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Current Affairs 10 July 2025

  1. 12 killed as key bridge collapses in Vadodara
  2. ASI allows retired T.N. archaeologist to prepare report on Keeladi excavations
  3. How can cat bonds plan for a natural disaster?
  4. How did Himachal achieve a high rank on the NAS?
  5. India’s Inequality Debate
  6. IAF Jaguar Jet Crash


The Incident

  • Date & Location: Early morning, July 10, 2025 — Gambhira river bridge near Padra town, Vadodara district, Gujarat.
  • Casualties: At least 12 dead, 9 rescued, 5 hospitalized.
  • Collapse Type: A 15-meter-long concrete slab between two piers gave way.
  • Vehicles Involved: Trucks, vans, and private vehicles tumbled into Mahisagar river.

Relevance : GS 3(Disaster Management)

Bridge Profile

  • Structure Age: ~40 years old, linking Central Gujarat with the Saurashtra region.
  • Type: RCC bridge — likely designed with pre-liberalisation specifications, outdated by modern stress norms.
  • Function: Major economic and passenger artery; collapse disrupts movement of agricultural and industrial goods.

Probable Causes

  • Structural Fatigue: Age-related concrete degradation and poor pier maintenance.
  • Monsoon Impact: Heavy rains may have compromised soil or base structures.
  • Lack of Audit: No recent comprehensive structural health monitoring reported.

Broader Governance Context

1. Systemic Neglect of Infrastructure Audits

  • CAG & Parliamentary Committees have repeatedly flagged:
    • Lack of periodic audits for aging bridges.
    • Incomplete implementation of Bridge Management Systems (BMS) by States.

2. Absence of Preventive Maintenance Culture

  • Focus remains on post-tragedy repair, compensation, and political blame games.
  • No public database on load capacity, usage frequency, structural stress for old bridges.

3. Urban-Rural Infrastructure Divide

  • Most such collapses occur in semi-urban/rural areas due to:
    • Lower prioritisation.
    • Infrequent inspection cycles.
    • Absence of real-time monitoring sensors.

Comparative Insight: Recent Bridge Collapses

LocationYearCauseCasualties
Morbi, Gujarat2022Corrosion, overloaded footbridge135+ dead
Bihar (Ganga Bridge)2024Under-construction, design flaw3 dead
Mizoram2023Railway bridge collapse26 dead
Now: Gambhira, Gujarat2025Age + structural neglect12+ dead

Pattern: India sees approx.10–15 major bridge failures annually, many preventable through timely inspection.

Policy & Administrative Fallout

  • Expected Probes:
    • PWD/State Infrastructure Department likely to face inquiry.
    • Probable FIRs against bridge maintenance contractors.
  • Governance Signals:
    • Trust deficit in public infrastructure.
    • Pressure on Gujarat government amid upcoming fiscal planning for the 2026 Census preparation phase.

Way Forward: A Governance-Driven Infrastructure Agenda

  • Bridge Safety Audit Mandate: Annual certified audits for all bridges 20+ years old.
  • Digital BMS Expansion: Geo-tag, track, and monitor bridges via sensors & satellite imaging.
  • Independent Safety Authority: Bridge safety oversight body independent of State PWDs.
  • Transparent Public Dashboard: Real-time update on bridge health for citizen awareness.
  • Preventive Budgeting: Earmark minimum 1% of GSDP annually for infra-retrofitting.


What is Keeladi and Why It Matters

  • Location: Keeladi, Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu.
  • Findings: Urban settlement traces, brick structures, script inscriptions, pottery, and industrial remains.
  • Significance: Indicates a Sangam-era urban civilisation (circa 6th century BCE – 3rd century CE), suggesting:
    • Continuity of Tamil culture
    • Urban centres along the Vaigai river valley
    • Advanced trade, literacy, and planned habitation pre-dating many north Indian sites.

Relevance : GS 1(Culture ,Heritage,History )

Timeline of Excavations

PhaseYearLead Agency/ArchaeologistKey Findings
I–II2015–2016K. Amarnath Ramakrishna (ASI)Brick structures, graffiti suggesting urban life
III2017P.S. Sriraman (ASI)Controversial – no continuity reported in structures
IV+2018 onwardsTamil Nadu State Archaeology Dept.Continued urban findings; now in 10th phase by 2025

Institutional Conflict

  • 2017: ASI transferred Ramakrishna to Assam post-phase II, despite breakthrough findings.
  • Sriraman Phase (III): Claimed lack of continuity with prior phases → criticized for downplaying significance.
  • 2024–25: ASI permitted Sriraman to complete pending reports for Phase III (Keeladi) and Kodumanal.
  • Meanwhile: ASI asked Ramakrishna to revise his original reports — he refused, defending his conclusions as sound and peer-worthy.

