Daily Current Affairs - 1st May 2025
Tourism in India: An Engine of Growth under Threat?
Tourism is often hailed as the “smokeless industry” — a potent driver of economic growth, employment, cultural exchange, and regional development. In India, tourism is not just an industry; it is a civilizational continuum — from the Himalayas to the coasts, from temples to tech hubs. However, recent events such as the 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir have brought to light the vulnerabilities within this vital sector. To ensure tourism realizes its full potential, it must be assessed through a geographical, political, social, economic, and environmental lens, especially in the context of contemporary threats and opportunities.
Geographical Perspective: India’s Diverse Tourism Palette
India’s geography is a natural tourism magnet. From the snow-clad Himalayas (eco and adventure tourism), to coastal beaches of Goa and Kerala (leisure tourism), to the Western Ghats (biodiversity hotspots), and the Thar Desert (cultural heritage), the country offers unparalleled spatial variety.
- Pilgrimage circuits such as the Char Dham, Golden Temple, and Velankanni reflect the religious geography.
- Eco-sensitive areas like Ladakh, Northeast, and Sundarbans are gaining traction among sustainable tourism advocates.
- The Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, and Indus River basins support both spiritual and river-based tourism.
However, the fragile ecology of many tourist zones, especially the Himalayas, poses serious questions about carrying capacity and disaster risk — recent examples include Joshimath subsidence and the Kedarnath flood.
Political and Security Dimensions: The Tourism-Terrorism Nexus
Tourism and political stability are inextricably linked. The targeted killings of tourists in Pahalgam in 2025, amidst a tourism boom in J&K, underscore how security threats can derail tourism-led revival. Over 80% bookings were cancelled following the incident, crippling the local economy.
- J&K’s example illustrates that soft targets like tourists are increasingly becoming pawns in militant strategy, particularly in areas with geopolitical sensitivities.
- Other politically sensitive regions like Manipur, Bastar (Chhattisgarh), or the Northeast are also affected due to perceived instability.
- The Centre-State coordination, intelligence sharing, and safe tourism corridors need enhancement.
In short, tourism cannot thrive in zones of real or perceived lawlessness. The security apparatus must evolve in tandem with tourism development plans.
Economic Perspective: A Missed Goldmine?
Tourism contributes about 5% of India’s GDP (pre-COVID) and accounts for about 8% of total employment. Sectors like hospitality, handicrafts, food services, and transport thrive on tourist inflows.
- In Jammu & Kashmir, the 2024 figure of 3.5 million tourists was not just symbolic, but also an economic milestone. The UT’s tax revenue hit 18%, the highest in over a decade.
- The ripple effect of the Pahalgam attack has wider fiscal consequences — loss of livelihoods, revenue shortfall, and increased reliance on central grants.
- Pan-India, tourism supports Make in India (through handicrafts), Startup India (via eco-tourism ventures), and Digital India (with e-bookings, AR/VR tourism tech).
Despite potential, India attracts only 1.5% of global tourists, indicating underutilized capacity. Challenges include infrastructure gaps, visa hassles (though e-visa helps), and perception of safety.
Social and Cultural Dimensions:
Tourism fosters national integration, cross-cultural understanding, and social cohesion. It allows Indians to appreciate the plurality of cultures within their own borders and projects India’s heritage to the world.
However:
- The commodification of culture (e.g., over-commercialised tribal tours or folk performances) risks diluting authenticity.
- The influx of tourists in sacred spaces can sometimes strain local sensibilities, leading to social friction (as seen in parts of Himachal and Uttarakhand).
- In Kashmir, the repeated targeting of minorities and tourists threatens the social fabric and erodes public confidence.
Therefore, promoting responsible tourism — one that respects local traditions and ensures community participation — is crucial.
Environmental Perspective: Balancing Development and Sustainability
Tourism, if unchecked, can become a burden on local ecosystems. Popular destinations like Shimla, Manali, Goa, and Ooty face waste overload, traffic congestion, and groundwater depletion.
- The Himalayan region faces twin threats of overtourism and climate change.
- Pahalgam, for instance, also lies in an ecologically sensitive zone. Alongside terrorism, unsustainable tourism practices have long-term consequences.
- Eco-tourism, homestays, and carbon-neutral infrastructure are being promoted, but often without monitoring frameworks.
