The Hindu Daily Current Affairs – 31 October 2026
Saturday, 31 October 2026
The Hindu – Important News Articles & Editorial
Today’s edition covers the new National Social Security Boards for unorganised and gig workers, the Supreme Court’s scrutiny of Form 7 misuse in Uttar Pradesh’s electoral roll revision, construction curbs and work-from-home orders in Delhi-NCR, the launch of the NVS-03 navigation satellite, and the World Bank’s assessment of India’s fall in poverty, along with an editorial analysis on whether India and China can coexist peacefully.
Union Labour Ministry Sets Up Social Security Boards for Unorganised, Gig and Platform Workers
The Union Labour Ministry has notified two statutory bodies under the Code on Social Security, 2020: the National Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers (40 members) and the National Social Security Board for Gig and Platform Workers (22 members). They bring digital platform workers into the formal welfare framework. The move follows the revision of the Periodic Labour Force Survey to count gig workers and comes as the labour codes are being put into operation.
Key Facts
- Chairman of both Boards: Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya; Vice-Chairman: the Union Labour Secretary.
- Members: Central and State governments; aggregators (Eternal/Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, Urban Company, Rapido); employers; trade unions; civil society; and gig-worker associations such as the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers. Others include the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Laghu Udyog Bharati, the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute and the Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education and Development.
- Mandate: design, monitor and recommend welfare schemes; advise the Centre on administering the Code; review State-level record-keeping; and review spending from the social security fund.
- Meetings: at least three times a year; the Centre will prescribe rules of procedure.
- Labour officers of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat are members.
- Criticism: AITUC’s Amarjeet Kaur says the composition is tilted towards the Union government, unions close to the ruling party and employer bodies.
The Two New Boards
| Feature | Board for Unorganised Workers | Board for Gig and Platform Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 40 members | 22 members |
| Who it covers | Workers in the unorganised sector (about 90% of the workforce) | App-based and platform workers (about 1 crore now, 2.35 crore by 2029-30, NITI Aayog) |
| Chair | Union Labour Minister; Union Labour Secretary as Vice-Chairman | |
| Role | Recommend, design and monitor welfare schemes; advise the Centre; review records and fund spending | |
The Four Labour Codes
| Code | Main focus |
|---|---|
| Code on Wages, 2019 | Minimum wages, payment of wages, bonus, equal remuneration |
| Industrial Relations Code, 2020 | Trade unions, standing orders, strikes, lay-offs and dispute resolution |
| Code on Social Security, 2020 | EPF, ESI, maternity benefit, gratuity; gig and platform workers; social security funds |
| Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 | Safety, health and working conditions, including for migrant and contract workers |
Static Dimensions
- Code on Social Security, 2020: merges nine laws (including the EPF, ESI and Maternity Benefit Acts and the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008). It defines gig worker, platform worker and aggregator, and provides for social security funds; aggregators contribute 1–2% of annual turnover, capped at 5% of payments to workers.
- Related schemes: e-Shram portal (database of unorganised workers), PM-JAY cover for gig workers, PM-SYM (pension), PMJJBY and PMSBY.
- Constitutional links: Articles 41, 42 and 43 (Directive Principles on the right to work, humane conditions and a living wage); Entries 23 and 24 of the Concurrent List (social security; welfare of labour).
- Unorganised sector: about 90% of India’s workforce. Rajasthan and Karnataka have their own gig-worker laws.
- ILO: Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202).
Analysis
- Formal recognition: statutory boards give gig workers a seat at the policy table and a route to portable, scheme-based benefits.
- Tripartite structure: representation of government, employers and workers follows the ILO model, but balance matters for legitimacy.
- Advisory role: the boards recommend and monitor, so their impact depends on the Centre’s acceptance and funding.
- Aggregators on board: platform participation may ease the design of contributions, but raises conflict-of-interest concerns.
- Federal angle: labour is a Concurrent subject, so State records and delivery are critical, and State laws may overlap.
- Dependence on data: the revised PLFS and e-Shram registration are needed to identify beneficiaries.
