1. EXCAVATION AT PURANA QILA AND PRE MAURYAN CONNECTION

TAG: GS 1: ART AND CULTURE

CONTEXT: A fresh round of excavations at the site of Delhi’s Purana Qila or Old Fort has uncovered evidence of the continuous history of the city since the pre-Mauryan era. The findings include shards of Painted Gray Ware pottery which are usually dated to around 1200 BC to 600 BC.

EXPLANATION:

• The new excavations have also found remains of a 900-year-old Vaikuntha Vishnu from the Rajput period, a terracotta plaque of Goddess Gaja Lakshmi from the Gupta period, the structural remains of a 2,500-year-old terracotta ring well from the Mauryan period, and a well-defined four-room complex from the Sunga-Kushan period dating back to 2,300 years ago, besides beads, seals, copper coins and a bone needle.
• Trade activities: More than 136 coins and 35 seals and sealings have been discovered from a small excavated area, indicating the site’s pivotal role as a centre for trade activities.
• Earlier efforts have revealed nine cultural levels, representing different historical periods, including pre-Mauryan, Mauryan, Sunga, Kushana, Gupta, post-Gupta, Rajput, Sultanate, and Mughal. The ongoing excavation, initiated in January 2023, aims to establish a complete chronology of the site.

Pre Mauryan characteristics:

• The political system at the time of pre mauryan was characterized by the existence of two distinct forms of government: monarchical kingdom and clan oligarchies or Ganasamghas.
• The geographical locations of these units were unique with the monarchical kingdom occupying the Ganga-Yamuna valley and the Ganasamghas being located near the foothills of the Himalayas.
• The agrarian based economy encouraged the formation of an impressive officialdom that is an indispensable aspect of state formation.
• It made possible the support of a large standing army that was imperative for the expanding frontiers of the kingdoms of the Ganga valley and as an instrument of coercive control within the kingdom.
• The standing army divided into various specialized groups replaced the tribal militia of the earlier society and became an instrument of coercion directly in the control of the king.

Purana qila:

• Purana Qila, built by Sher Shah Suri and Mughal emperor Humayun, is believed by many to be the site of Indraprastha, as mentioned in the Mahabharat.
• The fort was the inner citadel of the city of Din Panah during Humayun’s rule who renovated it in 1533 and completed five years later.
• Shah Suri, defeated Humayun in 1540, naming the fort Shergarh; he added several more structures in the complex during his five-year reign. Purana Qila and its environs flourished as the “sixth city of Delhi”.
• Purana Quila is roughly rectangular in shape having a circuit of nearly two kilometers.
  The thick ramparts crowned by merlons have three gateways provided with bastions on either side.
• It was surrounded by a wide moat, connected to river Yamuna, which used to flow on the east of the fort.
• The northern gate way, called the Talaqui darwaza or the forbidden gateway, combines the typically Islamic pointed arch with Hindu Chhatris and brackets; whereas the southern gateway called the Humayun Darwaza also had a similar plan.
• The massive gateway and walls of Purana Quila were built by Humayun and the foundation laid for the new capital, Dinpanah.

2. DISCLOSURE NORMS FROM HIGH-RISK FOREIGN PORTFOLIO INVESTORS (FPIs)

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

CONTEXT: The markets regulator SEBI floated a consultation paper mandating additional disclosure norms from high-risk foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) that have either concentrated single group exposures and/ or significant overall holdings in their India equity investment portfolio.

EXPLANATION:

• SEBI said there is a need for additional disclosures for certain types of FPIs in order to have greater investor protection, and for fostering greater trust and transparency in the Indian securities market ecosystem.
• The paper has mandated additional disclosure norms from these FPIs to guard against possible circumvention of Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS), and to prevent possible misuse of the FPI route to circumvent the requirements of Press Note 3 (PN3).
• SEBI said such disclosures must be unconstrained by any materiality thresholds set by the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering) rules and FPI regulations.
• The paper has proposed to categorize FPIs into high, moderate and low risk. All FPIs except for government and government-related entities such as central banks, sovereign wealth funds, and pension funds or public retail funds, are proposed to be categorized as high-risk FPIs.

