1. “The future of higher education governance in India lies not in centralisation or decentralisation, but in negotiated federalism.” Discuss in the context of recent reforms in the higher education sector. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
| Syllabus: Polity & Social Justice General Studies – II Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure, Devolution of Powers and Finances up to Local Levels, and Challenges Therein. |
IN NEWS: Negotiating federalism in higher education
| Approach: Higher Education & Negotiated Federalism Replace Basic Terms Centre control — Regulatory Centralisation State Opposition — Sub-national Assertion of Educational Autonomy Centre-State Conflict — Intergovernmental Contestation Different state responses — Asymmetrical Federal Adaptation UGC control — Regulatory Harmonisation Core Nuance Not Centralisation vs Decentralisation Standardisation vs Contextualisation Centre: mobility, common standards, global competitiveness States: language, regional priorities, local relevance Line: The debate is about balancing national standards with regional diversity. Dimensions to Cover Policy Federalism: NEP 2020 Fiscal Federalism: ANRF, Institutions of Eminence Digital Federalism: Academic Bank of Credits, National Digital University Institutional Federalism: VC appointments, Governor-State disputes NEP 2020 Nationally Integrated Higher Education Ecosystem Multidisciplinary universities Credit portabilityInstitutional restructuring Internationalisation State Resistance Assertion of Regional Constitutional Identity Linguistic concernsSocial justice models Educational autonomy Value-Added Keywords Negotiated Federalism Cooperative Federalism Multi-level Governance Collaborative Governance Shared Rule and Self Rule Internationalisation Co-produced Federal Governance Centre: Regulatory frameworkStates: Land, infrastructure, approvals Way Forward Institutionalised Educational Federalism Structured Centre-State consultations Co-design of reformsFlexible implementation frameworks Greater State representation in regulatory bodies Outcome-based funding Conclusion Line: The future of higher education lies not in centralisation or decentralisation, but in negotiated federalism that reconciles national excellence with regional autonomy. Must-Remember Keywords Standardisation vs Contextualisation Regulatory Centralisation Asymmetrical Federal Adaptation Digital Federalism Nationally Integrated Higher Education Ecosystem Institutionalised Educational Federalism Assertion of Regional Constitutional Identity Co-produced Federal Governance |
Higher education in India is a Concurrent List subject, requiring both the Union and States to share responsibility. Recent reforms such as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Academic Bank of Credits, and internationalisation initiatives have intensified debates over autonomy and authority. Consequently, higher education governance is increasingly shaped by negotiated federalism, where neither complete centralisation nor decentralisation is feasible.
Why has centralisation increased:
- NEP 2020 proposes uniform reforms such as four-year undergraduate programmes, multidisciplinary universities, and credit transfer systems.
- National bodies such as the UGC and accreditation agencies exercise significant regulatory influence.
- Funding mechanisms like the Institutions of Eminence initiative and research grants under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) incentivise compliance with national priorities.
- Digital platforms such as the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) facilitate nationwide standardisation and monitoring.
Why States Resist Complete Centralisation:
- States possess distinct linguistic, cultural, and educational priorities.
- Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the three-language formula under NEP reflects concerns over regional identity and autonomy.
- Disputes regarding Vice-Chancellor appointments and the role of Governors in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and West Bengal highlight tensions over institutional control.
- States seek flexibility in curriculum design, recruitment, and governance structures.
Emergence of Negotiated Federalism:
- Many States have selectively adopted NEP provisions while modifying them according to local needs.
- States collaborate with the Centre in areas such as skill development, digital learning, and research while retaining policy discretion.
- Internationalisation efforts, including foreign university campuses, require both central regulatory approval and State-level facilitation.
- This reflects cooperative and adaptive federalism, rather than outright confrontation.
Conclusion: The future of higher education governance lies in negotiated federalism, where national standards coexist with regional diversity. As articulated in the Constituent Assembly debates, India’s federal structure was deliberately designed to be flexible enough to accommodate varying local realities while preserving national cohesion. A collaborative Centre-State partnership is therefore essential for creating a globally competitive yet locally responsive higher education ecosystem.
Negotiated federalism transforms higher education from a battleground of powers into a partnership for nation-building.
| PYQ REFERENCE UPSC 2022 Q. ” Examine the evolving pattern of Centre-State financial relations in the context of planned development in India. How far have the recent reforms impacted the fiscal federalism in India? ” (15 Marks, 250 Words) |
2. “India’s disaster management framework is shifting from a relief-centric approach to a resilience-centric approach.” Examine in the context of the NDMA’s vision of ‘Resilient India 2047’. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
| Syllabus: Disaster Management General Studies – III Disaster and Disaster Management. |
IN NEWS: NDMA rolls out push for ‘Resilient India 2047’
| Approach Core Theme Relief-Centric Governance to Resilience-Centric Governance Reactive Response to Proactive Risk Governance Disaster Management to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Key Dimensions Institutional Resilience: NDMA, NDRF, NIDM, Ministry Disaster Management Plans Hydro-meteorological Resilience: NCRMP, FMBAP, Early Warning Systems Geological Resilience: NSRMP, Landslide Mitigation Climate Resilience: Heat Action Plans, CDRI Community Resilience: Aapda Mitra, Mock Drills Technological Resilience: GIS, Remote Sensing, Tsunami Early Warning Centre NDMA’s New Role National Resilience Coordinator Hazard-Specific Planning Mainstreaming DRR into Development Planning Challenges Weak local capacities Climate-induced extreme events Urban vulnerabilities Implementation gaps Way Forward Risk-Informed Development Institutionalised Ministry Disaster Management Plans Strengthened SDMAs and DDMAsClimate-Resilient Infrastructure Whole-of-Government ApproachWhole-of-Society Approach Keywords Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Anticipatory Governance Multi-Hazard Preparedness Risk-Informed Development Climate Resilience Build Back BetterInstitutional Resilience Resilient India 2047 Introduction Line India is shifting from post-disaster relief and compensation to pre-disaster preparedness, mitigation and resilience building. Conclusion Line The success of Resilient India 2047 lies not in managing disasters better, but in reducing vulnerabilities before disasters occur. |
India’s disaster governance has historically prioritised post-disaster relief, rescue, rehabilitation and compensation. However, increasing climate-induced disasters, rapid urbanisation, ecological degradation and infrastructure vulnerability have necessitated a paradigm shift towards resilience-centric disaster governance.
