WPI AND CPI AND REVERSE REPO RATE
2. Key points
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The decision to keep the repo rate which is the interest rate at which the RBI lends to banks in the country unchanged was taken unanimously by the six Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members as inflation continues to remain above the 4 per cent target.
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The RBI has been mandated by the government to keep consumer price index-based inflation (CPI) at 4 per cent with a band of + or - 2 per cent.
- Any inflation rate essentially tells us the rate at which prices have been rising in an economy.
- As such, an inflation rate is expressed as a percentage. If the prices of onions rose from Rs 10 a kg last year to Rs 15 a kg this year, the inflation rate will be 50 per cent.
- That's because a kg of onion is Rs 5 that is, 50 per cent more than the base price.
- For every month, inflation rates are calculated both on a year-on-year basis and how prices have changed over the past year as well as on a month-on-month basis how prices have changed over the past month.
3. Calculation of Inflation rates
- Inflation rates are calculated for all commodities and commodity groups. So, we have inflation rates for onions as well as for all food items.
- But, the price of any commodity say onions, also varies whether one buys the commodity in the wholesale market or whether one buys in the city mall.
- Comparing last year's wholesale prices of onions with this year's retail store prices will be misleading.
- So, the government comes out with two indices one for mapping inflation in the wholesale market and one for mapping inflation in the retail market.
- Inflation rates are also calculated for rural and urban markets for better policy analysis.
The two most-often used inflation rates in the country are the year-on-year.
- The wholesale price index (WPI) is based inflation rate and
- The consumer price index (CPI) is based on the inflation rate
- The former is called the wholesale inflation rate and the latter is called the retail inflation rate.
- Both WPI and CPI are price indices. In other words, these are two different baskets of goods and services.
- The government assigns different weights to different goods and services based on what is relevant for those two types of consumers.
- The CPI-based inflation data is compiled by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (or MoSPI) and the WPI-based inflation data are put together by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (or DPIIT).
- Looking at the way the two indices are constructed, it becomes clear how and why the two inflation rates are different.
- For instance, the WPI is dominated by the prices of manufactured goods while the CPI is dominated by the prices of food articles.
- As such, broadly speaking, if food prices go up sharply, it will bump up the retail inflation rate far more than it would spike the wholesale inflation rate.
- The reverse will happen when the prices of manufactured products (such as TVs and cars) rise sharply.
- A key difference that must not be missed is that the WPI does not take into account the change in prices of services say a haircut or a banking transaction.
- But CPI does. if services such as transport, education, recreation and amusement, personal care etc. get significantly costlier then retail inflation will rise but there will be no impact on wholesale price inflation.
- Since these two inflation rates are calculated based on two very different indices, it is not uncommon to find them at considerable variance with each other.
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For Prelims: Inflation, Wholesale Price Index, Retail Price Index, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, RBI, Repo rate, Monetary Policy Committee
For Mains:
1. Discuss how the Inflation rates are calculated and Explain the difference between Wholesale Price Index and Retail Price Index. (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
1. With reference to inflation in India, which of the following statements is correct? (UPSC 2015)
A. Controlling the inflation in India is the responsibility of the Government of India only
B. The Reserve Bank of India has no role in controlling the inflation
C. Decreased money circulation helps in controlling the inflation
D. Increased money circulation helps in controlling the inflation
Answer: C
2. With reference to India, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2010)
1. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in India is available on a monthly basis only.
2. As compared to Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI(IW)), the WPI gives less weight to food articles.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
3. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2020)
1. The weightage of food in Consumer Price Index (CPI) is higher than that in Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
2. The WPI does not capture changes in the prices of services, which CPI does.
3. Reserve Bank of India has now adopted WPI as its key measure of inflation and to decide on changing the key policy rates.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only B. 2 only C. 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
4. Who among the following is the head of the standing committee on economic statistics set up by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI)? (SSC CGL 2020)
A. Krishnamurthy Subramanian
B. Manmohan Singh
C. Pronab Sen
D. Raghuram Rajan
Answer: C
5. As per Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, which state of India has the highest per capita income as of Sep 2019? (SSC CPO 2019)
A. Goa B. Punjab C. Tamil Nadu D. Gujarat
Answer: A
6. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has revised the base year index of Eight Core Industries having a combined weight of about 40.27 percent in the Index of Industrial Production. Which one of the following is not one of the Eight Core Industries? (CDS 2022)
A. Coal
B. Refinery products
C. Rubber products
D. Cement
Answer: C
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WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO)
1. Context
2. World Trade Organisation (WTO)
- WTO is an international organization set up in 1995 by replacing the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) under the Marrakesh Agreement.
- It is the only global international organization dealing with international Trade between nations.
- Its HQ is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Currently, WTO has 164 members and India is a founding member of WTO.
- Currently, the head (Director-General) of WTO is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
3. Objectives of WTO
- To formulate and implement rules for international trade.
- To provide a platform for negotiating and monitoring further trade liberalization.
- To provide a platform for the settlement of disputes.
- Providing assistance to the developing, least-developed, and low-income countries in transition to adjust to WTO rules and disciplines through technical cooperation and training.
