India’s aspiration to become a global power is a compelling journey marked by both significant challenges and substantial opportunities. As one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, India faces unique constraints that limit its global influence, but it also holds key foundations that provide a strong foundation for global leadership.
Ambition vs. Strategic Capacity:
Strategic Clarity and Institutional Capacity: While India has ambitious goals, critics argue that it lacks the strategic clarity and institutional mechanisms to translate this ambition into sustained global influence. For instance, its military expenditure is far behind China and the US, which weakens its power projection capabilities. India’s military expenditure for 2024 was USD 86 billion, significantly less than China's USD 314 billion.
Dependency on Arms Imports: India is one of the largest arms importers globally (9.5% of the global arms imports between 2016-2020), which reflects its underdeveloped indigenous defense capabilities and reliance on external suppliers.
Strategic Ambiguity in Global Alliances:
India’s strategic autonomy has helped it avoid being overly aligned with any one global power, notably balancing its relations with the Quad, Russia, and China. However, critics argue that this “non-aligned” approach could hinder India’s reliability as a partner in times of crisis. India’s cautious stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict has sometimes been seen as undermining its standing in Western capitals.
Human Development Constraints:
Human Development Index (HDI): India ranks 130th out of 193 countries on the HDI in 2023, highlighting significant deficits in areas like health, education, and income distribution. The Inequality-Adjusted HDI (IHDI) is even lower, revealing persistent social and regional inequalities that hinder holistic national development.
Poverty and Inequality: With widespread inequality, India struggles to build a cohesive society. Inequality in wealth and opportunity undermines India’s global image as a rising power and limits its soft power potential.
Economic Power vs. Per Capita Strength:
India is the 4th largest economy by nominal GDP, but its per capita GDP remains low at USD 2,711, placing it among lower middle-income nations. This makes it less influential in economic diplomacy and limits its ability to project soft power on a global scale. India’s rank of 144th in per capita GDP reflects a stark contrast to the economic might of the US or China.
Technological Gaps and Innovation Challenges:
India lags behind in cutting-edge technologies. For example, it ranks 39th on the Global Innovation Index, far behind China (11th) and the US (3rd). While India has made strides in digital technology (e.g., UPI and Aadhaar), challenges remain in sectors like semiconductors, quantum computing, and biotechnology.
Internal Social Fault Lines:
Press Freedom: India ranks 159th out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index, which impacts its democratic credibility. Moreover, vast development gaps between states like Goa (HDI ~0.75) and Uttar Pradesh (~0.60) highlight significant regional inequalities, further hindering national cohesion and the ability to project a unified front globally.
Economic Growth and Demographic Advantage:
India’s economy is poised for growth at a rate of 6-7% per year, making it a major economic power in the coming decades. By 2030, India is expected to be the third-largest economy globally.
India’s young population (median age of 28.2 years) provides a substantial labor force, boosting innovation, industrial growth, and consumption, making it an attractive market and driving global influence.
Geopolitical Significance:
Strategically located at the crossroads of Asia, India controls vital maritime chokepoints in the Indian Ocean, essential for global trade and security.
India’s participation in forums like the Quad, SCO, and BRICS enhances its geopolitical leverage, especially in the Indo-Pacific, shaping the future of regional security and global governance.
Technological and Defence Strength:
Digital Leadership: India has become a digital powerhouse, leading in mobile payment systems like UPI and having over 100 unicorns in tech startups. Additionally, its space missions (e.g., Chandrayaan 3 and Mangalyaan) and growing defense capabilities (e.g., Tejas aircraft and INS Arihant submarine) reinforce its technological and military potential.
India’s military personnel ranks second globally, and its defense strength is growing, underscoring its military significance in Asia.
Strategic Autonomy and Soft Power:
India’s strategic autonomy allows it to navigate great power rivalries and engage in diverse multilateral forums. India is increasingly seen as a leader in the Global South and a counterbalance to China's rise in Asia.
India's soft power—exemplified by its vibrant diaspora, Bollywood, yoga, and global influence on climate change—is central to its growing global profile. With over 30 million people in the diaspora, India has an established network in key economies that amplifies its diplomatic efforts.
Strengthen Domestic Foundations for Global Reach:
India must focus on health, education, skilling, and infrastructure to convert its demographic advantage into economic growth. Institutional reforms in governance, the judiciary, and policing are also critical to building rule-based development.
