Positioning India in Global Power Dynamics

Source: TH

Why in News? 

India, as it grows as the world’s fastest-growing economy, faces debates over its great power aspirations, with critics highlighting weak strategy and its limited global influence when compared to China and the US.

What are the Key Constraints Hindering India’s Global Power Aspirations?

• Ambition vs. Strategic Capacity: While India aspires to global power status, critics argue it lacks the strategic clarity and institutional capacity to translate ambition into influence.
  • For example, India's military expenditure in 2024 stood at USD 86 billion, far behind China’s USD 314 billion, limiting its power projection capability.
  • India remains one of the largest arms importers globally, accounting for 9.5% of global imports (2016–2020), highlighting its dependency and underdeveloped indigenous defence capabilities.
  • India’s dependence on global supply chains for critical sectors like electronics and energy exposes it to external shocks and geopolitical tensions.
• Strategic Ambiguity in Global Alliances: India's emphasis on strategic autonomy, demonstrated by its cautious stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its balancing act between the Quad and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), has been beneficial in preserving its independence. 
  • However, critics argue that this approach may undermine India's image as a reliable partner in times of crisis.
• Human Development Constraints: In 2023, India ranks 130 out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI), indicating significant deficits in education, health, and income distribution.
  • Its Inequality-Adjusted HDI (IHDI) drops further to 0.475, reflecting high social and regional inequality that impedes holistic development.
• Economic Power vs. Per Capita Strength: Despite being the 4th largest economy globally, in 2024, India’s per capita GDP was just USD 2,711, placing it among lower middle-income countries.
  • Globally, India ranked 144th (out of 196) in per capita GDP at market exchange rates, and 127th in Purchasing Power Parity terms.
  • This limits India's global leverage in economic diplomacy and soft power influence.
• Technological Gaps and Innovation Challenges: India ranked 39th on the Global Innovation Index 2024, compared to China’s 11th and the US's 3rd.
  • While India has made digital strides (e.g., UPI, Aadhaar), gaps remain in cutting-edge sectors like semiconductors, quantum computing, and biotech.
• Internal Social Fault Lines: India's rank in the World Press Freedom Index 2024 was 159 out of 180 countries, impacting its global democratic credibility.
  • Within India, states like Goa (HDI ~0.75) and Uttar Pradesh (~0.60) show stark development gaps.
  • Such disparities weaken national coherence and limit India’s ability to act as a unified global actor.

What are the Key Foundations Supporting India’s Aspiration to Become a Global Power?

• Economic Growth and Demographic Advantage: India’s economy is projected to grow at an average rate of 6-7% per year over the coming years, positioning it to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030.
  • With a median age of 28.2 years, India has a young and growing workforce, which will drive innovation and industrial growth, further enhancing India’s global influence.
• Geopolitical Significance: Strategically located at the crossroads of Asia, India controls key maritime chokepoints in the Indian Ocean and is central to global trade.
  • India’s active role in forums like the Quad, SCO, and BRICS enhances its geopolitical leverage in Indo-Pacific security and global governance.
  • India is the de facto leader of South Asia, driving regional integration through initiatives like the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and Neighbourhood First Policy. 
  • Its role in ASEAN helps shape the future of global trade and security in Asia, securing its position as a regional powerhouse with growing global influence.
• Technological and Defence Strength: India is emerging as a digital and technological powerhouse, with UPI as the world’s leading mobile payment system and over 100 unicorns in tech startups. 
  • India’s space missions (e.g., Chandrayaan 3, Mangalyaan) and growing indigenous defence capabilities (e.g., Tejas, INS Arihant) underscore its technological and military potential. 
  • Additionally, India has the second-largest military active personnel in the world, after China, and one of the largest standing armies in Asia. 
• Strategic Autonomy and  Soft Power: India’s strategic autonomy allows it to engage with multiple powers, balancing relations with the US, Russia, and China. 
  • Its leadership in the Non-Aligned Movement and its push for UNSC reforms reflect its diplomatic vision of a multipolar world order. 
  • India’s global profile is strengthened by its diaspora of over 30 million, particularly in the advanced economies, and its rich cultural heritage. 
    • The country exerts significant soft power worldwide through its film industry, yoga, and advocacy on issues like climate change.

