Why in news?

India has approved its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), committing to 60% of installed power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035, a 47% reduction in emissions intensity from 2005 levels, and expanding its carbon sink to 3.5–4 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.

These targets will be submitted to the UNFCCC and come as India’s emissions growth slowed to a two-decade low in 2025.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• India’s Previous vs Updated Commitments
• Have NDCs Driven the Clean Energy Transition?
• India’s Emissions Trend: Signs of a Slowdown
• Challenges in India’s Climate Strategy

India’s Previous vs Updated Commitments

• Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to submit NDCs, but the targets themselves are voluntary commitments outlining how each nation plans to reduce emissions and transition away from fossil fuels.
• Earlier NDC (2022) - India committed to:
  • 50% non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030;
  • 45% reduction in emissions intensity;
  • Carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent.
• Updated NDC (2026) - The new targets increase ambition:
  • 60% non-fossil capacity by 2035
  • 47% reduction in emissions intensity
  • Higher carbon sink target
• India has already achieved about 52% non-fossil capacity by early 2026, surpassing earlier targets ahead of schedule.
• With this update, India also closes a gap, joining other G20 nations in announcing its 2035 climate commitments.

Have NDCs Driven the Clean Energy Transition?

• The impact of NDCs on accelerating clean energy remains mixed and limited.
• While they provide a framework for climate action, their effectiveness in driving real change is debated.
• Global Performance: Falling Short of Targets
  • Reports like the UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2025 show countries have repeatedly missed targets since 2015.
  • Current NDCs close less than 14% of the emissions gap needed to limit warming to 1.5°C.
  • Although projected warming has slightly decreased, much of this is due to methodological changes rather than stronger policy action.
  • Setbacks like the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement have further weakened progress.
• Weaknesses in NDC Commitments
  • Most countries include some clean energy targets, but none present a fully aligned plan with global agreements like the COP28 “UAE Consensus”.
  • Gaps in Fossil Fuel Action
    • No country has clear targets to phase down oil and gas production
    • Most ignore fossil fuel subsidy reforms
    • Developing countries rely heavily on inadequate international finance
• Clean Energy Growth Despite NDC Limitations
  • Renewable energy is expanding rapidly, with record solar and wind installations and renewables overtaking coal globally.
  • However, this growth is driven mainly by falling costs and industrial competition, not NDC mandates.
  • NDCs have been more effective at tracking and reporting progress rather than driving the deep structural changes needed to move away from fossil fuels, highlighting a gap between commitments and real-world impact.

India’s Emissions Trend: Signs of a Slowdown

• A 2025 analysis by CREA shows India’s CO₂ emissions grew by just 0.7%, the slowest pace in over two decades (excluding Covid), marking a sharp decline from 4–11% growth in previous years.
• Decline in Coal-Based Emissions - Emissions from the power sector fell 3.8%, with coal generation declining for the first time since 1973 (outside the Covid period).
• Rapid Expansion of Clean Energy - India added significant clean capacity in 2025 (47 GW solar; 6.3 GW wind; 4 GW hydro; 0.6 GW nuclear). This was enough to meet demand growth of up to 5%, signalling a structural shift.
• Mixed Sectoral Performance - While the power sector improved, heavy industries lagged behind (Steel emissions rose by 8%; Cement emissions increased by 10%).
• Possible Inflection Point Ahead
  • The analysis suggests India’s power sector may reach a tipping point by 2026, where clean energy additions match annual demand growth.
  • Long-term projections indicate 70% non-fossil capacity by 2035-36.
  • Experts warn that 2025 conditions—mild weather and weak industrial activity—may have temporarily reduced emissions.
  • Sustained trends over the coming years will be needed to confirm a lasting transition.

Challenges in India’s Climate Strategy

• India’s climate targets rely on emissions intensity (emissions per unit of GDP), allowing total emissions to rise as long as economic growth outpaces them.
• This approach is justified on equity grounds, given India’s low per-capita emissions.
• Continued Fossil Fuel Expansion: Despite clean energy goals, India plans - 100 GW of new coal capacity; $1 trillion in petrochemical investments by 2040; 50% increase in coal-based steel capacity by 2031. These moves could offset gains from renewable energy.
• Stranded Renewable Capacity - Over 37 GW of renewable energy capacity remains underutilised due to inadequate grid infrastructure, limiting the effectiveness of clean energy expansion.
• Forest Cover Gaps - India’s carbon sink targets depend on forest expansion, but current forest and tree cover is about 24%, below the 33% goal. Some of this includes trees outside forests, whose reliability is debated.

