerable settlements in floodplains (over 158 million), most of them concentrated in the naturally food-prone delta of the Ganga river.
  • The largest concentrations and largest numbers of such people are in South Asian countries; northern India leads in absolute numbers, followed by Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. 
  • Other notable ‘hotspots’ include Rwanda and its neighborhood, northern Morocco, and the coastal regions of Rio de Janeiro.

Regional Urbanisation Trends: 

  • Latin America & Caribbean: Highly urbanised (80%); most settlements are urban.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa: Less urbanised; 63% of informal settlements are rural.
  • In India, 40% of slum dwellers live in urban and suburban areas.

Why do people settle in Floodzones?

People settle in, or are forced to settle in, floodplains due to a combination of factors including : 

  • Access to jobs, social vulnerability, and financial constraints.
  • In the Global South flood zones offer cheaper land and housing, pushing low income households into more vulnerable areas. 
  • Absence of inclusive urban policies.
  • Flood-prone localities are not preferred by large builders for gated communities or IT parks, so those areas are available for migrant workers and informal settlements as they are cheaper.
  • However in wealthier regions like Europe, subsidised flood insurance premiums in high risk areas promotes the desirability of floodplain areas like beachfronts and water views.

Consequences of Living in Flood-Prone Areas: 

  • Floods result in the loss of livelihoods for vulnerable residents, especially those in informal employment.
  • Flooding disrupts essential services, such as sanitation, water, and electricity.
  • Poor drainage and waste systems heighten vulnerability to infectious diseases.
  • Informal settlements are typically tin-sheet, tent, or tarp housing, which are structurally weak and highly exposed to flood damage.

Way Forward

  • Adopt a human-centric approach instead of location-focused to improve inadequate infrastructure.
  • Governments should collaborate with communities, rather than relying only on traditional disaster preparedness.
  • Skill improvement in areas like sanitation, waste management, and installing drainage systems. It could enhance the resilience to not just foods but also other risks like infectious disease, while providing jobs.
  • Use data and machine learning for early-warning systems and future flood risk prediction.

The need of the hour is to prioritise action as the 2030 SDG deadline nears, especially goals on poverty, clean water, and climate action.

What is the Legal Status of Polyandry in India?

Context: A tribal woman from the Hatti community in Himachal Pradesh married two brothers under a traditional system of Polyandry.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: About Hatti tribe and the concept of polyandry in India.

Mains: Legal status of polyandry in India and key SC Judgements. 

What is Polyandry?

  • Polyandry refers to a marriage system where one woman has more than one husband. 
  • It has been practiced historically in Tibet, Nepal, and some tribal communities of India like the Toda in Tamil Nadu, Kinnaura in Himachal, and Jaunsaris in Uttarakhand.
  • In the Hatti tribe, polyandry is practiced primarily for preserving undivided family property, especially agricultural land, and reinforcing brotherly ties.
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The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955:

  • The Act governs marriage applicable to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. 
  • Section 2(2) of the Act states that its provisions do not apply to STs, unless directed by the Central Government via a notification in the Official Gazette. 
  • In the absence of such a notification, the Hattis continue to be governed by laws laid down under their customs, which are undocumented and uncodified.
  • The Act defines “custom” under Section 3 as a rule that has been observed for a long time, and has obtained the force of law.

Legal Status of Polyandry in India

  • Polyandry and Polygamy are outlawed by the Special Marriages Act 1954, the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, and criminalised under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
  • While marriage is governed by personal laws, customary practices of Scheduled Tribes (STs) are recognised by the Constitution under Article 342. STs enjoy distinct legal status and cultural autonomy under constitutional provisions like Part XXI and the Fifth Schedule.
  • But for a customary law to be valid, it must be certain, reasonable, and consistent with public policy. 
  • When a customary law is challenged, it does not automatically gain legal recognition; courts have to be provided with proper evidence that such customary laws prevail.

Note: 

  • The Uttarakhand UCC mandates the registration of marriage, establishes equal rights of spouses across religions and communities and prohibits polygamy. However, in line with the constitutional provisions of respecting tribal autonomy, it does not apply to Scheduled Tribes. 
  • As per Section 2 of the Uttarakhand UCC Rules, 2025, the Code exempts members of Scheduled Tribes (as defined under Article 366(25) read with Article 342), and those whose customary rights are protected under Part XXI of the Constitution.