- To cooperate with the other major economic institutions (like the UN, World Bank, IMF, etc.) involved in global economic management.
4. Important trade agreements of WTO
- Agreement on Agriculture (AoA),
- Agreement on TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights),
- Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS),
- Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT),
- Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS),
- General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) etc.
5. Geoeconomic Shift and the Need for WTO Reforms
- Over 50 years ago, Richard Cooper argued that "trade policy is foreign policy," emphasizing the value of economic interdependence to deter security confrontation.
- Today, the world is characterized by heightened securitization of international economic relations and a shift towards geoeconomic considerations, challenging the belief in economic interdependence as a deterrent to security issues.
- The WTO, established to legalize and monitor economic interdependence, faces challenges due to unilateralism in international economic relations, particularly by developed countries like the US, who show little regard for WTO law.
- Economic policies such as industrial subsidies and local content requirements have resurfaced, forgotten WTO rules like security exceptions are gaining prominence, and efforts to weaken trade multilateralism in favor of external plurilateral alignments are being made.
- Jeffrey Schott argues that expecting the G20 countries, especially the developed ones, to reform the WTO for the better is naïve, as a weak WTO aligns with the US foreign policy objective of strategic rivalry with China.
- Schott suggests that middle powers like India, Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa should take the lead in pushing for WTO reforms to address the current challenges.
- Developing countries should prioritize four critical areas for WTO reform, with special attention on preserving the principle of special and differential treatment (SDT), which provides special rights to developing countries and obligates developed countries to treat them more favorably.
6. Key Areas for WTO Reforms
Strengthening Special and Differential Treatment (SDT): Lawyers Vineet Hegde and Jan Wouters highlight that only 21% of SDT provisions in WTO agreements obligate developed countries to provide differential treatment to developing countries. Efforts should focus on giving more enforceability to SDT provisions.
Reviving the Appellate Body: The WTO's appellate body has been paralyzed since 2019 due to the US's indifference. Other G20 countries need to either convince the US to change its stance or revive the appellate body without US participation to restore the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism.
Balancing Consensus and Plurilateral Discussions: With consensus-based decision-making in the WTO proving slow, there has been a shift towards plurilateral discussions on specific issues. While plurilateral agreements offer opportunities for rule-making, there is a need to establish a multilateral governance framework that incorporates key principles of non-discrimination, transparency, and inclusivity.
Addressing Transparency Gap: The WTO lacks transparency in terms of notification requirements. Members have a poor record of notifying laws and regulations affecting trade, leading to increased trade costs, particularly for developing countries. Efforts should be made to improve compliance with notification obligations.
Importance of Trade Multilateralism: Despite current trends, trade multilateralism remains crucial for countries like India. India, as the G20 President, should collaborate with other nations to drive the WTO reforms agenda, promoting inclusive trade multilateralism.
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For Prelims: World Trade Organisation (WTO), General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT), Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), and General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). For Mains: 1. Discuss the key areas for reforms in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and their significance for promoting inclusive trade multilateralism. (250 Words) |
Previous year Questions
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1. In the context of the affairs which of the following is the phrase "Special Safeguard Mechanisms" mentioned in the news frequently? (UPSC 2010) A. United Nations Environment Program B. World Trade Organization Agreement C. ASEAN-India D. Free Trade G-20 Summits Answer: B 2. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2017) 1. India has ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the WTO 2. TFA is a part of WTO's Bali Ministerial Package of 2013 3. TFA came into force in January 2016 Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A. 1 and 2 only B. 1 and 3 only C. 2 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: A 3. In the context of which of the following do you sometimes find the terms 'amber box, blue box, and green box' in the news? (UPSC 2016) A. WTO affairs B. SAARC affairs C. UNFCCC affairs D. India-EU negotiations on FTA Answer: A |
Source: The Indian Express
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS
1. Context
2. Reforms and changes are proposed by Election Commission of India in the upcoming elections
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has proposed several reforms and changes for the upcoming elections, including:
- The ECI has proposed that VVPAT machines be made mandatory for all elections. VVPAT machines generate a paper slip that displays the voter's chosen candidate, which is then dropped into a sealed box. This allows voters to verify their vote and helps to prevent fraud.
- The ECI is also considering the use of R-EVMs in the upcoming elections. R-EVMs are EVMs that can be operated from a remote location, such as a polling booth in a remote area. This would make it easier for voters in remote areas to cast their votes.
- The ECI has also proposed to make online voter registration easier and more accessible. This would make it easier for eligible voters to register to vote, especially young voters and voters who live abroad.
- The ECI has also proposed measures to increase transparency in political funding. This would include requiring political parties to disclose their sources of income and expenditure.
- The ECI has also proposed to strictly enforce the Model Code of Conduct during elections. The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines that political parties and candidates must follow during elections. It is intended to ensure that elections are conducted in a fair and free manner.
- The ECI is proposing to increase the number of polling booths in areas with a large number of voters. This would make it easier for voters to cast their votes without having to travel long distances.
