Why in News?

As India prepares for a hotter-than-normal summer with more heatwave days, concerns have emerged over the government’s plan to rely more on coal-based power amid gas shortages caused by the West Asia conflict. This raises issues like solar curtailment and grid management.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Power Demand and Preparedness
• Greater Reliance on Coal-Based Power
• Renewable Energy Curtailment: Emerging Concern

Power Demand and Preparedness

• The government has stated that India’s power system is adequately prepared to meet peak summer demand.
• However, gas supply disruptions have created challenges, especially during periods of high electricity consumption.
• Role of Gas-Based Power
  • Although gas-based power contributes a small share to India’s energy mix, it plays a critical balancing role, especially:
    • During non-solar hours (evenings and nights)
    • When demand is high in summer
  • Around 10 GW of gas-based capacity is typically used during peak demand periods.
• Shift Towards Coal and Alternatives
  • To compensate for reduced gas availability, the government plans to rely on:
    • Coal-based power generation
    • Renewable energy sources
    • Energy storage systems
  • This shift ensures immediate supply but comes with long-term trade-offs.
  • Gas-based power plants are more flexible and responsive:
    • They can ramp up or down quickly
    • Help balance fluctuations in renewable energy
    • Ensure grid stability during evening peaks, when solar power is unavailable
  • Thus, reduced gas usage affects efficient integration of renewables.
• Concern: Solar Curtailment
  • A key concern is the curtailment of solar energy (i.e., reducing or stopping solar power generation despite availability).
    • Coal plants are inflexible: They cannot quickly adjust output.
    • This leads to situations where solar power is reduced to accommodate coal-based generation.
  • This undermines renewable energy utilisation.

Greater Reliance on Coal-Based Power

• India’s electricity generation is heavily dependent on coal, contributing over 70%, while gas-based power accounts for only 1–2%.
• Despite being costlier than coal and renewables, gas-based plants are crucial during peak demand periods, especially in summer evenings, due to their flexibility.
• The West Asia conflict has disrupted gas supplies, forcing the government to prioritise limited gas availability for essential sectors.
• This has reduced the availability of gas for power generation, increasing dependence on coal-based plants.
• Government Measures to Bridge the Gap
  • To meet rising summer demand, the government has initiated several steps:
    • Directed Tata Power’s 4 GW imported coal plant in Gujarat to resume full operations from April 1 after being idle for six months.
    • Asked thermal power plants to defer maintenance to maximise electricity generation.
    • Ensured that all generating companies maintain full capacity utilisation, except during unavoidable outages.
  • These steps are expected to make around 10,000 MW of additional capacity available between April and June 2026.
  • The government is also closely tracking thermal and hydro projects scheduled for commissioning by June 2026 to ensure timely addition of capacity during peak demand.
• Role of Hydro and Renewable Energy
  • Hydropower is being carefully scheduled to conserve water for peak demand periods.
  • Renewable energy expansion is being accelerated, with faster clearances for:
    • Wind power projects
    • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
  • India is prioritising energy security through coal-based generation amid gas shortages, while simultaneously pushing renewables and storage solutions.
  • The challenge lies in balancing short-term demand with long-term clean energy goals.

