Why in News?

• India’s States collectively spend nearly ₹2.4 lakh crore annually on electricity subsidies, primarily for agriculture and domestic consumers.
• The Union government is increasingly repositioning its flagship solar schemes not merely as clean energy initiatives, but as fiscal reform tools aimed at gradually eliminating this subsidy burden.
• With India’s installed power capacity reaching 535 GW (March 2026)—including about 150 GW solar and 54% from non-fossil sources—solarisation is emerging as a key instrument in both energy transition and public finance restructuring.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Reframing Solar Policy - From Climate to Fiscal Strategy
• Key Schemes Driving the Transition
• Institutional and Policy Challenges
• Way Forward
• Conclusion

Reframing Solar Policy - From Climate to Fiscal Strategy:

• Programmes like PM-KUSUM (for agriculture) and PM Surya Ghar (for households) are now being framed as mechanisms to -
  • Replace subsidised grid electricity with low-cost solar power
  • Reduce States’ recurring subsidy outgo
• Over time, solarisation could eliminate cross-subsidy burdens, especially those borne by industrial and commercial users.

Key Schemes Driving the Transition:

• PM-KUSUM (Agricultural solarisation):
  • Focus: Solarisation of agricultural feeders and installation of standalone solar pumps.
  • Impact: Reduces dependence on expensive grid power and diesel pumps. Enables decentralised solar generation near substations.
• Case study (Maharashtra model):
  • Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana (MSKVY): Launched in 2017 for installing decentralised solar plants of 2-10 MW capacity within a 5 km radius of agriculture-dominated substations.
  • Outcomes: Reduction in cross-subsidy charges, ability to lower tariffs for consumers, and replacement of diesel pumps with solar pumps.
  • MSKVY 2.0 target: 16 GW. Far exceeds Central Financial Assistance (CFA) under PM-KUSUM (~4.5 GW).
• PM Surya Ghar (Rooftop solar for households):
  • Conventional model: Demand-driven, with about 35 lakh households covered. However, poor households with free/subsidised electricity lack incentive to adopt solar.
  • Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model:
    • Utility installs rooftop solar: Either through own capital or RESCO (renewable energy service company) model.
    • Benefits: Zero upfront cost for consumers. States save on domestic subsidy expenditure.
    • Coverage: Approved in States like Assam, Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh.
    • Target: 30 lakh installations through ULA and another 35 lakh through the normal mode, bringing the total to approximately 1 crore by March 2027 — the Surya Ghar scheme’s headline target.

Institutional and Policy Challenges:

• Fragmented governance: The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) lacks administrative authority (Under the Electricity Act, 2003, and the Energy Conservation Act, 2001) over India’s renewable energy sector.
• Domestic manufacturing vs cost efficiency:
  • The ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) mandates use of domestic solar equipment in government-backed projects to promote Atmanirbhar Bharat in solar manufacturing.
  • However, domestic equipment is costlier and in limited supply, and States may prefer cheaper imports (e.g., Chinese solar cells) potentially undermining domestic industry.
• Behavioural and structural constraints: Poor households lack economic incentive to shift to solar, vendors face supply constraints and cost pressures, and States vary in fiscal capacity and political willingness. 

Way Forward:

• Policy and institutional reforms:
  • The MNRE should be recognised as the “Central Government” in all matters pertaining to renewables under the Electricity Act, 2003.
  • Strengthen coordination between the MNRE, Ministry of Power, and the State DISCOMs.
• Scaling innovative models: Expand ULA for inclusive solar adoption. Replicate Maharashtra’s decentralised solar feeder model across States.
• Balancing domestic manufacturing and affordability: Rationalise ALMM norms to ensure availability and affordability of domestic equipment. Provide incentives for domestic manufacturing scale-up, and technology upgrades.
• Fiscal incentivisation for States: Link central assistance to reduction in subsidy burden, adoption of solarisation models.

Conclusion:

• India’s solar push is undergoing a strategic shift—from a climate-centric narrative to a fiscal sustainability framework.
• By leveraging schemes like PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar, the Centre aims to transform recurring subsidy liabilities into capital investments in clean energy.
• However, success hinges on resolving institutional fragmentation, manufacturing constraints, and behavioural barriers.
• If effectively scaled, solarisation could become a cornerstone of both India’s energy transition and fiscal federalism reform.

Why in News?

• The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) across multiple States aimed to clean electoral rolls by removing duplicate, migrated, and deceased voters, while also identifying “illegal immigrants”.
• However, its implementation in West Bengal has triggered a major political, legal, and institutional controversy, raising concerns about electoral integrity and democratic inclusion.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Objectives and Scope of SIR
• Scale and Impact in West Bengal
• Judicial Intervention - An Extraordinary Step
• Political Fallout
• Key Challenges
• Way Forward
• Conclusion

Objectives and Scope of SIR:

• Purification of electoral rolls (removal of ASDD - Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate voters).
• Identification of ineligible or illegal voters.
• Use of technology (AI-based verification) for large-scale scrutiny.
• Conducted in 13 States/UTs, but most contentious in West Bengal.