What has SEBI proposed?

• The markets regulator has proposed that enhanced transparency measures for fully identifying all holders of ownership, economic, and control rights may be mandated for certain high-risk FPIs.
• It proposed that high-risk FPIs, holding more than 50 per cent of their equity Asset Under Management (AUM) in a single corporate group, would be required to comply with the requirements for additional disclosures.
• Also, the existing high-risk FPIs with an overall holding in Indian equity markets of over Rs 25,000 crore will also be required to comply with new disclosure requirements.
• They will have to follow the new norms within 6 months, failing which the FPI will have to bring down its AUM below the threshold within a time frame.

What is Press Note 3?

• During the Covid-19 pandemic, the government amended the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy through a Press Note 3.
• The amendments were said to have made to check opportunistic takeovers/acquisitions of stressed Indian companies at a cheaper valuation.
• The new regulations required an entity of a country, sharing land border with India or where the beneficial owner of an investment into India is situated or is a citizen of any such country, to invest only under the Government route.
• Also, in the event of the transfer of ownership of any existing or future FDI in an entity in India, directly or indirectly, resulting in the beneficial ownership falling within the restriction/purview of the said policy amendment, such subsequent change in beneficial ownership will also require government approval.

Will the proposed norms be applicable to FPIs?

• The capital markets regulator said the proposed additional requirements are for high-risk FPIs and will not impact low-risk and moderate-risk FPIs in any

Foreign portfolio investment (FPI):

• Foreign portfolio investment (FPI) is a common way to invest in overseas economies.
• It includes securities and financial assets held by investors in another country.
• It also includes bonds or other debt issued by these companies or foreign governments, mutual funds, or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest in assets abroad or overseas.
• On a macro-level, foreign portfolio investment is part of a country’s capital account and shown on its balance of payments (BOP). BOP calculates the amount of money flowing from one country to other countries over a financial year.
• FPI is relatively liquid depending on market volatility.
• Individual investors interested in opportunities outside their own country invest via FPI.  It does not give investors direct ownership of a company’s assets.

3. AIMING FOR NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTIONS (NDC) TARGETS

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

CONTEXT: While India may have internationally committed in its Nationally Determined Contributions(NDC) to half its installed electricity being sourced from renewable sources by 2030, an estimate of the country’s projected power needs by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) suggests that this target may be achieved early, by 2026-27.

EXPLANATION:

• National Electricity Plan (NEP) notes that the share of non-fossil based capacity is likely to increase to 57.4% by the end of 2026-27 and may likely to further increase to 68.4% by the end of 2031-32 from around 42.5% as on April 2023.”
• Installed capacity, however, does not perfectly translate into generated power as different sources of energy have varying efficiencies, and not all sources of power are available at all times. Accounting for this, the available power from renewable energy will only be around 35.04% of the total generated electricity by 2026-27 and 43.96% by 2031-32, the NEP estimates.
• The NEP projects that the likely installed capacity for 2026-27 would be 609,591 MW, comprising 273,038 MW of conventional capacity (coal-235,133 MW, gas-24,824 MW, nuclear-13,080 MW) and 336,553 MW of renewable-based capacity (large hydro-52,446 MW, solar-185,566 MW, wind-72,895 MW, small hydro-5,200 MW, biomass-13,000 MW, pump storage plants-7,446 MW) along with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity of 8,680 MW/34,720 MWh.
• By 2031, the proportion of renewable energy capacity in the overall mix is likely to be 66%. Thus, in 2031-32, the total capacity is estimated to be 900,422 MW comprising 304,147 MW of conventional capacity (coal-259,643 MW, gas–24,824 MW, nuclear-19,680 MW) and 596,275 MW of renewable-based capacity (large hydro-62,178 MW, solar-364,566 MW, wind-121,895 MW, small hydro-5,450 MW, biomass-15,500 MW, pump storage plants-26,686 MW), along with BESS capacity of 47,244 MW/236,220 MWh.

Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)

• Following Prime Minister 2022 announcement in Glasgow, Scotland of India’s 2070 Net Zero target, India updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in August 2022 whereby it committed to achieving “about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030 and reduce emission intensity by 35 percent from 2005 levels, and become carbon-neutral by 2070.
• The NDCs are commitments made by countries under the terms of the Paris Agreement to keep global temperatures from rising beyond two degrees Celsius by the end of the century, and are required to be updated once in five years.

Central Electricity Authority

• It is a Statutory Body constituted under the erstwhile Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, hereinafter replaced by the Electricity Act, 2003, where similar provisions exists, the office of the CEA is an “Attached Office” of the Ministry of Power.
• The CEA is responsible for the technical coordination and supervision of programmes and is also entrusted with a number of statutory functions.
• It is headed by a Chairman, who is also ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India, and comprises six full time Members of the CEA of the rank of ex-officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India, they are designated as Member (Thermal), Member (Hydro), Member (Economic and Commercial), Member(Power Systems), Member(Planning) and Member(Grid Operation and Distribution).
• Section 73 of the Electricity Act, 2003 empowers the Authority to perform such functions and duties as the Central Government may prescribe or direct, and in particular to: –

1. a) Advise the Central Government on the matters relating to the national electricity policy, formulate short-term and perspective plans for development of the electricity system and co-ordinate the activities of the planning agencies for the optimal utilization of resources to sub serve the interests of the national economy and to provide reliable and affordable electricity for all consumers
2. b) Specify the conditions for installation of meters for transmission and supply of electricity:
3. c) Promote and assist in the timely completion of schemes and projects for improving and augmenting the electricity system
4. d) Promote measures for advancing the skill of persons engaged in the electricity industry
5. e) Advise the Central Government on any matter on which its advice is sought or make recommendation to that Government on any matter if, in the opinion of the Authority, the recommendation would help in improving the generation, transmission, trading, distribution and utilization of electricity.

National Electricity Plan

• It is prepared by the CEA and is a five-year plan that assesses India’s current electricity needs, projected growth, power sources, and challenges.
• It is prepared in accordance with the National Electricity Policy and notify such plan once in five years.

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)

• CERC is a statutory body constituted under the provision of the erstwhile Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998 and continued under Electricity Act, 2003 (which has since repealed inter alia the ERC Act, 1998).
• The main functions of the CERC are to regulate the tariff of generating companies owned or controlled by the Central Government, to regulate the tariff of generating companies other than those owned or controlled by the Central Government, if such generating companies enter into or otherwise have a composite scheme for generation and sale of electricity in more than one State, to regulate the inter-State transmission of energy including tariff of the transmission utilities, to grant licences for inter-State transmission and trading and to advise the Central Government in formulation of National Electricity Policy and Tariff Policy.

State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC)

• The concept of SERC as a statutory body responsible for determination of tariff and grant of licence at intra-State level was envisaged in the erstwhile Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998 and has been continued in the Electricity Act, 2003 (which has since repealed inter alia the ERC Act, 1998).
• Main responsibilities of the SERC are to determine the tariff for generation, supply, transmission and wheeling of electricity, whole sale, bulk or retail sale within the State; to issue licences for intra-State transmission, distribution and trading; to promote co-generation and generation of electricity from renewal sources of energy etc.

4. SECTION 124A OF THE INDIAN PENAL CODE (IPC)

TAG: GS 2: GOVERNANCE

CONTEXT: The Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) dealing with sedition needs to be retained but certain amendments could be made for greater clarity regarding its usage, the 22nd Law Commission has said in its report to the government.

