Content:
- Women MSMEs still struggle for credit despite schemes
- Deadly Trail: Tiger Attacks and Shifting Behaviour
- Myanmar ethnic crisis drives 4,000 Chin people to Mizoram
- The free fall of moral leadership
- Record-breaking Heat in Kashmir
Women MSMEs still struggle for credit despite schemes
Context: Persistent Credit Gaps for Women Entrepreneurs
- Despite growth in women-led enterprises, access to formal credit remains limited.
- Women face a ~35% credit gap (SIDBI), higher than the ~20% faced by men.
- This undermines India’s goal of inclusive and sustainable MSME development.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues) ,GS 3( Banking ,Entrepreneurship )
Disparities in Financial Access
- In 2024, women held 64% of all PMMY loan accounts, but received only 41% of the sanctioned amount.
- Reflects a stark disparity between loan access and actual fund disbursement.
- Women are seen as risky borrowers due to lack of:
- Collateral/property ownership
- Credit history
- Formal business registration
Credit Gap & Its Impacts
- Credit gap = difference between credit sought and credit received.
- Women entrepreneurs face:
- 26% affected by inadequate funds
- High competition
- Perception bias from formal lenders
- Leads many to depend on informal sources (riskier, costly).
Women in the MSME Sector: Contribution vs Returns
- Women-led MSMEs = 20% of all MSMEs in India.
- But:
- Contribute only 10% of sectoral turnover
- Receive 11–15% of total investment
- Reveals low financial efficiency and underutilisation of women’s entrepreneurial potential.
Policy Interventions – Mixed Outcomes
Successes:
- PM MUDRA Yojana:
- Collateral-free loans
- 4.2 crore+ women accounts in 2024
- Udyam Assist Portal:
- Helped formalise 1.86 crore IMEs, 70.5% women-owned
- Empowers informal enterprises for priority sector lending
Gaps:
- Women need 4+ bank visits on average vs 2 for men to get a loan.
- Most schemes fail at implementation stage due to:
- Lack of awareness
- Weak support from banks/local agencies
- Low financial literacy among first-gen rural women entrepreneurs
Systemic & Structural Barriers
- Lack of legal documents, land titles, and credit history locks women out of formal finance.
- Traditional institutions don’t invest enough in outreach or handholding.
- Formal lenders prefer asset-backed lending, which women often can’t fulfil.
Monetary Policy Leverage
- RBI’s repo rate cut to 5.50% and CRR reduction infused greater liquidity into the system.
- Aimed to stimulate credit flow to under-served sectors, but trickle-down to women-led businesses remains weak.
IMEs as an Opportunity
- Informal Micro Enterprises (IMEs), often excluded from formal credit, are women-dominated.
- Recent formalisation push via Udyam Assist Portal is promising — a gateway to credit inclusion.
- Needs follow-up with training, awareness, and lender engagement.
Policy Recommendations
- Digitally streamline loan processing for women MSMEs.
- Incentivise banks to meet gender-specific lending targets.
- Mandatory reporting on credit disbursed to women-led units under schemes like PMMY.
- Expand credit guarantee mechanisms specifically for women entrepreneurs.
- Financial literacy & credit readiness training in Tier 2–3 towns and rural belts.
Deadly Trail: Tiger Attacks and Shifting Behaviour
Source : Down to Earth
Context: Rising Tiger-Human Conflict in India
- 43 human deaths due to tiger attacks in Jan–June 2025 alone — consistent with 2024 trends.
- Notable clusters:
- Chandrapur (Maharashtra): 22 deaths (11 in 17 days in May)
- Pilibhit (UP): 5 deaths
- Uttarakhand: 9 deaths
- Ranthambore (Rajasthan): 3 deaths, incl. forest staff
- Pattern: Most attacks occurred within 100–500m of forest fringes, often in tiger corridors and buffer zones.
Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology-Man animal conflict)
Are Tigers Turning into Human Predators?
- In at least 4 cases, partial consumption of human remains observed.
