Latest news with #NITI
India Today
26-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
India to become 4th largest economy by end of 2025: NITI Aayog member
NITI Aayog member Arvind Virmani on Monday said India is set to become the fourth-largest economy in the world by the end of 2025, an assertion which came days after NITI CEO BVR Subrahmanyam claimed India has already overtaken Japan to reach that International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) report released in April, had said that India is expected to be the fourth-largest economy in the world with a GDP of USD 4.19 trillion in 2025, ahead of is in the process of becoming the fourth-largest economy, and I am personally confident that will happen by the end of 2025 because we need (data) of all 12 months GDP to say that, you know, to assert that. So to say till then, it remains a forecast," Virmani told PTI. Asked to comment on NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam's remark that India has become the fourth-largest economy in the world, the eminent economist said: "So this is a complicated question, and I really do not know what the words anybody has used. Perhaps there was some word which was missed or something".Citing IMF data, Subrahmanyam, last week, said that the size of the Indian economy today is larger than Japan's."We are the fourth-largest economy as I speak. We are a USD 4 trillion economy as I speak," the NITI Aayog CEO had is only the US, China and Germany which are larger than India, and if we stick to what is being planned and what is being thought through, in 2.5-3 years, we will be the third-largest economy," Subrahmanyam had further, Virmani said, "When we discuss the size of economies publicly, we generally use US dollar current prices".Virmani further pointed out that 'when we compare economy, we generally do it in terms of annual GDP'.Virmani said IMF in its WEO report released in April gave a precise number, which showed that India's GDP for the full year 2025, would become higher than that of Japan." I would say that I am pretty confident that that will happen, but the exact data will probably not be available till January or February, because we are talking about the whole year," he nominal GDP for 2025 (FY26) is expected to be USD 4.187 trillion marginally more than the likely GDP of Japan which is estimated at USD 4.186 trillion, the IMF had to IMF data, India's per capita income has doubled from USD 1,438 in 2013-14 to USD 2,880 in IMF in its WEO report also said the Indian economy is projected to grow at 6.2 per cent in 2025-26, slower than earlier estimated rate of 6.5 per cent, due to escalated trade tensions and global India, the growth outlook is relatively more stable at 6.2 per cent in 2025, supported by private consumption, particularly in rural areas," the IMF had to the report, the global growth is projected at 2.8 per cent in 2025, lower by 0.5 percentage points estimated earlier. In 2026, the global economy is estimated to grow at 3 per Watch
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
India to become 4th largest economy by end of 2025: NITI Member Arvind Virmani
NITI Aayog member Arvind Virmani on Monday said India is set to become the fourth largest economy in the world by the end of 2025, an assertion which came days after NITI CEO BVR Subrahmanyam claimed India has already overtaken Japan to reach that spot. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) report released in April had said that India is expected to be the fourth largest economy in the world with a GDP of USD 4.19 trillion in 2025, ahead of Japan. "India is in the process of becoming the fourth largest economy, and I am personally confident that will happen by the end of 2025 because we need (data) of all 12 months GDP to say that, you know, to assert that. So to say till then, it remains a forecast," Virmani told PTI. Asked to comment on NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam's remark that India has become the fourth largest economy in the world, the eminent economist said: "So this is a complicated question, and I really do not know what the words anybody has used. Perhaps there was some word which was missed or something." Citing IMF data, Subrahmanyam, last week, said that the size of the Indian economy today is larger than Japan's. "We are the fourth largest economy as I speak. We are a USD 4 trillion economy as I speak," the NITI Aayog CEO had said. It is only the US, China and Germany which are larger than India, and if we stick to what is being planned and what is being thought through, in 2.5-3 years, we will be the third largest economy," Subrahmanyam had said. Explaining further, Virmani said, "When we discuss the size of economies publicly, we generally use US dollar current prices." Virmani further pointed out that 'when we compare economy, we generally do it in terms of annual GDP'. Virmani said IMF in its WEO report released in April gave a precise number, which showed that India's GDP for the full year 2025, would become higher than that of Japan. " I would say that I am pretty confident that that will happen, but the exact data will probably not be available till January or February, because we are talking about the whole year," he observed. India's nominal GDP for 2025 (FY26) is expected to be USD 4.187 trillion marginally more than the likely GDP of Japan which is estimated at USD 4.186 trillion, the IMF had said. According to IMF data, India's per capita income has doubled from USD 1,438 in 2013-14 to USD 2,880 in 2025. The IMF in its WEO report also said the Indian economy is projected to grow at 6.2 per cent in 2025-26, slower than earlier estimated rate of 6.5 per cent, due to escalated trade tensions and global uncertainty. "For India, the growth outlook is relatively more stable at 6.2 per cent in 2025, supported by private consumption, particularly in rural areas," the IMF had said. According to the report, the global growth is projected at 2.8 per cent in 2025, lower by 0.5 percentage points estimated earlier. In 2026, the global economy is estimated to grow at 3 per cent.
