Why in News?

• During the Indian PM’s visit to Italy, India and Italy elevated bilateral ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership”, signalling a qualitative transformation in relations.
• The Italian PM (Giorgia Meloni) and the Indian PM agreed on a broad-based cooperation agenda spanning trade, defence, technology, connectivity, energy security and geopolitics.
• The visit concluded the Indian PM’s wider Europe tour, which started with UAE, and included visits to Norway, Sweden and Netherlands.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Elevation to “Special Strategic Partnership”
• Expanding Economic and Trade Partnership
• Defence and Strategic Cooperation
• IMEEC and Maritime Connectivity
• Other Areas of Cooperation
• India-Italy Relations
• Conclusion

Elevation to “Special Strategic Partnership”:

• The upgradation of ties reflects growing convergence between India and Italy on global governance, economic resilience and strategic autonomy.
• The partnership is anchored in the Joint Strategic Plan of Action 2025–29, which provides an operational roadmap for deeper engagement.
• Italy increasingly views India not merely as a large market but as a major geopolitical and economic power essential for Europe’s future engagement with the Indo-Pacific and Global South.
• Both leaders highlighted shared commitments towards international stability, rule-based order, economic security, resilient supply chains, peaceful conflict resolution, and inclusive development.

Expanding Economic and Trade Partnership:

• India and Italy set an ambitious target to raise bilateral trade from €14 billion to €20 billion by 2029.
• Both sides also underlined the importance of the proposed India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in accelerating trade and investment flows.
• Key areas of economic cooperation: Advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, green energy, agribusiness, tourism and culture, maritime logistics, space economy, AI and quantum technology.
• The Indian PM described the partnership as a blend of Italy’s design and precision with India’s scale, talent and affordable innovation, summarised in the principle: “Design and Develop in India and Italy, Deliver for the World.”
• Italy’s industrial expertise and India’s digital infrastructure were identified as complementary strengths capable of generating high-quality industrial collaboration and employment.

Defence and Strategic Cooperation:

• A major outcome was the agreement on a Defence Industrial Roadmap, opening avenues for co-development, co-production, technology transfer, and industrial partnerships.
• Priority defence sectors:
  • Helicopters (renewed momentum after cooperation between India’s Adani Defence and Italy’s Leonardo S.p.A),
  • Naval platforms,
  • Marine armaments,
  • Electronic warfare systems, and
  • MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facilities.
• The roadmap assumes significance because defence ties had slowed after the AgustaWestland corruption controversy.
• Both countries also agreed to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure and supply chains, reflecting emerging concerns over strategic vulnerabilities.

IMEEC and Maritime Connectivity:

• Italy reiterated strong support for the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), where it sees itself as Europe’s western anchor.
• IMEEC aims to enhance trade connectivity, supply chain resilience, energy security, and maritime integration.
• The two countries agreed to hold the first IMEEC ministerial meeting in 2026.

Other Areas of Cooperation:

• Maritime cooperation: As two important maritime powers located in the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific, both countries recognised the strategic necessity of strengthening inter-regional connectivity through -
  • Maritime transport,
  • Port modernisation,
  • Logistics, and
  • Blue economy cooperation
• Critical minerals, technology and innovation:
  • An India–Italy Innovation Centre is proposed to connect industries, research institutions and start-ups.
  • Emerging technology sectors (like space cooperation, civil nuclear energy) identified for collaboration to align with India’s goals of technological self-reliance and supply-chain diversification.
• Mobility, education and social cooperation:
  • Agreements include mobility of Indian nurses to Italy, roadmap on higher education and research, cooperation in agriculture, export of Indian seafood, etc.
  • The two sides also discussed a future Social Security Agreement, which would benefit Indian professionals working in Italy.
• Convergence on global and regional issues: India and Italy expressed broad alignment on major geopolitical crises (Ukraine conflict, West Asia tensions, Iran crisis, and Indo-Pacific stability).