A sound tourism policy must integrate climate resilience, disaster preparedness, and environmental stewardship.
Government Initiatives and Way Forward
Key schemes and policies:
- Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, and Dekho Apna Desh campaigns.
- e-Tourist visa regime, now available to over 150 countries.
- National Tourism Policy 2022(draft): Focus on digital tourism, destination management, and convergence with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Recommendations:
- Tourism Security Forcesin sensitive zones like J&K.
- Dynamic risk assessmentsfor crowd and disaster-prone areas.
- Promotion of offbeat destinationsto reduce load on saturated circuits.
- Tourism-linked credit and insurancefor small businesses.
- Community-led governance modelsto ensure inclusivity and local ownership
Conclusion: Tourism as Nation Building
Tourism in India is a thread weaving together its economic aspirations, cultural ethos, and global image. But it thrives only on a foundation of safety, sustainability, and inclusivity. The Pahalgam incident is a wake-up call: without peace and preparedness, even the most vibrant tourism story can unravel. For a nation that reveres its guests, protecting tourism is not a choice — it is a duty.
Caste Enumeration in Next Census
Background
- The Union Cabinet has approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming Census, which will be conducted digitally for the first time.
- This marks a significant policy shift, as caste-wise data collection (except SCs/STs) has not been part of the Census since 1931.
Why This Matters
- The last full caste census was held in 1931, under British rule.
- Post-independence, only SCs and STs have been officially enumerated in decennial Censuses.
- OBC data, currently used for reservations and welfare policies, is based on estimates.
Difference from 2011 SECC
- The 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) was conducted separately from the Census and did not mandate caste disclosure.
- The upcoming Census will include caste enumeration under statutory mandate, likely in the second phase of the decennial exercise.
Digital Mode and Implementation
- The next Census will be digital, featuring a mobile application with a drop-down list for caste names.
- Software is under testing for this new functionality.
Timeline and Status
- The 2021 Census has been indefinitely delayed, initially due to COVID-19.
- No fresh date has been officially notified yet, although political relevance is highlighted due to the upcoming Bihar elections.
What is Census?
- Definition:The Census is the decennial count of India’s population conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Legal Backing: Conducted under the Census Act, 1948.
- Purpose:Collects demographic, economic, and social data including age, sex, religion, language, education, occupation, etc.
Key Features
- Held every 10 years since 1872 (first synchronous Census in 1881).
- Last completed Census: 2011.
- The 2021 Census has been postponed indefinitely.
- For the first time, it will be conducted in digital mode (proposed).
What is Caste Census?
- A Caste Census involves recording the caste of every individual in the population.
- Last full caste enumeration was done in 1931 (British India).
- Post-independence, Census data records only SCs and STs, not OBCs or general castes.
Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) – 2011
- Conducted parallel to the 2011 Census, but separately, under the Ministry of Rural Development.
- Collected socio-economic and caste data, but caste data was never released publicly due to concerns about accuracy and methodology.
- Not legally binding or part of regular Census data
Census – Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages:
- Foundation for Policy Making: Crucial for evidence-based decisions in sectors like health, education, employment, housing.
- Resource Allocation:Basis for central and state governments to allocate resources equitably (e.g., MPLADS, state grants).
- Electoral Representation: Data aids in delimitation and reservation of seats for SCs/STs.
- Social Indicators Assessment: Tracks literacy, fertility, aging, migration, etc., enabling targeted welfare interventions.
- Longitudinal Analysis: Decennial format helps observe trends over decades, vital for demographic transition studies.
- National Integration Tool: Reinforces the sense of unity in diversity by cataloguing all communities and languages.
Caste Census – Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Accurate Representation of Backward Classes: Enables empirical basis for affirmative action and reservation policies.
- Inclusive Policy Design: Helps identify genuinely marginalized groups within OBCs and others.
- Corrects Historical Oversight: Since caste data (except SC/ST) has not been collected since 1931, this fills a major gap.
- State-Specific Planning: Assists states like Bihar, Karnataka, and Maharashtra in tailoring state-level welfare schemes.
- Judicial Relevance: Supreme Court mandates “quantifiable data” for OBC reservation in promotions (e.g., Indra Sawhney, Jarnail Singh cases).
