Topic 1: The Lower Judiciary — Litigation, Pendency, Stagnation
Syllabus
- GS-II: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Context
A prominent editorial piece focused on the endemic problems of the lower judiciary, which is the backbone of the justice system, handling nearly 85% of all pending cases in India. The issues highlighted were chronic pendency, stagnation in career progression, judicial vacancies, inadequate infrastructure, and excessive clerical workload on judges. The challenge is that inefficiencies at this tier lead to massive delays in justice delivery, undermining the constitutional guarantee of a speedy trial and eroding public confidence.
Main Body: Multidimensional Analysis
Judicial and Administrative Dimension
The lower judiciary (District and Subordinate Courts) suffers from low judge-to-population ratios and high rates of vacancies, leading to heavy caseloads. Administrative burdens, including excessive reliance on paper filings and outdated procedures (Civil Procedure Code (CPC) Order XXI for execution proceedings), consume time that judges should dedicate to hearing cases. The lack of proper training and administrative experience among newly appointed judges contributes to procedural delays and case mismanagement, creating a cycle of litigation $\rightarrow$ delay $\rightarrow$ stagnation.
Social Justice and Constitutional Dimension
The delay in the lower courts disproportionately affects the poor and vulnerable who cannot afford prolonged litigation. Justice delayed is justice denied is a direct failure of the constitutional mandate under Article 21 (Right to Life and Liberty), which includes the right to a speedy trial. The high pendency hinders the effectiveness of welfare laws, land reforms, and family disputes, directly impacting societal stability and social security mechanisms. Ease of Justice is a prerequisite for both Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living.
Institutional Reforms Dimension
Reforming the lower judiciary requires structural changes beyond filling vacancies. There is a need for the Higher Judiciary’s intervention to reduce clerical work, automate court processes, and ensure timely finalisation of disciplinary and promotion procedures. The role of the State Governments is crucial in budgeting for better infrastructure, technology adoption, and increasing the remuneration for the subordinate judicial services.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Aspect | Description |
| Positives | E-Courts Project: Aims at providing digital infrastructure, case management, and virtual court facilities to improve efficiency. Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008: Aims to provide speedy, affordable, and accessible justice in rural areas. Legal Services Authorities Act (NALSA): Ensures free legal aid, which is essential for the poor trapped in pending cases. |
| Negatives | Structural Inefficiencies: Outdated procedural laws like the two-step decree process in partition suits contribute to unnecessary delays. Inadequate Training: Lack of targeted and continuous training for newly recruited judicial officers. Clerical Burden: Judges still spend excessive time on non-judicial, administrative tasks. |
| Relevant Schemes | National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms: Focuses on reducing pendency and enhancing accountability. Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Judicial Infrastructure: Provides financial support to states for improving court infrastructure, housing, and technology. |
Relevant Examples
- Patil Automation v. Rakheja Engineers (2022): SC judgment that affirmed mandatory pre-suit mediation in commercial courts, an attempt to reduce litigation burden.
- Use of Technology: Courts in some states have begun using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for transcribing court proceedings and case categorization to manage pendency.
Way Forward
- Judicial Cadre Reforms: Implement the recommendations of the Law Commission of India regarding the establishment of an All India Judicial Service (AIJS) to ensure standardized recruitment and training.
- Procedural Modernisation: Comprehensive revision of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) and Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to remove archaic, delay-inducing provisions (e.g., streamline execution proceedings).
- Technology Integration: Fully implement the e-Courts Mission Mode Project, including training judges and staff in digital case management and utilizing AI for predictive analytics on case timelines.
- Specialised Training: Develop mandatory, high-quality judicial training academies focused on judicial ethics, case management, and the practical application of new laws.
Conclusion
The crisis of pendency in the lower judiciary is a crisis of governance and constitutional commitment. While the structural problems are deep-rooted, targeted reforms focusing on modernization, capacity building, and procedural simplification, backed by strong political will and adequate budgetary allocations, are non-negotiable for delivering ‘Ease of Justice’ to the common citizen.
