Category: Polity and Governance

Context:

• Tribal communities are not just “beneficiaries” of government schemes, but “drivers of India’s progress”, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs said on Tuesday, speaking on the eve of the Tribal Business Conclave 2025, which was different from events routinely organised by institutions like the TRIFED.

About TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India):

• Nodal ministry: TRIFED is an organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, dedicated to the socio-economic development of tribal communities through the marketing development of tribal products.
• Establishment: It was established in August 1987 under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984, by the Government of India as a national-level cooperative body.
• Mandate: It aims to bring about the socio-economic development of the tribals of the country by institutionalizing the trade of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) & Surplus Agricultural Produce (SAP) collected/cultivated by them.
• Objectives:
  • To develop the socio-economic welfare of the tribal community.
  • To act as a facilitator and service provider for the tribal community to uplift production.
  • Provide training to enhance artistic skills with modern technology to meet the requirements of the global market.
  • To increase the promotion of tribal art and crafts for a stable livelihood.
  • To identify target groups to monitor and evaluate the process and activities and provide input to the Ministry.
• Focus on SHGs: The approach involves capacity building of the tribal people through sensitization, formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs), and imparting training to them for undertaking a particular activity, exploring marketing possibilities in national as well as international markets, creating opportunities for marketing tribal products on a sustainable basis, and creating a brand.
• Retail Marketing: TRIFED has been doing the retail marketing of tribal products under the brand name of TRIBES INDIA. TRIFED promotes and creates a sustainable market through retail outlets, exhibitions such as Aadishilp, Aadichitra, OCTAVE; international fairs, and e-marketing.
• Implementation of MSP: TRIFED has also been entrusted by the Govt. of India to implement its proposed Minimum Support Price (MSP) Scheme for Minor Forest Produce.

Source:

• The Hindu

Category: History and Culture

Context:

• A new book claims that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose didn’t establish the Indian National Army (INA) and that it was initially set up by the Japanese Army intelligence and Indian nationalists outside India to fight a common enemy — the British.

About First INA:

• Formation: The first Indian National Army (INA) was formed in September 1942 under Captain Mohan Singh.
• Composition: It comprised around 12,000 Indian PoWs willing to secure independence from British rule in alliance with Japanese assistance. Thе Japanеsе sought cooperation with nationalists in Southeast Asia, including Indians, to hеlp thеm in thеir war effort.
• Role of Mohan Singh: Captain Mohan Singh was taskеd with organising an Indian national army using Indian prisonеrs of war. Mohan Singh’s lеadеrship and thе promisе of control by Indian officеrs ralliеd Indian soldiеrs to join thе INA.
• Reasons for rise of first INA: Thе rеasons for Indian soldiеrs and civilians joining thе INA includеd nationalism, fееlings of bеtrayal by thе British, racial discrimination, and fеar of Japanеsе atrocitiеs.
• Dissolution of first INA: However, disagreements and distrust arose over control of the army’s leadership and roles. Conflict also emerged over policies of the Japanese military administration in occupied territories. Mohan Singh refused to provide INA soldiers for Japan’s campaign in Burma against the British. This led him to resign and dissolve the first INA by December 1942.

About Second INA:

• Arrival of SC Bose in Singapore: In July 1943, Bose arrived in Singapore and took leadership of the INA, reshaping it as a nationalist force rather than just supporting Japanese military goals.
• Formation of second INA: The Azad Hind Fauj, or second INA, was formed by unifying the residual soldiers of the first INA with the large influx of Indian civilian volunteers in Southeast Asia electrified by Bose’s leadership and call to arms against British oppression.
• Difference with first INA: Unlike the first INA, which had multiple centres of authority, the second INA, under Bose’s leadership, was solely committed to him. Ethnic and regional loyalties were subsumed under national sentiments through mixed regiments and political training. The practice of naming regiments after nationalist leaders continued, fostering a sense of unity.
• Structure: The INA was structured into three brigades – Gandhi, Azad and Nehru. At its peak strength, the INA had around 60,000 troops, including the Rani Jhansi regiment comprising women soldiers headed by Captain Lakshmi Sehgal.
• Own currency: The INA had its own currency, postage stamps and symbols portraying a vision of a liberated India.
• National flag: Subhas Chandra Bose, through the first national army, introduced the Indian tricolour as the national flag and Tagore’s song ‘Jan Gan Man Adhinayak’ as the national anthem. The INA flag with the springing tiger symbol and the motto ‘Ittefaq, Etemad, Qurbani’ inspired nationalist sentiment.