India-Italy Relations:

• Diplomatic relations between India and Italy were established in 1947. After some years of tensions (due to the 2012 case of the two Italian marines), the two countries revived normal relations.
• The visit of the Italian PM Gentiloni to India in 2017 marked a "new beginning" and a great opportunity for both countries.
• At the 50th G7 Summit (held in Italy in 2024), the Italian PM Giorgia Meloni gave a new height to the relations with the caption of "Melodi".
• Italy is India's 3rd largest trading partner in export in EU, after Germany and Netherland and 4th largest trading partner in import after Germany, Belgium and France.
• The Indian community in Italy (estimated at 2.5 lakh including PIOs) is the third largest community of Indians in Europe after the UK and the Netherlands.

Conclusion:

• The India–Italy Special Strategic Partnership marks a significant expansion of India’s engagement with Europe beyond traditional partners such as France and Germany.
• At a broader level, the partnership reflects India’s growing role as a balancing power in the Indo-Pacific and a trusted partner in shaping an emerging multipolar world order.

Context

• The lack of targeted funding for justice reforms in the Union Budget 2026–27 reflects India’s continued neglect of the rule of law as a pillar of economic growth and democratic governance.
• Although large amounts are spent on the justice system, the allocation of resources remains deeply uneven.
• Across 11 high-GDP States, around ₹2 lakh crore was spent on justice-related institutions in 2024–25, accounting for nearly 4.6% of State budgets.
• However, the majority of this expenditure is concentrated on policing, while sectors such as the judiciary, legal aid, prisons, and human rights bodies remain significantly underfunded.

Structure of Justice Expenditure in India

• Dominance of Police Funding
  • More than 80% of justice-related expenditure is allocated to the police system and around ₹1,616 per capita is spent on policing, making it the largest component of justice budgets.
  • Since policing is a core responsibility of the State, substantial funding is necessary.
  • However, most police expenditure is directed towards salaries, administrative management, and infrastructure such as vehicles and computers.
  • Less than 1.5% of police budgets are spent on training, while only around 1% is allocated to forensics.
• Underfunding of the Judiciary
  • The judiciary receives less than 1% of total State budgets despite handling enormous caseloads and judicial delays.
  • District courts alone manage seven times more cases than High Courts, yet they receive only three times the budget.
  • Limited investment in judicial infrastructure and staff creates delays in dispute resolution and affects public confidence in the legal system.
  • India currently has only 15 judges per 10 lakh population, far below the Law Commission recommendation of 50 judges per 10 lakh people.
  • In addition, every judge requires several clerical and support staff members for efficient functioning.
  • Insufficient judicial capacity slows down economic activity, weakens contract enforcement, and reduces access to timely justice.

Crisis in Supporting Institutions

• Condition of Prisons
  • The 11 States discussed account for nearly 60% of India’s prisoners, with prison occupancy reaching 137%, higher than the national average.
  • Despite this, prisons receive only 0.14% of State budgets.
  • Very little funding is directed towards prison staff development, welfare, or rehabilitation programmes.
  • On average, only ₹0.23 out of every ₹100 spent on prisons is allocated to training.
  • High vacancy rates and overcrowded prisons create poor living conditions and reduce the possibility of reforming inmates.
• Neglect of Legal Aid
  • Legal aid receives the least amount of funding among all justice institutions.
  • Since legal aid is the primary mechanism through which poor and marginalised citizens access justice, inadequate funding directly affects equal justice and constitutional rights.
  • Limited financial support reduces the reach of legal services and delays legal representation for vulnerable groups.
  • As a result, economically weaker sections often struggle to defend themselves within the legal system, increasing inequality in access to justice.

Systemic Priorities and Institutional Imbalance

• Focus on Enforcement Over Justice
  • The current distribution of funds reflects a justice system primarily designed around enforcement and surveillance rather than fairness and accessibility.
  • Strong emphasis on policing creates a system capable of producing arrests and detentions but less effective in delivering remedies and protecting rights.
  • Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) show that nearly 26 lakh people were arrested in 2024, many from socially and economically disadvantaged communities.
• Weak Oversight Institutions
  • Institutions responsible for accountability and rights protection also suffer from neglect.
  • State Human Rights Commissions (SHRCs) receive only around 80 paisa per capita despite their statutory responsibility to investigate rights violations and monitor safeguards.
  • Many SHRCs continue to function with over 40% vacancies, limiting their effectiveness and weakening independent oversight.
  • Without strong accountability institutions, citizens face greater difficulty in seeking protection against abuse of power.