- The ECI is proposing to introduce new rules for regulating the use of social media during elections. This includes requiring political parties to disclose their social media accounts and to be transparent about the content they are sharing.
3. The election process
The election process in India is as follows:
- The ECI announces the schedule for the elections at least six weeks before the date of polling. The schedule includes the dates for filing nominations, campaigning, and polling.
- Political parties and candidates file their nominations with the ECI on the specified dates. Each candidate must file a nomination form and pay a deposit. The nomination form must include the candidate's name, address, and other personal information.
- The ECI scrutinizes the nominations to ensure that they meet all the requirements. The ECI may reject a nomination if the candidate is not eligible to contest the election or if the nomination form is not properly filled out.
- The candidates campaign for the elections from the date of notification of candidates to the 48 hours before the polling day. During this period, the candidates hold rallies, give speeches, and distribute pamphlets.
- Voting is held on the day of the election, which is a public holiday in India. Voters must cast their votes at the polling booth in the constituency where they are registered to vote. Voters must show their voter ID card to cast their vote.
- The votes are counted after the polls close. The counting of votes is done in the presence of representatives of the candidates and political parties. The candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency is declared the winner.
- The ECI declares the results of the elections after the counting of votes is complete. The winning candidates are awarded certificates of election.
4. The maximum and minimum strengths of a legislative assembly
- The maximum and minimum strength of a legislative assembly is specified in the Constitution of India.
- The Constitution also gives the states the autonomy to decide on the number of seats reserved for women Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- The maximum strength of a legislative assembly in India is 500 members and the minimum strength is 60 members. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
- For example, the legislative assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, and Sikkim have a minimum strength of 30 members, and the legislative assemblies of Mizoram and Nagaland have a minimum strength of 40 and 46 members respectively.
- The strength of a legislative assembly is determined by the population of the state. The larger the population of the state, the larger the size of the legislative assembly.
5. Determination of the legislative assembly’s strength
- The strength of the legislative assembly is determined by the Delimitation Commission.
- The Delimitation Commission is a quasi-judicial body that is appointed by the Government of India.
- The Delimitation Commission is responsible for redrawing the boundaries of constituencies based on the latest census data.
- The Delimitation Commission takes into account several factors when determining the strength of a legislative assembly, including:
- The population of the state
- The geographical features of the state
- The distribution of population within the state
- The number of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the state
- The Delimitation Commission also ensures that each constituency has approximately the same number of voters.
- This is important to ensure that all voters have equal representation in the legislative assembly.
- Once the Delimitation Commission has determined the strength of the legislative assembly, it publishes a delimitation order.
- The delimitation order specifies the number of constituencies in the state and the boundaries of each constituency.
- The strength of a legislative assembly is an important factor in determining the level of representation that voters have.
- A larger legislative assembly means that there are more representatives to represent the interests of the people.
6. Reasons for no uniformity in the organisation of state legislatures
- There is no uniformity in the organization of state legislatures in India because the Constitution of India gives the states a lot of autonomy in this matter.
- The Constitution only specifies the minimum and maximum strength of state legislatures.
- The states are free to decide on the number of seats reserved for women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- The Constitution also gives the states the option to have a unicameral or bicameral legislature. A unicameral legislature has only one house, while a bicameral legislature has two houses.
Currently, six states in India have a bicameral legislature:
- Andhra Pradesh
- Bihar
- Telangana
- Karnataka
- Maharashtra
- Uttar Pradesh
The other states and union territories in India have a unicameral legislature.
The following are some of the reasons why there is no uniformity in the organization of state legislatures:
- Some states have a bicameral system because they have a long history of bicameralism. For example, the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had bicameral legislatures before independence.
- India is a linguistically and culturally diverse country. The states have different languages, cultures, and traditions. This diversity is reflected in the organization of state legislatures. For example, the state of Tamil Nadu has a unicameral legislature because it has a strong tradition of unitary government.
- Political parties often play a role in determining the organization of state legislatures. For example, the state of Telangana has a bicameral legislature because the ruling party wanted to create a separate upper house to represent the interests of different groups in the state.
- The states have different administrative requirements. This may necessitate different types of state legislatures.
The following are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a bicameral legislature:
Advantages:
- A bicameral legislature can provide better representation for different groups in the state.
- A bicameral legislature can act as a check on the power of the lower house.
- A bicameral legislature can provide a forum for more in-depth deliberation on legislation.
Disadvantages:
- A bicameral legislature can be more expensive to run than a unicameral legislature.
- A bicameral legislature can be more difficult to manage than a unicameral legislature.
- A bicameral legislature can lead to a deadlock between the two houses.
7. Model Code of Conduct
After the Election Commission announces the schedule for the polls, various activities related to the election process, including nomination filing, campaigning, polling, and counting, are carried out as per the prescribed timeline. The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect, and the election machinery is put into motion to ensure a free and fair electoral process.
7.1. Duration of Model Code of Conduct
- The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is a set of guidelines that political parties and candidates must follow during elections in India.
- It is intended to ensure that elections are conducted in a fair and free manner.
- The MCC was first introduced in 1971 and has been updated several times since then.
