Content :
- A free hand
- A chance to rebuild the trust, restore faith in air travel
- India needs to design an inclusive pension system
A free hand
Context and Background
- The Government issued new orders allowing scientific institutions to bypass the Government e-Marketplace (GEM) for purchases.
- GEM was initially intended to promote Make-in-India by mandating lowest-price procurement via an online portal.
- From 2020 onwards, GEM-based procurement became mandatory for all government institutions, including R&D bodies.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance )
Practice Question : In light of recent policy reforms exempting scientific institutions from mandatory procurement via the Government e-Marketplace (GEM), critically examine the importance of administrative flexibility for promoting scientific research in India. (250 words)
Core Issues with GEM for Scientific Research
- One-size-fits-all approach: GEM treated all purchases as generic commodities, ignoring specific scientific needs.
- Price-based procurement: Preference was given to lowest price, not quality or research suitability.
- Scientific precision ignored: Even for basic items like sodium chloride, variations in purity matter deeply in research outcomes.
Scientific Research Needs Flexibility
- Reproducibility is key: Experiments must often replicate exact materials and methods to validate findings.
- Wrong procurement = Resource waste: Using unsuitable materials can lead to failed experiments, wasting time, funds, and morale.
- Advanced equipment: Items like customised diamonds or precision tools can’t be sourced reliably from the lowest bidder.
Structural Insights
- India lacks industrial depth in advanced scientific tools — a known issue.
- GEM’s rigid system exacerbated this by forcing scientists to compromise on equipment and materials.
- Scientists require tailored, high-grade products that may not come cheap or be locally available.
Philosophical and Governance Angle
- Science is not a commodity: Needs autonomy to thrive — “science itself is unfettered“.
- Scientific ministries are uniquely led by scientists, not bureaucrats — rare in Indian governance.
- This autonomy stems from early post-independence vision that science, though serving the state, should remain independently nurtured.
Significance of the Policy Shift
- New orders represent a course correction, giving scientists a free hand in procurement.
- This promotes the ease of doing research, encouraging innovation, precision, and global standard outputs.
Key Takeaway
“A free hand is worth more than two fettered arms.”
Science thrives on freedom, flexibility, and trust in domain expertise — not rigid procurement procedures.
A chance to rebuild the trust, restore faith in air travel
Context & Trigger
- The crash of Air India AI171 (Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025) led to media frenzy and speculative fear mongering.
- Many YouTube ‘experts’ and TV channels are circulating unverified theories, further eroding public confidence in air travel.
- The incident has raised questions about the safety of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, despite its strong 14-year safety record.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues)
Practice Question : In the wake of recent air crashes and the subsequent media handling, critically analyse the importance of investigative transparency and responsible governance in restoring public trust in air travel. (250 words)
Investigative Status
- DFDR (Digital Flight Data Recorder) and CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) were recovered intact.
- NTSB (U.S.) and AAIB (U.K.) are involved in the investigation.
- However, India’s bureaucratic delays may prevent public access to findings for years.
Preliminary Clues & Evidence
- Only survivor reported hearing a loud thud and flickering lights shortly after take-off.
- Possible deployment of RAT (Ram Air Turbine) indicates potential dual engine failure.
- CCTV footage and ADS-B data support the theory of late lift-off and engine failure.
Technical Analysis
- Runway conditions (hot day: 37°C+) reduce effective runway length due to lower engine performance.
- Landing gear not retracted → Increased drag and impaired climb ability.
- Rightward nose swing on take-off indicates engine failure, likely right engine.
- Dust cloud and engine exhaust from left engine seen in video, suggesting possible bird or debris ingestion.
- Lack of bird remains on runway is consistent with possible ingestion beyond runway in overrun zone.
Historical Parallel
- Similarities drawn with IC571 (1986 crash): engine bird hit post-rotation led to failed take-off and crash.
- Pilots were earlier blamed despite saving lives; highlights the complexity and risk of post-rotation decisions.
