Not By ‘Vande Bharat’ Alone

Topic: GS-III, Infrastructure

Context:

• The performance of the Indian Railways, as the country’s primary transporter and most significant public undertaking, should not be judged solely based on well-publicised services.
• Instead, it implies a more comprehensive and nuanced assessment of the railway’s overall performance is necessary.

Vande Bharat Express and other railway reforms needed:

• The National Rail Plan 2030 (NRP) aims to increase the rail share in freight traffic from 27% to 45% by 2050.
• The NRP also aims to increase the average speed of goods trains from 25 kmph to 50 kmph and reduce tariff rates for freight by up to 30%.
• Despite these targets, the share of freight carried by the Indian Railways has decreased from 51.5% in 2008-09 to 32.4% in 2018-19 for leads over 300 km.
• It is essential to explore challenges and potential solutions to increase the rail share in freight transportation.

Freight transport by railway:

• Almost all of the increase in traffic carried by rail over the decade from 2008-09 to 2018-19 has been in short lead traffic (leads up to 300 km).
• 55% of this increase is due to transporting just one commodity – coal.
• There is no diversification of commodities carried or an increase in rail share compared to road transport.

Other core issues related to railways:

• Punctuality:
  1. Punctuality is considered the most critical operational index in passenger transportation.
  2. The Indian Railways should achieve international punctuality standards, similar to the Japanese Railways.
  3. Published statistics on punctuality may need to be more accurate as they do not consider delays at critical intermediate stations.
  4. The traditional concept of destination punctuality should be replaced with an index; this proposal should be possible with advancements in IT and data analytics.
  5. The Government should consider tabling an annual report on the performance of the Railways in Parliament, similar to the annual Economic Survey.
  6. The report should serve as an internal performance audit, providing valuable resources for policymakers, serious students, and researchers in rail transport.
  7. The report should objectively and comprehensively assess the Railways’ performance, highlighting achievements and shortcomings.
     

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Should India consider phasing out nuclear power?

Topic: GS-III, Science & Tech.

Context:

• Germany has shut down its last nuclear power plants, and France, the nuclear powerhouse of the world, is struggling to replenish its stock of ageing reactors.
• There are questions about the relevance of nuclear power in a fossil-free future in India, where solar and wind power are becoming increasingly popular.

Present status of nuclear power in India:

• Nuclear power accounts for 2.5% to 3.2% of India’s installed and generated power.

Issues related to nuclear power:

• The main concern about nuclear power is the high cost of building and maintaining nuclear power plants.
• Safety is another concern, as nuclear accidents can have catastrophic consequences, as seen in the Chornobyl and Fukushima disasters.
• The storage and disposal of nuclear waste is also a challenge, as it remains radioactive for thousands of years and must be stored securely to prevent contamination of the environment.
• Proponents of nuclear power argue that it is a reliable source of clean energy that can provide baseload power and reduce carbon emissions.
• However, nuclear power’s high cost and safety concerns have led many countries to shift towards renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
• Supplier of components being exposed to various liabilities, including criminal liability, in case of an accident.

Need of nuclear power generation for India:

• Thermal power – which dominates India’s power sector, requires approximately five million tonnes of coal per year, which produces ash that can be detrimental to the water source. In addition, there are environmental – air pollution issues associated with thermal power generation.
• Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar have their issues – as they are variable and intermittent sources, challenges associated with grid integration, High initial cost etc.

Advantages of nuclear energy

• Nuclear power is low-carbon and provides firm, dispatchable power, unlike intermittent wind and solar power.
• A mix of supply-side and demand-side options is needed to solve energy problems; nuclear energy can provide a dynamic solution to India’s power requirements.

Way forward:

• The Government should devise a policy enabling frameworks for all technologies to play a role in the energy mix.
• Nuclear power’s advantages, such as being low carbon, firm, and reliable, should be considered alongside other technologies.
• Civil liability and support mechanisms can enable nuclear energy to compete with other sources.
• The performance of nuclear energy should be monitored and evaluated regularly to determine its role in the energy mix.

Mindless violence: threats that Maoists still possess.

Context:

• The recent attack by Maoists in south Bastar indicates that the group still possesses significant strength and capability.

Maoist movement in India:

• The Maoist movement in India is a communist insurgency that began in the late 1960s.
• Maoist groups are also known as Naxalites, named after the village of Naxalbari in West Bengal, where the movement originated.
• Maoists aimed to overthrow the Indian Government and establish a communist state through armed struggle.
• The movement is active in several states across India, with the highest concentration of activity in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar.

Reasons for the emergence of Naxalism in India:

• Socio-economic inequalities: such as landlessness, poverty, and lack of access to education and healthcare, especially among tribal communities and other marginalised groups.
• The exploitation of natural resources: including land, forests, and minerals, by Government and corporate entities without adequate compensation or consultation with local communities.
• Political alienation and corruption: politicians and officials have failed to address the grievances of marginalised communities and address the problem with the proper policy measures.
• Violence against marginalised communities: including police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and displacement due to development projects.
• The failure of democratic institutions: Panchayati Raj institutions and the local self-government are absent in many naxalite-affected areas.
• The lack of redressal channels to address these issues leads to frustration and disillusionment among affected communities.
• Ideological and organisational factors: the influence of Maoism and other leftist ideologies.

Way forward:

• Addressing socio-economic grievances: The Government needs to focus on providing basic infrastructure, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities to the people in these areas.
• Intelligence gathering and sharing: Information gathering and sharing among security agencies can help prevent and control Naxalism.
• Coordinated action: The central and state governments need to work together and coordinate their efforts to tackle the Naxalite threat. This includes sharing intelligence, joint operations, and intelligence-led targeted operations.
• Use of technology: Using drones, surveillance cameras, and satellite imagery can aid in tracking and locating Naxalites.
• Rehabilitation and reintegration of surrendered Naxalites: The Government can think of providing them with alternative livelihood opportunities and a chance to start anew.
• Addressing human rights violations: Security forces must adhere to human rights norms while carrying out operations.
• Dialogue and negotiations: The Government can also engage in conversation with the Naxalites to understand their demands and find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Steps taken by the Indian Government to tackle the issue:

• Development of Red Corridor: The Government has identified specific areas in the country as the “Red Corridor”, most affected by Naxalism. The Government has focused on improving the infrastructure and development in these areas to tackle the problem of Naxalism.
• Special Forces: The Government has raised special forces such as the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), Greyhounds and Special Operation Group (SOG) to tackle the Naxal threat.
• Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy: The Government has implemented a surrender and rehabilitation policy to encourage Naxalites to give up violence and join the mainstream.
• Intelligence Sharing: The Government has improved intelligence gathering and sharing among various security agencies to gather information on the activities of Naxalites.
• Community Policing: The Government has encouraged the formation of local community policing groups to help maintain law and order in Naxal-affected areas.
• Focus on Education and Employment: Several schemes have been started to create livelihood opportunities and employment in Naxalite areas.
• Strengthening of State Police Forces: The Government has provided funds and training to state police forces to strengthen their capabilities to deal with the Naxal threat.