Practice Mains Questions
- “The lower judiciary is the pivot of the Indian justice system, yet it suffers from chronic stagnation.” Examine the primary reasons for high pendency and suggest comprehensive structural reforms. (250 words)
Topic 2: India-Africa Partnership: Connect, Build, Revive
Syllabus
- GS-II: India and its neighbourhood relations; Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Context
A key editorial highlighted the necessity for India to invigorate its partnership with the African continent, urging a shift from a transactional relationship to a strategic, continent-wide partnership. The focus is on implementing a strategy to ‘Connect, Build, and Revive’. This push is motivated by Africa’s growing economic and demographic significance (one in four people globally will be African by 2050), its ongoing economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and increasing global competition, particularly from China.
Main Body: Multidimensional Analysis
Economic and Developmental Dimension
India has become one of Africa’s top five investors, with a cumulative investment exceeding $75 billion. The model of engagement is evolving from traditional infrastructure projects to co-creation in high-impact sectors like vaccine production, digital public infrastructure (like UPI and Aadhaar Stack), green hydrogen, and renewable energy. The economic opportunity is vast, but Indian companies often struggle to scale due to limited financial backing and bureaucratic hurdles, slowing down the pace compared to competitors.
Geopolitical and Strategic Dimension
India views Africa as a key partner in reforming multilateral institutions like the UN Security Council. The partnership is crucial for enhancing India’s image as a responsible global actor and for countering the strategic dominance of other global powers. India’s security cooperation, including maritime security training and peacekeeping support, is vital for stabilizing the Indian Ocean region. Reviving the structured India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) is essential to restore coordination and momentum.
Socio-Cultural and Technological Dimension
India’s engagement is characterized by strong people-to-people ties, facilitated by the large Indian diaspora and extensive educational programmes (like the ITEC). The launch of the IIT Madras campus in Zanzibar strengthens educational ties. The opportunity lies in deploying India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to complement Africa’s digital ambitions, enabling financial inclusion and e-governance solutions across the continent.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Aspect | Description |
| Positives | Shared Values: Both are developing democracies with shared colonial histories, fostering greater trust. High Impact: Focus on co-creation in health (vaccines) and digital sectors, providing genuine developmental assistance. AfCFTA: The African Continental Free Trade Area offers Indian businesses a massive, unified market access opportunity. |
| Negatives | Competition: Heavy competition from China (Belt and Road Initiative) and Western powers (Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment). Finance Gaps: India’s financial scale is often limited compared to competitors, and Line of Credit (LoC) disbursements can be slow. Siloed Engagement: Lack of a coordinated, continent-wide strategy, relying too much on individual state visits. |
| Relevant Schemes | Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC): Provides training and capacity building for thousands of African professionals. Line of Credit (LoC): India extends concessional loans for infrastructure and development projects in Africa. Team 9: An initiative to provide technological assistance to eight West African countries. |
Relevant Examples
- G20 Consensus: India successfully championed the African Union’s (AU) inclusion as a permanent member of the G20 during its Presidency, demonstrating leadership on behalf of the continent.
- Digital Corridor: The potential establishment of an India–Africa digital corridor to deploy UPI and India Stack for seamless financial and digital services.
- Vaccine Diplomacy: India’s role in supplying COVID-19 vaccines (Vaccine Maitri) demonstrated reliable partnership in a time of crisis.
Way Forward
- Revive IAFS: Immediately announce and execute the revival of the India–Africa Forum Summit to institutionalize high-level political guidance.
- Financial De-risking: Connect India’s Lines of Credit (LoCs) to private capital through sovereign guarantees or de-risking mechanisms to ensure faster project execution.
- Focus on Green Sectors: Co-invest in green hydrogen, solar power, and e-mobility, aligning the partnership with future-focused, sustainable growth.
- Tailored Engagement: Move beyond generic templates and offer tailored solutions (e.g., decentralized digital tools, mobile-based agriculture) suited to Africa’s diverse markets.
Conclusion
The India-Africa partnership is vital for India’s strategic, economic, and diplomatic interests. While the relationship is built on strong historical and cultural foundations, it requires a renewed strategic push to meet the demands of the 21st century. By focusing on ‘Connect, Build, and Revive,’ India can secure its position as Africa’s most trusted partner, co-creating a stable and prosperous future for both regions.
