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

Editorial 1: Who are PVTGs & why govt want to enumerate them separately

Context:

The Ministry of Tribal affairs has asked Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to enumerate particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) separately for the first time in the upcoming census. It wants to record the number of PVTG household, individuals, and their distinct demographic, and socio-economic data. It will be useful in forming and implementing schemes targeting PVTGs such as Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Mahabhiyan (PM JANMAN).

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs):

• PVTG were first identified as separate category within SC by the Dhebar Commission of 1960-61. The commissioned stated that there are disparities in socio-economic and living conditions between different tribal groups and thus concluded that some of the tribal communities were “more vulnerable” than others.
• PVTGs are identified by Ministry of Tribal Affairsfrom the Scheduled Tribes (ST) who have declining population, live in geographical isolation, use of pre-agrarian practices such as hunting and gathering, and suffer from economic backwardness and relatively low literacy.
• Initially, 52 groups were identified as PVTG during the Fifth five year plan from 1974 to 1979. In 2006, 23 more groups were accorded the PVTG status. Currently, 75 social groups are listed in PVTG which are spread across 18 states, and the Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Island.
• There has been debate regarding the inclusion criteria used for identifying PVTG, especially the marker of Geographic isolation has been questioned.

Enumeration of PVTGs in the Census:

• They are not listed as separate category in any census. Some of them are counted under the broad ST category. Out of 75 PVTG, 40 of them are grouped under one nomenclature under the notified lists of STs under article 342 of the constitution.
• According to the rules, only data of STs are recorded and released by RGI. This will include the data of their sub-groups including PVTG.
• PM Modi has launched PM JANMAN in 2023 to improve socio-economic status, health, education, livelihood and amenities for PVTGs in more than 200 districts. To implement this scheme, state and central governments have collected habitation level data of PVTG population.
• According to estimation, PVTG have recorded population of 47.5 lakhs with highest population recorded in Madhya Pradesh (13.22 lakh), followed by Maharashtra (6.7 lakhs), and Andhra Pradesh (5.18 lakhs).
• As per census 2011, 13 PVTGs, who were enumerated as part of 40 single entry STs, had a population of less than 1000 persons. These include Sentinelese, shompens in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kota in Tamil Nadu, Raji in Uttarakhand.
• The Baiga Community of Madhya Pradesh have the largest population among PVTGswith recorded population of 4, 14,526.

PM JANMAN Yojana (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan):

• The PM JANMAN Yojana is a major Government of India initiative launched in November 2023 for the development and empowerment of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Its key features are:
• Target Group: Focuses exclusively on the 75 identified PVTGs across 18 States and UTs. These are the most marginalized tribal communities with low literacy, poor health indicators, and minimal access to basic services.
• Objective: To ensure saturation of basic facilities like housing, drinking water, education, health, road connectivity, telecom, and livelihood support for PVTGs.
• Budget:Outlay of around ₹24,000 crore for 3 years (till 2026).
• Implementation: Convergent approach involving multiple ministries. Ministries like Tribal Affairs, Health, Education, Rural Development, Jal Shakti, etc., work together.
• Major Interventions:
• Housing under PM-AWAS.
• Clean drinking water through Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Road & Telecom connectivity in remote PVTG areas.
• Education:Anganwadi centers, Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
• Healthcare:Mobile Medical Units, better access to Ayushman Bharat.
• Livelihood support: Skill development, self-employment schemes.
• Special Focus: Respect for cultural heritage and lifestyle of tribal groups while ensuring development.

Way Forward:

PVTG are most deprived among the STs. So Government of India needs to formulate and implement schemes specially targeting these groups. The recent move of enumerating these groups in the census will help in the efficient targeting of these schemes.

 

Editorial 2: What’s in new Foreigners Act

Context:

Recently the Parliament has passed the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025. It replaces the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; The Foreigners Act, 1946; The Immigration (Carrier’s Liability) Act, 2000. This act now regulates the entry, stay, and exit off foreigners in India.