EXPLANATION:

Highlights of the 22^nd Law commission report:

• The commission said sedition being a “colonial legacy” is not a valid ground for its repeal but in view of the misuse of Section 124A, the panel has recommended that the Centre issue model guidelines to curb any misuse.
• In this context, it is also alternatively suggested that a provision analogous to Section 196(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 [CrPC] may be incorporated as a proviso to Section 154 of CrPC, which would provide the requisite procedural safeguard before filing of an FIR with respect to an offence under Section 124A of IPC.
• The Law Commission said the existence of laws such as Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the National Security Act (NSA) does not by implication cover all elements of the offence envisaged under Section 124A of the IPC.
• Further, in the absence of a provision like Section 124A of IPC, any expression that incites violence against the government would invariably be tried under the special laws and counter-terror legislation, which contain much more stringent provisions to deal with the accused.
• While any alleged misuse of Section 124A of IPC can be reined in by laying down adequate procedural safeguards, repealing the provision altogether can have “serious adverse ramifications for the security and integrity of the country, with the subversive forces getting a free hand to further their sinister agenda as a consequence”.

IPC Section 124 A:

• The IPC Section 124 A says, “Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government estab­lished by law in India shall be punished with [im­prisonment for life], to which fine may be added, or with impris­onment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.
• The expression “disaffection” includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity. It is a non-bailable offence.
• Section 124A is useful in the fight against anti-national, separatist, and terrorist factors, among others.
• It defends the elected government against attempts to destroy it through the use of violent acts and illegal methods.
• It helps in maintaining the legitimacy of the government established by law is a necessary condition for the cohesion of a state.

5. LITHIUM AND MINERAL REGULATION IN INDIA

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

CONTEXT: The news of potentially significant reserves of lithium, an element needed to manufacture batteries used in electric cars and other renewable energy infrastructure, in Jammu and Kashmir has been welcomed universally. Commentators have called this a boost for national prosperity and security without dismissing concerns about the potential social and environmental impacts.

EXPLANATION:

Status of India’s lithium industry:

• India’s electric-vehicle (EV) market was valued at $383.5 million in 2021, and is expected to expand to $152.21 billion in 2030.
• India imported 450 million units of lithium batteries valued at $929.26 million (₹6,600 crore) in 2019-2020, which makes the development of the country’s domestic lithium reserves a matter of high stakes. Scholars have argued that the ongoing global transition to low-carbon economies, the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), and 5G networks will greatly reshape global and regional geopolitics. The access to and control over rare minerals, such as lithium and cobalt, will play a crucial role in these epochal changes.

How do other countries manage lithium reserves?

• The Supreme Court also recalled that the Union government could always ban private actors from mining sensitive minerals, as is already the case with uranium under the Atomic Energy Act 1962. In today’s context, lithium is as important as, if not more than, uranium.
• The stories of two South American countries, Chile and Bolivia — which have the largest known reserves of lithium are particularly instructive. And here the government has designated lithium as a strategic resource and its development has been made the exclusive prerogative of the state.

Lithium:

• Lithium is the world’s softest and lightest metal, needed by battery-powered devices.
• It is soft enough to be cut with a vegetable knife and light enough to float when put in water.
• It stores chemical energy and converts it into electrical energy.
• Also known as ‘White Gold’, lithium attracts a massive demand in global markets as the metal is present in every chargeable electronic and battery-powered gadgets.
• According to a World Bank report, the global demand for lithium metal will increase by 500 percent by 2050.
• The metal is also widely used to manufacture wind turbines, solar panels, and EVs – which are the leading carbon-neutral alternatives for the future.
• A lithium battery is the only alternative for EVs since it has a high power-to-weight ratio, enabling it to provide a large charge while keeping the vehicle’s curb weight low.

