UPSC CARE Mains Practice 15th September 2025
Topic – India’s conservation policy
Q1. The recent survey of saltwater crocodiles in the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve highlights both the achievements and the gaps in India’s conservation policy.” Discuss. (15 marks, 250 words)
Introduction
The recovery of the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve marks a turning point in India’s conservation journey. Traditionally overshadowed by the tiger and the elephant, this reptile was once on the verge of local extinction. Yet, the recent 2025 survey has shown a rise in both numbers and demographic diversity, signalling not just ecological success but also a gradual broadening of India’s conservation vision.
Body
- Achievements of Conservation Policy
- Moving Beyond Charismatic Species
- Gaps and Challenges
- Policy Framework and Global Linkages
- Towards an Inclusive Conservation Vision
Conclusion
The Sundarban crocodile survey is more than a species success story; it is a reminder that India’s conservation must move beyond a megafauna-centric, reactive model. A richer, more inclusive vision—one that integrates climate resilience, ecological roles, and neglected species—is essential for the long-term health of ecosystems. Protecting crocodiles alongside tigers and elephants is not just desirable, but necessary for safeguarding India’s biodiversity heritage.
UPSC Syllabus
India’s conservation policy
Why was this question asked?
Q. How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act,2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna? [2018]
Introduction
The recovery of the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve marks a turning point in India’s conservation journey. Traditionally overshadowed by the tiger and the elephant, this reptile was once on the verge of local extinction. Yet, the recent 2025 survey has shown a rise in both numbers and demographic diversity, signalling not just ecological success but also a gradual broadening of India’s conservation vision.
Body
Achievements of Conservation Policy
- The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 granted saltwater crocodiles Schedule I protection, placing them at the highest level of statutory security.
- Projects such as the Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project in West Bengal and the Crocodile Conservation Project in Odisha since 1975 combined captive breeding, reintroduction, and habitat protection to revive populations.
- The improved survival of juveniles in the Sundarbans indicates that breeding grounds and aquatic habitats still retain their ecological quality.
- As apex predators, crocodiles regulate prey populations and remove carcasses, thereby maintaining functional food webs and improving mangrove health.
Moving Beyond Charismatic Species
- For decades, conservation attention and funding were directed mainly at charismatic species such as the tiger, elephant, and lion.
- The revival of crocodile populations demonstrates that non-charismatic species can also recover if legal protection and targeted institutional investment are provided.
- This shift highlights that conservation success does not depend on public popularity but on sustained ecological and policy commitments.
Gaps and Challenges
- Climate change threatens crocodile habitats through rising sea levels, salinity intrusion, and increasingly frequent cyclones.
- Expanding aquaculture, human settlements, and erosion are fragmenting nesting habitats and reducing viable breeding sites.
- Crocodile attacks on local communities generate human–wildlife conflict and weaken public support for conservation.
- Current wildlife laws and policies remain largely reactive and do not anticipate future climate-linked or habitat-related threats.
- Other reptiles and amphibians remain neglected in mainstream conservation, despite facing similar ecological pressures.
Policy Framework and Global Linkages
- The National Biodiversity Action Plan (2008) stresses ecosystem-level protection and provides an umbrella for species recovery.
- The National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008) offers an opportunity to integrate climate resilience into biodiversity conservation.
- The Sundarbans’ designation as a Ramsar wetland under the 1971 Convention obliges India to conserve its ecological character.
- However, species-specific recovery plans and proactive measures under the Wildlife (Protection) Act are still underdeveloped and underfunded.
Towards an Inclusive Conservation Vision
- The recovery of saltwater crocodiles was not driven by their popularity but by deliberate state-led investment in captive breeding and habitat protection.
- Similar proactive recovery plans must now be extended to amphibians, reptiles, and other non-charismatic species facing climate and habitat risks.
- Climate adaptation strategies such as identifying climate refugia, investing in assisted breeding, and restoring salinity-resilient habitats are urgently required.
- Conservation must also involve local communities through awareness campaigns, livelihood support, and eco-tourism to reduce hostility and encourage participation.
Conclusion
The Sundarban crocodile survey is more than a species success story; it is a reminder that India’s conservation must move beyond a megafauna-centric, reactive model. A richer, more inclusive vision—one that integrates climate resilience, ecological roles, and neglected species—is essential for the long-term health of ecosystems. Protecting crocodiles alongside tigers and elephants is not just desirable, but necessary for safeguarding India’s biodiversity heritage.
Topic – India’s inflation-growth scenario
Q 2. Discuss the historical, economic, technological, and strategic dimensions of India–Mauritius relations in light of the recent Enhanced Strategic Partnership, the USD 680 million economic package, and India’s Vision MAHASAGAR policy. (15 marks, 250 words)
Introduction
Price stability and sustained growth are the twin pillars of India’s macroeconomic management. Retail inflation in August 2025 rose marginally to 2.1%, ending a nine-month declining trend. Yet, this rise remains well within the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) tolerance band of 2–6% under its flexible inflation targeting framework. Simultaneously, GDP growth in the first quarter of 2025–26 has been robust, creating a rare and favourable macroeconomic setting: high growth with low inflation. This stands in sharp contrast to the scenario in 2024 when India struggled with low growth and high inflation, reflecting structural improvements in both demand and supply management.
