UPSC Mains Current Affairs for 27 June 2025

India Launches Pilot Scheme to Tackle Human Tiger Conflict Outside Reserves

June 27, 2025

Human Tiger Conflict Management Latest News

The Union Environment Ministry has given approval for funding for the ‘tigers outside of tiger reserve’ pilot scheme to manage human-tiger conflicts better through enhanced monitoring and protection.

Addressing the Challenge of Tigers Beyond Protected Areas

In response to the rising incidence of human-tiger conflict in several parts of India, the Union Ministry of Environment has approved a pilot scheme focused on “tigers outside of tiger reserves.”
This scheme, with an outlay of Rs. 88 crore until 2026-27, aims to enhance the protection, monitoring, and conflict management capabilities in regions where tigers roam outside officially designated tiger reserves.
The executive committee of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has given in-principle approval for a year of pilot implementation.
This decision follows data-driven identification of forest divisions with high conflict zones, where approximately 30% of India’s tiger population resides.

Scope and Implementation of the Pilot Scheme

Initially, 80 forest divisions across 10 states have been shortlisted for funding under the scheme.
These divisions were identified based on the frequency and severity of human-tiger conflicts in recent years.

Key objectives of the pilot scheme include:

- Strengthening monitoring systems through technology.
- Capacity building of forest staff to manage conflict.
- Partnering with civil society organisations and expert veterinarians.
- Supporting prey base augmentation to reduce livestock predation.
The scheme will be implemented at the ground level by the Chief Wildlife Wardens of state forest departments in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
The NTCA is currently finalising the list of eligible divisions and has been asked to submit revised, year-wise financial estimates before final approval by the CAMPA governing body.

Underlying Causes of Human-Tiger Conflict

Tigers outside designated reserves often inhabit agricultural landscapes or forest fringes near human settlements.
These areas lack the dedicated protection mechanisms available within official tiger reserves.
Being apex predators and territorial in nature, tigers often push other predators like leopards into human spaces, escalating conflict risk. Notably, some of the major conflict hotspots include:
- Chandrapur near Tadoba Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra
- Sugarcane fields around Dudhwa and Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh
- Forest divisions near Ranthambore, Rajasthan
- Wayanad, Kerala
Between 2020 and 2024, 382 people were killed in tiger-related incidents, with 111 deaths recorded in 2022 alone. These numbers underscore the urgent need for proactive and well-resourced intervention outside traditional protected zones.

Institutional and Policy Framework

The pilot scheme is financially backed by the National CAMPA, which manages the Compensatory Afforestation Fund.
This fund consists of payments collected in lieu of forest land diverted for non-forest purposes and has been used in the past for wildlife initiatives such as the Great Indian Bustard recovery and Project Cheetah.
CAMPA’s involvement ensures the utilisation of existing funds for a cause directly linked to forest and wildlife sustainability.
The National Board for Wildlife, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had earlier discussed this scheme during its meeting in March 2025.

Government Support and Future Outlook

Speaking at the India Conservation Conference held at the Wildlife Institute of India, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling man-animal conflict.
Citing personal visits to conflict-prone areas like Dudhwa and Kabini, he acknowledged the complexity of managing tiger populations that venture outside reserves.
The minister emphasised the importance of adopting a region-specific approach, recognising that the dynamics of conflict and coexistence differ significantly between forest types and human settlements.

Source: IE

Human-Tiger Conflict Management FAQs

Q1: What is the new pilot scheme launched by the Environment Ministry?

Ans: It is a one-year pilot scheme to manage human-tiger conflict in areas outside designated tiger reserves.

Q2: Which authority approved the funding for this scheme?

Ans: The scheme was approved by the executive committee of the National CAMPA under the Environment Ministry.

Q3: What are the main objectives of the pilot scheme?

Ans: The scheme aims to strengthen protection, enhance monitoring, collaborate with experts, and reduce conflict through prey base augmentation.

Q4: Why is this scheme necessary?

Ans: Nearly 30% of India’s tigers live outside reserves, leading to rising human-tiger conflicts and fatalities.

Q5: How much funding has been proposed for the scheme?

Ans: The proposed outlay for the scheme is ₹88 crore until the financial year 2026-27.

Unmasking Poverty in India: What the World Bank Data Really Tells Us

June 27, 2025

Poverty in India Latest News

In recent months, India’s poverty statistics have gained attention. In April 2025, the government cited a World Bank report claiming 171 million people were lifted out of extreme poverty over a decade.
Later, the World Bank updated its poverty estimates, stating that only 5.75% of Indians now live in abject poverty, down from 27% in 2011–12.