Challenges
- Contested composition and perceived Central dominance.
- Defining and classifying gig workers across platforms.
- Creating the fund, ensuring aggregator contributions and making benefits portable.
- Low registration and awareness among workers.
- Overlap with State legislation.
Way Forward
- Ensure balanced, transparent representation, including independent worker unions.
- Notify contribution rules and a clear scheme architecture (health, accident, old age, maternity).
- Link registration to e-Shram, with portable, Aadhaar-based benefits.
- Coordinate with States to avoid duplication, and review outcomes periodically.
- Publish board proceedings and spending.
India Implications
- Social protection for new work: the boards are the first institutional step in turning gig workers’ legal recognition into actual benefits.
- Labour market formalisation: portable benefits can reduce the gap between formal and informal work without killing platform flexibility.
- Cooperative federalism: Central boards and State laws must work together rather than duplicate each other.
Himachal Pradesh has no gig-worker law of its own, so Central schemes under the Code will matter for its growing platform workforce – cab drivers, food-delivery riders and homestay or tourism-app workers in Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala and Kullu. The State also depends on large numbers of unorganised and seasonal migrant workers in apple orchards, construction and hydropower projects. Registration on e-Shram and portable benefits would help them most, since they move between States and seasons.
ConclusionThe boards are a structural step towards social protection for gig and unorganised workers. Their value will depend on balanced representation, adequate funding and effective, portable delivery of benefits.
Prelims Practice
Q. With reference to the Code on Social Security, 2020, consider the following statements:
- It consolidates nine existing labour laws relating to social security.
- It gives legal recognition to gig workers and platform workers.
- It provides for social security funds for eligible categories of workers.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (d)
The Code was the first Indian law to define gig and platform workers and aggregators, and it requires aggregators to contribute 1–2% of annual turnover (capped at 5% of payments to workers) towards their social security.
Q. What are gig workers and platform workers? Explain how the Code on Social Security, 2020 seeks to bring them within India’s social security framework.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
SC Seeks Report from ECI on Form 7 Misuse
The Supreme Court has asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to examine allegations of bulk and false Form 7 filings to delete voters during Uttar Pradesh’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, take action and file a compliance report. The ECI says it found “false” Form 7s but accepted none. The case concerns the integrity of electoral rolls – a foundation of free and fair elections.
Key Facts
- A petition by Congress MP Tanuj Punia (Barabanki) alleges widespread misuse of Form 7 during the claims-and-objections phase: forms with incomplete or false objector details, forged signatures, and names of persons who denied filing them. Pre-filled forms allegedly reached Booth Level Officers (BLOs), including for electors already verified.
- Petitioner’s example: in Hata constituency, 32 Form 7s were found – two signed by the BLO – all targeting voters of one community; the person who left them remains untraceable. Counsel argued that the lack of corrective action in UP had “emboldened” similar bulk filings in Karnataka and Telangana.
- ECI’s reply (before a Bench headed by CJI Surya Kant): false forms were rejected promptly and none accepted. Its September affidavit cited Khalilabad (bulk forms not accepted), Sakaldiha (forms not issued by the BLO) and forms found in envelopes at BLOs’ homes. It directed BLOs not to digitise forms without checks or accept Form 7s in bulk.
- The Court asked the petitioner to submit a note, and the ECI to act and file a compliance report.
- UP’s SIR ended in April, with over two crore voters removed; Assembly election processes may begin from December 2026 or early 2027.
- Relief sought: penal action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 against false declarations and impersonation.
Key Electoral Roll Forms
| Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Form 6 | Inclusion of a new elector in the roll |
| Form 6A | Inclusion of an overseas (NRI) elector |
| Form 7 | Objection to an inclusion, or request to delete a name (death, shifting, duplicate entry) |
| Form 8 | Correction of entries, change of residence, replacement EPIC, marking as person with disability |
Who Manages Electoral Rolls
| Official | Level | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Booth Level Officer (BLO) | Polling booth | House-to-house verification; receives forms |
| Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) | Assembly constituency | Decides claims and objections; must give notice and hearing before deletion |
| District Election Officer (DEO) | District | Supervises roll preparation in the district |
| Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) | State | Supervises roll preparation under the ECI |
Static Dimensions
- Legal basis: Article 324 (ECI’s superintendence of electoral rolls) and Article 326 (adult suffrage); the Representation of the People Act, 1950 – Section 22 (correction and deletion) and Section 31 (false declarations, punishable with up to one year’s imprisonment, a fine or both); and Rule 21A of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 (notice, hearing and reasoned order before deletion).