 Keeladi vs Kodumanal

  • Kodumanal: Located in Erode district — known for bead-making industry, iron tools, and trade links with the Roman Empire.
  • Sriraman also excavated one season here; report pending.

Current Progress

  • 10 Phases completed at Keeladi (State-led).
  • Hundreds of antiquities recovered.
  • Material stored in Chennai, facilitating ongoing study and report writing.

Governance Challenges

  • Conflict of Interpretations: Differences in archaeological conclusions reflecting possible ideological or bureaucratic interference.
  • Central vs State Dynamics: Shift of excavation control from ASI to Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Dept. led to more sustained exploration.
  • Report Delays: Highlights need for a time-bound reporting framework in Indian archaeology.

Implications for Indian Cultural History

  • Counters Aryan-centric narratives: Keeladi suggests Dravidian urbanism existed independently and early.
  • Sangam Age Reimagined: Reinforces historicity of Sangam literature describing trade, urban governance, literacy, and culture.
  • Decentralised Heritage Management: Tamil Nadu’s persistence led to deeper exploration, setting an example for other States.


What are Cat Bonds?

  • Definition: A hybrid insurance-cum-debt financial instrument that transforms disaster insurance into tradable securities.
  • Purpose: Transfers pre-defined natural disaster risk (e.g., earthquakes, cyclones) from sovereigns to global investors.
  • Issued via: Financial intermediaries like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, or reinsurers.
  • Payout Trigger: Based on objective disaster parameters (magnitude, location) — parametric triggers.

Relevance : GS 3(Economy, Disaster Management, and Environment )

How Do Cat Bonds Work?

ComponentRole
SponsorSovereign/state (e.g., India) – pays premium and defines risk scope
IssuerIntermediary agency (e.g., World Bank) – issues bonds to investors
InvestorPension funds, hedge funds, family offices – provide upfront funds
Trigger EventIf disaster strikes, part/all of investor principal is used for relief

High returns, high risk: If no disaster occurs, investors earn attractive interest. If disaster hits, they lose some/all principal.

Why Investors Buy Cat Bonds

  • Portfolio Diversification: Cat risk curves are independent of market risk (low correlation).
  • High Returns: Coupon rates vary (1–2% for earthquakes; higher for hurricanes/cyclones).
  • $180 Billion+ issued globally so far; $50 Billion currently outstanding.
  • Favored by: Large pension funds, seeking low-correlation assets for risk hedging.

Why India Should Lead in Cat Bonds

  • Disaster-Prone Profile:
    • India faces recurring floods, cyclones, earthquakes, and forest fires.
    • Example: ₹1.8 lakh crore spent on disaster relief over the past decade (approx).
  • Under-penetration of insurance:
    • Individual homes, livelihoods mostly uninsured → leads to financial vulnerability post-disaster.

Fiscal Prudence:

  • Annual Mitigation Budget: ₹1.8 billion allocated since FY21–22 for capacity building.
  • Cat Bonds reduce strain on public finances post-disaster → predictable budgeting.

A South Asian Regional Cat Bond – The Big Idea

  • India as Lead Sponsor: Leverage its credit rating, financial depth, and disaster mitigation record.
  • Risk Pooling Benefits:
    • Shared risk lowers individual premiums.
    • Leverages region’s hazard diversity (earthquakes in Nepal/Bhutan, tsunamis in Bay of Bengal, cyclones in Bangladesh & India).
  • Geo-economic Gain: Enhances India’s role as a disaster-resilient regional leader in South Asia.

Design Flaws: Challenges to Watch

  • Trigger Mismatch Risk:
    • Example: Earthquake bond designed for 6.6M threshold may not pay out for 6.5M quake that causes major damage.
  • Perception Risk:
    • If no disaster occurs, questions may arise on high upfront costs.
  • Solution: Transparent cost-benefit comparisons with historical relief expenditure.

