Bulldozers in an experimental township: As Centre's master plan turns to reality, fear of Auroville turning into ‘Spiritual Disneyland' rises

Ever since bulldozers arrived unannounced in 2021 to fell trees for infrastructure development inside Auroville, its long-time residents have been accusing the experimental township's government-appointed administrators of trying to turn it into a 'spiritual Disneyland'.
From midnight takeovers of community services and surveillance to censorship and a wave of denials for visa renewals leaving many displaced — Aurovillians claim the authorities have been indulging in 'methodical erosion' of the township's founding ideals.
The 2021 move, Aurovillians allege, signalled more than infrastructure development, marking what they claimed was 'the beginning of the Centre's growing control over Auroville'.
Central to the worry of Aurovillians is the union government's interest in implementing the circular Crown Road project via the Auroville Foundation and its governing board. The project is a part of the larger Master Plan, which the authorities say is based on the Galaxy Plan of the township's founder Mirra Alfassa, fondly called Mother.
Founded in 1968, Auroville is spread over 3,930 acres (around 20 sq km) in Tamil Nadu's Viluppuram district. Though most of it lies in Tamil Nadu, some parts fall in the union territory of Puducherry. Its long-term residents say it was never meant to be an ashram or a gated retreat for tourists, but simply a 'bold experiment in living'.
Though Auroville remained under Mother's guidance from 1968-1973, a period of internal conflict followed. Then, in 1988, the Centre passed the Auroville Foundation Act, which introduced a three-tier governance model in the township.
This model includes a Residents' Assembly with Aurovillians handling community life; a governing board with appointed experts to oversee policy; and an international advisory council that acts as a global advisor. While a government-appointed secretary coordinates administration, the Foundation owns Auroville's assets, handles resident registration, and manages visa and legal matters.
Aurovillians claim that key positions in the Assembly have been given to 'those who agree with the Foundation or have little or no history in Auroville'.
Aravinda Maheshwari, 75, an Auroville resident who belongs to Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, says, 'The real challenge today is that the Foundation's office does not seem to recognise the spirit in which Aurovillians have dedicated their lives to this township. For many of us, Auroville is not about personal gains, but a collective dream.'
Another resident adds, 'Our question is not what next, but how — and with whom. If the answer excludes those who built it, then perhaps the road ahead leads away from the dream.'
When contacted, Jayanti Ravi, Secretary, Auroville Foundation, said the township is a city, not a village. 'Those who speak against this idea (of the Master Plan) should reconsider whether they belong here (Auroville). Let them leave if that is how they feel. There is a governing body in place, and we have received reports of land grab, drug use, money laundering, etc. One must understand all these facts before accusing the Foundation or questioning its actions,' says Ravi, who was the Godhra District Collector during the 2002 Gujarat riots.
To a question on who owns Auroville, a senior Foundation official says, 'This tussle between the residents and the Foundation is happening because of the BJP government's interest in developing Auroville. Some of the government's concerns are valid, but no one owns Auroville. You serve it and grow in it. When your time here is done, you move on. To become a citizen of Auroville itself is against the very purpose of our ideals.'
The township currently has over 3,000 residents from more than 60 countries, with foreigners making up a significant portion of its population. To become an Aurovillian, one must attend orientation in the township and apply with letters of support. 'They live as a 'newcomer' for at least a year. Foreigners need to apply for an X-2 special entry visa and not a tourist visa. The X-2 visa is valid for a year and can be renewed periodically, provided the visa holder meets all requirements,' says a resident.
According to dozens of residents The Indian Express spoke to, over 300 Aurovillians have left the township over the past two-three years — either after they were asked to or on their own. Residents say over 150 visa renewal requests have been delayed or denied lately, even as 10 Aurovillians remain stranded abroad at present.
Residents say even approved visa renewals often come with a validity of just two-three months, which, they said, felt like a 'a barely veiled exit order'.
When contacted, G Seetharaman, Officer on Special Duty, Auroville Foundation, termed as 'false' all claims of delayed visa renewals, residents being stranded abroad and silencing those who question the Foundation.
However, a Spanish man and his Dutch wife claimed their X-2 visas were renewed, their child's permit was not. An Italian family faced the same issue. An 80-year-old resident said visas should not be used to 'instil fear and separate families'.
An Auroville-born woman says her Nigerian husband's visa was not renewed. 'I'm not questioning the law, but the consequences of having him here as my partner should not be this cruel,' she says.
Among those asked to 'leave' Auroville is Frederick Schulze-Buxloh, 86, a German who arrived in Auroville in 1960. Having met Mother, 'shortly after she finished a game of tennis', he recalls, 'All prospects I had back in Europe dissolved in the face of something greater — an invitation to help build a city that didn't yet exist.'