- Officials: BLO, ERO, DEO and CEO.
- Concepts: Special Intensive Revision, the claims-and-objections period, electoral roll integrity and disenfranchisement.
Analysis
- Abuse of a safeguard: an objection mechanism meant to remove ineligible names can be weaponised for targeted deletions, especially through bulk filings aimed at one community.
- Verification versus assertion: the ECI says rejection was prompt, but the petitioner seeks judicial scrutiny because insider involvement (BLO signatures) is alleged.
- Systemic risk: repeat patterns across States point to a design weakness in authenticating objectors.
- Timing: forthcoming elections add urgency.
- Accountability: prosecution under Section 31 has deterrent value, but untraceable filers show enforcement gaps.
Challenges
- Authenticating objectors and their signatures.
- BLOs’ capacity, integrity and workload.
- Detecting coordinated bulk filing.
- Ensuring a hearing before deletion at scale.
- Public trust in electoral rolls and the ECI.
Way Forward
- Mandatory verification of objectors (EPIC number and OTP), with audit trails and limits on bulk filings.
- Independent audits of Form 7 data and publication of rejected forms.
- Prosecute false filers and erring officials under Section 31.
- Strictly enforce notice and hearing before deletion.
- Time-bound compliance reporting to the Court.
India Implications
- Right to vote: wrongful deletion silently disenfranchises citizens, so procedural safeguards protect the core of democracy.
- Institutional credibility: large-scale roll revisions need transparent processes to retain public confidence in the ECI.
- Judicial oversight: the Court’s compliance-report approach keeps the ECI’s autonomy while ensuring accountability.
Himachal Pradesh, which goes to the polls next in late 2027, has many voters who are easy to wrongly mark as “shifted” or “absent” during a roll revision: service voters in the armed forces, seasonal migrants and residents of snowbound tribal areas such as Pangi, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. If an SIR is held in the State, strict verification of Form 7 objectors and the notice-and-hearing safeguard of Rule 21A will be essential to protect these voters.
ConclusionSafeguarding electoral rolls requires strong authentication, transparent audits and accountability for misuse, so that deletion processes protect – not undermine – the right to vote.
Prelims Practice
Q. Article 326 of the Constitution of India primarily deals with:
- (a)Superintendence of elections by the Election Commission
- (b)Elections to the offices of President and Vice-President
- (c)Elections to the House of the People and Legislative Assemblies on the basis of adult suffrage
- (d)Establishment of the Delimitation Commission
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (c)
Article 326 provides for universal adult suffrage (voting age 18 since the 61st Amendment, 1988). Option (a) is Article 324.
Q. Explain the constitutional and legal framework governing the preparation and revision of electoral rolls in India.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
Govt. Orders Construction Curbs, 50% Work from Home in Delhi-NCR from November 5
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has ordered a ban on dust-generating construction and demolition in Delhi-NCR from 5 to 20 November, and a cap of 50% physical attendance in offices in Delhi and five high vehicle-density NCR districts. The timing targets the peak pollution period created by Deepavali (8 November) firecrackers and stubble burning. It is a pre-emptive step, taken amid debate over whether short-term GRAP curbs can deliver lasting improvement.
Key Facts
- The ban covers dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction from 5 to 20 November, based on a CAQM scientific study of peak pollution.
- It also covers public infrastructure: highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission lines, pipelines and telecom projects.
- Exemptions: railways, metro, airports, inter-State bus terminals, hospitals, water supply and sanitation, and national security and defence projects.
