Tatas to make Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage after deal with Dassault
The salt-to-software conglomerate Tata group will now make a key equipment used in Rafale fighter jets.
Tata Advanced Systems on Thursday announced its deal with Dassault Aviation to manufacture Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage for India and other global markets.
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Hans India
30 minutes ago
- Hans India
Tata-Dassault fuselage deal will boost manufacturing in general
The signing of four Production Transfer Agreements by Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) to manufacture the Rafale fighter fuselage in India is a big fillip to not just defence production in the country but also manufacturing in general. The French plane-maker rightly said that it marks 'a significant step forward in strengthening the country's aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting global supply chains.' The fuselage of an aircraft is its central body portion, excluding the engines, tail, and wings. It houses the cockpit, avionics, fuel, and payload—essentially serving as the backbone of the aircraft. In the case of Rafale, a multirole fighter jet renowned for its agility, advanced avionics, and combat effectiveness, manufacturing the fuselage involves high-precision engineering, advanced composites, and tight tolerances. Bringing such a sophisticated process to Indian soil reflects the maturity of the country's aerospace manufacturing environment and the trust global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly placing in Indian firms. In recent years, numerous Indian companies have emerged as key players in the defence manufacturing sector, contributing to the country's vision of self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme. Major public sector undertakings like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, and Bharat Dynamics Limited have long been at the forefront of producing aircraft, radars, missiles, and other critical defence systems. Alongside them, private sector giants such as TASL, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Mahindra Defence Systems, and Bharat Forge have significantly expanded their footprint in defence production. These companies manufacture a wide range of equipment, including artillery systems, armoured vehicles, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), and missile components. Their growing capabilities are further boosted by partnerships with global defence firms, enabling technology transfer and joint ventures. This robust participation from both public and private sectors is crucial for reducing import dependence and building a strong, indigenous defence industrial base. The Dassault-TASL partnership is a testament to the vision of the Make in India initiative, which has been pushing for increased localisation in defence procurement. By transferring production capabilities to India, Dassault is enabling Indian companies to climb up the value chain—from low-end assembly to high-end design and production. The collaboration with TASL, a company already experienced in aerospace production, enhances India's ability to build a complex, high-performance defence product and helps cultivate a local ecosystem of skilled workers, advanced suppliers, and engineering talent. Furthermore, this move significantly reduces India's reliance on imports for critical defence hardware, contributing to strategic autonomy. Over the decades, India has been one of the world's largest arms importers. While importing advanced weapon systems has been necessary to meet immediate defence requirements, long-term sustainability lies in indigenisation. The Rafale fuselage manufacturing agreement is, therefore, more than a business deal—it is a step toward building a sustainable and technologically advanced defence industrial base within India. The economic implications of this development are equally profound. High-technology manufacturing generates employment across the value chain—from technicians and engineers to logistics and quality assurance personnel. The joint venture will not only create direct employment but also foster ancillary industries, leading to the development of an aerospace manufacturing cluster with potential spillover benefits to the civilian aviation sector. The infrastructure and capabilities established through this programme can later be leveraged for commercial aerospace production, such as passenger aircraft components, thereby further integrating India into the global aerospace supply chain.