One of Auroville's founding members, his request for visa renewal was denied by the authorities in May 2025. Having lived in India for 60 years, he was issued a 'Leave India' notice by the Ministry of Home Affairs, based on an inquiry committee's report accusing him of purchasing benami properties in Puducherry and Kodaikanal. He was also accused of obstructing development activities and allegedly organising mob attacks within Auroville.
One of his friends says, 'He has been asked to leave India at a time when his health is failing. A man who helped build Auroville from scratch finds himself accused of obstructing its development today.'
Confirming that he had applied for visa renewal, one of Schulze-Buxloh's friends says he did not receive a recommendation letter from the Foundation's secretary, which is necessary for the extension of an X-2 visa.
The Indian Express has learnt that Schulze-Buxloh 'did not receive any official notice or direct communication' regarding the allegations against him.
Among those caught up in the X-2 visa rip tide is Satprem Maini, the founder of Auroville's Earth Institute, a centre famous for sustainable architecture across the world. Despite holding a visa valid till 2025, he claims that he was asked to 'leave India within a week' in June 2023.
Accusing Tamil Nadu Governor and Auroville governing board chairperson R N Ravi for Maini's exit from the township, his friends claimed that he was asked to leave India after he submitted 'technical reports exposing the poor quality construction of the Crown Road project'. Since his exit, Maini has been teaching remotely, with his institute surviving on outside projects.
There was no response to an email sent by The Indian Express to Governor Ravi seeking his response to these allegations.
Having arrived in Auroville from Paris in 1989, Maini went on to establish the Earth Institute there. Beyond Auroville, he is also responsible for the large-scale domes at Coimbatore's Dhyanalinga and Gujarat's Oshodhara Ashram. 'I refuse to abandon what we built here,' he reportedly told a colleague before he left India.
Meanwhile, the Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC) is leading efforts to prepare detailed plans and enforce zoning rules, building by-laws and land consolidation for the implementation of the master plan. This plan includes the structured development of the Crown Road, four functional zones and a central Peace Area around the Matrimandir, Auroville's golden sphere-shaped spiritual centre that now requires visitors to buy an entry ticket. All four main zones of Auroville — residential, cultural, international and industrial — lead to the centrally located Matrimandir.
Commenting on the Matrimandir entry ticket, an Auroville resident of 40 years remarks, 'The symbols are on display — but the soul is being lost.'
Meanwhile, fears related to the expansion of Auroville are not new. In the past too, a rapidly expanding Auroville, which started drawing outsiders and real estate interests, led to fears that it would one day engulf the entire Puducherry. These fears were put to rest by the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988, and the 2001 Master Plan, which restricted its size to 2,000 hectares.
Though the master plan emphasises sustainability and unity, residents are worried about the government's 'rigid and top-heavy approach' as far as the Crown Road project is concerned. While a series of tenders and assignments were issued in 2021, projects started actively in 2022. So far, contracts worth over Rs 20 crore were handed to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), a department under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to build the Crown Road as a 'perfect circle' inside Auroville.
Residents say the plan ignores the 13-metre elevation differences in terrain. 'This road should follow the terrain and not be bulldozed. A perfect circle is a mathematical idea — not a living one,' says a resident.
Citing the master plan, published in the Gazette in 2001, as their mandate, officials reiterate that it is based on Mother's Galaxy Plan. Residents however say the Galaxy Plan is a 'symbolic sketch that was never meant for rigid implementation'.
Circles and triangles have a great significance in Auroville. While a circle stands for unity and the Divine at the centre of life, a triangle shows the link between the higher truth and rising human aspiration.
Joss Brooks, called the 'gardener of South India', is among veteran Aurovillians who seem 'heartbroken' at the events unfolding there over the past four-five years.
Brooks, who travelled from England to Australia by boat before landing in Puducherry in 1969, has helped turn barren lands into thriving forest ecosystems. In his nearly 50-year stay in India, he has helped shape spaces like the wetlands of Adyar Poonga in Chennai to Pitchandikulam Forest in Auroville.
One of his close friends tells The Indian Express, 'There was once a spirit of co-creation at Auroville but decisions are handed down now. Brooks believes that for any development to last long, it has to be done with the involvement of everybody.'
A resident who grew up in the township says the ongoing construction at Auroville makes the place 'feel more like a bureaucratic hostel'. Calling it 'an existential trial', another resident adds, 'How can a spiritual experiment survive in an age of bureaucracy?'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Indian Express

