Context:

• By showcasing India's accomplishments in space technology, the Moon Mission, COVID-19 vaccines, and Vande Bharat trains, the Made in India campaign raised both national morale and technological prowess.
• Despite these advancements, India lags in combating air pollution - a critical environmental and public health challenge, showcasing the dual face of India’s progress.

Air Pollution - A Persistent and Complex Challenge:

• Global rankings and foreign influence:
  • Indian cities frequently rank among the world’s most polluted, according to various studies.
  • It raises the issues of data dependence, climate justice, and unequal climate sanctions on developing nations.
• Underutilisation of domestic resources:
  • Pollution Control Boards often return unspent funds.
  • Disproportionate allocation of resources to elite institutions and foreign-aligned collaborations.

Domestic Research and Institutional Gaps:

• Innovation and missed opportunities:
  • Positive steps: Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which signals the government’s commitment to strengthening research and innovation with industrial contribution.
  • However, the question is: Why are developed countries, with no direct stake in India’s air quality, so keen on studying it? Why are Indian institutes not leading such research?
• Dependence on foreign data:
  • Shutdown of climate research in the US under the Trump administration highlighted risks of relying on foreign datasets.
  • India’s need: Indigenous polar-orbiting satellites for global data to support local modelling.

India’s Legacy in Air Quality Monitoring:

• Notable initiatives:
  • 1984: National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAAQMP).
  • 2010: India developed its first indigenous air quality forecasting system - SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research), despite foreign resistance.
  • Delhi’s CNG transition: A landmark policy decision for cleaner urban transport.
  • EV transition: Some Indian states (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu) are now taking commendable steps towards rapid EV transition.
• Present limitations:
  • SAFAR remains limited to only four cities.
  • Fragmented air quality efforts and lack of coordination among key agencies.

The Way Forward - Building an Integrated Framework:

• Institutional collaboration and scientific strategy:
  • For example, India's world-class agencies like the - Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO) and India Meteorological Department (IMD) - Could collaborate with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for setting a global benchmark in air quality management and forecasting.
• NARFI - Encouraging collaborative governance: A new model under study - National Air Quality Resource Framework of India (NARFI), must be designed to act as a catalyst for
  • Inter-organisational collaboration,
  • Interdisciplinary research and
  • Evidence-based decision-making.
• Promoting airshed-level pollution management:
  • Airshed management enables region-specific pollution control by considering cross-boundary air flow patterns, enhancing the effectiveness of policy interventions.
  • According to the National Institute of Advanced Studies, rethinking air quality strategies by scientifically integrating broader airshed factors (rather than adopting city-centric approaches) is the need of the hour. 
• Health-centric and food security approach: Future air quality strategies must align with net-zero goals, public health, and agricultural resilience.

Conclusion - Toward Real Atmanirbharta in Air Quality:

• True self-reliance requires leveraging India’s scientific talent, decentralising research and funding, developing indigenous data infrastructure, and creating a unified, science-based knowledge hub.
• India's air quality mission must reflect the same ambition as Make in India - with climate resilience, public health, and national innovation at its core.

Q1. What are the key challenges India faces in tackling air pollution despite its technological advancements?

Ans. India faces a lack of integrated frameworks, underutilisation of funds, overdependence on foreign data, and limited institutional coordination in addressing air pollution.

Q2. Explain the significance of SAFAR in India's air quality monitoring efforts.

Ans. SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) is India’s first indigenous forecasting system launched in 2010, marking a scientific milestone despite limited implementation across cities.

Q3. What is the role of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation in air quality management?

Ans. The Foundation aims to bridge gaps between industry and research institutions, promoting indigenous innovation in science and environmental management.

Q4. How does the concept of 'airshed management' contribute to pollution control strategies?

Ans. Airshed management enables region-specific pollution control by considering cross-boundary air flow patterns, enhancing the effectiveness of policy interventions.

Q5. What is the objective of the National Air Quality Resource Framework of India (NARFI)?

Ans. NARFI seeks to integrate scientific data, interdisciplinary research, and institutional collaboration to support evidence-based policymaking and reduce air pollution.