Pilot Dilemma
- AI171’s pilot took off near end of runway, possibly due to:
- Overloading: passengers carrying excess hand luggage (7 kg limit often exceeded).
- High temperature and extra 2 tons weight may have lengthened take-off run.
- Failure to abort take-off or retract landing gear raises questions.
- Critical decisions had to be made in split seconds — a Hobson’s choice (no good options).
Lessons & Questions
- Why wasn’t slow acceleration noticed?
- Why weren’t runway markings used as cues to reject take-off?
- DFDR and CVR will be crucial in understanding:
- Decision-making sequence
- Engine behavior
- Communication and checklist execution
Restoring Trust in Aviation
- Air travel remains one of the safest modes of transport.
- Boeing 787 Dreamliner has a strong safety history.
- However, past issues (e.g. Boeing 737 MAX) and regulatory inaction damaged public trust.
- Transparent, professional investigation is key to rebuilding confidence.
Conclusion
Investigative integrity, transparency, and responsible media reporting are essential to restore public faith in flying and ensure lessons are learned from tragedy — not obscured by noise.
India needs to design an inclusive pension system
Current Scenario of Pension Coverage in India
- Only 12% of the Indian workforce is covered under formal pension schemes.
- Pension assets are only 17% of GDP, vs ~80% in advanced economies.
- Informal sector workers (constituting ~85% of the labour force) have minimal pension access.
- Existing options like NPS and Atal Pension Yojana are voluntary and cover just 5.3% of the population.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Justice , Governance )
Practice Question :
Why an Inclusive Pension System is Urgent
- India is experiencing a demographic transition:
- By 2050, the old-age dependency ratio is expected to reach 30%.
- Gig economy is expanding, but workers lack pension security.
- Old-age poverty is a real threat to India’s aspirations of becoming a developed economy by 2047.
Structural Challenges
- Fragmentation of schemes leads to inefficiency and confusion.
- New schemes for gig workers (funded partly by aggregators) only add to parallelism, not integration.
- Advanced economies follow tiered pension structures (e.g., Japan, New Zealand) covering all segments:
- Japan: Mandatory flat-rate pension for all 20–59-year-olds.
- New Zealand: Universal flat-rate pension with residency criteria.
Awareness & Sensitisation Deficit
- Low financial literacy is a major barrier to participation.
- Voluntary schemes suffer from low enrolment due to lack of awareness.
- Global best practices:
- Australia: Superannuation planning part of school curriculum.
- UK: Opt-out pension scheme encourages default participation.
- Nigeria: Developed digital pension infrastructure to boost access.
Sustainability & Liquidity Concerns
- Mercer CFA Global Pension Index 2024 gave India an overall score of 44%, highlighting low adequacy.
- China’s challenges with public pension sustainability offer caution.
- Successful models (e.g., Netherlands, Denmark, USA) rely on:
- Private pension funds
- Targeted debt investments
- Strict regulatory oversight
Proposed Solution: A Three-Tier Framework
- Tier 1: Basic Mandatory Pension
- Flat-rate, contributory pension for all citizens.
- Tier 2: Occupational Pensions
- Employer-linked; mandatory or opt-out, with auto-enrolment and minimum contributions.
- Tier 3: Voluntary Savings
- Incentivised via tax benefits, market-linked returns, and flexibility.
Supporting Measures Needed
- Unify fragmented schemes under a single regulator.
- Launch targeted financial literacy campaigns (school/college level).
- Introduce simple digital platforms for enrolment and mandatory annual pension disclosures.
- Enforce robust investment regulations for fund safety and liquidity.
Conclusion
To safeguard retirees and ensure dignity in old age, India must urgently transition to an inclusive, scalable, and sustainable pension system, especially for informal sector workers.
Disclaimer : The views and opinions expressed here are based on the original article published in THE HINDU and do not reflect the official stance of Legacy IAS Academy. This content is provided solely for Academic purposes.