10 hours ago

• Indian Express

UPSC Key: Green India Mission, FASTag and Green Hydrogen

Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for June 20, 2025. If you missed the June 19, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here EXPLAINED New Green India Mission roadmap in climate change battle Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. What's the ongoing story: The Centre on Tuesday (June 17) released a revised roadmap for the National Mission for Green India, also known as the Green India Mission (GIM). In addition to the core objectives of increasing and restoring forest and green cover, the mission will focus on restoration in the Aravalli ranges, Western Ghats, Himalayas and mangroves. Key Points to Ponder: • The Green India Mission is a part of which Central government framework? • What is the primary goal of the revised Green India Mission? • Know the design and targets of the revised Green India Mission in meeting India's climate change objectives. • What is the importance of ecosystem services (carbon, biodiversity, hydrology) included under GIM and their long-term benefits? • Explain the role and challenges of convergence between GIM, MGNREGS, and CAMPA in achieving holistic forest restoration. • What are the strategies under GIM for urban greening and how they complement rural afforestation efforts? • Evaluate the progress and shortcomings of GIM since inception, including funding and ground implementation challenges. Key Takeaways: • The GIM is a key component of India's efforts to combat the effects of climate change. While the focus remains on improving forest cover, tackling land degradation and desertification will also feature prominently in the revised roadmap. • GIM was rolled out in 2014 as one of the eight missions under India's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). Its core aim is to combat climate change by increasing forest and tree cover, and the ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems and forests. It also aims to improve the livelihoods of communities dependent on forest produce. More specifically, its objective was to increase forest and tree cover on 5 million hectares and improve the quality of forest cover on another 5 million hectares. • Between 2015-16 and 2020-21, the mission facilitated tree plantation and afforestation activities across 11.22 million hectares (mha) of land, through central and state schemes. Between 2019-20 and 2023-24, the Centre released Rs 624.71 crore to 18 states for interventions under GIM and Rs 575.55 crore has been utilised, according to an Environment Ministry response tabled in Lok Sabha this February. • Activities under GIM are concentrated in states based on mapping of ecological vulnerability, potential for sequestration (the process by which plants and trees store carbon using photosynthesis), forest and land degradation, and restoration potential. Do You Know: • The Green India Mission document was revised to account for on-ground climate impacts and feedback received from implementing partner states and scientific institutions, environment ministry officials told The Indian Express. A central focus of the revised mission plan will be on the restoration and saturation of vulnerable landscapes through regionally conducive best practices. This will see area and landscape-specific restoration activities in three important mountain ranges – the Aravallis, the Western Ghats, and the Indian Himalayas, along with the mangrove ecosystems. • For instance, GIM interventions will be synced with the Centre's recently launched Aravalli Green Wall project, aimed at combating the degradation and desertification in one of the world's oldest mountain ranges, which acts as a natural barrier against the Thar desert. • Around a third of India's geographical area – 97.85 million hectares – underwent land degradation during 2018-19, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation's Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas. India aims to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide through additional forest and tree cover by 2030, according to its national commitments to tackle climate change submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The natural carbon sinks of forests, restored grasslands, wetlands, and mountain ecology will help offset greenhouse gas emissions and act as natural sponges and barriers in absorbing climate change impacts. • To restore large swathes of forests and degraded lands, restoration of impaired open forests is key, cost-effective and high-impact for CO2 sequestration, the revised GIM roadmap says, based on Forest Survey of India's (FSI) estimates. According to the FSI, this approach alone has the potential to sequester 1.89 billion tonnes of CO2 over approximately 15 million hectares. It also estimates that by aligning ongoing schemes and intensifying afforestation efforts, GIM can help India expand its forest and tree cover up to 24.7 million hectares. This would be enough to achieve a carbon sink of 3.39 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030, as per the FSI's projections. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Revised Green India Mission plan: Centre to focus on Aravalli, Western Ghats restoration Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍Examine the status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change. (UPSC 2020) Cost of pulses, oil imports Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies III: Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country What's the ongoing story: Rao Gulab Singh Lodi has harvested roughly 90 quintals of summer moong (green gram) from his 16-acre land in Nanhegaon village of Madhya Pradesh's Narsinghpur district. Key Points to Ponder: • What are the primary drivers behind India's rising import bill since 2013–14. • What policy responses have been implemented? • Know the macroeconomic risks posed by India's heavy dependence on crude oil and LNG imports. • What are the implications of imported fuel costs on food inflation and household welfare? • What are the structural and cyclical challenges caused by high pulses and edible oil imports on Indian agriculture and farmers' incomes? Key Takeaways: • The government's apathy in procuring the pulses crop that's fetching Rs 6,000 or so per quintal in the open market, as against its official minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 8,682. • It's not only moong. Lodhi cultivates soyabean during the kharif (monsoon) season, sowing the leguminous oilseed in early-July and harvesting by mid-October, followed by chana (chickpea) and masoor (red lentil) during rabi (winter-spring). After harvesting masoor towards March 10 and chana around March 15-20, he sows summer moong that matures in 60-70 days. • The woes for Indian pulses and oilseeds growers come amid all-time-high imports during 2024-25 (April-March). In the case of pulses, these touched 7.3 million tonnes (mt) and valued at $5.5 billion, surpassing the previous record of 6.6 mt and $4.2 billion for 2016-17. • Pulses imports had actually registered a substantial dip after 2017-18, to an average of 2.6 mt worth $1.7 billion during the subsequent five years (Charts 1a and 1b). This came on the back of improved domestic production. India's pulses output, which stood at 19.3 mt in 2013-14 and 17.2 mt in 2014-15 and 16.3 mt in 2015-16 (both drought years), climbed to 27.3 mt in 2021-22 and 26.1 mt in 2022-23. • Much of that was courtesy of chana and moong, with scientists breeding short-duration varieties (100-120 days) requiring hardly any irrigation in the former and those amenable to growing across all seasons in the latter. Farmers today plant moong in kharif and rabi as well as spring and summer. Do You Know: • CPI inflation in vegetable oils, unlike pulses, has been ruling at double digits since November 2024, with the latest May reading at 17.9%. It explains the Modi government's decision, on May 30, to cut the basic customs duty on crude palm, soyabean and sunflower oil from 20% to 10% and the overall import tariff (after adding an agriculture cess and social welfare surcharge) from 27.5% to 16.5%. • The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects the lowering of duty to result in a 'further increase' in soyabean oil imports by India. Although its market is dominated by Argentina, 'the reduced tariff can boost the import of US soyabean oil,' a USDA report, dated June 10, has stated. • All this would mean imports likely hitting a new high in the current fiscal, even as the USDA has projected a record-breaking global vegetable oil output of 235 mt for 2025-26, led by palm (80.7 mt) and soyabean (70.8 mt). And that may not be good news for farmers like Lodhi. • The Soyabean Processors Association of India has expressed concern over the 11-percentage points duty cut, which is expected to 'flood the Indian market with cheaper imported oils'. That will make oilseed cultivation less attractive to farmers, who may sow less area and switch to other more profitable crops in this kharif season, said Davish Jain, chairman of the Indore-based association. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Pulses production goes up: The success story of chana and moong FASTAG ANNUAL PASS: HOW HIGHWAY TRAVEL FOR RS 3,000 WILL WORK Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights. What's the ongoing story: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday (June 18) announced a FASTag-based annual pass of Rs 3,000 for 'hassle-free-highway travel'. He said the new system, exclusively for non-commercial private vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans, will address the 'long-standing concerns' regarding toll plazas. Key Points to Ponder: • What is FASTag? • What is the FASTag Annual Pass scheme? • What counts as a single trip under the Annual Pass? • Is the FASTagAnnual Pass mandatory? • Which vehicles are covered under the pass? • How will it be activated? • Are all toll plazas covered under the pass? • Will the Annual Pass fee be revised? Key Takeaways: • Gadkari said the FASTag-based passes will be effective from August 15 and valid for one year or 200 trips or crossings, whichever comes earlier. He also said that users will save at least Rs. 7,000 per pass, and the average cost of crossing one toll plaza will be only Rs 15. • FASTag is an electronic toll collection system managed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). A FASTag sticker is usually pasted on the windscreen of a car. It was launched in 2014 as a pilot project and made mandatory at every toll plaza in the country in 2021. • The new annual pass scheme, activated on the FASTag, will allow free passage of private car, jeep or van at National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) fee plazas for the given duration, without per-trip user fee charges. • Once the Annual Pass completes either 200 trips or one year from the date of activation, it will automatically revert to a regular FASTag. However, the user may re-purchase the Annual Pass once the 200-trip limit is exhausted, even if the one-year validity period has not yet ended. • The pass is non-transferable and is valid only for the vehicle on which the FASTag is affixed and registered. • For the point-based fee plazas, each crossing of the fee plaza will be counted as one trip. A round trip (to and fro) will be counted as two trips. For closed tolling fee plazas, one pair of entry and exit will be counted as one trip. Do You Know: • FASTag is a sticker or a tag usually pasted on the windscreen of the car. The device uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to communicate with scanner installed at toll plazas. —Once the car crosses the toll plaza the requisite toll amount is automatically deducted from a bank account or a prepaid walled linked to the FASTag. Vehicles can drive through plazas without stopping. If the tag is linked to a prepaid account like a wallet, or a debit/credit card, then owners need to recharge/top up the tag. If it is linked to a savings account, then the money will get deducted automatically after the balance goes below a pre-defined threshold. Once a vehicle crosses the toll, the owner gets an SMS alert on the deduction. The alert is like money getting debited from accounts or wallets. • Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a technology that uses radio waves to automatically identify various tagged objects. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a wireless tracking method that uses tags and readers to track objects. Transponder, receiver, and transmitter are the three components of an RFID system. The RFID reader continually sends radio waves of a specific frequency in RFID system. If the object to which the RFID tag is attached is within the range of the radio waves, it provides feedback to the RFID reader, which then identifies the object based on the feedback. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Nitin Gadkari announces FASTag annual pass at Rs 3,000 for 'hassle-free highway travel' The Great Charter: How Magna Carta came to be, and why its legacy endures Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries What's the ongoing story: Eight hundred and ten years ago, almost to the day, an English king agreed to a seminal document laying down principles that would help establish the foundations of modern democracies. Key Points to Ponder: • The Magna Carta has been hailed as the cornerstone of modern democracy-Evaluate its relevance in contemporary constitutional democracies. • Discuss the socio-political conditions in 13th-century England that led to the signing of the Magna Carta. • 'The Magna Carta laid the foundation for the rule of law.' Examine the statement with relevant examples. • How did the Magna Carta influence the evolution of constitutional governance in Britain and the USA? • Compare the ideas of justice and liberty in the Magna Carta with those in the Indian Constitution. Key Takeaways: • The Magna Carta (Latin for 'Great Charter') was signed on June 15, 1215, at Runnymede Meadows near London. English barons collectively sought to restrict King John's arbitrary orders and had him agree to several principles, most importantly that the king could only act under the law. • Last month, Harvard University discovered one of the earliest versions of the document in its collections, dating back to the year 1300, previously assumed to be a copy. 'Considered a key step in the evolution of human rights against oppressive rulers, Magna Carta has formed the basis of constitutions around the world,' Harvard Law School noted on May 15. • The Magna Carta was sealed at a time when King John witnessed several military failures. In 1204, the King of France took Normandy and Anjou. To fund expeditions to take back those lands, John raised taxes on his subjects. • The more immediate cause of the barons' rebellion against King John was his defeat in the battle of Bouvines in 1214, at the hands of the King of France, Philip II Augustus. • In the medieval feudal structure, barons were granted varying sizes of land in exchange for their loyalty and services to the monarch, such as providing knights during wars. Such was the prevailing discontent against John's treatment of the barons and his insistence on launching wars despite constant defeats, that they refused support for the battle. He then allied with the German Holy Roman Emperor Otto and the Counts of Flanders and Boulogne, but lost. Do You Know: • A critical view of the charter is that it strictly dealt with the distribution of powers among the elite – the king and the barons. On its 800th anniversary in 2015, a BBC report said 'free men' mentioned in clause 39 accounted for less than half the population at the time. 'The rest were serfs, to whom the charter did not apply. And 'men' meant men — women, except for widows, merit barely a mention in Magna Carta,' it said. Its modern links to democracy are also debatable, as it wasn't aimed at actually democratising the political setup. • English historian David Carpenter, in an essay for The Guardian, wrote that despite these lacunae, the document still resulted in 'the most radical and detailed restrictions on the ruler' in Europe. That wasn't because of magnanimity on the king's part, but because he was 'uniquely demanding and intrusive' of his subjects, 'thanks to the pressures of maintaining a continental empire' that stretched to modern-day southern France. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Across the Aisle: Magna Carta does not assure liberty FRONT PAGE Cash couldn't have been in store without consent of Justice Varma, family: Panel Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance Main Examination: General Studies II: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity. What's the ongoing story: Underlining 'implied responsibility', the three-member panel of judges, which probed the allegation of cash being found at the official residence of Justice Yashwant Varma in Delhi when a fire broke out there on March 14, held him responsible for 'misconduct'. Key Points to Ponder: • Who is Justice Yashwant Varma • Why Justice Yashwant Varma is in news? • What you know about Justice Varma case? • Discuss the significance of judicial accountability in ensuring the independence of the judiciary in India. • The Justice Varma case highlights what? • The judiciary is expected to remain impartial and independent of political influence—analyse judicial appointments and removals impact this independence. Key Takeaways: • In its 64-page report, the panel, comprising Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana, Justice G S Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, and Justice Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka, said when the government allots a residence to a public servant, it 'carries with it the responsibility upon the occupant to keep the premises free of items or material which may give rise to suspicion in the eyes of the common man'. • The report, indicting Justice Varma, was