India.com
10 hours ago
- India.com
Rafale Fighter Jet Gets Make In India Twist; Tata Partners With Dassault To Manufacture Jet Fuselage Domestically
MUMBAI: French aerospace company Dassault Aviation has signed four Production Transfer Agreements to manufacture the Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage in India, in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems. This marks a significant step forward in strengthening the country's aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting global supply chains. "This facility represents a significant investment in India's aerospace infrastructure and will serve as a critical hub for high-precision manufacturing," a joint statement said Thursday. Under the scope of the partnership, Tata Advanced Systems will set up a cutting-edge production facility in Hyderabad for the manufacture of key structural sections of the Rafale, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section. The first fuselage sections are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2027-28, with the facility expected to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month. "For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France. This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India. Thanks to the expansion of our local partners, including TASL, one of the major players in the Indian aerospace industry, this supply chain will contribute to the successful ramp-up of the Rafale and, with our support, will meet our quality and competitiveness requirements," said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, said, "This partnership marks a significant step in India's aerospace journey. The production of the complete Rafale fuselage in India underscores the deepening trust in Tata Advanced Systems' capabilities and the strength of our collaboration with Dassault Aviation. It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms." The signing of these contracts reflects Dassault Aviation's strong commitment to India's 'Make in India' and AtmaNirbhar initiatives. This partnership aims to strengthen India's position as a key player in the global aerospace supply chain while supporting its goal of greater economic self-reliance. Over the last century, Dassault Aviation has delivered over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,700 Falcons) in more than 90 countries. Tata Advanced Systems Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, is a significant player for aerospace and defence solutions in India. TASL offers a full range of integrated solutions across: Aerostructures & Aeroengines, Airborne Platforms & Systems, Defence & Security, and Land Mobility. Tata Advanced Systems has a strong portfolio of partnerships and joint ventures with leading global aerospace and defence firms. As part of the 'Atmanirbhar' and Make in India plans, the government launched various schemes, including the production-linked incentive (PLI), in multiple sectors to make Indian manufacturers globally competitive, attract investments, enhance exports, integrate India into the global supply chain, and reduce dependency on imports. Defence production in India has surged to historic highs with the government's thrust on the Make in India initiative. The government invests heavily in defence and aerospace manufacturing, with several defence hubs being set up. Notably, many global companies have either shared or shown intent to share critical defence and aerospace knowledge with India.
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: India's Defence Sector, United Nations Security Council and Brahmaputra
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for June 6, 2025. If you missed the June 5, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Made-in-India Rafale fuselage from 2027-28: Tata, Dassault ink pact for Hyderabad facility Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. What's the ongoing story: In a boost to defence and aerospace manufacturing in India, the country is set to become the first nation other than France where the fuselage of the Rafale fighter aircraft will be manufactured. Key Points to Ponder: • India's Defence Sector-What you know about the same so far? • What are the some important developments in India's Defence Sector? (Assess before and after operation Sindoor) • What are the key issues and challenges with India's Defence Sector? • What is fuselage? • How the fuselage manufacturing in India will boost aerospace manufacturing in India? Key Takeaways: • Under a partnership between France's Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL), the later will set up a 'cutting-edge' production facility in Hyderabad for the manufacture of key structural sections of the Rafale, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section. • The first fuselage sections are expected to roll off the Hyderabad assembly line in the financial year 2027-28, with the facility expected to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month. The facility will cater to India as well as other global markets of the medium multi-role combat aircraft. Fuselage is the outer body or shell of the aircraft and holds all the pieces of the aircraft together. • The Indian Air Force already operates 36 Rafales. The Indian Navy will induct 26 Rafale Marine jets by 2030 as part of the Rs 63,000-crore deal between India and France inked in April this year. • The deal included provisions for technology transfer and the