Conclusion

• India’s climate progress will depend on resolving contradictions between growth and sustainability, improving grid readiness, and strengthening genuine carbon sinks alongside renewable expansion.

Why in news?

• The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, introduced in the Rajya Sabha, proposes reserving senior leadership positions in CAPFs largely for IPS officers on deputation.
• It mandates:
  • 50% of Inspector General (IG) posts
  • At least 67% of Additional Director General (ADG) posts
  • 100% of Special DG and DG posts
    • to be filled by IPS officers.
  • The proposal has drawn criticism from the Opposition and retired CAPF officials, who argue it may limit career progression opportunities for cadre officers within CAPFs.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Background: Supreme Court Judgment and Government’s Response
• About CAPFs
• Why is there opposition to the Bill?
• Other Concerns

Background: Supreme Court Judgment and Government’s Response

• The Bill was introduced following a Supreme Court judgment (May 2025) which directed that deputation of IPS officers to senior posts in CAPFs should be gradually reduced within two years.
• The Court also recognised CAPF Group A officers as Organised Group A Services (OGAS), similar to IAS, IPS, and IFS.
• Government’s Response and Legal Developments
  • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) filed a review petition against the judgment, but it was dismissed in October 2025.
  • Despite this, the MHA continued appointing IPS officers to key positions in CAPFs, leading to allegations of non-compliance.
  • Retired CAPF officers filed a contempt petition against the Union Home Secretary for not implementing the Court’s order.
  • In response, the government proposed a legal solution, leading to Cabinet approval of the CAPF (General Administration) Bill, 2026 to address the issue through legislation.

About CAPFs

• The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) include seven forces:
  • Assam Rifles (guards Indo-Myanmar and counter insurgency operations in NE)
  • BSF (guards Pakistan and Bangladesh borders),
  • CISF (protects airports and critical infrastructure),
  • CRPF (handles internal security and law and order),
  • SSB (guards Nepal and Bhutan borders), and
  • ITBP (secures the China border).
  • National Security Guard (an elite counter-terrorism unit)
• Currently, IPS officers occupy key leadership roles in CAPFs, with 20% of Deputy Inspector General posts and 50% of Inspector General posts reserved for them through executive orders.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) controls both CAPFs and IPS cadres.
• Personnel and Recruitment
  • CAPFs have around 13,000 Group A officers and nearly 10 lakh personnel in total.
  • Recruitment is conducted through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), ensuring a structured entry into these forces.
• Current IPS Deployment
  • As of March 9, 2026, there are 213 sanctioned IPS posts in CAPFs, with 35 vacancies.
  • Across India, there are about 4,594 IPS officers, with 40% of senior posts earmarked for Central deputation and 60% for state roles.

Why is there opposition to the Bill?

• Retired CAPF officials oppose the Bill, arguing it undermines the Supreme Court’s ruling.
• They highlight career stagnation, noting that CAPF officers face slow promotions compared to IPS officers, who advance much faster.
• They also object to reserving 100% of Special Director General posts for IPS officers, limiting career growth for CAPF personnel.
• Government’s Justification
  • The government maintains that CAPFs handle critical national security functions requiring coordination with states.
  • It argues that IPS officers are essential for effective functioning and for maintaining strong Centre–State relations.
• Concerns Raised by Opposition Leaders
  • Opposition leaders have criticised the Bill as an overreach.
  • They said it undermines judicial authority and pointed to low morale in CAPFs due to poor promotions.
  • They argued Parliament cannot override court rulings without proper legal basis.

Other Concerns

• Lack of Domain Expertise - Critics argue that IPS officers deputed at senior levels often lack ground-level experience in CAPFs, affecting decision-making and operational effectiveness.
• Need for Institutional Continuity - CAPFs handle complex roles like border security, counter-insurgency, and disaster response, which require long-term experience and continuity of leadership—something cadre officers are better positioned to provide.
• Institutional Autonomy vs Bureaucratic Control - The Bill is seen as reinforcing bureaucratic control rather than promoting professional autonomy. Experts argue that modern security forces require specialised leadership, not external administrative dominance.
• Equality and Fair Opportunity - Permanent exclusion of CAPF officers from top leadership raises concerns under Articles 14 and 16 (equality and equal opportunity).
• National Security vs Service Interests - Critics argue the Bill prioritises IPS career progression over strengthening CAPFs. The focus on coordination and administrative control may not stand legal scrutiny, as courts have already examined these arguments.