The Way Forward: Need for Recalibration of Justice Budgets

• A balanced justice system requires equal attention to all its pillars, policing, judiciary, prisons, legal aid, and oversight institutions.
• Excessive dependence on policing creates pressure on other institutions and results in delays, overcrowding, and procedural inefficiencies.
• Greater investment in judicial infrastructure, legal representation, prison reforms, and professional training would strengthen the overall justice delivery mechanism.
• A more balanced allocation of resources would also improve accessibility, fairness, and institutional accountability.

Conclusion

• While policing receives the largest share of resources, institutions essential for ensuring rights, fairness, and accountability remain underfunded.
• Shortages of judges, overcrowded prisons, weak legal aid systems, and ineffective oversight bodies undermine public trust and disproportionately affect marginalised communities.
• A meaningful recalibration of justice budgets is essential for building a people-centred and constitutionally grounded justice system.
• Strengthening every component of the justice ecosystem would not only improve access to justice but also support democracy, social stability, and long-term economic development.

Context

• The 2027 Census is one of the most important administrative exercises in India because it will influence political representation, welfare schemes, and future governance.
• The upcoming Census is unique due to two major developments: the inclusion of caste enumeration for the first time since Independence and the use of digital enumeration through smartphones and self-enumeration systems.
• While these measures may improve efficiency and data collection, they also raise concerns regarding accuracy, technology, confidentiality, and public trust.

Inclusion of Caste Enumeration

• The inclusion of caste-related questions is a major development because caste remains a sensitive social and political issue in India.
• Surveys conducted in Bihar and Karnataka demonstrated that disputes often emerge over caste classification and population figures.
• Many communities may reject the results if they believe they have been undercounted.
• To avoid confusion and inconsistency, extensive pre-testing of the questionnaire is necessary.
• Enumerators must clearly understand the concepts, definitions, and instructions before conducting the survey.
• Without proper preparation, inaccurate caste data could create social tensions and reduce confidence in the Census process.

Method of Enumeration and Political Representation

• India follows an extended de facto method of enumeration, where people are counted at their usual place of residence during the Census period.
• This method includes persons temporarily absent as well as visitors staying in a household during the enumeration period.
• However, this creates differences between Census population figures and voter population data.
• Such differences are politically significant because the Census will be used for the future delimitation of Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies.

Digital Enumeration and Technological Challenges

• Lack of Technical Skills
  • A major concern is that many enumerators may not be adequately trained to use digital devices.
  • Difficulties in operating electronic equipment were already observed during the Socio Economic and Caste Survey in Karnataka.
  • Uneven technological skills among enumerators could affect the quality of data collection.
• Concerns Regarding Confidentiality
  • There are also risks related to data confidentiality and accountability.
  • If data collected on paper is later transferred to electronic systems, mistakes and misuse may occur.
  • Family members or students assisting with data entry could compromise privacy.
  • Since Census information includes sensitive details related to caste, migration, occupation, and disability, strict safeguards are essential.

Problems in Self-Enumeration

• Complexity of Census Questions
  • Definitions related to disability, work status, occupation, and industry often require lengthy explanations.
  • For example, the meaning of work in Census terminology includes unpaid and irregular economic activities that many people may not identify as employment.
  • Incorrect understanding of such concepts can lead to inaccurate statistics and poor policy planning.
• Respondent Fatigue
  • Another issue is respondent fatigue. Since information must be provided for every member of the household, long and complicated questionnaires may discourage careful responses.
  • Some respondents may intentionally provide incorrect answers to avoid follow-up questions. Simplified language and better question design are therefore necessary.
• Risk of Omissions and Fraudulent Enumeration
  • Past post-enumeration surveys have shown that domestic helpers, distant relatives, and unrelated persons living in households are more likely to be omitted from Census records.
  • Self-enumeration systems may increase this risk because respondents may not fully understand who qualifies as a household member.
  • There is also the possibility of fraudulent enumeration. Since Census figures influence reservations, welfare distribution, and political representation, some groups may attempt to manipulate population numbers.