Body
- Current Inflation Dynamics
- Policy Measures and Government Interventions
- Growth-Inflation Differential: A Positive Shift
- External Factors and Global Linkages
- Monetary Policy Outlook
Conclusion
India’s present macroeconomic context—benign inflation coupled with robust growth—marks a reversal from the stagflation-like pressures of the previous year. Food price corrections, fiscal prudence, and GST reforms have complemented monetary discipline, creating a stable economic environment. However, global uncertainties, climate-linked supply shocks, and oil price volatility remain potential disruptors. A calibrated approach—supporting growth while keeping inflation expectations anchored—will be vital to sustaining this favourable growth-inflation balance and reinforcing India’s economic resilience.
UPSC Syllabus
India’s inflation-growth scenario
Why was this question asked?
Q. Do you agree with the view that steady GDP growth and low inflation have left the Indian economy in good shape? Give reasons in support of your arguments. (2019)
Introduction
Price stability and sustained growth are the twin pillars of India’s macroeconomic management. Retail inflation in August 2025 rose marginally to 2.1%, ending a nine-month declining trend. Yet, this rise remains well within the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) tolerance band of 2–6% under its flexible inflation targeting framework. Simultaneously, GDP growth in the first quarter of 2025–26 has been robust, creating a rare and favourable macroeconomic setting: high growth with low inflation. This stands in sharp contrast to the scenario in 2024 when India struggled with low growth and high inflation, reflecting structural improvements in both demand and supply management.
Body
Current Inflation Dynamics
- Food prices: August witnessed significant deflationary trends in key items—vegetables (-15.9%) and pulses (-14.5%). Together with the NFSA free foodgrains scheme, these contractions have ensured affordable access to basic food commodities across rural and urban households.
- Non-food inflation: Categories like housing, fuel & light, clothing, and footwear also recorded lower inflation in August compared to July.
- Core inflation stability: With demand-driven pressures subdued, core inflation remains anchored, reducing volatility.
The inflation profile is not only within the target range but also distributionally favourable for poorer households, given food’s high weight in the CPI basket.
Policy Measures and Government Interventions
- National Food Security Act (NFSA): The continued supply of free foodgrains to nearly 800 million beneficiaries has softened food inflation pressures.
- GST rationalisation (September 2025): New GST rates are expected to further reduce the cost of several goods and services, aligning with inflation management.
- Fiscal stance: The government has avoided excessive populist spending, focusing instead on targeted subsidies, thereby preventing demand-side overheating.
- Monetary stance: The RBI’s earlier cautious approach—holding rates steady despite calls for easing—has maintained inflation expectations under control.
A combination of supply-side support and demand-side discipline has been crucial to stabilising prices.
Growth-Inflation Differential: A Positive Shift
- In 2024, India experienced low growth-high inflation, with the growth–inflation gap just 2.1 percentage points.
- In 2025, the gap has widened to 5.5 percentage points, reflecting high growth alongside benign inflation.
- Strong domestic demand, revival in investment, and service-sector resilience are pushing growth without fuelling inflation.
- This shift highlights macroeconomic resilience and provides fiscal and monetary authorities more policy space.
The present scenario is not merely cyclical but suggests structural improvements in agricultural supply chains, consumption support, and fiscal prudence.
External Factors and Global Linkages
- Oil imports: Even if India reduces Russian oil purchases under U.S. pressure, the inflationary impact will be muted due to low global crude prices and diminished attractiveness of Russian discounts compared to 2022.
- Global uncertainties: Geopolitical risks, climate change impacts on agriculture, and supply chain vulnerabilities could still disrupt price stability.
- Global growth slowdown: Weak demand in advanced economies may reduce export earnings, but it also keeps commodity prices lower, indirectly benefiting India’s inflation outlook.
India’s inflation trajectory is increasingly de-linked from external oil shocks compared to past years, but vulnerabilities remain.
Monetary Policy Outlook
- With low inflation and high growth, pressure mounts on the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to cut interest rates.
- However, a September rate cut may be premature given global volatility and potential oil price movements.
- A more likely scenario is a December 2025 cut, contingent on continued price stability and favourable external conditions.
- Premature easing could risk capital outflows, rupee depreciation, and imported inflation.
RBI must balance domestic growth optimism with prudence amid global uncertainties.
Conclusion
India’s present macroeconomic context—benign inflation coupled with robust growth—marks a reversal from the stagflation-like pressures of the previous year. Food price corrections, fiscal prudence, and GST reforms have complemented monetary discipline, creating a stable economic environment. However, global uncertainties, climate-linked supply shocks, and oil price volatility remain potential disruptors. A calibrated approach—supporting growth while keeping inflation expectations anchored—will be vital to sustaining this favourable growth-inflation balance and reinforcing India’s economic resilience.