- The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is enforced from the date of the announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission and remains in operation until the completion of the election process, which includes the counting of votes and the announcement of results.
7.2. The Role of the Election Commission in the State Legislative Assembly Elections
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional body responsible for conducting elections to the Parliament of India and the legislative assemblies of the states and union territories of India.
- The ECI is also responsible for conducting elections to the office of the President of India and the Vice President of India.
- The State Election Commissions (SECs) are statutory bodies responsible for conducting elections to the urban local bodies (ULBs) and rural local bodies (RLBs) in the states.
- The SECs are set up under the provisions of the Constitution of India and the state election laws.
The ECI's role in state legislative elections includes
- The ECI announces the schedule for state legislative elections at least six weeks before the date of polling. The schedule includes the dates for filing nominations, campaigning, and polling.
- The ECI scrutinizes the nominations of political parties and candidates to ensure that they meet all the requirements.
- The ECI is responsible for conducting polling on the day of the election. This includes setting up polling booths, providing ballot papers, and deploying security personnel.
- The ECI is responsible for counting votes after the polls close. The counting of votes is done in the presence of representatives of the candidates and political parties.
- The ECI declares the results of the elections after the counting of votes is complete. The winning candidates are awarded certificates of election.
- The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines that political parties and candidates must follow during elections. The Model Code of Conduct is intended to ensure that elections are conducted in a fair and free manner.
- The ECI monitors the campaign period to ensure that all political parties and candidates adhere to the Model Code of Conduct.
- The ECI conducts voter education programs to ensure that all eligible voters are aware of their rights and responsibilities.
- The ECI resolves disputes that arise during the election process, such as disputes over the validity of nominations or the counting of votes.
7.3. The salient features of the Model Code of Conduct
- The Model Code of Conduct is intended to ensure that elections are conducted in a fair and free manner. This means that all political parties and candidates must have an equal opportunity to participate in the election process.
- The Model Code of Conduct requires all political parties and candidates to be transparent about their activities and finances. This helps to promote accountability and deter corruption.
- The Model Code of Conduct prohibits political parties and candidates from discriminating against any person based on caste, creed, religion, language, or sex. This helps to ensure that all citizens have an equal opportunity to participate in the election process.
- The Model Code of Conduct respects the right to free speech. However, it prohibits political parties and candidates from making false or misleading statements. It also prohibits them from inciting violence or hatred.
- The Model Code of Conduct requires political parties and candidates to maintain law and order during the election process. This means that they must avoid any actions that could lead to violence or disorder.
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For Prelims: Election Commission of India, State Election Commissions, State legislative elections, Model Code of Conduct, Bicameralism, Delimitation Commission, VVPAT, R-EVM's,
For Mains:
1. Critically examine the reasons for the lack of uniformity in the organization of state legislatures in India. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a bicameral legislature? (250 words)
2. Discuss the challenges faced by the Election Commission of India in conducting elections in a large and diverse country like India. Suggest measures to improve the electoral process. (250 words)
3. What factors determine the strength of a legislative assembly in India? How does the Delimitation Commission play a crucial role in the determination of legislative assembly strength? (250 words)
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Previous Year Questions
Prelims
1. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2017) 1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.
2. Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A. 1 and 2 only B. 2 only C. 2 and 3 only D. 3 only Answer: D 2. With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142. It could mean which one of the following? (UPSC CSE 2019) Answer: B 3. Consider the following statements : (UPSC 2021) 1. In India, there is no law restricting the candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from three constituencies.
2. In the 1991 Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha constituencies.
3. As per the- existing rules, if a candidate contests in one Lok Sabha election from many constituencies, his/her party should bear the cost of bye-elections to the constituencies vacated by him/her in the event of him/her winning in all the constituencies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. 1 and 3 D. 2 and 3
Answer: B
4. With reference to the Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2012)
1. The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law.
2. When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modifications in the orders.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C 5. The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system was used for the first time by the Election Commission of India in (UPSC CAPF 2019) A. North Paravur Assembly Constituency, Kerala
B. Noksen Assembly Constituency, Nagaland
C. Mapusa Assembly Constituency, Goa
D. Nambol Assembly Constituency, Manipur
Answer: B 6. VVPAT, used in Electronic Voting Machine, stands for (BPSC CDPO 2018) A. Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail
B. Voter Varying Paper Account Trail
C. Voter Verified Paper Account Trail
D. Voting Verifiable Paper Audit Trail
E. None of the above/More than one of the above
Answer: A 7. In which of the following options, Electronic Voting Machines were used for the first time during general elections all over India? (Rajasthan Police Constable 2020) A. 2014 B. 1999 C. 2004 D. 2009 Answer: C Mains 1. In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), what are the challenges before the Election Commission of India to ensure the trustworthiness of elections in India? (UPSC 2018) 2. Discuss the role of the Election Commission of India in the light of the evolution of the Model Code of Conduct. ( UPSC 2022) |
GYAN BHARATAM MISSION
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The Ministry of Culture recently hosted the Gyan Bharatam International Conference in New Delhi. The three-day programme brought together nearly 1,100 participants, including experts in conservation, researchers, historians, academics, and keepers of manuscripts.