Practice Mains Questions
- Examine the significance of the India-Africa partnership in the current geopolitical scenario. What structural and strategic reforms are needed to make this relationship future-ready? (250 words)
Topic 3: India’s Fight Against Tuberculosis (TB) Elimination by 2025
Syllabus
- GS-II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
- GS-III: Science and Technology—developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Context
According to the Global TB Report 2025, while the burden of Tuberculosis (TB) in India continues to decline, the country is unlikely to meet its highly ambitious target of eliminating the disease by 2025, which is five years ahead of the global target (2030). The report indicates that India still accounts for a large number of global TB cases and deaths. This highlights the need for renewed vigour, focus, and structural changes in India’s public health delivery mechanisms to combat the infectious killer.
Main Body: Multidimensional Analysis
Health and Epidemiological Dimension
TB remains a major infectious killer in India, driven by factors like malnutrition, poor sanitation, overcrowding, and lack of awareness. India’s current rate of reduction (21% reduction in new cases and 28% reduction in deaths between 2015 and 2024) is significant but insufficient to meet the 2025 elimination goal. A major challenge is the rise of Drug-Resistant TB (DR-TB), which requires expensive, long, and often toxic treatment regimens. The COVID-19 pandemic also severely impacted TB testing and notification services, creating a backlog of undetected cases.
Governance and Implementation Dimension
The national program relies heavily on active case finding, better notification (from both private and public sectors), and timely treatment completion. Failures often stem from weak primary healthcare infrastructure, especially in remote areas. The implementation of conditional financial support schemes and nutritional support for patients often faces delays due to bureaucratic hurdles and incomplete digital linking. The lack of a decentralized, community-level approach to diagnosis and treatment completion remains a structural weakness.
Socio-Economic Dimension
TB is disproportionately a disease of poverty, with high catastrophic costs (loss of income, cost of care) pushing patients and families deeper into poverty. Addressing TB elimination requires moving beyond medical intervention to addressing the Social Determinants of Health (SDH)—improving nutrition, housing, sanitation, and job security. The Nikshay Poshan Yojana is a step in this direction, but its reach and efficacy need significant improvement.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Aspect | Description |
| Positives | Nikshay Ecosystem: Digital platform for case notification, patient management, and tracking treatment outcomes. Nikshay Poshan Yojana: Provides ₹500 per month for nutritional support to all notified TB patients. Active Case Finding (ACF): Systematic screening of vulnerable populations to detect cases early. |
| Negatives | Ambitious Target Miss: The 2025 target appears overly ambitious given the current rate of decline. Drug Resistance: Rising cases of Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) and Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) TB pose a major public health crisis. Private Sector Engagement: Lack of mandatory and timely notification from the vast private healthcare sector remains a major gap. |
| Relevant Schemes | National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP): India’s comprehensive mission to eliminate TB. Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: A community support initiative to provide supplementary nutritional and diagnostic support to TB patients. |
Relevant Examples
- Digital Notification: Making TB a notifiable disease and pushing for mandatory notification through the Nikshay portal has improved data collection significantly, a key governance win.
- New Diagnostics: Deployment of faster, molecular diagnostic tools like the CBNAAT (Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) for quicker and more accurate diagnosis of drug resistance.
- Community Support: Success stories in states like Sikkim and Kerala where strong community mobilization and decentralized support systems have led to high treatment completion rates.
Way Forward
- Decentralized Service Delivery: Move from centralized treatment centres to a robust, decentralized Primary Healthcare (PHC) and Community Health Worker (CHW) model for diagnosis and Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) supervision.
- Financial and Nutritional Enhancement: Significantly increase the Nikshay Poshan Yojana payout and ensure timely, direct disbursement to fully cover the nutritional needs of patients and reduce catastrophic health expenditure.
- Private Sector Regulation: Strictly enforce mandatory TB notification by the private sector, and offer financial incentives and technical support for adopting standardized diagnosis and treatment protocols.
- R&D Focus: Increase investment in indigenous R&D for new, shorter, and less toxic drug regimens and an effective TB vaccine, which is the ultimate long-term solution.
Conclusion
India’s fight against TB is a microcosm of its public health challenges. While the NTEP has made commendable progress, the failure to meet the 2025 deadline demands an honest appraisal and a shift in strategy. True elimination requires a holistic approach that integrates medical intervention with social equity, nutritional support, and unwavering political commitment to strengthen the last mile of healthcare delivery.
Practice Mains Questions
- Despite the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), India is struggling to meet its 2025 elimination target. Analyse the reasons for this shortfall and suggest a multi-pronged strategy to address the social determinants of TB. (250 words)
Topic 4: Black Spot Data and Road Safety Initiatives (e-DAR/iRAD)
Syllabus
- GS-II: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability.