Source:

• The Hindu

Category: Environment and Ecology

Context:

• Supreme Court judge recently said many environmental law principles imported from the West such as “inter-generational equity” are anthropocentric and would hardly be of any assistance in protecting an endangered species such as Great Indian Bustard.

About Great Indian Bustard:

• State bird of Rajasthan: The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), the State bird of Rajasthan, is considered India’s most critically endangered bird.
• Flagship species: It is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology.
• Spread: Its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• Threats: The bird is under constant threats due to collision/electrocution with power transmission lines, hunting (still prevalent in Pakistan), habitat loss and alteration as a result of widespread agricultural expansion, etc.
• Slow breeding species: Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) are slow-reproducing species. They lay a few eggs and have almost a year-long parental care of chicks. The GIB achieves maturity in around 3-4 years.
• Breeding season: They breed mostly during the monsoon season, when females lay a single egg on open ground. 
• Physical features: It is a large bird with a horizontal body and long, bare legs, giving it an ostrich-like appearance. The sexes are roughly the same size, with the largest individuals weighing 15 kg (33 pounds). It can easily be distinguished by its black crown on the forehead, contrasting with the pale neck and head.
• Lifespan: They usually have lifespan of about 12-15 years.
• Diet pattern: Their diet ranges widely depending on the seasonal availability of food. They feed on grass seeds, insects like grasshoppers and beetles, and sometimes even small rodents and reptiles.
• Protection Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix 1
  • Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• Steps taken to conserve the GIBs:
  • Species Recovery Programme: It is kept under the species recovery programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  • Firefly Bird Diverters: These are flaps installed on power lines. They work as reflectors for bird species like the GIBs.
  • Project Great Indian Bustard: It has been launched by the Rajasthan government to construct breeding enclosures for the species and develop infrastructure to reduce human pressure on its habitats.

Source:

• The Hindu

Category: Government Schemes

Context:

• A high-level delegation from the government of Ethiopia has concluded a week-long learning visit to India, which focused on understanding the implementation strategies of the DAY-NRLM, India’s flagship initiative for poverty alleviation.

About Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM):

• Launch: It was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India in June 2011 as a restructured version of Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY). In November 2015, the program was renamed Deendayal Antayodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM).
• Objective: The Mission aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.
• Implementation: The scheme is implemented by Ministry of Rural Development.
• Role of World Bank: The World Bank supports India’s Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) through funding, technical assistance, and by conducting impact evaluations.
• Agenda: NRLM has set out with an agenda to cover 7 Crore rural poor households, across 600 districts, 6000 blocks, 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats and 6 lakh villages in the country through self-managed Self Help Groups (SHGs) and federated institutions and support them for livelihoods collectives in a period of 8-10 years.
• Focus on capacity building: NRLM believes in harnessing the innate capabilities of the poor and complements them with capacities (information, knowledge, skills, tools, finance and collectivization) to participate in the growing economy of the country.
• Key features of the scheme:
  • Universal Social Mobilisation: At least 1 woman member from each identified rural poor household, is to be brought under the Self-Help Group (SHG) network in a time bound manner.
  • Participatory Identification of Poor (PIP): The inclusion of the target group under NRLM is determined by a well-defined, transparent and equitable process of participatory identification of poor, at the level of the community.
  • Community Funds as Resources in Perpetuity: NRLM provides Revolving Fund (RF) and Community Investment Fund (CIF) as resources in perpetuity to the institutions of the poor, to strengthen their institutional and financial management capacity and build their track record to attract mainstream bank finance.
  • Financial Inclusion: NRLM works on both demand and supply sides of financial inclusion. On the demand side, it promotes financial literacy among the poor and provides catalytic capital to the SHGs and their federations. On the supply side, the Mission coordinates with the financial sector and encourages use of ICT based financial technologies, business correspondents and community facilitators like ‘Bank Mitras.’