- Work from home: government and private offices in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar must operate with at most 50% physical attendance; industrial establishments and essential services are exempt.
- Reasons cited: firecracker emissions around Deepavali and peak stubble burning during the paddy harvest.
- The Delhi government’s June notification already imposes seasonal winter curbs from 1 November to 31 January.
- CAQM’s Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) integrates data from 111 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), over 2,300 industries, over 3,200 construction sites and traffic hotspots.
Reactive vs Pre-emptive Curbs
| Feature | GRAP (reactive) | CAQM’s 5–20 November order (pre-emptive) |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Recorded or forecast AQI crossing a stage threshold | Fixed dates, based on a study of the usual peak period |
| Construction | Banned at Stage III (AQI 401–450) and above | Dust-generating construction and demolition banned regardless of AQI |
| Offices | Work from home advised at higher stages | Maximum 50% physical attendance in Delhi and five NCR districts |
| Limitation | Acts only after air quality worsens | Short window; does not address vehicles, industry or crop residue |
Static Dimensions
- CAQM: statutory body under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021; replaced EPCA; its directions bind the NCR States.
- GRAP: graded emergency measures by AQI (Stages I to IV); Stage III bans construction and demolition.
- Legal and constitutional links: Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Articles 21 and 48A.
- Sources of winter pollution: temperature inversion, low winds, stubble burning (Punjab, Haryana, UP), vehicles, dust and firecrackers.
- Concepts: CAAQMS, PM2.5, source apportionment and airshed management.
Analysis
- Pre-emptive approach: acting before AQI crosses severe levels departs from the purely reactive design of GRAP.
- Scope: including public projects shows seriousness, but broad exemptions limit the effect.
- Work from home: it cuts vehicle emissions and exposure, but is feasible mainly for office work, and its impact is unproven.
- Monitoring: the ICCC improves enforcement capacity and data integration.
- Livelihood cost: construction workers lose income, so support is needed.
- Limits: short bans address dust but not structural sources such as vehicles, industry and crop residue.
Challenges
- Enforcement across several States and thousands of sites.
- Loss of livelihood for daily-wage workers.
- Compliance with firecracker bans.
- Stubble burning in neighbouring States.
- Doubts over lasting impact.
Way Forward
- Compensate or support construction workers from building-workers’ welfare cess funds.
- Enforce strictly using ICCC data, with public disclosure of outcomes.
- Help farmers with alternatives for crop-residue management.
- Shift to year-round measures: public transport, clean fuels and dust control.
- Evaluate effectiveness through independent assessment.
India Implications
- Health: preventing the worst week of the year can avoid a spike in respiratory and heart emergencies.
- Policy shift: fixed-date, science-based curbs could become a model for other polluted cities with predictable winter peaks.
- Welfare link: using construction-cess funds during bans connects environmental and labour policy.
Himachal Pradesh has its own winter pollution pocket in the Baddi–Barotiwala–Nalagarh industrial belt, a non-attainment area under NCAP where valley inversion traps industrial and vehicle emissions. The State can borrow the CAQM model of a command centre linking air monitors, industries and construction sites. Its Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board could likewise support workers if dust-control curbs are imposed in hill towns.
ConclusionCAQM’s pre-emptive curbs are a stronger short-term response, but durable air quality depends on year-round, region-wide structural reforms and effective enforcement.
Prelims Practice
Q. With reference to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), consider the following statements:
- It is a statutory body established under an Act of Parliament.
- It replaced the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) for the NCR.
- Its jurisdiction is limited to the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (a)
Statement 3 is incorrect: CAQM’s jurisdiction covers the whole National Capital Region and adjoining areas of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, which is why its directions bind those States.
Q. Explain the role, composition and statutory powers of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in controlling air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
GSLV Places Next-Generation Navigation Satellite into Orbit
ISRO’s GSLV-F18 successfully launched the 2,250 kg NVS-03 navigation satellite from Sriharikota, placing it in geosynchronous transfer orbit about 18 minutes after lift-off. It is the third satellite of the next-generation NavIC series and is expected to restore a constellation weakened by atomic clock failures – after it emerged that only three NavIC satellites were able to provide positioning signals.
