Month: October 2023

Dedicated Freight Corridors: Opening the Gateways of Economic & Industrial Development through Railways in Amrit Kaal.

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As per NITI Ayog, India is presently transporting 4.6 billion tonnes of freight annually, generating transport demand of 2.2 trillion tonne-km at the cost of Rs 9.5 lakh crore. India’s total freight movement predominantly relied on railways, with approximately 40% of the country’s total freight transported by rail.

Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) for India – 2030. The Plan is to create a ‘future ready’ Railway system by 2030. The objective of the Plan is to create capacity ahead of demand, which in turn would also cater to future growth in demand right up to 2050 and also increase the modal share of Railways to 45% in freight traffic and to continue to sustain it.

Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) is a high speed and high capacity railway corridor that is exclusively meant for the transportation of freight or in other words goods and commodities. DFC involves the seamless integration of better infrastructure and state of the art technology.

Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) – 1337 Kms, stretches from Sahnewal (Ludhiana) in Punjab to Dankuni in West Bengal and covers the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The majority of EDFC is being funded by the World Bank.

The entire 1337-kilometre EDFC is now declared operational, marking a significant step in India’s infrastructure development. The first commercial service on this route is scheduled to commence on November 1 2023. This achievement is crucial in enhancing the efficiency of freight transportation across the country.

Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) – 1506 Kms, Stretches from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai and covers the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The Japan International Cooperation Agency is the major funding authority for WDFC.

Around 1280+ kilometres of the total 1,506-kilometre-long WDFC, connecting the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT) in Mumbai to Dadri is completed as of now. The trial run is also done on one of its sections which is likely to be operational by the end of this fiscal year.

DFCCIL will run freight train at the maximum speed of 100 km/per hour as against the current maximum speed of 75 kmph on Indian Railway tracks whereas the average speed of freight trains will also be increased from existing speed of 26 kmph on Indian Railways lines to 70 kmph on Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC). The DFC project is strategically aligned with the National Rail Plan, which sets a bold objective: to increase the railway’s modal share in India from the existing 28 per cent to an impressive 44 per cent by the year 2051.

Each kilometre-long freight train on the EDFC will replace some 72 trucks on average. This will ease congestion on India’s overcrowded roads and highways, which carry an overwhelming 60 per cent of the country’s freight, and make the roads safer, as per a World Bank report. The DFC once constructed will decongest the railways’ network by moving 70 per cent of goods trains to these two corridors. The new electrified freight-only railway lines will allow trains to haul higher loads faster, cheaper, and more reliably than before, enabling the railways to make a quantum leap in their operational performance.

The main objectives of DFC are:

  • Decongest the existing Indian Railway network.

  • Increase the average speed of goods trains from existing 25 to 70 kmph.

  • Run Heavy Haul trains (higher axle load of 25/32.5 Tonne) & overall load of 13,000 Tonne.

  • Facilitate the running of longer (1.5km) and double stack container trains.

  • Connect the existing ports and industrial areas for faster movement of goods.

  • Energy efficient and environment friendly rail transport system as per global standards.

  • Increase the rail share from existing 30% to 45%.

  • Reduce the logistic cost of transportation

Innovations and State-of-the-art Technology in DFC:

  • Heavy and long Haul train operation of 25 Axle ton with provision of 32.5 Ton axle load for the First time in India.

  • Double stack containers in Western DFC

  • Double line electric (2 X 25 KV) track to undertake higher haulage at higher speeds

  • Automated New Track Construction (NTC) machine which can lay track at the speed of 1.5 km per day.

  • Automated Wiring train for Overhead Equipment Work (OHE) capable of wiring upto 3 km per shift.

  • Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) for safe and efficient operation

  • Elimination of road level crossing

  • Developing Multi Modal Logistic Hubs and integration with Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor & Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial corridor.

These corridors are expected to boost industrial activities and facilitate the development of new industrial hubs and townships. The logistic sector will also benefit from the development of New Freight terminals, Multimodal Logistic Parks and Inland Container Depots creating direct and indirect employment in the project-influence areas. This project will not only benefit India but also has the potential to serve as a model for other nations looking to enhance their freight transportation systems with sustainability at the forefront. Aiming to reduce logistics costs from the current 15 percent of GDP to a more sustainable 8 per cent by 2030, it will realise Indian Railway’s ambitious objective of achieving a freight loading capacity of 3,000 MT by 2030.

New India’s Highways: Pavement to Prosperity and Its Impact on the Upcoming Lok Sabha Elections

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India’s vast network of highways has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with ambitious infrastructure projects aimed at connecting even the remotest parts of the country. This transformation has been dubbed “New India’s Highways: Pavement to Prosperity,” and it has far-reaching implications for the nation’s economic development, social progress, and political landscape, especially as the Lok Sabha elections draw near.

The Highway Renaissance: India’s road network has historically faced challenges, such as inadequate maintenance, outdated technology, and underinvestment. However, in the past few years, the government has embarked on an ambitious mission to change this narrative. The “Bharatmala Pariyojana” and the “Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana” are the most prominent initiatives under this broader vision.

1. Infrastructure Development: Under “Bharatmala Pariyojana,” the government aims to construct and upgrade over 83,000 kilometres of roads by 2022, making it one of the largest highway development programs in the world. This endeavour has led to improved road connectivity across states and the creation of expressways that facilitate faster movement of goods and people. The development of economic corridors has boosted trade and industrial growth, contributing to India’s economic prosperity.

2. Rural Connectivity: The “Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana” focuses on connecting rural areas to the main road network, ensuring accessibility to healthcare, education, and markets. This has reduced isolation in rural regions and improved the quality of life for millions.

Economic Impact: The investment in highways has been instrumental in accelerating India’s economic growth. Improved road connectivity has reduced transportation costs, boosted trade, and attracted investments. Industries like logistics, manufacturing, and agriculture have benefitted significantly. This economic progress has not only created job opportunities but also contributed to the reduction of poverty.

Social Impact

  1. Education: Better road connectivity has made it easier for children in remote areas to access schools, thereby increasing literacy rates.
  2. Healthcare: Patients can now access medical facilities more easily, reducing mortality rates in rural areas.
  3. Women’s Empowerment: Improved connectivity has empowered women by providing opportunities for employment, education, and access to healthcare, which is essential in the context of upcoming elections.

Political Landscape and Upcoming Lok Sabha Elections: The “Pavement to Prosperity” initiative is likely to have a significant impact on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in several ways:

  1. Development as a Campaign Issue: Political parties are likely to highlight their contributions to this infrastructure development during their campaigns. Promises of further expansion and connectivity could become key campaign strategies, especially in constituencies where the impact of these highways has been significant.
  2. Economic Growth and Employment: Candidates can use the economic growth attributed to highway development as a selling point, promising voters more jobs and better opportunities.
  3. Rural Development: Improved rural connectivity may resonate with voters in rural constituencies. Candidates might focus on how these highways have brought rural development and promise more investment.
  4. Women’s Empowerment: Empowerment of women through improved accessibility to education and employment opportunities can be a powerful campaign theme. All and all, “New India’s Highways: Pavement to Prosperity” represents a significant transformation in India’s infrastructure landscape. Its positive impact on the economy, society, and politics cannot be overstated. As the Lok Sabha elections approach, it is clear that these highways will play a pivotal role in shaping the campaign strategies and influencing voter sentiment. Candidates and parties who can effectively communicate their contributions and future plans for highway development are likely to have an advantage at the polls. Ultimately, these highways are not just roads; they are the pathways to a better, more connected, and prosperous India.