Renewable Energy Curtailment: Emerging Concern

• A higher dependence on coal-based power plants may lead to increased renewable energy (RE) curtailment, especially solar.
• This is mainly due to the operational inflexibility of coal plants, which cannot easily reduce output when renewable generation rises.
• What is Curtailment and Why It Happens?
  • Curtailment refers to the reduction or shutdown of renewable power generation despite availability.
  • It occurs to maintain grid stability and safety, particularly when:
    • Power supply exceeds demand
    • The grid faces frequency issues or congestion
  • Between May and November last year, India curtailed about 23 GW of renewable energy, highlighting the scale of the issue.
  • A major reason behind curtailment is the Minimum Technical Load (MTL) of coal plants.
    • MTL is the lowest level at which a thermal plant can operate safely (currently around 55% capacity).
    • Coal plants often cannot reduce output below this level, even when solar generation is high during the day.
  • Experts suggest lowering MTL (possibly to 40%) to better accommodate renewable energy.
• Changing Power Generation Pattern
  • Earlier:
    • Solar met daytime demand.
    • Gas-based plants handled evening peaks.
  • Now:
    • Greater reliance on coal means coal plants remain operational even during daytime.
    • This forces cheaper solar power to be curtailed, despite availability.
• Grid Constraints and Regional Challenges
• Curtailment is also driven by:
  • Transmission congestion, especially in high-renewable states like Rajasthan and Gujarat
  • Low power demand in certain states (underdrawal)
  • Limited ability to transfer surplus renewable power across regions
• These constraints make it difficult to fully utilise renewable energy.
• Operational and Economic Factors
  • Coal plants are preferred for reliability, especially for evening peak demand.
  • Increasing flexibility in coal plants requires technical adjustments and higher costs, though compensation mechanisms exist.
  • For utilities, it is often easier to keep coal plants running at minimum load and curtail renewables rather than frequently ramping generation.
• Structural Challenge: Lack of System Flexibility
  • Curtailment is not just about renewable availability but about system-wide flexibility, including:
    • Energy storage (BESS)
    • Flexible demand management
    • Balancing resources
  • Without these, integrating large-scale renewables becomes difficult.

Why in news?

The Union government introduced the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha to amend the existing FCRA, 2010, which regulates foreign funding received by NGOs and associations. However, due to strong Opposition protests, discussion and passage of the Bill were deferred during the Budget Session.

The Act requires organisations to obtain registration to receive foreign funds, aiming to ensure that such contributions do not harm national interest, public order, or national security.

Currently, around 16,000 registered associations receive nearly ₹22,000 crore annually under the FCRA framework.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Key Changes Proposed in the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026
• Additional Changes Proposed in the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026
• Regulation of Foreign Donations by MHA under FCRA
• Opposition to the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026
• Status of the Bill

Key Changes Proposed in the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026

• The Bill introduces significant changes aimed at strengthening regulation, oversight, and accountability in the use of foreign funds by NGOs and associations.
• Creation of a ‘Designated Authority’
  • A major provision is the establishment of a designated authority with powers similar to a civil court.
  • This authority will:
    • Take over, manage, or dispose of assets created from foreign funds
    • Act in cases where an NGO’s FCRA registration is suspended, cancelled, or not renewed
    • Transfer or sell assets to the government or other entities
  • This addresses a gap in the 2010 Act, which lacked a clear statutory framework for handling such assets, leading to administrative uncertainty and potential misuse.
• Expanded Definition of ‘Key Functionary’
  • The Bill also widens the scope of accountability by expanding the definition of a ‘key functionary’.
  • It now includes: Trustees; Partners; Karta of a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF); Members of governing bodies; Any person involved in controlling or managing the organization.
  • These individuals will be held liable for FCRA violations, unless they can prove lack of knowledge or that they exercised due diligence.

Additional Changes Proposed in the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026

• The Bill introduces several procedural and legal changes aimed at tightening control over foreign funding and improving regulatory clarity.
• Centralised Approval for Investigations - The amendment to Section 43 requires that any law enforcement agency or State government must obtain prior approval from the Central government before initiating investigations into FCRA-related cases. This centralises oversight of enforcement actions.
• Timelines for Fund Utilisation and Permissions - The Bill introduces fixed timelines for the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions under the ‘prior permission’ category (one-time approvals). This replaces the earlier open-ended framework, bringing greater clarity and accountability.
• Automatic Expiry of Registration - It provides for the automatic cessation of FCRA certificates if: The registration expires; Renewal is not obtained. This ensures stricter compliance with renewal requirements.
• Reduced Penal Provisions - The Bill proposes to reduce the maximum punishment for FCRA violations from five years to one year of imprisonment, signalling a shift towards relatively lighter penalties.