Strategic Communication of India’s Vision:
India should clearly articulate its unique path of democracy with diversity, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. By proactively promoting its civilisational story, India can counter Western misperceptions and showcase its distinctive model of governance.
Balanced Partnerships with Competing Powers:
India should continue balancing assertiveness with pragmatism. Strengthening ties with the US while engaging constructively with China and Russia will enhance India’s leverage in global forums. India should focus on issue-based coalitions rather than bloc politics, positioning itself as an important but independent voice in a multipolar world.
Leverage Soft Power and Technological Leadership:
India should invest further in tech diplomacy, particularly in areas like Data Governance, AI ethics, and digital public goods. By promoting its leadership in global regulatory frameworks (tech, environment, global health), India can shape global norms and enhance its soft power.
India’s trajectory from food scarcity to food security, from Non-Alignment to strategic engagement with great powers, and from industrial laggard to digital innovator is a remarkable story of resilience and evolution. While there are constraints—such as strategic ambiguity, military and technological gaps, and domestic inequalities—India’s foundations in economic growth, geopolitical significance, and technological and defense strength position it as an emerging global power. By focusing on domestic reforms, strategic partnerships, and soft power, India can become not just a follower of global trends but a shaper of the future world order
The NITI Aayog report “Unlocking a 200 Billion Dollar Opportunity: Electric Vehicles (EVs) in India” and the launch of the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) highlight both the potential and the challenges facing the country in transitioning to electric mobility. As India moves forward, addressing these challenges will be key to unlocking the growth and environmental benefits of EV adoption.
The IEMI is the first-ever tool to track and benchmark India's progress in e-mobility at the state level. Launched in partnership with the World Resources Institute India, it evaluates the readiness and progress of states in the transition to electric vehicles. The index tracks 16 performance indicators across three categories:
Transport Electrification Progress – Measuring the adoption of electric vehicles on the demand side.
Charging Infrastructure Readiness – Assessing the development of a charging network.
EV Research & Innovation – Evaluating the supply-side R&D efforts.
The states are categorized into four levels:
Achievers (100 points)
Front Runners (65–99 points)
Performers (50–64 points)
Aspirants (0–49 points)
For 2024, Delhi emerged as the leader with a score of 77, followed by Maharashtra (68), Chandigarh, and Karnataka.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) – Fully electric vehicles powered by rechargeable batteries.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) – Combine an electric motor and an internal combustion engine (ICE).
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) – Use fuel cell technology to generate electricity for propulsion.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) – Have both an engine and a rechargeable battery.
India witnessed a significant increase in EV sales, reaching 2.08 million units in 2024, a sharp rise from 50,000 in 2016.
However, EV penetration remains at 7.6% in 2024, far from the target of 30% by 2030.
Financing Challenges (for e-Buses & e-Trucks):
High capital cost: Electric buses and trucks are 2–3 times more expensive than their internal combustion engine counterparts.
Financial institutions are skeptical about the repayment capacity of smaller operators.
Vehicle-Centric Challenges:
EV batteries are heavy and costly, reducing truck load capacity.
The 15-year scrappage rule decreases the resale value of EVs.
Charging Infrastructure Challenges:
Public charging costs four times more than home charging due to GST (18%) and operator margins.
Issues with obtaining upstream power supply connections from DISCOMs.
Land constraints in cities and highways hinder the establishment of charging stations.
Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) have concerns about safety regarding charging stations.
Lack of a unified app for locating, booking, and paying for charging stations.
Awareness and Perception Challenges:
Confusion over incentives offered by different states.
Misconceptions related to fire safety, battery degradation, range anxiety, and resale value.
Weak and fragmented awareness campaigns.
Inadequate Data and Regulatory Gaps:
Inaccurate data on EV categories in the VAHAN database.
Lack of unique battery IDs, making it difficult to track and recycle batteries.
The Inverted GST structure on EVs (input GST at 18% and output GST at 5%) is problematic for manufacturers.
PM E-DRIVE Scheme:
Supports electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, e-trucks, e-buses, and charging infrastructure.
Provides demand-side incentives to consumers.
EV Manufacturing Promotion:
The Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars aims to attract global EV manufacturers and make India a key EV manufacturing hub.
PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme:
Aims for the deployment of 38,000+ e-buses, ensuring payment security for operators.
PLI Scheme for Automotive & Auto Components:
To boost domestic production of EV-related technologies and components.
PLI – Advanced Chemistry Cells:
Aims to produce 50 GWh of domestic battery capacity, reducing dependence on imports.
