The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India has issued an advisory to the Centre, State governments, and Union Territory (UT) administrations to address the issue of begging and improve the lives of those involved.

About Begging

• Begging is the practice of imploring others to grant a favor, often a gift of money, with little or no expectation of reciprocation.
• Major reasons for begging:
  • Lack of Income: The primary reason for begging is extreme poverty, where individuals lack the financial means to meet their basic needs.
  • Unemployment: High unemployment rates and lack of job opportunities force many into begging as a last resort.
  • Disabilities: Physical disabilities can limit employment opportunities, leading individuals to beg for survival.
  • Loss of Breadwinner: The death or absence of the primary earner in a family can push other members into begging.
  • Human Trafficking: Some individuals, especially children, are forced into begging by traffickers or organized criminal groups.

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Eight Key Areas of Action to Address Begging in India

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Conclusion

Addressing begging requires a multifaceted approach, emphasizing identification, rehabilitation, legal support, collaboration, financial services, public awareness, education, and skill development to reintegrate individuals into society.

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India’s Need for a Sovereign Foundational AI Model

• Strategic Importance : The IndiaAI Mission aims to build a sovereign AI model, but questions remain about the necessity and economic feasibility of such an investment.
  • The debate revolves around national pride, technological self-sufficiency, and financial returns on investment.

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Arguments Against a Sovereign AI Model for Sovereignty

• Availability of Open-Source Models: Several open-weight and open-source AI models (e.g., DeepSeek R1) already exist, reducing dependence on proprietary models. 
  • Indian developers can modify and build on existing AI models without creating a foundational model from scratch.
• Sanctions: While sanctions on AI models are possible, India can “fork” open-source models and create local adaptations. The real bottleneck lies in hardware dependence, as AI training requires advanced GPUs and semiconductor chips, which India currently lacks.

Arguments for a Sovereign AI Model

• Technological Independence: India has a history of exceeding expectations in sectors like IT and space technology. Developing a homegrown AI model could boost India’s global standing and showcase its innovation capabilities.
• Economic and Strategic Benefits: A foundational model tailored to Indian needs could drive AI-driven applications in governance, healthcare, and education. 
  • Reducing dependence on foreign AI models could protect Indian data sovereignty and ensure long-term control over AI applications.

Challenges in Building a Foundational Model

• Hardware Limitations: India lacks high-end chip manufacturing and does not have contracts with global semiconductor giants like TSMC. Even if India develops its own AI model, it will still require foreign GPUs to train and operate it.
• Investment vs. Returns: Given the high cost of training foundational AI models, the financial returns must justify the investment. Some argue that national pride alone should not be the primary motivation for such an expensive endeavor.

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Conclusion

Leveraging open-source AI models while investing in chip manufacturing and AI infrastructure could be a more sustainable path. Policy decisions should weigh economic feasibility against long-term strategic benefits, ensuring that investments align with national interests and realistic outcomes.

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The US military plane transporting 104 Indians deported as part of President Donald Trump’s campaign against illegal immigrants has landed in Amritsar.

Introduction

The deportation of Indians is a serious issue. It impacts families and the nation. We must understand why Indians are compelled to leave and how we can better support them.

• National Concern: Deportation of Indians is a matter of national concern. Images of Indians in handcuffs are disturbing. It shows a national failure.
• Need for Action: It’s not only a personal tragedy but a national failure to ask why people are forced to leave India.
• Foreign Policy and Diaspora: India’s foreign policy often overlooks support for distressed Indians abroad. Real diplomacy goes beyond photo opportunities. Consular services should provide legal aid to Indians facing deportation. We need to provide comprehensive assistance.

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Why Do Indians Migrate?

• Unemployment: Lack of job opportunities in India forces people to migrate. People often seek better prospects elsewhere.
• Low Wages: Low wages and poor job security worsen the situation. Rural distress also contributes to migration.
• Survival: Migration is often a matter of survival, not a choice. It is driven by economic necessity.

Issues with Deportation

• Inhumane Treatment: Deportees are often treated inhumanely in foreign countries. They face terrible conditions abroad.
• No Legal Aid: India often fails to provide legal or financial assistance. This leaves deportees helpless.
• Loss of Assets: Many deportees lose assets like bank accounts. Pregnant women and children are at risk.

Government’s Role

• Protect Citizens: India must actively protect its citizens abroad. The government needs to intervene.
• Transparency: We need transparency in deportation numbers. The public has a right to know.
• Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation policies must be in place for deportees. They need support upon return.

Addressing Economic Inequality

• Skill Development: Promote skill development to increase employability. We need to empower our citizens.
• Support MSMEs: Support MSMEs to create more job opportunities. These small businesses are vital.
• Decentralize Jobs: Decentralize job opportunities to reduce migration. Growth should reach all areas.

