The DhartiAaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) is an all-country campaign focused on empowering tribal populations and providing the government benefits. Such a humongous program spreads over 100,000 villages and settlements of 549 tribal-prevalent districts and includes a particular emphasis on tribal populations that are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). The campaign will also be aimed at recognizing the tribal communities and providing vital services such as healthcare, financial inclusion as well as livelihood programmes at their own doorstep.

Context

• The DhartiAaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan belongs to the wider movement called Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh venerating the heritage of the tribal peoples of India. 

• The campaign is an illustration of the vision of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who wants to see inclusive governance where the most disadvantaged groups in the country enjoy the benefits of the development process.

Key Points

Campaign Overview:

• Huge Geographical Extent: The campaign operates in 549 tribal-dominated districts and 207 PVTG-dominated districts with a reach to 104,330 villages and habitats.

• Duration: The campaign would be launched between June 15 th and June 30 th 2025.

Goals and Importance:

• Empowerment of the Tribal Communities: The program will seek to celebrate the legacy and contribution of the tribal communities in India by making sure that they have the government benefits and services due to them.

• Government Scheme Delivery: The Abhiyan provides end-to-end delivery of government schemes including Aadhaar Card en rolls, health card delivery, bank account openings, PM-Kisan Yojana enrolment, pension schemes and skill training.

Important Campaigns Sponsored by the Campaign:

• Participatory Approach: The project is further community driven (Janbhagidari) with the prominent participation of the tribal leaders and grass root level functionaries.

• Benefit Saturation Camps: These camps will be located in the village, where vital government facilities and services will be offered to the eligible tribal households so that none of the households is uncovered.

Government Support:

• Inter-Ministerial Cooperation: There is linking up of different ministries, and the stakeholders in the campaign to provide a wide spectrum of services.

• Pre-Campaign Mobilization: More than 125 District Magistrates and Deputy Commissioners have already started an awareness program, with Panchayati Raj Institutions and the leaders of the tribal community.

Focus Areas:

• Medical welfare: Ayushman Bharat health cards.

• Financial Inclusion: The Jan Dhan bank accounts were opened, the pension or the insurance was enrolled in.

• Livelihood Programs: Enrolling in different types of skill training or livelihood programs so as to empower the tribal people economically.

Government initiatives

• Janajatiya Gaurav Varsh: This is an initiative they boast and applaud the cultures and efforts made by the tribal society in India.

• PM-JANMAN and DAJGUA: The larger agenda of the campaign is associated with the overall objectives of PM-JANMAN and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), brightening the future of the tribal people, making it lastingly empowered and with dignity.

Conclusion

DhartiAaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan is a landmark in the enhancement of the tribal population where the required services and benefits are being given to tribal society itself. The campaign is critical in achieving the dream of inclusive governance coupled with upliftment of the tribals in a dignified way through utilizing the community-led approach and extending governmental perquisites to the farthest strength with regard to scheduled tribes. The program not only celebrates the rich legacy of the tribal population but even works towards the social-economic rise of the tribals.

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q.1 With reference to the DhartiAaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan, consider the following statements:

1. It is launched by the Ministry of Rural Development.
2. It focuses on delivering government benefits to tribal populations, including Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
3. The campaign covers over 500 tribal-dominated districts in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Q.2 What is the primary aim of the DhartiAaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan?
A. Promote digital education in tribal schools
B. Ensure saturation of government welfare schemes in tribal villages
C. Launch new tribal welfare legislations
D. Establish new tribal universities

The 16th Census of India, due to take place in 2027 will also be a landmark digital exercise and it will mean a change of direction of data collection. The Census will comprise two stages viz., house-listing and population enumeration with the use of mobile applications, GPS tagging, and an efficient data security system. It also will be the first Census to enumerate caste since 1931 and with new variables of migration, use of technology and gender identification. There will be support in terms of more than 30 lakh enumerators and quality control mechanisms to enhance accuracy and inclusiveness in the process.

