Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 23 August 2025

Content

1. A Court order that was barking up the wrong tree
2. Reforming the “Steel Frame” for India’s Deep-Tech Ambition

A Court order that was barking up the wrong tree

What happened (timeline & scope)

• Aug 11, 2025: SC directed Delhi civic bodies to capture 5,000 strays from “high-risk areas” for sheltering. Triggered concerns over legality, feasibility, and public health. Delhi’s street-dog population estimated at 0.5–1.0 million.
• Aug 22, 2025 (modified order): SC reversed course—dogs to be sterilised, vaccinated, dewormed, and returned to original localities. Only rabid/aggressive dogs to stay in shelters. Designated feeding zones mandated. Final hearing pending.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance , Judiciary)

Practice Question : “The Supreme Court’s recent directions on Delhi’s street dogs highlight the tension between legality, feasibility, and public health. In this context, examine the evidence-based pathway for humane and effective rabies control in India.” (250 words)

First principles: what works for public health & safety

• Rabies control depends on 70%+ vaccination coverage, not mass sheltering/culling.
• National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) emphasises mass dog vaccination + Animal Birth Control (ABC).
• Vacuum effect: Removing dogs leads to immigration/reproduction → problem recurs.
• Best practice: Capture–Neuter–Vaccinate–Return (CNVR) + waste control.
• Evidence:
  • Jaipur (1996–2000s): ABC + vaccination cut human rabies deaths to near-zero; stabilised dog population.
  • Jodhpur (2005–09): CNVR reduced fertility, increased vaccination coverage.

Why mass shelters are high-risk, low-yield

• Epidemiological risk: Dense confinement = outbreaks (distemper, parvo, leptospirosis, rabies). Disposal & biosecurity challenges.
• Operational infeasibility: 5,000-dog capture target lacked basis; no updated census; past sterilisation coverage incomplete.
• Public safety: Removing stable, vaccinated packs increases territorial churn → more conflict.

Current legal position

• Law: PCA Act, 1960 + ABC Rules, 2023 → capture only for sterilisation/vaccination; return mandatory; exceptions only for rabid/aggressive dogs.
• SC 2024 precedent: Compassionate, rules-compliant ABC mandated; indiscriminate removal rejected.
• Aug 22, 2025 order: Realigns with ABC Rules → sterilise, vaccinate, return, feeding zones, no blanket sheltering.

Delhi problem in numbers

• Dog bites: ~3.7 million nationwide; ~25,000 in Delhi (2024). Solvable via vaccination + Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) + ABC.
• No fresh census: Last citywide count 2009; zone-wise 2016. Current estimates: 0.5–1.0 million → planning blind spot.
• Sterilisation throughput: Recent rise but still insufficient to hit ≥70% female sterilisation; without census targets, results weak.

Evidence-based plan for Delhi

A. Measure (0–3 months):

• Rapid photographic census ward-wise.
• One-Health dashboard (census, sterilisation, vaccination, bites, PEP stocks).

B. Vaccinate (1–12 months):

• Mass parenteral vaccination to achieve ≥70% per ward.
• Ring-vaccinate hotspots; repeat annually.
• Ensure 24×7 PEP supply & reporting.

C. Fertility control (1–24 months):

• Scale CNVR via fixed & mobile camps.
• Target ≥70% female sterilisation; microchip & ear-notch.
• Prioritise high-fecundity clusters (markets, waste hubs, peri-urban).

D. Environmental levers (0–12 months):

• Contain food waste at mandis/hotels; fines for dumping.

E. Human–dog interface (1–6 months):

• Designated feeding points with signage & feeder codes.
• Humane handling SOPs; helplines for escalation.

F. Risk management:

• Capture & quarantine aggressive/rabid dogs per protocol.
• Shelters = quarantine/clinical nodes, not long-term storage.

G. Governance & accountability:

• Monthly ward scorecards (vaccination %, sterilisation %, bite incidence).
• NGO payments tied to verified outcomes.
• Independent audit of ABC centres.

Common misconceptions cleared

• “Shelter all dogs = safer streets” → false; increases conflict & disease.
• “Culling is faster” → false; only 70% vaccination ensures control.
• “Feeding causes bites” → unmanaged feeding risky; designated feeding + CNVR reduces conflict.

What to watch before final adjudication

• Ensure uniform protocol under ABC Rules, 2023.
• Define “aggressive” clearly to avoid misuse.
• Mandate census + ward-wise coverage targets with dashboards & audits.

Glossary

• ABC: Animal Birth Control (sterilise + vaccinate + return).
• CNVR: Capture–Neuter–Vaccinate–Return.
• NAPRE: India’s roadmap to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030.
• WHO/WOAH: Global technical guidance bodies.
• ICAM: Humane dog-population management coalition.
• MCD/NDMC: Delhi civic bodies.

Bottom line

• Aug 22, 2025 SC modification restores scientifically sound, legally compliant strategy: sterilise, vaccinate, return.
• Key task ahead: census-based targeting, high-throughput CNVR, mass vaccination, waste control, transparent metrics.
• Not the solution: indiscriminate warehousing of dogs.

