In News:

Tensions have resurfaced between Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) and the Servants of India Society (SIS) over control of a joint bank account and allegations of financial misconduct. This has brought attention back to the legacy and functioning of the historic SIS.

About Servants of India Society (SIS)

• Founded: June 12, 1905
• Founder: Gopal Krishna Gokhale, with G.K. Devadhar, A.V. Patwardhan, and N.A. Dravid
• Location: Fergusson Hill, Pune, Maharashtra
• Headquarters: Pune, with branches in Chennai, Mumbai, Nagpur, Allahabad, etc.

Objectives:

• To train a dedicated cadre of national workers for selfless service to the nation.
• Promote political education, social reform, and public service.
• Work towards upliftment of underprivileged communities, including rural and tribal populations.
• Achieve social change through constitutional and moderate means, not violent agitation.

Membership and Structure:

• Members undergo a five-year training period and vow to serve on modest salaries.
• Considered “young missionaries of Indian nationalism.”
• Notable Members:
  • V.S. Srinivasa Sastri (later president after Gokhale’s death in 1915)
  • Hriday Nath Kunzru
  • A.V. Thakkar

Ideological Basis:

• Strong emphasis on constitutionalism, moderation, and liberalism.
• Aimed to create a disciplined, morally upright civil society to complement political struggle.

About Gopal Krishna Gokhale:

• Born: May 9, 1866 | Died: February 19, 1915
• Moderate leader of the Indian National Congress and a liberal reformer.
• Influenced by Justice M.G. Ranade and Western political thought.
• Advocated for gradual self-governance and saw value in British-initiated modernization.
• Played a pivotal role in the Morley-Minto Reforms (1909).
• Mentor to Mahatma Gandhi and known for his economic insight and powerful oratory.

In News:

According to the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) State of the World Population Report 2025, India’s population has reached 146.39 crore as of April 2025, surpassing China (141.61 crore) to remain the world’s most populous country. Importantly, India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined to 1.9, falling below the replacement level of 2.1.

Key Highlights:

Population Growth and Future Projections

• Current population (2025): 146.39 crore
• Projected peak: 170 crore in the next 40 years, after which population will begin to decline.
• Working-age population (15–64 years): 68%
• Youth population:
  • 0–14 years: 24%
  • 10–19 years: 17%
  • 10–24 years: 26%
• Elderly population (65+ years): 7% (expected to rise steadily)

Fertility Trends and the Real Crisis

What is TFR?

• Total Fertility Rate measures the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime.
• Replacement level TFR: 2.1 (to maintain population size across generations)
• India’s TFR in 2025: 1.9, marking a demographic shift toward stabilization.

Fertility Divergence Across States:

• High TFR states: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand
• Low TFR states: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi – already below replacement level

The Real Fertility Crisis (UNFPA View):

• The true concern is unmet fertility goals, not overpopulation or underpopulation.
• Barriers to achieving desired family size:
  • Financial constraints (40%)
  • Job insecurity (21%) and housing issues (22%)
  • Lack of childcare (18%)
  • Social/family pressures (19%)
  • Modern concerns like climate change and shifting gender norms

Structural & Social Challenges

• Persisting inequalities in access to reproductive health across caste, income, and regional lines
• Youth bulge in LMICs (including India) offers demographic dividend but needs skill-building and employment opportunities
• Ageing population calls for future-proof policies on healthcare, pensions, and social security

Life Expectancy & Data Reliability

• Life expectancy (2025):
  • Men: 71 years
  • Women: 74 years
• Data drawn from: DHS, MICS, World Population Prospects 2024, Family Planning Indicators (2024)
• India’s decennial Census delayed to 2027, limiting official data updates since 2011

UNFPA Recommendations for India:

• Expand SRH (Sexual & Reproductive Health) Services: Universal access to contraception, safe abortion, and infertility care
• Tackle Structural Barriers: Affordable housing, childcare, flexible work policies, and women’s education
• Promote Reproductive Agency: Ensure informed choices on family planning for all, including LGBTQIA+ and unmarried individuals
• Balance Youth & Elderly Policies: Invest in youth employability while preparing for ageing-related challenges

In News:

The Rengma Naga tribe concluded a two-day celebration of the Ngada festival-cum-Mini Hornbill Festival at the Tseminyu RSA ground in Nagaland.

Ngada Festival Overview:

• Celebration: It is an annual celebration observed by the Rengma Naga tribe, marking the end of the agricultural cycle.
• Duration: Typically, an eight-day festival, it is celebrated towards the end of November.
• Significance: It is a festival of thanksgiving, joy, and cultural unity, with a focus on gratitude for the harvest and remembrance of departed souls.