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This conference also featured the first global meet on manuscript heritage, titled “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage.” The event coincided with the 132nd anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s iconic speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago (1893).
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Emphasising the value of manuscripts, the Prime Minister remarked that these treasures represent the footprints of human progress and document the journey of civilisation through disciplines such as philosophy, science, medicine, metaphysics, art, astronomy, and architecture.
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The conference further witnessed the official launch of the Gyan Bharatam Mission.
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In the Union Budget 2025–26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a dedicated mission to survey, document, and conserve the country’s vast manuscript heritage.
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Named the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’, the initiative aims to cover over one crore manuscripts. While its headquarters will be in New Delhi under the Ministry of Culture, regional centres are planned in every state to ensure effective implementation.
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With an allocation of ₹400 crore, the project envisions building an institution similar to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), but focused specifically on safeguarding and interpreting manuscripts.
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This new mission will replace the National Manuscripts Mission, launched in 2003, which primarily focused on digitisation but made limited progress over the years.
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The Gyan Bharatam Mission aspires to encourage academic innovation, reinforce civilisational confidence, utilise technological advancements, and promote cultural diplomacy, aligning with India’s ambition of emerging as a global intellectual leader
The mission is envisioned as an integrated framework to rejuvenate India’s manuscript tradition by bringing together conservation, digitisation, academic study, and worldwide accessibility. Its key aims include:
- (i) Identification and Cataloguing: A countrywide network of Manuscript Resource Centres (MRCs) will be created to locate, document, and catalogue ancient manuscripts preserved in institutions and private collections, thereby preparing an authentic national register.
- (ii) Conservation and Preservation: Strengthened Manuscript Conservation Centres (MCCs) will safeguard manuscripts through both preventive and restorative methods.
- (iii) Digitisation and Repository Development: Manuscripts will be digitised using AI-driven Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR), microfilming, and cloud-based metadata systems. These efforts will culminate in a National Digital Repository, accessible to global users.
- (iv) Research, Translation, and Publication: Unpublished or rare manuscripts will be revived through critical editions, facsimile copies, and translations, ensuring availability in multiple languages.
- (v) Training and Capacity Building: Workshops and structured courses will be conducted in transcription, palaeography, conservation, and manuscript studies to develop a skilled pool of professionals.
- (vi) Technological Innovation: The mission also plans to design digital tools such as mobile apps, secure cloud storage, and platforms based on the International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) for better manuscript access and management
5. Gyan Setu
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As part of the Gyan Bharatam Mission, the Ministry of Culture has introduced Gyan-Setu, a National AI Innovation Challenge.
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The programme is designed to encourage young people and innovators to apply technology in the protection of India’s cultural heritage. With a treasure of more than one crore manuscripts covering diverse fields such as philosophy, medicine, governance, and the arts, the initiative seeks to leverage artificial intelligence to make this knowledge more widely accessible and relevant at a global scale.
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By inviting participation from students, researchers, academic institutions, and start-ups, Gyan-Setu frames heritage preservation as a shared national responsibility
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Digvijay Divas is commemorated every year on September 11 to honour Swami Vivekananda’s iconic address at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago (1893). The occasion serves as a reminder to revisit his timeless ideas for reimagining India’s role in a conflict-driven world.
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His Chicago speech was more than an appeal for tolerance and mutual respect; it significantly shaped India’s national consciousness, politics, education, and global outlook.
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Opening with the memorable words “Sisters and Brothers of America”, Vivekananda, in his first address at the Parliament, put forward his vision of a universal religion, affirming the truth of all faiths. The central themes of his oration were tolerance and universal acceptance.
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Following the Chicago address and three subsequent years of lectures abroad, Vivekananda came to be celebrated as a pioneer of India’s spiritual resurgence. His emphasis on spiritual unity provided critical inspiration to the early discourse on spiritual nationalism within India’s freedom movement.
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As one of the earliest advocates of spiritual nationalism, he infused the people with pride in India’s ancient civilisation while promoting the idea of spiritual oneness.
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Championing the philosophy of practical Vedanta, Vivekananda placed selfless service above the barriers of caste, class, or social divisions. He repeatedly stressed that brotherhood must form the basis of human relations, reminding Indians that even the poor, the marginalised, and those engaged in humble occupations were united in the spirit of fraternity
- The National Manuscripts Mission (NMM) was launched in February 2003 by the Government of India under the Ministry of Culture with the objective of preserving and promoting India’s vast manuscript heritage.
- India possesses one of the richest manuscript traditions in the world, with estimates suggesting the existence of over five million manuscripts written in different scripts, languages, and on diverse materials such as palm leaves, birch bark, cloth, and paper.
- These manuscripts cover a wide range of subjects, including religion, philosophy, science, medicine, literature, art, and governance, reflecting the depth and diversity of India’s intellectual history.
- The mission was conceived as a national-level initiative to collect, conserve, catalogue, and make available manuscripts scattered across the country. Its vision was not just to safeguard physical manuscripts but also to encourage research and dissemination of the knowledge contained in them.