formally submitted on May 4 to then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna. After the CJI forwarded the report to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government initiated the process of bringing an impeachment motion against Justice Varma in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. • On the issue of lapses by the police, and why a panchnama was not made by the Tughlaq Road police immediately after the fire was doused, the panel said that while the police were 'slipshod' in their action, the issue was beyond the committee's remit. • The committee devised its own procedure, ensuring that 'all the incriminating material, including the statements of all the witnesses recorded during the enquiry' were shared with Justice Varma and video recording the statements of the witnesses so that these 'could not be challenged at a subsequent point of time and also for confirmation whether such statements were in sum and substance recorded correctly'. • The report also pointed out contradictions in the statements of Rajinder Singh Karki, who was Justice Varma's private secretary. According to the report, Karki said in his deposition that 'he came to know about the burnt currency in the house for the first time after six to seven days after the fire incident.' Justice Varma had also stated in his earlier statements to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court that his staff was not aware of any discovery of cash on the night of the fire. Do You Know: • If the committee renders a guilty finding, the report of the committee is then adopted by the House in which it was introduced, and the judge's removal is debated. • For an impeachment motion against an SC or HC judge to go through, at least two-thirds of those 'present and voting' in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha must vote in favour of removing the judge — and the number of votes in favour must be more than 50% of the 'total membership' of each House. If Parliament passes such a vote, the President will pass an order for the removal of the judge. • The process of impeachment of a judge of the Supreme Court is laid down in Article 124(4) of the Constitution of India. Article 218 says the same provisions shall apply in relation to a judge of the High Court as well. • Under Article 124(4), a judge can be removed by Parliament through a laid-down procedure on only two grounds: 'proved misbehaviour' and 'incapacity'. • In other words, for an impeachment motion against an SC or HC judge to go through, at least two-thirds of those 'present and voting' in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha must vote in favour of removing the judge — and the number of votes in favour must be more than 50% of the 'total membership' of each House. • Once the MPs submit the motion, the presiding officer of the House can either accept or reject it. If accepted, a three-member committee, comprising two judges and a jurist, is constituted to probe the complaint and determine if it is a case fit for initiating the process of impeachment. • The committee includes one judge from the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of a High Court if the complaint is against a High Court judge, or two Supreme Court judges if the complaint is against a sitting judge of the apex court. • As Article 124 (4) of the Constitution says, the motion for impeachment 'has to be supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-third of the members of the House present and voting' – in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. • So far there have been four attempts to impeach High Court judges and two to remove Supreme Court judges, with the last being in 2018 against then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. None of the motions cleared the entire process. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Cash at residence: Govt likely to bring motion to impeach Justice Varma THE EDITORIAL PAGE THE MISSING MINING DRIVE Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment, Science and Technology. What's the ongoing story: It is near-impossible to secure mineral supply chains from overseas — even the US is struggling. As a country that is geologically rich, India must explore within Key Points to Ponder: • What are critical minerals? • Why critical minerals are significant for India's economic and strategic security? • Discuss the objectives and key features of the newly approved National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM). • Analyse the role of critical minerals in India's transition to renewable energy, electric mobility, and high-tech manufacturing. • Explain the global supply chain dynamics of critical minerals. • How does the Critical Minerals Mission align with India's broader industrial policies such as 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'? • What is the difference between critical minerals and rare earth elements? • Which country has the most rare earth deposits? • What effects does China's dominance over the processing of rare earth magnets have on global supply chains? Key Takeaways: • The president of the world's largest economy has put critical minerals at the core of his foreign and domestic agenda. The reason Donald Trump wants to 'annex' Canada and Greenland is to have control over their vast mineral wealth. The only reason he is remotely interested in solving the Russia-Ukraine conflict is the potential for the US to access Ukraine's rich mineral resources. • At home, Trump is opening up vast tracts of federal land — previously on no-go lists — for mineral exploration on a fast-track basis, cutting approvals time from a year to less than a month. Minerals have also taken centre-stage in the global trade war. China is using its disproportionate control over rare earth materials to threaten the US and the rest of the world with the debilitating consequences of restricted supply. • The fourth industrial revolution, which involves AI, robotics and big data, is also