Context:

• In the notice published by the Union Home Ministry in relation to the 2027 Census, there is a plan to conduct a digital two step enumeration which broadly will happen in two stages with the aim of deriving more accurate demographic data. 

• It is going to include new categories along with such perennial problems as caste enumeration, digital literacy, and the gathering of social-economic data.

Key Points

Freezing date and boundaries census:

• The 2027 Census will commence with the house-listing in the year 2026 and the population enumeration stage will commence in the early period of 2027.

• Most of the regions will also maintain the reference date as March 1, 2027, except those areas which are snow-bound (Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand) as they will have the reference date of October 1, 2026.

• Administrative boundaries would not be changed before the Census process is over and the integrity of the data collection process would not be impeded by State interference.

What is the Census in India?

• Population Census: It gives rudimentary statistics of the human resources, demographics, culture and the local, regional and national economic structure.

• History of Census: The Census started in the year 1872, and that too was just a non-synchronous exercise, the first synchronous Census was held in 1881 during the reigns of the British under the guidance of W.C. Plowden.

• The office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the ministry of Home Affairs is charged with the duty of conducting the Census in every decade.

Legal/ Constitutional Census in India:

• Legal Source: In the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, under the Union List (Entry 69) the Census is included.

• Census Act, 1948: The Census is done under the provisions of an enactment called Census Act, 1948.

Two Phase Census Process:

• Phase 1 (House-listing): This will be between March 2026 and September 2026 and data in buildings, household amenities, and infrastructure will be gathered.

• Phase 2 (Population Enumeration): Based on individual person level demographic data such as occupation, conditions of inhabitants and personal demographics.

Caste Enumeration:

• Caste enumeration will be included in the Census after the last time in 1931 and it is a long-standing requirement that caste based data be collected. 

• This will be of great contribution in the architecture of specific welfare policy towards the marginalized groups.

Digital Approach:

• Census will be done through mobile applications whereby the application will have GPS tagging, offline data collection, and real-time synchronization when there is an availability of connectivity.

• Strict data security modalities will be put in place to guarantee safe collection, transmission and storage of the data.

• A computerized system will raise the alert of any mistakes and this will aid in ensuring that a data difference is raised like unrealistic age groups or duplication of data.

New categories introduction:

• The Census will also create new categories linked to migration, among which there will be reasons, displacement caused by climate events or natural disasters.

• It will be possible to acknowledge new gender because people will be able to call themselves transgender.

Technological Problems/ Solutions:

• The Census app is developed to work even in the offline mode in the regions with low connectivity, and the addition of the field support and diagnostic tools will help resolve technical problems in real-time.

• To facilitate the easy collection of data, enumerators will be extensively trained on electronic literacy, soft skills and the relevant provisions of the law.

Personnel Involved:

• There are about 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors and 1.3 lakh Census functionaries that will be set to work across India in two phases.

National Population Register (NPR):

• There is no official news about the revamp of the National Population Register (NPR) and 2027 Census as yet. 

• NPR was updated the last time in 2015, and some NPR stages are not expected this time.

Influence on the Policy Planning:

• The Census will play a major role in future welfare schemes of India particularly since it uses caste and migrational data.

• It will assist in the shaping of specific interventions and resource distribution on marginalised communities.

• Since it has been scheduled before the next Lok Sabha election of 2029, it will be important in terms of delimitation of constituencies and redistribution of parliamentary seats.

Quality Assurance and training:

• The enumerators will be heavily trained, to make sure that they would be adequately competent when it comes to data collection, digital literacy, and remarks of the people.

• Automated systems and periodical checks will also make sure that the accuracy of data is maintained and correction can be made before submitting data.

Conclusion

The 2027 Census will become an historical moment in the history of demographic data collection in India, as the country goes digital to achieve improved accuracy, efficient, and inclusive data collection. The Census will be valuable in support of policy guidelines particularly to the disadvantaged groups with the new items such as caste, reasons of migration and gender identity. The improved technological path with the help of millions of enumerators will make this Census one of the most accurate and complete enumerations of the population ever in the history of India.

Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, has announced that the activities of the NDMA, NDRF and other agencies of India to handle disasters has helped India lead the world in this area. Shah pointed at the change disaster mitigation has undergone in India in the last 10 years, where the country has worked to reduce process-level casualties, to zero casualty targets. He also stressed on the need to conserve the environment given global warming and climate change.

Context

• The result of the efforts of the NDMA, NDRF, as well as other disaster response agencies is that India has emerged as a global leader in disaster response, according to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Key Points

The role of India as a leader in disaster management:

• Amit Shah referred to the contributions of NDMA (National disaster management authority) and NDRF (National disaster response force), to assert India as the leader in responding to disaster management in the world.

• The disaster mitigation approach has over the last decade been changed with emphasis being given to zero casualty.

The Environmental Conservation role:

• Shah indicated the rise in influence of climate change and global warming whereby the rate of disasters in the world was on the rise.

• He also paid attention to the inclusion of environmental conservation in the strategy of disaster management in India.

Enhanced Disaster Resilience:

• The formation of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure is regarded as an important part of improving the disaster management capacities in India.

• India is now more prepared to undertake a disaster with the concept of resilience and quick response.

About Disaster Management

What is a Disaster?

• A severe disruption that involves a community or community in a severe disturbance that involves immense human loss, material, economic and even environmental loss that is beyond the capacity of the affected population to cope up with its own resources.

Categories of Disaster:

• Natural Disasters: These are expected to be walks, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, tsunamis, and droughts, which are usually caused by natural forces.

• Human-made Disasters: These are the industrial accidents, fire, nuclear explosion, chemical spills, and terrorism due to human activities which can be prevented.

Disaster and Hazard Difference:

• Hazard: A threat or something which has the potential to cause harm to a person upon occurrence. It may be natural (e.g. earthquakes, floods) or man-made (e.g. chemical spills, industrial accidents).

• Disaster: Hazard, which produces a major impact, causing damage or destruction that cannot be coped with by the community.

Disaster Management Cycle:

• Mitigation: Any actions that can lessen damage during potential catastrophes by applying some preventive action (e.g. building codes, flood barriers).

• Preparedness: Developing the process of how to react to the disaster and having the resources and systems to quickly respond to it (e.g. training emergency responders, designing evacuation strategies).

• Response. Actions to reduce the harm of a disaster carried out at the first stage (e.g., search, rescue operation, emergency aid).

• Recovery: The long-term process toward normalcy, building of infrastructure and on-going support to the communities affected by the disaster (e.g. in the context of rebuilding homes and psychological support).

Disaster Management in India

Government Initiatives:

• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): Was put in place to oversee an organization in the management of disasters, making of national policies as well as making plans of preparedness.

• Disaster Management Act (2005): To enhance disaster management in India by establishing the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State shiato Disaster Response and District-level disaster management plans.

• Pradhan Mantri National Relief Fund (PMNRF): It is an organisation that gives funds to victims of natural calamities in India.

• National Policy on Disaster Management (2009): Is concentrated on risk reduction, preparedness as well as mitigation.

• Disaster Recovery Framework:In all disaster situations that have major consequences to the government such as floods or earthquakes, the government then embarks on recovery plans to repair the infrastructure and other essential services.

India and the World:

• With the world being faced by disasters that are increasing as a result of climate change, the role of India in disaster management has come to be known internationally.

• The response of India is regularly developing to manage an increasing scope of natural and man-made disturbances.

Future Outlook:

• Future of disaster management in India will probably be aimed to incorporate even more modern technologies and adaptation of climatic changes to tackle the growing challenges in the environment.

Conclusion

The country has recorded major milestones in the field of disaster management in the last decade alone when Prime Minister Modi and other resourceful agencies such as NDMA and NDRF put India in the international leader position. The speeches of Amit Shah indicate how many achievements have been made to reduce disaster victims and how much attention is paid to saving the environment as part of the global response towards climate change and natural catastrophes.