Key Supreme Court Judgments

Courts have held that customs must align with fundamental rights such as equality, dignity, and liberty; any custom violating these is deemed unconstitutional. 

  • Triple Talaq Case (Shayara Bano v. Union of India, 2017): The Supreme Court declared the practice of triple talaq as unconstitutional as it was deemed arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
  • Sabarimala Case 2018: The ban on entry of women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala temple was held discriminatory and unconstitutional, violating Articles 14, 15, and 21. The Court ruled that religious customs cannot override gender equality.
  • Ram Charan Vs Sukhram case 2025: In a case related to succession rights for tribal women, the court affirmed that excluding female heirs solely based on customary male preferences violates Article 14 of the Constitution.

In various judgments, the SC has observed that customs too, like the law, cannot remain stuck in time and others cannot be allowed to take refuge in customs or hide behind them to deprive others of their rights. 

Enabling Voting Rights for Migrants 

Context: Under India’s election rules, eligible voters can only cast ballots in their constituencies, i.e., those working outside of their state have to return home to vote. As a result, a significant portion of the migrant population is excluded from exercising their voting rights. 

Relevance of the Topic:  Mains: Issues related to migration.

Migration is referred to as spatial mobility from one geographical unit to another which involves change in residence for a considerable period of time. 

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State of Migration in India

  • In 2021, the overall migration rate in India was 28.9%. 
  • According to Census 2011, migrants constitute 37% of India’s total population, with women accounting for 68% of the migrant population, a trend reflecting the feminisation of migration. 
  • Around  85% of migrants are Intra - state migrants.
  • A significant portion of migration in India is for marriage.
  • Around 10%, migration is for work.This number is significantly higher in certain northern and eastern States such as Bihar.
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One of the major challenges associated with Migration in India is low electoral participation of migrants. E.g., In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, voter turnout in Bihar was just 56%, well below the national average of 66%. One of the biggest reasons behind this gap is the inability of migrants to return home to cast their vote.

Reasons behind Low Electoral Participation of Migrants:  

  • Around 85% of migrants are Inter-state migrants, high cost and long distances prevent return to home constituency.
  • Most migrants work in the informal sector, where lack of paid leave and daily-wage dependency hinder their ability to travel and vote.
  • Absence of local address proof prevents voter registration at destination.
  • Women migrants post-marriage often remain unregistered at new residence.
  • Low political visibility leads to exclusion from electoral outreach and campaigns.

This undermines the principle of universal adult franchise (UAF), migrants remain voiceless in shaping policies that affect them.

Mechanisms to increase Migrant Electoral Participation:  

  • Mechanisms to Facilitate Voting for Intrastate Migrants: Intra-State migrant participation can be improved by enforcing statutory holidays on polling day and arranging special transport, allowing informal workers to vote without wage loss.

Mechanisms to Facilitate Voting for Inter-State Migrants: 

  • Remote Voting Machines (RVMs): Pilot project by Election Commission of India to allow migrants to vote remotely across constituencies, though currently limited by administrative complexity and political concerns.
  • Postal Ballots: Extending postal voting, currently used for armed forces, to migrants. However the major challenge is it requires advance registration and streamlined logistics for ballot dispatch and return.
  • Switching Voting Constituencies: Allowing long-term migrants, living in a constituency for at least 6 months to register and vote in their place of work.
  • Targeted Voter Registration drives for women who migrate after marriage to ensure enrolment at their new residence.

Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages. Enabling voting by migrants is a complex task and is made more complex by the heterogeneity of migrants. Therefore, a combined approach using RVMs, postal ballots, constituency switching, and logistical support is essential to ensure inclusive voting for both inter- and intra-State migrant workers.

Why does India need stable Urban Forests?

Context: Urban forests are essential for sustainable and healthy city living, but face serious threats from unplanned urbanisation requiring legal, civic, and policy safeguards. The recent Kancha Gachibowli incident in Telangana highlighted the vulnerability of urban forests and environmentally insensitive models of urban development. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to initiatives to protect urban forests.Mains: Importance of urban forests.