Regulation of Foreign Donations by MHA under FCRA

• MHA regulates foreign donations in India through the FCRA to ensure that such funds do not threaten internal security, public order, or national interest.
• Originally enacted in 1976, the law was replaced by a new framework in 2010 and has since been amended in 2016, 2018, and 2020 to strengthen oversight.
• Under the FCRA, NGOs must obtain registration valid for five years, after which renewal is mandatory.
• Since 2015, the government has cancelled over 18,000 NGO registrations, reflecting stricter enforcement.
  • As of April 3, around 14,965 NGOs remain registered under the Act.
• Registered organisations are allowed to receive foreign funds for activities related to social, educational, religious, economic, and cultural purposes, subject to regulatory compliance.

Opposition to the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026

• Experts raised concerns over undue government interference in NGOs and minority institutions, especially provisions allowing cancellation of licences and takeover of assets, funds, and properties.
• Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala have also opposed the Bill, fearing it could be misused against minority institutions, including churches.

Why in the News?

• Parliament has passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, recognising Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Background, Evolution of Capital Debate, etc.)
• Amendment Bill (Key Features,

Background of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation

• The state of Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated in 2014 through the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, leading to the creation of Telangana and residual Andhra Pradesh.
• As per the Act, Hyderabad was designated as the joint capital for both states for a period of up to 10 years.
• After this transition period ended in June 2024, Hyderabad became the exclusive capital of Telangana, requiring Andhra Pradesh to establish its own capital.
• Following bifurcation, the Andhra Pradesh government under N. Chandrababu Naidu identified Amaravati as the new capital and began developing it as a greenfield capital city.

Evolution of Capital Debate in Andhra Pradesh

• The capital issue in Andhra Pradesh has been politically contested.
• After coming to power in 2019, the YSR Congress Party proposed a three-capital model with Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, Amaravati as the legislative capital, and Kurnool as the judicial capital.
• However, in 2022, the Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that the capital could not be shifted from Amaravati, citing a lack of legislative competence to reverse earlier policy decisions.
• Subsequently, with the return of the National Democratic Alliance government, the state reaffirmed its commitment to Amaravati as the sole capital.

Key Features of the Amendment Bill

• The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduces specific legal provisions to resolve the capital issue.
• The Bill amends Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
  It explicitly recognises Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh.
• It inserts the phrase “at Amaravati” to formally designate the capital location.
  It also clarifies that Amaravati includes areas notified under the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act, 2014.
• Importantly, the Bill gives retrospective effect from June 2, 2024, the date when Hyderabad ceased to be the joint capital.

Rationale Behind the Amendment

• The amendment was considered necessary to remove ambiguity regarding the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
• Since the original 2014 Act governs the creation and structure of the state, any change in capital status requires modification of this central legislation.
• The state government argued that statutory recognition would ensure policy stability and prevent future governments from altering the capital location arbitrarily.
• Thus, the amendment aims to provide long-term certainty in governance and infrastructure planning.

Political and Legal Dimensions

• The passage of the Bill saw broad political consensus in Parliament, with most parties supporting it.
• However, the YSR Congress Party opposed the Bill in its current form. It raised concerns regarding unresolved issues related to the Land Pooling Scheme, under which farmers had contributed land for capital development.
• The party demanded clear timelines and safeguards for compensating farmers and ensuring their interests are protected.
• The legal dimension of the issue is also significant, as earlier disputes had reached the Supreme Court. The withdrawal of pending litigation aligns with the current policy direction.

Implications of Declaring Amaravati as Sole Capital

• The decision has multiple governance and economic implications.

• Administrative Clarity. It resolves long-standing uncertainty regarding the capital location.
• Investor Confidence. Clear policy direction is likely to boost infrastructure investment in Amaravati.
• Urban Development. Focused development of a single capital can enhance efficiency in planning and execution.
• Political Stability. It reduces the scope for future policy reversals on the capital issue.

• At the same time, concerns regarding regional balance and equitable development across the state remain relevant.

Why in News?