- GS-III: Infrastructure: Roads, Airports, etc.
Context
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced the imminent release of updated road accident black spot data for 2023 and 2024. This data is critical for road safety and is based on the ambitious, technology-driven Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) / Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) system. The goal is to collect real-time, geo-tagged data from police first responders to accurately identify high-risk stretches (black spots) on National Highways (NHs) and prevent fatalities, which remain alarmingly high in India.
Main Body: Multidimensional Analysis
Technological and Governance Dimension
The iRAD/e-DAR system represents a significant shift from manual, paper-based reporting to a geo-tagged, real-time digital system. This allows MoRTH, NHAI, and state police to have a unified, accurate database. The definition of a black spot (a 500-meter stretch with five or more accidents involving fatalities/grievous injuries or 10 deaths within three years) provides a clear, quantitative basis for intervention. This digital framework improves transparency and accountability in tracking and remediating dangerous road segments.
Safety and Infrastructure Dimension
Accurate black spot data is fundamental to proactive safety engineering. The data allows road-owning agencies (like NHAI) to conduct targeted Road Safety Audits (RSA) and implement corrective measures like improved signage, better lighting, corrected road geometry, crash barriers, and pedestrian crossings. High road fatalities impose a massive socio-economic burden on the nation (estimated at over 3% of GDP). Identifying and fixing black spots is a cost-effective public health measure.
Inter-Agency and Implementation Dimension
The success of iRAD/e-DAR depends on seamless inter-agency coordination between the state police (data collection), transport departments (driver records), health services (injury data), and highway authorities (remediation). Challenges include resistance to change from ground-level police personnel accustomed to manual systems, poor internet connectivity in remote areas, and the need for continuous training to ensure high-quality data input.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Aspect | Description |
| Positives | Real-Time Data: Shift from delayed, inaccurate reporting to real-time, geo-tagged accident data (e-DAR). Targeted Intervention: Enables engineering fixes exactly where they are needed most (black spots). Accountability: Creates a clear track record for accountability among agencies responsible for road maintenance and safety. |
| Negatives | Data Quality: Variability in data entry and quality across different states and police units. Police Training: Need for continuous training of police on using the app and accurately assessing accident causes. Funding Gaps: Remediating thousands of black spots requires significant, dedicated funding and quick execution by highway agencies. |
| Relevant Schemes | Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019: Strengthened penalties for traffic violations and emphasized technology use for road safety enforcement. National Road Safety Policy: Mandates a multi-pronged approach covering engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency care. |
Relevant Examples
- World Bank Assistance: The iRAD project received technical and financial assistance from the World Bank and is being implemented in multiple states.
- Previous Remediation: The previous black spot data series (2020-22) identified 1,330 critical stretches, showing the scale of the problem and the government’s efforts to address it through engineering solutions.
Way Forward
- Mandatory Training and Incentives: Introduce mandatory, regular training programs for all police first responders on the iRAD app and provide incentives for high-quality, timely data submission.
- Dedicated Fund for Black Spot Remediation: Create a dedicated, fast-disbursing Road Safety Fund to ensure that engineering remediation begins within a stipulated period (e.g., 6 months) after a black spot is identified.
- Data Linkage and Audit: Ensure complete and mandatory linkage of the e-DAR data with transport, health, and insurance databases for comprehensive auditing of accident costs and outcomes.
- Focus on Behavioral Change: Complement engineering fixes with high-visibility, data-driven traffic enforcement and continuous public awareness campaigns on speed limits and helmet/seatbelt use.
Conclusion
The success of India’s road safety mission hinges on moving from anecdotal evidence to actionable, accurate data. The e-DAR/iRAD system is a powerful technological enabler in this transition. For this initiative to realize its full potential, the governance hurdles of inter-agency coordination, ground-level training, and dedicated financial allocation for rapid remediation must be decisively overcome to save lives on India’s roads.