mineral-intensive. For example, any digital or digital connectivity infrastructure requires copper in large quantities. Copper is critical because of its electrical conductivity. • Data centres, the backbone of big data and AI, consume a lot of copper. They also consume large amounts of energy. To mitigate climate change, a lot of this needs to be sourced from renewable sources. There are several other examples of the mineral intensity of emerging technologies. As the adoption of these technologies grows, the demand-supply gap of critical minerals will grow. Do You Know: • Critical minerals that are essential for economic development and national security, and the lack of availability of these minerals or the concentration of extraction or processing in a few geographical locations could potentially lead to 'supply chain vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies'. This is true for minerals such as lithium, graphite, cobalt, titanium, and rare earth elements, which are essential for the advancement of many sectors, including high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transport, and defence. • One of the definitions cited in the report characterises a mineral as critical when the risk of supply shortage and associated impact on the economy is (relatively) higher than other raw materials. This definition of a critical mineral was first adopted in the US and the subsequent legislation that resulted from the analysis, the report said. The European Union also carried out a similar exercise and categorised critical minerals on the basis of two prerequisites: supply risk and economic importance. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Govt approves Rs 16,300-cr National Critical Minerals Mission ECONOMY Green hydrogen: Govt, industry bullish, but demand falters a mid-global head wind Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. What's the ongoing story: Stakeholders in India's nascent green hydrogen sector remain bullish that the alternate fuel 'is going to be big', but weak export demand — driven by geopolitical instability and policy reversals in key markets — is slowing down the pace of expansion. Key Points to Ponder: • What is green hydrogen? • Hydrogen and its Types • How green hydrogen differs from traditional emissions-intensive 'grey' hydrogen and blue hydrogen? • How is the policy set to boost domestic production of green hydrogen production? • What are the facilities to boost export of green hydrogen? • What are the challenges and opportunities associated with the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme in India. • What are carbon credits and how does India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) aim to operationalize them? • Compare and contrast the green hydrogen policies of India with those of developed nations such as Germany or Japan. Key Takeaways: • At an industry event on Thursday, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Secretary, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, said, 'One key factor, from an entrepreneur's perspective, is market visibility. That market — due to a variety of reasons such as geopolitical tensions and policy backtracking by some governments, including the US where the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) is stalled — has created some skepticism about whether this transition will move forward.' • The IRA, widely seen as the most significant net-zero carbon emissions intervention in the US, is under threat from President Donald Trump's proposed 'Big Beautiful Bill', currently up for Senate consideration. It includes production tax credits meant to incentivize the deployment of low-carbon hydrogen. • The MNRE Secretary said India is in discussions with Europe, specifically the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, to ensure that green hydrogen and its derivatives exported to these countries are transported smoothly. Reduction of import duties on India's green hydrogen exports is also a part of ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with Europe, he said. • ReNew, a major renewables player in India, is developing a green ammonia project in Odisha. However, weak export demand remains a major hurdle for offtake. Do You Know: • Green hydrogen, produced by powering electrolysers with renewable energy, is a key feedstock for green ammonia, made by combining hydrogen with nitrogen. Green ammonia has applications as a low-carbon fertiliser and as a fuel for shipping. • A new report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Bain & Company, and RMI released on Thursday said, 'The slowed momentum primarily stems from the current high production costs along with nascent enabling infrastructure and high financing costs. Current production costs — $4-$5 per kg of green hydrogen vs. $2.3-$2.5 per kg of grey hydrogen typically (some industries may procure at higher costs) — are not yet competitive.' • In 2023, the Central government launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission, setting a target of 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen production capacity by 2030, backed by an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore. Under the mission, the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme aims to support both green hydrogen production and electrolyser manufacturing. • The CII report outlines five immediate demand-side strategies to accelerate green hydrogen adoption. It recommends blending small amounts of green hydrogen into existing grey hydrogen or piped natural gas supplies for high-volume sectors such as refineries, fertilisers, and city gas networks, while factoring in technical feasibility. It suggests encouraging substitution in niche industries such as glass, ceramics, and chemicals where switching is cost-neutral. Public procurement, especially for green steel, can also help scale domestic demand. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India's green hydrogen push 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