Key Facts
- NVS-03 has a 12-year mission life and carries an indigenous atomic clock along with procured clocks.
- It adds the L1 signal to the existing L5 and S-band signals. Coverage is over the Indian landmass and a region extending about 1,500 km beyond it.
- NavIC (IRNSS) provides Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services.
- Why the constellation weakened: repeated atomic clock failures, and NVS-02 failing to reach its intended orbit. The last working clock on IRNSS-1F stopped on 13 March 2026.
- ISRO’s 2026 launches: PSLV-C62 (EOS-N1, 12 January, failure), GSLV-F17 (EOS-05, 4 September, success) and GSLV-F18 (NVS-03) – only the third mission of the year.
Global and Regional Navigation Systems
| System | Country / bloc | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| GPS | United States | Global |
| GLONASS | Russia | Global |
| Galileo | European Union | Global |
| BeiDou | China | Global |
| NavIC (IRNSS) | India | Regional – India and about 1,500 km beyond |
| QZSS | Japan | Regional – Asia-Oceania |
First-Generation IRNSS vs NVS Series
| Feature | IRNSS-1 series | NVS series |
|---|---|---|
| Signals | L5 and S-band | L1 added to L5 and S-band |
| Atomic clocks | Imported rubidium clocks, many of which failed early | Indigenous atomic clock alongside procured clocks |
| Mission life | About 10 years | 12 years |
| Launcher | PSLV | GSLV |
Static Dimensions
- NavIC: a seven-satellite design – three in geostationary and four in inclined geosynchronous orbit. It offers a Standard Positioning Service (open) and a Restricted Service (strategic users).
- L1 signal: the frequency also used by GPS, improving compatibility with consumer devices and smartphones.
- Atomic clocks: essential for precise timing; the rubidium clocks on first-generation satellites failed prematurely.
- GSLV: a three-stage launcher with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage, for heavier geosynchronous payloads; launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
- Uses: aviation, shipping, disaster management, vehicle tracking, military precision and power-grid timing.
Analysis
- Strategic autonomy: a working NavIC reduces dependence on GPS, which can be denied or degraded in a conflict – as India experienced during Kargil (1999).
- Technical recovery: an indigenous atomic clock reduces reliance on imports and addresses the key failure point.
- Civil adoption: L1 support makes it easier for chipmakers and phone-makers to include NavIC.
- Programme concern: a failed PSLV mission and low launch cadence show capacity strain, and a single satellite does not restore full constellation capability.
Challenges
- Restoring at least four working satellites for standalone positioning.
- Clock reliability and launch cadence.
- Low commercial and device adoption.
- Competition from global systems.
Way Forward
- Launch the remaining NVS satellites on schedule.
- Make NavIC receivers standard in phones, vehicles and defence systems.
- Strengthen indigenous supply chains for clocks and components.
- Increase launch capacity with private-sector support through IN-SPACe.
India Implications
- Defence: an assured, Indian-controlled timing and positioning signal is critical for precision weapons and military communications.
- Economy: power grids, telecom networks and banking systems depend on precise timing signals.
- Space programme: the launch rebuilds confidence after a difficult year of failures and delays.
In Himachal’s deep valleys and high passes, navigation and timing signals support search and rescue for trekkers and mountaineers, disaster response during landslides and floods, and vehicle tracking on routes such as the Atal Tunnel and the Manali–Leh highway. A reliable NavIC also matters for armed forces and ITBP operations in the border districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, and for timing in the State’s hydropower-linked transmission grid.
ConclusionNVS-03 is a key step in rebuilding NavIC, but a fully functional constellation and wide device adoption are needed to deliver real navigational independence.
Prelims Practice
Q. With reference to the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), consider the following statements:
- It is India’s independent regional satellite navigation system.
- It provides Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services.
- Its primary service area covers India and a region extending about 1,500 km beyond the Indian landmass.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (d)
All three statements are correct. NavIC is a regional system (unlike global systems such as GPS) that provides PNT services over India and about 1,500 km beyond its boundary.