The Indian Railways will be starting to export the locomotives to Guinea, a West African nation, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be flagging off the first inventory of locomotives to Guinea based on the topography of the areas. India will directly Indian Railways exports locomotives to Guinea as the country will supply the latter with 150 locomotives in the next three years. The locomotives will be employed in the transportation of freight at the mines of Guinea iron ore. This is a move by India to strengthen its exports and stand better in the railway industry globally. 

Context

• The Indian Railways will be starting to export the locomotives to Guinea, a West African nation, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be flagging off the first inventory of locomotives to Guinea based on Bihar

• It is an export operation of locomotives on behalf of the Public-private partnership (PPP) model, and it is a milestone moment in the export of Indian Railways.

Key Points

Send-off of the First Export:

• On June 20, 2025, PM Modi will launch the initial locomotive to Guinea at the Marhowrah factory in the state of Bihar.

• In addition, Modi will flag off a Vande Bharat train between Patliputra and Gorakhpur along with the locomotive.

Export Details:

• This is in the form of supplying 150 locomotives to Guinea in the next three years.

• These locomotives that are priced at 2.74 million dollars each are to be made available to ferry freight in the iron ore mines of Guinea.

Public-Private Partnership:

• The Marhowrah plant is the model of PPP, and the established joint venture is between GE Transportation (Wabtec) and Indian Railways.

• Guinea gave the contract to global tender on supply of 4,500 HP locomotives.

Economic Impact:

• The overall cost of the contract is 411 million dollars (roughly 23,533 crore).

• The project also boosts India's chances in exporting railways making its partnership strategy a success.

Fine milestone of Indian Railways:

• It is a first occasion that Indian Railways exports locomotives to Guinea directly, which is one step further as compared to the exports of previous times where the exports were done under a credit agreement and countries released, such as Bangladesh and Mozambique.

Future Exports:

• The initial 37 locomotives will be delivered in FY26, 82 in FY27 and 31 in FY28.

• This international tender that the Marhowrah factory has won highlights the growing level of competitiveness that the nation has in the international rail market.

Strategic Significance:

• Export of these locomotives forms part of the larger action plan by India to enhance its exports in infrastructure and transportation which will improve the economic links between India and West Africa.

Conclusion

The successful Indian Railways exports locomotives to Guinea is the first direct export of the locomotives manufactured at the Marhowrah factory to Guinea and this can only be identified as a milestone in the country where India is in the making in terms of locomotive export. The project highlights India, who is focusing even more on the development of international partnerships and the advancement of its export-based operational infrastructure.

The initial Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS) of India gives meaningful clues about Internet accessibility and digital literacy in India. The penetration of broadband is now at 76.3 but there are significant differences between rural and urban, caste, and income level. The survey also presents obstacles of digital literacy, as rural regions and lower-income societies experience huge lacks in Internet usage and computer literacy, including emailing, spreadsheets, and online transactions of funds.

Context

• The CAMS survey, carried out by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) provides an end-to-end view of digital infrastructure and digital skills in India. 

• It highlights inequalities in access to broadband internet and digital literacy in India, which might potentially result in the failure to reach an SDG4 goal of inclusive and equitable education.

Key Points

Broadband Access

• National Coverage: Broadband penetration in Indian households is 76.3%

• Urban v Rural: Urban access is 86.5 percent rural is 71.2%

• Best States: Above 90% access is in Delhi, Goa and Sikkim.

• Lagging States: West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and some states being less than 70%.

The Economic Inequality and Caster Disparities

• Caste-wise Access:

  • General: 84.1%

  • OBC: 77.5%

  • SC: 69.1%

  • ST: 64.8%

Income Impact:

• 71.6% of the poorest households do not have access to broadband.

• Access is lacking only in 1.9% of the richest households.