Poverty Line

A poverty line is the income threshold used to determine who is considered poor in a given economy.
The poverty line varies with time and location. Income sufficient in 1975 may be inadequate today, and lifestyles differ across regions.
There is no universal poverty line. Different benchmarks can be set based on context and purpose, allowing for more accurate analysis.

Reasons Behind India Using the World Bank’s Poverty Line to Estimate Poverty

India’s last recognised poverty line was based on the 2009 Tendulkar Committee formula, using 2011–12 data.
In 2014, the Rangarajan Committee proposed a new method, but it was never formally adopted.
Due to data gaps and outdated methods, India now relies on NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index or the World Bank’s poverty line.
In the absence of updated national metrics, the World Bank’s poverty line is increasingly used to estimate poverty trends in India.

About World Bank’s Poverty Line

The World Bank’s poverty line reflects the cost of basic living, adjusted to each country’s purchasing power parity (PPP), to allow fair comparisons.

Origins of the $1-a-Day Benchmark

In 1990, researchers used PPP exchange rates to compare national poverty lines of the poorest countries, establishing the first global standard: $1/day (1985 prices).

Adjustment for Inflation and Global Context

As global prices rose, the World Bank updated its poverty line—most recently raising it to $3/day in June 2025.
At the 2025 PPP rate (₹20.6/USD), India’s extreme poverty line equals ₹62/day. For comparison, the PPP rate is 0.67 for the UK and 3.45 for China.

Key Takeaways from the Latest World Bank Data on Poverty in India

There are few takeaways from the latest World Bank data shown on poverty in India.

Revised Historical Poverty Estimates

The World Bank’s latest data shows India’s past poverty levels were overestimated. For example, 1977-78 poverty was 47%, not 64%.

New Poverty Line: $3 Per Day (PPP)

The World Bank adopted a new poverty line of $3/day (PPP-adjusted).
Using this, India’s poverty fell from 27% in 2011–12 to under 6% in 2022–23.

Sharp Reduction in Extreme Poverty

India’s extreme poor declined from about 34.4 crore in 2011–12 to 7.5 crore in 2022–23 — a significant improvement.

Misconceptions About the Poverty Line

A common mistake is converting $3 using the market rate (₹85/USD).
Instead, PPP conversion applies — approximately ₹20.6 per dollar — reflecting actual purchasing power.
- The $3/day poverty line is not a direct cash figure but reflects what $3 can buy in India, adjusted for local costs.

India’s Own Domestic Poverty Lines

Pre-Tendulkar (2009): ₹17/day (urban), ₹12/day (rural)
Tendulkar Committee (2009): Raised to ₹29/day (urban), ₹22/day (rural)
Updated for 2011–12: ₹36/day (urban), ₹30/day (rural)
Rangarajan Committee (2014): Recommended ₹47/day (urban), ₹33/day (rural)

Poverty in India: A Matter of Perspective

Despite India’s history of poverty research, defining who is poor varies widely. Estimates range from 5.75% to 66%, depending on the benchmark used.

Multiple Measures, Conflicting Realities

5.75% live below the World Bank’s $3/day (₹62) poverty line.
24% is the poverty benchmark for lower middle-income countries.
20% voluntarily offer labour for minimal wages.
66% receive free food under government schemes.
These diverse indicators present a conflicting picture of poverty.

Policy vs Reality: Income Tax Benchmark

The 2024 Union Budget waived tax for those earning up to ₹12 lakh/year (₹3,288/day), contrasting sharply with the ₹62/day poverty line — highlighting the vast income spectrum.

Two Ways to Interpret WB Data

First, celebrate the reduction in extreme poverty.
Second, reflect on broader economic hardship, as 83% of Indians live on just ₹171/day — a figure that includes total income or expenditure.

The Bigger Question: What Truly Defines Poverty?

The variation in definitions and data prompts a deeper inquiry into India’s actual economic well-being and whether poverty is being accurately understood or just statistically managed.

Source: IE | ADB

Poverty in India FAQs

Q1: What is a poverty line?

Ans: It's an income threshold used to identify who is considered poor, varying by time, place, and economic context.

Q2: Why does India use the World Bank’s poverty line?