My Bharat: A Decade of Youth Empowerment in the Amritkaal Era

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The last decade has witnessed remarkable progress in empowering the youth of Bharat for the Amritkaal era, a time of prosperity and growth. The government has implemented various steps and policies aimed at empowering the youth and creating job opportunities. Let’s delve into ten significant measures taken by the government to empower the youth and the resulting job creation.

Mera Yuva Bharat – The My Bharat platform launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on National Unity Day 2023 resembles the vision of ‘Shashakt Yuva, Samarth Bharat’ for Viksit Bharat in 2047. It envisions increased youth development and youth’s engagement in democracy by community interaction, mentoring programs, etc. it is one of its kind ‘Phygital Platform’ (physical + digital) comprising physical activity along with an opportunity to connect digitally. It will enable the youth to play a vital role in nation building during amrit kaal, bring the youth from diverse background on a single platform to consolidate the ‘Yuva Shakti’ and engage the youth with accessible and tech-friendly platform. It will create a youth ecosystem that will create youth leadership for the society in Amrit Kaal for a Viksit Bharat.

1. Skill Development Initiatives

The government of Bharat has prioritised skill development to enhance the employability of the youth. Initiatives such as Skill India MissionThe Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship has received a total budget of Rs 3,517.31 crore — up from last year’s Rs 2,999 crore.Of the total Rs 3,517.31 crore, the majority — Rs 2,278.37 crore — has been allocated to the Skill India program. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) have been instrumental in providing skill training to millions of young individuals, making them job-ready and bridging the skill gap.

2. Entrepreneurship Promotion

To encourage youth entrepreneurship, the government launched the Start-up India In the Budget 2022-23, the government allocated Rs 283.5 crore for the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, which was higher than the Revised Estimates of about Rs 100 crore in the previous budget. It provides various incentives, tax benefits, and funding opportunities to aspiring entrepreneurs. Additionally, the Stand-Up India scheme focuses on empowering women and individuals from marginalised communities to start their own businesses, fostering a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

3. Digital Transformation

The Digital India : The government has approved an extension of the Digital India project, valued at over Rs 14,900 crore, spanning five years from 2021-2022 onwards. This continuation builds upon the groundwork laid by the preceding iteration of the initiative. As part of this programme, approximately 5.25 lakh information and technology (IT) professionals are slated for reskilling and up-skilling, while another 2.65 lakh individuals will undergo IT training within the country.Campaign has played a pivotal role in transforming Bharat into a digitally empowered society. This initiative has not only provided access to digital technologies but has also created employment opportunities in the IT sector, digital services, and e-governance. The rapid growth of digital infrastructure has opened new avenues for the youth to explore and excel in the digital economy.

4. Make in India

Launched with the aim of transforming Bharat into a global manufacturing hub, the Make in India campaign has generated numerous job opportunities. By attracting foreign investment and promoting domestic industries, this initiative has bolstered the manufacturing sector and created employment prospects for the youth.

5. Infrastructure Development

The government’s focus on infrastructure development has created a ripple effect of job creation. Initiatives such as the construction of roads, railways, airports, and smart cities have not only improved connectivity and quality of life but also generated employment opportunities in the construction and allied sectors.The Modi government has spent Rs 91 lakh crore on social sector programmes and infrastructure development over the last eight years, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted citing a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report.

6. Financial Inclusion

Policies promoting financial inclusion, such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, More than 500 million Indians have opened accounts under the government’s flagship financial inclusion scheme – the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) – since its inception nine years ago, accounting for Rs 2.03 lakh crore in deposits till August 18, 2023.have been instrumental in providing banking services to the unbanked population. This has enabled the youth to access financial services, avail loans, and participate in economic activities, thereby empowering them to become financially independent.

7. Education Reforms

The government has implemented several education reforms to enhance the quality of education and equip the youth with relevant skills. Initiatives like the National Education Policy (NEP) focus on holistic development, vocational training, and digital literacy, ensuring that the youth are well-prepared for the job market and future challenges.

Some significant achievements made after the announcement of NEP 2020 for the past 3 years is as under:-

i. PM SHRI for upgradation of schools, Under PM SHRI, Rs. 630 Crore were released as first instalment to selected 6207 schools, out of more than 14500 PM SHRI Schools; with total cost of Rs. 27360 crore spread over a period of 5 years with central share of Rs. 18128 crore.

ii. National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) for ensuring foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 3;

iii. Vidya-Pravesh–Guidelines for Three-month Play-based School Preparation Module;

iv. PM e-VIDYA to unify all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education:

v. DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) as One Nation One Digital Platform having e-Books and e-Contents,

vi. Launch of National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF FS) and Jadui Pitara for play-based learning teaching material tailored for children between the age group of 3 to 8 years;

vii. NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement) 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 Integrated Teacher Training Programme for different stages of school education for Teachers, Head Teachers/Principals and other stakeholders in Educational Management;

viii. National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR) for creating a unifying national digital infrastructure to energise and catalyse the education ecosystem;

ix. Implementation of a scheme “New India Literacy Programme or ULLAS” targeting all non-literates age 15 years and above.

x. National Credit Framework (NCrF) and National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF);

xi. Academic Bank of Credit to facilitate Transfer of Credits;

xii. Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programme;

xiii. Multiple Entry and Exit in Academic Programme offered by Higher Education Institution;

xiv. Transforming Higher Education Institutions into multi-disciplinary Institutions;

xv. Pursuing two Academic Programme simultaneously;

xvi. Revised regulation of ODL / Online Education permitting upto 40% credits of courses using SWAYAM platform;

xvii. Guidelines on Professor of Practice to enable HEIs to work with industry experts;

xviii. Regulations on Academic Collaboration between Indian & foreign HEIs;

xix. Regulations on conferment of Autonomous Status to colleges;

xx. Guidelines for admission & supernumerary seats for students from abroad in UG & PG in Indian HEIs;

xxi. Regulations on Minimum Standards and procedures for award of Ph.D. degree.

xxii. Guidelines for Incorporating Indian Knowledge in Higher Education Curricula;

xxiii. Guidelines for Training/Orientation of Faculty on Indian Knowledge System (IKS);

xxiv. Guidelines for the introduction of courses based on Indian heritage and culture;

xxv. Guidelines for Empanelment of Artists/Artisans–in–Residence in Higher Educational Institutions;

xxvi. 32 IKS centres have been set up to catalyse original research, education and dissemination of IKS; 64 high end inter-disciplinary research like ancient metallurgy, ancient town planning and water resource management, ancient rasayanshastra etc. projects are undergoing. Around 3227 internships on IKS have been offered.