- The work of the mission was carried out through a network of Manuscript Resource Centres (MRCs) for surveying and documentation, Manuscript Conservation Centres (MCCs) for preservation and restoration, and Manuscript Partner Centres (MPCs) for wider outreach.
- The mission also set up the National Manuscripts Library and the National Manuscripts Database, creating a centralised repository of information on manuscripts in India.
- A key programme of the NMM was digitisation, aimed at creating electronic copies of manuscripts to prevent loss from deterioration and to enable wider access for researchers and the public.
- The mission also promoted critical editions, translations, and publications of rare manuscripts and organised training workshops in palaeography, conservation techniques, and manuscriptology to build human resource capacity in this specialised field.
- Despite its achievements, the NMM faced several challenges. Progress was often criticised as slow, especially in digitisation. Many manuscripts remained in private collections, difficult to access or document. Funding constraints, lack of advanced technology integration, and limited awareness also hindered the mission’s wider impact.
- In 2025, the government replaced the National Manuscripts Mission with the more ambitious Gyan Bharatam Mission, which seeks to scale up the work of NMM by leveraging modern technology like AI-assisted digitisation and positioning India’s manuscript heritage within a global cultural and diplomatic framework
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For Prelims: Gyan Bharatam Mission, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), National Manuscripts Mission
For Mains: GS I - Art and Culture
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Related Question
1.Consider the following statements, with reference to the Gyan Bharatam Mission: 1. The government is aiming to create an institution on the lines of the Archaeological Survey of India for the preservation and interpretation of India’s manuscripts. 2. The mission intends to cover more than one crore manuscripts. 3. It replaces the existing National Manuscripts Mission. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Answer (c)
1. The government is aiming to create an institution on the lines of the Archaeological Survey of India for the preservation and interpretation of India’s manuscripts. 2. The mission intends to cover more than one crore manuscripts. 3. It replaces the existing National Manuscripts Mission. |
BRICS SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION
BRICS functions as a collaborative force aimed at establishing a multipolar world system. Cooperation in science, technology and innovation has been a key agenda for the grouping and has expanded over the years to include socially relevant areas such as energy, water, health and the environment
2. About BRICS
- The BRICS bloc—consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—represents a major global coalition, distinguished by its significant share in world GDP, strong scientific and technological capabilities, abundant natural resources, and large population base.
- Over time, it has emerged as an influential platform on the global stage, articulating the perspectives of nations that aim to counterbalance Western dominance. The grouping works collectively toward promoting a multipolar international order.
- While its role in global financial and macroeconomic discussions is well acknowledged, its collaboration in science, technology, and innovation (STI) has received comparatively limited attention.
- In an era where international scientific partnerships are increasingly shaped by geopolitical rivalries, techno-nationalism, and strategic restrictions such as sanctions and export controls, BRICS plays an important role in shaping the global STI ecosystem.
- The platform enables member countries to align their approaches, strengthen their collective bargaining power in global economic governance, and shape development financing through mechanisms such as the New Development Bank.
- BRICS nations also hold considerable importance in global trade, energy supply, and the provision of critical natural resources. The introduction of BRICS+ in 2022 marked a shift toward greater inclusivity, aiming to enhance cooperation among countries of the Global South and reduce reliance on external technological systems.
- This initiative reflects a growing effort to build shared capabilities through structured programmes. The grouping has further expanded to include countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran
- Science, technology, and innovation (STI) cooperation has been embedded in the BRICS agenda since its inception. It gained formal recognition in 2011 and was later strengthened through engagements among senior officials and BRICS Ministers responsible for STI.
- A landmark memorandum of understanding in 2015 elevated STI to a central strategic priority, establishing an institutional structure and operational direction for joint research and capacity-building.
- This framework has since broadened collaboration, enabling member states to utilise their complementary strengths to tackle common developmental issues and push the boundaries of advanced research.
- The first BRICS Action Plan for Innovation Cooperation (2017–2020) assigned the Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Partnership (STIEP) Working Group the responsibility of executing multiple initiatives.
- These efforts promoted entrepreneurship ecosystems, encouraged participation of youth and women in STI, and supported technology transfer along with business incubation.
- Over time, the grouping has shifted its focus from basic scientific collaboration toward innovation-driven initiatives and practical technology transfer.
- These evolving priorities are reflected in annual ministerial declarations, where BRICS Ministers of Science, Technology, and Innovation convene to endorse strategic directions.
- Within each country, designated nodal agencies manage coordination, invite research proposals, and compile project pipelines during their presidency.
- For instance, during India’s leadership, institutions such as the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) play a central coordinating role.
- Recent initiatives highlight a strong push toward innovation-led and technology-enabled ecosystems.
- Platforms like iBRICS and the BRICS Technology Transfer Centre (TTC) illustrate this direction, with the TTC contributing to policy development and institutional connectivity for cross-border technology commercialisation.
- However, despite these advances, large-scale commercial deployment of such technologies remains limited.
- The scope of joint research has also evolved, moving beyond foundational science to address socially relevant sectors such as energy, water, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.