Cultural and Ritual Aspects:

• Rituals: The festival involves rituals for protection from misfortunes, such as fire and evil spirits, as well as prayers for peace and prosperity in the community.
• Agricultural Link: The festival is celebrated after the harvest season, symbolizing the end of the agricultural cycle and the beginning of the storage of crops.
• Official Announcement: The village priest announces the start of the festival, and preparations begin shortly after.

Importance of Ngada:

• Gratitude for the Harvest: The festival is a celebration of the hard work of the agricultural year and the bountiful harvest.
• Cultural Identity: The festival serves as a vital reminder of the Rengma Naga’s cultural heritage and traditions, helping to preserve them for future generations.
• Symbol of Unity: It fosters cultural unity and strengthens community bonds within the tribe.

Tribal Demographics:

• Population: The Rengma Naga tribe has a population of around 62,951 in Nagaland and 22,000 in Assam (according to the 2011 Census of India).
• Ethnic Identity: The Rengmas belong to the Tibeto-Burman ethnic group and identify themselves as Njong or Injang.

Historical and Cultural Background:

• Migration: It is believed that the Rengmas, along with other Naga tribes, migrated from Southeast Asia, crossing the Yunnan Mountain ranges, and eventually settled in the upper Burma region.
• Slavery: Historically, slavery was practiced among the Rengmas, with slaves known as menugetenyu and it sakesa. However, by the time the British arrived, slavery was in decline, and no Rengma tribespeople were known to be slaves.

Economy:

• Agricultural Lifestyle: The Rengma Naga are primarily agriculturalists, relying on Jhum cultivation (shifting cultivation) and wet rice cultivation.
• Crops Grown: They grow staple crops like paddy, along with seasonal crops and fruits.

Religion:

• Traditional Beliefs: Traditionally, the Rengma Naga worship supernatural beings.
• Christianity: Today, most of the Rengma tribe has converted to Christianity.

In News:

The Chenchus of Penukumadugu have lived in the dense Nallamala forests for centuries, their existence intertwined with the wilderness around them. However, their inability to keep up with the relentless pace of modernisation has led to dwindling work opportunities under the MGNREGA.

Chenchu Tribe Overview

• Location: Primarily in the dense Nallamala forests, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• Tradition: Historically hunter-gatherers, now relying on subsistence farming.
• Vulnerable Status: Classified as one of the 12 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Andhra Pradesh due to low literacy, stagnant population growth, and limited access to development.
• Livelihood: Dependent on forest resources (Non-Timber Forest Produce - NTFP) and agricultural labor.

Impact of MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme)

• MGNREGS Chenchu Special Project: Launched in 2009 to address specific needs of the Chenchus, such as physical strength, food insecurities, and cultural practices.
• Before Discontinuation: Provided 180 days of work per person annually, which helped Chenchus access regular income, improving food security and living conditions.
• Post-Discontinuation (2022):
  • The project was integrated into a nationwide MGNREGS framework, reducing workdays to the standard 100 days per household.
  • Consequences: Many Chenchus stopped engaging with MGNREGS due to bureaucratic hurdles (Aadhaar and bank linkage), reduced job days, and irregular wage payments.
  • Only 1,500 out of 4,000 enrolled households currently participate in MGNREGS work.

Key Issues Post-MGNREGS Reform

• Aadhaar & Bank Account Challenges:
  • Lack of literacy and digital skills makes the Aadhaar-based system intimidating.
  • Many Chenchus are excluded from PDS and health benefits due to missing or unlinked Aadhaar cards.
  • Absence of mobile phones and access to banks makes wage disbursement difficult.
• Irregular Payments & Trust Issues:
  • The shift to bank payments has created trust issues, as many Chenchus are illiterate and cannot verify wage deposits.
  • Distance from banks (up to 30 km) adds to the difficulty in accessing payments.

Forest Rights and Wildlife Conservation

• Forest Dependency: The Chenchus continue to depend on the forest for food and livelihood, but increasing restrictions due to wildlife conservation (e.g., Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve) have further curtailed their access to forest produce.
• Forest Rights Act (FRA): Many Chenchus have land pattas under the FRA but lack resources or support to utilize their land effectively due to the discontinuation of MGNREGS.

Government and Policy Response

• PVTG Initiatives: Various government initiatives like PM PVTG Mission, Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, and Janjatiya Gaurav Divas aim to uplift PVTGs, but their impact remains limited without proper implementation of specialized support programs like the MGNREGS Chenchu Special Project.

Mission Overview:

• Launched on October 1, 2021, as the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
• Aims for "Garbage-Free Status" in all urban areas by 2026.
• Focuses on 100% source segregation, door-to-door waste collection, and scientific waste management.