NDTV
26-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
India To Become 4th Largest Economy By End Of 2025: NITI Aayog Member
New Delhi: NITI Aayog member Arvind Virmani on Monday said India is set to become the fourth-largest economy in the world by the end of 2025, an assertion which came days after NITI CEO BVR Subrahmanyam claimed India has already overtaken Japan to reach that spot. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) report released in April, had said that India is expected to be the fourth-largest economy in the world with a GDP of $4.19 trillion in 2025, ahead of Japan. "India is in the process of becoming the fourth largest economy, and I am personally confident that will happen by the end of 2025 because we need data for all 12 months of GDP to say that, you know, to assert that. So to say till then, it remains a forecast," Virmani told PTI. Asked to comment on NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam's remark that India has become the fourth largest economy in the world, the eminent economist said: "So this is a complicated question, and I really do not know what the words anybody has used. Perhaps there was some word which was missed or something." Citing IMF data, Subrahmanyam, last week, said that the size of the Indian economy today is larger than Japan's. "We are the fourth largest economy as I speak. We are a USD 4 trillion economy as I speak," the NITI Aayog CEO had said. It is only the US, China and Germany which are larger than India, and if we stick to what is being planned and what is being thought through, in 2.5-3 years, we will be the third largest economy," Mr Subrahmanyam had said. Explaining further, Mr Virmani said, "When we discuss the size of economies publicly, we generally use US dollar current prices." Virmani further pointed out that 'when we compare economies, we generally do it in terms of annual GDP'. Mr Virmani said the IMF in its WEO report released in April gave a precise number, which showed that India's GDP for the full year 2025 would become higher than that of Japan. "I would say that I am pretty confident that that will happen, but the exact data will probably not be available till January or February, because we are talking about the whole year," he observed. India's nominal GDP for 2025 (FY26) is expected to be $4.187 trillion, marginally more than the likely GDP of Japan, which is estimated at $4.186 trillion, the IMF had said. According to IMF data, India's per capita income has doubled from $1,438 in 2013-14 to $2,880 in 2025. The IMF in its WEO report also said the Indian economy is projected to grow at 6.2 per cent in 2025-26, slower than the earlier estimated rate of 6.5 per cent, due to escalated trade tensions and global uncertainty. "For India, the growth outlook is relatively more stable at 6.2 per cent in 2025, supported by private consumption, particularly in rural areas," the IMF had said. According to the report, the global growth is projected at 2.8 per cent in 2025, lower by 0.5 percentage points than estimated earlier. In 2026, the global economy is estimated to grow at 3 per cent.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Uttarakhand CM Dhami directs chief secretary to prepare action plan for NITI Aayog meeting outcome
NEW DELHI: Following the 10th NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed his Chief Secretary to prepare a clear and practical strategy at the state level for the effective implementation of the points discussed during the meet. According to a statement from the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office, Dhami, after the meeting on Saturday, emphasised the importance of realising Modi's vision of a "Developed India @ 2047", and for this, the state government needs to effectively implement the schemes and policies at the grassroots level by coordinating with the central government. He instructed the Chief Secretary to prepare a time-bound action plan in coordination with concerned departments and ensure continuous monitoring of its progress. The Chief Minister also stressed the need for transparency, accountability, and public participation in the implementation process. "The Chief Minister also said that transparency and accountability should be fixed at every level while ensuring public participation. He said that the state government is fully participating in the resolve to make India a self-reliant and developed nation under the leadership of the Prime Minister," the statement from CMO read. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The Uttarakhand CMO also took to X, stating, "After the meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog held under the chairmanship of the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Honourable Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami ji directed the Chief Secretary to prepare a concrete strategy for the implementation of the instructions and suggestions received from the Prime Minister. The Honourable Chief Minister directed the concerned officials to work in better coordination between the Centre and the State to realise the resolve of the Honourable Prime Minister of 'Developed India @ 2047'". Earlier during the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that all the states should work together to make India a developed country and achieve the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047'. In an official statement, Prime Minister Modi said that we should commit to developing every state, every city, and every village, and only then would we be able to make the country a Viksit Bharat. Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors representing 24 states and seven Union Territories attended the 10th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday. This year's theme was Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047. The meeting commenced with a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. PM Modi said that every Indian aspires for the country to be a Viksit Bharat. "It is not the agenda of any party but the aspiration of 140 crore Indians. If all states work together towards this goal, then we will make stupendous progress. We should commit to developing every state, every city, and every village, and then Viksit Bharat will be achieved much before 2047," he said.