How Should India Navigate Evolving Global Power Dynamics?

• Strengthen Domestic Foundations for Global Reach: Focus on health, education, skilling, and infrastructure to convert demographic advantage into economic dividends. 
  • Institutional reforms in judiciary, policing, and governance critical for rule-based development.
  • Guided by the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the goal is not to immediately match all metrics of the US or China, but to build strategic autonomy, enhance domestic capacity, and consolidate sustainable growth.
• Strategic Communication of India's Vision: Clear articulation of India's unique development path, democracy with diversity, growth with inclusion, can counter Western misperceptions. 
  • India should proactively tell its “civilisational state” story on global platforms.
• Balanced Partnerships with Competing Powers: India is calibrating its foreign relations by balancing assertiveness (on territorial issues, trade, sovereignty) with pragmatism  pragmatism (working with multiple powers, avoiding full alignment). 
  • It seeks to strengthen ties with the US, while also maintaining productive engagement with China and Russia in multilateral forums, focusing on issue-based coalitions over bloc politics.
  • India is not yet a peer competitor of China or the US, but it is increasingly an important Great Power in the making, especially in Asia and in the Global South.
• Leverage Soft Power and Technological Leadership: Continue investing in tech diplomacy (Data Governance, Digital Public Goods, AI ethics).
  • Promote Indian thought leadership in international regulatory and ethical discourse on tech, environment, and global health.
  • The real battle for global influence might be less about guns & tanks, more about technology, data, diplomacy, soft power, areas where India is making credible inroads.

Conclusion

India’s journey from famine to food security, from Non-Alignment to balancing great power rivalries, and from industrial laggard to digital innovator, is a story of steady evolution. In a world shaped by technology, civilisational resilience, and multipolar cooperation, India is positioning itself not as a follower, but as a shaper of the new order in the emerging multipolar world.

Drishti Mains Question: Q. Is India’s “big economy–low per capita” paradox limiting its global power? Discuss. Q. Is India’s “strategic autonomy” an asset or a liability in global geopolitics? Discuss.

SC Issues DNA Evidence Guidelines in Criminal Cases

Source: TH

Why in News?

In the Kattavellai@Devakar v. State of Tamil Nadu case 2025, the Supreme Court (SC) issued guidelines to ensure the integrity of DNA evidence in criminal investigations. 

What are the Key SC Guidelines on DNA Evidence Handling?

• Proper Documentation at Collection Stage: The document must record important information like FIR number,investigating officer details, signatures of the medical professional, and independent witnesses.
  •  Samples must not be opened, altered, or resealed without trial court authorization.
• Timely Transportation: The investigating officer must transport DNA samples to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) within 48 hours.
• Chain of Custody Maintenance: A Chain of Custody Register must be maintained from sample collection to case closure and included in the trial court record.

What are the Key Issues Involved in DNA Evidence Management?

• Collection and Preservation Issues: DNA evidence is prone to contamination, degradation from heat or moisture, and may have insufficient quantity for analysis or retesting.
• Analysis Issues: DNA evidence faces human error, bias, and lack of standardized lab protocols, affecting reliability.
• Privacy Issues: DNA databases raise privacy concerns, function creep, surveillance risks, and potential genetic discrimination.
• Interpretative Issues: Overreliance on DNA and challenges with complex mixtures or trace DNA can lead to misinterpretation and wrongful convictions.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s guidelines in Kattavellai @ Devakar v. State of Tamil Nadu (2025) ensure uniformity, scientific validity, and integrity of DNA evidence in criminal cases. Proper documentation, timely transportation, preservation, and chain of custody are critical to prevent contamination and strengthen the probative value of DNA as opinion evidence under the law.

Drishti Mains Question: Q. Discuss the significance of the Supreme Court’s guidelines in maintaining the integrity of DNA evidence in criminal investigations.

Rising Judicial Pendency in India

Source: TH

Why in News?

Despite functioning at its full strength of 34 judges, the Supreme Court’s (SC) case pendency reached a record high of 88,417 in August 2025, with a disposal rate of 80.04%.

• About 63.3 lakh cases are pending in the High Courts (HCs), and nearly 4.6 crore in district and subordinate courts, bringing India’s total case pendency to over 5 crore.

What are the Key Reasons of High Case Pendency in Indian Courts?

