JULY 10 – UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – PM IAS – Plover Minds Institute LLP

Fragility of Public Infrastructure in India: Bridge Collapses and Systemic Failures

Syllabus: GS3/Disaster Management, Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

Context:The recent collapse of the Gambhira bridge over Gujarat’s Mahisagar (Mahi) river, and other similar incidents, have brought to the forefront the critical issue of the fragility of India’s public infrastructure. These events highlight a systemic failure in the planning, construction, and maintenance of vital assets.

About the Mahisagar (Mahi) River

One of the few major west-flowing rivers in India, traversing the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat before draining into the Gulf of Khambhat in the Arabian Sea.
Origin: Northern slopes of the Vindhyas, Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh.
Only river in India that crosses the Tropic of Cancer twice.
Major Tributaries: Som (Right Bank), Anas and Panam (Left Bank).

Recent Incidents of Infrastructure Collapse

Gambhira Bridge, Gujarat (July 2025): A four-decade-old bridge over the Mahisagar river collapsed, leading to multiple casualties. The incident is under investigation, with preliminary reports citing structural failure and long-standing neglect.
Indrayani River Bridge, Pune (June 2025): An old pedestrian bridge collapsed under the weight of pilgrims, resulting in fatalities. Authorities cited overcrowding and a lack of structural reinforcement.
Ghatkopar Hoarding Collapse, Mumbai (May 2024): An illegal, large billboard collapsed during a storm, causing numerous fatalities. The event exposed a nexus of illegal construction and poor enforcement of safety norms.
Mizoram Railway Bridge (August 2023): An under-construction railway bridge collapsed, killing 26 labourers. The disaster was attributed to substandard construction and inadequate oversight.

Status of India’s Public Infrastructure

India’s public infrastructure—including national highways, bridges, railways, and urban utilities—is a key driver of economic growth. Over the past decade, significant strides have been made in infrastructure development, as highlighted by schemes like PM Gati Shakti, Bharatmala Pariyojana, and the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP).

However, challenges persist:

Project Delays and Cost Overruns: According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), over 430 infrastructure projects faced cost overruns in 2023, totaling ₹4.82 lakh crore.
Ageing Infrastructure: A large portion of India’s infrastructure is old and was not designed to handle the current volume of traffic or the impact of climate change. Many existing bridges, roads, and other structures require immediate maintenance, audit, and retrofitting.

Reasons for the Fragility of Public Infrastructure

Chronic Underfunding and Investment Gaps: Municipal finances, which are crucial for urban maintenance, remain stagnant at around 1% of GDP. This limits the capacity of local bodies to undertake regular repairs and upgrades.
Over-reliance on Public Sector Funding: The public sector contributes a disproportionately high share of infrastructure investment (78%), with low private participation due to long payback periods and high-risk perception.
Fragmented Governance: Multiple agencies operate in silos, leading to a lack of coordination in planning and maintenance. The result is often reactive, rather than proactive, management of infrastructure.
Poor Planning and Execution: Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are often outsourced with inconsistent quality, leading to flawed designs. Infrastructure is sometimes built on natural drainage basins, exacerbating risks like urban flooding.
Regulatory and Legal Bottlenecks: Delays in land acquisition, outdated building codes, and weak enforcement of safety norms plague project execution. Inadequate dispute resolution mechanisms prolong litigation.
Skill and Capacity Deficits: Local bodies lack the trained personnel and modern tools for effective project management and structural health monitoring.
Climate and Disaster Vulnerability: A 2024 CBRE-CII report revealed that a significant portion of India’s public infrastructure is not prepared for natural disasters, such as floods, cyclones, and heatwaves.

Government Initiatives and Proposed Reforms

The government has introduced several initiatives to address these issues, but further reforms are needed.

PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan: Aims to bring various ministries together for integrated planning and coordinated execution of infrastructure projects.
Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS): Launched to create a comprehensive database of all bridges in the country and conduct regular safety audits.
National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP): Aims to provide world-class infrastructure and improve the quality of life for citizens through significant capital investment.
Financing Reforms: Developing a municipal bond market and pooled finance mechanisms can help raise funds for local infrastructure.
Structural and Governance Reforms: Creating unified, tech-enabled urban governance bodies for integrated planning is crucial.
Sustainability and Climate Resilience: Integrating climate adaptation into infrastructure planning and promoting circular economy models can build more resilient infrastructure.

Way Forward: The tragic incidents of infrastructure collapse are a clear indicator that India’s focus must shift from simply building new infrastructure to ensuring the quality, maintenance, and long-term resilience of existing assets. A multi-pronged approach involving a robust regulatory framework, enhanced inter-agency coordination, innovative financing models, and the integration of climate resilience is essential to secure India’s infrastructure for the future.

BRICS Condemns European Union’s CBAM

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations; GS3/Economy (trade, climate change and its implications).

Context: The BRICS group of nations has collectively and strongly condemned the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), labeling it a “unilateral, punitive, and discriminatory” trade measure. This rejection came during a recent BRICS summit, highlighting a growing point of contention between developed and developing economies over climate-linked trade policies.

About Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

Definition: CBAM is a carbon tariff imposed by the EU on imports of certain carbon-intensive goods from non-EU countries.
Purpose: The EU claims the purpose is to prevent “carbon leakage,” where companies move their production to countries with less strict climate policies to avoid the EU’s internal carbon pricing under its Emissions Trading System (ETS).
Mechanism: From January 1, 2026, EU importers will be required to purchase CBAM certificates to cover the embedded carbon emissions of imported goods. The price of these certificates will be linked to the EU’s ETS carbon price. If the exporter can prove that a carbon price has already been paid in their home country, that amount can be deducted.
Affected Sectors: CBAM will initially apply to imports of carbon-intensive products, including iron and steel, cement, aluminum, fertilizers, hydrogen, and electricity.
Implementation: The mechanism is currently in a transitional phase (2023-2025) where only reporting obligations are in effect. Financial obligations will commence in 2026.

Why BRICS is Opposed to CBAM

The BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and other developing countries argue that CBAM is a protectionist measure disguised as an environmental policy. Their key concerns are:

Violation of International Law: They argue that CBAM violates the principles of international trade law and is not compliant with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules because of its unilateral nature.
Conflict with Climate Principles: The measure is seen as going against the core principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, particularly “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities” (CBDR-RC). Developing countries argue they have historical responsibility for lower emissions and need flexibility to develop their economies.
Economic Impact on Developing Countries: The carbon tax will significantly increase the cost of exports from developing nations to the EU, threatening the competitiveness of key sectors like steel and aluminum, which are vital for their industrial development.
Undermining Energy Transition: BRICS nations contend that the CBAM will create an inappropriate financial burden, thereby undermining their ability to invest in and achieve a just energy transition.
Call for Climate Finance: Instead of a carbon tax, the BRICS declaration urged developed nations to fulfill their existing climate finance commitments, including the goal of jointly mobilizing $100 billion per year to support developing countries’ climate needs.

India’s Specific Concerns

India, in particular, has been a vocal critic of CBAM.

Export Competitiveness: India’s exports of iron, steel, and aluminum to the EU are worth billions of dollars. The carbon tax could make these products 20-35% more expensive, severely impacting Indian industries and MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) that are part of the supply chain.
Unilateral Standards: India’s External Affairs Minister has stated that it is “unacceptable that one part of the world sets standards for all others.”
Impact on FTA Negotiations: India has raised its concerns during the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the EU, signaling that CBAM could be a major stumbling block.