Regulation of minerals in India:

• India’s mineral and mining sector operates under a federal structure where the powers and responsibilities for regulation of the sector are divided between the central government and the respective State governments in accordance with the Union List, State List and the Concurrent List contained in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.
• Administration of the mining sector in India is the collective responsibility of the central government and the State governments.
• The central government has the power under entry 54 of the Union List to regulate mines and mineral development to the extent that such a regulation is declared by the Parliament to be in public interest.
• The State governments’ power to regulate mines and mineral development under entry 23 of the State List is subject to the power of the central government.
• Further to its powers under entry 54 of the Union List, the central government has framed the Mines & Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957 (MMDR Act), which is the principal legislation governing the mineral sector (other than petroleum and natural gas) in India.
• Minerals are classified into minor minerals and major minerals. Minor minerals include building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, ordinary sand and other minerals that the central government declares to be a minor mineral. Minerals that cannot be categorised as minor minerals are considered to be major minerals and include coal, manganese ore and iron ore, as well as other minerals used for industrial purposes.

1. Be more respectful of life, you are part of it READ MORE
2. Number one READ MORE
3. The Moral Economist~I READ MORE

1. India’s Heat Action Plans Offer Pathways for Adaptation, but Overlook the Vulnerable READ MORE
2. Unusual western disturbances in May could be indicative of changing climate READ MORE
3. Why water sustainability needs to become a climate action priority READ MORE

1. Gender-based violence stems from systemic malaise READ MORE
2.  Syncretism: A vision for India’s future READ MORE  

1. Ignore GDPR at your own peril READ MORE
2. Decide on Places of Worship Act READ MORE
3. Judgement, education and effective action READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. May’s manufacturing PMI scales a 31-month high: S&P Global survey READ MORE  
2. RBI should adopt neutral policy stance as inflation cools: CII’s Dinesh READ MORE
3. S. Africa mulls legal options on ICC warrant against Putin READ MORE
4. Sedition law can be retained but with safeguards: Law Commission READ MORE
5. NCERT in ‘rationalisation’ move drops periodic table chapter from Class X book READ MORE
6. ‘Half of electricity to be from renewable sources by 2027’ READ MORE
7. Who should own the world’s lithium? READ MORE
8. BRICS FM meeting in South Africa: What’s on the agenda? READ MORE
9. Why has SEBI proposed additional disclosure norms for ‘high-risk’ FPIs? READ MORE
10. Lions, leopards have made a comeback in Africa’s 3rd-largest national park, says report READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. India’s Heat Action Plans Offer Pathways for Adaptation, but Overlook the Vulnerable READ MORE
2. Unusual western disturbances in May could be indicative of changing climate READ MORE
3. Why water sustainability needs to become a climate action priority READ MORE
4. Gender-based violence stems from systemic malaise READ MORE
5.  Syncretism: A vision for India’s future READ MORE  