Policy Recommendations

  • Pilot a Cat Bond: Start with one high-impact hazard (e.g., floods in Assam or coastal cyclones).
  • Use World Bank/ADB as Issuer: Tap into established credibility and global investor networks.
  • Layer with Mitigation: Include DRR commitments (e.g., early warning systems) to lower premiums.
  • Build Awareness: Educate policymakers and state disaster management authorities (SDMAs) on financial risk transfer tools.


What is the NAS?

  • Conducted by: Ministry of Education (every 3 years)
  • Coverage: Classes 3, 5, 8, and 10 in govt & aided schools.
  • Subjects Tested: Language, Mathematics, Environmental Science, Science, Social Science.
  • Purpose: Diagnostic tool to assess learning outcomes across States.

Relevance : GS 2(Education , Governance)

Why Himachal’s Jump is Significant

  • 2021 Rank: 21st
  • 2025 Rank: Top 5
  • Improvement: Massive 16-rank leap in 4 years — biggest positive swing among all States.
  • Context: Reversal of a two-decade decline in public schooling quality post-liberalisation.

Reform Strategies Behind the Success

  • Structural Rationalisation:
    • Over 1,000 under-enrolled schools merged to optimise teacher deployment and infrastructure.
    • Unified school system under a single education directorate (pre-primary to Class 12).
  • Accountability & Ownership:
    • Class 12 focus reintroduced to boost end-stage learning outcomes.
    • Greater autonomy in school-level decision-making.
    • Teachers and high-performing students sent for exposure visits (national & international).
  • Cluster-based School Management:
    • Promoted peer learning, resource sharing, and community participation.
    • Fostered local identity and emotional connection with schools.
  • Political Will:
    • Administration showed strong public commitment to education reform, reversing a legacy of neglect.

What NAS Captures — and Misses

CapturesMisses
Language, Maths, ScienceSocio-emotional well-being, civic awareness
Relative academic benchmarksHolistic quality of teacher-student relationships
State-level learning gapsEquity dimensions (e.g. rural, marginalised learners’ challenges)

Test scores ≠ Education quality. Himachal’s real achievement lies in restoring public trust in government schooling, not just academic scores.

Broader Socio-educational Context

  • Historical Strengths: Legacy of Y.S. Parmar’s village-centric education model post-Independence.
  • Decline Phase: Contractual hiring, poor facilities → private school boom even in remote areas.
  • Demographic Challenge: Declining fertility rate (NFHS-5) demanded resource consolidation, not expansion.

Way Forward

  • Regularise teacher recruitment to ensure stability and motivation.
  • Expand beyond NAS: Introduce holistic assessments focusing on creativity, emotional intelligence, critical thinking.
  • Equity Focus: Ensure remote, rural, and SC/ST students are not left behind in resource allocation or digital access.
  • Sustain Community Engagement: Strengthen parent-teacher forums and local governance in school management.


Inequality and the Gini Debate

  • In July 2025, the Government of India cited a World Bank brief ranking India as the 4th most equal country globally, based on the consumption-based Gini index (Gini: 0.29).
  • However, this ranking masks the ground reality, as income and wealth inequalities in India are among the highest globally, as per the World Inequality Database.
  • As of 2023:
    • Top 1% earned 22.6% of national income and held 40.1% of total wealth.
    • Bottom 50% earned 14.6% of income and held only 6.4% of wealth.
  • The Gini index based on consumption does not capture asset inequality, capital income, or structural disadvantages — leading to misleading claims of equality.
  • This raises critical questions about the validity of India’s equality claims, the limitations of survey-based data, and the need for multidimensional inequality metrics.

Relevance : GS 3(Indian Economy ,Inequality , Gini Co-efficient)

Claim vs Reality: Gini Index Interpretation

  • World Bank’s Brief (2024) ranked India as the 4th most equal country based on consumption-based Gini index.
    • India’s Gini index (consumption) was estimated at 0.29, implying low inequality.
    • Issue: This metric ignores income and wealth inequality, which are significantly higher.

Income Inequality is Rising Sharply

  • As of 2023:
    • Top 1% income share: 22.6%
    • Top 10% income share: 57.7%
    • Bottom 50% share: just 14.6%
    • Reflects a threefold gap between top 1% and bottom 50% in income control.
    • Source: World Inequality Database

Wealth Inequality is Even More Stark

  • In 2023:
    • Top 1% own 40.1% of total personal wealth.
    • Top 10%: 65%
    • Bottom 50%: only 6.4%
    • Indicates extreme concentration of wealth.
    • Historical trend: Wealth inequality has been consistently rising since the 1990s.