- The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this transition, bringing heightened attention to public health systems, vaccine development, biosecurity, and digital healthcare.
- More recent collaborations have incorporated areas such as high-performance computing (HPC), advanced materials, information and communication technologies (ICT), and space applications, alongside a growing emphasis on artificial intelligence and data-driven science.
- Although working groups align with shared developmental priorities, progress has been uneven across sectors.
- Notable advancements are visible in ICT and HPC, including initiatives like the BRICS Institute of Future Networks, as well as in space collaboration following a 2021 intergovernmental agreement.
- In contrast, domains requiring extensive infrastructure or long-term investment—such as mega-science projects and ocean or polar research—have progressed more slowly.
- The expansion of BRICS has further strengthened its role as an inclusive platform for knowledge sharing and collaborative innovation.
- The 2025 Declaration on Artificial Intelligence marked a significant shift by elevating AI to a core pillar of multilateral governance, emphasising principles of inclusivity, equity, and development orientation.
- While the 2021–2024 Action Plan concentrated on building networks and thematic cooperation, subsequent strategies aim to scale up projects with greater real-world impact, particularly in biotechnology, climate technologies, industrial innovation, and AI.
- With India set to assume the 2026 Presidency under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” BRICS is poised to deepen scientific collaboration.
- The focus will be on leveraging its expanded membership to enhance collective capacities and address pressing challenges such as the digital divide, public health emergencies, and climate resilience.
- However, engagement from newer members has been uneven; among the latest entrants, only Egypt and Iran participated in the most recent call for proposals.
- Additionally, the China-BRICS Research Centre on New Quality Productive Forces, recently established in Beijing, is expected to serve as a key platform for academic exchange and technological collaboration
4. Concerns and Consequences
- When compared with countries such as South Korea, the National Innovation Systems (NIS) of BRICS nations reveal a mixed picture of capabilities and gaps.
- In particular, gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) remains relatively low across most members, with China being a notable exception.
- Studies indicate a substantial gap between BRICS countries and South Korea across multiple innovation metrics, with all members except China needing significant progress.
- With the transition to BRICS+, it becomes equally important to evaluate and strengthen the innovation ecosystems of the newly inducted members. Enhancing these systems could become a key priority over the coming decade, with the possibility of extending such improvements across the wider Global South.
- As highlighted by Stanford University scholar Irina Dezhina, the diversity among new members—both in terms of economic advancement and scientific capabilities—poses challenges in aligning priorities.
- This diversity may require BRICS+ to promote targeted bilateral or “paired” collaborations between specific countries.
- Lessons can also be drawn from the European Union (EU), which offers a broad range of STI programmes, whereas BRICS currently provides relatively limited opportunities.
- Moreover, although competition for available funding is high, the overall pool of resources remains constrained.
- Scholars argue that BRICS initiatives must evolve qualitatively to effectively address complex global challenges.
- At present, however, systematic research on STI cooperation within BRICS is limited, and there is no structured mechanism for continuous assessment and evidence-based policy inputs for member states
Despite notable progress in collaboration, concerns remain about whether the existing institutional arrangements are adequate for future demands. A major limitation is the absence of a permanent institutional framework to oversee STI cooperation. The current model—where leadership rotates annually with the presidency—is not well-suited for long-term planning. One possible solution is to adopt a model similar to the EU’s Horizon Programme by creating a centralised Secretariat responsible for managing funds, issuing research calls, tracking implementation, and evaluating outcomes.
Additionally, launching a few long-term mega-science projects could significantly deepen cooperation among members. Over time, the scope of STI collaboration should extend beyond project funding to include research on governance frameworks and the broader societal and economic implications of emerging technologies within BRICS+. Such efforts would improve coordination in international negotiations and strengthen institutional capacity for STI governance.
In conclusion, although BRICS has made considerable strides in STI cooperation since 2015 despite various constraints, substantial improvements are still needed. Strengthening the framework to make it more responsive, efficient, and credible will enhance the group’s global standing. As the incoming chair of BRICS+ in 2026, India is well-positioned to steer this transformation
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For Prelims: BRICS, Global South Unity, Western Influence, New Development Bank (NDB), and Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA).
For Mains: 1. Discuss the Implications of BRICS' Expansion for India's Geopolitical Positioning and Influence within the Alliance.
2. Analyze India's Role in Shaping BRICS' Membership Criteria and Its Strategic Significance in the Expanded Coalition.
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Previous year Questions1. With reference to a grouping of countries known as BRICS, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2014)
1. The First Summit of BRICS was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2009.
2. South Africa was the last to join the BRICS grouping.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
2. With reference to BRIC countries, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2010)
1. At present, China's GDP is more than the combined GDP of all three other countries.
2. China's population is more than the combined population of any two other countries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A
3. The 'Fortaleza Declaration', recently in the news, is related to the affairs of (UPSC 2015)
A. ASEAN
B. BRICS
C. OECD
D. WTO
Answer: B
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LANGUAGE LEARNING MODEL (LLM)
- Language Learning Models, more commonly referred to as Large Language Models (LLMs), are a type of artificial intelligence system designed to understand and generate human language.