Disadvantages
- Social Fragmentation Risk:May reinforce caste identities, promoting division over unity.
- Political Exploitation:Potential misuse for vote-bank politics and caste-based mobilization.
- Data Reliability Concerns:Self-reporting may lead to false claims, duplication, or manipulation.
- Administrative Burden:Additional complexity during Census enumeration may reduce data quality.
- Privacy and Ethical Issues:Collection of sensitive identity data raises privacy and consent concerns.
U.S.–Ukraine Critical Minerals Pact: A New Chapter in Strategic Geoeconomics
In a significant economic and geopolitical development, Ukraine and the United States have entered into an agreement that grants the U.S. access to Ukraine’s vast reserves of critical minerals such as lithium, graphite, titanium, and uranium. These resources are essential for clean energy technologies, defense systems, and the electronics industry. The agreement also establishes a jointly managed investment fund aimed at rebuilding war-affected Ukraine.
Main Highlights of the Agreement
- Access to Resources: The U.S. will gain investment rights in Ukraine’s untapped mineral wealth, including reserves that contribute to 5% of the world’s critical raw materials.
- Joint Reconstruction Fund: A new “U.S.–Ukraine Reinvestment Fund” will be created, with Ukraine allocating 50% of future revenue from mineral production. The fund is designed to support post-war infrastructure, energy, and industrial rebuilding projects.
- Shift in Strategy: The partnership transitions from a purely defense-oriented alliance to an economic engagement model focused on long-term recovery and cooperation.
Strategic and Economic Significance
- Supply Chain Diversification: This deal helps the U.S. reduce its over-reliance on China, which still refines the bulk of the world’s rare earth elements.
- Securing Technology Inputs: Rare earths are vital for producing electric vehicles, advanced weaponry, wind turbines, and electronic devices. Gaining access to such inputs bolsters America’s position in the global tech race.
- Resource-Based Diplomacy: Ukraine’s move reflects a broader trend where mineral-rich nations seek strategic partnerships through their natural resources. It aligns with Kyiv’s efforts to integrate more deeply with Western economic and political frameworks.
Ukraine’s Strategic Motivation
- Economic Rebuilding: Post-war reconstruction requires massive capital. Ukraine is utilizing its natural resource base to attract global investment and ensure long-term financial inflows.
- Political Assurance: By entering into this partnership, Ukraine secures sustained U.S. interest and support beyond military assistance.
- Alignment with the West: The agreement further strengthens Ukraine’s alignment with Western powers and may help it move closer to institutions like the EU and NATO.
Global Implications
- Rare Earths as a Geopolitical Lever: The growing dependence on critical minerals for clean energy and defense has turned them into instruments of geopolitical leverage.
- Challenge to Chinese Dominance: Although China’s control over rare earth extraction has reduced, it still leads in processing capacity. New partnerships like this aim to rebalance global supply chains.
- Model for Future Deals: The Ukraine–U.S. partnership may inspire similar economic collaborations, particularly in countries with mineral wealth but limited capital or geopolitical leverage.
India’s Takeaways
- Need for Resource Security: India must prioritize securing reliable sources of critical minerals to meet the growing demands of its clean energy and defense sectors.
- Boosting Domestic Capacity: Beyond exploration, India needs to enhance its refining and manufacturing capabilities in rare earth processing.
- Leveraging Multilateral Platforms: India can use forums such as the QUAD, G20, or BRICS to collaborate on rare earth exploration, sharing technology and forming mineral alliances.
Possible Challenges
- Sovereignty Concerns: There may be concerns within Ukraine about the long-term implications of foreign access to its mineral wealth.
- Environmental and Social Risks: Intensive mineral extraction could lead to ecological degradation, especially in war-affected regions.
- Aid Linked to Resource Access: This trend of linking foreign aid to resource deals could raise ethical concerns about exploitation in vulnerable countries.
Conclusion
This strategic agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. signals a shift in how modern alliances are shaped—not only through military cooperation but increasingly through resource-based economic engagement. In a world moving rapidly towards clean energy and digital transformation, access to critical minerals has become a core element of national power and international diplomacy. For India, this is a reminder of the urgent need to focus on rare earth security, technological self-reliance, and resource-based foreign policy.