GST Reduction:
GST on EVs reduced from 12% to 5%.
EVolutionS Program:
Launched by Department of Science & Technology (DST) to support EV startups.
Moving from Incentives to Mandates:
Set production targets for Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) and impose higher registration fees/taxes on ICE vehicles to create demand for EVs.
Saturation Approach:
Target 100% EV adoption in 5 key cities within 5 years, supported by infrastructure and fleet electrification mandates.
Financing e-Buses and e-Trucks:
Create a pooled fund for low-interest loans to support the procurement of electric buses and trucks.
Battery Research:
Promote industry-academia-government partnerships for R&D on next-gen EV batteries.
Strategic Charging Infrastructure:
Develop 20 key corridors and establish nodal agencies for mapping and setting up charging hubs.
Unified National EV App:
Develop a centralized app for locating charging stations, booking slots, payments, and explore dedicated EV power lines.
Lowering Upfront Costs:
Encourage leasing models for buses and trucks and battery-as-a-service (BaaS) to reduce capital costs for small operators.
Awareness and Information:
Launch a national EV awareness program, assess stakeholder data needs, and create a robust information system to guide decisions.
China: The “10 Cities, 1000 Vehicles” program, where each city deployed at least 1,000 NEVs in public fleets, is a notable example.
Singapore: Established EVElectric Charging to coordinate charging station deployment, working with relevant agencies.
Europe: The ChargeMap app provides real-time data and user reviews of charging stations.
UK: The Faraday Battery Challenge created the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre to scale lab prototypes to production.
India is on the verge of unlocking a significant 200 billion dollar opportunity in the EV sector, but the path forward requires addressing several structural and market challenges. The India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) will play a crucial role in tracking progress and identifying gaps. By focusing on enhancing charging infrastructure, improving awareness, and addressing financial and regulatory issues, India can accelerate its transition to electric mobility, making it a global leader in the sector. Through sustained government support, strategic partnerships, and innovation, India has the potential to become a powerhouse in the EV space.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering tribal communities, fostering grassroots leadership, and enhancing governance across tribal areas in India.
The Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan is a leadership program designed to strengthen governance in tribal regions by building local leadership capacities. Its primary objective is to empower tribal communities and ensure inclusive, responsive governance at the grassroots level. Here are the key aspects of the initiative:
Cadre Development: Aims to build a cadre of 20 lakh leaders across over 1 lakh tribal-dominated villages, spanning 30 States/UTs, 550+ districts, and 3,000 blocks.
Reach: The program is expected to uplift over 10.5 crore tribal citizens across India.
The vision of the program is to create a Tribal Seva Path that is driven by the values of Seva (Service), Samarpan (Dedication), and Sankalp (Resolve). The goal is to ensure responsive governance and ensure last-mile service delivery in tribal areas.
Responsive Governance: Ensure governance that is transparent, accountable, and inclusive.
Bottom-Up Planning: Foster participatory planning and local involvement in decision-making processes.
Proactive Grievance Redressal: Institutionalize grievance redressal and feedback systems to improve service delivery.
Last-Mile Delivery: Ensure the convergence of various flagship tribal initiatives to reach all tribal households and provide essential services.
The Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan is also a key initiative under the Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, which runs from 15 November 2024 to 15 November 2025 to commemorate the 150th birthday of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a tribal leader and freedom fighter.
Multi-Tiered Leadership Structure:
The leadership structure spans from habitation level to state level, ensuring that leadership and governance are rooted in the communities.
Multi-Department Convergence:
The scheme involves convergence of various departments including:
Tribal Welfare
Rural Development
Women & Child Development
Jal Shakti (Water)
School Education
Forests
Implementation Strategy:
Governance Learning Workshops: Regional Process Labs (RPLs) will be rolled out across key centres (e.g., Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Dehradun, Ranchi) to train leaders.
Village Visioning and Development Action Plans: Villages will co-create their Village Vision 2030 and Development Action Plans with government officials and villagers.
Mentorship Ecosystem: Retired civil servants, tribal elders, and Padma awardees will act as mentors, guiding and empowering the leaders in the tribal communities.
Aadi Karmayogi Digital Platform: A digital platform will be created for ongoing training, data-driven tools, knowledge sharing, and impact dashboards.
Saturation of Government Services:
The program aims to ensure 100% coverage of government services such as road connectivity, pucca housing, piped drinking water, household electrification, and Ayushman Bharat insurance enrolment, ensuring no tribal household is left behind.