Source:

• NDTV

Category: Geography

Context:

• Recently, Central Government decided to put Karnataka’s 2000 MW Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (on Sharavathi River) on hold due to severe ecological risks.

About Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project:

• Location: It is a Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project proposed on the Sharavathi River in Shivamogga district Karnataka.
• Electricity capacity: It is designed to generate 2,000 MW of electricity.
• Use of existing reservoirs: The project involves building a pumped storage power plant between two existing reservoirs, Talakalale Dam and Gerusoppa Dam. Water will be pumped uphill during off-peak hours and released downhill to generate electricity during peak demand.
• Based on Kaleshwaram project: It is modelled on the lines of Telangana’s Kaleshwaram project, it also aims to supply drinking water to Bengaluru. 
• Concerns: The project falls within the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of the Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to the endangered lion-tailed macaque, hornbills, king cobras, and numerous endemic plant species of the Western Ghats.

About Sharavathi River:

• Location: It is a river in the western Karnataka state. A large part of the river basin lies in the Western Ghats.
• West-flowing river: It is one of the few rivers in India, which flows in the west direction. 
• Course: Rising in the Western Ghats, it flows in a northwesterly direction and empties into the Arabian Sea at Honnavar near the Uttara Kannada district.
• Total Length: The river is approximately 128 km long.
• Area: The river basin covers 2,985 sq.km.
• Jog falls: On its way, the Sharavathi forms the Jog Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in India, where the river falls from a height of 253 m. Diverse geological features mark the river’s course, including rocky outcrops, fertile plains, and deep gorges.
• Major Tributaries: Major tributaries of the river includes Nandihole, Haridravathi, Mavinahole, Hilkunji, Yennehole, Hurlihole, and Nagodihole.

Source:

• India Today

(GS Paper II – India and its Neighbourhood Relations)

Context (Introduction)

India–Bhutan relations stand as a rare example of stability and mutual trust in South Asia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2025 visit to Bhutan reaffirms the deep political, cultural, and strategic partnership that continues to thrive despite vast asymmetry in size and power. 

• In a region often marked by volatility and mistrust, this bilateral relationship demonstrates how restraint, respect, and shared prosperity can sustain peace in a challenging neighbourhood.