Source:IE

Context

• In the context of a rapidly evolving global economy, manufacturing and trade are shifting towards innovation-driven, medium-high- and high-tech products.
• This transformation is fuelled by advancements in research and development (R&D), the growth of complex supply chains, and the need for a highly skilled workforce.
• With major global players such as the United States introducing high tariffs and redefining their manufacturing strategies, countries like India face an urgent need to adapt by setting the right fundamentals.
• Therefore, it is important to explore the challenges and strategic approaches India must adopt to revitalize its manufacturing sector, focusing on productivity, technical education, core engineering, and the creation of a robust innovation ecosystem.

India’s Manufacturing Challenge: A Global Comparison

• Despite consistent policy efforts since the economic liberalization of 1991 and more recent initiatives like the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (NMCP) and Make in India, India continues to lag in key manufacturing indicators.
• In 2023, the per capita value added in Indian manufacturing stood at a mere $0.32K, compared to the global average of $2K.
• Similarly, productivity was $8.9K in India, far below the world average of $32K. While India's total value added in manufacturing is $461 billion, China and the United States lead with $4,658 billion and $2,497 billion respectively.
• Moreover, R&D-linked productivity highlights the gap between India and both developed and emerging economies.
• The U.S. boasts a figure of $159K, Germany $103K, Taiwan $79K, and even Malaysia and China report significantly higher figures than India.
• These statistics underscore the pressing need for India to increase per capita value addition and enhance productivity to remain competitive in the global manufacturing landscape.

Approaches India Must adopt to Revive Its Manufacturing Sector

• Reimagining Technical Education for Industrial Transformation
  • One of the foundational pillars of industrial competitiveness is education, specifically, technical education.
  • While engineering institutions in India have contributed significantly to human capital development, they now require a paradigm shift to meet the demands of a rapidly innovating manufacturing sector.
  • A fundamental rethink is needed, starting with entrance examinations.
  • Instead of testing mere endurance and rote memorisation, entrance exams should be designed to assess creativity, problem-solving abilities, and interest in fundamental knowledge.
  • The current academic culture, heavily focused on grades, theoretical inputs, and lecture notes, often sidelines the development of innovative and critical thinking.
  • Graduates, while adept at solving predefined problems, lack the ability to visualize complex, real-world engineering challenges.
  • To bridge this gap, technical education must prioritise hands-on experience and practical application.
  • At least 50% of the engineering curriculum should be dedicated to laboratory work, workshops, and live projects, complemented by the development of state-of-the-art facilities such as tool rooms, R&D assembly lines, and product design studios.
• Emphasising Core Engineering Disciplines
  • While emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology (IT) have garnered significant attention, the essence of a strong manufacturing sector lies in the robustness of core engineering.
  • India needs to refocus on strengthening fundamental branches such as civil, mechanical, electrical, automobile, chemical, textiles, and biotechnology.
  • These disciplines form the backbone of machinery, infrastructure, and systems development.
  • Developing robust engineering units will not only support large-scale equipment production but also facilitate rapid infrastructure creation across varied geographical terrains.
  • This calls for substantial investment in engineering R&D and the creation of a sophisticated, responsive supply chain that can support diverse manufacturing needs.
  • The integration of AI and IT should be seen as an enabler, not a replacement, for core engineering competencies.
• Building an Innovation Ecosystem for Manufacturing
  • Global success stories like Silicon Valley in the United States or the industrial rise of East Asian economies are anchored in the development of comprehensive innovation ecosystems.
  • In India, while the services sector has thrived due to an enabling startup ecosystem, manufacturing lacks similar institutional support.
  • This imbalance can be addressed by developing state-specific manufacturing parks equipped with plug-and-play capabilities, R&D facilities, and in-house prototype development labs.
  • Such industrial parks should offer facilities for design, product certification, performance testing, and access to advanced software and instrumentation.
  • Engineering colleges should play a crucial role by aligning their curriculum with the needs of industry, focusing on skill development and innovation-driven education.
  • Manufacturing startups must be incentivised to cluster around these facilities, fostering collaborative development.

The Way Forward: Strategic Investments and Policy Framework

• Transforming India’s manufacturing sector demands not just isolated reforms but a systemic transformation supported by strategic investment.
• First, R&D expenditure must be increased from the current 0.65% of GDP to at least 2% to build advanced research capabilities.
• Second, an additional 1% of GDP should be allocated to develop world-class industrial infrastructure.
• Lastly, a dynamic and flexible policy framework is essential, one that continuously evolves in response to global trends and encourages innovation across all levels of the manufacturing ecosystem.