• A sharp political exchange between the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the Union Minister of Education brought the debate over language policy and the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 into focus.
• The controversy revolves around the three-language formula, raising questions of linguistic diversity, federalism, and educational equity during an election season.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• The Three-Language Formula
• Core Issue - Language Policy vs Federal Autonomy
• Key Points of Contention
• Underlying Themes
• Challenges and Way Forward
• Conclusion

The Three-Language Formula:

• About: It is an educational policy in India, first introduced in 1968 and reinforced by NEP 2020, requiring students to learn three languages: English, Hindi (or another Indian language in non-Hindi states), and the regional/mother tongue.
• Objective: It promotes -
  • National integration: Encourages understanding and communication across linguistic borders.
  • Linguistic/ cultural diversity: Promotes the study of both regional languages and the English language for global connection.
  • Multilingualism: Fosters the development of multiple language skills from a young age.
• Key components and implementation:
  • Structure: Students learn three languages up to Class 10, often with a regional language, English, and a third language (often Hindi in non-Hindi states or another Indian language in Hindi states).
  • NEP 2020 integration: The policy encourages flexibility, emphasizing that no language is imposed on any state.
  • CBSE adoption: Starting in the 2026-27 academic session, CBSE is implementing a mandatory third language from Class 6, focusing on studying at least two Indian languages.

Core Issue - Language Policy vs Federal Autonomy:

• Tamil Nadu’s concerns - Linguistic imposition:
  • The State government views the new curriculum framework as a centralising measure privileging Hindi, and a threat to India’s linguistic diversity.
  • The three-language formula is seen as a covert mechanism for Hindi expansion in non-Hindi regions.
  • Key criticisms:
    • Lack of reciprocity: No mandate for Hindi-speaking states to learn southern or other Indian languages.
    • Administrative gaps: Shortage of teachers and unclear funding.
    • Equity concerns: Policy perceived as one-sided and discriminatory.
    • Broader framing: Issue linked to federalism, fairness, and constitutional rights.
• Centre’s position - Multilingual empowerment:
  • The Union government rejects allegations of imposition, arguing that policy promotes mother tongue-based education, and multilingualism enhances cognitive and global competencies.
  • The policy is described as a flexible framework, not compulsory Hindi imposition, and a step toward “linguistic liberation”.
  • Funding support through Samagra Shiksha Scheme, and accusation that Tamil Nadu is blocking initiatives like the PM SHRI Schools, and the Navodaya Vidyalayas.

Key Points of Contention:

• Three-language formula: Debate over flexibility vs hidden compulsion, and uniform implementation across states.
• Fiscal federalism:
  • Allegation by Tamil Nadu that the centre is using funds as a tool of coercion. For example, withholding about ₹2,200 crore under Samagra Shiksha.
  • Raises issue of conditional transfers vs state autonomy.
• Implementation gaps: Questions raised are availability of qualified language teachers, infrastructure and funding clarity, and actual implementation in Hindi-speaking states.
• Institutional bias: Concerns over the limited teaching of southern languages in central institutions (e.g., Kendriya Vidyalayas), and unequal promotion of classical languages.

Underlying Themes:

• Federalism vs centralisation: Debate reflects tension between cooperative federalism, and centralising tendencies of the Union.
• Linguistic identity and politics: Language seen as a marker of cultural identity, and a tool of political mobilisation.
• Education as a concurrent subject: Highlights friction in policy design (Centre) vs implementation (States).

Challenges and Way Forward:

• Trust deficit: Between Centre and States. Strengthening cooperative federalism - institutional dialogue via the Inter-State Council, and the GST Council-like consultative mechanisms in education.
• Lack of transparent implementation data: Publish State-wise data on language implementation, teacher recruitment and fund allocation.
• Politicisation of education policy: Fiscal neutrality - decouple education funding from political compliance. Ensure predictable and rule-based transfers.
• Inadequate teacher capacity and institutional readiness: Ensuring policy flexibility - genuine state-specific adaptations in language policy, and avoiding one-size-fits-all frameworks.
• Risk of homogenisation vs preservation of diversity: Promoting true multilingualism - encouraging reciprocal language learning, and expansion of non-Hindi languages in northern states.

Conclusion:

• The controversy goes beyond language—it reflects a deeper contest over the nature of Indian federalism and cultural pluralism.
• While the Centre emphasises national integration through multilingualism, states like Tamil Nadu stress autonomy and linguistic identity.
• A balanced approach—grounded in dialogue, flexibility, and mutual respect—is essential to ensure that education policy strengthens, rather than strains, India’s unity in diversity.