Reasons for enactment of the Bill:

• Previous regulations were based on pre-independence statutes and piecemeal notifications which were fragmented and subjected to ambiguous interpretation.
• All the four separate acts of 1920, 1939, 1946, and 2000 have some overlapping provisions along with some confusing provisions.
• Exemptions provided to Tibetan refugees, Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, citizens of Nepal and Bhutan were spread across multiple orders and were not readily available.
• Reporting obligations were manual. This resulted in delays in reporting and data gaps for enforcement.
• The powers of local and central authorities are also not clearly defined. Also the rules for protected/restricted areas were not uniform throughout the country.

Provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025:

• Possession of valid documents: All entrants must possess valid passport or travel documents. Foreigners must possess a valid visa unless they are explicitly exempted by Act or the special orders of the central government.
• Exit and entry via notified points: All entrants can only enter from the designated immigration posts listed in the act including all major seaports, airports, land border posts, and rail ports.
• Power of Immigration officers: The notified immigration posts will have immigration officers who have the final authority on entry, exit and admissibility. They can reuse or validate entry or exit on national security grounds.
• Defined registration and control mechanisms: Foreigners must register with designated registration officers. The Deputy Superintendent of Police or Deputy Commissioner of Police are designated as local civil authority for immigration and foreigners’ regulation.
• Obligation of accommodation providers and institutions: All the hostels, hotels, paying guest homes, religious institutions and similar institutions must gather the particulars of foreigners including their signatures, thumb impression, and transmit duly filled form electronically to the authorities within 24 hours of both arrival and departure of  foreign nationals including Overseas Cardholders.
• Educational and medical establishmentsmust notify the foreigners admitted or treated to the Registration officers. Hospitals need to electronically report birth or death of foreigner witseven days.
• Authority to shut down resorts, clubs: the civil authority has the power to control, restrict , or shut down the places frequently visited by foreigners if there are security, legal or public order concerns. Such orders may be issued if authority suspect that foreigner “is a criminal, linked to unlawful associations, or otherwise undesirable”
• Special permit for protected/ restricted areas:Movement into protected, restricted or prohibited areas require a special permit, which can be obtained by applying on designated online portals or mobile apps.

Exemptions are granted to following categories:

• Members of Indian military entering or exiting the country, along with their families, if they are travelling on government transport.
• Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan entering via designated land or air borders or possessing valid passports for air entry to other destinations. They are both permitted to enter through China, Macau, Hong Kong and Pakistan.
• Tibetan refugees with special entry permits, registered with authorities, and holding registration certificates are allowed entry via designated posts.
• Minority community refugees belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Parsi, Buddhist religion who hail from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan are granted exemption if they entered India on or before Dec 31, 2014 even if without travel documents or with documents that subsequently expired.  They are granted the exemption if they fled their country after religious persecution. Or those entering India after the cutoff date of 31 December, 2014, special protection has been provided. This exemption is provided for those seeking long term visa and they will have to acquire Indian citizenship through naturalization.
• Holders of diplomatic or official passports from certain jurisdictions where visa requirements are waived under intergovernmental agreements or residents from nations eligible for “visa on arrival” at specific ports.

New Provisions in the Act:

• Digital and electronic record: The digital notification data provided by accommodation providers, hospitals and universities will act as robust database for public health management and decision making.
• Graduated fines/ compounding system:  For violations such as overstaying, violation of visa terms, failure to notify authorities, The Rules proscribe graduated fines ranging from Rs.10000 to Rs.5 lakh.
• Protection and Appeal mechanism: It clarifies appeals for fines, penalties and exceptions for certain humanitarian cases. They provide limited production for bona fide mistakes.
• No discretionary exemption at local level:All exemption for entry, visa, documentation and protected/restricted area permits will be on the orders already published by the central government.

Way Forward:

It reduces the ambiguity by clearly designating all the concerned officers and electronic records. Also the new law reduces litigation by making some offenses compoundable quickly by paying a prescribed fine. Also the discretionary exemptions are reduced to minimal levels. The citizenship is mentioned in the Central list. This act has strengthened the federalism by clearly defining the role of States in this matter. This Act is a comprehensive law covering all aspects of citizenship.