establishment of maintenance and production facilities in India. Apart from France and India, the Rafale—a 4.5th generation fighter aircraft—is deployed in or on order from various countries, including Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, Greece, Indonesia, Croatia, and Serbia. Do You Know: • Dassault Aviation and TASL have signed four production transfer agreements to manufacture the Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage in India, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the country's aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting global supply chains. This facility represents a significant investment in India's aerospace infrastructure and will serve as a critical hub for high-precision manufacturing, Dassault and TASL said in a joint release. The companies did not provide information on the financials and other specifics of the proposed project. • India has been pushing for local defence and aerospace manufacturing and TASL is a key private sector player in the sector, with presence in segments including aerostructures and aero-engines, airborne platforms and systems, defence and security, and land mobility. • The company has a strong portfolio of partnerships and joint ventures with leading global aerospace and defence firms. Among its key projects is the final assembly line for made-in-India Airbus C295 tactical airlift aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Expert Explains: Why induction of 26 new Rafale M aircraft matters for the Indian Navy GOVT & POLITICS Unease in India as Pak to chair, co-chair UNSC anti-terror panels Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. What's the ongoing story: Pakistan's appointment to key counter-terrorism bodies at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) — chair of the sanctions committee against Taliban, vice-chair of counter-terrorism panel formed after 9/11, and a working group on the UN sanctions regime — has left many red faces in New Delhi. Key Points to Ponder: • Pakistan's appointment to key counter-terrorism bodies at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)-know in detail • What are the key counter-terrorism bodies at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)? • Discuss the role of the 1267 and 1540 Committees in global counter-terrorism. • What is the Security Council? • Non-permanent members and permanent members-compare and contrast • Who are the 15 members of the UNSC? • How the monthly presidency of the Council is selected? • How Voting System works in United Nations Security Council • On what basis was Security Council permanent membership granted? • How are the non-permanent members of the Security Council selected? • Are UN resolutions binding? • How does the Security Council determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression? • 'Veto power was granted in the UN Charter 77 years ago to encourage each other, but it has turned out that the power is being used to block'-Analyse • 'UN Security Council (UNSC) has become 'paralysed' and 'dysfunctional' in its 'present form', as it has not been able to take any decision since the Russia-Ukraine war started'-How far you agree with the given statement? • India and United Nations-Know in detail • What has been India's stand on UN reformation? Key Takeaways: • According to sources, there is a 'sense of disquiet' and 'unease' in South Block, since this goes contrary to India's efforts to portray Pakistan as the epicentre of terrorism — just over a month after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which was followed by Operation Sindoor that led to four days of military confrontation between India and Pakistan. • Last month, India sent multi-party delegations to various foreign capitals, including all current and upcoming members of the UNSC, in an attempt to rally support for its war against terror emanating from Pakistan. • Sources said Pakistan was appointed to these key panels on May 29, but the matter was made public in the last couple of days, while the Indian teams were touring these countries. An Indian delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor visited New York last month, and is again in Washington DC for engagements with the US Congress, think tanks and media. • Appointment to these panels must have the concurrence of both permanent and non-permanent members of the UNSC. The development signals that Pakistan has been able to get its way, with the help of China and other members of the UNSC. • Significantly, a high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by Senate Chairman and former Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, concluded a visit to the UN headquarters in New York earlier this week. The delegation held a series of meetings with senior UN officials and diplomats from various member states. • Pakistan has also sent a high-level multi-party political delegation to New York, Washington DC, London, Brussels and Moscow, led by its former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to canvas for support in its favour. Do You Know: • Islamabad will now chair the UNSC committee established under Resolution 1988 (2011), which oversees the implementation of sanctions against the Taliban. It has also been named vice chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), which monitors implementation of Resolution 1373 (2001), a core component of the UN's global counter-terrorism architecture. • India has friends