Q. What is NavIC? Explain its major features and significance for India’s civilian and strategic navigation requirements.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
India Made ‘Remarkable Progress’ in Reducing Poverty, Says World Bank
The World Bank’s October 2026 Poverty and Equity Brief says India has made remarkable progress in reducing monetary and non-monetary poverty over the last decade – among the fastest reductions in the world. Extreme poverty fell from 27.1% to 2.6% between 2011 and 2023. The report also flags persistent wage inequality, regional concentration of poverty and rising youth unemployment.
Key Facts
- 2011 to 2023: the share of the population below the Lower Middle-Income Country line ($4.20 a day) fell from 57.7% to 16.1%, lifting about 496 million people out of poverty.
- Extreme poverty ($3.00 a day) fell from 27.1% to 2.6%; poverty is projected to keep declining, but more gradually.
- Multidimensional poverty (World Bank measure) fell from 53.8% (2005-06) to 16.4% (2019-21) and 15.5% (2022-23).
- Inequality: median earnings of the top 10% of workers were about 13 times those of the bottom 10% in 2023.
- Geography: a contiguous belt from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal holds about 57% of India’s poor.
- Employment: rose by about 134 million between 2017 and 2023 – nearly twice the growth of the working-age population – driven largely by rural women entering paid work.
- Concerns: youth unemployment rose from 14.6% to 15.9% (Q1 FY2026 to Q1 FY2027), especially among rural young women; real earnings were broadly flat and job growth was in low-productivity activities.
- The Finance Minister credited consumption growth, rising employment (especially of women) and expanded social transfers, including food subsidies.
India’s Poverty: 2011 vs 2023 (World Bank)
| Measure | Poverty line | 2011 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) | 27.1% | 2.6% |
| Lower Middle-Income Country poverty | $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) | 57.7% | 16.1% |
| People lifted out of poverty (LMIC line) | — | About 496 million | |
How Poverty Has Been Measured in India
| Approach | Basis |
|---|---|
| Tendulkar Committee (2009) | Consumption-based poverty line; 21.9% poor in 2011-12 |
| Rangarajan Committee (2014) | Higher consumption line; 29.5% poor in 2011-12 |
| NITI Aayog National MPI | Health, education and living standards (12 indicators) |
| World Bank international lines | $3.00 (extreme) and $4.20 (LMIC) a day at 2021 PPP |
Static Dimensions
- Poverty measurement: the Tendulkar and Rangarajan committees and earlier panels; the World Bank revises its international lines with PPP updates ($3.00 a day is the 2021-PPP extreme line). NITI Aayog’s National MPI uses health, education and living standards (12 indicators).
- Surveys: NSSO Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys (2022-23, 2023-24) and the PLFS.
- Schemes: PMGKAY (free grain under the NFSA), PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala, Jal Jeevan Mission, DBT, the rural employment guarantee (MGNREGA, now VB-G RAM G) and PM-JAY.
- Constitutional and global links: Article 21 and the Directive Principles (Articles 38, 39, 41, 47); SDG 1 (no poverty) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities).
- Concepts: headcount ratio, multidimensional poverty, inequality versus poverty, and the Gini coefficient.
Analysis
- Growth and transfers: consumption growth, job gains and social transfers together explain the fall, with food subsidies protecting the poorest.
- Women’s work: rising employment of rural women added earners to households, in line with recent PLFS findings on female participation.
- Quality of jobs: flat real earnings and low-productivity employment suggest that exits from poverty may be fragile and vulnerable to shocks such as inflation and oil prices.
- Spatial concentration: the remaining poor are clustered in the Gangetic belt, so national averages hide regional deprivation.
- Youth unemployment: rising joblessness, especially among young rural women, shows a skills and job-creation gap.
- Caution: results depend on the poverty line and survey method, and consumption surveys have faced methodological debate.
Challenges
- Low-wage, low-productivity employment.
- Regional disparity and the lagging Gangetic belt.
