In News:

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the apex statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), has recently issued a clarification restricting the definition of tiger corridors to only the 32 “least cost pathways” identified in 2014 and those recorded in Tiger Conservation Plans (TCPs) of individual reserves. This excludes later studies by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) (2016, 2021) and data from the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) exercises.

What are Tiger Corridors?

Tiger corridors are natural pathways that connect fragmented tiger habitats, allowing for:

• Genetic flow and long-term survival of populations.
• Migration and dispersal between reserves.
• Minimisation of human-wildlife conflict through guided movement.

Projects that require land in or around these corridors or reserves need statutory clearance from the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

About NTCA

• Established: 2005 (through 2006 amendment of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972).
• Chairperson: Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Functions:
  • Approves TCPs of states.
  • Provides financial and technical support for tiger conservation.
  • Oversees Project Tiger implementation.
  • Conducts All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) every 4 years.
  • Ensures ecological connectivity through corridor protection.

The Recent Controversy

• NTCA had earlier told the Bombay High Court (July 2025) that multiple benchmarks would be used to identify corridors, including:
  • Protected areas with tiger occupancy.
  • 2014 least-cost pathways.
  • WII studies (2016, 2021).
  • AITE distribution data.
• However, in its latest clarification, NTCA restricted corridors only to 2014 least-cost pathways and TCP records, ignoring updated scientific models.

Potential Beneficiaries

Industrial projects, particularly in Maharashtra, such as:

• Western Coalfields Limited’s Durgapur open cast mines.
• Lloyds Metals & Energy’s Surajgarh iron ore mines in Gadchiroli.

Scientific Concerns

• 2014 NTCA Report itself noted that its corridors were “minimal requirement” and alternative connectivities also needed conservation.
• Newer studies (e.g., Circuitscape modelling, 2025) suggest at least 192 corridors across 10 central Indian states, far beyond the restricted 32.
• Narrowing protection risks fragmentation of habitats, reducing gene flow and increasing chances of local extinctions.

In News:

The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the universal supply of fortified rice under all government food safety net schemes till December 2028, with 100% central funding of ?17,082 crore. This initiative is part of India’s broader strategy to combat anaemia, malnutrition, and hidden hunger, which remain major public health challenges.

Evolution of the Scheme

• 2018: Launch of Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) initiative by MoHFW, emphasising fortified foods.
• 2019: Pilot project for rice fortification introduced in select districts.
• 2022: Government approved national scale-up of fortified rice across welfare schemes.
• March 2024: Fortified rice fully replaced normal rice in all central schemes.
• 2025: Cabinet approved extension till 2028, ensuring continuity with dedicated funding.

Nodal Ministries & Agencies

• Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) under Ministry of Consumer Affairs → implementing agency.
• FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) → sets fortification standards.
• Convergence with Ministry of Education, MoHFW, Ministry of Women and Child Development, and NDDB Foundation for Nutrition.

Components of the Programme

1. Public Distribution System (PDS): Fortified rice supplied through ration shops.
2. PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal): Fortified rice used in school meals; guidelines also promote Double Fortified Salt (DFS) and fortified edible oil.
3. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Supplies fortified staples to children and women.
4. Special Schemes: Distribution under Wheat-Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) and Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG).
5. Complementary Nutrition Initiatives:NDDB’s Gift Milk Programme has provided 7.1 lakh litres of fortified milk, benefitting 41,700 children in 257 schools across 11 states.

Nutritional Focus

• Micronutrients in Fortified Rice: Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12 → combat iron-deficiency anaemia, support neurological and cognitive health.
• Double Fortified Salt (DFS): Prevents anaemia and goitre.
• Fortified Edible Oil: Provides Vitamins A & D, preventing deficiencies.

Key Features

• Universal Coverage: Fortified rice supplied across all central schemes.
• Cost Coverage: Entire fortification cost borne by the Government of India.
• Monitoring & Accountability: States/UTs tasked with ensuring quality and compliance.
• Multi-Sectoral Approach: Linked with nutrition awareness campaigns and Anemia Mukt Bharat.
• Private & CSR Partnerships: NFN mobilises funds and awareness through CSR and donations.

Wider Context – Food Processing Linkages

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) supports complementary schemes like:

• PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY)
• PLI Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI)
• PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME)

These aim to improve supply chains, reduce wastage, and enhance processing levels – strengthening nutrition outcomes alongside fortification.

In News:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in August 2025, released its discussion paper on reviewing India’s Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) framework, which is due for renewal in March 2026. The paper seeks public feedback on key questions such as whether the 4% target remains optimal, whether the 2–6% tolerance band should be revised, and whether the target should be expressed as a point or only a range.

Evolution of the Framework

• Adopted in 2016, the FIT framework formalised inflation targeting in India.
• Current mandate: 4% CPI-based inflation target with a tolerance band of 2–6%, jointly set by the RBI and the Government of India.
• Review cycle: Every five years, with the next mandate to begin April 2026.

Rationale for Retaining the 4% Target

• Credibility with Investors: Raising the target above 4% could be perceived as policy dilution, eroding credibility. Rating agencies like S&P Global recently upgraded India’s rating (BBB), citing the RBI’s strong inflation management.
• Institutional Stability: The framework has strengthened the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) process and fiscal discipline.
• Domestic Outcomes: Headline CPI inflation has mostly remained within the 2–6% band. In July 2025, it hit 1.55%, the second-lowest since the series began.
• External Balance: Low and stable inflation safeguards the rupee, maintains external competitiveness, and prevents capital outflows.

