Content

1. Sanchar Saathi App: Telecom Empowerment at Citizens’ Fingertips
2. GST Reforms in Agriculture A Farmer-Friendly, Pro-Rural, and Pro-Sustainability Step

Sanchar Saathi App: Telecom Empowerment at Citizens’ Fingertips

Context and Background

• India’s telecom landscape:
  • 1.1+ billion subscribers; 2nd largest telecom ecosystem globally.
  • Mobile phones central to banking, e-learning, healthcare, entertainment, and governance services.
• Rising cyber threats:
  • Cybercrime incidents rose from 15.9 lakh (2023) to 20.4 lakh (2024) (CERT-In).
  • Digital arrest scams & cyber fraud: 1.23 lakh cases in 2024; 17,718 cases already by Feb 2025.
• Need for intervention: Protecting mobile users became a national security + citizen welfare priority.

Relevance : GS III (Internal Security – Cybersecurity, Telecom Regulation, Digital Governance, Citizen Empowerment in Cybercrime Prevention).

Launch and Adoption

• Launched: 17 January 2025 by DoT.
• Adoption milestones (as of Aug 2025):
  • 50 lakh+ downloads (Android + iOS).
  • 37.28 lakh lost/stolen devices blocked.
  • 22.76 lakh devices traced.
• Impact of broader Sanchar Saathi ecosystem:
  • 3 crore+ fraudulent mobile connections terminated.
  • 3.19 lakh devices blocked.
  • 16.97 lakh WhatsApp accounts disabled.
  • 20,000+ bulk SMS senders blacklisted.

Citizen-Centric Features

• Chakshu: Report fraud calls/SMS/WhatsApp, esp. fake KYC-update scams.
• IMEI Tracking & Blocking: Nationwide mechanism for stolen/lost phone tracking + prevention of counterfeit/clone devices.
• Verify Number of Mobile Connections: Detect & block unauthorized SIMs issued via forged KYC.
• Check Device Genuineness: Ensures handset authenticity before/after purchase.
• Report Spoofed International Calls: Illegal foreign-origin calls disguised with +91.
• Know Your ISP: Pin-code/address-based search of wireline ISPs.
• TRAI-TCCCPR Compliance: Strengthens UCC/spam reporting under telecom regulations.

Governance and User Empowerment

• Jan Bhagidari model: Encourages citizen participation in fraud detection.
• Transparency: Real-time dashboards publicly display fraud reports, blocked numbers, and traced devices.
• Ease of access:
  • Available in Hindi + 21 regional languages.
  • Inclusive reach across urban and rural users.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

• IT Act 2000: Governs cybercrime, secure data transmission, hacking/data theft.
• DPDP Act 2023:
  • Minimization of data collection.
  • Consent-driven processing.
  • Strict restrictions on third-party sharing.
• Privacy safeguards:
  • No profiling/marketing use of data.
  • Data shared only with law enforcement when legally required.

Strategic Significance

• National Security: Prevents telecom misuse by fraudsters, cyber criminals, and cross-border spoofing operations.
• Digital Confidence: Reinforces trust in mobile-based governance and financial services.
• Economic Implications:
  • Reduces fraud losses.
  • Supports growth of digital payments and e-commerce by ensuring safer telecom ecosystem.
• Global positioning: India emerges as a case study in large-scale citizen-driven telecom security innovation.

Limitations and Challenges

• Digital literacy gaps: Rural/elderly citizens may face difficulties in adoption.
• Dependence on user reporting: Requires active citizen participation for full effectiveness.
• Implementation capacity: Coordination with police, telecom operators, and CERT-In is resource-intensive.
• Privacy skepticism: Despite safeguards, some users may fear misuse of personal data.

Way Forward

• Wider outreach: Awareness campaigns in rural areas and vernacular media.
• Integration with Fintech & Banks: Automatic fraud alerts linked with payment gateways.
• AI-driven fraud detection: Enhance predictive analytics for early scam detection.
• Cross-border cooperation: Collaboration with global telecom regulators to curb spoofed calls originating abroad.
• Periodic audits: Independent reviews of privacy practices to sustain citizen trust.

