Content
- Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0
- Atal Pension Yojna crosses 8.34 crore enrolments; Women account for 48%
Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0
Why is it in News?
- Fourth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam begins on 2 December 2025.
- Theme: “Tamil Karkalam – Let Us Learn Tamil”, shifting focus to linguistic learning.
- Major initiatives: Teaching Tamil in 50 Varanasi schools, Tamil learning tours for 300 UP students, Sage Agastya Vehicle Expedition, and grand valedictory in Rameswaram.
- Marks a civilisational-cultural linkage between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, aligned with Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB).
Relevance
GS 1 – Indian Culture
- Cultural continuity between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.
- Pilgrimage traditions, classical literature, temple architecture.
- Sage Agastya’s role in Indian civilisational history.
GS 2 – Governance & Education
- NEP 2020 focus on Indian languages & IKS.
- Cultural diplomacy within India.
- Centre–State coordination in education & culture.
What is Kashi Tamil Sangamam?
- A cultural initiative launched in 2022 during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
- Celebrates historical, spiritual and knowledge links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi/Varanasi.
- Implemented by Ministry of Education with IIT Madras & BHU as academic partners.
- Participants include: Students, teachers, artisans, farmers, scholars, spiritual leaders, professionals.
Core Idea:
Revive centuries-old people-to-people exchange across two major civilisation nodes of India.
Historical & Civilisational Context
- Pilgrimage routes between Tamil Nadu and Kashi documented in Bhakti literature (Appar, Sambandar, Manikkavasagar).
- Tamil mutts and communities settled in Kashi for centuries (e.g., Hanuman Ghat Tamil community).
- Scholars circulated ideas of Shaivism, Advaita, linguistics, Siddha medicine, temple architecture.
- Sage Agastya tradition symbolises north–south movement of knowledge.
Civilisational Continuity Themes:
- Sanskrit–Tamil literary dialogue
- Temple architecture diffusion
- Kashi’s influence on Tamil saints and vice versa
- Shared devotional traditions (Shaiva, Vaishnava)
Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 – Key Features
A. Tamil Karkalam (Let Us Learn Tamil)
- 50 Hindi-speaking Tamil teachers deployed in 50 Varanasi schools.
- 1,500 UP students learning introductory Tamil.
- Supported by CICT, CIIL Mysuru, BHU, IRCTC, UP administration.
- Builds linguistic inclusivity beyond Tamil Nadu.
B. Tamil Karpom (Study Tour for UP Students)
- 300 college students from UP visit Tamil Nadu in 10 batches.
- Hosted by institutions such as IIT Madras, Pondicherry University, GRI Dindugal, Kanchipuram colleges, Shastra University.
- Modules include:
- Tamil language basics
- Tamil cultural immersion
- Visits to Tamil–Kashi heritage-linked sites
C. Sage Agastya Vehicle Expedition (SAVE)
- Route: Tenkasi → Kashi (2–10 December 2025).
- Traces legendary Agastya’s north–south knowledge journey.
- Highlights:
- Classical Tamil literature
- Siddha medicine
- Medieval dynasties: Chola, Pandya, Chera, Pallava, Vijayanagara
- Reinforces civilisational linkages.
D. Grand Valedictory at Rameswaram
- Symbolically completes Kashi–Rameswaram cultural corridor.
Evolution of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (1.0 to 4.0)
KTS 1.0 (2022)
- 2,500+ participants; large-scale immersion.
- Daily cultural events at BHU.
- Visits to Kashi Vishwanath, Sarnath, Ayodhya.
- Exhibitions: Handlooms, ODOP, books.
KTS 2.0 (2023)
- 1,435 delegates.
- Real-time Tamil translation of PM’s address.
- Academic sessions, Agastya Jayanti program.
- ₹22 lakh exhibition sales, 2 lakh visitors.
- Digital reach: 8.5 crore (Brand24).
KTS 3.0 (2025 Feb)
- Strong knowledge-centric focus.
- Thematic celebration of Sage Agastya.
- Link to Mahakumbh 2025 and Ram Mandir.
- Workshops integrating Indian Knowledge Systems with NEP 2020.
KTS 4.0 (2025 Dec)
- Linguistic focus: Tamil learning in UP schools + Tamil study tours for UP youth.
- Civilisational reiteration through Sage Agastya expedition.
Trend:
From cultural exchange → heritage education → civilisational scholarship → linguistic immersion.
Overview
Cultural Significance
- Strengthens north–south cultural unity.
- Revives ancient pilgrimage–scholarship circuits.
- Reintroduces classical Tamil knowledge systems (literature, Siddha, philosophy).
Linguistic Significance
- Positioning Tamil learning in North India is unprecedented.
- Strengthens Bharatiya Bhasha vision of NEP 2020.