The information was given by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Subhas Sarkar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on dated : August 07,2023

8. Start-up and Innovation Support

Apart from Start-up India, the government has launched various schemes and incubation centres to nurture innovation and support start-ups. These initiatives provide mentorship, funding opportunities, and a conducive environment for young entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into successful ventures, fostering a culture of innovation and job creation.

9. Rural Development Programs

To empower the youth in rural areas, the government has implemented programs like the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). These initiatives provide employment opportunities and skill training in rural areas, reducing migration and creating sustainable livelihoods for the youth in their own communities.

10. Industry-Academia Collaboration

Efforts to strengthen the collaboration between industries and academia have been instrumental in bridging the skill gap and enhancing employability. The government has encouraged partnerships between educational institutions and industries to align curriculum with industry requirements, provide internships, and facilitate knowledge exchange, ensuring that the youth are industry-ready.

These ten steps and policies implemented by the government of Bharat have not only empowered the youth but also resulted in significant job creation, fostering a favourable environment for economic growth and prosperity. As the nation moves forward in the Amritkaal era, it is crucial to sustain and build upon these efforts to continue empowering the youth and unlocking their potential for a brighter future

India is aggressively pushing for a semiconductor industry in India. India has several advantages that make it a promising destination for semiconductor innovation and production, such as:

A vast and burgeoning market potential, with a projected domestic semiconductor consumption expected to cross $ 80 billion by 20261.

A strong talent pool and design engineering prowess, which can propel semiconductor developments and encourage domestic chip design skills2.

A supportive government policy framework, which provides incentives, tax exemptions, and relaxed regulations for semiconductor manufacturing3.

India also has some recent achievements in the semiconductor industry, such as:

The announcement of the construction of India’s first semiconductor fabrication plant by the Israel-based International Semiconductor Consortium in February 20232.

The investment by Vedanta and FoxConn in building semiconductor and display production plants in the state of Gujarat, with a total value of $ 19.5 billion2.

These developments reflect India’s increasing focus on domestic semiconductor manufacturing and its ambition to establish a strong presence in the global semiconductor supply chains.

Conclusion :

In conclusion, the past decade has been a transformative period for youth empowerment in Bharat, as the nation strides confidently into the Amritkaal era of prosperity and growth. The government’s multifaceted approach to empowering the youth has not only bridged skill gaps and fostered entrepreneurship but has also created a substantial number of job opportunities across various sectors. From skill development initiatives to rural employment programs, and from digital transformation to industry-academia collaboration, these ten significant measures have laid the foundation for a brighter future.

Furthermore, India’s ambitious foray into the semiconductor industry signifies its unwavering commitment to innovation and self-reliance. With a burgeoning market, a skilled talent pool, and strong government support, India is poised to make significant strides in semiconductor manufacturing, further contributing to the nation’s economic growth and technological advancement.

As Bharat continues its journey into the Amritkaal era, it is imperative to sustain and build upon these efforts. Nurturing the youth, promoting innovation, and strengthening industry-academia collaboration will be key to unlocking the full potential of India’s youth, ensuring a prosperous and promising future for the nation on the global stage. India’s path to empowerment and self-sufficiency is firmly set, and the journey ahead is one of boundless possibilities and opportunities.

MADE IN INDIA SECURITY EQUIPMENT: STRENGTHENING OUR RAKSHASHAKTI IN AMRIT KAAL

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India has the third largest military in the world and consequently it is also one of the largest defence spenders in the world. As India is growing its global stature in almost all the major sectors of development, it cannot afford to be behind in building its own defence industrial complex. The path of becoming “Atmanirbhar (self-reliant), shown by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, specifically in the defence sector is a ground laying act of establishing the foundation of a self-reliant defence industrial base in India.

India’s journey towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing, despite being sluggish and apprehensive of its fructification, has gained a significant momentum through a series of pro-active policy initiatives by the government. These far-sighted initiatives, would encompass a range of manufacturing related supply line activities, right from designing, development, scaling the production, resource optimisation, testing and review to induction. This enables it to foster a thriving defence manufacturing ecosystem that caters to the needs of our defence forces.

Self-Reliance: Its Significance

Indigenisation as a capability of developing and producing any defence equipment within the country to achieve self-reliance and reduce the burden of imports is a strategic and economic imperative for the country. A country like India with its immense potential and strategic location requires to be self-reliant, not just to boast of its fire power strength, but also to create an enabling atmosphere of safety amongst its citizenry and other socio-economic benefits that accompany it. Hence it is important to pursue the idea of indigenisation for:

Self-defence: The presence of hostile neighbours like China and Pakistan makes it improbable for India to boost its self-defence and preparedness. The instance of Kargil War where US, denied us the GPS location to identify our enemy, would be a right cause to be self-dependant.

Strategic advantage: Self-reliance will make India’s geopolitical stance strategically stronger as a net security provider. Also making our own systems and customising it according to our own conditions and threat perceptions, would give us a tactical edge over enemy, coupled with a surprise element.

Technological advancement: Advancement in the defence technology sector will automatically boost other industries, hence catapulting the economy further. Technological prowess and its ability to integrate into defence sector, is where the future of war lies. Examples like suicide drones, humanoid army, cyber warfare and information warfare would completely change the battlefield on the side who hons it.

Economic drain: India spends around 3% of GDP on defence and 60% of that is spent on imports. This leads to an immense economic drain on our forex reserves. If most of these equipment’s procured from our domestic manufacturers, it would save a lot of our reserves.

Employment: Defence manufacturing will need the support of numerous other industries which generate employment opportunities. High skilled human resource capabilities can be enhanced here, to support the high-tech equipment’s.

Policy Initiatives: Facilitating defence indigenisation

Before initiating a change, it is essential to create a conducive atmosphere, not just for the ease of doing business for the defence industries, but also to bring in fast, effective desired outcomes. The following are the proactive policy initiatives that have enabled the idea of Make in India in strengthening our Raksha shakti (Defence Power):

Technology Development Fund

Raksha Mantralay, has allotted a niche funding mechanism, specifically for the high-end State of the Art, defence capacity building in the Research and Development (R&D) vertical of the Defence Budget. Allocation of the funds from the technology development fund, would be made to defence manufacturing related organisations, like DRDO, HAL and also defence related MSME’s and Start Ups based on the specific needs of the organisations and also the demand from the operational perspective of the defence forces.

iDEX

Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) is a defence event, which aims to achieve self-reliance, enable and promote innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace. It provides a platform for the manufacturers, especially the private players, Start Ups, MSMEs to showcase their product and services to the defence personnels and helps them engage with them directly.

Project Udbhav

The recently launched Project Udbhav is an initiative by the Indian Army to rediscover the profound Indic heritage in strategic thinking, warfare, diplomacy and statecraft and synthesis with contemporary military practices.