Mobile phones and 4G connectivity

• Mobile Ownership:

  • Rural: 94.2%

  • Urban: 97.1%

  • Gender and Social Gap: Less use of mobile phones is made by women and other disadvantaged groups.

• 4G Usage:

  • Rural: 53.6%

  • Urban: 74%

  • Obsolete Technology: 40.4% of the respondents use the older technology in mobiles; there is low usage of 5G.

Digital Skills and Literacy

• Internet Use:
  • Rural: 53.6%
  • Urban: 74%
• Simple Digital Task:
  • Users of email: 20% (rural), 40% (urban)
  • Online banking: It is used by only 37.8%
  • Advanced Skills: Few have the ability to operate on spread stones, or other productivity tools.

Government Initiatives:

• BharatNet Project

  • Goal: To give high-velocity broadband availability to every 2.5 lakh gram panchayats.

  • Coverage: Emphasizes optical fiber coverage on the rural and remote locations.

  • Status: The largest rural broadband project in the world (a project still in phases).

• Digital India Programme

  • Launched: 2015

  • Vision: To make India a digitally enabling nation.

  • Major pillars: digital infrastructure, digital governance and services on demand, digital literacy.

• Wi-Fi Access Network Interface- PM-WANI

  • To install a system of public Wi-Fi hotspots by means of PDOs (Public Data Offices).

  • Advantage: Low cost of wide-spread internet access without any license fee to the operators.

• National Digital Literacy Mission ( NDLM ) / PMGDISHA

  • Other name: Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan

  • Target: To digitally literate 6 crore rural households.

  • Digital Skills in India: Elementary computer and internet knowledge.

• Common Service Centres (CSCs)

  • Roles: Offer e-governance services in the countryside (banking services, education services).

  • Internet Use: Serve as the source of the internet in unserved areas.

• National Broadband Mission

  • Aim: Access to every village via universal broadband, by 2025.

  • Infrastructure: Works on fiber, mobile towers and promotes private investment.

• Spectrum Allocation & Telecom Changes

  • Focus: Catalyze 4G/5G roll.

  • Support: The spectrum auctions, sharing infrastructure and de-regulation.

• Google & Tata Trusts Internet Saathi

  • Digital India supported it although it was not a government run initiative.

  • Goal: The rural women should be trained in digital skills in India and the use of the internet.

Effect of Education and Employment:

• In accordance with SDG 4 ( Education ) quality education is connected with digital skills in India. 

• Digital illiteracy limits access to online education/career opportunities especially to the rural and poor communities.

Digital Divide:

• Based on the data, it is apparent that although India is progressing on the path of digital inclusion, the gap is still large especially in rural parts of India, among women, and at the bottom of society. 

• These disparities are of essence when it comes to inclusive development.

Conclusion

On the one hand, the CAMS survey shows that in India the improvement of provision of broadband has been maintained, but there is still a high level of inequality in access and digital literacy in India. In particular, inequality is observed among rural populations, the poor castes, and the poorer households. To reach this objective, specific measures will have to be implemented: subsidizing the access to broadband as well as enhancing digital literacy. Digital skills in India and infrastructure should also be a priority among the policymakers in order to have equal and inclusive development, particularly within education and labor.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q.1 Which of the following is/are the key findings from the Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS) 2025 regarding digital literacy and broadband access in India?

1. Broadband penetration in India is 76.3%, with a higher penetration in urban areas (86.5%) compared to rural areas (71.2%).

2. 71.6% of the poorest households in India lack access to broadband.

3. Women and disadvantaged social groups make significantly higher use of mobile phones than urban populations.

4. The BharatNet Project aims to provide high-velocity broadband to every 2.5 lakh urban areas.

Select the correct answer using the code below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2, and 4 only
(c) 1, 2, and 3 only
(d) 3 and 4 only

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q.1 Discuss the implications of the findings from the Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS) 2025 on India’s digital infrastructure and literacy. What measures should the government take to address the existing inequalities in broadband access and digital skills, especially in rural and disadvantaged regions, in the context of SDG 4 (Quality Education)?