Reforming the “Steel Frame” for India’s Deep-Tech Ambition

What is the “Steel Frame” and why it matters for deep-tech

• “Steel frame” = Colonial-era administrative architecture (ICS → IAS/IPS and allied services).
• Designed for control, compliance, and revenue/security—not for innovation or risk-taking.
• Deep-tech (AI, semiconductors, quantum, space, defence, biotech, robotics, advanced materials) requires:
  • Speed, specialised talent, risk capital
  • Agile procurement and predictable regulation
  • Strong IP protection and dispute resolution mechanisms
• Hence, state capacity in regulation, funding, procurement, and partnerships will decide success of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Relevance: GS 2 (Governance)

Practice Question : Reforming India’s “steel frame” is no longer about efficiency but about survival in a deep-tech world. Discuss the key administrative reforms needed to align India’s bureaucracy with its deep-tech ambitions for Viksit Bharat 2047. (250 words)

Core Friction Points

• Generalist dominance in techno-bureaucratic posts; weak domain depth.
• Tenure volatility → risk aversion, loss of institutional memory.
• Rule-centric compliance → audit phobia, secrecy ethos, slow iteration.
• Procurement rigidities → L-1 price bias, no agile/prototype contracts.
• Regulatory fragmentation across AI, telecom, space, biotech, defence.
• Weak project finance plumbing → slow disbursals, limited advance payments.
• Limited public demand-pull → govt not acting as anchor customer for frontier tech.
• Talent pipeline gaps → sparse lateral entry, poor pay for PhDs/industry experts.
• Centre–State–Local frictions → land, clearances, inspectorates cause delays.
• Adjudication delays in IPR/contracts → high cost of capital, stalled innovation.

What Has Improved

• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Aadhaar, UPI, ONDC, ABDM prove scale capability.
• Space & defence reforms: IN-SPACe, iDEX/Make-I/II, test ranges crowd in startups.
• Decriminalisation & compliance pruning in some sectors.
• Mission-mode programmes: Semiconductor Mission, AI initiatives, PLI schemes.

First Principles for a 2047-Ready Administrative State

• Prioritise outcomes > procedures; risk-managed agility over zero-risk stagnation.
• Specialisation for deep-tech posts; generalists only for coordination.
• Predictability & speed as legal entitlements (time-bound approvals).
• Government as anchor buyer to shape markets and standards.
• Transparent, data-rich governance to reduce discretion and increase accountability.

Reform Blueprint — 12 Levers

1. Talent & Cadre Architecture → specialist services, lateral entry, stable tenure.
2. Mission Karmayogi 2.0 → deep-tech training, certifications for promotions.
3. Procurement for Innovation → new procurement code, TRL-linked milestones, PCP Fund.
4. Regulatory Design → sandbox-based, harmonised standards, single gateway.
5. Time-bound Clearances → SLA clocks, deemed approvals, green lanes.
6. Anchor Demand → mandatory innovation procurement, annual deep-tech demand plans.
7. Finance & Grants Plumbing → milestone-based disbursal, IP-backed lending, credit guarantees.
8. IPR & Adjudication Speed → fast-track benches, Bayh-Dole style clarity.
9. Audit & Accountability Reform → ex-post audits, protection from audit fear.
10. Centre–State Compact → GST Council-like innovation council, performance-linked grants.
11. Institutional Separation → distinct roles for policy, regulation, and operations.
12. Open Government & Metrics → dashboards, league tables, annual governance reports.

Safeguards

• Rule of law & due process (speed with documentation, not discretion).
• Neutrality of civil service (avoid politicisation while enabling expertise).
• Privacy & national security compliance in sandboxes/DPI.
• Competition policy → avoid vendor lock-in, prefer open standards.

Measuring Success

• Time for approvals, procurement, grant disbursal.
• Share of innovation procurement in govt spend.
• Patent & dispute resolution timelines.
• Number of lateral hires/domain specialists.
• Public financing & scale-up success rate of deep-tech startups.
• High-tech manufacturing GVA share; GERD/GDP and BERD/GDP growth.
• Export share of high-tech goods/services.

Quick Wins (0–12 months)

• Notify procurement code + launch PCP Fund.
• Publish demand plans of 10 ministries with sandbox windows.
• Convert 100+ techno-reg posts into specialist tracks.
• Statutory SLAs for top approvals; public dashboard.
• IPR fast-track benches; pilot IP-backed lending.

Medium Horizon (1–3 years)

• Establish National Innovation & Industrial Permits Council.
• Scale Mission Karmayogi Deep-Tech.
• Build national testbeds (AI safety, 6G, biotech BSL-3/4, space components).
• Operationalise regulatory convergence cells.

Long Horizon (3–7 years)

• Mature specialist cadres, 10% posts lateral/specialist.
• Audit reform into statute.
• Resolve IPR disputes within 12 months median.
• Institutionalise annual innovation procurement targets.

Bottom Line

• India’s deep-tech ambition hinges on administrative design.
• Reforming the steel frame is not just “cutting red tape” but re-platforming the state.
• Specialist talent, agile procurement, sandboxed regulation, anchor demand, fast adjudication, and measurable accountability are essential for Viksit Bharat 2047.