What to Read in Indian Express (Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1 : Celebrating Birsa Munda’s Legacy and the Continuing Tribal Struggle for Dignity

Context:

Birsa Munda’s anniversary highlights India’s historical and contemporary efforts to protect tribal identity, rights, and dignity.

Historical Significance of Birsa Munda

• Adivasi Resistance to Colonial Rule
• Between the late 18th and early 20th centuries, various tribal communities rose against exploitative British policies, moneylenders, and landlords.
• Birsa Munda led the Ulgulan (Great Tumult) Movement (1899–1900)to protect tribal land, culture, and self-rule.
• Role as a Cultural and Political Icon
• Birsa called for a return to traditional practices and fought against feudal oppression and missionary influence.
• His movement contributed to laws such as the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, which restricted non-tribal land acquisition.

Contemporary Recognition and Constitutional Backing

• Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (2021)
• Government declared 15 Novemberas Janjatiya Gaurav Divas to honour tribal freedom fighters.
• Constitutional Safeguards
• Fifth Schedule & Sixth Schedule: protect land, culture, and governance rights of Scheduled Tribes.
• Articles 15(4), 46: mandate special protection and promotion of educational and economic interests.
• PESA Act, 1996: empowers Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas.
• Forest Rights Act, 2006: recognises forest dwellers’ rights.

These safeguards reflect India’s legal commitment to dignity and autonomy of tribal communities.

Policy Shifts: From Welfare to Empowerment

Over the last decade, there has been a clear shift from welfare distribution to empowerment-led, infrastructure-based development.

Key Schemes

• PM-JANMAN Mission (2023)
  • Targets Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
  • Focus on housing, water supply, electricity, education, healthcare, road connectivity.
  • Source: PIB, MoTA Scheme Briefs.
• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)
  • 740+ sanctioned; 479 functional; aims to benefit 3.5 lakh tribal students.
  • Source: MoTA Annual Report 2023–24.
• Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED)
  • Promotes tribal entrepreneurship and fair pricing through Van Dhan Vikas Kendras.
  • Source: TRIFED Data.
• Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
  • Focus on 100% saturation of basic services for tribal-majority villages.
  • Source: NITI Aayog Aspirational Blocks Programme documentation.

These initiatives indicate mainstreaming with dignity, not assimilation.

Cultural Preservation and Digital Heritage

• Museums for Tribal Freedom Fighters
  • 11 state-of-the-art museums sanctioned (10 inaugurated).
  • Use immersive digital technology to preserve the stories of leaders like Birsa Munda, Sidhu-Kanhu, Tantia Bhil, and Alluri Sitarama Raju.

Such institutions strengthen national memory and historical justice.

Challenges That Still Persist

Despite progress, multiple issues remain:

• Land and Forest Rights
• Delays in FRA implementation, rejection of claims, and conflicts over forest conservation.
• Socio-economic Gaps
• ST communities still lag in literacy, healthcare access, and income indicators.
• Displacement due to Development
• Mining and infrastructure projects continue to cause displacement among tribal populations.
• Addressing these gaps is essential to honour Birsa Munda’s legacy.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Local Governance:Effective implementation of PESA and Gram Sabha autonomy.
• Secure Land and Resource Rights:Transparent and speedy recognition of forest rights; community-based forest management.
• Inclusive Development:Targeted human development indicators—health, nutrition, education—using participatory models.
• Cultural Preservation:Support for tribal languages, art, and traditions through community institutions.

Conclusion

Birsa Munda’s life was a powerful assertion of tribal dignity, self-rule, and cultural identity. Modern India’s challenge is to translate this legacy into rights-based, inclusive, and participatory governance. With constitutional safeguards, targeted schemes, and empowerment-oriented development, India can ensure that the values Birsa Munda fought for—justice, dignity, and freedom—continue to guide the nation.

 

Editorial 2 : Investing in People’s Resilience and Clean Energy

Context:

Global Carbon Project data warns that the world is on track for dangerously high warming, underscoring the urgency of investing in clean energy and climate resilience.

Global Emissions Trends: What the Data Shows

• Rising Carbon Emissions Globally
• The Global Carbon Project (2025)estimates that global carbon emissions may hit record highs by the end of 2025.
• The USregistered the highest projected rise over 2024 at 9%, followed by India (1.4%), China, and the EU.
• India’s Lower-than-Expected Growth
• India’s emission growth slowed due to:
  • Large-scale renewable energy expansion(solar, wind).
  • A relatively cooler summerand early monsoon.
  • Decline in electricity-sector emissions in the first half of 2025.
• India’s long-term growth of GHG emissions reduced to 6% (2015–24)from 6.4% (2004–15).
• Contrast: US Reversal
• The US saw a reversal of a nearly 20-year downward trenddue to increased fossil-fuel usage.

The Larger Warning: Decarbonisation Still Too Slow

• Not Enough to Meet Global Targets
• Despite increasing renewable deployment, the pace of global decarbonisation is insufficient to keep global warming below 5°C.
• Fossil Fuel Dependence Continues
• Renewable energy is expanding, but demand for energy is also rising.
• The world may peak emissions by 2030, but that is too late to stay within the carbon budget.
• Critical Threshold
• The world is on course for around 6°C of warming, posing catastrophic climate risks.

India’s Role and Opportunities

• Renewable Energy Leadership
• India is among the fastest-growing renewables markets:
  • 190+ GW installed RE capacity (excluding large hydro).
  • Target: 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030.
• Energy Transition Challenges
• Need to reduce reliance on coal, which still generates ~70% of electricity.
• Financing, grid integration, and storage remain major hurdles.

Need for Climate Resilience: A People-Centred Approach

• Why Resilience Matters
• Climate impacts heatwaves, floods, cyclones—are increasing in frequency and severity.
• Vulnerable Populations Need Protection: Investments required in:
• Climate-resilient agriculture(drought-resistant crops, micro-irrigation).
• Disaster-proof infrastructure(cyclone shelters, resilient housing).
• Livelihood diversification(eco-tourism, renewable job creation).
• Early warning systems & community preparedness.
• Loss and Damage Concerns
• Developing countries, including India, are disproportionately affected despite low historical emissions.

Way Forward

• Accelerate Renewable Energy Investments
• Streamline approvals, expand rooftop solar, develop storage technologies.
• Promote green hydrogen and e-mobility.
• Phased Reduction of Fossil Fuels
• Implement Just Transition mechanisms for coal-dependent regions.
• Adopt carbon pricing or market-based instruments.
• Enhance Climate Finance
• Developed nations must fulfil commitments under the $100 billion climate financegoal and Loss & Damage Fund.
• Strengthen Adaptation Plans
• Expand the National Adaptation Fund.
• Integrate climate resilience into urban planning (heat action plans, flood zoning).
• Community-Centric Climate Action
• Empower Panchayats with climate funds.
• Scale up local renewable cooperatives and nature-based solutions.

Conclusion

The world stands at a critical juncture: emissions are rising even as climate impacts intensify. The Global Carbon Project’s warning highlights that climate action must focus not only on clean energy but also on protecting people’s lives and livelihoods. For India, combining rapid energy transition with investments in resilience will be essential to ensure a secure, inclusive, and sustainable future.