Main Arguments

1. Historical Foundations
   • The 1949 Treaty of Friendship formalised relations, where Bhutan agreed to be “guided by India” in external affairs while India assured non-interference in internal matters.
   • This arrangement, inherited from the colonial protectorate framework, evolved uniquely due to mutual maturity and strategic foresight.
   • India supported Bhutan’s early institution-building, administrative training, and defence organisation, ensuring stability and trust.
   • Hydropower and infrastructure cooperation since the 1960s became symbols of partnership-driven development.
2. Modernisation and Treaty Revision (2007)
   • Changing global and regional conditions, Bhutan’s democratic transition, and its expanding global engagement demanded a modern framework.
   • The 2007 revised treaty replaced the “guided by India” clause with “mutual respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
   • This marked Bhutan’s transition from dependency to partnership, reflecting Delhi’s strategic confidence and Thimphu’s political prudence.
   • Both nations agreed not to allow their territories to be used against each other, strengthening regional security trust.
3. Political and Democratic Maturity
   • King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (K-4) oversaw Bhutan’s peaceful transition from monarchy to constitutional democracy in 2006.
   • India’s support during this democratic shift highlighted its respect for Bhutan’s internal evolution.
   • The current monarch, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (K-5), continues to uphold this equilibrium of tradition and democracy.
   • India–Bhutan coordination remains robust through periodic high-level visits, development assistance, and people-to-people ties.
4. Economic and Developmental Partnership
   • Hydropower Cooperation: The foundation of the relationship—Bhutan’s hydropower exports provide 40% of its revenue and meet India’s energy needs.
   • Diversification Efforts: New initiatives include joint ventures in digital economy, tourism, skill development, and green infrastructure.
   • Institutional Support: India provides financial aid through the Five-Year Plan framework, with the 13th Plan emphasising sustainable and inclusive growth.
   • Private and Tech Collaboration: Indian firms and digital projects are fostering deeper economic integration.
5. Geostrategic and Security Dimensions
   • Bhutan’s geographic position between India and China makes it strategically vital.
   • The Doklam plateau standoff (2017) underscored shared security interests and coordination in border management.
   • Bhutan’s cautious diplomacy seeks peaceful resolution with China without compromising its sovereignty or India’s core security interests.
   • Regional cooperation under initiatives like BIMSTEC and BBIN further align Thimphu with India’s Neighbourhood First and Act East policies.
6. Cultural and Civilisational Linkages
   • Shared Buddhist heritage, linguistic ties, and spiritual values form the emotional foundation of relations.
   • The 2025 exposition of Buddha relics from Piprahwa in Bhutan reaffirmed ancient civilisational bonds.
   • Educational exchanges, cultural festivals, and tourism add depth to people-to-people connections.
7. Lessons for Regional Diplomacy
   • India–Bhutan relations show how asymmetric partnerships can be balanced through trust and transparency.
   • The “Bhutan model” emphasises sovereign equality, local participation, and patient diplomacy—valuable for India’s wider neighbourhood policy.
   • It demonstrates that long-term engagement, not transactional politics, ensures regional stability.

Criticisms and Challenges

1. Economic Dependence: Bhutan’s overreliance on hydropower and aid from India may limit diversification and economic resilience.
2. Environmental Concerns: Large hydropower projects risk ecological degradation and displacement in Bhutan’s fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
3. China Factor: Bhutan’s boundary talks with China could affect India’s strategic calculations if not handled sensitively.
4. Public Perception: The perception of India’s “big brother” approach in the region must be avoided through constant dialogue and equality-based engagement.
5. Youth Aspirations and Migration: Rising expectations for jobs and education require collaborative human capital investments beyond traditional aid.

Reforms and Policy Measures

1. Economic Diversification: Promote cooperation in sectors such as IT, digital trade, organic farming, and renewable energy beyond hydropower.
2. Connectivity and Infrastructure: Develop cross-border railway and road projects like Kokrajhar–Gelephu to integrate Bhutan into regional value chains.
3. Environmental Partnership: Launch joint Himalayan sustainability missions focusing on hydropower efficiency, climate adaptation, and biodiversity conservation.
4. Institutional Coordination: Establish an India–Bhutan Development and Security Council for continuous policy dialogue and implementation.
5. Cultural and Educational Diplomacy: Expand scholarships, joint research, and Buddhist tourism circuits to strengthen soft power and mutual understanding.
6. Strategic Dialogue: Continue defence and border cooperation through annual security consultations to ensure preparedness amid regional uncertainties.

Conclusion
India–Bhutan relations exemplify the essence of trust-based regionalism in South Asia. Their steady evolution from a protectorate framework to an equal partnership underscores the importance of mutual respect, democratic adaptation, and shared development. 

• As China’s presence grows in the Himalayas, India’s approach in Bhutan—marked by restraint, cooperation, and civilisational depth—offers a replicable model for engaging other neighbours. 
• The future of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy lies in sustaining such balanced partnerships that combine strategic prudence with human-centric diplomacy.

Mains Question

“India–Bhutan relations demonstrate that power asymmetry in South Asia need not lead to friction but can evolve into a model of mutual respect, shared prosperity, and strategic balance.” Examine in the context of India’s neighbourhood diplomacy. (250 words, 15 marks)

Source: The Indian Express

(GS Paper IV – Ethics, Human Values and International Relations)

Context (Introduction)

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan—marked by ethnic violence, displacement, and mass killings—has received little global attention compared to conflicts like Gaza or Ukraine. This differential response raises ethical questions about moral responsibility, empathy, and justice in international affairs. The silence of the world community exposes deeper issues of racialised compassion and selective moral engagement in global politics.