- They are built to read text, identify patterns in how language is used, and then produce responses that are coherent and contextually relevant. The term “large” refers to the enormous amount of data they are trained on, as well as the vast number of parameters—mathematical values—that help them process and predict language.
- At their core, these models work by learning from examples. During training, they are exposed to massive collections of text drawn from books, articles, research papers, and other publicly available material.
- Instead of memorizing specific answers, they learn the statistical relationships between words. In simple terms, they learn how likely one word is to follow another in a given context. Over time, this ability to predict the next word in a sentence becomes highly refined, allowing the model to generate complete paragraphs, essays, summaries, translations, or even computer code.
- Modern language models are typically built using a neural network architecture known as the Transformer. This design allows the system to pay attention to the relationships between words in a sentence, even if those words are far apart.
- Because of this, the model can understand context better than earlier language-processing systems. For example, it can distinguish between different meanings of the same word depending on how it is used in a sentence, and it can maintain coherence across longer passages of text.
- Although these models can appear intelligent, they do not truly “understand” language in the human sense. They do not possess consciousness, personal experiences, or emotions.
- Their responses are generated based on learned patterns rather than genuine comprehension. This means they can sometimes produce incorrect or misleading information, especially if the training data contained errors or biases.
- Language Learning Models have become important because they change the way humans interact with technology. Instead of using rigid commands or technical instructions, users can communicate naturally in everyday language.
- This has applications in education, business, governance, research, customer service, and many other fields. By enabling machines to process and generate language fluently, these models act as powerful tools that assist with writing, problem-solving, and information analysis.
- Large Language Models are developed and deployed using clusters of high-performance Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). The expense of procuring these GPUs, combined with the substantial electricity required to operate them for extended training periods, often amounts to several million dollars.
- Equally critical to this process is access to vast volumes of data, much of which is sourced from the internet. However, online content is far more abundant in English, European languages, and East Asian languages such as Korean and Japanese, compared to most Indian languages.
- This imbalance creates a dual difficulty for building LLMs within India using domestic funding.
- First, the limited availability of high-quality data in Indian languages means that many models either deliver weaker performance in these languages or consume additional computational resources—often translating user inputs into English for processing and then translating responses back into the original language.
- Although machine translation for Indian languages has improved significantly and is frequently relied upon to enhance output quality, this approach is not always optimal.
- Second, financial constraints present another barrier. Developing and training large-scale language models requires significant capital investment, which can be difficult for Indian companies to justify, particularly in the absence of clear and immediate commercial applications tailored to local markets.
- Dependence on translation layers also poses practical challenges for developers aiming to promote indigenous LLMs.
- For instance, locally developed models such as Sarvam’s 35-billion-parameter system—demonstrated at a summit research symposium and adapted for use on feature phones—may face limitations if their performance in Indian languages is not robust. Such shortcomings can affect user experience, adoption rates, and overall effectiveness in real-world applications
- Under the IndiaAI Mission, the government has supported domestic AI development by facilitating large-scale computing infrastructure within the country.
- More than 36,000 GPUs have been deployed across data centres run by Indian companies such as Yotta, enabling researchers and startups to undertake model training and inference at concessional rates.
- As part of this initiative, Sarvam was provided access to 4,096 GPUs from a shared national compute facility, with government support for this effort estimated at nearly ₹100 crore.
- The total infrastructure cost of this GPU cluster is reported to be around ₹246 crore, though the resources are expected to remain available for broader use beyond a single project.
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has promoted indigenous LLM development for multiple strategic reasons. A central concern is that models created abroad may lack both the incentive and the contextual depth needed to effectively support India’s diverse linguistic landscape.
- Additionally, building domestic capacity to train and deploy large language models is viewed as essential for strengthening India’s broader artificial intelligence ecosystem and nurturing homegrown expertise.
- In this context, Sarvam’s unveiling of its two language models marks an important milestone in India’s efforts to build a high-performance yet cost-efficient LLM. The government appears keen to replicate the kind of cost innovation seen when China’s DeepSeek introduced its R1 model, which was rapidly adopted across the AI sector for reducing training and inference expenses without sacrificing performance quality. Policymakers hope to encourage a similar competitive advantage in India
An important advancement for AI systems designed to operate efficiently in local environments has been the development of the Mixture of Experts (MoE) architecture. Early large language models were built with hundreds of billions—or even more than a trillion—parameters, and during inference they generally relied on activating the entire network of parameters to generate responses. This approach significantly increased computational costs and made each query resource-intensive.
In contrast, the MoE framework improves efficiency by engaging only a selected subset of the model’s parameters for any given task. By activating just a portion of the overall network rather than the whole system, MoE-based models can process requests more quickly while reducing computational load and operational expenses
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For Prelims: Current events of national and international importance
For Mains: GS-III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
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Previous Year Questions
1.With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (UPSC CSE 2020) 1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units 2. Create meaningful short stories and songs 3. Disease diagnosis 4. Text-to-Speech Conversion 5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Answer (b) (b) 1, 3, and 4 only Explanation:
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