Current Affairs of 1 August 2026 by Vajiram & Ravi IAS Institute

Who are Nihang Sikhs?

August 1, 2026

About Nihang Sikhs

Nihangs, or Nihang Singhs, originally known as Akalis or Akali Nihangs, are a distinct warrior order within the Sikh community, known for their martial traditions, unique attire, and adherence to a specific code of conduct.
They have a rich history dating back to the times of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru.
They are easily recognizable by their distinctive blue attire, which includes blue robes, high turbans adorned with steel quoits (chakrams), and they often carry traditional weapons like swords, spears, and daggers.
They are highly skilled in Gatka martial arts and have historically served as a dedicated and elite force to protect Sikh shrines and communities.
Nihangs had a major role in defending the Sikh Panth after the fall of the first Sikh rule (1710-15), when Mughal governors were killing Sikhs, and during the onslaught of Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Durrani (1748-65).
Current Status:
- Nihangs are today divided into several groups, each with its own “chhaoni” (cantonment), but are loosely organised into two “dals” (forces)—Buddha Dal and Taruna Dal, names initially given to the two sections into which the ‘Khalsa’ army was divided in 1733.
- The Buddha Dal has its headquarters at Talvandi Sabo, in Bathinda district, while the principal cantonment of the Taruna Dal Nihangs is at Baba Bakala in Amritsar district.
- Anandpur Sahib, the birthplace of the Khalsa, remains the main centre of Nihang gatherings.
- They assemble there in the thousands in March every year to celebrate Hola Mahalla, a Sikh festival introduced by Guru Gobind Singh.
- On that occasion, they hold tournaments of military skills, including mock battles.

Q1) Who was Guru Gobind Singh?

He was the 10th and last human Guru of the Sikhs. Born as Gobind Rai on December 22, 1666, in Patna, Bihar, Guru Gobind Singh was the son of the ninth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Teg Bahadur. He became the spiritual and temporal leader of the Sikhs on November 11, 1675, at the age of nine, following the martyrdom of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, at the hands of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1675. He was renowned as a warrior, a poet, and a prophet. He is fondly remembered by Sikhs as a defender of the faith and a champion of equality and justice.Among his notable contributions to Sikhism are founding the Sikh warrior community called Khalsa in 1699.

Source: Nihang Sikh Warriors Join Farmers Protest, Spotted Practicing With Spears and Shields

Daily Editorial Analysis 1 August 2026

August 1, 2026

Western Ghats Conservation with Science and Dialogue

Context

The Western Ghats, one of the world's eight major biodiversity hotspots, extend across six Indian States and host 39 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, rich endemic flora and fauna, and vital watersheds.
Recognising its ecological significance, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) recommended declaring the region an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
However, concerns over livelihoods, development, and local participation have delayed its implementation, highlighting the challenge of balancing environmental conservation with inclusive development.

Ecological Significance of the Western Ghats

The Western Ghats perform indispensable ecological functions:
- A global biodiversity hotspot with numerous endemic species.
- Source of major peninsular rivers, ensuring water security.
- Regulates climate, rainfall, and carbon sequestration.
- Supports agriculture, forestry, and livelihoods for millions.
Houses protected areas including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Evolution of the ESA Proposal

The journey of the ESA proposal reflects the difficulty of reconciling conservation with development.
WGEEP (Madhav Gadgil Committee, 2011) recommended classifying almost the entire Western Ghats into three Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZs) with varying levels of regulation.
Due to widespread resistance, the Kasturirangan Committee (2012) reduced the ESA coverage to around 37% of the Western Ghats, limiting restrictions mainly to natural landscapes.
Between 2014 and 2026, several draft notifications were issued, but disagreements among States prevented finalisation.
In 2022, an expert committee headed by Sanjay Kumar was formed to address State concerns, with discussions continuing through a phased implementation

Major Concerns of Stakeholders

Livelihood and Development Issues
- States, particularly Karnataka, fear that ESA notification may adversely affect:
  - Agriculture and plantations.
  - Mining and quarrying.
  - Infrastructure and tourism projects.
  - Rural employment and economic opportunities.
- With nearly one-fourth of Karnataka's population residing in the Western Ghats region, livelihood concerns remain politically significant.
Implementation Challenges
- Local communities have expressed several concerns:
  - Dependence on satellite imagery, which may incorrectly classify plantations as forests.
  - Lack of ground verification and consultation.
  - Fear of eviction and expansion of buffer zones.
  - Restrictions on minor forest produce, agriculture, and forest rights.
  - These issues have generated distrust despite conservation objectives.