Hardware and Equipment Manufacturing: In Action 

Traditionally India has been one of the major defence importing countries in the world. Military hardware was one of the major items that were imported. This let us at the mercy of the major global players and their geo-political interests. To exclude ourselves from the clutches of the hegemons, indigenisation and self-manufacturing was not just our need, but also our necessity to be one of the major powers in the world. We have done exceptionally well, when we look at our progress card below.

ArmyAir ForceNavy
Arjun TankHAL TejasIAC Vikrant
Akash missileNETRA radarProject 15B
PinakaASTRA missileProject 75
NAG ATMHAL DhruvNuclear powered submarine
Dhanush HowitzerMCASurveillance based Weapons Delivery Systems
Agni missilesSAR RadarUnmanned Underwater Vehicles

Apart from these indigenisation efforts, by the government there are many such initiatives where the armed forces can choose and buy equipment’s and systems according to their threat-based requirement and their operational needs.

A Futuristic Headway

India has a sizable defence budget, which can be concentrated on developing its defence technology, particularly in the areas of civil–military fusion and dual-use technologies to achieve civil–military integration in areas like aviation technologies. Further, funds must be allocated for research and development, and the private companies that have just entered the defence business require additional industrial support.

Setting realistic timelines for the import bans to achieve successful indigenisation, along with making provisions for more testing facilities, financial assistance to the startup industry and access to technology, may streamline India’s path towards self-reliance in the defence sector. Additionally, it is prudent for India to identify any technological gaps to engage in joint ventures and other forms of foreign cooperation that might lead to the sharing and creation of Intellectual Property (IP), which can hasten the process of indigenisation. It being a long journey we need to keep working on it with consistency and sustained efforts of excellence. Thus, making India truly a Atmanirbhar nation in the defence sector, portrays a very hopeful future.

PM SHRI: Way Forward to Futuristic Education in Amrit Kaal

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Since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has guided India’s hopes to become a wealthy country as we have entered the vibrant period of India’s amrit kaal, or “The Era of Elixir.” According to evidence, significant markers of a nation’s overall growth and prosperity include socio-economic factors including access to healthcare, high-quality education, technology, skill development, entrepreneurship, and gender equality. Our government has supplied the broad term “inclusive growth” in line with our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 8 (Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth).

Technological Integration

PM Narendra Modi added “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan” on the day of India’s independence. ‘Amrit Kal’ emphasized the importance of technological innovation. India will change because to innovation and inventiveness. The goal of the policy makers is to eliminate the divide between individuals who can and cannot use developing technology. India is advancing in the sphere of education daily, not just by building new facilities but also by putting Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the greatest possible use. Indian medical professionals and researchers are always looking for new, sustainable, and cost-effective medical services and technology.

Eco-conscious Learning

India’s main goal in the next 25 years is to achieve “atma nirbharta,” or independence. We currently have the youngest in the world, who can fuel these dreams. These duties will soon fall to the 26 crore students enrolled in schools today. Making sure students have the necessary tools to succeed in the modern, 21st-century system is crucial. With this determination, India’s National Education strategy (NEP), the country’s third education strategy in 34 years, was introduced in 2020 with the overarching goal of raising education spending to 6% of GDP.

The innovative NEP 2020 approaches the delivery of education with a focus on quality. The program offers a number of ground-breaking reforms, including formalizing early childhood education, promoting multilingualism, avoiding strict stream distinctions, utilizing technology to facilitate learning and skill development, and others. The initiatives to enhance educational quality, such as competency-based assessments, play- and activity-based learning, and an emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), are what really distinguish it. FLN has been given top priority in the policy, as FLN skills consist of critical gateway skills which will enable higher order learning and understanding. The policy estimates that over 5 crore children in India do not have FLN skills, and to solve for the same, the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) Bharat Mission was launched in July 2021 at a cost of ₹13,000 crore, with the objective of ensuring universal acquisition of FLN skills among all grade 3 children in India by 2027.

The importance of upskilling youngsters to improve their employability has been emphasized even beyond the basic level of schooling. Since their separate launches in 2015 and 2018, the Skill India Mission and Kaushal Vikas Yojana have been instrumental in realizing this aim of connecting children’s education and practical real-world skills in India. Through these programs, over 2.9 crore individuals have received training in practical, relevant skills for successful work so far.

In order to become a center of innovation and prosperity, we have made considerable progress through programs like Start-Up India, which was introduced in 2016. Indian start-ups raised a record 35 billion dollars in 2021–2022 and another 24 billion dollars in 2022–2023; as a result, India now boasts the second-largest entrepreneurial ecosystem in the world. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi correctly stated, our work in skill development has set a strong foundation for our future generations to lead the globe in “job creation.”

India is making progress toward becoming a global superpower, and the PM’s leadership has been essential. The accomplishments in crucial fields that are supported by data show that we are ready to take on a significant global role. According to the United Nations Development Programme, through her welfare policies, India managed to uplift over 41.5 crore Indians out of multidimensional poverty in the last 15 years (UNDP, 2023), which is a commendable achievement.

However, the general sentiment is that such achievements are only the tip of the iceberg, and only a small showcase of the actual potential of Indians. As we enter the “azaadi ka amrit kaal,” these accomplishments serve as building blocks to pave the way for a resilient, empowered, and influential India.

Sustainable and Inclusive Development

India has emerged as a major economic force in the world and has played a leading role in the battle against climate change during the past ten years. Which may be credited with starting when our Prime Minister said that India will attain “net zero” carbon emissions by 2070 at the COP26 meeting. The introduction of “Mission LiFE”—Living for the climate—pushed all Indians to take action and move toward an ecologically aware lifestyle, creating a favorable climate for India to develop sustainably in the future.

The New India movement also advocates gender equality. The leaders of the nation are promoting equal participation and representation of women at all workplaces by providing them fair and equal opportunities and ensuring their upliftment through various schemes and programs such as ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’.

The emphasis has moved to investing in education and other child welfare programs that guarantee access to basic education in order to convert India’s enormous population into its largest asset. Young people in New India are given the freedom to express themselves, pursue their interests, and perform to the best of their abilities.

India’s emergence in the global councils

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This year, India was invited to the G7outreach summit, by its Chair Japan. This wasn’t its first time, as it has previously been invited when France was the G7 host in 2019, by the US, though it was cancelled because of COVID-19 in 2020, by the UK in 2021 and when Germany was the host in 2022. It’s interesting to link how many G-7 countries which now deem India indispensable in their strategic calculi also once were the colonial masters. It is a fact that if G-7 is to remain functionally relevant, holistic and mindful of Jaishankar’s viral dictum “Europe has to grow out of the mind-set that Europe’s problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problems”, then it can’tside-line India’s opinion. This development is consonant with the rising profile of India as a key emerging global power housing 1/6th of humanity. This article shall closely follow up with India’s portfolio across regional and global councils.