Practice Mains Questions
- How does the implementation of the iRAD/e-DAR system represent a paradigm shift in India’s approach to road safety? Discuss the challenges in achieving full inter-agency coordination for effective black spot remediation. (250 words)
Topic 5: Ladakh Groups Demand for Sixth Schedule and Statehood
Syllabus
- GS-II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Context
A unified body of political, social, and religious groups from Ladakh submitted a detailed draft proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), reiterating their key demands: Statehood for Ladakh and the grant of Sixth Schedule status to protect the region’s land, culture, and demographic identity. These demands emerged strongly after the region’s separation from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and its reorganization as a Union Territory (UT) without a legislature in 2019.
Main Body: Multidimensional Analysis
Constitutional and Governance Dimension
The demand for Statehood is based on democratic aspirations and the right to have an elected legislature for local governance. The demand for Sixth Schedule status under Article 244(2) seeks to grant special powers to the region through the creation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs). The ADCs would have legislative, judicial, and administrative autonomy over land, forest management, and revenue collection, protecting the fragile ecological and unique socio-cultural identity of the region, which is currently dominated by central administration.
Socio-Cultural and Identity Dimension
Ladakh’s population is predominantly tribal (Buddhists and Shias) and its culture is unique, making it vulnerable to demographic change and external exploitation of resources. Granting the Sixth Schedule would allow the local population to enact laws protecting their customs and controlling the influx of outsiders who might pose a threat to their land and job opportunities. The demand is rooted in safeguarding the region’s identity post-2019.
Geopolitical and Strategic Dimension
Ladakh is a strategically critical border region. Addressing the democratic aspirations of the local populace and ensuring their genuine participation in governance is vital for maintaining social cohesion and national security. Unresolved internal issues can be exploited by external adversaries. A satisfied local population is the best guardian of India’s sensitive borders.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Aspect | Description |
| Positives | Cultural Protection: Sixth Schedule status offers constitutional protection to the land and culture of the predominantly tribal population. Democratic Devolution: Statehood would fulfill the long-pending aspiration for democratic representation and local self-governance. Strategic Stability: Political satisfaction of the local populace enhances internal stability in a sensitive border region. |
| Negatives | Security Concerns: Granting Statehood may introduce political complexities in a strategically volatile region bordering China and Pakistan. Economic Feasibility: The financial viability of a full-fledged State government in a sparsely populated region with limited revenue generation is questionable. Administrative Complexity: Integrating two different regions (Leh and Kargil) under a single autonomous framework poses governance challenges. |
| Relevant Schemes | Ladakh Ecological and Development Group (LEDG): A proposed body to manage and sustainably develop the region. Himalayan Development Programme: Central schemes providing financial support for infrastructure and connectivity in high-altitude areas. |
Relevant Examples
- Northeast ADCs: The success of Autonomous District Councils in states like Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram serves as a model for the potential implementation of the Sixth Schedule in Ladakh.
- Karbi Anglong/Bodo Land: Recent agreements with autonomous councils in Assam demonstrate the Central government’s willingness to use the Sixth Schedule to resolve long-standing ethnic and territorial demands.
Way Forward
- Phased Approach: The government could consider a phased approach: first, strengthening the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) in Leh and Kargil with greater financial and legislative powers, and then moving towards the Sixth Schedule or Statehood.
- Dialogue and Consensus: Initiate a structured and continuous dialogue process with the Apex Body and Kargil groups to build a consensus on the boundaries and powers of the proposed ADCs.
- Unique Model: Draft a unique, customized model for the Sixth Schedule that addresses Ladakh’s specific geographical and strategic requirements, perhaps integrating both Leh and Kargil districts under a supra-council body.
- Economic Viability Study: Conduct a comprehensive financial and administrative feasibility study before granting Statehood to ensure long-term sustainability.
Conclusion
The demands of the Ladakh groups for the Sixth Schedule and Statehood reflect deep-seated aspirations for democratic participation and constitutional protection of their identity. While the security sensitivity of the region is paramount, addressing these demands through a transparent, constitutionally sound, and phased approach is vital for ensuring long-term peace, loyalty, and integration in this key frontier territory.
Practice Mains Questions
- Examine the demands of the Ladakh groups for the Sixth Schedule status and Statehood. In what ways can the Sixth Schedule protect the region’s unique culture while addressing the Union Territory’s strategic importance? (250 words)
Topic 6: Gopal Ratna Awards and Indigenous Cattle Conservation
Syllabus
- GS-II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population; Government policies and interventions for development.
- GS-III: Indian Economy; Animal Rearing; Technology missions in agriculture.