Indian Express

18 hours ago

• Indian Express

CBSE's mother tongue push leaves private schools in a bind — Kendriya Vidyalayas may show the way forward

A recent CBSE circular directing schools to introduce mother tongue instruction in primary classes has left institutions in metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai — which serve mobile, multilingual populations — in a bind. But a proposal under consideration for Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), run by the Centre, may offer a way forward, officials told The Indian Express. In a circular issued to all its affiliated schools last month, the CBSE asked them to map students' mother tongues and stated that, from pre-primary to Class 2, teaching should be in the child's mother tongue or a familiar regional language. It also directed schools to realign their curriculum and teaching materials by the end of the summer break, with implementation to begin in July. Over 30,000 schools are affiliated with the CBSE. Kendriya Vidyalayas or KVs — 1,256 centrally run schools with around 13.56 lakh students — are also affiliated with the CBSE and primarily serve children of central government employees who are frequently transferred, including defence personnel and public sector employees. As a result, these schools have students from a wide range of linguistic backgrounds, a CBSE official pointed out. To implement the directive, the KVs are considering splitting classes into different sections based on the medium of instruction. For instance, in a KV located in Maharashtra, where Hindi and Marathi are the predominant languages, teaching could be conducted in separate sections according to language preference. Currently, the medium of instruction in KVs is bilingual — Hindi and English. In addition, English and Hindi are taught as subjects in the primary classes, while Hindi, English, and Sanskrit are subjects from Classes 6 to 8. This means that the sanctioned posts for language teachers in KVs are for Hindi, English, and Sanskrit. To enable teaching in the mother tongue, teachers will need to be allocated based on the findings of the language mapping exercise. A senior official in the Ministry of Education said that KVs already have a provision to arrange instruction in the regional language or mother tongue if at least 15 students in a class opt for it. Acknowledging that implementation may be particularly challenging in schools outside predominantly Hindi-speaking regions, a senior official in the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) said the first step would be to conduct a language mapping exercise and seek parental consent. Depending on requirements, contractual teachers may be appointed. In schools with multiple sections, it may be possible to offer instruction in one language in one section and a different language in another, the official said. CBSE officials noted that 200–300 schools, especially in metropolitan areas like Delhi and Mumbai, are likely to face difficulties due to the presence of multiple languages in a single classroom. In such cases, schools may have to divide students into sections based on language preference. Schools may also opt to teach in the local or regional language, the official added. At the primary level, students in Classes 1 and 2 are taught two languages and mathematics. With the new circular in place, mathematics will also need to be taught in the mother tongue or a familiar regional language. 'The schools will have to develop a system that works for them. We've told them that if they need more time, they can formulate a strategy and inform us,' the official said. The circular also acknowledged that some schools may need more time to transition and stated that additional time would be provided to ensure adequate resources, appropriate teacher deployment, and curriculum adjustments. For Classes 3 to 5, the circular stated that students may continue to learn in their mother tongue or a familiar regional language (R1), or be offered the option to study in a different medium (R2). In effect, this means that schools may begin English-medium instruction from Class 3 onwards, a CBSE official confirmed. The CBSE's push for mother tongue instruction aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023, both of which recommend the use of the home language as the primary medium of instruction until at least the age of 8. The NCFSE states: 'Since children learn concepts most rapidly and deeply in their home language, the primary medium of instruction would optimally be the child's home language/ mother tongue/ familiar language.'

Time of India

a day ago

• Time of India

First survey in Eklavya schools to know learning, infra gaps

In a major outreach to tribals living in remote areas, the ministry of tribal affairs has initiated the first-ever all-India survey to understand learning and infrastructure gaps in Eklavya Model residential schools ( EMRS ) - the premier residential schools funded by the Centre. The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), the nodal agency for construction and management of EMRS, has initiated the survey in all 479 functional EMRS with the help of National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET), Quality Council of India, an autonomous body under the ministry of commerce and industry. NABET teams have collected administrative data like principal's post graduation subject, whether there is a school website, total area of the school, its distance from the nearest primary health centre and number of students community-wise. Every survey team collected about 30 documents from each school. These included a procurement register, records of food tasting and accident register of students. According to sources, the data collected is now being used to create a dashboard to capture gaps in academic performance of tribal students studying in EMRS and availability of physical infrastructure and staff strength. With this, the ministry will be able to understand where more human resource and physical infrastructure is needed and then provide finances to fill these gaps. This is the first-ever survey being conducted for EMRS schools. Last year, the ministry had roped in NABET to conduct a dip-stick survey in Ashram schools, which had revealed stark gaps in infrastructure. EMRS are premier schools which are run by state societies. The Centre had revamped this scheme in the 2018-19 financial year and established NESTS, an autonomous body under the tribal affairs ministry. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Chuck Norris: If You're Over 60, Avoid These 3 Foods Like The Plague Roundhouse Provisions Watch Now Undo In budget 2018-19, the Centre mooted the ambitious plan to set up one residential school for tribal students in every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons. It has sanctioned 728 EMRS, of which 479 are functional. According to sources, the infrastructure and human resource gaps are in 270 old schools, which were set up prior to the 2018-19 fiscal when the scheme was revamped. A senior ministry official, who did not wish to be identified, told ET, "These are old schools and there are problems which we are trying to rectify. This survey will be able to pinpoint these problems." Once the gaps are identified, the ministry will prepare a note for expenditure finance committee approval by next fiscal and seek funds to rectify the problems. Live Events