Categorically it is only wise to first trace India’s G-20 feat first. Via its presidential opportunity, India is forging partnerships for global good. From December 2021 to November 2025, the tetrad of Indonesia, India, Brazil, and South Africa have already/will be taking the presidential position at G-20. This has infused prevalence of global south sentiments to India’s presidency, which it has tried to leverage to push for its constant demands of ‘NORMS’, accessible, affordable and equitable finance access for just energy transitions, and multi-polarity. India’s human-centric approach is aiming to attain consensus on all growth and development related issues, enhancing its credibility by bringing real issues to the forum.

The above chart reflects four broad engagement areas. Magnifying to read between the lines shows that LiFE, women led development, digital public infrastructure, harnessing tech-ability in health sector, education and agriculture, culture and tourism, circular economy, global food and energy security, disaster risk reduction, infrastructure resilience, multilateral reforms, a secure economic atmosphere and development cooperation to hasten these are the topical high on agenda items. These issues must not be foregone if the SDGs 1,2,3,4,7,9,13 are to be achieved in time (Covid has already undone much progress).

While India will be followed by the Brazilian and South African presidency, the three are part of yet another grouping called IBSA. IBSA is a hassle-free forum for India as it has scope for consensus on common issues, unlike other fora where China keenly counters Indian efforts. India coordinating between IBSA and G-20 presidencies of the three countries can propose coherent efforts to attain ‘promising deliverables’ for global south which is also 85% of human population. If the European Union with its population of less than 450 Million can be a G20 member, why can’t the African Union with 1.3 Billion plus population be too? India’s strong advocacy for the same is a principled position.

India plays by strategic autonomy and stands for multilateral actions as opposed to the unilateral ones. India’s membership of umpteen functionalist as well as geo-strategic councils at regional and global level is thus a logical outcome. We’ll take up more councils for elaboration.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is currently the world’s largest regional organization spanning 60% of Eurasia and 1/4th of global economy. India assumed its rotating presidency in September 2022 (the first time for it to be headed by a south Asian country). If SCO gives India strategic maneuverability vis a vis a belligerent China, India imparts democratic credentials to SCO as it otherwise would be a council of authoritarians. SCO’s membership is a part of India’s bigger plan of re-invigorating its ties with central Asian countries towards which it has always had a constructivist approach. The lack of direct geographical contact, impediments by Pakistan and the scope of regional connectivity enhancement have shaped India’s approach towards SCO. In the 2018 summit, PM Modi proposed ‘SECURE’ which summarizes the Indian approach. It stands for ‘security for citizens’, ‘economic development for all’, ‘connecting the region’, ‘uniting the people’, ‘respect for sovereignty and integrity’, and ‘environmental protection’. India at the 2019 Bishkek summit also called for an ‘Afghan-led, Afghan owned and aAghan controlled peace process’ which since has inspired Afghan peace talks. The three key areas encompassing economy, culture and security are its focus points. India has also mooted for ‘innovations and startups’ since 2020. It advocates for consultative and transparent aid measures including for infrastructure development, as opposed to China’s BRI that materializes its debt diplomacy. New Delhi in 2020 extended a 1 billion $ L.O.C to CARS for infra projects (like Tajikistan’s Dushanbe-Chortut highway).Moreover, India at SCO has garnered support for draft UN’s CCIT convention which will be crucial to foster security in the currently radicalized AfPak region (referred as the cradle of terrorism, extremism and separatism). India has also protested to make RATS (regional anti-terrorist structure) linguistically inclusive which currently doesn’t include English as a working language. This impedes effective and agile regional coordination in anti-terror intelligence sharing. India’s presence is thus important for a balanced SCO which otherwise would further China’s expansionism.

Another futuristic forum is of BRICS economies which India considers a platform for coordination, consultation and cooperation on ongoing issues. The over-stretching by hegemons and rising economic heft of these emerging countries has brought BRICS back to strategic discussions. The notable Indian contribution is the proposal of NDB at 4th BRICS summit, an‘urbanization forum’ to tackle urbanization induced challenges, and other key recommendations to increase intra-BRICS cooperation. India recorded over 100 billion US $ in intra-BRICS trade in 2022 and is committed to use BRICS for facilitating‘a polycentric world and civilizational diversity’. India during its presidency in 2016 tried to bring people to the center of BRICS agenda (Ex: Under its leadership the BRICS Agricultural Research platform was established). BRICS, with an expanded membership will only continue to get more relevant.

SAARC is a South Asia focused regional organization which has been facing an existential crisis for geopolitical reasons. However, India tried to make it functional when in 2020 it pledged 10 million $ towards a Covid-19 emergency fund for SAARC nations. A grouping like BIMSTECcan’t be its replacement for it lacks ‘common identity and history’ that binds the SAARC countries. Still, BIMSTEC is important to check Indo-Pacific encroachments by China and, India has leveraged this forum for developing its North-East via connectivity projects as four BIMSTEC countries border India’s north-east.

India in 2022 celebrated 30 years of dialogue relations with ASEANand has financially assisted the ASEAN countries via ‘ASEAN-INDIA cooperation fund’ and ‘ASEAN-INDIA green fund’, 110 billion $ being the trade value. It has emerged as a credible strategic partner, benefitting both sides economically and reinvigorating their age-old people-people ties.

India speaks the language of international law and mutual respect when speaking for a country whose sovereign rights are violated.

Moving on, strategically it is believed that QUAD is an anti-china forum, whereas India always tries to show that the platform isn’t directed against any nation. India has inspired QUAD’s normative framework, making multilateralism and mutual cooperation as its lynchpin. It has diversified the agenda basket. QUAD now discusses security, trade, health, infrastructure and climate change.

Over years India has invested extensive diplomatic capital to make its voice and that of others’ like itself, heard. This has given credibility to the Indian opinion. Its emergence in various councils will sing a saga of world bonhomie and human centric world order. India must continue to add relevance by bringing real problems to the high table. Its role at theUN as a leader of global south is well-acknowledged. Its advocacy for alternative institutions of world finance and calls to reform current ones is now a reality. By promoting and abiding by the ideals of Samman, Sambvad, Sahyog, shanti and Samriddhi, India is well poised to emerge as a key global partner and power, projecting its ‘action-oriented’ approach via regional and global councils.

Abbreviations:

G 7- Group of Seven

G 20- Group of Twenty

NORMS- New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism

LiFE- Lifestyle for Environment

IBSA forum- “India-Brazil-South Africa”

BRI- Belt & Road Initiative

L.O.C- Line of Credit

CARS- Central Asian Republics

CCIT- Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism

BRICS grouping- Brazil, Russia, India, china, South Africa

NDB- New Development Bank

SAARC- South Asian Association for Regional cooperation

BIMSTEC- Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation

ASEAN- Association of South East Asian Nations

QUAD- Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (with India, US, Japan and Australia as members)

UN- United Nations

Mission LiFE: A Torch Bearing vision for sustainable living in Amrit Kaal

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For centuries, Bharat and Bhartiyas have been the proprietors of pro environment based lifestyle. This has been seen and proven time and again both in our scriptures and in our day to day actions. Be it in our scriptures, celebration of festivals or in terms of our daily living. From worshipping the Five natural elements ( Panchtatvas) , Worshiping the Sun and Moon, The Bhartiya was have been the Eco Friendly Way.