The recent initiative of the National Disaster Management Authority to develop hazard-specific plans and Ministry Disaster Management Plans under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, embodies the vision of ‘Resilient India 2047’, aligned with Viksit Bharat.
Shift from Relief-Centric to Resilience-Centric Approach
| Relief-Centric Approach | Resilience-Centric Approach |
| Focus on post-disaster relief and compensation | Focus on prevention, mitigation and preparedness |
| Reactive governance | Anticipatory governance |
| Disaster response-oriented | Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)-oriented |
| Sector-specific interventions | Whole-of-Government approach |
| Recovery after losses | Building adaptive capacity before disasters |
The emphasis has shifted from merely managing disasters to managing disaster risks.
How India is Building Disaster Resilience:
1. Institutional Resilience The NDMA, established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, has moved beyond emergency response to risk governance through:
- National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP).
- Hazard-specific disaster management frameworks.
- Disaster Management Plans under Sections 35 and 37.
- Strengthening coordination among NDRF, SDRF, SDMAs and DDMAs.
- Capacity building through the National Institute of Disaster Management.
This reflects a Whole-of-Government approach where disaster resilience is integrated into all ministries and sectors.
2. Hydro-Meteorological Resilience India faces recurrent cyclones, floods and storm surges. Key initiatives include:
- National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) for cyclone shelters, evacuation routes and coastal preparedness.
- Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) for flood control and anti-erosion measures.
- Advanced forecasting by IMD and the Central Water Commission.
- Expansion of impact-based early warning systems.
The reduction in cyclone-related mortality over the years demonstrates the success of preparedness-based governance.
3. Geological Resilience India is highly vulnerable to earthquakes and landslides. Measures include:
- National Seismic Risk Mitigation Programme (NSRMP).
- Seismic zoning and earthquake-resistant building codes.
- Landslide hazard zonation and slope stabilisation measures in the Himalayan and Western Ghats regions.
- Urban disaster risk assessments.
4. Climate Resilience Climate change has intensified heatwaves, extreme rainfall and droughts. India has responded through:
- Heat Action Plans in vulnerable cities.
- Climate-resilient infrastructure initiatives.
- Integration of disaster resilience into adaptation strategies.
- Nature-based solutions, such as mangrove restoration and watershed management.
The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) further strengthens resilience against climate-related disasters.
5. Community Resilience Disaster resilience ultimately depends on local communities. Initiatives include:
- Aapda Mitra Scheme for training community volunteers.
- School and community preparedness programmes.
- Mock drills and awareness campaigns.
- Inclusion of local bodies in disaster planning.
This reflects a Whole-of-Society approach, making citizens active participants in risk reduction.
6. Technological Resilience Technology is increasingly central to disaster preparedness. Examples:
- Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre.
- GIS-based risk mapping.
- Satellite monitoring and remote sensing.
- Disaster alerts through digital platforms and mobile applications.
- AI-enabled forecasting and impact assessment.
Challenges: Despite progress, several challenges remain:
- Weak disaster management capacities in local bodies.
- Unplanned urbanisation is increasing vulnerability.
- Funding constraints for mitigation projects.
- Fragmented implementation across States.
- Increasing frequency and intensity of climate-induced disasters.
Way Forward: To realise the vision of Resilient India 2047, India must:
- Mainstream Disaster Risk Reduction into all development planning.
- Institutionalise the Ministry Disaster Management Plans across sectors.
- Strengthen SDMAs and DDMAs through financial and technical support.
- Integrate resilience into PM Gati Shakti and infrastructure projects.
- Expand early warning systems and last-mile connectivity.
- Promote climate-resilient and nature-based solutions.
- Foster greater community participation and local preparedness.
Conclusion: The NDMA’s vision of Resilient India 2047 marks a fundamental shift from a compensation-oriented disaster framework to a resilience-oriented development paradigm. In line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and its principle of “Build Back Better”, India is moving from reactive disaster response to proactive risk governance. The ultimate success of disaster management will depend not on how effectively the nation responds to disasters, but on how successfully it reduces vulnerabilities before disasters occur.
As India advances towards Viksit Bharat 2047, resilience must become a foundational principle of governance, development and nation-building.
| PYQ REFERENCE UPSC 2020 Q. “1. What is disaster resilience? How is it determined? Describe various elements of a resilience framework. Also mention the global targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030). “ |