Need for Ecological Conservation

Despite opposition, conservation remains imperative because:
- The Western Ghats face threats from deforestation, quarrying, unplanned tourism, and habitat fragmentation.
- Ecological degradation increases risks of landslides, floods, and biodiversity loss.
- Healthy ecosystems strengthen climate resilience and water security.
- Delayed action may irreversibly damage fragile ecosystems that extend beyond State boundaries.

Role of Indigenous Communities

An effective ESA framework must recognise the contribution of indigenous communities.
Traditional forest-dwelling communities have historically practised sustainable resource management, protected sacred groves, and preserved bio cultural diversity.
Their knowledge systems complement scientific conservation and should be integrated into decision-making rather than treating them as obstacles.

Way Forward

A balanced approach should focus on:
- Participatory governance involving local communities and Gram Sabhas.
- Ground-based ecological surveys alongside satellite mapping.
- Clear communication to eliminate misconceptions regarding eviction and land rights.
- Strict regulation of environmentally destructive activities such as illegal mining, stone quarrying, and unplanned tourism, while permitting sustainable livelihoods.
- Protection of Forest Rights Act
- Promotion of eco-tourism, sustainable agriculture, and community-based conservation.
- Adoption of a phased and State-specific implementation strategy with periodic review.

Conclusion

The debate over the Western Ghats ESA is not a choice between development and conservation, but an opportunity to achieve both through sustainable governance.
Protecting this globally significant ecosystem requires scientific planning, cooperative federalism, community participation, and respect for the rights of indigenous and local populations.
A well-designed ESA framework can ensure that ecological security and livelihood security reinforce rather than undermine each other.

Western Ghats Conservation with Science and Dialogue FAQs

Q1. What is the objective of declaring the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA)?
Ans. The objective is to protect fragile ecosystems by regulating environmentally harmful activities while promoting sustainable development.

Q2. Why did the Kasturirangan Committee modify the Gadgil Committee's recommendations?
Ans. It reduced the ESA area and limited restrictions mainly to ecologically sensitive natural landscapes to balance conservation with livelihoods.

Q3. Why has Karnataka opposed the ESA notification?
Ans. Karnataka fears that ESA regulations may negatively affect agriculture, plantations, mining, infrastructure development, and local livelihoods.

Q4. Why are indigenous communities important for Western Ghats conservation?
Ans. Indigenous communities practise sustainable resource management and help preserve the region's ecological and biocultural diversity.

Q5. What is the most suitable approach for implementing the ESA proposal?
Ans. The proposal should be implemented through scientific assessment, community participation, protection of livelihood rights, and phased State-wise implementation.

Source: The Hindu

Daily Editorial Analysis 2026 FAQs

Q1: What is editorial analysis?

Ans: Editorial analysis is the critical examination and interpretation of newspaper editorials to extract key insights, arguments, and perspectives relevant to UPSC preparation.

Q2: What is an editorial analyst?

Ans: An editorial analyst is someone who studies and breaks down editorials to highlight their relevance, structure, and usefulness for competitive exams like the UPSC.

Q3: What is an editorial for UPSC?

Ans: For UPSC, an editorial refers to opinion-based articles in reputed newspapers that provide analysis on current affairs, governance, policy, and socio-economic issues.

Q4: What are the sources of UPSC Editorial Analysis?

Ans: Key sources include editorials from The Hindu and Indian Express.

Q5: Can Editorial Analysis help in Mains Answer Writing?

Ans: Yes, editorial analysis enhances content quality, analytical depth, and structure in Mains answer writing.

Gross Value Added (GVA), Meaning, Formula, Example, Importance

August 1, 2026

Gross Value Added (GVA) is one of the most crucial indicators used to measure the economic performance of a nation. It reflects how much value different producers, industries, or sectors add to the economy by generating goods and services. Unlike measures that focus on expenditure or taxes, GVA captures the pure productive contribution of the economy’s supply side.

In 2015, India revamped its national accounts system to align with the United Nations System of National Accounts (SNA), 2008, ensuring that its economic measurement practices matched global standards. This reform not only updated the methodology but also shifted the base year and refined how GVA and related indicators are calculated.

What is Gross Value Added (GVA)?

Gross Value Added (GVA) represents the value of output minus the value of intermediate consumption. It tells us how much new value is created in the production process after deducting the value of inputs used in production.

GVA highlights the contribution of each sector, whether agriculture, manufacturing, or services, to the economy’s overall output.

It forms the supply-side measure in national accounts and is a key entry on the income side of the country’s economic balance sheet.

Formula: GVA=GDP−Taxes on Products+Subsidies on Products

How is Gross Value Added (GVA) Calculated?