On 5th June 2022, On World Environment Day, Our Beloved Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji launched MISSION LiFE ( Lifestyle For the Environment) to further Bharat’s vision of Eco Friendly lifestyle to the entire world.

It is an excellent way to connect the power of the people in a way to serve the greater good of improving the environment around us and for the protection of this planet. It very uniquely combines the democratic powers of the people with the mission to create a healthy environment for our upcoming generations and everyone can willingly contribute according to their individual capacity

The Major Objectives of Mission LiFE includes :-

• Mission LiFE seeks to translate the vision of LiFE into measurable impact.

• Mission LiFE is designed with the objective to mobilise at least one billion Indians and other global citizens to take individual and collective action for protecting and preserving the environment in the period 2022 to 2027.

• Within India, at least 80% of all villages and urban local bodies are aimed to become environment-friendly by 2028.

• It aims to nudge individuals and communities to practise a lifestyle that is synchronous with nature and does not harm it. Those who practice such a lifestyle are recognised as ‘Pro Planet People’.

While Bharat has a rich experience in Implementing large scale behavioural change programs and schemes, It has taken up the job of implementing Mission LiFE in 3 phases:-

  1. Change in Demand
  2. Change in Supply
  3. Change in Policy

Many initiatives have been taken up by various state governments in cooperation with the central government to spread the word of environmental living to the people. The Concept of LiFE was introduced by our Hon. PM Shri Narendra Modi to world leaders At COP26 Summit at Glasgow wherein he called upon the world leaders to restart a global pursuit to live a life in love with our nature and surroundings.

A Green Credit scheme was also launched by the Ministry of Environment,Forests and Climate change (MoEFCC) and Ministry of Finance in a joint effort. This was also highlighted in our Annual Central Budget.

Recently, the government has launched The Meri LiFE App which is set to revolutionize the way individuals and communities track their progress in the global mass movement of Mission LiFE.

Bharat’s Mission LiFE even made it to the official declaration of G20 Summit of New Delhi

World Environment day 2023 was celebrated on Mission LiFE theme by India wherein Individuals were pushed for:-

  • Use LED bulbs/ tube-lights

  • Use public transport wherever possible

  • Take the stairs instead of an elevator wherever possible

  • Switch off vehicle engines at red lights and railway crossings

  • Use bicycles for local or short commute

  • Switch off irrigation pumps after use

  • Prefer CNG/ Electric vehicle over petrol/ diesel vehicles

  • Adopt cultivation of less water intensive crops like millets

  • Practice crop diversification. Move from rice and wheat cultivation to pulse and oil seed cropping system

  • Include millets in diets through Anganwadi, Mid-Day meal and Public Distribution scheme

  • Compost food waste at home

  • Create kitchen gardens/ terrace gardens at homes/ schools/ offices

  • Practise segregation of dry and wet waste at home

  • Use agricultural residue, animal waste for composting, manuring and mulching

Overall, Not only has this movement been truly accepted by the Family that is Bharat but also by the entire world which has accepted Bharat’s role as a global leader and also a torch bearer for the environment based lifestyle. Bharat has always been the country who worshipped and stayed in equilibrium with nature. Now it is time for the world to cope up with us and there is no better way for this than mission LiFE. This philosophy of LiFe and its ideals are actually realising the core idea of Bharat for the environment which will give out solutions to climate change in the years to come.

Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita: Decolonising India’s Criminal Justice System

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The idea of ‘Yato Dharmastato Jayah’, i.e. “where there is Dharma there will be victory”, is the underlying principle guiding India’s civilisational jurisprudence since time immemorial and has found its place today as the motto of the Supreme Court of India.

Bharat has the world’s most ancient legal system, unrivalled in its venerable and esteemed lineage. Some of the greatest jurists and lawgivers of the human race – Manu, Yajnavalka, Brihaspati, Katyayana, Kautilya – were born in ancient India and gave shape and structure to a legal system that lasted for centuries and still inspires Indian governance and jurisprudence. Ancient India had a hierarchy of courts much similar to what we have today. According to Brihaspati Smriti, at the lowest level were the family courts, followed by the court of local/provincial judges. This was followed by the court of the Chief Justice, also known as the ‘Praadivivaka’, followed by the King’s court. Right from the king to the judges, bureaucrats, soldiers, traders, and citizens, everyone was assigned duties, and there were checks and balances in place to ensure that ‘Dharma’ (righteous law) was followed. In fact, ‘Raj-dharma’ (duty of the king) took precedence over ‘Raj-neeti’ (politics), emphasising the importance of the rule of law and the social contract between the governing and the governed.

But over time, after centuries of invasions and colonisation, many foreign elements were gradually added to the Indian legal system. Islamic law was introduced in most parts of the Indian subcontinent after the Arab invasions. Similarly, European laws, primarily the English Common Law, were imposed on India by the colonial powers. What evolved was the modern Indian legal system, which for the most part, is an adaptation of the English Common Law inherited from the British imperialists, with some remnants of Islamic/Mughal laws. For example, as recently as April 2023, complex Persian and Urdu words were used to file a simple FIR in Delhi. Archaic words like Rojnamcha, Saredast Surat, Majroob, and Mulaki, which are not even part of the vocabulary for about 99% of Indians, were being used in the FIRs. The use of black robes as a dress code by Indian lawyers and judges is also a colonial legacy. Such examples are but a glimpse of how the Indian legal system is still so deeply entrenched in coloniality. The criminal justice system, being an integral part of the larger judicial system, is naturally not bereft of it.

Since independence, the Indian State failed to shed much of its colonial hangover. Attempts to reform were few and symbolic. But this has changed in the past 9 years. Under the Narendra Modi Government, there has been a drastic shift in decolonisation attempts across the institutions. As India celebrates 75 years of independence as Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the clarion call of ‘Panch Pran’, or the five vows that will usher India into Amrit Kaal. One of the vows among the five is the removal of colonial mindset and ending all signs of slavery. In line with this, the Modi Government plans to overhaul India’s criminal justice system through three bills recently introduced in the parliament. These bills aim to replace the British-era criminal laws with indigenous laws that are made in India and made for India.

On 11th August 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the three bills – the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill (BSB), 2023. These bills seek to replace the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860, and the Indian Evidence Act (IEA), 1872 respectively.