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Conclusion

A comprehensive and proactive approach is needed to protect India’s citizens abroad while creating better opportunities at home, ensuring migration is a choice and not a necessity.

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Recently, India’s MoEFCC amended the Environment Protection Rules, extending the deadline for thermal plants to meet SO₂ emission norms by three years. 

Origins and Evolution of SO₂ Emission Norms

• New Norms: India’s emission norms for thermal power plants underwent a major revision in December 2015. 
  • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) introduced stringent limits on particulate matter emissions and, for the first time, set norms for sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions.
• Key Features of the 2015 Norms
  • Stricter Limits: New regulations aligned with international best practices, comparable to those in Australia, China, and the United States.
  • Compliance Timeline: Initially, power plants were required to comply by December 2017. However, the deadline was widely considered unrealistic due to infrastructure and technological limitations.

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Challenges in Implementation

• Low-Sulphur Coal Assumption: India’s coal has relatively low sulphur content, which should have made compliance easier. However, the focus shifted to flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) as the primary solution.
• Cost and Supply Chain Issues:
  • High costs and long installation timelines for FGD technology became major roadblocks.
  • Limited availability of necessary equipment and expertise further delayed implementation.
• Narrowed Policy Focus: Instead of exploring multiple emission control methods suitable for Indian conditions, discussions became dominated by logistical and financial concerns related to FGD technology. 
  • This shift limited alternative approaches that could have been more cost-effective and adaptable to India’s energy sector.

Reason Behind Delays in India’s SO₂ Emission Compliance

• Conflicting Viewpoints:  Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Reports (2020 & 2021) questioned the feasibility of uniform nationwide standards. It proposed extending full compliance until 2035.
  • CEA commissioned an IIT Delhi study, which recognized FGD benefits but recommended phased implementation due to cost concerns and increased emissions.
• NITI Aayog’s Assessment (2024): Commissioned a study from CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. Challenged the necessity of SO₂ norms, advocating for prioritizing particulate matter emissions instead.
• Lack of Scientific Consensus: Instead of ensuring evidence-based policymaking before rolling out the norms in 2015, conflicting studies and agency perspectives have prolonged the debate.
• Government Reluctance: The unwillingness to enforce compliance has led to repeated deadline extensions, undermining environmental policy credibility.
• Multiple Deadline Extensions: The MoEFCC’s recent decision to extend the SO₂ compliance deadline is the fourth delay since the 2015 norms were introduced. Separate timelines for SO₂ and particulate matter emissions.
• Contradictory Implementation: Compliance with particulate matter norms was mandated by December 2024, with some plants required to comply by 2022 or 2023.
  • However, enforcement remains weak, with little evidence of pollution control boards actively verifying adherence.
• Regulatory Gaps: The fragmented and inconsistent enforcement of environmental norms highlights serious concerns about regulatory efficacy. No clear public disclosures on compliance status of thermal power plants. 
  • Without stringent oversight, it remains unclear whether plants are genuinely reducing emissions or merely benefiting from repeated extensions.

Economic and Public Health Costs of Delay

• Cost Pass-Through Mechanisms: Regulators have permitted thermal plants to transfer the costs of FGD installations to electricity consumers. This shields plant operators from financial penalties while shifting the burden to end-users through higher tariffs.
• Unjustified Consumer Costs: Some plants that have installed FGDs may not operate them due to high operating costs. Consumers end up paying for pollution control equipment that remains unused, while air quality continues to deteriorate.
• Current Status of FGD Implementation: 
• • 22 GW of thermal power plants have already installed FGDs.
  • 102 GW (nearly 50% of total installed capacity) is in advanced stages of FGD installation.
• Revised Compliance Deadline: The earliest deadline for meeting SO₂ norms is now December 31, 2027. Further delays remain a possibility, given past precedents.
• Pollution: Thermal power plants are a major source of SO₂, which contributes to worsening air quality.
• Formation of Secondary Aerosols: SO₂ reacts with other pollutants to form fine particulate matter (PM2.5), increasing pollution levels.
• Respiratory and Cardiovascular Diseases: Long-term exposure to SO₂ is linked to asthma, bronchitis, and lung infections. Increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and premature mortality in high-pollution areas.
• Impact on Vulnerable Groups: Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions are most affected. Many affected thermal plants are located near densely populated urban centers, worsening the public health crisis.

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Conclusion

Unless India’s regulatory bodies take decisive action, the country risks repeating this cycle of delay and dilution, with grave consequences for both its citizens and its environment.

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