Gross Value Added (GVA) is calculated to measure the actual value created during the production of goods and services. It captures how much a sector or industry contributes to the economy after subtracting the cost of inputs used in production.

- The basic formula for calculating GVA is: GVA = Output Value - Intermediate Consumption.

Formula: GVA=GDP−Taxes on Products+Subsidies on Products

GVA is also used to derive GDP using the formula: GDP = GVA + (Taxes on Products – Subsidies on Products).

Why India Adopted SNA 2008 Framework

To improve the quality of its economic statistics, India aligned its accounting system with United Nations System of National Accounts (SNA), 2008. This global standard ensures consistency, comparability, and uniformity in national income computation across countries. It also makes Indian data more reliable for international investors and economic bodies.

Ensures India follows global best practices.
Provides integrated and consistent macroeconomic accounts.
Enhances credibility of national income estimates.
Enables better policy decisions through improved data quality.

Evolution of GVA Measurement in India

Before 2015, India used GVA at “factor cost,” which excluded all taxes and subsidies. After the methodological revision, GVA at “basic prices” became the primary measure, making the data more reflective of production realities. This shift also accompanied a change in the base year from 2004-05 to 2011-12 for better accuracy.

GVA at Basic Prices vs Factor Cost
Aspect	GVA at Basic Prices	GVA at Factor Cost
Includes	Production taxes	None
Excludes	Production subsidies	All subsidies
Reflects	Output valued at actual producer prices	Output valued without taxes/subsidies
Used Today	Yes	No

Sectoral Classification of Gross Value Added (GVA) in India

The National Statistical Office (NSO) computes Gross Value Added (GVA) at both quarterly and annual intervals. For accuracy and clarity, the Indian economy is divided into eight major sectors. Each sector’s performance helps understand growth patterns and identify areas that require policy intervention.

Sector	Nature of Activities
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing	Farming, livestock, forestry, fishing
Mining & Quarrying	Extraction of minerals, ores
Manufacturing	Industrial production & processing
Electricity, Gas, Water Supply & Utilities	Power generation & distribution
Construction	Infrastructure, real estate development
Trade, Hotels, Transport & Communication	Retail, logistics, tourism, telecom
Financial, Real Estate & Professional Services	Banking, insurance, real estate
Public Administration, Defence & Other Services	Government & social services

Difference between GDP and GVA

Although both GDP and GVA measure economic activity, their perspectives differ. GDP reflects demand-side expenditure, while GVA highlights supply-side production. The inclusion of taxes and exclusion of subsidies in GDP makes it a less precise measure of actual productive contribution compared to GVA.

GDP may rise due to higher taxes even when production stagnates.
GVA provides a clearer picture of real output.
GVA is preferred for analyzing sectoral dynamics.

Difference between GDP and GVA
Aspect	GDP	GVA
Focus	Demand-side measurement	Supply-side measurement
Includes	Taxes on products	Does NOT include taxes
Excludes	Subsidies	Subsidies are ADDED
Utility	Best for global comparison	Best for domestic policy decisions
Formula	C + I + G + (X − M)	GDP − Taxes + Subsidies

Gross Value Added (GVA) Importance

Gross Value Added (GVA) is important because it offers a clear and accurate picture of the real production happening in an economy. By excluding the impact of taxes and subsidies, it reflects the actual value created by different sectors.

GVA provides a precise measure of sector-wise production by focusing purely on value creation rather than tax-driven distortions.
It gives a detailed breakdown of how each major sector, such as agriculture, industry, and services, contributes to overall economic growth.
Policymakers rely on GVA data to design targeted schemes, allocate resources effectively, and support sectors that require urgent intervention.
It helps track short-term and long-term economic trends, showing which sectors are rising, slowing, or undergoing structural changes.
Since it measures value added at each stage of production, it becomes a key tool for assessing productivity levels across industries.
By removing the influence of taxes and subsidies, GVA presents a clearer and more unbiased picture of the economy’s real performance.
It highlights sectoral imbalances, making it easier for the government to promote balanced and inclusive growth across regions and industries.
GVA aligns with global SNA 2008 standards, ensuring that India’s economic data is comparable with international norms.

Gross Value Added (GVA) Issues

Gross Value Added (GVA) faces several issues that can affect the accuracy and reliability of economic estimates. Since GVA depends heavily on the quality of data collected from various sectors, any gaps or errors can distort the overall picture of production.