Way Forward

The standoff over CBAM highlights the growing tension between climate action and fair trade. To address the issue, India and other affected nations could:

Develop a Domestic Carbon Pricing Mechanism: One suggested solution is for India to introduce its own carbon tax. This would allow exporters to get a credit for the tax paid in India, offsetting the CBAM charges.
Leverage Trade Negotiations: India can use the India-EU FTA talks to seek exemptions or special arrangements for its exporters.
Engage at the WTO: India and other BRICS members could challenge CBAM at the WTO, arguing that it is a protectionist trade barrier.
Spur Domestic Decarbonization: The challenge posed by CBAM can be a catalyst for Indian industries, especially MSMEs, to accelerate their decarbonization efforts by adopting cleaner technologies and renewable energy.

Catastrophe Bonds (Cat Bonds)

Syllabus: GS3/Economy (Capital Market, Insurance), Disaster Management.

Context: Catastrophe Bonds (Cat Bonds) are gaining global attention as an innovative financial instrument to manage disaster risk. Given India’s increasing vulnerability to climate-induced disasters like floods, cyclones, and earthquakes, there is a growing discussion on the potential of adopting these bonds to strengthen the country’s disaster risk financing and build climate resilience.

What are Catastrophe Bonds?

Definition: A Catastrophe Bond is a high-yield, high-risk debt instrument that allows an insurance company, government, or a corporation (known as the “sponsor”) to transfer a specified set of risks from catastrophic events to investors.
Hybrid Instrument: They are a unique type of “insurance-linked security” that combines features of insurance and a traditional bond.
Risk Transfer: The primary function is to transfer the financial risk of a major natural disaster (like a hurricane, earthquake, or flood) from the sponsor to the global capital market.

How Do Cat Bonds Work?

Issuance: The sponsor, such as an insurance company or a government, creates a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which issues the catastrophe bonds to investors.
Investment: Investors purchase these bonds, providing a pool of capital (the principal) to the SPV. This principal is then held in a dedicated, secure account, typically invested in safe, short-term assets.
Regular Payments: In return for their investment, investors receive regular, high-interest payments (the “coupon”), which are funded by a premium paid by the sponsor and the interest earned on the collateral.
The Trigger: The bond contract specifies a “trigger” event. This could be a specific event like an earthquake of a certain magnitude (e.g., above 6.5 on the Richter scale) or a hurricane with a certain wind speed.
Payout:
- If the trigger event does NOT occur during the bond’s term, the investors receive their principal back at maturity, along with all the interest payments.
- If the trigger event DOES occur, the sponsor (e.g., the government) is paid a portion or the entire principal from the bond to cover the disaster-related losses. The investors, in this case, lose their principal or a part of it.

Benefits of Cat Bonds

For Governments/Sponsors:
- Access to Quick Liquidity: Cat bonds provide immediate access to large sums of pre-arranged funds for post-disaster relief and reconstruction, unlike traditional aid or borrowing which can be slow.
- Risk Diversification: They allow the government to transfer a significant financial risk to a broader pool of investors, reducing the burden on public finances and taxpayers.
- Predictable Financing: They offer a more predictable and proactive financial tool for disaster management, moving away from a reactive, ad-hoc approach.
For Investors:
- High Yield: Cat bonds offer a much higher interest rate (coupon) compared to traditional bonds, as compensation for the inherent risk.
- Portfolio Diversification: Their performance is not correlated with traditional financial markets (like the stock market or other debt instruments). This makes them an attractive option for institutional investors like pension funds and hedge funds seeking to diversify their portfolios.

Challenges and Risks

Basis Risk: This is the primary challenge. The bond’s trigger mechanism might not perfectly align with the actual losses suffered by the sponsor. For example, a bond might not be triggered if an earthquake’s magnitude is just below the specified threshold, even if it causes widespread damage.
High Costs: The process of structuring and issuing a cat bond can be complex and expensive, requiring specialized modeling, legal advice, and expert intermediaries.
Perceived “Wasted” Premium: If no disaster occurs during the bond’s term, the premium paid by the government can be seen as a “wasted” expense, which may face political opposition.
Lack of Awareness: In countries like India, the concept is still relatively new, and there is a need to build awareness among policymakers and potential domestic investors.