Why do Urban Forests matter?

  • Urban forests such as Kancha Gachibowli in Hyderabad, Aarey in Mumbai, Turahalli in Bengaluru, Neela Hauz and the Ridge in Delhi, and Dol Ka Baadh in Jaipur, are significant for healthy urban living. Urban forests help:
    • mitigate climate change, sequester carbon and absorb pollutants. 
    • control stormwater runoff, erosion, and flooding. 
    • reduce the urban heat island effect
    • coping with emissions from automobile vehicles (PM 2.5 and PM 10 pollutants)
    • green spaces help the survival of endangered species. 
  • A study by the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service showed that one hectare of trees can remove around one ton of air pollutants. However, diminishing urban forests in India’s metropolitan cities spell severe consequences. E.g., air quality index (AQI) in Delhi at 494.

Legal and Policy Framework for Protection of Urban Forests: 

Constitutional Safeguards:  

  • Article 21 (Right to Life): includes the Right to a healthy environment.
  • Article 48A: Duty of the State to protect and improve the environment.
  • Article 51A(g): Fundamental duty of citizens to protect the environment.

Government Schemes and Policies: 

  • National Forest Policy of 1988 and the National Mission for Green India of 2014 underlined the imperative of increasing afforestation and social forestry.
  • Smart Cities Mission and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, launched in 2015 integrated smart urban designs with ecological and social development.
  • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) of the Government of India had rolled out the Nagar Van Yojana (urban forest scheme) in 2020 to promote and grow forest spaces in urban areas.

Nagar Van Yojana: 

  • Launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) of the Government of India. 
  • Objective: To promote and grow forest spaces in urban areas.
  • Target: To develop 1000 Nagar Vans by 2027 with the financial support of National Fund of National Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). 
  • Significance: Help in protecting forest land within and around urban centers from degradation and encroachment. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, the scheme has resulted in an increase of 1445.81 km of tree and forest cover.

Judicial Interventions: 

  • The landmark Godavarman case in 1996 broadened the definition of forests to enhance the protection of urban greenery.
  • In 2015, the Delhi High Court directed the Delhi government to notify and protect the Delhi Ridge, also known as the Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor.
  • Similarly, the SC issued a stay order on the tree felling in Aarey in Mumbai in 2020 in response to the petitions by the citizens who conducted the Save Aarey Forest movement.

Threat to urban forests is a challenge to our biomedical, social, and cultural well-being. Urban forests are not just patches of greenery but life-sustaining ecosystems which need sustained preservation.

Total Fertility Rate remains Constant at 2.0 in 2021: SRS Report

Context: The Registrar General of India (RGI) has recently released the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report for 2021. Among other data, the report provides insights about the key trends of Total Fertility Rate in India. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key trends about Total Fertility Rate in India. 

What is Total Fertility Rate?

  • Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of a population is the average number of children that are born to a woman over her lifetime if:
    • They were to experience the exact current age-specific fertility rates (ASFRs) through their lifetime.
    • They were to live from birth until the end of their reproductive life.
  • Replacement level fertility is the level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next. It is considered to be 2.1 children per woman. 
  • If the TFR of a population goes down below 2.1- it indicates that a generation is not producing enough children to replace itself. Thus, indicative of reduction in population in general and depletion of working age population in particular.
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Major Highlights of the SRS Report: 

  • Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India has remained constant at 2.0 in 2021, same as the year 2020.
    • India has witnessed a steadily declining TFR from 6.18 in 1950 to 4.60 in 1980 to 2.0 in 2021. 
    • Bihar has reported the highest TFR at 3.0, while Delhi and West Bengal reported the lowest TFR of 1.4. 
  • Gradual decline in the share of population in the age group of 0-14 from 41.2% in 1971 to 24.8% in 2021. 
  • The proportion of the economically active population between 15-59 years has increased from 53.4% to 66.2% during the same period (1971-2021).
  • Elderly population has gone up to 5.9% for the 65+ age group and to 9% for the 60+ age group during the same period (1971-2021). Kerala recorded the highest percentage of population in the age group of 60. 
  • Mean age at effective marriage for females has increased from 19.3 years in 1990 to 22.5 years in 2021.

