5 September 2023

• Economy: India ranked 38th in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index 2023 with logistics costs at 13-14 per cent of GDP, against a government target of 8 per cent by 2030.
• Governance: The Adopt a Heritage 2.0 programme revamped ASI's framework to allow CSR funding for monument maintenance.
• Health: Project BHISHM's Aarogya Maitri Cube was highlighted as the world's first portable disaster hospital, airlifted in 72 modular units.
• Schemes: PM-DAKSH Yojana's upskilling support was detailed for SC, OBC, EBC and DNT communities.

GS area: Economy (infrastructure, competitiveness)

India ranked 38th out of 139 countries in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 2023, improving from 44th in 2018.

• What the LPI measures: six dimensions: customs efficiency, infrastructure quality, international shipments, logistics competence, tracking and tracing, and timeliness.
• India's logistics cost: 13-14 per cent of GDP. Developed economies typically run at around 8 per cent. The gap represents a significant competitiveness disadvantage for Indian exporters.
• PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan: a 100 lakh crore rupee infrastructure initiative launched in 2021 to integrate road, rail, port, waterway and logistics planning across ministries through a common digital platform.
• National Logistics Policy, 2022: a separate policy aiming to reduce logistics costs, improve the ranking and create a data-driven logistics ecosystem.
• 22 states with logistics policies: state-level logistics policies are now seen as essential for last-mile connectivity.

Static linkage: Indian economy (infrastructure, trade competitiveness), government schemes.

GS area: Government schemes (social justice, skill development)

PM-DAKSH (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi) Yojana is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2020-21 targeting Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Backward Classes, De-Notified Tribes and Safai Karamcharis.

• Implementing ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Age eligibility: 18 to 45 years.
• Income criteria: no income limit for SCs and DNTs; annual income below 3 lakh rupees for OBCs; below 1 lakh rupees for EBCs.
• Programme types: up-skilling (short-term, five days), short-term training (one to six months), long-term training (six months to one year) and entrepreneurship development programmes.
• Stipend: trainees receive a daily stipend for attending residential programmes.
• PM-DAKSH portal: a dedicated portal for registration, course browsing and certification.

Static linkage: government schemes (social justice, skill development).

GS area: Culture (heritage management), Economy (CSR)

The Archaeological Survey of India launched Adopt a Heritage 2.0, a revamped version of the original scheme that allows private and public sector companies to adopt and fund facilities at ASI-protected monuments using Corporate Social Responsibility funds.

• ASI mandate: the Archaeological Survey of India under the Ministry of Culture is responsible for maintaining over 3,690 centrally protected monuments under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
• Previous scheme: the original Adopt a Heritage scheme was criticised for slow implementation and unclear guidelines. The 2.0 version streamlines the application process.
• Indian Heritage app: an ASI app that allows tourists to access information about protected monuments, book visits and file feedback.
• E-permission portal: online permissions for events and photography at ASI sites.
• Linkage to tourism: better-maintained monuments improve tourist experience and India's soft power. The G20 tourism roadmap endorsed at New Delhi also referenced heritage tourism.

Static linkage: culture (heritage, ASI), governance (CSR, tourism).

GS area: Governance (disaster management), Science and Technology

The Aarogya Maitri Cube, developed under Project BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri), is promoted as the world's first portable hospital designed for rapid disaster deployment.

• Structure: 72 modular cubes, each airlifted separately, that assemble into a fully functional field hospital.
• Capacity: supports up to 200 survivors for 48 hours.
• Facilities included: operating theatres, mini-ICU, ventilators, laboratory equipment, X-ray capability, cooking facilities and power generation.
• Deployment doctrine: designed to reach a disaster zone within 12 hours by air. The cubes fit into standard cargo aircraft.
• BHISHM: the broader initiative aims to provide medical assistance during humanitarian crises, aligning with India's Health for All push and its role as a first responder in the region.

Static linkage: disaster management, governance (health), science and technology.

GS area: Economy (fisheries), Environment

A multi-purpose seaweed park was established at Valamavur in Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, covering 136 coastal fishing villages.

• Purpose: promote seaweed cultivation for livelihoods, export earnings and value-added product development such as carrageenan, agar and bioethanol.
• Seaweed economy: India's seaweed production is a fraction of China's, which dominates global supply. The Tamil Nadu coast has conditions suitable for large-scale cultivation.
• Employment: the park is designed to provide income alternatives to fishing communities affected by monsoon-season fishing bans.
• Ministry: the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is the nodal body for seaweed development.

Static linkage: economy (fisheries, blue economy), environment.

GS area: Environment, Economy

Only 11 per cent of domestic and industrial wastewater is currently reused in India. Wastewater treatment carries economic potential that India has yet to tap.

• Scale: domestic wastewater production is expected to rise by 24-38 per cent by 2030 with urbanisation.
• Potential: treated wastewater could supply ten times current global desalination volumes, irrigate approximately 40 million hectares and power the equivalent of 500 million people.
• Fertilizer replacement: nutrient recovery from wastewater could reduce global fertilizer use by over 10 per cent.
• Indian context: roughly 50 per cent of wastewater enters the environment untreated. The National Mission for Clean Ganga and Smart Cities Mission have wastewater treatment components, but implementation lags capacity.

Static linkage: environment (water management, urbanisation), economy.

• Vizag International Cruise Terminal: located at Visakhapatnam with a capacity of 2,000 passengers per vessel and an 8.1-metre draft. India has over 7,517 km of coastline, 12 major ports and approximately 200 non-major ports.
• Ecocide: the growing movement to make massive environmental destruction a crime under international law. Courts in Ecuador and several European nations have recognised rights of nature, but an international treaty remains absent.
• Sanatan Dharma: a Sanskrit term meaning "eternal religion" or "eternal law." Gained broad use in the late 19th century to denote Hindu orthodoxy against reform movements. Also used by Jains and Buddhists who believe in rebirth.