Ans: India lacks updated domestic data, so it uses the World Bank’s line for consistency and international comparisons.

Q3: What does the $3/day poverty line mean for India?

Ans: At PPP rates, it equals ₹62/day, reflecting actual local purchasing power, not currency exchange value.

Q4: Why are India’s poverty estimates contested?

Ans: Outdated methods and varied benchmarks lead to widely differing estimates, from 2% to 82%, depending on the source.

Q5: What’s the key takeaway from World Bank’s 2025 data?

Ans: India’s extreme poverty fell from 27% in 2011 to under 6% in 2023, but broader hardship persists.

UN’s Seville Development Conference (FFD4): Goals, Gaps, and Global Tensions

June 27, 2025

Seville Development Conference Latest News

Global leaders will begin the once-in-a-decade Financing for Development (FFD4) Conference in Seville, Spain, aiming to reform global aid, tax systems, and climate finance structures.
This Conference is crucial for mobilizing the necessary resources and fostering international cooperation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Seville FFD4 Conference to Set Ambitious Global Development Agenda

The fourth Financing for Development (FFD4) conference begins in Seville, bringing together political, financial, and trade leaders to address key development challenges including aid, trade, and debt.

The 'Seville Commitment' Blueprint

Leaders will adopt a 38-page political document, the "Seville Commitment," outlining a non-binding roadmap for global development financing over the next decade.

Building on Past Milestones

Monterrey Consensus (2002): Set ODA targets and backed the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.
Addis Ababa Action Agenda (2015): Introduced the 17 SDGs and focused on tax reform and tackling illicit financial flows.

A Challenging Global Backdrop

FFD4 convenes amid major aid cuts in wealthy nations and climate change scepticism from influential leaders like former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Key Objectives of the Seville Commitment

The 2024 Seville Commitment aims to support poorer nations in facing climate crises through:
- Debt reforms: Including debt-for-climate swaps and disaster-linked debt pause clauses.
- Global solidarity levies: Proposals to tax polluters or the ultra-rich to fund sustainable development.
- Debt restructuring frameworks: Streamlining global debt solutions.
- Innovative financing: Leveraging special drawing rights via multilateral development banks.
- Seville Platform for Action: A new coalition-building mechanism to fast-track implementation of key goals.

High-Profile Attendance, U.S. Missing

Over 70 heads of state and key global leaders are attending.
The United States, which exited negotiations after failing to remove language on climate, sustainability, and gender equality.

U.S. Absence a Double-Edged Sword

While the U.S. withdrawal weakens global consensus, some believe progress may be easier without its attempts to dilute climate and equity goals.

Barriers to Debt Reform Progress

Tensions persist over global debt frameworks, particularly between African nations and key lenders like China, hampering unified action on a debt convention.

Challenges to Global Tax Reform

Opposition from former U.S. President Donald Trump and others makes it harder to achieve global tax rule changes, a core agenda item.

Strong Global Consensus on Climate Action

Despite disagreements, there is broad international agreement on the urgent need to scale up climate adaptation financing for vulnerable countries.

The Financial Backdrop to FFD4 in Seville

The UN estimates a $4 trillion shortfall in financing for sustainable development worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for large-scale financial reform.
Multilateral development banks have mobilised only a few hundred billion dollars—far below the trillions needed to meet development goals.
Since 2014, the average interest costs for developing countries have nearly doubled as a share of their tax revenues, straining public finances.
China’s loans to Africa have become net negative, with repayments exceeding new disbursements, reducing available financial support on the continent.
Roughly 3.3 billion people—over half of Africa’s population—live in countries where debt servicing costs exceed public health expenditures.

Source: Reuters | UN

Seville Development Conference FAQs

Q1: What is the FFD4 Conference in Seville?

Ans: A UN-led event to reshape global aid, debt relief, and sustainable finance strategies for the next decade.

Q2: What is the 'Seville Commitment'?

Ans: A 38-page political blueprint for financing development, covering debt swaps, global taxes, and climate adaptation funding.

Q3: Why is the U.S. not attending FFD4?

Ans: The U.S. withdrew after failing to remove climate and gender-related language from the Seville Commitment document.

Q4: What challenges does FFD4 face?

Ans: A $4 trillion financing gap, U.S. absence, and disagreements over debt reforms and global tax frameworks hinder progress.

Q5: What could be the outcome of FFD4?

Ans: Stronger alliances for sustainable development, though impact may be limited without full global consensus and funding.