Context
The announcement of the Gopal Ratna Awards by the Central government is part of a broader national effort to promote the conservation and development of indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds. These awards recognize and incentivize the best dairy farmers, dairy cooperative societies (DCS), milk producer companies (MPC), and artificial insemination technicians (AIT) who are actively working to preserve and improve India’s native germplasm. This initiative is crucial for sustainable rural livelihoods and achieving nutritional security.
Main Body: Multidimensional Analysis
Agricultural and Economic Dimension
India possesses a vast and diverse pool of indigenous cattle breeds (like Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, etc.) which are resilient, heat-tolerant, and well-adapted to local conditions, unlike many exotic breeds. The awards incentivize the shift from solely focusing on high-yield exotic breeds to leveraging the hardiness and unique characteristics of native breeds. This supports climate-resilient agriculture and provides better quality milk for dairy products. By recognizing superior indigenous animal rearers, the government is subtly guiding the market towards native breed farming.
Technological and Scientific Dimension
The awards specifically recognize Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs), underscoring the importance of modern technology in genetic improvement. Through Breed Improvement Programs (BIPs), techniques like sex-sorted semen and Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT) are used to rapidly multiply superior native germplasm, boosting milk production and preserving genetic diversity scientifically. This is a critical step in scaling up production while avoiding cross-breeding that may dilute the native traits.
Socio-Cultural Dimension
Indigenous cattle breeds are integral to India’s rural economy and cultural fabric, often providing not just milk but also draft power and manure (bio-fertilizer). Promoting these breeds through awards helps restore the traditional knowledge associated with native animal husbandry practices, empowering local communities and traditional dairy farmers. The awards boost the prestige and recognition of indigenous breeders.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Aspect | Description |
| Positives | Incentivization: Provides financial and social recognition, encouraging more farmers to adopt native breed conservation. Genetic Preservation: Focuses on the preservation of unique, climate-resilient indigenous breeds. Sustainable Dairy: Supports lower-cost, sustainable dairy farming practices suited to India’s diverse agro-climatic zones. |
| Negatives | Scale of Challenge: The number of high-quality native cattle is still a small percentage of the total, requiring much larger, continuous investment. Market Focus: Exotic breeds continue to be favored by commercial dairy due to higher short-term milk yield, creating a market bias. Infrastructure: Lack of sufficient quality semen stations and trained AITs, especially in remote areas. |
| Relevant Schemes | Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM): Aims for conservation and development of indigenous breeds and supports the establishment of Gokul Grams. National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB): Focuses on scientific breeding techniques like ETT and sex-sorted semen. |
Relevant Examples
- Gokul Grams: Dedicated centres under RGM for the development and conservation of indigenous breeds.
- Sahiwal/Gir Breeds: Examples of high-performing native breeds whose superior genetic material is being selectively multiplied using modern breeding techniques.
Way Forward
- Decentralized Breeding Centres: Establish more Gokul Grams and semen stations in key indigenous breed tracts, ensuring proximity and access for farmers.
- Market Linkage: Create certified, premium market linkages for indigenous milk (e.g., A2 milk) and products to provide farmers with better prices, making native breeding economically viable.
- Insurance and Risk Management: Develop tailored insurance products for indigenous cattle, recognizing their value and reducing the financial risk for rearers.
- Integration with Climate Policy: Officially integrate the RGM and related programs into India’s Climate Action Plans as a climate adaptation strategy for the livestock sector.
Conclusion
The Gopal Ratna Awards serve as a crucial symbolic and practical catalyst for the conservation of India’s indigenous cattle wealth. The future of sustainable dairy farming in India rests on balancing high-yield needs with the climate-resilience and hardiness of native breeds. Sustained policy support, technological diffusion, and market incentives are essential to ensure the vitality of India’s genetic resource base.
Practice Mains Questions
- Critically evaluate the importance of indigenous cattle breeds to India’s rural economy and climate-resilient agriculture. How do schemes like the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and the Gopal Ratna Awards address the challenges in their conservation? (250 words)
Topic 8: SC on Notifying Human-Wildlife Conflict as Natural Disaster
Syllabus
- GS-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment; Disaster and disaster management.