on the Taliban sanctions committee, too, where Guyana and Russia are vice-chairs. The working group on sanctions has Greece as a co-chair. This is important since India has been trying to get a number of Pakistan-based terrorists sanctioned, while Beijing and Islamabad have been blocking such moves. • New Delhi is hoping that these co-chairs and vice-chairs will act as a counter-balance and counter-weight to keep Pakistan's anti-India propaganda moves in check. • Sources said the most important counter-terrorism committee, under UNSC Resolution 1267, is, however, led by Denmark as chair and Russia and Sierra Leone as co-chairs. Earlier, India chaired the UNSC 1267 ISIL and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee in 2022, responsible for monitoring and implementing sanctions against individuals and entities associated with the two outfits. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: India at the United Nations high table CAG holds horizontal audit of JJM, reports soon Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: • General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes • General Studies II: Important aspects of governance What's the ongoing story: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is conducting an extensive performance audit of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the government's flagship scheme aimed at providing tap water connections to all rural households, The Indian Express has learnt. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the Jal Jeevan Mission? • Jal Jeevan Mission comes under which Ministry? • Why Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is conducting an extensive performance audit of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)? • What are the issue highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)? • What is a horizontal audit? • What is a vertical audit? • The CAG is conducting a horizontal audit of the Mission-Why? • What is the funding pattern of Jal Jeevan Mission? • Is the Jal Jeevan Mission a centrally sponsored scheme? Key Takeaways: • According to sources, the JJM audit exercise is in an advanced stage and reports are expected soon. The process began about one and a half years ago after the CAG included the subject in its audit plan. It is covering the implementation of the JJM in states from the financial year 2019-20 to 2023-24. • The CAG is conducting a horizontal audit of the Mission, through its field offices led by Principal Accountant Generals (PAGs) or Accountants General (AGs), across all states. • The fieldwork in most states is over, while in some of the states, the exercise is at the report-writing stage, said a source. Reports of two states have already reached the CAG headquarters, the source said. • Once the reports are finalised, they will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly of respective states, said the source. • The audit is conducted at state level and not at the national level as the state governments are at the forefront of implementing the JJM. All aspects of JJM implementation, including planning and financial performance, are covered under the audit. The reasons behind cost escalations will also be examined across the states, said a source. • According to sources, the CAG picks up a scheme for audit usually after 70-80% expenditure is over. The JJM started in 2019-20. In the initial years, the expenditure was low. Therefore, the CAG selected it for audit after the first phase was completed in 2023-24, said the source. • Along with JJM, the CAG is also conducting a horizontal audit of MGNREGS across states and these reports are also expected to be finalised soon. The last time CAG conducted a nation-wide audit of the NREGS was in 2013. Do You Know: • The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, aimed to provide tap connections to about 16 crore rural households to achieve saturation coverage by December end 2024. But only 75 per cent of the target could be achieved over five years, and the remaining 4 crore tap connections are now proposed to be installed by extending the mission by four years till December 31, 2028. • This is the first major audit of the JJM since its launch in 2019. The CAG had conducted a performance audit of the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) of which a report was presented in 2018. It covered the period from 2012 to 2017. In 2019, the Centre subsumed the NRDWP to launch the JJM. Since then, this is the first audit exercise conducted by the CAG. • The Centre has deployed over 100 teams of Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) for 'ground inspection' of the JJM schemes across the country. The move followed a meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary on May 8 to review the JJM schemes. • Since the launch of the Mission in 2019, around 6.4 lakh water supply schemes with total estimated cost of Rs 8.29 lakh crore — more than double of the scheme's original outlay of Rs 3.6 lakh crore (Centre: Rs 2.08 lakh crore, States:1.52 lakh crore) — have been approved by the states. • To meet the additional requirement of funds, the Jal Shakti Ministry had approached the Expenditure Finance Committee, headed by the Expenditure Secretary, to approve Rs 2.79 lakh crore additional Central funding over and above Rs 2.08 lakh crore. However, the EFC recommended only Rs 1.51 lakh crore as the Central share, which is 46% lower than Rs 2.79 lakh crore sought by the Jal Shakti Ministry, as reported by The Indian Express on April 21, 2023. • The sources said the CAG has also initiated a horizontal audit of several other central schemes like Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, Welfare of Building and other Construction Workers, Green India Mission and Smart City Mission. The JJM audit will be similar to that. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Jal Shakti wants `2.79 lakh cr more for flagship water scheme, panel clears half Previous year UPSC Main Question Covering similar theme: 📍What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India? (2019) EXPLAINED 'Muslim ban' to US security: Trump's no-entry signs, 2017-25 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests. What's the ongoing story: US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday banning citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, effective Monday, June 9. Similar restrictions were instituted during Trump's first term (2017-21), but they faced legal challenges. Key Points to Ponder: • Which countries are included in the ban? • Is there a precedent to the ban? • How is this ban different? • Examine the evolution of U.S. travel bans under President Trump. • How did the new version differ in legal and political terms from the original 'Muslim ban'? • Discuss the implications of U.S. travel bans on international mobility and global migration governance. • How do travel bans challenge the principles of non-discrimination and religious freedom in international law? Key Takeaways: • The move also comes on the heels of a terror attack by an Egyptian man in the state of Colorado earlier this week, which left 12 people injured. 'The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas,' Trump said while announcing the ban. 'We don't want them.' • Citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen will be banned. The proclamation also partially restricts people travelling from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. • A White House Fact Sheet said the country-specific bans would 'encourage cooperation with the subject countries in recognition of each country's unique circumstances'. Each country could seek talks with the US to ease the restrictions — a process similar to the trade deals being negotiated after Trump's tariff announcements. Do You Know: • The countries were identified based on: —A perceived threat to US national security from their limited screening and vetting processes —A 'disregard' for US immigration laws through high visa overstay rates —Presence of terrorist actors (some even state-sponsored) —Unwillingness to accept their removable nationals. The fact sheet explicitly termed Iran and Cuba 'state sponsors of terrorism', and Somalia a 'terrorist safe haven'. It mentioned that Afghanistan is controlled by the Taliban – a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group'. • Further, the document claimed that 'hundreds of thousands of illegal Haitian aliens flooded into the United States during the Biden Administration', and cited 'national security threats.' During his election campaign last year, Trump had said immigrants were 'eating the pets', including cats, in the city of Springfield, Ohio. Unsubstantiated claims of Haitian immigrants 'abducting' pets were also repeated by his running mate and now Vice President, JD Vance. • Legal experts told The New York Times that the ban could withstand legal scrutiny better. 'They seem to have learned some lessons from the three different rounds of litigation we went through during the first Trump administration,' Stephen Vladeck, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center, told The NYT. 'But a lot will depend upon how it's actually enforced — and whether it's applied in ways that are themselves unlawful or even unconstitutional.' Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍What to know about Trump's new travel ban on 12 countries Hydrology of the Brahmaputra Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighborhood- relations. What's the ongoing story: In recent days, discussions around water sharing and regional water security have taken a new turn in South Asia, especially following India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work-Brahmaputra (Origin, Course and Drainage pattern) • Know about Medog (or Motuo) Hydropower Project • What interventions does China plan? • How much of the Brahmaputra's water yield is generated in India? • To what extent can upstream interventions reduce the Brahmaputra's flow? • How is India using the water potential of the Brahmaputra system? • What should India do in regard to China and the Brahmaputra? • Could Chinese dam-building activity interfere with flows in the Indus river system, specifically the flow of the Sutlej? Key Takeaways: • India has been monitoring Chinese infrastructure interventions on the river. Most are hydropower projects with minimal storage, and are located far upstream of Arunachal Pradesh, with no significant impact in Arunachal or Assam. • A major concern is the planned Medog (or Motuo) Hydropower Project, a massive dam in Medog County near the 'Great Bend' where the river makes a U-turn and plunges into a canyon before entering Arunachal Pradesh. • According to reports, the planned 60,000-MW Medog project will be the world's largest hydropower facility, with a generation capacity three times that of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze, currently the world's