Potential for India

India, with its vast coastline, high seismic zones, and monsoon-dependent agriculture, is highly susceptible to natural disasters.

Strengthening Disaster Financing: Cat bonds can supplement existing mechanisms like the State and National Disaster Response Funds (SDRF and NDRF), which are facing increasing fiscal strain.
Regional Leadership: India could spearhead the creation of a regional catastrophe bond framework for South Asia, pooling disaster risks with neighboring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. This would help reduce premium costs and foster regional cooperation in disaster preparedness.
Attracting Global Capital: By issuing cat bonds, India can tap into the vast global capital market for disaster risk financing, which is crucial for a developing economy.

Way Forward: For India to effectively adopt cat bonds, it must focus on:

Robust Risk Assessment: Developing precise and scientifically-backed catastrophe models to minimize basis risk.
Regulatory Framework: Establishing a clear and transparent legal and regulatory framework to govern the issuance and management of these bonds.
Public-Private Collaboration: Encouraging partnerships with international institutions like the World Bank and private-sector players to design and execute pilot projects.
Awareness Building: Educating key stakeholders on the benefits of these innovative financial instruments to ensure their successful implementation.

Starlink Receives India’s Final Regulatory Nod for Launch

Syllabus: GS2/Government Policies and Interventions, International Relations; GS3/Science & Technology, Indian Economy.

Context: Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has received the final regulatory authorization from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), clearing the way for its commercial launch in India. This marks a significant development in India’s space and telecom sectors, paving the way for high-speed internet access in remote and underserved areas.

What is Starlink?

LEO Constellation: Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX. It consists of thousands of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 540-570 km. This proximity to Earth significantly reduces latency (the delay in data transfer) compared to traditional geostationary satellites.
Global Coverage: The system is designed to provide global, high-speed, low-latency broadband internet access, particularly to regions where terrestrial internet infrastructure is unreliable, expensive, or unavailable.

The Regulatory Process in India

Starlink’s entry into the Indian market has been a multi-year process involving several key regulatory hurdles:

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) License: Starlink first received a key license from the DoT, the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license, which is a prerequisite for offering satellite services.
IN-SPACe Authorization: The final crucial clearance came from IN-SPACe, India’s space regulator and promoter. This authorization permits Starlink to operate its satellite constellation—specifically the Starlink Gen1 constellation—for a period of five years.
Spectrum Allocation: While the regulatory nods are in place, Starlink still needs to be allocated spectrum (airwaves) from the government to operate its services. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended an administrative allocation model for satellite spectrum, and a decision from the DoT is awaited.
Security Compliance: Starlink must also set up ground infrastructure and undergo security checks to demonstrate compliance with India’s stringent security rules before a full-scale commercial launch.

Implications for India

Digital Inclusion: Starlink’s entry aligns with the “Digital India” vision. Its ability to provide connectivity in remote, rural, and difficult-to-access regions can bridge the digital divide, empowering communities and fostering economic growth.
Competition and Innovation: Starlink’s entry will intensify competition in India’s satellite broadband market. It will join other players like Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and the Jio-SES joint venture, stimulating innovation and potentially leading to more affordable and advanced services.
Strategic Partnerships: The move has led to strategic partnerships between Starlink and major Indian telecom players like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. These companies are expected to leverage their extensive retail networks to distribute Starlink’s hardware and provide installation support.
Disaster Management: Satellite internet services can be a game-changer during natural disasters when traditional communication networks fail. Starlink can provide critical communication links for relief and rescue operations.