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Governing Council of NITI Aayog, Indian monsoon and Great Indian Bustard
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for May 25, 2025. If you missed the May 24, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Leverage FTAs, remove obsolete laws, PM tells states in NITI meeting Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. What's the ongoing story: PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi Saturday said there is a need to increase the speed of development, and 'if the Centre and states work together like Team India, no goal is impossible'. Key Points to Ponder: • The Government of India has established NITI Aayog to replace what? • How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by erstwhile Planning Commission in India? • Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog 2025-know key highlights • Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog 2025-what are the key takeaways? • What is the Governing Council of NITI Aayog? • Who chairs Governing Council of NITI Aayog? Key Takeaways: • Addressing the 10th NITI Aayog Governing Council, which includes Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors of states and Union Territories besides the think tank's members and its Vice Chairperson, Modi said, 'We should focus on one goal, to make Bharat Viksit by 2047. We should have the aim of making each state Viksit, each city Viksit, each Nagar Palika Viksit and each village Viksit. If we work on these lines, we will not have to wait till 2047 to become Viksit Bharat.' • At a press briefing later in the evening, BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog, said, 'During his address to the Chief Ministers, the Prime Minister told state governments that they need to focus on sectors like manufacturing and services, and also work towards removing obsolete laws and create an investor-friendly environment.' States must also find a way to leverage the Free Trade Agreements India is signing with several countries, Prime Minister Modi told the attendees, the PM told the attendees. • According to a government statement on the meeting, Modi told attendees that Operation Sindoor 'must not be treated as a one-off initiative' and that India 'must modernise our approach to civil preparedness'. 'He said that the recent mock drills have reignited our attention to civil defence (and) states should institutionalise civil defence preparedness,' the statement said. • The previous Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in July 2024 was boycotted by most Opposition CMs, except West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee, in protest against what they called a 'discriminatory' Union Budget presented days earlier. Banerjee, the lone Opposition attendee, had walked out mid-meeting, alleging she wasn't given enough time to speak. Do You Know: • The Governing Council of NITI Aayog comprises the Prime Minister of India; Chief Ministers of all the States and Union Territories with Legislature; Lt Governors of other UTs; Ex-Officio Members; Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog; Full-time Members, NITI Aayog and Special Invitees. First constituted in February 2015 and reconstituted in February 2021, the Governing Council embodies the objectives of cooperative federalism and presents a platform to discuss inter- sectoral, inter-departmental and federal issues to accelerate the implementation of the national development agenda. • So far, nine meetings of the Governing Council, chaired by the Hon'ble Prime Minister, have been held and facilitated shaping India's development agenda collaboratively. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Niti Aayog meet: Southern states stress on cooperative federalism, 3 Opposition CMs skip event EXPRESS NETWORK Monsoon hits Kerala, earliest onset since 2009, says IMD Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World. Main Examination: General Studies I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. What's the ongoing story: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala on Saturday, eight days ahead of its normal schedule of June 1. This is the earliest since 2009, when monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 23. Key Points to Ponder: • What has the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted for this year's rain? • What is the average rainfall for a prolonged period of time called? • What is the long period average rainfall (LPA)? • What is 'above normal' rainfall? • How IMD defines rainfall as 'normal', 'above normal' and 'excess'? • What are the main drivers of Indian monsoon? • know the terms and their influence on Indian Monsoon—El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), El Nino, La Nina. • What is the arrival and departure of monsoon? • What is meant by the 'onset of the monsoon'? • What are these conditions, which determine the onset of monsoon? • Monsoon mechanism in India-Know in detail • How Arabian Sea branch and Bay of Bengal branch are associated with Indian monsoon? • What is difference between Arabian Sea branch and Bay of