Main Ethical Arguments

1. Ethics of Universal Humanism:
   • Every human being possesses equal moral worth, irrespective of geography, race, or culture.
   • The global neglect of Sudan violates this Kantian principle of universality, which demands that moral concern be extended to all.
   • The “hierarchy of suffering” reflects moral inconsistency—where empathy is extended based on proximity, media visibility, or racial affinity.
2. Racialised Empathy and Civilisational Bias:
   • The article highlights how conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa evoke limited outrage compared to those in Western or Middle Eastern regions.
   • Ethical relativism—consciously or subconsciously—creates a divide between the “global North’s” suffering and that of the “global South.”
   • Such bias undermines the principle of justice as fairness (John Rawls), reducing moral responses to selective compassion.
3. Moral Responsibility of Global Actors:
   • Governments, corporations, and civil society share a duty of care toward global humanitarian crises.
   • The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), backed by foreign funding (notably the UAE), show how external actors profit from conflict while escaping accountability.
   • The silence of influential nations, institutions, and even global sporting entities (e.g., football clubs with UAE ownership) reflects ethical complicity through inaction.
4. Media and Moral Imagination:
   • The media shapes moral perception by determining which crises are visible.
   • Ethical journalism requires impartiality in reporting human suffering.
   • The limited coverage of Sudan reveals a media failure to uphold the virtue of truthfulness and duty of global solidarity.
5. Ethics of Collective Action and Mobilisation:
   • Public outrage can pressure institutions to act, as seen in global movements for Palestine or Ukraine.
   • Sudan’s lack of mobilisation shows how moral energy is unevenly distributed across causes.
   • The ethics of empathy demands that civil society and diaspora networks extend solidarity beyond culturally familiar or politically popular causes.

Criticisms and Ethical Dilemmas

• Moral Fatigue: Constant exposure to global suffering may desensitise people, leading to selective emotional engagement.
• Pragmatic Politics: Nations often weigh strategic or economic interests over ethical imperatives, resulting in inaction.
• Cultural Distance: Societies may subconsciously empathise more with those perceived as “similar,” reflecting deep-seated ethnocentrism.
• Media Economics: Coverage decisions are influenced by audience interest and commercial viability, rather than moral gravity.
• Moral Hypocrisy: Public figures and global institutions often express values of equality and justice but act inconsistently across regions.

Reforms and Ethical Correctives

1. Global Ethical Education: Promote universal ethics and compassion through educational curricula and public discourse to dismantle racial and cultural biases.
2. Ethical Journalism Charter: Encourage international media houses to commit to equal coverage of humanitarian crises based on severity, not geography.
3. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Companies, especially those linked to conflict-funding networks, must adopt human rights due diligence and transparency.
4. International Institutional Accountability: Strengthen the UN Human Rights Council’s mechanisms for monitoring atrocities, ensuring equal treatment of all regions.
5. Global Civil Society Mobilisation: NGOs, social media platforms, and academic institutions should foster transnational solidarity campaigns for neglected crises like Sudan.

Conclusion
The Sudan crisis is not only a political tragedy—it is a moral test for humanity. The silence surrounding it reflects the racialisation of empathy and the erosion of universal moral concern. Ethical global citizenship demands that compassion not be selective, and that justice be as inclusive as suffering itself. As philosopher Albert Schweitzer observed, “Ethics is nothing else than reverence for life.” The world must rediscover this reverence—beyond race, borders, and profit—to ensure that every human life commands equal moral urgency.

Mains Question:

1. “The global silence on Sudan reflects not just political neglect but an ethical failure of universal empathy.” Discuss with reference to the principles of global justice and moral responsibility.(150 words, 10 marks)

Source: The Indian Express