largest hydropower station. • Concerns have also been raised over China's massive, multi-decade South-North Water Diversion (SNWD) project, the Western Route of which apparently involves diverting water from the Yarlung Tsangpo (and other rivers) to the country's dry northern regions. However, no official sources or studies are available on these reported plans. Do You Know: • The Brahmaputra is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet. Pakistan, historically reliant on the Indus waters, is now attempting to stoke fears about India's water security through the Brahmaputra, asserting that China's actions could threaten Indian stability and sovereignty. • There is an inherent myth in this as there is misrepresentation of a comprehensive hydro-geographical data. The Brahmaputra is primarily a rain-fed river system, with only approximately 30-35 per cent of its flow coming from China, mostly through glacial melt and rainfall that happens in the Tibetan region which is scanty. This covers the base flow of the river but the majority of the river's water — about 65-70 per cent — arises within India itself, thanks to the monsoon rains that pour over the Northeast's hilly terrains and the numerous tributaries feeding the river. • India's flood mitigation strategies should be aligned with this reality, focusing on improving infrastructure and resilience rather than worrying about threats that are largely hypothetical. In fact, if China were to modify its water flow, it could potentially alleviate some of these flood risks, as excess water often results from uncontrolled monsoon runoff and not upstream flow restrictions. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Dissecting the myth of China's control over the Brahmaputra IN JHARKHAND, WHERE PM LAUNCHED AYUSHMAN BHARAT IN 2018, THE SCHEME HAS STALLED: HERE'S WHY Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions What's the ongoing story: The promise of Ayushman Bharat seems to be unravelling in Jharkhand. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), meant to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to low-income families, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ranchi in 2018. More than 23 lakh people in Jharkhand have availed treatment under the scheme since then. Key Points to Ponder: • What is Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)? • What are the key features of the AB PM-JAY? • What are the administrative and governance challenges leading to the stalling of Ayushman Bharat payments in Jharkhand? • Recently, the Union Cabinet expanded the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to provide health coverage to people up to what age? • Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a Central scheme or Centrally sponsored scheme? Key Takeaways: • But pending payments to the tune of Rs 190 crore and mounting are jeopardising the future of Ayushman Bharat in Jharkhand. Some 212 hospitals have not received payments since last June, and the rest 538 hospitals empanelled under the scheme await reimbursement since February this year. • Hospitals in the districts of Hazaribagh, Koderma, Palamu, and Deoghar have already pulled out of the scheme citing the hold up in payments. And this may just be the beginning. • AB PM-JAY is the largest health insurance scheme in the world. • It provides a cover of Rs 5 lakhs per family per year to eligible beneficiaries for hospitalisation expenses in both government and empanelled private hospitals. At the moment, some 750 hospitals in Jharkhand are registered under the scheme, according to the Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI) and the Indian Medical Association (IMA). • Current eligibility extends to the bottom 40% households, which is calculated based on deprivation and occupational data from the Socio-Economic Caste Census of 2011. The Prime Minister last year announced that coverage will soon be extended to all citizens aged 70 years and above. • The cost of implementation of AB PM-JAY is shared between the Central and State Governments in a 60:40 ratio. Do You Know: • According to Jharkhand officials, around 28 lakh families (some 1.5 crore people) are enrolled under AB PM-JAY in Jharkhand, with another 38 lakh families (roughly 2 crore people) covered through the state-run Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana, for which the state bears the full cost. • The way these schemes work is that beneficiaries are issued insurance cards, using which they can avail healthcare services in empanelled hospitals. These hospitals are then reimbursed on actuals by the government from the funds allocated under the scheme. • Officials have confirmed to The Indian Express that there is no shortage of funds under the AB PM-JAY scheme, with Rs 2,284 crore allocated to the hospitals over the last 7 years. The problem is that beginning last year, the disbursement of these funds to hospitals has stalled. • Dr Sinha said that non-payment of Ayushman Bharat dues has meant that he has been unable to pay his staff since March. He added that if the payments did not come in, he would stop taking Ayushman Bharat card holders as patients. 'The real loss is to the government and the public,' Sinha warned. AHPI and IMA have claimed that 60 of the 212 NAFU-flagged hospitals have shut down under financial duress. More closures may be on the way if the situation is not sorted out soon. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Most private hospitals in Delhi not on board to roll out Ayushman Bharat, rates a sore point State of the ungulates: why health of tiger is dependent on that of its prey Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What's the ongoing story: For the first time, a detailed assessment of the status of ungulates (hoofed mammals), including deer, pigs, antelopes, and bison, has estimated their abundance across India. It has revealed a decline in their populations in several states and highlighted conservation challenges, such as habitat loss and deforestation. Key Points to Ponder: • Which is the major prey species for tigers in India? • The detailed assessment of the status of ungulates (hoofed mammals), including deer, pigs, antelopes, and bison-what report says? • Which factor most directly affects the population of tiger prey species? • What is the ecological link between tiger conservation and the population of their natural prey. Why is a healthy prey base essential? • What are the policy and governance gaps in ensuring habitat security for tiger prey species in India? • 'Status of Tigers in India' report-Key Highlights • What is India's tiger population? • What is the purpose of tiger reserves? • What is the distribution of tigers in India? • What are the areas of concern regarding tiger conversation? • National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body under which Ministry? • Who is the Chairman of National Tiger Conservation Authority? • What are the persisting threats facing the tiger across its habitats? Key Takeaways: • The findings are crucial for the conservation of India's tigers and forests, as ungulates form the core prey base of the striped cat and other large predators. India currently has more than 3,600 tigers, accounting for 70% of the world's tiger population. Additionally, the animals help regulate forests and soil health with their feeding habits. • The National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Wildlife Institute of India prepared the assessment report, using data from the 2022 All-India Tiger Estimation exercise to estimate the animals' distribution and density. • India's tiger prey base, mainly comprising the chital (spotted deer), sambar (large deer), and the vulnerable gaur (Indian bison), presents a highly uneven distribution across forest landscapes. The report drew on extensive direct and indirect evidence, like field surveys, camera traps, and dung signs collected during the 2022 estimation exercise. • According to the findings, spotted deer, sambar, and gaur populations are thriving in large parts of the country, but declining in east-central India in Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. The signs of prey decline and low density are due to severe habitat degradation, infrastructure development and mining that fragments forests, left-wing extremism, and subsistence hunting by residents. • Forests in Uttarakhand, Western Ghats, central India and the northeast have a fairly healthy population of ungulates. However, small and isolated populations of species such as barasingha, wild buffalo, pygmy hog, and hog deer face bottlenecks in their genetic diversity, with habitat fragmentation preventing the intermixing of different animals. • The core tiger prey species are abundant, especially within tiger reserves and national parks, but not so much in sanctuaries that receive a comparatively lower level of protection, and even less in forest divisions abutting tiger reserves. Do You Know: • Loss of habitat, especially quality habitat, competition with livestock and humans, conflict with humans, deforestation, development projects and subsistence hunting are some of the key challenges to the ungulate population. A fall in their numbers affects the ecological balance of forests both inside and outside tiger reserves. • Secondly, tiger-abundant regions such as Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are nearing their capacity to sustain their wildlife population with available resources (what is known as 'carrying capacity'). As a result, tigers often wander towards the east-central states, but struggle to occupy the forests due to poor prey base and other pressures on the ecosystem. These states have a high potential to harbour a substantial tiger population, but it will be contingent on improvements in habitat and prey, and stepping up their protection. • Another direct fallout of low prey base is tigers moving beyond the reserves to hunt livestock, putting them in closer contact with humans, who kill tigers in retaliation for livestock depredation. In states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, ungulates such as wild pigs and nilgai often damage crops, adding another dimension to the human-wildlife conflict due to the loss of wild habitats. A major concern is the conversion of swampy grasslands, seasonal wetlands, and floodplains into urban settlements or farmlands. • Linear infrastructure, such as highways, railways and power lines, can fragment the contiguity of ungulate habitats, disturbing the survival of wildlife, as well as forest dynamics. The report prescribes augmenting prey populations through on-site breeding in enclosures to protect them from predators. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Report flags tiger-human conflict risk as prey base shrinks in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha For any queries and feedback, contact Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