Challenges and Concerns

Affordability: Starlink’s hardware (dish and router) and monthly subscription costs are currently significantly higher than conventional broadband plans in India. This could be a major barrier to widespread adoption, especially in price-sensitive rural markets.
Spectrum Allocation Debate: There has been an ongoing debate between Starlink and some Indian telecom players (who initially favored auctions) over the method of spectrum allocation. While the government has sided with administrative allocation, the final pricing and rules are yet to be finalized.
Ground Infrastructure: Starlink needs to build ground stations (gateways) to communicate with its satellites, which requires land acquisition and further regulatory clearances.
Space Debris: The massive number of LEO satellites required for constellations like Starlink has raised concerns about space debris and the long-term sustainability of space exploration and communication.

Optical Atomic Clocks: The Next Generation of Timekeeping

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology; Achievements of Indians in science & technology; Indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Context: A global collaboration of researchers recently conducted the world’s largest and most accurate comparison of optical atomic clocks across three continents. This landmark experiment is a significant step toward a potential redefinition of the SI unit of time, the “second,” which has been based on the oscillations of caesium atoms for over five decades.

What is an Optical Atomic Clock?

Definition: An optical atomic clock is a highly precise timekeeping device that uses the natural oscillations of an atom at optical frequencies (visible light, infrared, or ultraviolet) to measure time.
Mechanism: Like traditional atomic clocks, they function by counting a stable and universal oscillating event. However, instead of using the microwave transitions of a caesium atom, they use the much higher-frequency optical transitions of different atoms, such as strontium or ytterbium.
Key Components: An optical atomic clock typically consists of:
1. A highly stable laser that provides the “ticking” of the clock.
2. A group of atoms (e.g., strontium) that are cooled to near absolute zero and held in a stable trap (an “optical lattice”).
3. A “frequency comb”—a specialized laser that acts as a gear to connect the extremely high-frequency optical oscillations to a more manageable electronic signal that can be counted.

Optical vs. Traditional Atomic Clocks

Why Redefine the Second?

The current definition of the second, based on caesium, is a product of 20th-century technology. While it is incredibly precise, the demands of modern science and technology have outpaced its capabilities. Optical clocks offer a level of precision that is essential for:

Next-Generation Navigation Systems: Enhancing the accuracy of GPS, India’s NavIC, and other global navigation satellite systems. A more precise time standard can reduce positioning errors to the millimeter level.
Fundamental Physics Research: Enabling more precise tests of fundamental physical theories, such as Einstein’s theory of relativity. For example, optical clocks are so sensitive that they can detect the time dilation caused by a change in elevation of just a few centimeters.
High-Speed Telecommunications & Financial Systems: Ensuring perfect synchronization for high-frequency trading, secure data transfer, and global financial networks.
Geophysical and Climate Science: Providing ultra-precise measurements to monitor changes in Earth’s gravitational field, which can be used to track water and ice loss from glaciers.
Radio Astronomy: Improving the synchronization of radio telescopes in a network to create “virtual telescopes” with a diameter the size of the Earth, enabling imaging of objects like black holes with unprecedented clarity.

India’s Efforts

CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL): NPL in Delhi is India’s timekeeper and maintains the national time standard using a set of caesium atomic clocks.
Focus on Development: India is actively involved in developing its own optical atomic clock technology. The indigenization of this technology is crucial for maintaining strategic independence and enhancing national security, particularly in areas like satellite navigation and defense communications.
Collaborative Research: Indian scientists are participating in global research efforts, including the recent intercontinental clock comparisons, to contribute to and benefit from the advancements in this field.

Way Forward: The transition from the caesium-based second to one defined by optical clocks will require a coordinated global effort. The final choice of the atom for the new standard is expected to be made by 2030 by the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM). India’s continued investment in the research and development of optical atomic clocks will be critical to its future in high-precision science and technology.

125th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee

Syllabus: GS1/Modern Indian History; GS2/Indian Constitution (Historical underpinnings, evolution).

Context: The nation recently observed the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on July 6, 2025. This occasion saw tributes from prominent leaders and the release of a commemorative postage stamp and coin by the Ministry of Culture, highlighting his significant contributions to India’s political and academic landscape.

About Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee (1901-1953)

Early Life & Education: Born in Kolkata, West Bengal, to a distinguished family of scholars, his father, Sir Ashutosh Mookerjee, was an eminent academician and Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University. Syama Prasad Mookerjee himself became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University at the age of 33 in 1934.
Academic and Political Career: He began his political journey with the Indian National Congress but later joined the Hindu Mahasabha and became its president. He played a key role in the partition of Bengal, advocating for the creation of a separate West Bengal to protect Hindu interests.
First Union Cabinet: After India’s independence, he served as the first Minister for Industry and Supply in Jawaharlal Nehru’s interim cabinet. He laid the foundation for India’s industrial growth by establishing key institutions like the Chittaranjan Locomotive Factory and Sindri Fertilizers.
Resignation from Cabinet: He resigned from the cabinet in 1950, in protest against the Nehru-Liaquat Pact (also known as the Delhi Pact). He believed the pact, which was intended to address the plight of refugees and minority rights in both India and Pakistan, failed to adequately protect Hindu minorities in East Bengal (now Bangladesh).
Founding of Bharatiya Jana Sangh: Following his resignation, he founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951, with the support of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was the ideological and political predecessor to the present-day Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Key Contributions and Ideological Stance

Advocacy for Bengal’s Partition: In the lead-up to the Partition of India in 1947, Mookerjee was a vocal advocate for the partition of Bengal to prevent its complete inclusion into Pakistan. His efforts were instrumental in the creation of a separate West Bengal province within the Indian Union.
Opposition to Article 370: He is most famously remembered for his strong opposition to Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. He believed the article created a sense of separatism and was detrimental to national integration. He coined the famous slogan: “Ek Desh Mein Do Vidhan, Do Pradhan, Do Nishan Nahi Chalenge” (One country cannot have two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two flags).
Final Protest and Death: To protest the permit system required for entry into Jammu and Kashmir, Mookerjee launched a movement and was arrested upon entering the state in 1953. He died while in custody under mysterious circumstances, an event that sparked national outrage and led to the eventual removal of the permit system.

Legacy and Relevance

Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee is regarded as a champion of national unity and a key figure in the history of right-wing politics in India.
His views on constitutional uniformity and national integration, particularly his opposition to Article 370, continue to resonate with the political ideology of the present-day ruling party. The abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 was hailed by many as the fulfillment of his dream.
His legacy extends beyond politics, with his significant contributions as an educationist and a formidable parliamentarian, where he earned the title “The Lion of Parliament” for his oratory skills and incisive debates.

PM Modi Conferred with Namibia’s Highest Civilian Award

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations (India and Africa), Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

Context: During his recent state visit to Namibia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the country’s highest civilian honour, the “Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis.” The award, presented by Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, is a testament to the strengthening bilateral ties between India and the African nation.

About the Award

Name: The Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis.
Origin: Established in 1995, shortly after Namibia’s independence in 1990.
Symbolism: The award is named after the Welwitschia mirabilis, a unique and ancient desert plant endemic to Namibia. The plant, known for its resilience and longevity, symbolizes the enduring spirit, struggle, and culture of the Namibian people.
Significance: The award recognizes distinguished service and leadership, and PM Modi is the first Indian leader to receive this honour.

Key Highlights of the Visit and Bilateral Ties

Strengthening Bilateral Relations: The award was conferred in recognition of PM Modi’s contributions to enhancing the India-Namibia partnership and his sustained engagement with the African Union.
South-South Cooperation: The award citation noted PM Modi’s leadership in promoting South-South cooperation, which is a key pillar of India’s foreign policy, particularly with African nations.
Historical Connection: India and Namibia have a long-standing friendship rooted in India’s support for Namibia’s freedom struggle. India was a vocal advocate against apartheid and for Namibia’s independence.
Recent Agreements: During the visit, both countries signed four agreements to bolster cooperation in various sectors, including healthcare and energy.
Project Cheetah: Namibia was the source country for the reintroduction of cheetahs to India’s Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This cooperation was highlighted by both leaders as a symbol of shared commitment to conservation.
Digital and Economic Cooperation: Discussions between the two leaders also focused on boosting linkages in digital technology (including the potential rollout of India’s UPI system in Namibia), defence, agriculture, and critical minerals.
High-Level Visits: This was PM Modi’s first visit to Namibia and the third-ever prime ministerial visit from India, underscoring the growing importance of the bilateral relationship.