GVA estimates rely on multiple data sources, and any inaccuracies in surveys, reporting, or sectoral data can lead to misleading results.
The informal sector, which forms a large part of India's economy, is difficult to measure accurately, creating gaps in GVA calculations.
Differences in data collection methods, outdated sampling frames, or flawed estimation techniques can weaken the reliability of GVA figures.
GVA does not reflect non-market activities like household work, which can be significant in developing economies.
It does not capture inter-sectoral linkages, meaning that value added in one sector may depend heavily on another but remains unreported in the final figure.
Sudden policy changes, technological shifts, or global disruptions may influence sectoral GVA unevenly, making comparisons over time challenging.

Role of GVA in Economic Policy and Planning

Gross Value Added (GVA) plays a crucial role in shaping national economic policies by providing a clear understanding of sector-wise productivity. It helps policymakers identify strengths, weaknesses, and priority areas for targeted intervention.

It assists the government in designing sector-specific policies by showing which industries contribute the most to economic growth.
It helps in evaluating the impact of fiscal measures like subsidies, tax changes, and investment incentives on sector performance.
It guides planning bodies in resource allocation by highlighting high-performing and underperforming sectors.
It supports the formulation of employment strategies by identifying labor-intensive and productivity-driven sectors.
It aids in regional planning by showing GVA distribution across states and helping bridge inter-state economic disparities.
It helps monitor the real-time health of the economy, allowing timely corrective actions during slowdown phases.

Other Related Posts
New Economic Policy 1991	Green GDP
Care Economy	Securities and Exchange Board of India
National Income	Foreign Portfolio Investment
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)	Foreign Direct Investment
GDP Deflator

Gross Value Added (GVA) FAQs

Q1: What is Gross Value Added (GVA)?

Ans: GVA is the measure of the value of goods and services produced in an economy after deducting the cost of inputs. It reflects the contribution of individual sectors to overall economic output.

Q2: How is GVA calculated?

Ans: GVA = Output Value – Intermediate Consumption. This helps determine the net value created during the production process.

Q3: How is GVA different from GDP?

Ans: GVA shows the value added by each sector, while GDP is GVA plus taxes and minus subsidies on products.

Q4: Why is GVA important?

Ans: It helps assess sector-wise performance, productivity levels, and economic health, making it crucial for policy planning and analysis.

Q5: Who releases GVA data in India?

Ans: The National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) releases GVA estimates.

First Past The Post vs. Proportional Representation: A Comparative Analysis

August 1, 2026

What’s in today’s article?

Why in News?
What is First Past the Post (FPTP) system?
What is Proportional Representation (PR)?
What are international practices?
Way forward for India

Why in News?

The results of the Lok Sabha elections were declared on June 4. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has won 293 seats with a 43.3% vote share while the Opposition bloc INDIA has secured 234 seats with a 41.6% vote share. Other regional parties and independents received about 15% of the votes but only won 16 seats in total.

As a result, many experts are now advocating for India to switch to a proportional representation system.

What is First Past the Post (FPTP) system?

About
- The FPTP system, also known as the simple majority voting system, is an electoral method where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins the election.
- This system is widely used in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and India for legislative elections.
Working
- Single-Member Districts - Each constituency elects one representative.
- Plurality Wins - The candidate who receives the highest number of votes wins, regardless of whether they achieve an absolute majority (more than 50% of the votes).
Advantages
- Simplicity
  - Easy for voters to understand and participate in.
  - Straightforward counting process.
- Strong and Stable Governments
  - Often produces a clear winner, which can lead to strong and stable governments.
  - Under this system, the ruling party/coalition can enjoy a majority in the Lok Sabha/Legislative assembly without obtaining majority of the votes (more than 50%) across constituencies. This increases stability of the govt.
- Direct Representation
  - Provides direct representation of constituencies, ensuring that each geographic area has a dedicated representative.
- Accountability
- Representatives are directly accountable to their constituents, as they can be easily voted out in the next election if they do not perform well.
Disadvantages of FPTP
- Disproportionality
  - Can lead to a significant mismatch between the percentage of votes received and the percentage of seats won.
  - Smaller parties may be underrepresented, while larger parties may receive a disproportionate number of seats.
Wasted Votes
- Votes for losing candidates do not contribute to the overall election result, which can discourage voter participation.
- Can lead to strategic voting, where voters choose not their preferred candidate, but the one they think has the best chance of winning.
Minority Rule
- A candidate can win with a minority of the votes if the opposition is divided among multiple candidates.
- This can result in a government that does not reflect the majority preference of the electorate.
Geographic Concentration
- Parties with geographically concentrated support can win more seats than parties with evenly distributed support, even if they receive fewer overall votes.
Encourages Gerrymandering
- The system can incentivize the drawing of constituency boundaries to favor one party over another, known as gerrymandering.

What is Proportional Representation (PR)?