Since 1860, Macaulay’s criminal laws were colony-centric with a pro-government approach, where the focus was to punish the offenders and safeguard the interests of the colonial government, above all else. The new criminal laws will transform that and instead of punishing, it will focus on delivering justice, with a citizen-centric approach. While the BNS deals with the criminal code (IPC) and the BSB deals with evidence (IEA), the BNSS deals with the most important part, which is the procedural side of the law. Therefore, some of the salient features of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 are discussed below.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023

This bill repeals the CrPC, which is currently the main legislation on procedure for the administration of substantive criminal law in India. The Code provides for the procedure for arrest, prosecution, and bail for offences under various Acts including the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Various changes have been brought under the BNSS, the core of them are as follows:

1. Prompt Delivery of Justice/Timeline for Procedures

a. To ensure speedy justice, chargesheets must be filed within 90 days, with provisions allowing for an extension of up to an additional 90 days.

b. To ensure the timely completion of investigations, the probe is to be finalized within 180 days, after which the case is to be forwarded for trial.

c. For prompt delivery of judgements, it is mandated that judgments must be delivered within 30 days after the trial concludes.

d. The new section 184(6) of BNSS, which corresponds to the old section 164A(6), now imposes a time-bound medical examination of a rape victim, replacing the term ‘without delay’ with ‘within seven days.’

2. Greater Use Of Technology/Digitalisation

a. In line with advancing PM Modi’s vision of a Digital India, a significant addition to the BNSS is Section 532. This new provision allows for the digitalization of all aspects of trials, inquiries, and proceedings, including the recording of evidence, examination of parties, issuance, service, and execution of summons and warrants, as well as various other related processes.

b. Under Section 153 of BNSS, executive magistrates can serve notices online.

c. Similarly, the supply of police reports and other investigation-related documents can be carried out digitally, as specified in Sections 193(8) and 230 of BNSS.

3. Progressive Reforms/Safeguards/Women’s Safety

a. The BNSS is also aligning itself with modern practices by introducing amendments related to the utilization of forensic science in crime investigations. In Section 349 of BNSS, the scope has expanded to include the collection of not only specimen signatures or handwriting samples, as was the case in the previous version of the code, but also fingerprints and voice samples.

b. Under Section 176(3) of BNSS, when the police receive information about the commission of a crime punishable for more than 7 years, it is mandatory for a forensic team to visit the scene and collect samples as well as cause videography of the process. This will ensure that evidence is not tampered with.

c. An important safeguard has been introduced with the inclusion of Section 105 in the BNSS. This section mandates that police officers conducting searches under Section 185 must electronically record the proceedings of the search and subsequently transmit the record to the relevant magistrate. This provision serves to prevent any potential abuses during police search operations, ensuring transparency and accountability.

d. Section 193(3) of the BNSS mandates that the police must keep the informant/victim informed about the progress of the investigation within 90 days, and this communication can be facilitated electronically.

e. Additional safeguards have been provided for the recording of statements of a woman by a judicial magistrate. If a woman is giving such a statement, it should be recorded by a female judge.

f. The proviso giving safeguards for women arrestees under subsection (1) of Section 43 of BNSS has been expanded. Now, information regarding such a woman’s arrest needs to be given to her relatives or friends.

4. Removal of Archaic and Insensitive Terms- substitution of outdated and insensitive language like ‘lunatic person’ or ‘person of unsound mind.’ These references have been replaced with more empathetic terms, such as ‘having an intellectual disability’ or ‘person with mental illness.

5. Removal of obsolete sections- BNSS does away with many obsolete provisions in the CrPC such as section 153 of CrPC where police were granted power to enter and search any place without a warrant to inspect or search for accuracy of weights and measuring instruments.

6. Restrictions on Punishment Conversion- places a limit on conversion of death sentences to life imprisonment and pardon for life imprisonment to within seven years.

7. Trial in Absentia- Empowers Session Courts to declare individuals’ absconders and proceed with trials in their absence.

Towards Legal Aatmanirbharta

The three bills have been forwarded to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs for review. It is anticipated that these bills will be presented for discussion in Parliament during the upcoming winter session. The Bills have been in development for two years, with input and consultation sought from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including those in academia, law enforcement, practitioners, and judges spanning from the Appellate to the Courts of first instance.

India became the world’s most populated country in April 2023. Meanwhile, as of July 2023, more the 5 crore cases are pending in the Indian courts. Two things are clear from this – (i) With the ever-increasing population, rise in economy, trade, technology and the changes in society, the number of legal cases will also increase – (ii) The coloniality of India’s legal system inherited from the British imperialists has been one of the major roadblocks in the timely dispensation of justice. The new criminal laws help solve a major part of this dilemma, and the ensuing reformation of India’s criminal justice system will go a long way in the decolonisation of India as a whole. It will revive Bharat’s civilisational jurisprudence, which has been inherent in its ethos since time immemorial, and pave the way for legal Aatmanirbharta, i.e. laws made by India and for India.

National Mission for Natural Farming: A visionary move for sustainable farming in Amrit Kaal.

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Amrit Kaal when referred back to Vedic period, refers to a crucial period when gates to greater pleasure for humans, angels and other creatures open. The next 25 years being an Amrit Kaal or Kartavya Kaal, calls upon a duty towards a better Bharat, a more developed Bharat and a more Atmanirbhar Bharat. If we refer to the National Statistical Office’s 2018-19 Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households report than India has 93.09 million agricultural households. The agriculture sector employs over 148 million people, that is 50%-60% of the Indian population. The sector contributes about 17% to India’s GDP as of 2023. Referring to these numbers it is evident that India is an ancient land of great agricultural value.

NATURAL FARMING

There has been an appeal towards a sustainable development in the Amrit Kaal and this can’t be achieved without a sustainable farming. Natural farming, as put forth by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, is “a chemical-free farming system rooted in Indian tradition enriched with modern understanding of ecology, resource recycling and on-farm resource optimization. It is considered as agroecology based diversified farming system which integrates crops, trees and livestock with functional biodiversity. It is largely based on on-farm biomass recycling with major stress on biomass-mulching, use of on-farm cow dung-urine formulations; maintaining soil aeration and exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs. Natural farming has environmental benefits, economic benefits, health benefits, social benefits, and a promise to a long-term sustainability. 

Environmental Benefits: Natural farming methods improve soil fertility, structure, and health. Healthy soil retains more water, reduces erosion, and provides a better environment for plant growth. Natural farming practices, such as mulching and cover cropping, help conserve water by reducing evaporation and enhancing soil water retention. 

Economic Benefits: Natural farming reduces dependency on overpriced synthetic inputs, leading to lower production costs for farmers.

Health Benefits: Healthy soils result in nutrient-rich crops, providing consumers with food that is rich in essential vitamins, minerals and healthy proteins.

Social Benefits: It encourages community involvement and knowledge sharing among farmers, fostering a sense of community and cooperation

Long-Term Sustainability: Natural farming is a form of regenerative agriculture, which means it restores and revitalizes the soil, ensuring long-term productivity without depleting natural resources.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY:

In 2021, Australia was on the top with an organic agricultural land area amounting to 35.69 million ha. It is followed by Argentina and France, where Argentina had 4.07 million ha and France had 2.78 million ha areas of organic agriculture. India stands at 6th position with 2.66 million hectares of organic agricultural land area. The position needs to be reconsidered and there needs a positive approach towards building of a Natural Farming ecosystem.