Key Facts: 

  • As the Census is usually counted every 10 years, the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report is the largest demographic survey in the country mandated to provide annual estimates of fertility and mortality indicators at the State and national level.

India’s Urban Future is at Crossroads

Context: India's urban governance needs urgent reform to effectively implement SDG-11, i.e., to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. 

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Limitations in current urban governance and planning frameworks.

Urbanisation: Double-edged sword

  • India is undergoing an unprecedented urban transformation, with more than 30% of its population residing in cities. 
  • However, Urbanisation is a double-edged sword. While it brings economic opportunities and development, it also exacerbates environmental degradation, congestion, pollution, and social inequalities.
  • E.g., the recent crisis in cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad indicate, water shortages, power deficits, and extreme heat are no longer seasonal anomalies but signs of systemic fragility.
  • The 2023 Annual Survey of Indian City Systems by Janaagraha revealed that only 16 cities had a city sustainability plan, and just 17 had a resilience strategy. This highlights the foundational work still required to align urban governance with SDG-11. 

The 2025 report by the Sustainable Futures Collective titled- ‘Is India Ready for a Warming World?’ notes serious gaps in long-term urban climate planning. 

Limitations in Existing Indices

  • Inadequate SDG-11 Tracking: NITI Aayog’s SDG Urban Index ranks 56 cities on 77 indicators. But its SDG-11 component is limited to four indicators: Swachh Survekshan, road deaths, PMAY-U housing, and waste treatment. It excludes critical aspects like climate resilience, social inclusivity, and urban safety.
  • Fragmented Assessment Tools: Ease of Living Index covers 111 cities but lacks a dedicated SDG-11 framework. International indices (e.g., Mercer, Economist) often fail to capture localised Indian realities.
  • Policy-Research Gap: The absence of city-specific data and disaggregated indicators inhibits targeted policymaking and the identification of urban stress zones.

The absence of a focused SDG-11 index hinders policymakers from identifying genuinely safe, sustainable, and inclusive cities, creating a policy-research gap. To bridge this gap, a new research initiative was undertaken.

The New Research Initiative

  • The research initiative constructed four separate indices aligned with the pillars of SDG-11: safety, inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience.
  • Ten major Indian cities: Hyderabad, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Surat were ranked across selected indicators. 
  • These included 9 indicators for safety, 19 for inclusivity, and 15 for sustainability and resilience each.
  • Data sources included Census 2011, the Road Transport Yearbook, Indian Forest Survey, NCRB, PLFS, NFHS-5, RBI statistics, IMD Climatological Tables, and Ola Mobility Institute's 2022 Ease of Moving Index. 
  • A multi-criteria decision-making model, the Shannon Entropy Weighting Technique, was used to ensure objectivity in assigning weights to the indicators.

Key Findings from the Study

  • Many cities regarded as front-runners by NITI Aayog performed poorly in this assessment, exposing the shortcomings of existing indices. For instance, disparities in the inclusivity index underscored uneven access to economic and social opportunities.
  • Safety rankings highlighted differences in law enforcement efficacy and crime prevention.
  • Sustainability scores revealed gaps in pollution control and waste management, while resilience rankings exposed weaknesses in disaster preparedness and recovery planning.

Way Forward

  • Cities must establish better mechanisms for tracking SDG-11 at the urban local body (ULB) level. While some States and Union Territories have adopted district-level monitoring frameworks, urban local bodies must follow suit. 
  • Integrated Command and Control Centres, developed under the Smart Cities Mission, should be leveraged to collect real-time data and enhance urban planning and development processes.
  • As almost one-third of urban residents are poor, addressing their needs is critical. India still relies on Census 2011 data, leading to severe underestimation of urban poverty. A periodic Urban Poor Quality of Living Survey at the State level is necessary to bridge this gap.
  • Each city (small and large) faces unique challenges, requiring localised governance, better planning, and city-specific strategies. 

Addressing these differences through data-backed, city-specific policies is crucial for a more equitable urban future.

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