Scale and Impact in West Bengal:

• Mass deletions and data concerns:
  • Initial voters: 7.66 crore in November 2025.
  • Draft rolls: Voters in West Bengal reduced to about 7 crore in December 2025.
  • Total deletions (so far) of about 90.8 lakh, reducing the final eligible voters to 6.77 crore.
• Categories of concern:
  • 30 lakh “unmapped voters”, with no linkage with 2002 revision.
  • 1.2 crore “logical discrepancy” cases, identified (through the AI-based scrutiny) anomalies such as -
    • Spelling mismatches in names (2002 vs 2025)
    • More than six voters linked to one ancestor
    • Implausible parent-child age gaps (outside 15–45 years)
    • Grandparent-voter age gap less than 40 years
    • Gender-name inconsistencies
  • 60 lakh voters are placed under “adjudication” and excluded from voting temporarily.
• Outcome: About 1.5 crore cases flagged, 60 lakh remained disputed after hearings, resulting in mass exclusion pending verification.

Judicial Intervention - An Extraordinary Step:

• Role of the SC: The Supreme Court of India termed the situation a “trust deficit” between the ECI and the State government, and ordered judicial supervision of the adjudication process.
• Implementation: The Bench led by the CJI Surya Kant, deployed about 700 judicial officers from WB, Odisha, Jharkhand, and took over quasi-judicial roles of EROs/AEROs (Electoral Registration Officers/Assistant Electoral Registration Officers).
• Results: 27 lakh names struck down, while remaining cases referred to 19 special tribunals. Many affected voters are unlikely to vote due to a roll freeze before elections.

Political Fallout:

• State vs Centre narrative:
  • The ruling political party in West Bengal allegedly targeted disenfranchisement, and criticised the timing and scale of SIR.
  • However, the Central government supported the process as necessary electoral cleansing.
• Electoral implications: SIR has become a central campaign issue, raises questions about free and fair elections.
• Concerns raised by Civil Society:
  • Allegations of bias: Disproportionate deletion of Muslim voters, for example, in Nandigram (95% deletions allegedly Muslims). High deletions in Muslim-majority districts like Murshidabad, Malda, and Uttar Dinajpur.
  • Gender dimension: Women voters, especially in Matua communities, reportedly affected.
  • Democratic critique: Termed as “rewriting” rather than revision of electoral rolls.

Key Challenges:

• Trust deficit: Breakdown of confidence between constitutional body (ECI) and elected government.
• Algorithmic transparency: Lack of clarity on AI-based decision-making raises accountability concerns.
• Disenfranchisement risks: Large-scale exclusions threaten universal adult suffrage.
• Institutional overreach: Judiciary stepping into executive functions raises separation of powers issues.
• Electoral integrity vs inclusion: Balancing clean rolls with inclusive democracy.

Way Forward:

• Transparent methodology: Public disclosure of AI criteria and audit mechanisms.
• Strengthening due process: Adequate time, documentation support, and grievance redressal for voters.
• Independent oversight: Third-party or parliamentary scrutiny to ensure neutrality.
• Safeguards against bias: Periodic social audits to prevent targeted exclusion (religion/gender).
• Institutional coordination: Better cooperation between ECI, State governments, and judiciary.

Conclusion:

• The West Bengal SIR episode underscores a deeper tension between electoral integrity and democratic inclusiveness.
• While cleaning electoral rolls is essential for credible elections, the scale, methodology, and timing of such exercises must inspire public trust.
• The controversy reveals that procedural fairness, transparency, and institutional credibility are as vital as the objective of electoral purification itself.

About Shree Chamundeshwari Temple:

• It is a Hindu temple located on the top of Chamundi Hills in Karnataka.
• It is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari, who is an avatar of Durga.
• The original shrine is considered to be built by the Hoysala rulers from the 12th century and later by the Vijayanagara Empire in the 17th century.
• Notable though are the 1000-odd, stone stairway steps that lead to the temple carved sometime in mid-17th CE by Maharaja Dodda Devaraja of Mysuru.
• It is considered as Shakti Peetha and is one among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas.
• Architecture:
  • The temple is of a quadrangular structure.
  • Built in Dravidian style, it consists of the main doorway, entrance, Navaranga Hall, Antharala Mantapa, Sanctum Sanctorum, and
  • There is a beautiful seven-tier Gopura, or pyramidal tower, at the entrance and a ‘Vimana’ (small tower) atop the sanctum sanctorum.
  • The gopuram, adorned with colourful sculptures of gods, goddesses, and mythical figures, is visible from miles away.
  • The tower at the entrance has a small image of Lord Ganesha on the doorway.
  • The doorway is silver-plated and has the images of the Goddess in different forms.