Why in news?

• The Supreme Court ruled recently in Chinthada Anand vs State of Andhra Pradesh that a pastor from the Madiga community cannot claim SC status as he had converted to Christianity.
• The Court upheld the Andhra Pradesh High Court's decision in an alleged atrocity matter.
• The ruling laid down strict conditions for reconversion claims and clarified the religion-based bar on SC status.

What's in Today's Article?

• Legal basis: Can a person of Christian faith be SC?
• The Centre's position and pending petition
• Conditions for reconversion claims
• What about Scheduled Tribes?
• Conclusion

Can a Person of Christian Faith be SC?

• The Constitutional Bar
  • The Constitution (SC) Order, 1950 bars anyone not professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism from SC membership, a bar the Court declared absolute with no exceptions.
• Meaning of Profess and Effect of Conversion
  • Profess means to publicly declare or practice a religion. Since Anand was a practising Christian, he fell outside the Order's ambit.
  • Conversion causes immediate and complete loss of SC status, terminating all benefits, reservations, and protections, including under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
• On Caste Certificates and Theological Reasoning
  • A caste certificate cannot override the fact of practising Christianity.
  • The Court noted that Christianity does not recognise caste by its very theological foundation, making SC status and Christian faith constitutionally incompatible.

Is this question new? What is the Centre's position?

• Historical Background
  • A petition on SC status for Dalit converts has been pending since 2004. Petitioners argue caste followed converts into Christianity and Islam, and government-commissioned reports support extending SC status to Dalit Muslims and Christians.
  • The Order was previously amended to include Sikhism (1950s) and Buddhism (1990), setting a precedent for expansion.
• Centre's Stand
  • The government has consistently argued for exclusion of Christians and Muslims citing the foreign origin of these faiths, as opposed to Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism.
• K. G. Balakrishnan Commission
  • In October 2022, a Commission of Inquiry under former CJI K.G. Balakrishnan was constituted to examine the issue, with its report due April this year, which the Supreme Court Bench is awaiting before proceeding.

What are the Conditions for Reconversion Claims?

• Three Cumulative Conditions
  • Original SC Membership: Must prove prior belonging to a Scheduled Caste before conversion.
  • Bona Fide Reconversion: Requires unimpeachable evidence of genuine return to the original faith, including complete renunciation of the converted religion and actual adoption of the original caste's customs, rituals, and practices.
  • Community Acceptance: Must demonstrate re-assimilation and acceptance by the original caste community; self-declaration alone is insufficient.
• Burden of Proof
  • The entire burden lies on the claimant, to be established through unimpeachable evidence, a high legal threshold.

What about Scheduled Tribes?

• No Religion-Based Bar for STs
  • Unlike SCs, the Constitution (ST) Order, 1950 prescribes no religion-based exclusion.
  • ST status depends on retention of essential tribal attributes, customs, social organisation, community life, and community recognition.
• Effect of Conversion & Ground Reality
  • Complete severance from tribal life weakens ST claims; retained tribal identity cannot be automatically rejected, each case is fact-specific.
  • This is significant given that entire ST communities in states like Nagaland have converted to Christianity, while states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand witness Adivasi movements seeking to disentitle converted STs from statutory benefits.

Conclusion

• The ruling reaffirms the strict religion-based framework of the Constitution (SC) Order, 1950, leaving no room for exceptions.
• While it brings clarity on reconversion thresholds, it deepens the urgency around whether Dalit Christians and Muslims deserve constitutional protection against caste discrimination.
• The K. G. Balakrishnan Commission's report will be a critical input for the pending Supreme Court proceedings.
• The outcome carries far-reaching implications, for millions of Dalits converts and for how India reconciles its constitutional promise of equality with the lived reality that caste does not disappear with conversion.

Why in news?