Adi Sewa Kendras:
Establishment of 1 lakh Adi Sewa Kendras as One-Stop Service Centres to provide essential services to tribal communities.
Tribal Youth Leadership:
100+ Adi Karmayogi Student Chapters will be set up at premier institutions like IITs, NITs, and IIMs to foster leadership among tribal youth.
Single Window Responsive Governance Centres:
A Single Window Governance Centre will be established in every tribal village to serve as a hub for information dissemination, grievance redressal, and community interaction.
Bridging Delivery Gaps:
Over the past decade, the Scheduled Tribe welfare budget has grown significantly, but outcomes have been weak due to challenges in effective service delivery. The tribal cadre aims to bridge these gaps by empowering local leadership for better implementation.
Combating Poverty:
The poverty rate among Scheduled Tribes (STs) is significantly higher compared to the non-tribal population. About 40.6% of STs live below the poverty line, compared to 20.5% of the non-tribal population. The program seeks to reduce poverty through better governance and service delivery.
Preserving Tribal Culture:
Tribal communities have rich cultural traditions, including languages, art, dance, and festivals, which are at risk due to assimilation pressures. The program aims to preserve these cultural expressions, and initiatives like TRIFED are working to get GI Tagging for tribal products.
Harnessing Ecological Wisdom:
Tribal communities have traditional practices, such as shifting cultivation, sacred groves, and community forestry, that contribute to climate resilience. The Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan will help harness this ecological wisdom to benefit sustainable development.
Democratizing Development:
The selection of Adi Karmayogis will be carried out in consultation with Gram Sabhas, ensuring cultural sensitivity and fostering a sense of ownership and trust in the process.
The Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan is a visionary program aimed at transforming the governance and development landscape for tribal communities. By creating a dedicated tribal leadership cadre, it seeks to bridge service delivery gaps, reduce poverty, and empower Gram Sabhas, all while preserving the cultural and ecological wisdom of tribal communities. This initiative represents a significant step in inclusive development and nation-building by ensuring that the tribal population is not left behind in India's growth trajectory.
Recent News:
Due to heavy rainfall in the catchment area of the Vishwamitri River, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has opened all 62 gates of the Ajwa Reservoir to release 6,600 cusecs of water downstream..
Geographical Overview:
The Vishwamitri River is a small, non-perennial river approximately 200 km long, located in Gujarat.
Source: It originates from the western and southern slopes of the Pavagadh Hills in eastern Gujarat.
Course: The river flows westward, passing through the city of Vadodara before meeting its tributaries, Dhadar and Jambuva, and ultimately draining into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat.
Ecological Significance:
The river is known for its highly meandering and sinuous course, which has given rise to unique ecosystems and ravines along its banks.
It supports a variety of wildlife species, including porcupines, Indian civet cats, jungle cats, cobras, pythons, and Bengal monitors.
The river is home to the vulnerable mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), a species protected in India. These crocodiles have been observed to thrive in the river, particularly within the Vadodara region.
Conservation Efforts:
A survey conducted by the Gujarat Forest Department in 2020 estimated that there were around 300 mugger crocodiles in the Vishwamitri River within the limits of Vadodara.
The mugger crocodile is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is also included in CITES Appendix I (the highest level of protection).
Species Information:
The mugger crocodile is one of the 24 extant species of crocodilians globally.
It is often referred to as the “water monster” (or magar) in Hindi and Urdu.
Distribution and Habitat:
The mugger is found in 15 Indian states, with the largest populations in the middle Ganges (Bihar-Jharkhand) and Chambal (Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan) basins.
It thrives in freshwater environments, including marshes, lakes, rivers, and artificial ponds.
Conservation Status:
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
CITES Status: Appendix I (indicating a high level of protection)
The Vishwamitri River has played a critical role in the development of Vadodara. Human settlements have existed along its banks since 1000 B.C., marking the river as historically significant for both its ecological and cultural contributions.
The Ajwa Reservoir, located on this river, is vital for water supply and irrigation for the region. With the recent opening of its gates, the VMC is ensuring the safety of the city by preventing potential flooding, particularly during the heavy monsoon season.
The Vishwamitri River is not only an important watercourse for Vadodara's urban development but also a crucial ecological habitat, especially for the vulnerable mugger crocodile. The recent management of water levels at the Ajwa Reservoir illustrates how local authorities are addressing the challenges posed by seasonal rainfall while also preserving the delicate ecosystem along the river. As the river continues to provide water and habitat, its conservation and sustainable management remain central to the city's future growth and ecological health
Recent News:
Ukraine recently unveiled its new long-range cruise missile named Flamingo.