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Ignore GDPR at your own peril READ MORE
2. Decide on Places of Worship Act READ MORE
3. Judgement, education and effective action READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Central Asian foreign policy multi-vectorism pays off READ MORE
2. China’s top diplomat to India writes: Why India and China are stronger as partners READ MORE
3. First signs of thaw in US-China ties, but road to normalcy is uphill READ MORE
4. A BRICS currency can weaken US hold over emerging economies. India needs to decide its role READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. At the root of India’s manufacturing challenge READ MORE
2. Riding momentum: Fiscal, monetary measures must remain growth supportive in coming quarters READ MORE
3. Strong steps needed to tame zooming retail profits from farm produce READ MORE
4. India’s e-commerce rules need definitional clarity – to protect consumers, promote innovation READ MORE
5. Three Notes of Caution as India Celebrates Its GDP Growth READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Climate impact: Rajasthan’s pre-monsoon rainfall was three times more than average this year READ MORE
2. How Butterflies Can Help Protect Natural Habitats in a Rapidly Changing World READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Is India missing the graphene bus? READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Why India’s national security needs a 21 century refit READ MORE
2. Cracking down on fraud in cyberspace READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Be more respectful of life, you are part of it READ MORE
2. Number one READ MORE
3. The Moral Economist~I READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. How far do you agree with this view that a virtual Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit is a setback for India’s diplomacy and it shows the China’s influence in this grouping? Analyse your view.
2. The NITI Aayog acts as the quintessential platform for the Government of India to bring states together as ‘Team India’, to work towards the national development agenda. Critically examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The opposition occupies the benches in front of you, but the enemy sits behind you.
• A claim to justice becomes the new ballet of solidarity.
• The establishment can stretch time to weaken the protest. It can convert a search for justice into a law-and-order problem, even banalize it into a traffic issue.
• The growth in FY24 will very likely be lower than FY23’s level as the opportunities from the opening of the economy have been more or less exhausted.
• Both India and the USA view the Indo-Pacific region and engage with China differently but this is unlikely to impede the incremental progress in their bilateral ties.
• To end this menace Govt must provide alternative employment opportunities and encourage mechanised cleaning technologies.
• The escalating cost of education is denying higher education to students who wish to pursue it but cannot afford its prohibitive cost.
• It is crucial to recognize that girls are disproportionately affected by these financial barriers and encounter significant limitations in the absence of accessible, free, and affordable education.
• India’s relations with the US, as indeed with China, Russia or any other nation, would be defined by her interests and values and not out of fear of anyone nor in favour of anyone.
• Currently, under the Constitution, only the CEC enjoys the same protection from removal as a Supreme Court judge. It is imperative that the protection enjoyed by the CEC should also be extended to ECs.
• By providing PICs with a voice and support on Global South issues, including on existential aspects such as Climate Change or on UNSDGrelated themes, India has validated its humane and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ credentials.
• All temporary, freelance and contract workers must be properly defined and identified to ensure minimum wages, maximum working hours and social security.
• The India-Latin America partnership can work toward building digital public infrastructure, improving financial inclusion, and reducing the cost of access to data, which is critical for engagement with the digital economy.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.

50-WORD TALK

• For all his past pro-China polemic, Nepal PM Prachanda is proving to be an artful practitioner of the game of playing off New Delhi and Beijing. He’s seeking to expand ties with India in energy, infrastructure, and trade. India’s consistent, smart pursuit of its Neighbourhood First policy is paying off.
• Appointment of another acting DGP in UP, third in a row, is a mockery of SC guidelines for police chiefs’ selection. It’s to do with politicians’ intent to control police force and pre-empt central interference through UPSC. Centre-state disagreement over DGP’s appointment underlines the facile nature of double-engine government slogan.
• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit being held in virtual mode instead of a physical event with India as the Chair is an embarrassing setback to New Delhi’s diplomacy. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s refusal to come to India, which led to the change in format, shows how Beijing influences this grouping.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

[WpProQuiz 478]

THE CONTEXT:  From 1960 to 2021, the population of India increased from 450.55 million to 1.41 billion people. This is a growth of 212.4 per cent in 61 years. UN report estimated that India’s urban population is estimated to stand at 675 million in 2035, the second highest behind China’s one billion. Ironically India’s urban growth did not result in an increase in the good performance in Live ability Index. It can be corroborated by the fact that the National Capital, New Delhi, has been ranked 112th on the list of the Global Live ability Index 2022 released by EIU(Economist Intelligence Unit). This article traces the growth of the urban population with the economic growth and various reasons for the dismal status of city livability and suggests some way forward.

INDIA’S HIGH ECONOMIC GROWTH

At $2.3 trillion, the Indian economy has grown nearly 9 times since 1991. In 1991, India’s GDP stood at $266 billion. Agriculture, which accounted for nearly 30 per cent of the total GDP in 1991, now accounts for 17.4 per cent of the economy. The services sector contributes nearly 54 per cent to the domestic GDP (from 39 per cent in 1991), while the industry sector’s contribution to GDP stands at 29 per cent now against 30 in 1991. This economic growth was synchronous with the rise of the urban population.