About Canary Islands:

• The Canary Islands are an archipelago located off the northwest coast of Africa in the Macaronesia region of the North Atlantic Ocean.
• Geographically, the archipelago is part of continental Africa, but politically and economically it is part of Europe.
• The archipelago is a Spanish territory and is its southernmost autonomous community.
• It is Macaronesia’s largest and most populated archipelago.
• Some of the largest islands in the archipelago are Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife.
• The archipelago is the only Spanish region where a volcanic eruption has taken place in the modern era.
• Most beaches along the Canaries have black sand due to their volcanic composition.
• Climate: Desertic and tropical, moderated by trade winds and the surrounding sea.
• The islands’ location in the Atlantic Ocean and their proximity to four continents (Africa, Europe, and the Americas) make them a popular tourist destination.

About Woolly-Necked Stork:

• Woolly-Necked Stork, also known as the White-necked Stork or Bishop Stork, is a large wading bird belonging to the stork family, Ciconiidae.
• Scientific Name: Ciconia episcopus
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • It is a widespread tropical species, which breeds in Africa and in Asia from India to Indonesia.
  • In India, it is most commonly found in the northern states.
  • It typically inhabits open grasslands, paddy fields, riverbanks, ponds, and other wetland areas.
• Features:
  • It is predominantly carnivorous, its diet consisting of fish, frogs, toads, snakes, lizards, large insects and larvae, crabs, molluscs, and marine invertebrates.
  • It forages by slowly walking through water or vegetation, stabbing at prey.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

About Hwasong-11Ga:

• The Hwasong-11Ga, known as the KN-23 in the West, is a short-range ballistic missile.
• It was developed by North Korea.
• Features:
  • It is a single-stage, solid-fuel missile fitted with a cluster munition warhead.
  • It can carry a nuclear, chemical, or conventional warhead weighing around 500 kg.
  • With a range of 600-700 km and a circular error probable (CEP) of 5 to 30 meters, the missile is notably accurate.

What Makes Cluster Bombs the ‘devil’s weapon’?

• Cluster munitions are widely considered among the most controversial weapons in modern warfare.
• A single missile or bomb releases dozens to hundreds of smaller submunitions in mid-air, dispersing them across a wide target area.
• This characteristic has earned them the nickname “devil’s weapon” due to their indiscriminate nature.
• Unlike conventional precision strikes, cluster bombs do not distinguish between military and civilian targets.
• Many submunitions also fail to explode on impact, remaining on the ground as unexploded ordnance, posing long-term threats to civilians.

About PACE Satellite:

• The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) is a NASA satellite mission that studies global ocean biology, aerosols, and clouds.
• It was launched in 2024 into a Sun-synchronous orbit.
• It provides the world’s first and only hyperspectral coverage of the globe every 1-2 days.
• PACE's primary instrument is the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), a highly advanced optical spectrometer to measure the ocean’s colour across a spectrum from ultraviolet to shortwave infrared.
  • It enables continuous measurement of light at finer wavelength resolution than previous NASA satellite instruments, extending key system ocean color data records for climate studies.
• It also features two polarimeters – the Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration (SPEXone) and the Hyper Angular Research Polarimeter (HARP2).
  • These are used to measure how the oscillation of sunlight within a geometric plane - known as its polarization - is changed by passing through clouds, aerosols, and the ocean.
• The data from PACE allows researchers to study microscopic life in the ocean and particles in the air, advancing the understanding of issues including fisheries health, harmful algal blooms, air pollution, and wildfire smoke.
• With PACE, scientists also can investigate how the ocean and atmosphere interact with each other and are affected by a changing climate.

About ALH MK-III Helicopter:

• It is the maritime variant of the indigenous Dhruv Advanced Helicopter.
• These have been indigenously manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• Features of ALH MK-III Helicopter:
  • It is a multi-role twin-engine helicopter equipped for demanding maritime operations.
  • It is equipped with advanced avionics, a modern glass cockpit, and night operation capability.
• Uses: It used for maritime surveillance, search and rescue, casualty evacuation, coastal security, law enforcement, VIP travel, troop transport, logistics, and anti-piracy.
• Significance: The ALH Mk III (MR) significantly strengthens the Indian Coast Guard’s operational readiness across diverse maritime scenarios.

Key Facts about Indian Coast Guard

• It is a maritime armed force operating under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 
• It was raised on February 1, 1977.
• It was formally established in 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 as an independent armed force of India.
• Functions: The ICG was envisioned to address emerging maritime challenges and safeguard India’s expanding marine interests.
• The Headquarters of the ICG is located in New Delhi, and is under the command of the Director General Indian Coast Guard.
• Moto: “VAYAM RAKSHAMAH” – WE PROTECT.

About Mauritius:

• Location: It is an island country located off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean.
• It is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
• Both the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Indian Ocean Commission have their headquarters in Mauritius.
• Capital City: Port Louis
• Geographical Features of Mauritius:
  • Terrain: It is made up of the main island of Mauritius and several outlying islands, like Ambre Island, Est Island, Cerfs Island, Benitiers Island, etc.
  • The island of Mauritius is a volcanic island formed by volcanic activity around 8 million years ago. 
  • Climate: The climate is maritime subtropical, with fairly uniform temperatures throughout the year.
  • Highest peak: Mount Piton
  • Lakes: Lake Vacoas, which is a main water source.
  • Major Rivers: Grand River South East and the Black River.