Significance for UPSC CSE: This event is relevant to UPSC preparation as it highlights:

India’s Diplomatic Engagement: It showcases India’s growing influence and its “Act East” and “Act Africa” policies.
Bilateral Relations: It is an example of India’s strong and historical ties with African nations.
South-South Cooperation: The award is a recognition of India’s leadership in promoting cooperation among developing countries.
Cultural and Political Symbiosis: The symbolism of the award (the Welwitschia plant) provides an interesting cultural context to the diplomatic ties.

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)

Syllabus: GS2/Government Policies and Interventions for Development; GS1/Issues related to SCs and STs.

Context: The Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) scheme, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, is a crucial intervention aimed at providing quality education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. The government has been consistently working to expand its reach and improve the quality of education provided in these schools, with a target of establishing a school in every block with a significant tribal population.

What are Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)?

Definition: EMRS are free residential schools for Scheduled Tribe children from Class VI to XII, located in remote and tribal-dominated areas.
Objective: The core objective is to provide high-quality education to tribal students and enable them to compete with the general population, bridging the educational gap between tribal and non-tribal communities.
Governing Body: The EMRS scheme is implemented and managed by the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Model: These schools are designed to be at par with the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, focusing on a holistic and all-round development of students.

Salient Features of the Scheme

Target Population: EMRS are established in blocks with more than 50% Scheduled Tribe population and at least 20,000 tribal persons.
Curriculum: The schools follow the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum, ensuring that students receive a standard and modern education.
Free Education: Education, including boarding, lodging, uniforms, books, and stationery, is provided free of cost to the students.
Infrastructure: Each school is designed to have a capacity of 480 students with an equal number of seats for boys and girls. The infrastructure includes modern classrooms, laboratories, computer labs, hostels, playgrounds, and residential quarters for staff.
Sports and Culture: The EMRS curriculum has a strong focus on sports, skill development, and the preservation of local tribal art and culture. There is also a provision for a sports quota for meritorious ST students.
Expansion: The government has set a target to establish 728 EMRSs across the country by the year 2026. As of now, a significant number of these schools have been sanctioned and are functional.
Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS): In areas with a high concentration of tribal students but where setting up a full residential school is not feasible, the scheme also provides for the establishment of Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools.

Significance of EMRS

Educational Empowerment: EMRS are a crucial tool for empowering tribal children by providing them with a quality education that is often inaccessible in their remote areas.
Social and Economic Upliftment: By equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge, these schools help break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy, leading to social and economic equality.
Preservation of Tribal Heritage: While providing a modern education, EMRS also promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage and traditions of various tribal communities.
Reducing Dropout Rates: The residential nature of the schools and the provision of free amenities create a conducive learning environment, helping to address the high dropout rates among tribal students.

Challenges and Way Forward

Despite the significant progress, the EMRS scheme faces certain challenges:

Infrastructure Gaps: Delays in land acquisition and construction, particularly in remote and difficult terrains, remain a key issue.
Teacher Shortage: Recruiting and retaining qualified teachers in remote areas is a major challenge. The government has taken steps to address this through dedicated recruitment drives and better incentives.
Cultural Barriers: Tailoring the curriculum to be sensitive to the diverse cultures and languages of tribal communities is an ongoing challenge.

The government’s continued focus on improving the quality of infrastructure, streamlining teacher recruitment, and leveraging digital tools and technology are crucial for the sustained success of the EMRS scheme.