- Not indicative of tigers becoming habitual human-eaters:
- Occasional scavenging occurs when carcasses are left unattended.
- Some old/injured tigers attack humans due to inability to hunt regular prey.
- Cubs that are orphaned or exposed to human feeding may associate humans with food.
Expert Perspectives
- Anish Andheria (Wildlife Conservation Trust): Habitual human-eating is extremely rare.
- Krishnendu Basak (Biologist):
- A tiger needs ~50 kills/year → needs 500 prey animals to survive.
- If tigers preferred humans, deaths would be in thousands, not dozens.
- Ullas Karanth: Issue is not “taste for flesh”, but loss of fear due to increased human interaction.
Ecological & Behavioural Shifts
1. Reduced Prey Base
- In some reserves, depleted natural prey due to habitat fragmentation or competition from livestock.
2. Habituation to Humans
- Live baiting practices (e.g., Ranthambore’s Arrowhead tigress and cubs) can condition tigers to associate humans with food.
3. Orphaned/Impaired Tigers
- Example: Arrowhead had bone cancer, couldn’t hunt, leading to unnatural feeding behaviour in her cubs.
4. Expansion of Tiger Habitat into Human Settlements
- Study in Science (2025):
- 45% of tiger-occupied areas overlap with 60 million people.
- Tiger range in India expanded by ~138,200 sq km in last 2 decades.
Human Factors
- Encroachment: Expanding agriculture (e.g., sugarcane fields near reserves) brings humans closer to tiger zones.
- Forest-based livelihoods: People entering forests for firewood, grazing, etc., increases risk.
- Delayed rescue/search: Allows tigers to scavenge or revisit kills, raising concern about cannibalistic behaviour.
Conservation Policy Challenges
- Conservation paradox: Success in increasing tiger population is leading to increased human conflict.
- Poor enforcement of buffer zone management.
- Lack of awareness among locals about tiger behaviour and safe zones.
Policy Recommendations
- Scientific Prey Base Management:
- Ensure adequate herbivore populations inside reserves.
- Discourage dependence on cattle grazing in buffer zones.
- Ban/Regulate Live Baiting:
- Such practices can distort natural predatory behaviour in cubs.
- Improved Surveillance & Early Warning:
- Use camera traps, drones, AI models to detect tiger presence near villages.
- Community-Based Tiger Conflict Management:
- Involve local communities (Van Rakshaks, SHGs) in mitigation, compensation, and awareness drives.
- Create Safe Livelihood Alternatives:
- Reduce people’s dependence on forests for fuel/fodder.
- Promote eco-tourism, agro-forestry, clean energy in fringe villages.
Myanmar ethnic crisis drives 4,000 Chin people to Mizoram
Context: Fresh Refugee Influx from Myanmar
- Since July 3, 2025, a new wave of violence between ethnic armed groups in Myanmar’s Chin State has led to ~4,000 refugees crossing into Mizoram.
- Champhai district, especially Zokhawthar and Vaphai villages, are primary entry and shelter points.
- Refugees are mostly women and children, sheltering in homes, schools, and community halls.
Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security-Refugee Crisis), GS 2(International Relations)
Trigger: Armed Clash Between Chin Factions
- Conflict erupted between:
- Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and
- Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram (CDF-H)
- Fighting over strategic border zones critical for cross-border trade with India.
- The CNDF reportedly seized all 8 CDF-H camps after intense gunfire.
Broader Conflict Background
- Both groups are part of the People’s Defence Force (PDF) resisting Myanmar’s military junta that took power in a 2021 coup.
- Reflects growing fragmentation within Myanmar’s anti-junta resistance, complicating the regional security landscape.
Ethnic and Cross-Border Solidarity
- Chins (Myanmar) and Mizos (India) belong to the wider Zo ethnic community, which also includes Kukis, Zomis, Hmars, Kuki-Chins.
- Shared ancestry means many refugees have relatives in Mizoram, explaining high local acceptance.