Conclusion

• India stands at a critical juncture in its industrial journey. While the country has made commendable progress in several areas, a fundamental shift is needed to harness the full potential of manufacturing.
• This requires a multidimensional approach, strengthening technical education, reinvesting in core engineering disciplines, building a conducive innovation ecosystem, and making bold investments in infrastructure and R&D.
• Only through a concerted effort across these domains can India hope to close the productivity gap, increase global competitiveness, and secure its place in the high-tech, innovation-driven manufacturing future.

Context

• The Narendra Modi government’s decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming Census marks a transformative moment in Indian policymaking.
• Far from being a concession to identity politics, caste enumeration is an act of acknowledgment, a mirror reflecting the socio-economic realities of India.
• It is a foundational step towards evidence-based policymaking in pursuit of a more equitable and inclusive society.

Historical Context and Policy Contradictions

• Post-Independence India adopted a dual strategy: abolishing caste-based discrimination while pursuing social justice through reservations.
• This contradiction, often described as policy schizophrenia, stemmed from a refusal to officially acknowledge caste.
• The exclusion of caste enumeration, except for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), reinforced a flawed ideal of caste-blind governance, which neglected the lived realities of millions.
• While the Constitution mandates social justice through affirmative action, including reservations in education, employment, and politics, implementing these policies effectively requires precise, disaggregated caste data.
• The Supreme Court has consistently affirmed that caste is a legitimate proxy for identifying social and educational backwardness.
• In this context, the failure to count caste systematically contradicts constitutional goals.

The Case for Caste Data: Legal, Administrative, and Moral Grounds

• Caste enumeration is not merely a political gesture; it is a legal and administrative necessity.
• The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which mandated OBC reservations in local governance, require granular, area-specific caste data.
• Furthermore, the inclusion of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among upper castes in reservation policies in 2019 further underlines the need for comprehensive data covering all caste groups.
• The current reservation system operates in an evidence vacuum, making it susceptible to manipulation by dominant groups.
• Limited existing data shows stark disparities: a small number of OBC castes dominate reservation benefits, while many receive little or nothing.
• For example, just 10 OBC castes receive 25% of all reserved benefits, while 38% of OBC castes receive only 3%, and 37% are entirely excluded.
• Such inequities underscore the need for accurate data to prevent elite capture, enable rational sub-categorisation, and refine the definition of the “creamy layer.”

Learning from Past Mistakes and Successes

• The failed Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) of 2011 is a cautionary tale.
• Conducted without legal authority and technical expertise, the SECC produced an unusable dataset listing 46 lakh castes due to methodological flaws.
• Open-ended questions, untrained enumerators, and the absence of standardised caste classifications led to chaos.
• In contrast, Bihar’s 2022 caste survey offers a successful model.
• By using a vetted list of 214 State-specific castes and structured enumeration methods, the survey achieved clarity and credibility.
• This proves that a well-planned and legally-backed caste census is feasible.

Blueprint for a Credible Caste Census

• Legal Framework: Amend the Census Act, 1948, to explicitly authorise caste enumeration and protect it from political interference.
• Institutional Expertise: Assign responsibility to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, not to non-specialist ministries.
• Standardised Questionnaire: Employ closed-ended, dropdown-based forms with coded caste identifiers to avoid ambiguity.
• State-Specific Lists: Collaborate with State governments, sociologists, and communities to prepare caste lists, followed by public feedback.
• Enumerator Training: Ensure region-specific training with practical guidance on caste identification.
• Digital Tools: Use handheld devices preloaded with validated options to minimise manual errors.
• Representative Staffing: Deploy diverse enumerator teams in neutral areas to maintain objectivity.
• Oversight Mechanisms: Establish local monitoring bodies to ensure transparency and data integrity.
• Pilot Testing: Conduct pilot studies in diverse States to fine-tune methodologies before a national rollout.

Conclusion

• India has enumerated nearly 2,000 SC and ST castes since 1951 with consistency and accuracy.
• Extending this enumeration to the remaining OBC and upper-caste groups, estimated to be around 4,000 and mostly State-specific, is not only manageable but also essential.
• The delayed 2021 Census offers a unique opportunity to close this long-standing data gap and without caste data, the promise of social justice remains unfulfilled and policy continues to drift in darkness.
• The moment for delay has passed. The time for a credible, comprehensive caste census is now.