- Encourages multilingualism and language appreciation beyond regional boundaries.
Educational Significance
- Integrates Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into contemporary learning.
- Academic partnerships between IIT Madras, BHU, CICT, CIIL.
- Encourages experiential learning through curated tours.
Economic Significance
- Boosts cultural tourism (Kashi–Rameswaram circuit).
- Exhibitions expand markets for artisans, ODOP sectors.
- Promotes handlooms, handicrafts, and culinary heritage.
Soft Power & National Integration
- Reinforces India’s internal cultural diplomacy.
- Builds emotional, linguistic and civilisational unity across regions.
- Supports Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Viksit Bharat Vision 2047.
Continuity with Government Initiatives
- Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) under NEP 2020.
- Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav ecosystem.
- Revitalizing cultural–spiritual tourism (PRASHAD, Swadesh Darshan).
Conclusion
- Kashi Tamil Sangamam has evolved into a sustained cultural-educational bridge linking Tamil Nadu and Kashi.
- KTS 4.0’s linguistic focus marks a major shift towards deeper, structured, youth-centric knowledge exchange.
- Strengthens civilisational unity, cultural tourism, linguistic diversity, and Indian Knowledge Systems in line with NEP 2020 and EBSB.
Atal Pension Yojna crosses 8.34 crore enrolments; Women account for 48%
Why is it in News?
- APY enrolments have crossed 8.34 crore (as of 31 Oct 2025).
- Women account for 48% of all subscribers → strong gender inclusion indicator.
- GoI & PFRDA report major expansion due to vernacular outreach, digital onboarding, BC/Self-Help-Group mobilisation, and saturation campaigns.
Relevance
GS 2 – Governance & Welfare
- Social security schemes for vulnerable sections.
- Financial inclusion under JAM / DBT.
- Role of institutions: PFRDA, NABARD, NRLM, SHGs.
GS 3 – Economy
- Unorganised sector labour dynamics.
- Social infrastructure (old-age security).
- Digital financial services, FinTech-led onboarding.
What is Atal Pension Yojana?
- Launched: 9 May 2015.
- Purpose: Create a universal social security net for low-income & unorganised sector workers.
- Coverage:
- All Indian citizens aged 18–40 with a savings bank/post office account.
- Pension: Guaranteed monthly pension on turning 60 years (₹1,000–₹5,000 depending on contribution).
- Pension payouts will largely start from 2035 onwards (when earliest cohorts turn 60).
Latest Data (2025)
- Total enrolments: 8,34,13,738 (8.34 crore).
- Women subscribers: 4.04 crore → 48% share.
- Pan-India implementation through:
- Banks (PSBs/Private/RRBs/SFBs),
- Cooperative banks,
- Payments banks,
- Department of Posts.
Why APY Matters for India’s Social Security Architecture ?
- India has over 90% workforce in unorganised sector (ILO, PLFS).
- Lack of formal pension coverage → vulnerability in old age.
- APY ensures:
- Long-term savings discipline,
- State-backed guaranteed pension,
- Financial inclusion (FI) deepening post-JAM trinity.
Key Drivers Behind the Rise in APY Enrolment
Awareness & Behavioural Nudges
- Continuous advertising across print, electronic, social media.
- Vernacular outreach: Brochures in 13 languages.
- FI saturation drives across states.
Institutional Support
- Engagement of:
- NABARD,
- NCFE,
- NRLM/SRLM,
- Ministries & SHG networks (bank sakhis).
- Virtual capacity-building for BCs → grassroots mobilisation.
Digital Onboarding
- e-APY, net banking, mobile apps → frictionless enrolment.
- PoP-APY ecosystem strengthened inside banking networks.
Gender Dimension: Why Women Form 48% Subscribers
- Strong SHG & NRLM mobilisation (7.2 crore women in SHGs nationwide).
- Women’s rising participation in financial inclusion:
- 56% of PMJDY accounts belong to women.
- Pension products provide security for widows, elderly women, SHG households.
Challenges
- Low pension adequacy (₹1,000–₹5,000) may be insufficient for inflation-adjusted needs.
- Contribution burden on low-income households.
- High dropout risk when incomes fluctuate.
- Lack of financial awareness about long-term benefits.
Opportunities Ahead
- Integration with gig economy workers.
- Linking with Nudges (auto-debit reminders, default enrolment).
- Enhancing pension amount through inflation-indexing (future reform potential).
- Multi-lingual digital campaigns for deeper state-level penetration.
Conclusion
- APY represents India’s first scalable, contributory micro-pension system for informal workers.
- High women participation underlines the success of community-based mobilisation via SHGs.
- Strengthening APY is central to India’s future challenge of ageing and informal sector vulnerability.