- Young Mizo Association (YMA) and local residents are providing basic aid, highlighting civil society’s role in humanitarian support.
India’s Humanitarian Response
- Mizoram administration has not forced refugees to return, citing safety concerns.
- CM Lalduhoma’s political adviser visited the border and reportedly engaged in peace talks with armed group leaders — a rare local-level diplomatic initiative.
Existing Refugee Load in Mizoram
- Over 30,000 refugees (from Myanmar and Bangladesh) are already residing in Mizoram before this new influx.
- Includes:
- ~2,000 Kuki-Chins from Bangladesh (since 2022)
- ~5,000 Kuki-Zo displaced from Manipur (since 2023 ethnic violence)
- Includes:
- This places immense pressure on local resources, infrastructure, and humanitarian mechanisms.
Strategic & Security Implications
- 510-km India-Myanmar border remains porous, with intermittent armed clashes and transnational ethnic networks.
- Potential risks:
- Militant spillover
- Cross-border arms/drug trade
- Complications in India’s Act East Policy and border trade
- Highlights need for a robust Indo-Myanmar border management policy balancing security and humanitarian concerns.
Broader Geopolitical Relevance
- Reflects Myanmar’s failing state capacity post-2021 coup.
- India’s approach showcases:
- Soft-border humanitarianism (especially in Northeast)
- Decentralised refugee response by state governments
- The delicate balance between strategic autonomy and ethnic solidarity.
Policy & Governance Takeaways
- Need for a formal refugee policy in India (India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention).
- Importance of empowering local governance and civil society in border humanitarian crises.
- Urgent requirement to:
- Enhance border surveillance
- Launch livelihood and relief programmes
- Facilitate inter-governmental coordination (Centre–Mizoram–Myanmar).
The free fall of moral leadership
Contextual Backdrop
- Article examines the crisis of moral and democratic leadership amid rising global conflicts (Ukraine war, Gaza crisis, Israel-Iran tensions).
- Highlights the erosion of principle-based politics, replaced by hegemonic expediency and military coercion.
- Asserts that the failure of democracies to produce inspiring, accountable leadership has amplified geopolitical instability.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations) , GS 4(Ethics – Leadership)
Global Leadership Crisis
- World leaders have prioritized expediency over justice, leading to ambiguity in moral positions.
- Injustice in West Asia (Gaza, Iran-Israel) continues due to power imbalance, with no global accountability framework.
- UN Charter and international law have failed to restrain aggressive state behaviour — exemplified by Iraq, Ukraine invasions.
Impotence of the Rules-Based Order
- The illusion of a rules-based global order is shattered by frequent violations of sovereignty and human rights.
- International law is increasingly sidelined, reduced to a “footnote” by the unchecked ambitions of major powers.
- Ceasefires brokered by military superpowers, like Trump’s initiative, lack moral legitimacy and sustainability.
Call for Justice-Driven Leadership
- Moral leadership must:
- Value justice over raw power
- Uphold international law
- Protect human dignity
- Champion the weak and voiceless
- Leadership should transcend military logic, focusing instead on building global consensus and ending inequalities.
Democracy and Leadership: A Normative Model
- True democratic leadership is:
- Willing to walk alone for principle
- Driven by truth, integrity, and inclusiveness
- About inspiring people and optimizing human potential
- Firm yet empathetic; decisive yet consultative
- Moral vacuums breed authoritarianism and loss of public trust in institutions.
Philosophical Anchors
- Karl Marx: Leaders make history under inherited socio-political constraints, not in a vacuum.
- Chateaubriand: The leader must reflect the spirit of the times, embedding public aspiration in political vision.
- Highlights the need to restore moral purpose to politics, beyond personal ambition or strategic dominance.
India’s Unique Leadership Responsibility
- India’s Gandhian legacy provides a blueprint for transformative, non-violent, and moral leadership.