Bengal branch? • What is the difference between the southwest monsoon and the Northeast Monsoon? Key Takeaways: • Normally, the southwest monsoon makes its onset over Kerala by June 1 and covers the entire country by July 8. It starts retreating from northwest India around September 17 and withdraws completely by October 15. Data available since 1975 showed that monsoon reached Kerala the earliest in 1990 (on May 19). • But, over the last week, Kerala has been experiencing a steady increase in rainfall intensity. The IMD said the southwest monsoon has made simultaneous advance into Kerala, Lakshadweep and Mahe, parts of Karnataka and Mizoram, and many parts of Tamil Nadu. • The IMD has forecast extremely heavy rainfall (over 205 mm in 24 hours) in Kerala, Mahe and coastal Karnataka until Monday. The northern limit of monsoon, which is an imaginary line marking the progress of the southwest monsoon, now passes through Karwar and Shimoga in Karnataka, Dharamapuri and Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Siaha (Mizoram). • Over the next two to three days, favorable conditions will aid the further advance of monsoon into parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, more parts of Karnataka and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, remaining parts of Tamil Nadu, Goa, and more parts of central Arabian Sea. • The early arrival of monsoon has no bearing on the amount of rainfall that can be expected during the four-month season. Weather has not been playing to the script this year — May hasn't been as hot as expected. Parts of central and western India have seen unusual rainfall over the last week. Do You Know: • The IMD considers three main factors ahead of declaring the onset over Kerala, which marks the beginning of the four-month-long rainy season over the country. These are: rainfall measuring 2.5mm or more reported over 14 meteorological stations for at least two consecutive days; deep penetration of westerly winds; outgoing longwave radiation value falling below 200 Wm-2. • The IMD in April forecast above-normal rainfall this year, expected to be 105 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) of 880 mm. During the next four months, the major ocean factors that influence the southwest monsoon — the El Nino Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole — will remain in 'neutral' phase and have positive influence on the rainfall over India, it had said earlier. • ENSO and IOD refer to the condition of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific and Indian Oceans respectively. Both of them influence monsoon rainfall. If the sea surface temperature in the eastern Pacific Ocean, off the cost of South America, is warmer than usual, a condition called El Nino, rainfall over India during the monsoon season is generally adversely affected. The opposite condition, called La Nina, favours good rainfall. IOD refers to the difference in temperatures in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea sides of the Indian ocean. IOD is considered positive when the Arabian Sea side is warmer than the Bay of Bengal side. This is generally favourable for Indian monsoon. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍IMD Monsoon Predictions 2025: Southwest monsoon to hit South Andaman Sea around May 13: IMD EXPRESS NETWORK A missionary, a question of property: When SC put checks on Parliament power to amend Constitution Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Main Examination: General Studies II: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. What's the ongoing story: In 1815, the Chatterjee family in Calcutta's Shibpur celebrated the birth of a male heir and marked the moment by donating 100 cows. They also named the boy Golaknath, meaning 'the owner of millions of cows'. Educated in a missionary school, Golaknath converted to Christianity at age 14. Shunned by his family, he is said to have walked thousands of kilometres, first to Benaras, then Allahabad and finally to Punjab. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution? • What is the Procedure for Amending the Indian Constitution? • Which Supreme Court case established the Basic Structure Doctrine in India? • Examine the role of the judiciary in safeguarding the Basic Structure of the Constitution with reference to relevant case laws. Key Takeaways: • In Jalandhar, the aristocratic Brahmin joined the Scottish American Presbyterian Mission, becoming the first Indian to be ordained a minister. Over a century later, Golaknath Chatterjee's descendants would lend their name to what's perhaps one of the most consequential constitutional cases — IC Golaknath v State of Punjab. • In 1962, land owned by the evangelical family ran into trouble with the Punjab government, which ordered that the family's land was 'surplus' under its land ceiling laws. While the right to property was then a fundamental right — it stayed that way until the 44th constitutional Amendment in 1978 — the government had through a series of reforms and Amendments diluted the right over the years. • In 1964, through the 17th Amendment, the Parliament had added the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953, to the Ninth Schedule, putting it beyond judicial purview. In 1967, the Supreme Court, while deciding on the family's petition challenging the Punjab land ceiling law and the 17th Amendment reopened the question on whether the Parliament could amend fundamental rights. • The ruling, for the first time limited Parliament's power to amend the Constitution. While doing so, the court would reverse a view it had consistently held for 17 years until then — that Parliament had the power to tinker with fundamental rights. 