- Rising youth unemployment.
- Inflation eroding the gains of the near-poor.
- Vulnerability of those just above the poverty line.
Way Forward
- Create productive, labour-intensive jobs in manufacturing and services, with skilling.
- Target lagging districts with investment in infrastructure, health and education.
- Strengthen social protection and extend it to gig and informal workers.
- Promote women’s workforce participation through care infrastructure.
- Keep improving the quality and transparency of poverty data.
India Implications
- From poverty to vulnerability: with extreme poverty low, policy must focus on the large group just above the line who can slip back after a shock.
- Jobs over transfers: sustaining gains needs productive employment, not only welfare transfers.
- Regional focus: targeted development of the Gangetic belt is central to ending poverty nationally.
Himachal Pradesh is among the States with the lowest multidimensional poverty, helped by high school enrolment, good health outcomes, near-universal electrification and drinking-water coverage, and steady incomes from defence and government service. Its challenges match the report’s warnings: much of women’s work is unpaid help on family farms and orchards, and educated youth unemployment is high – reflected in intense competition for government jobs and the need for private-sector employment in tourism, horticulture processing and industry.
ConclusionIndia’s fall in poverty is a major achievement, but sustaining it requires better jobs, higher productivity and attention to regional and youth-focused challenges, so that the gains become durable and inclusive.
Prelims Practice
Q. With reference to the World Bank’s poverty assessment of India, consider the following statements:
- Between 2011 and 2023, the share of the population below the Lower Middle-Income Country poverty line fell from 57.7% to 16.1%.
- Extreme poverty fell from 27.1% to 2.6% over the same period.
- The World Bank estimated that nearly 496 million people were lifted out of poverty between 2011 and 2023.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (d)
All three figures are from the World Bank’s October 2026 Poverty and Equity Brief, which uses the $4.20-a-day LMIC line and the $3.00-a-day extreme poverty line (both at 2021 PPP).
Q. Examine the major factors responsible for the significant reduction in poverty in India over the last decade.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
Can India and China Coexist Peacefully?
Former National Security Adviser and Intelligence Bureau Director M.K. Narayanan describes India–China ties as “managed coexistence” and asks whether the two can coexist peacefully in the coming decades. Every patrolling deviation is now read as a face-off, he notes, straining even managed ties. His answer is that peaceful coexistence is possible – neither side has the reason or capacity to seek direct conflict – provided India reads China correctly and avoids exaggerating the threat.
Key Facts
- The 1962 conflict is linked to Mao’s “hubris” after the Great Leap Forward, and the sense of betrayal after “Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai” left lasting mistrust. Territory lost in Ladakh and the dispute over Arunachal remain a “permanent sore”.
- Galwan (2020, 20 Indian soldiers killed) alone cannot explain the distance between the two countries.
- Border issues: poorly delineated terrain in Ladakh, and the McMahon Line’s imprecise demarcation in Arunachal.
- Rajiv Gandhi’s 1988 visit and meeting with Deng Xiaoping is called the best model of a thaw, because it allowed the border question to be discussed separately from other issues – gains that were later frittered away.
- Current initiatives increasingly resemble a zero-sum game. The Quad adds to the stalemate, since Chinese strategists see India’s role in US plans as containment.
- Narayanan’s arguments:
- India should not see China as an existential threat, though China may see India as a future challenger in some fields.
- The phrase “constructive relationship of strategic stability”, used in Xi–Trump engagement, could apply to India–China ties.
- China produces more research on India than India does on China, but arguably understands India less (an observation by The Economist).
- China’s military edge is partly a myth: the PLA, and especially its Navy, is advanced but not yet world-class; China has not moved on Taiwan; and India is “more than a match” in the high Himalayas.
- A conflict with India would set China back and derail its 2049 goal of becoming the world’s leading power.
- Neither side has an edge in the disputed high Himalayas, so inadvertent action must be avoided and clear messages sent to border forces.
- China “knows when to bend”: the 2005 agreement (Hu Jintao era) bars the use or threat of force (Article I) and protects settled populations in border areas (Article VII).