- Guided by “VasudhaivaKutumbakam” (The World is One Family), India must:
- Assert moral authority in international forums
- Promote justice-based diplomacy
- Balance strategic autonomy with ethical responsibility
- India’s economic, nuclear, and regional strength should serve not just self-interest, but global harmony.
Lessons from Mahatma Gandhi
- Gandhi’s leadership:
- Rooted in ethical imagination, not political calculation
- Aligned personal conduct with national aspiration
- Embodied the ‘will of the age’ — a moral compass for the oppressed
- Today’s leaders must emulate Gandhi in mobilising conscience and compassion, not just electoral arithmetic.
Needed: Democratic Rejuvenation
- Current democratic fatigue and social fractures demand:
- Leaders as symbols of hope and dignity
- A return to collegiality, modesty, and ethical restraint
- Political processes that prioritize justice over power play
- Indian democracy must reclaim moral centrality both internally and globally, especially amidst shifting geopolitical poles.
Record-breaking Heat in Kashmir
Context :
- Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 37.8°C on June 29, 1978; July 10, 1946 remains the hottest ever at 38.3°C.
- Pahalgam saw its highest temperature ever recorded on July 6, 2025 at 31.6°C.
- June 2025 was the hottest in Kashmir in almost five decades.
Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology – Climate Change)
Kashmir’s Climate Profile
- Temperate climate with four distinct seasons.
- Summer (June–August): Used to be mild due to western disturbances.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Heavy snowfall in mountains, rains in plains.
- Now: June temperatures have breached 36°C, which is abnormal.

Emerging Climate Trends
- Increase in dry spells; rainfall patterns have changed.
- Summer temperatures rising ~3°C above normal.
- Maximum summer temperature hit 37.4°C in 2023, third-highest ever.
- Days above 35°C are more frequent and prolonged.
Hydrological Impact
- Jhelum river drying in places—significant concern for drinking water, irrigation.
- Reduced availability of snow-fed water, especially due to:
- Low winter snowfall
- Early melting of snow in March
Urbanisation as a Driver of Heat
- Urban heat islands (UHIs) in Jammu and Srinagar: cities are hotter than nearby rural areas.
- Causes:
- Loss of vegetation
- Rapid concretisation
- Increased vehicular and industrial activity
- Shrinking green cover and wetlands
Feedback Loop of Warming
- Rising temperatures → more evaporation → drier soils → reduced cooling effect.
- Both maximum and minimum temperatures consistently high.
Hottest Days in Srinagar (IMD Data)
Month | Top Temperatures |
June | 37.8°C (June 29, 1978), 37.6°C (June 27, 1978) |
July | 38.3°C (July 10, 1946), 37.7°C (July 23, 1978), 37.4°C (July 5, 2005) |
Key Reasons Behind Abnormal Heat
- Climate change—global warming raising baseline temperatures.
- Urban sprawl—trapping heat, reducing moisture, altering microclimates.
- Reduced snowfall—early melt reduces water availability and summer cooling.
- Fewer western disturbances—less summer rainfall, more heat accumulation.
Expert Views (Faizan Arif, Mukhtar Ahmad)
- This is not a one-off event; pattern of consistently high temps.
- Reduced snow has left mountains “bare” even by March.
- Urban areas lack green infrastructure and thermal regulation capacity.
Concerns and Implications
- Water stress: Early melting & reduced snow mean less water for summer.
- Agriculture: Higher temperatures and dry spells may reduce yield.
- Health: Rise in heatstroke and respiratory distress.
- Ecosystem disruption: Biodiversity loss due to shifting climate zones.
- Tourism hit: Unbearable heat affects Kashmir’s “cool retreat” appeal.
Policy Takeaways & Recommendations
- Urban redesign: Green buildings, reflective surfaces, increased vegetation.
- Water conservation: Snow capture systems, rainwater harvesting.
- Climate-resilient agriculture: Crop diversification, drought-resistant varieties.
- Monitoring: Real-time climate sensors, early warning systems.
- Legal zoning: Curb unregulated urbanisation in ecologically fragile zones.