1. The ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) @2047 Vision: A Critical Roadmap
- GS Paper II: Government Policies and Interventions; GS Paper III: Indian Economy (Growth, Development, and Planning).
- Context: Detailed scrutiny of the strategic and policy framework required for India to transition into a developed nation by 2047, focusing on structural reforms beyond mere economic growth targets.
| Aspect | Key Point for UPSC Mains | Critical Challenges & Way Forward |
| Economic (The $30 Trillion Goal) | The vision requires a sustained, high-quality GDP growth of 8%+ for the next 25 years, driven by Total Factor Productivity (TFP) gains. This means moving the focus from capital and labour inputs to innovation, efficiency, and technological adoption. | Solution: Must fast-track Industrial & Manufacturing Reforms (e.g., streamlining land acquisition, rationalising labour codes) and significantly boost R&D spending from the current ∼0.7% of GDP to over 2%. |
| Social (Inclusive Development) | Core to ‘Viksit’ is the eradication of multidimensional poverty and the reduction of inequality. Focus must be on human capital—ensuring universal access to quality health (UHC) and education (NEP 2020) to unleash the full potential of the workforce. | Challenge: Addressing the North-South Demographic Divide and the low Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR), which remains around 37% (PLFS 2023). Solution: Targeted support for working women (creches, safety) and inter-state migration policies. |
| Governance (State Capacity) | Achieving the goal hinges on a ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ model by cutting down compliance burden (e.g., over 69,000 compliances under various laws) and introducing bureaucratic efficiency via lateral entry and independent civil service boards. | Challenge: Judicial Backlogs and slow contract enforcement continue to be a major drag on Ease of Doing Business. Solution: Tech-enabled contract enforcement and dedicated commercial courts, strengthening institutional accountability. |
| Sustainability (Green Transition) | The growth must be decoupled from carbon emissions. The roadmap mandates achieving Net Zero by 2070 with a mid-term goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. This requires massive investment in green technology and infrastructure. | Challenge: Climate Finance Gap—the transition needs trillions, far exceeding available domestic and international public funds. Solution: Utilizing Green Bonds, developing a robust Carbon Market (emissions trading scheme), and creating a National Green Hydrogen Mission ecosystem. |
2. Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act & The Conflict with RTI: A Constitutional Dilemma
- GS Paper II: Polity and Governance (Fundamental Rights, Transparency, and Accountability); GS Paper III: Science and Technology (Cybersecurity, Digital Economy).
- Context: Critical analysis of the final rules and the contentious amendment to the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which raises serious concerns about governance transparency.
Key Point-Wise Analysis:
- The Intent of DPDP: The Act operationalises the fundamental Right to Privacy established in the K.S. Puttaswamy Judgement (2017). Its core principles are Consent, Purpose Limitation, and Storage Limitation, defining clear rights for the Data Principal (citizen).
- Operational Mechanism: The key institutional body is the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI), which will act as the adjudicatory and enforcement authority. Its digital-first approach is meant to ensure fast grievance redressal, but its independence from the executive remains a concern.
- Constitutional Conflict with RTI (The Dilution of Transparency):
- The DPDP Act has amended Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, making it easier for public authorities to deny information citing ‘personal information.’
- The original RTI Act allowed disclosure of personal information if it served a larger public interest and could not be denied to Parliament. This public interest override has been effectively diluted or removed.
- Implication: This shift transforms the RTI into a ‘Right to Denial’ (RDI), shielding government actions, appointments, and potentially instances of corruption (like “ghost employees” or irregular procurements) from public scrutiny. This directly undermines the principle of Accountability and Democratic Backsliding.
- Challenges in Enforcement:
- Compliance Burden: While Significant Data Fiduciaries (SDFs) (large tech firms) can afford compliance costs, the rules pose a huge challenge for MSMEs and start-ups, potentially hindering their digital participation.
- State Exemptions: The broad exemptions granted to Central and State governments for processing data under national security or public order, without a clear, independent oversight mechanism, risk enabling excessive state surveillance and is a major critique from a civil liberty perspective.
