Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 27 May 2025

Content:

1. An Operation That Was Also About a Self-Reliant India
2. Focus on Heat-Resilience Despite the Monsoon
3. Greater Share

An operation that was also about a self-reliant India

 India’s Decade of Transformation

• Under PM Modi’s leadership, India has pursued strategic, economic, and technological transformation.
• Shift from being a passive global participant to becoming a self-reliant and globally influential power.
• Vision of India as a strategic and technological leader in the 21st century.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance) ,GS 3(Technology ,Research)

Practice Question : ”India’s journey from a strategic dependent to a technological and defence-capable power is reshaping its global identity.” Discuss with reference to recent policy initiatives and indigenous defence capabilities.(250 Words)

 Industrial Resurgence via Make in India

• Launched in 2014 to turn India into a global manufacturing hub.
• Key reforms:
  • Improving ease of doing business.
  • Attracting domestic and FDI investments.
• High-growth sectors: Electronics, Defence, Automobiles.
• PLI schemes incentivized local manufacturing.

 Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (2020) – Strategic Push

• Focused on reducing import dependency and building strategic autonomy.
• Core sectors: Defence, Electronics, Semiconductors, Pharma, Critical Minerals.
• Emphasized modern, globally integrated, and efficient value chains.

 Innovation and Start-up Ecosystem

• India is the 3rd-largest start-up ecosystem globally.
• Start-ups in fintech, edtech, agritech, health tech, and increasingly in defence tech, AI, space, and cybersecurity.
• Innovation is now contributing to strategic domains.

 Strategic Partnerships

• Bilateral initiatives boosting tech cooperation:
  • U.S.-India TRUST initiative.
  • India-France roadmap in AI, quantum, and defence tech.

 Operation Sindoor – A Milestone in Indigenous Capability

• Demonstrated effective use of indigenous defence tech.
• Signaled India’s shift from arms importer to exporter.
• FY25 defence exports: ₹23,622 crore (target ₹50,000 crore by 2029).
  • Private sector contribution: ₹15,233 crore.
• Operation showcased validation of Make in India & Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

 National Power = Technological Leadership

• Technological domains vital for strategic power:
  • AI, Quantum, Biotech, Space Systems.
• Key initiatives:
  • National Quantum Mission
  • India Semiconductor Mission
• ISRO’s Chandrayaan & Gaganyaan reflect space maturity.

 Role of Industry in National Endeavour

• Industry is critical in building high-tech capability in:
  • Semiconductors, Clean Tech, Mobility, Defence, Electronics.
• Contributing to:
  • Satellite components.
  • Launch vehicles.
  • Indigenous defence platforms (missiles, drones, etc.).

 Advancing AI and Skill Development

• Industry support to:
  • Bhashini: AI-powered real-time language translation.
  • FutureSkills Prime: Upskilling for AI-based future.

 The Way Forward: Private Sector Commitments

• Industry must:
  • Increase R&D investment.
  • Forge international tech partnerships.
  • Lead collaborative research with academia and public institutions.
  • Develop a skilled talent pipeline of engineers and innovators.

 Vision for Viksit Bharat (Developed India)

• India is now a shaper, not a follower, of global trends.
• Self-reliance has evolved from policy to a national passion.
• A collaborative effort across government, industry, startups, and academia is essential.
• Operation Sindoor is a testament to India’s journey toward becoming secure, resilient, and technologically sovereign.

Focus on heat-resilience despite the monsoon

Heat and Health: Current Challenges

• India continues to experience intense heatwaves, even with early monsoons.
• Health impacts include dehydration, heatstroke, exacerbated chronic illnesses.
• The response is skewed towards crisis management (hospital beds, IV fluids) rather than prevention.

Relevance : GS 3(Disaster Management)

Practice Question : Extreme heat is no longer a seasonal crisis but a public health emergency. Examine the need for a preventive, equity-centered and multi-sectoral approach to build climate heat resilience in India.(250 Words)

Need to Shift: From Reactive to Preventive Healthcare

• The health system must evolve to proactive, preventive, and interdisciplinary approaches.
• Crisis-focused responses are insufficient for a warming world.