About
- PR is an electoral system designed to allocate seats in the legislature in proportion to the number of votes each party receives.
- This system contrasts with the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, where the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins.
- PR aims to create a more accurate reflection of the voters' preferences across the entire electorate.
Working
- Party Lists - Voters typically cast their vote for a party rather than an individual candidate.
  - The party then allocates seats to candidates from their list based on the proportion of votes received.
- Multi-Member Districts - Each district elects multiple representatives, which allows for proportional allocation.
- Thresholds - Often, a minimum percentage of votes (threshold) is required for a party to gain representation, to prevent excessive fragmentation.
- Types of Proportional Representation:
- List PR - Voters choose a party, and parties receive seats based on their share of the vote. Seats are filled by candidates from the party’s list.
- Mixed-Member PR - Combines elements of FPTP and PR. Voters cast two votes: one for a candidate and one for a party.
  - Some seats are filled by individual candidates, while others are allocated to parties based on their share of the vote.
- Single Transferable Vote (STV) - Voters rank candidates in order of preference.
  - Seats are allocated based on the proportion of votes each candidate receives, with surplus votes and eliminated candidates' votes transferred according to voter preferences.
Advantages of PR
- Fair Representation
- Ensures that parties receive seats in proportion to their share of the vote, leading to a more accurate reflection of the electorate's preferences.
- Minority Inclusion
  - Smaller parties and minority groups have a better chance of gaining representation, promoting diversity in the legislature.
- Reduced Wasted Votes
- Fewer votes are wasted as most votes contribute to the election of a candidate, increasing voter satisfaction and participation.
- Encourages Voter Turnout
  - Voters may feel their vote has more impact, leading to higher voter turnout.
Disadvantages of PR
- Coalition Governments
- While coalitions can be a strength, they can also lead to unstable governments if coalition partners frequently disagree, resulting in inefficiency or frequent elections.
- Complexity
- PR systems can be more complex for voters to understand and for electoral authorities to administer compared to simpler systems like FPTP.
- Fragmentation
- Can lead to a fragmented legislature with many small parties, making it difficult to achieve a majority consensus.
- Weaker Constituency Links
- Representatives may be less accountable to specific geographic constituencies since they are elected on a party list basis rather than as individuals.
- Influence of Party Leadership
- Party leaders often have significant control over candidate lists, which can centralize power within the party and reduce individual accountability of representatives.

What are international practices?

Brazil and Argentina: These countries use the party list Proportional Representation (PR) system for their elections.
South Africa, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain: These countries also use the party list PR system to ensure fair representation of political parties based on vote share.
Germany: Bundestag Structure
- Out of 598 seats, 299 seats (50%) are filled from constituencies under the First Past the Post (FPTP) system.
- The remaining 299 seats (50%) are allocated to parties that secure at least 5% of the votes, based on their vote share.
New Zealand: House of Representatives Structure
- Out of 120 seats, 72 seats (60%) are filled through the FPTP system from territorial constituencies.
- The remaining 48 seats (40%) are distributed among parties that secure at least 5% of the votes, based on their vote share.

Way forward for India

Law Commission's Recommendation (170th report, 1999)
- The Law Commission in its report, ‘Reform of the electoral laws’, recommended the introduction of the Mixed-Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system on an experimental basis.
  - It suggested that 25% of seats could be filled through a PR system by increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha.
Upcoming Delimitation Exercise and associated challenges
- A delimitation exercise to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats is due after the first Census conducted post-2026.
- The population growth in the last five decades has been uneven across regions.
- Determining the number of seats in proportion to population alone may conflict with federal principles.
- It could lead to disenchantment in States that might lose representation through such a method.
Way out through MMPR System
- Introducing the MMPR system for incremental seats or at least 25% of the total seats from each State/UT during the delimitation exercise could balance representation.
- This approach could mitigate concerns of southern, northeastern, and smaller northern States by preventing domination of larger States solely through the FPTP system.

Q.1. What is Mixed-Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system?

Under MMP systems, the PR seats are awarded to compensate for any disproportionality produced by the district seat results. For example, if one party wins 10 per cent of the vote nationally but no district seats, then it will be awarded enough seats from the PR lists to bring its representation up to 10 per cent of the seats in the legislature. Voters may get two separate choices, as in Germany and New Zealand. Alternatively, voters may make only one choice, with the party totals being derived from the totals for the individual district candidates.

Q.2. What is the meaning of partylist?

A party-list system is a type of electoral system that formally involves political parties in the electoral process, usually to facilitate multi-winner elections. In party-list systems, parties put forward a list of candidates, the party-list who stand for election on one ticket.

Source: Is it time for proportional representation? | Explained | ORF | The Hindu

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