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed the introduction of electronic cheques (e-cheques) as part of its effort to modernise India's payment ecosystem.
• The proposal was outlined in the RBI's Payments Vision 2028 report, which also covers cross-border payments, payment switching, and systemic stability.
• The initiative aims to merge the trusted features of traditional paper cheques with the efficiency and security of digital payment systems.

What's in Today's Article?

• What are e-cheques and how do they work?
• Why is RBI proposing e-cheques?
• Cross-border payment reforms
• Payments Switching Service (PaSS)
• Regulatory expansion for systemic stability
• Conclusion

What are E-Cheques and How Do They Work?

• Definition
  • An e-cheque is a digital version of a paper cheque, created, signed, and sent online instead of on paper.
• Process
  • The payer fills in the payment details and signs it using a secure digital method.
  • It is then sent to the payee or bank, which verifies and processes it like a normal cheque.
• Advantages over Paper Cheques
  • Faster processing and settlement
  • More secure: reduced risk of physical fraud or tampering
  • Paperless: environmentally friendly and cost-efficient
  • Easy to track: full digital audit trail

Why is RBI Proposing E-Cheques?

• Unique Value of Cheques
  • The RBI acknowledges that cheques offer unique benefits over other payment methods: particularly for high-value, deferred, and business transactions where a written instrument is preferred.
• Limitations of the Current System
  • The existing framework is built on CTS-2010 standards (Cheque Truncation System introduced in 2010).
  • Banks have independently added their own security features over time, leading to inconsistencies and variations across the system.
• What the Review Will Do?
  • A comprehensive review of the design and security features of cheques will be undertaken to:
    • Enhance uniformity across all cheque instruments
    • Strengthen fraud prevention mechanisms
    • Ensure alignment with emerging processes and technologies
  • Best practices identified through the review will be made applicable across all cheque instruments.

Cross-Border Payment Reforms

• Framework Review
  • A review of the cross-border payments framework will be conducted to enhance efficiency.
  • This will be complemented by publishing dedicated reports on specific aspects of cross-border payments.
• Regulatory Streamlining
  • The regulatory process for cross-border payment authorisation under PSS Act, 2007 (Payment and Settlement Systems Act) and FEMA, 1999 (Foreign Exchange Management Act) will be streamlined to promote ease of doing business and greater convenience for users.
• Small Payment System Providers
  • The case for recognising Small Payment System Providers under a perpetual regulatory sandbox structure will be examined, offering a structured, low-risk environment for innovation.

Payments Switching Service (PaSS)

• The RBI will examine providing customers with the flexibility to switch seamlessly among payment service providers through a dedicated Payments Switching Service (PaSS).
• This is aimed at:
  • Enhancing customer convenience and choice
  • Promoting healthy competition among payment service providers
  • Reducing lock-in effects that currently limit consumer mobility across platforms

Regulatory Expansion for Systemic Stability

• Entities deemed to play a critical role in facilitating digital payments will be brought within the regulatory fold.
• This move is aimed at:
  • Promoting systemic stability in India's growing digital payments landscape
  • Ensuring integrity and accountability among key payment intermediaries
  • Reducing risks arising from unregulated but systemically important players operating outside the oversight framework

Conclusion

• The RBI's Payments Vision 2028 reflects a forward-looking approach to building a robust, inclusive, and secure payment ecosystem for India.
• The introduction of e-cheques bridges the gap between traditional instruments and digital innovation, while reforms in cross-border payments, switching services, and regulatory oversight signal a comprehensive overhaul.
• As digital transactions continue to grow, these measures will be critical in ensuring that India's payment infrastructure remains efficient, interoperable, fraud-resistant, and globally competitive.

About Euthalia zubeengargi:

• It is a butterfly species that was discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Habitat: It is found in semi-evergreen forests.
• It belongs to the genus Euthalia, a group commonly found across South and Southeast Asia.
• Appearance: Members of this group are typically seen in forested habitats and are known for their earthy brown wings marked with pale spots.
• It prefers cool, shaded forest interiors.
• The butterfly rests on low vegetation, feeding on tree sap and occasionally gathering minerals from damp surfaces near streams.
• It appears to be active mainly from late morning to early afternoon, making short, slow flights between nearby plants
• Euthalia zubeengargi is one of more than 80 species from this group recorded in India’s northeastern region.
• Ecological Significance of butterfly: These are valuable indicators of the environment, whose health can influence their presence, abundance, and diversity.