'Golaknath was a moment where the judiciary asserted itself against a government that amassed more and more power to change the Constitution. The SC's responsibility to ensure that Parliament's majority does not become majoritarian is as relevant today as it was in 1967,' Dr Faizan Mustafa, Vice-Chancellor of Chanakya National Law University, Patna, says. Do You Know: • In 1891, when Golaknath Chatterjee died, his son Henry Golaknath took over as Reverend of the church his father had founded in Jalandhar. • As the case landed in the Supreme Court, a host of leading lawyers — Nani Palkhivala, M K Nambyar, Ashoke Kumar Sen and Fali Nariman — made the case for Inder C Golaknath, the petitioner. In their arguments, they highlighted the perils of having no restrictions on the Parliament's powers to amend the Constitution. • On February 27, 1967, an 11-judge Bench of the SC, headed by then Chief Justice of India Koka Subba Rao, reopened the issue of constitutional amendments diluting the right to property. The Constitution (Seventeenth Amendment) Act, 1964, had, among other aspects, added the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953, to the Ninth Schedule, putting it beyond judicial purview. The amendment again raised the same larger question, which was discussed in earlier parts of The Indian Express's series — whether a constitutional amendment can truncate fundamental rights. • In Sankari Prasad v State of Bihar (1951) and Sajjan Singh v State of Rajasthan (1964), the Court had ruled that Parliament had no fetters on its power to amend the Constitution. While it was the right to property that Parliament consistently tinkered with, as the ruling termed it, an 'argument of fear' had begun to take shape — that if Parliament can take away one right, it could take away any right. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Kesavananda Bharati case: How a divided courtroom set Parliament-Constitution rules of engagement Known for his efforts to save GIB, wildlife conservationist dead Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization. Main Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment What's the ongoing story: Radheshyam Pemani Bishnoi, a wildlife conservationist and animal rescuer from Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district, died in a road accident Friday along with three others. Bishnoi, about 28 — celebrated for his efforts to protect the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) — had reportedly been tipped off about deer poaching when he and three others met with an accident. Key Points to Ponder: • Who is Radheshyam Pemani Bishnoi? • What is the Great Indian Bustard? • Great Indian Bustards and their habitats-Mark on Map • Why is the Great Indian Bustard endangered? • Why is the Great Indian Bustard is on the brink of extinction? • Great Indian Bustard-Know the Conservation efforts Key Takeaways: • Born in the village of Dholiya, Bishnoi was deeply influenced by the Bishnoi community's centuries-old tradition of environmental stewardship. His journey into wildlife conservation began at a young age when he started rescuing injured animals. However, as some of them died despite his best efforts, he trained as a veterinary assistant at the Jodhpur Rescue Centre. • Bishnoi's conservation efforts were multifaceted. He was instrumental in patrolling GIB habitats, monitoring threats like high-tension power lines and railway tracks, and coordinating a network of local volunteers under the guidance of the Ecology, Rural Development and Sustainability (ERDS) Foundation. His advocacy extended to campaigning for underground power lines to prevent bird collisions, a leading cause of GIB mortality. • In response to the Thar desert's harsh conditions, Bishnoi also initiated the construction of over 100 water reservoirs to provide drinking water for wildlife. These reservoirs, filled using water tankers, helped reduce wildlife mortality due to dehydration. He was also known to be an avid photographer, documenting the region's biodiversity through his lens while highlighting and spreading awareness on the threats and the critical need for conservation efforts. Do You Know: • The Bishnoi trace their origins to the teachings of Guru Jambhesvara who was born to a Panwar Rajput family in 1451 AD at Peepasar village of Nagore district in Western Rajasthan. Jambhesvara is known to have been influenced by Vaishnava traditions and his followers continue to regard him as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. As per Bishnoi mythological tradition, when Jambhesvara was 25, a severe decade-long drought struck Western Rajasthan. Plagued by the difficulties of water and food shortages, people cut down a large number of trees to sell the wood in nearby towns. Moreover, a large number of chinkaras and blackbucks, found in abundance in the area, were killed so that people could consume their meat. • Jambhesvara was deeply moved by the disaster and pondered over time to come up with a solution. Finally, at the age of 34, he had a spiritual revelation to reform society along lines of environmental sustenance. 