- China’s national identity is less cohesive than assumed, and understanding the Qing dynasty’s elastic boundaries is a primer for dealing with it.
India–China: Key Agreements and Events
| Year | Agreement / event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Panchsheel Agreement | Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence |
| 1962 | India–China war | Lasting mistrust; Aksai Chin under Chinese control |
| 1988 | Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to Beijing | Border question separated from wider ties |
| 1993 | Agreement on Peace and Tranquillity along the LAC | First formal recognition of the LAC |
| 1996 | Agreement on Military Confidence-Building Measures | No use of firearms near the LAC |
| 2005 | Political Parameters and Guiding Principles | No use or threat of force; protection of settled populations |
| 2012 / 2013 | WMCC / Border Defence Cooperation Agreement | Consultation and border-management mechanisms |
| 2017 / 2020 | Doklam stand-off / Galwan clash | Sharp deterioration in ties |
| 2024 | Patrolling arrangement (October) | Disengagement at remaining friction points |
Static Dimensions
- Agreements: 1993 (Peace and Tranquillity), 1996 (Confidence-Building Measures), 2005 (Political Parameters and Guiding Principles), 2012 (WMCC), 2013 (BDCA).
- Mechanisms: Special Representatives talks, WMCC and Corps Commander talks.
- Boundary lines: the McMahon Line (1914 Simla Convention); the Johnson Line and the Macartney–MacDonald Line (Aksai Chin); and the LAC (de facto, about 3,488 km).
- Key events: 1962 war, Sumdorong Chu (1986–87), Rajiv Gandhi’s 1988 visit, Doklam (2017), Galwan (2020) and the October 2024 patrolling arrangement.
- Concepts: managed coexistence, security dilemma, strategic stability, hedging, and zero-sum versus positive-sum diplomacy.
Analysis
- Threat inflation versus realism: the author argues India should calibrate its response to China’s actual capability and intent, not to worst-case narratives.
- Mutual deterrence: the high cost of war for both reduces the likelihood of deliberate conflict, so the main risk is accident or miscalculation.
- Process over breakthrough: separating the border from the wider relationship, as in 1988, creates space for cooperation.
- Third-party effect: the Quad and US–China dynamics shape China’s attitude and limit bilateral progress.
- Counterpoints: the piece downplays China’s border-infrastructure build-up, the record trade deficit and economic dependence, and the continuing face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh. It should be weighed as one strategic view, not a settled assessment.
Challenges
- Deep mistrust after 1962 and Galwan.
- An undefined LAC and patrolling friction.
- Asymmetry in economic and military capacity.
- Rivalry over the neighbourhood and the Indo-Pacific.
- Misperception of each other’s intentions.
Way Forward
- Keep all military and diplomatic channels active, and train border forces to avoid inadvertent clashes.
- Revive the 1988 approach: discuss the border separately while expanding other cooperation.
- Clarify the LAC and build confidence measures.
- Invest in “China literacy” – research, language and area expertise.
- Pursue strategic autonomy, balancing Quad participation with direct dialogue.
India Implications
- Border stability: crisis-management channels and clear rules of engagement reduce the risk of an accidental escalation.
- Strategic autonomy: managing China directly, rather than only through alliances, keeps India’s options open.
- Capacity-building: deeper expertise on China improves policy across defence, trade and diplomacy.
Himachal Pradesh shares about 240 km of border with Tibet in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, and Shipki La was a historic trade pass whose revival depends on the state of India–China ties. The State is also home to the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala-McLeodganj – a sensitive issue in Beijing’s perception of India, especially on the question of succession. Calm borders would help the State’s border villages, tourism and trade.
ConclusionPeaceful coexistence is feasible because neither side gains from war. It needs a sober reading of China, disciplined border management and sustained dialogue – without complacency on security.
Q. “Misunderstanding the strategic intentions and capabilities of a neighbouring country can lead to unnecessary geopolitical tensions.” Discuss this statement in the context of India–China relations.
(15 Marks, 250 Words)