INDIA’S URBAN LANDSCAPE

Presently, Indian cities are home to an estimated 377 million people or 31.16% of the country’s total population. There are over 4,400 statutory towns and cities in India with around 40 crores of inhabitants today. At the current rate of growth, the urban population in India is estimated to reach a staggering 60 crores by 2030 (WUP, 2018). According to 2011 Census, as many as 53 cities in India had a million plus population. It is projected that more than 50% of the country’s population will be urban by 2050 (WUP, 2018). By some estimates, India needs to build a Chicago every year and is expected to see an influx of population of the size of the entire USA into its cities over the next decade.

ISSUES WITH THE URBAN SPACE

SLUM DEVELOPMENT

According to the Census-2011, 17% of the urban population lives in Slum. Every sixth urban Indian life in slums unfit for human habitation. Slums, in fact, are so common that they are found in 65 per cent of Indian towns. Yet slum dwellers are the most overlooked section of society. Six out of 10 slum dwellers live close to unsanitary drains, and almost four of every 10 do not get treated water.

It has various problems like:

●     It lacks basic hygiene facilities and is prone to unsanitary living conditions.

●     Constant migration increases the population of slums, further increasing hygiene problems.

●     Lack of basic needs and overcrowding.

ISSUES RELATED TO PLANNING

Fractured planning structures are incapable of integrated planning for land use, infrastructure planning, and finance across metropolitan areas.

TRANSPORT

Transport in urban faces various challenges, including inefficiency, roadway congestion, traffic accidents, lack of planning, overcrowding, noise, and a total lack of coordination of any kind.

URBAN CRIME IN INDIA

Urban areas has been spot for various crime like Murder/attempt to murder, Violent crime targetting property, Violent crime against women, Other crime against women.

Including Rape, Cruelty by husband or his relatives, Human trafficking, Attempt to commit rape, Assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty, and Insult to the modesty of women.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Urban space in India faces various environmental problems like:

●    Felling of trees

●    Encroachment on water bodies

●    Concretization of the land causing urban heat issues

●    Pollution including Ground Ozone problems

●    Waste generation: Landfills are created

●    Emission: urban constitutes about 3.1% of land but 78% of emission

SOCIAL ISSUES IN THE URBAN AREAS

●   Class Barriers: India’s growing inequality of income is much more evident in urban areas than in rural areas because India’s rich live in the big metro cities and towns and not in villages. Their lifestyle is distinctly different from the lifestyle of the low-income and middle-income groups. Migrants from the villages are attracted by high wages in the cities and join the informal sector. Many are employed in the services of the urban rich.

●   Child labour: The State of Child Workers in India report by UNICEF, based on the latest Indian census data, says the proportion of child workers in the 5-9 year age group jumped to 24.8 percent in 2011 from 14.6 per cent in 2001

●     Migrant issues:

○   The majority of the male migrants and possibly a substantial portion of the women migrants to urban areas migrate to work and earn a livelihood.

○     A substantial portion of the rural-urban migrants is less educated, poor and come from agricultural backgrounds and belongs to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.

○   Migrants lacks documentation, access to social security, and accessibility to the government schemes like food through the public distribution system.

○    Issue of homeless people in the urban areas

● Lack of social security: COVID-19 has exposed a major gap in social protection coverage, given the disproportionate impact of lockdowns on the livelihoods of the urban poor.

●   Residential segregation: Caste-based residential segregation contributes to the widening of social and cognitive distances between caste groups. Social hierarchies are reinforced by spatial isolation and separation. The greater the segregation – voluntarily or involuntarily — lesser is the likelihood of interaction between communities. Muslims in Indian cities are a classic example of such isolation and ghettoization.

●    Issues of Urban poverty and unemployment.

HEALTH ISSUES IN URBAN AREAS

Water-borne, water-washed (or water-scarce), airborne, food-borne, vector-borne, including some water-related vectors (e.g. Aedes mosquitoes breeding in water containers where households lack reliable piped supplies).

There is a lack of sanitation facilities for the poor and proper drinking water.