'Based on his teachings about natural resources relevant in the drought years, he succeeded in conserving and protecting several local resources and soon developed a large following among the masses,' writes Professor Pankaj Jain in his work, 'Dharma and ecology of Hindu communities'. • The Great Indian Bustard is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world and has disappeared from 90% of its habitat except in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has categorised the species as 'critically endangered'. • According to the government, there are fewer than 150 GIB – birds that are found only in India. Most of these are found in Rajasthan. • Increased human activity in their habitat, predators preying on their eggs, and deaths due to overhead power lines are seen as being among the causes of the bird's population decline. • In 2020, a study carried out by WII in the 4,200-sq-km of the great Indian bustard (GIB) habitat in and around Desert National Park in Rajasthan estimated that power lines had killed around 84,000 birds of multiple species every year. This included the endangered GIB, which are particularly vulnerable because of their narrow frontal vision and large size. • In April 2021, the Supreme Court had ordered that all power lines in the GIB habitat be buried underground. However, earlier this year, the apex court said it would review its 2021 order after the central government found that it would be 'practically impossible to implement' over long distances. • As part of conservation efforts, the Centre, the Rajasthan government and WII have been collaborating on a captive breeding programme for GIB. The artificial insemination method was successfully implemented as a part of this project. The plan is to eventually release the captively bred birds into the wild. • According to wildlife experts, while the birth of the GIB chick by artificial insemination is an important step in conservation efforts, it is too early to speculate on the extent of the impact this could have. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: Critically endangered Great Indian Bustards' recovery program, and what lies ahead 📍The Great Indian Bustards of Kutch: Their habitats, existential threat 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. Priya Kumari Shukla is a Senior Copy Editor in the Indian Express (digital). She contributes to the UPSC Section of Indian Express (digital) and started niche initiatives such as UPSC Key, UPSC Ethics Simplified, and The 360° UPSC Debate. The UPSC Key aims to assist students and aspirants in their preparation for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations. It provides valuable guidance on effective strategies for reading and comprehending newspaper content. The 360° UPSC Debate tackles a topic from all perspectives after sorting through various publications. The chosen framework for the discussion is structured in a manner that encompasses both the arguments in favour and against the topic, ensuring comprehensive coverage of many perspectives. Prior to her involvement with the Indian Express, she had affiliations with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as several coaching and edutech enterprises. In her prior professional experience, she was responsible for creating and refining material in various domains, including article composition and voiceover video production. She has written in-house books on many subjects, including modern India, ancient Indian history, internal security, international relations, and the Indian economy. She has more than eight years of expertise in the field of content writing. Priya holds a Master's degree in Electronic Science from the University of Pune as well as an Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, widely recognised as one of the most prestigious business schools in India. She is also an alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University Residential Coaching Academy (RCA). Priya has made diligent efforts to engage in research endeavours, acquiring the necessary skills to effectively examine and synthesise facts and empirical evidence prior to presenting their perspective. Priya demonstrates a strong passion for reading, particularly in the genres of classical Hindi, English, Maithili, and Marathi novels and novellas. Additionally, she possessed the distinction of being a cricket player at the national level. Qualification, Degrees / other achievements: Master's degree in Electronic Science from University of Pune and Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ... Read More