About Coffee:

• It is a tropical plant generally grown under shady trees.
• Types of Coffee: Robusta and Arabica
• Major Coffee growing states: It is largely cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, among which, Karnataka produces the most with over 70% of the total output.
• Europe is the top destination for India’s coffee exports.
• The major countries which import the commodity from India include Italy, Germany, Belgium, Middle East nations, Korea, and Japan.
• Required Climatic Conditions for Coffee Cultivation
  • It is grown on hill slopes at elevations from 600 to 1,600 metres above sea level.
  • Climate: It requires a hot and humid climate for its growth.
  • Temperature: 15°C and 28 °C
  • Rainfall: It requires 150 to 250 cm of rainfall.
  • Soil: Well-drained, loamy soil containing a good deal of humus and minerals like iron and calcium are ideal for coffee cultivation.
  • Dry weather is necessary at the time of ripening of the berries.

About Keelback Snake:

• Keelback snakes are typically non-venomous.
• Habitat: These are often found near water bodies such as streams and wetlands.
• Habitat: They are found in moist localities within wet and dry forest environments.
• Diet: Frogs, lizards and occasionally fish and tadpoles
• Features:
  • One of the most distinctive features of keelback snakes is their “keeled” scales.
  • Each scale has a raised ridge running down its center, giving the snake’s skin a noticeably rough and textured feel.
  • The keeled surface not only gives keelbacks a more rugged appearance but also helps with camouflage,
  • As the texture can break up light reflections and allow them to blend more effectively into natural surroundings like leaf litter, mud, and wetland vegetation.
• Ecological Significance: Their presence is considered an indicator of healthy ecosystems, particularly in forested and riparian habitats.

About Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is located in Andhra Pradesh.
• It is part of the Godavari estuary, where the Coringa river confluences into the Bay of Bengal.
• It was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1978.
• Vegetation: It has extensive mangrove and dry deciduous tropical forests. It is the second-largest stretch of mangrove forests in India.
• Flora: Mangrove plants like Rhizophora spp, Avicennia spp, Sonnertia spp, etc; grow here.
• Fauna: It is home to endangered mammals like Smooth Indian otter, Fishing cat, Jackal, etc. Mangroves offer excellent habitat for birds like Black capped kingfisher, Brahminy kite, Sea gulls, Reef heron, Sand piper, etc.
• The sea coast of the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is a breeding ground for Olive ridley turtles.

Key Facts about Olive Ridley Turtles:

• It gets its name from the olive green colouration of its carapace (shell).
• It is best known for its unique mass nesting, called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
• Distribution of Olive Ridley Turtle
  • They are mainly found in the warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans.
  • Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is known as the world’s largest rookery (a colony of breeding animals) of sea turtles.
  • Conservation Status of Olive Ridley Turtle
    • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
    • CITES: Appendix I
    • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1

About Waste Foundry Sand:

• It is a byproduct from the production of both ferrous and nonferrous metal castings.
• It is high quality silica sand.
• The physical and chemical characteristics of foundry sand depend upon the type of casting process and the type of industries.
• Classification of foundry sands depends upon the type of binder systems used in metal casting.
• Two types of binder systems are generally used, and on the basis of that foundry sands are categorized as: clay-bonded sands (green sand) and chemically bonded sands.
• Waste Foundry Sand poses environmental challenges due to its large-scale generation and disposal requirements.
• Significance: Its reuse aligns with national priorities on resource efficiency, waste minimization, and sustainable development.

About Rural Self Employment Training Institutes:

• The Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) are empowering rural youth through skill development and entrepreneurship promotion.
• RSETIs have emerged as key institutions with a wide national outreach, providing free residential training and facilitating sustainable livelihoods for rural youth.
• These are functioning through a unique partnership between banks and government,
• One RSETI is established in every district in the country. Concerned bank is the lead bank in the district takes responsibility for creating and managing it.
• Eligibility: RSETIs provide short-duration, practical, and residential training programs for unemployed rural youth aged 18–50 years.
• The institutes offer 73 NSQF-aligned courses across sectors such as: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Services and Entrepreneurship Development Programs (EDPs)
• These institutes not only impart skills but also ensure post-training support through handholding and credit linkage.
• Recognition of RSETI trainees: Certificates issued by an RSETI will be recognised by all banks for purposes of extending credit to the trainees.