The FP-5 “Flamingo” is a long-range cruise missile developed by Ukraine's Fire Point defense company.
It is notable for being one of the largest and longest-range ground-launched cruise missile systems in the world.
Range and Payload:
Range: The missile has an impressive range of 3,000 kilometers, making it capable of striking distant targets.
Warhead: It carries a 1,150 kg warhead, ensuring substantial destructive power upon impact.
Size and Weight:
Takeoff Weight: The missile has a maximum takeoff weight of 6,000 kg, placing it in the category of heavy missile systems.
Wingspan: It features a wingspan of about six meters, which contributes to its stability and long-range capability.
Engine and Speed:
The Flamingo missile is powered by a turbofan engine.
Speed: It can achieve a speed of up to 900 km/h, allowing it to cover large distances at a relatively fast pace.
Navigation and Targeting:
The missile is equipped with an inertial navigation system and GPS, ensuring precision and accuracy.
The high terminal velocity, combined with the heavy warhead, allows the missile to penetrate deeper into its target before detonation, significantly increasing its destructive effect.
Electronic Warfare Resistance:
The Flamingo missile is designed to be resistant to electronic warfare systems. It likely utilizes a secure GPS module equipped with Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas (CRPA), which make it harder to jam or interfere with during flight.
Recent News:
China’s military recently reported that it had followed and warned a Canadian and an Australian warship that were sailing through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
Location and Geography:
The Taiwan Strait, also known as the Formosa Strait, separates mainland China from the island of Taiwan.
It extends from the South China Sea in the southwest to the East China Sea in the northeast.
The strait runs between the coast of Fujian Province in China and the island of Taiwan.
Dimensions:
Average Width: About 180 km.
Narrowest Point: Approximately 130 km wide.
Depth: The strait is relatively shallow, with an average depth of about 490 ft (150 meters) and a minimum depth of 82 ft (25 meters).
Strategic Importance:
The Taiwan Strait sits on Asia's continental shelf, which stretches across its entire length, making it crucial for both economic and military activities.
It serves as a major navigational waterway, handling millions of tons of cargo annually, and is one of the most important fishing grounds in China, home to over 100 economically significant fish species.
Strategic Waterway:
The strait is vital for global shipping routes, and its waters are often used for military maneuvers by various nations.
It is also a critical military flashpoint, particularly due to the ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan.
Islands in the Strait:
The Kinmen and Matsu Islands are located on the Fujian coast (administered by China), while the Penghu (or Pescadores), Xiamen, and Pingtan Islands lie on the Taiwan side.
Penghu is the largest and most populous island in the Taiwan Strait.
Political and Military Tensions:
The Taiwan Strait is often a site of military confrontations or maneuvers, especially with the involvement of China and Taiwan, and occasionally the United States, as well as regional allies like Canada and Australia.
China claims Taiwan as a part of its territory, despite Taiwan’s democratic governance and separate political system, which continues to fuel tensions in the region.
Environmental and Economic Importance:
The strait is a key fishing ground, home to numerous fish species, some of which are economically important to the region.
The waterway also facilitates trade, with major ports such as Amoy (mainland China) and Kao-hsiung (Taiwan) being vital to regional economies.
U.S. and Allied Presence:
The U.S. regularly conducts freedom-of-navigation operations (FONOPs) in the Taiwan Strait, asserting that it is an international waterway. Canada and Australia have also participated in such operations, much to the ire of China.
The strait is frequently a flashpoint for international tensions, particularly when military vessels or aircraft pass through it.
China-Taiwan Relations:
China views any foreign military activity in the strait, especially near Taiwan, as interference in its internal affairs, seeing it as a challenge to its sovereignty over Taiwan.
Taiwan, on the other hand, views such military passages as a sign of international support for its democratic system and a counterbalance to China’s growing assertiveness.
China's Military Activities:
China frequently conducts military drills near the Taiwan Strait, sending a signal to both Taiwan and the international community of its military dominance and its ongoing push to assert control over the region.
Potential for Conflict:
The Taiwan Strait is one of the most vulnerable flashpoints for potential military conflict in Asia. Tensions are high due to the sensitive political situation surrounding Taiwan and China’s territorial claims.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
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