If we go by reported figures and APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) than there has been remarkable boost in the area under certified organic farming during the past 10 years. With 5550405 ha in 2011-12, the area under organic farming grew by almost 1.5 times. At present, 9119866 ha area is under certified organic cultivation.  India ranks among top 10 countries in the world in terms of total land under organic cultivation.

The Mission:

As mentioned above, there has been great initiatives on the part of the Government, what needs is an awareness, more cognizance towards the practicality of natural farming.

The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) is a government vision that promotes sustainable and pesticide-free farming practices. The NMNF encourages growers to borrow natural husbandry practices similar as zero- budget husbandry, organic husbandry, etc. The scheme aims to ameliorate soil health, reduce chemical inputs, produce institutional capacities for dispersion of popular practices, ensure capacity building and attract farmers to natural farming willingly on the merit, promote chemical-free and climate-smart farming. Farmers will be presented with fiscal backing of Rs. 15,000 per hectare per year for three years. 

To put in stages than there will be selection of nodal enforcing agency at first. Then there will be selection and capacity structure of master coaches, then gram panchayats /townlets will be identified consequently and natural farming practitioners will be identified and will be given all the benefits under the scheme (training awareness creation through Farmer Field School (FFS), fiscal backing to develop on- farm input product structure, capacity structure, and so on). The budget allocation for this whole vision is Rs. 1584 Cr. which is huge to manifest and achieve a dream of Atmanirbharta through sustainable means.

The provision of Rs 459.00 crores for 2023-24 has been proposed after careful consideration and the requirement of increase of budget is not anticipated at this stage.

A LONG AND AWAITING WAY Natural farming takes a holistic approach, considering the farm as a whole ecosystem. It integrates various elements such as plants, animals, insects, soil, and water into a balanced and sustainable farming system. The method varies across different cultures and regions, and farmers often tailor their practices to suit local ecological conditions. The approach has gained popularity due to its focus on sustainability, environmental conservation, and producing healthy, chemical-free food. In this vision, natural farming serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that agriculture can be both productive and environmentally friendly. It promotes a holistic approach to farming, fostering a symbiotic relationship between humans, nature, and the agricultural landscape. Through education, innovation, and global cooperation, this vision can be realized, creating a sustainable future for agriculture and the planet.

New India’s 5G Technology And 6G Testbed: A testimony of Aatamnirbhat Bharat & Digital India in Amrit Kaal.

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The 21st Century is often said to be the Era of Bharat. Bharat has been making significant strides in every aspect ranging from the Social sector to the development of its technology. The Indic ideas are spreading rapidly and they are greatly helping in transforming the world. The Indian government since 2014 has been very successful in terms of improving the digital infrastructure in Bharat. On this line the rapid spread of 5G technology and the start of testing for developing the 6G technology is a very big step indeed.

In a remarkable stride towards a digitally empowered future, India is making significant progress in the field of telecommunications. With the adoption of 5G technology and the current research taking place to develop 6G, the country is on it’s way for developing faster, more connected, and technologically advanced lifestyles. India’s rapid rollout of 5G services since October 2022 is indeed impressive. India’s major telecom companies like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (VI) were actively participating in upgrading their networks to support 5G technology. As of August 2023, 5G services are already available in over 500 cities and towns across the country. This indicates a significant expansion of coverage within a relatively short period of time.

The Indian government has set an ambitious target of covering the entire country with 5G by 2024. This suggests a strong commitment to advancing the digital infrastructure and connectivity in India. Achieving this target would require extensive investment in network infrastructure, spectrum allocation, and regulatory frameworks. Capital expenditure required for 5G network rollout pan-India including spectrum, sites and fibre is estimated to be Rs 1.3 lakh crore – 2.3 lakh crore, of which Rs 78,800 crore – Rs 1.3 lakh crore is estimated for metro cities and ‘A’ circles.

It’s important to note that the availability and implementation of 5G services can vary across different regions and cities within a country. While the government’s target is to cover the entire country by 2024, the actual progress may vary depending on factors such as infrastructure development, technological challenges, and regulatory processes. The government has set up 100 5G labs across the nation which will provide the researchers and developers with the access to the latest 5G technologies and infrastructure. Be it 5G smart classrooms, farming, intelligent transport systems or healthcare applications it shows that India is emerging as a leader in 5G technology .This will help the government to create more jobs for our youths and reduce India’s dependency on imported equipment’s.

The next big question is that are we just happy with our performance in the present day or are we thinking about the future? And the answer is very clear, under the leader of our Prinister Shri Narendra Modi India released its 6G vision just five months after 5G was announced in the country under the title “Bharat’s 6G vision” which envisages India to be a front-line contributor in design, development and deployment of 6G technology by the year 2030. The 6G mission will be implemented in two phases . The first phase will be implemented between the years 2023 -2025 and the second phase from 2025- 2030 will be implemented. Through which soon India will become the leader for this 6G network like 5G. Bharat 6G technology is based on the fundamental principles of Affordability, Sustainability and Ubiquity. As industry’s evolution is towards the cellular wireless access for 6G.According to many reports, it’s a drive for establishing the hard-core foundation of technically advanced 6G over 5G.Hence Indian government is taking initiatives to enhance these technologies. Government is investing in 6G research at leading Indian universities and also research institutions.

On March 23, 2022, India launched its first 6G testbed. India’s 6G testbed is one of the first in the world .The testbed is being developed by a consortium of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other leading research institutions involving eight institutions led by IIT-Madras. This testbed will test and validate new technologies and research advancements for 6G. Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a very crucial role in 6G, as facilitating advanced features like autonomous communication , intelligent networks and enhanced security. 6G is likely to operate in tera hertz (THz) frequencies , which would enable the faster rate of data transmission than the 5G’s gigahertz (GHz) frequencies. The vision document has recommended the creation of 10000 crores funds in INR to facilitate the service over the coming ten years to the required industry. India now has a total of 127 global patents for 6G technology. Also, to develop new 6G based applications and services. In the future, this will surely help to ensure that ‘Bharat’ is at the forefront of 6G development. As 6G is expected to revolutionize communication with unprecedented speeds, ultra -low latency, and seamless connectivity will be able to transmit more data in less time, allowing the users with a smoother experience. The 6G vision document released by department of Telecommunications(DoT) states that while 5G technology provides a speed of 40-1100 Mbps with it’s full potential to hit maximum speed of 10000 Mbps ; 6G will soon offer the people with ultra -low latency with speeds up to 1 tera bit per second. It is 1000 times more than the top speed of a 5G network. Therefore, opening the doors for industries yet not in one’s mindset.That means in the coming years even more exciting developments can be expected. Thus, it can be concluded that while we are still in the early stages of deploying 5G networks globally, it is very much clear that the industry has planned something out of the box.This progressive approach will not only revolutionize the way we interact but also position India as a pioneering nation in this digital era, attracting investments and driving the growth of it’s digital economy. It sets a precedent for other nations to follow in the pursuit of technological excellence.

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