Mnemonic - LACK 

• L- Low Judge-to-Population Ratio: India has just 15 judges per million people, far below the 1987 Law Commission’s recommendation of 50. 
  • In comparison, the US has 150 judges per million, while Europe averaged 220 per million in 2022.
• A- Absence of Effective ADR: Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms such as mediation, arbitration, and conciliation remain largely untapped, despite their potential to ease judicial backlog
• C- Court Vacancies & Infrastructural Laps: The India Justice Report 2025 notes that the judiciary has over 5,600 vacancies across all levels, with High Courts recording a 33% vacancy rate in 2025.
  • Limited courtrooms, shortage of staff, weak ICT systems, absence of proper case management hinder timely justice.
• K- Keen Government Litigation: Nearly 50% of pending cases involve government departments. 
  • In 2018, the SC criticised the Centre for filing frivolous and repetitive appeals.

What Measures are Needed to Reduce Judicial Pendency in India?

Mnemonic - JUSTICE

• J - Judge strength & Appointments: As per the 120th Law Commission Report (1987), raise judge-to-population ratio to 50/million, fast-track appointments in High and District Courts, and establish All India Judicial Service (AIJS) for full-capacity courts.
• U - Upgrade Infrastructure & Technology: Expand e-Courts Mission Mode Project with AI-based case management.
• S - Simplify Procedures & Laws: Limit adjournments, adopt summary trials, pre-trial conferences, fast-track procedures, and simplify laws as per Second ARC recommendations for quicker justice.
• T - Training & Tech Tools: Implement AI-based case management Tools like FASTER and provide staff Training.
• I - Institutional Reforms: Set up National Judicial Infrastructure Authority (NJIA) to standardize court infrastructure.
• C - Channel cases to ADR: Channel suitable cases away from courts by promoting Conciliation, mediation, and arbitration.
• E - Expand Access & Outreach: Strengthen Tele-Law, mobile clinics, and NALSA outreach for wider access to justice.

Conclusion

Judicial pendency in India undermines justice, economic growth, and public trust; comprehensive reforms in capacity, technology, procedures, and ADR are essential for timely, efficient, and accessible justice.

Drishti Mains Question: Q. Discuss the key reasons behind the rising judicial pendency in India and its socio-economic implications

Project Cheetah and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary

Source: IE

Why in News?

Madhya Pradesh plans to introduce a female cheetah to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, aiming to establish it as a second home for cheetahs after Kuno National Park, as a part of Project Cheetah.

What is Project Cheetah?

• About: India launched Project Cheetah in 2022 to reintroduce cheetahs, extinct in the country for over 70 years. 
  • Operated under Project Tiger, Project Cheetah is the world’s first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation project and implements the Cheetah Action Plan. 
• Objective: Establish breeding populations of cheetahs in safe habitats across historical range.
  • Use cheetahs as a flagship species to restore open forests and savanna ecosystems.
  • Promote eco-development and ecotourism to improve local livelihoods.
  • Enhance community awareness and reduce human-wildlife conflict.
• Implementation and Governance: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, implements Project Cheetah in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, and Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
  • As a statutory body NTCA established the Cheetah Project Steering Committee in 2023 to supervise, evaluate, and advise on the project’s implementation.
• Achievements: 8 cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa were relocated to Kuno National Park, where they exhibited natural behaviors. 

  • The birth of Namibian cheetah cubs in India after 75 years is a significant milestone in the reintroduction effort.

  • Over 350 ‘Cheetah Mitras’ are involved to educate locals and mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

What are the Key Facts about Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary?

• Location: Situated in northwestern Madhya Pradesh, bordering Rajasthan, within the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion.
• Ecosystem: Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary features savanna, open grasslands, dry deciduous forests, and riverine areas. It is recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA).
• Topography: Includes hills, plateaus, and the Gandhi Sagar Dam and the Chambal River (tributary of the Yamuna) bifurcates the sanctuary into two nearly equal parts.
• Flora: Dominated by Khair, Salai, Tendu, and other dry deciduous species.
• Fauna: Home to Chinkara, Nilgai, Indian Leopard, Hyena, and more.
• Historical Sites: The sanctuary includes sites like Chaurasigarh, Chaturbhuj Nala rock shelters, Bhadkaji rock paintings, and Hinglajgarh Fort.
• Ideal Habitat: The savanna ecosystem and abundant wildlife make it an ideal site for cheetah reintroduction, similar to Maasai Mara in Kenya (a national reserve in Kenya known for its savanna wilderness and wildlife).