Strengthening Primary Care for Climate Readiness

• Primary health care (PHC) and frontline workers (ASHAs) must become heat-safety champions.
• With training, they can:
  • Spread life-saving tips (hydration, avoiding peak heat hours).
  • Check on vulnerable groups (elderly, chronically ill).
  • Conduct door-to-door alerts and hydration kit distribution.
• Integration of weather alerts with health services can trigger timely community action (e.g., Ahmedabad model).

Integrating Heat Precautions in Chronic Care

• People with cardiovascular, diabetic, renal, and mental health conditions are highly vulnerable.
• Clinicians must:
  • Adjust medications in summer.
  • Counsel patients on heat precautions.
  • Monitor high-risk patients more frequently.

Need for Standardised Clinical Protocols

• Heat illnesses often go undetected or misdiagnosed.
• Urgent need for:
  • Standardised clinical protocols.
  • Summer drills in hospitals.
  • ‘Heat corners’ in emergency departments.
  • Cooling kits and post-discharge follow-ups.

Beyond Health: A Multi-sectoral Heat-Resilience Strategy

• Health sector alone cannot tackle the heat crisis.
• Requires intersectoral collaboration:
  • Urban planners → Cooler housing designs, shaded public spaces.
  • Water departments → Reliable summer water supply.
  • Labour departments → Regulated outdoor working hours.
  • Climate scientists → Real-time, localised data to guide action.

Networks of Excellence Over Centres of Excellence

• Build collaborative teams across disciplines (public health, climate science, labour rights).
• Focus on solutions rooted in lived experience, e.g.:
  • Misting shelters in slums.
  • Cool roofing in Anganwadi centres.

Equity-Centered Climate Resilience

• Extreme heat amplifies social inequalities:
  • Informal vendors, children, elderly, and daily wage workers suffer the most.
• ‘Stay indoors’ advice excludes the vulnerable who lack that option.
• Heat resilience must prioritise equity:
  • Map social vulnerabilities (not just temperatures).
  • Morning health checks during alerts.
  • Mobile hydration units, cool shelters, and protective worker policies.

The Time to Act is Now

• The window to build resilience is closing.
• India must lead with urgency, embedding heat resilience into public health.
• Actions must be science-driven, equity-rooted, and locally led.
• True climate resilience = protecting the most at risk.

Greater share

 Context & Background

• NITI Aayog Meeting: PM Modi’s call for “Team India” cooperation comes amid growing discontent among States.
• Federal Institutions Dormant:
  • NITI Aayog Governing Council meets only once a year.
  • GST Council has not met for over 5 months, despite mandate of quarterly meetings.
• States’ Frustration: Lack of regular platforms to air grievances undermines cooperative federalism.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance , Federalism)

Practice Question : Discuss the impact of GST on fiscal federalism in India. In light of the evolving revenue landscape, should States get a higher share of central taxes? Substantiate your argument.(250 Words)

 Erosion of Fiscal Federalism

• One-way Street: Centre exerts control over policy and finances, limiting States’ autonomy.
• Carrot-and-Stick Approach: States are compelled to comply with central schemes due to financial dependency.

 Need for Reform in Centre-State Tax Sharing

• Current Devolution: States receive 41% of central taxes (as per 15th Finance Commission).
• Tamil Nadu CM’s Proposal: Raise the share to 50% to restore balance in fiscal federalism.

 Impact of GST on States’ Revenues

• Loss of Fiscal Autonomy: GST subsumed State-level indirect taxes (like VAT, entry tax).
• Compensation Period Over: 5-year GST compensation ended in June 2022.
• Own Tax Revenue Trends:
  • Improved from 6.6% of GSDP (2017-18) to 7.2% (2024-25).
  • Indicates States are making efforts to enhance revenue collection.

 GST Performance vs Expectations

• Underperformance: GST revenues have only recently exceeded pre-GST levels.
• Unrealised Potential: GST was expected to be revenue-neutral or even beneficial, but that hasn’t fully materialised.

 Constructive Federal Mechanisms

• Sub-Groups as Solution:
  • Andhra CM proposed regional sub-groups to focus on:
    • GDP growth & investment
    • Leveraging demographics
    • Governance through technology
  • Could make coordination easier compared to involving all States at once.

 Way Forward

• Revive Federal Forums: Frequent and meaningful meetings of NITI Aayog & GST Council are critical.
• Revisit Devolution Formula: A serious debate on increasing States’ share in central taxes is essential.
• Ensure Fiscal Equity: Reforms must recognize that States are development partners, not mere implementers.