Limitations of Consumption-Based Gini

  • It underestimates inequality because:
    • Consumption is smoother across households (poor borrow; rich save).
    • Surveys underreport elite consumption.
    • Rural-urban price differences and housing costs are not well-adjusted.
    • Gini fails to capture wealth hoarding, capital gains, inheritance effects.

Survey Quality Issues Distort Findings

  • NSSO and NSO surveys suffer from:
    • Non-response bias
    • Under-sampling of top-income households
    • Outdated consumption baskets
    • This results in misleading aggregate equality metrics.

India’s Claim Omits Income/Wealth Data

  • World Bank brief did not include income or wealth Gini (India does not officially publish them).
    • Other global rankings using income or wealth inequality place India far lower in equality metrics.

Taxation System Does Not Correct Inequality

  • Pre- and post-tax income share of top 10% shows little difference.
    • Indicates that India’s taxation is not redistributive enough.
    • Direct taxes and wealth taxes are limited; subsidies don’t offset wealth concentration.

Bigger Picture Missed: Structural Inequality

  • Gini does not account for:Caste-based or gender inequalityEducational or health access gapsIntergenerational mobility blockages
    • These structural issues exacerbate long-term inequality, especially among marginalised communities.

Global Comparisons are Misleading

  • Nordic countries (e.g., Denmark) rank equal on both consumption and income metrics.
    • India’s claim of equality collapses when judged on income, asset ownership, or human capital indicators.
    • Suggests cherry-picking one metric to portray a broad narrative.

Policy Implications

  • Need for triangulation: Combine consumption, income, and wealth data to assess inequality holistically.
  • Revise tax structures to be more progressive.
  • Improve data transparency: India must release periodic income and wealth Gini estimates.
  • Strengthen social safety nets, asset redistribution schemes, and education/health access to reduce long-term disparities.


The Crash: Key Facts

  • Incident: A Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed near Churu, Rajasthan on July 9, 2025, during a routine training sortie.
  • Fatalities: Both pilots — Wing Commander R. Takle and Flight Lieutenant A. Dixit — lost their lives.
  • Pattern: This is the third Jaguar crash since March 2025, highlighting a disturbing frequency.

Relevance : GS 3(Disaster Management , Defence)

Technical & Operational Concerns

 

  • Aging Fleet: Jaguars were inducted into IAF in 1979; many are now over 40 years old.
  • Previous Incidents:
    • March 2024: Jaguar crash post-takeoff from Ambala, pilot ejected safely.
    • March 2025: Pilot died during a similar crash in Rajasthan.
  • Combat Capabilities: Designed for deep penetration strikes and low-altitude flying — operationally challenging roles that stress older airframes.

Why It Matters

  • Obsolescence Risk: The Jaguar fleet is no longer being upgraded; IAF has discontinued the DARIN-III upgrade midway.
  • Crash Trend: Out of 160 Jaguars inducted, fewer than 100 remain. Of these, many are at end-of-life.
  • Survivability Issues: Unlike Su-30MKIs and Rafales, Jaguars lack modern ejection systems and sensors, reducing pilot survival chances.

Replacement & Modernization Imperatives

  • Future Roadmap:
    • Jaguars to be replaced by HAL Tejas Mk1A, Su-30MKI upgrades, and Rafales under ongoing modernization.
    • HAL’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is a long-term solution — first flight expected by 2030.
  • Gap Risks: Decommissioning Jaguars without rapid replenishment could create operational gaps in deep-strike capabilities.

Macro Picture: India’s Combat Aircraft Fleet

Aircraft TypeInduction YearStatusQuantity (approx)
Jaguar1979Phasing Out~90
Mirage 20001985Mid-Life Upgrade~50
Su-30MKI2002 onwardsBackbone Fleet270
Rafale2020 onwardsOperational36
Tejas Mk1A2024 onwardsInducting83 ordered

Strategic Implications

  • Training & Safety Protocols: Routine sorties turning fatal signal need for enhanced flight safety audits and stress testing of aging jets.
  • Global Perception: Frequent crashes may dent IAF’s image in international military aviation, especially in light of export ambitions (e.g., Tejas).
  • Pilot Morale & Safety: High-risk training in outdated platforms could impact combat readiness and morale of younger IAF personnel.

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