Annual Licensing Policy for Opium Cultivation for 2025-26

Source: PIB

Why in News?

The Union Government has announced the annual licensing policy for opium poppy cultivation in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh for 2025-26, increasing eligible farmers to 1.21 lakh.

What is Opium Poppy?

• About: The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) is an annual medicinal herb belonging to the Papaveraceae family.
  • It is the primary source of opium gum, which contains alkaloids like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, widely used in modern medicine as painkillers, cough suppressants, and antispasmodics. 
  • Apart from medicinal use, it is also grown for edible seeds and seed oil.
• Favourable Conditions: Grows best in temperate climate and winter cultivation possible in sub-tropical regions.
  • Cultivation needs well-drained, fertile light black or loamy soil with pH around 7.0.
  • Frost, desiccating conditions, cloudy or rainy weather lower both quantity and quality of opium.
• Opium Cultivation in India: India is the only country authorized by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961) to produce gum opium. 11 other countries cultivate opium poppy, but they do not extract gum.
  • Opium poppy has been cultivated in India since the 10th century. It became a federal monopoly during the Mughal period in the 16th century, came under British control from 1773, and is now regulated by the Indian government.
• Regulation: Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, cultivation of opium poppy is strictly prohibited except under a license issued by the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh). 
  • Cultivators are required to sell their entire opium production to CBN, with the price fixed by the government.
  • Currently, licit cultivation is permitted only in selected tracts of the three traditional opium-growing states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. 
  • As a signatory to the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, India is required to strictly adhere to the provisions and regulations outlined in the Convention while managing its opium production.

Sex Sorted Semen Facility under Rashtriya Gokul Mission

Source: PIB

The Prime Minister inaugurated the Sex Sorted Semen facility at Purnea, Bihar, under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, aimed at improving the dairy sector in Eastern and North-Eastern India.

• The facility will produce 5 lakh doses of sex-sorted semen per year using the indigenously developed ‘Gausort’ technology.
• Sex Sorted Semen is aimed at increasing the birth of female calves, helping dairy farmers by reducing economic burdens and enhancing income, especially benefiting small, marginal, and landless dairy farmers.
• The Gausort technology, sorts semen to ensure a higher likelihood of female calves, with an accuracy of up to 90%.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission

• Background: Implemented since 2014 for indigenous bovine breed development & conservation. The scheme is also continued under the umbrella scheme Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojana from 2021 to 2026.
• Implementing Agency: Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying).
• Objectives: Aims to sustainably enhance bovine productivity and milk production, promote the use of high genetic merit bulls, expand artificial insemination (AI) coverage, and scientifically conserve and promote indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds.
• Achievements: 
  • Milk Production: Increased from 146.31 MT (2014-15) to 239.30 MT (2023-24) ( rise of 63.55% in 10 years).
  • Artificial Insemination: 9.16 crore animals covered, 14.12 crore AIs performed, 5.54 crore farmers benefited.

Read more: Rashtriya Gokul Mission

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Source:TH

The conflict in eastern DRC saw two major developments-a U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Rwanda and the DRC, and a ceasefire between the DRC and M23 (March 23 Movement) rebels, mediated by Qatar. 

• Despite these efforts, M23 resumed its offensive, undermining the peace objectives.

DRC

• Political Features:
  • The DRC, Africa’s 2nd-largest country, shares borders with Angola, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia.
  • The country also has a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest.
  • The main areas of conflict are North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri.
    
• Geographical Features:
  • It has the mineral-rich Katanga Plateau (cobalt, copper, tin, uranium, diamonds). 
  • Its capital Kinshasa lies on the Congo River, the only African river to cross the equator twice.
  • The country contains the Congo Basin, a vast central lowland rainforest, as well as savanna regions.
  • The DRC is home to several significant lakes, including Lake Tanganyika, Lake Albert, Lake Edward, and Lake Kivu.
  • Mount Nyiragongo, an active volcano in the Virunga Mountains, is one of the country’s notable geological features.

Read more: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)