Headline vs Core Inflation Debate

• Economic Survey 2023–24: Suggested targeting core inflation (excluding food and fuel) as food inflation is largely supply-driven and beyond monetary control.
• RBI’s View: Headline CPI should remain the target, as persistent food shocks spill over into wages, rents, and production costs, influencing core inflation.
• Global Norm: Nearly all inflation-targeting countries focus on headline CPI; Uganda is the only exception.
• Indian Context: Food has ~50% weight in CPI. Excluding it would undermine policy relevance for households and workers.

Key Issues Under Review

• Target Level: Lowering below 4% could hurt growth; raising above 4% risks credibility loss.
• Tolerance Band: Debate on retaining the 2–6% range, narrowing it, or removing it. While a band allows flexibility, it may reduce accountability.
• Inflation Volatility: Between 2014–2025, headline CPI ranged from 1.5% to 8.6%, mainly due to food prices, while core inflation remained relatively stable.

Positive Outcomes of the Framework

• Anchored Expectations: Households and firms now base decisions around a credible 4% anchor, reducing uncertainty.
• Investor Confidence: Predictable inflation management has lowered risk premiums on Indian assets, boosting FDI and portfolio inflows.
• Improved Sovereign Ratings: Low inflation stability has supported fiscal credibility, earning global recognition.
• Resilience to Shocks: Despite global supply disruptions and oil price volatility, India avoided runaway inflation.

In News:

In May 2025, the Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) released India’s draft Climate Finance Taxonomy (CFT) for public consultation. This initiative is timely, as it coincides with India’s expanding climate finance ecosystem, including green bonds, carbon credit trading, and global commitments under the Paris Agreement and net-zero targets by 2070.

What is a Climate Finance Taxonomy?

• A classification framework that defines which sectors, technologies, and activities qualify as climate-aligned investments.
• It is described as a “living document”, evolving with India’s domestic priorities and international climate obligations.
• Core purpose: To mobilise public and private finance, ensure transparency, and prevent greenwashing.

Key Features of India’s Draft CFT

• Scope: Covers activities contributing to mitigation, adaptation, and low-carbon transition.
• Review Mechanism
  • Annual reviews for course correction.
  • Five-year reviews aligned with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the UNFCCC global stocktake.
• Legal Coherence
  • Designed to be consistent with Indian laws (Energy Conservation Act, SEBI regulations, Carbon Credit Trading Scheme).
  • Harmonised with international standards for credibility.
• Substantive Clarity: Provides clear, precise, and updated definitions that are accessible to both experts and non-experts.
• Inclusivity
  • Simplified compliance for MSMEs, informal sector actors, and vulnerable communities.
  • Staggered timelines for smaller entities to avoid exclusion.
• Institutional Accountability
  • Proposal for a standing review unit/expert committee.
  • Public dashboards to ensure transparency and investor confidence.

Significance

• Boosts Investor Confidence: Provides clarity for domestic and global investors in India’s green economy.
• Ensures Transparency: Prevents mislabeling of projects as “green,” tackling greenwashing risks.
• Mobilises Finance: Unlocks predictable, science-based finance flows for mitigation and adaptation.
• Supports Net-Zero Goals: Complements instruments like green bonds and carbon credit markets.
• Global Positioning: Strengthens India’s role in shaping international norms on climate finance.

In News:

The African Union (AU) has endorsed the “Correct the Map”campaign, calling for the replacement of the Mercator projection with modern alternatives that represent Africa’s true size. This move is not just cartographic—it is deeply political, tied to questions of historical justice, cultural representation, and global perception.

The Mercator Projection: Origins and Features

• Introduced: 1569 by Gerardus Mercator, a Flemish mathematician and cartographer.
• Purpose: Designed for navigation, enabling sailors to follow a straight line of constant compass bearing (Rhumb lines/loxodromes).
• Structure:
  • Meridians (longitude): parallel, vertical, equally spaced.
  • Parallels (latitude): horizontal, spacing increases away from the equator.
  • Grid forms right angles.
• Strengths: Conformal projection that preserves shapes and angles, ideal for maritime exploration.
• Limitations: Distorts area and scale. True scale exists only along the equator; distortion grows near the poles.

Distortions and Bias

• Africa & South America appear much smaller than their real size.
• Europe, North America, and Greenland are disproportionately enlarged.
• Example: Greenland (≈2.1 million sq km) appears similar in size to Africa (≈30 million sq km).
• Such distortions fed into Eurocentric worldviews, reinforcing colonial narratives of Africa as “smaller” and “conquerable.”

Corrective Measures

• Gall-Peters Projection (1970s): Area-accurate but distorts shapes. Adopted in some schools, e.g., Boston (2017).
• Equal Earth Projection (2018): Balances shape and area, providing a fairer representation of continents.
• AU’s Endorsement: By backing the Equal Earth projection, the AU aims to restore “Africa’s rightful place on the global stage,” highlighting the continent’s true scale and importance.