Measures to Improve Accuracy

• Several measures can improve the quality and reliability of the Census:
  • Extensive field testing of questionnaires
  • Better training for enumerators
  • Simplified and clearly worded questions
  • Strong verification systems for digital data entry
  • Safeguards to maintain confidentiality
  • Questions designed to reduce omissions of household members
  • Monitoring mechanisms to prevent fraudulent enumeration

Conclusion

• The 2027 Census combines technological innovation with complex social and political challenges.
• The inclusion of caste data and the use of digital systems can improve the scope and efficiency of data collection, but they also create risks related to accuracy, privacy, and representation.
• The success of the Census will depend on proper training, simplified questionnaires, reliable digital systems, and strict safeguards against omissions and manipulation.
• An accurate and credible Census is essential for ensuring fair representation, effective policymaking, and democratic accountability in India.

About Kumbhalgarh Fort:

• It is located in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan.
• It is strategically located in the western Aravalli hills.
• Considered to be the second most significant citadel in the Mewar region after Chittorgarh, this majestic fort was constructed in the 15th century AD by Rana Kumbha, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mewar.
• Spanning over 36 kilometers, its walls are second only to the Great Wall of China, earning it the moniker “the Great Wall of India.”
• The fort has also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the group of Hill Forts of Rajasthan.
• The fort contains seven fortified gateways and ancient temples—both, Hindu and Jain, as well as the Lakhola Tank, the most famous tank within the fort, which was built by Rana Lakha.
• For centuries, Kumbhalgarh Fort served as a refuge for Mewar rulers during times of war.
• It is the birthplace of Mewar’s legendary king, Maharana Pratap. Maharana Pratap led numerous battles against the Mughal Empire, with Kumbhalgarh serving as his sanctuary..
• The fort is surrounded by the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Loktak Lake:

• It is located in the state of Manipur.
• It is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India.
• The lake is famous for its phumdis.
  • Phumdis are unique, heterogeneous masses of vegetation, soil, and organic matter that float on the water's surface.
  • Only 20% of a phumdis’ thickness floats above the water surface; the other 80% remains submerged.
  • The floating masses are strong enough to support fishing huts, human settlements, and animal habitats.
• The Keibul Lamjao National Park is an integral part of the lake. It is the world's only floating national park.
• The park is best known as the habitat of the endangered sangai deer, also called the brow-antlered deer, which is native to Manipur.
• Rivers like Khuga, Western, Nambul, Imphal, Kongba, Iril, Thoubal, Heirok, and Sekmai drain into this lake.
• It was designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1990.
• It features under the Montreux Record in 1993, “a record of Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur”.
• It supports hydropower, fisheries, transport, and tourism.

About Kashmir Flycatcher:

• It is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae.
• Scientific Name: Ficedula subrubra
• Distribution:
  • It is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent.
  • It makes its home in the northwest Himalayas. It breeds in the Kashmir region.
  • It is a migratory bird.
  • It winters largely in the high altitudes of the Nilgiris in the Western Ghats and in Sri Lanka.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

About Trachischium lalremsangai:

• It is a new species of burrowing snake.
• It was discovered in Murlen National Park, Mizoram, a biodiversity-rich forest landscape within the Indo–Burma biodiversity hotspot.
• The species was named after Dr. Lalremsanga in recognition of his remarkable contributions to herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians) in India, especially in Northeast India.
• The snake is distinguished by its smooth iridescent scales; brown body with a white-speckled underside; and a unique arrangement of head scales.

Key Facts about Murlen National Park:

• It is located in the Champhai district of Mizoram near the Indo-Myanmar border.
• It lies within the Mizo Hills, part of the Patkai range.
• The climate is subtropical, with heavy rainfall from May to September and mild winters from November to February.
• Vegetation: It has different forest types, namely tropical semi-evergreen, subtropical broadleaved, submontane, bamboo, grassland, and cliff vegetation.
• Flora:
  • It is home to a variety of plant species, including species of medicinal plants and many varieties of orchids.
  • Among others, bamboo brakes, rhododendrons, and unique flowering trees cover vast expanses of the forest.
• Fauna:
  • It harbours mammal species, including the Bengal tiger, leopard, Himalayan black bear, and the endangered hoolock gibbon.
  • Avian life thrives here hosting bird species such as Hume’s pheasant (State bird) and the kalij pheasant.