Context
The Supreme Court (SC) made an important observation, urging State Governments to actively consider notifying ‘human-wildlife conflict’ (HWC) as a ‘natural disaster’. This observation is rooted in the necessity to address the severe human and economic costs of HWC. Notifying HWC as a natural disaster would enable State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF) to be utilized for providing faster and enhanced compensation to victims (for loss of life, injury, or crop damage) and implementing proactive mitigation measures, thereby formalizing the treatment of HWC as a crisis requiring urgent government response.
Main Body: Multidimensional Analysis
Environmental and Ecological Dimension
HWC is primarily a symptom of habitat fragmentation, degradation, and encroachment on forest land (due to infrastructure, mining, and human settlements). This forces animals (elephants, leopards, wild boars, etc.) into human-dominated landscapes in search of food and water. The conflict has devastating consequences, leading to the death of both humans and animals, and is a major threat to the conservation of Schedule I species like the tiger and elephant.
Governance and Disaster Management Dimension
Currently, compensation for HWC is provided by the Forest Department, a process that is often bureaucratic, slow, and involves inadequate amounts. Notifying it as a natural disaster would bring HWC under the framework of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and link it to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). This ensures standard, enhanced compensation as per National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms, and rapid disbursement. It shifts the primary responsibility from a conservation concern (Forest Dept.) to a public safety issue (Revenue/Disaster Dept.).
Social Justice and Livelihood Dimension
The victims of HWC are typically marginalized farmers or forest-fringe communities whose livelihoods depend directly on the land. The loss of a life or a crop to wild animals can push a family into absolute poverty. Prompt and adequate compensation is a matter of social justice and essential for securing community support for conservation efforts. When compensation is inadequate or delayed, it often fuels retaliatory killing of animals, undermining long-term conservation goals.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Aspect | Description |
| Positives | Faster Compensation: Access to the SDRF mechanism ensures quick and adequate relief to victims, reducing financial hardship. Proactive Mitigation: Allows SDRF funds to be used for non-structural mitigation measures like habitat improvement, creation of water sources, and erection of barriers. Inter-Departmental Coordination: Mandates the involvement of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), improving coordination beyond the Forest Department. |
| Negatives | Dilution of Funds: Mismanagement or over-classification of HWC could potentially dilute funds meant for other major natural disasters (floods, cyclones). Definition and Scale: Defining the threshold for HWC to qualify as a ‘disaster’ needs careful, state-specific guidelines to prevent misuse. Forest Act Overlap: Potential conflict between the Disaster Management Act and the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) in terms of legal authority and action. |
| Relevant Schemes | Project Elephant/Project Tiger: Provide financial and technical assistance to states for the management of elephant/tiger reserves, including HWC mitigation measures. Adoption of Elephant Corridors: Efforts to secure and conserve traditional animal migration routes to reduce conflict. |
Relevant Examples
- Kerala and Karnataka: States facing high elephant/leopard conflicts have already proposed or implemented enhanced compensation packages, demonstrating the localized nature and urgency of the problem.
- Land Use Planning: The use of early warning systems (e.g., SMS alerts, camera traps) in conflict hotspots in states like Uttarakhand to warn villagers of animal presence.
Way Forward
- Standardized Guidelines: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) must issue standardized, yet flexible, guidelines for states on how to classify HWC incidents and utilize SDRF/NDRF funds for compensation and mitigation.
- Focus on Mitigation: Funds must be prioritized for proactive mitigation strategies like restoring and expanding buffer zones, securing corridors, creating natural barriers (bio-fencing), and improving habitat quality within Protected Areas (PAs).
- Joint HWC Cells: Establish permanent Joint HWC Cells at the district level comprising officials from the Forest, Revenue, Police, and Disaster Management departments for coordinated response and compensation disbursement.
- Community Insurance: Develop a Community-Based Wildlife Conflict Insurance Scheme subsidized by the government to quickly provide a first layer of relief before the full official compensation process is completed.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s observation is a pragmatic call for addressing human-wildlife conflict not just as a conservation challenge, but as an immediate public safety and livelihood crisis. By leveraging the robust structure of disaster management, India can ensure quicker relief to victims, secure community participation, and ultimately pave the way for a more sustainable co-existence between humans and wildlife.
Practice Mains Questions
- The Supreme Court has suggested notifying human-wildlife conflict as a ‘natural disaster’. Analyse the implications of this suggestion on the victims, conservation policy, and the efficacy of India’s disaster management framework. (250