Urban services, including water & wastewater and solid waste, do not reach many residents, and those they do serve receive sporadic, unreliable services. And, in the case of non-notified slums, service providers are prohibited from serving residents.

HAZARD IN THE URBAN AREAS:

Issues of the Urban flood: Increasing trend of urban flooding is a universal phenomenon and poses a great challenge to urban planners.

●    The hyderabad floods of 2020 were caused by depression and flash floods

●    Kerala floods of 2018 and 2020 caused heavy landslides

●    Bengaluru floods in 2022 due to inundation and non-connectivity of water bodies.

Urban Fire: India has witnessed many tragic fire incidents. Eg – Uphar cinema, New Delhi (1997); Kamala Mills, Mumbai (2017) and Taxila Coaching Centre, Surat (2019).

ABOUT THE EASE OF LIVING INDEX

●  The Ease of living index is an assessment tool used by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs to evaluate the quality of life and the impact of various initiatives for urban development in the city.

●   It includes the availability of physical amenities like solid waste management, water supply, availability of parks and green spaces, etc.

It provides a comprehensive understanding of participating cities across India, based on various parameters like

●   the quality of life,

●   the economic ability of a city, and

●   its sustainability and resilience.

These span over 13 categories like:

●  Education,

●  Health,

●  Housing and Shelter,

●  WASH and SWM,

●  Mobility,

●  Safety and Security,

●  Environment,

●  Recreation,

●  Level of Economic Development,

●  Economic Opportunities,

●  Green Spaces, and Buildings,

●  Energy Consumption, and

●  City Resilience

These account for 70% of the overall outcome.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES FOR IMPROVING URBAN LIVABILITY

Smart City Mission: Smart Cities Mission was launched by the Hon Prime Minister on 25 June 2015. The main objective of the Mission is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and give a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.

AMRUT Mission: The purpose of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) is to:

• Ensure that every household has access to a tap with an assured supply of water and a sewerage connection.
• Increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well-maintained open spaces (e.g. parks) and
• Reduce pollution by switching to public transport.

HRIDAY (Heritage City Development & Augmentation Yojana): The main objective of HRIDAY is to preserve the character of the soul of a heritage city and facilitate inclusive heritage-linked urban development by exploring various avenues including involving the private sector.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U): It is a flagship Mission of the Government of India being implemented by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), was launched on 25th June 2015. The Mission addresses urban housing shortage among the EWS/LIG and MIG categories including the slum dwellers by ensuring a pucca house to all eligible urban households by the year 2022, when Nation completes 75 years of its Independence

THE WAY FORWARD: MEASURES TO BE TAKEN TO INCREASE LIVABILITY IN CITIES:

• For Slums: Besides improving the living conditions in slums, the causes of slums creation should be addressed. Distributive development will serve the purpose and thereby, everyone can have a dignified and healthy life.
• Integrated Urban Planning: Integrated urban planning can be implemented at various scales, such as across municipal boundaries, city-region or watershed level, and in collaboration with national governments. This collaborative process aims to engage stakeholders that have not traditionally been involved in urban planning – the private sector, citizen groups and marginalized communities – to produce innovative solutions to interconnected challenges.
• Dealing with an Urban crime: Increasing the exchange of information, experience and technical assistance at international, regional and local levels can help in the development of strategies to prevent crime in mega-cities, and in cities with very high crime rates.
• Incease the social protection to the informal sector including migrants.
• Universal access to the social welfare schemes like PDS, Health and education schemes.
• Environmental considerations should be included in the Urban planning
• Promotion of Renewable energy and green transport in urban areas.
• Integrated and Multimodal transport need to be implemented
• Dedicated space for recreational activities, cultural programmes and green space.

THE CONCLUSION: There is a need to increase the city livability so that SDG-11 calls for making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Mains Question

1. Urban centres are called the engine of growth; however, it is in a dismal state in the livability index. Analyse
2. Suggest various measures to increase the livability index of the Urban areas.