About Zwan-Wolf Effect:

• It is a process where charged particles are squeezed along magnetic structures, known as flux tubes.
• The Zwan-Wolf effect was discovered in 1976 and has so far only been observed in planetary magnetospheres and not their atmospheres.
• How does it happen?
  • The solar wind is a stream of charged particles flowing outwards from the sun.
  • As the solar wind nears the magnetic field of a planet, it becomes compressed near the magnetic boundaries.
  • This creates a difference in pressure, or pressure gradient, that squeezes the charged particles along the magnetic field, away from the stream.
  • As a result, closer to the stream is an area with a lower density of charged particles. This is called the Zwan-Wolf effect.
  • On Earth, this mechanism deflects much of the solar wind and protects us from the Sun’s constant bombardment.

Why are the New Findings Important?

• Unlike Earth, Mars is not protected by a global magnetic field, affecting how it interacts with the solar wind and space weather.
• The Zwan-Wolf effect was observed in the ionosphere — deep within the Martian atmosphere below 200 km — which contains significant numbers of electrically charged particles.
• The data showed that these charged particles were being squeezed and distributed around Mars’ atmosphere.
• It suggests that Mars, despite lacking a global magnetic field, experiences similar interactions with the solar wind, offering valuable insights into the planet's atmospheric dynamics.

Key Facts about MAVEN Spacecraft:

• Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) is the first spacecraft mission dedicated to surveying the upper atmosphere of Mars.
• It is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program.
• It aims to understand the role that loss of atmospheric gas to space played in changing the Martian climate over time.
• It was launched in 2013 and arrived at Mars in 2014.
• It carries three packages of instruments:
  • One package studies the solar wind and its impact on Mars’s ionosphere. (Since Mars has no magnetic field, its atmosphere would be slowly removed by interaction with the solar wind.)
  • The second package is an ultraviolet spectrometer that studies the upper atmosphere.
  • The third package is a mass spectrometer that studies the composition of the upper atmosphere.
• MAVEN found that Mars lost about 2/3 of its early atmosphere to space. 

About International Booker Prize:

• It is awarded annually.
• It was established in 2005 as the Man Booker International Prize.
• It celebrates the best works of long-form fiction or collections of short stories translated into English and published in the UK and/or Ireland.
• It recognises the vital work of translators, with the £50,000 prize money divided equally between authors and translators.
• In addition, shortlisted authors and translators each receive £2,500.
• This prize aims to encourage more reading of quality fiction from all over the world.

Indian Winners of International Booker Prize

• Geetanjali Shree– Tomb of Sand (2022), translated by Daisy Rockwell. It was first Hindi work to win this prize.
• Banu Mushtaq– Heart Lamp (2025), translated by Deepa Bhasthi  which was the first Kannada work to win this prize.

About Ayush Anudan Portal:

• It is developed by the Ministry of Ayush under the Ayush Grid initiative.
• It is a digital platform to streamline the submission, processing, and monitoring of funding proposals under Central Sector Schemes of the Ministry of Ayush i.e.
  • Ayurgyan, Ayurswasthya, Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants, International Co-operation and Promotion of Information, Education and Communication. 
• The primary objective of this portal is to ensure 100% transparency, efficiency, accountability and easy accessibility in the grant management process.
• The portal can be accessed through the Ministry’s My Ayush Integrated Services Portal (MAISP), which serves as the Ministry’s single-window digital platform.
• Features of the Portal:
  • It has scheme-wise application management system, enabling proposals to be categorised, processed, and monitored according to the specific requirements of different Central Sector Schemes of the Ministry.
  • It also incorporates a real-time application tracking mechanism, allowing applicants and officials to monitor proposal status at every stage of processing.
  • It is integrated with the NGO Darpan Portal.