Legacy Waste Issues:

• Legacy waste consists of improperly collected and stored solid waste, often found in landfills and abandoned sites.
• Approximately 15,000 acres of prime land are buried under nearly 16 crore tonnes of legacy waste in India.
• The mission seeks to convert legacy dumpsites into green zones and establish scientific landfills to manage untreated waste.

Current Progress:

• Of 2,424 identified dumpsites (each with over 1,000 tonnes of waste), only 470 have been fully remediated (16% reclaimed).
• 1,224 sites are under ongoing remediation, while 730 remain untouched.
• Out of 28,460 acres of affected land, 4,552 acres have been reclaimed, with 23,908 acres still to be addressed.

State Performance:

• Tamil Nadu: 837 acres reclaimed (42% of its total dumpsite area).
• Gujarat: Leads in percentage, reclaiming 75% of its landfill area (698 out of 938 acres).

Financial Aspects:

• Central assistance of ?3,226 crore has been approved for remediation efforts.
• States and Union Territories must provide a matching share to access these funds.

Challenges:

• Legacy waste management involves complexities such as radiological characterization, leachate management, and fire control.
• Current municipal solid waste generation in India is around 150,000 tonnes per day.

Historical Context:

• The original Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM-U 1.0) launched on October 2, 2014, focused on making urban areas Open Defecation Free (ODF).

Why is it in the News?

To commemorate the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, C-DOT, the premier Telecom R&D Centre of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) celebrates and announces special Initiatives “NIDHI” & “STAR Program” for the development of indigenous telecom solutions & technologies.

What is World Telecommunication and Information Society Day?

• World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is celebrated every year in May to honour the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on May 17, 1969.
• The day can be traced back to commemoration of the two significant events in the history of global communication.
• World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) commemorates two significant events in the history of global communication.
  • Firstly, it marks the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1865, when the first International Telegraph Convention was signed.
• Followed by, in November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) called upon the United Nations General Assembly to also declare May 17th as World Information Society Day.
  • And then in 2006, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, agreed to combine the two events as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
• This year’s World Telecommunications and Information Society Day 2024 focuses on the theme, “Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development,”  underlying how digital innovation may help link everyone and create sustainable prosperity for all.

About the International Telecommunication Union (ITU):

• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs).
• Established in 1865, it is the oldest among the UN’s 15 specialized agencies.
• ITU is responsible for allocating global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, developing technical standards to ensure network interconnectivity, and improving ICT access for underserved communities.
• Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ITU is part of the UN Development Group and operates 12 regional offices worldwide.
• It functions as an intergovernmental public-private partnership with 193 member states and around 800 sector members. India, a member since 1952, was re-elected to the ITU Council for the 2019-2022 term.

Why is it in the News?

The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Asia Pacific, in collaboration with other environmental organizations, has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take decisive action in response to plastic pollution.

About Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA):

• The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) is an alliance of over 1,000 grassroots groups, NGOs, and individuals working towards a transition from a linear, extractive economy to a circular system.
• GAIA's primary objective is to create a world that prioritizes people's right to a safe and healthy environment, free from toxic pollution and resource depletion.
• GAIA envisions a just, zero-waste world where communities' rights are respected, and ecological limits are acknowledged. To achieve this vision, the alliance focuses on:
• Eliminating Incineration: GAIA advocates for alternatives to incineration and promotes waste management practices that protect the environment and public health.
• Promoting Zero Waste: The alliance supports the adoption of zero-waste strategies, emphasizing waste reduction, reuse, and recycling to conserve resources and reduce pollution.
• Addressing Plastic Pollution: GAIA recognizes the global plastic pollution crisis and works on initiatives to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable alternatives.
• Mitigating Climate Change: GAIA advocates for climate-friendly waste management practices, emphasizing the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from waste disposal.

What is Incineration?

• Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves burning hazardous materials at high temperatures to destroy contaminants.
  • This process takes place in an "incinerator," a furnace specifically designed to safely burn hazardous materials within a combustion chamber.
• Various types of hazardous materials can be treated through incineration, including soil, sludge, liquids, and gases.
  • While incineration effectively destroys many harmful chemicals such as solvents, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and pesticides, it does not destroy metals like lead and chromium.
• Modern incinerators are equipped with air pollution control mechanisms, such as fabric filters, scrubbers, and electrostatic precipitators.
  • These technologies help remove fly ash and gaseous contaminants generated during the incineration process, mitigating its environmental impact.
  • Despite its benefits in waste treatment, incineration remains a topic of debate due to concerns about residual pollutants and the potential for contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.