Conclusion

• The Sanchar Saathi App is more than a telecom utility—it is a citizen empowerment + national security tool.
• By combining fraud detection, mobile tracking, and KYC verification with privacy-first design, it strikes a balance between user empowerment and state oversight.
• With sustained adoption and awareness, it has the potential to become a global benchmark for telecom fraud prevention in large, diverse democracies

GST Reforms in Agriculture A Farmer-Friendly, Pro-Rural, and Pro-Sustainability Step

Context and Rationale

• Agriculture’s role: Engages ~60% of India’s workforce; consumption-driven economy still heavily reliant on rural demand.
• Pre-reform issues:
  • High input costs (tractors, fertilisers, machinery).
  • Inverted duty structures burdened manufacturers.
  • Post-harvest losses due to poor processing/cold storage.
• Government’s objective:
  • Farmer welfare + rural growth.
  • Encourage sustainable practices.
  • Support allied activities (dairy, honey, aquaculture).
  • Align with Atmanirbhar Bharat and sustainable agriculture vision.

Relevance : GS III (Economy – Agriculture, Rural Development, Inclusive Growth, Sustainable Farming Practices).

Major GST Reforms by Sector

a) Farm Mechanisation

• Tractors (<1800 cc): GST cut to 5% → affordable for small/marginal farmers.
• Tractor components (tyres, tubes, hydraulic pumps): 18% → 5%.
• Impact:
  • Expands mechanisation, boosts productivity.
  • Encourages cooperative/FPO-based shared usage.
  • Creates demand for rural tractor finance and leasing models.

b) Irrigation & Harvesting Equipment

• Diesel engines ≤15 HP, threshers, harvesters, composting machines: 12% → 5%.
• Impact:
  • Affordable access to small farmers.
  • Promotes water-saving irrigation (drip, sprinklers).
  • Improves sowing, harvesting, and crop yields.

c) Fertilisers

• Raw materials (Ammonia, Sulphuric Acid, Nitric Acid): 18% → 5%.
• Impact:
  • Corrects inverted duty structure.
  • Lowers fertiliser production costs.
  • Ensures stable, affordable fertiliser prices during sowing seasons.

d) Bio-Pesticides & Micronutrients

• Bio-pesticides & micronutrients: 12% → 5%.
• Impact:
  • Boosts natural farming and organic cultivation.
  • Improves soil health & reduces chemical dependence.
  • Supports small organic farmers and aligns with Natural Farming Mission.

e) Fruits, Vegetables & Food Processing

• Prepared/Preserved fruits, vegetables, nuts: 12% → 5%.
• Impact:
  • Encourages cold storage & food processing investment.
  • Reduces wastage, raises farmer returns.
  • Enhances agri-exports & competitiveness.

f) Dairy

• Milk & paneer: No GST.
• Butter, ghee: 12% → 5%.
• Milk cans: 12% → 5%.
• Impact:
  • Raises rural incomes, especially women-led SHGs.
  • Promotes nutritional security (milk as affordable protein).
  • Strengthens cooperatives (e.g., Amul).

g) Aquaculture

• Prepared/preserved fish: 12% → 5%.
• Impact: Boosts pisciculture and coastal economy.

h) Honey

• Natural honey: Lower GST.
• Artificial honey (with/without natural): 18% → 5%.
• Impact: Benefits beekeepers, tribals, rural SHGs; strengthens allied incomes.

i) Renewable Energy

• Solar-based irrigation devices: 12% → 5%.
• Impact: Reduces irrigation costs, aligns with green energy goals.

j) Tribal Livelihoods

• Kendu leaves: 18% → 5%.
• Impact:
  • Supports tribal collectors in Odisha, MP, Chhattisgarh.
  • Enhances incomes via higher procurement & sales volumes.

k) Logistics

• Commercial vehicles (trucks, delivery vans): 28% → 18%.
• Insurance of goods carriers: 12% → 5%.
• Impact:
  • Reduces freight & logistics costs (65–70% of goods move by road).
  • Improves export competitiveness.
  • Reduces cascading tax burden on food distribution.

Strategic Implications

• Economic:
  • Cuts farm input costs, boosts disposable income.
  • Encourages rural consumption & demand revival.
• Social:
  • Benefits small farmers, women-led enterprises, and tribals.
  • Enhances income diversification through allied activities.
• Environmental:
  • Promotes bio-inputs, drip irrigation, and solar-based devices.
  • Reduces dependence on chemical-intensive farming.
• Institutional: Strengthens FPOs, cooperatives, and rural NBFCs.

Limitations & Challenges

• Awareness gap: Farmers may not fully understand GST benefits.
• Implementation: Risk of dealers not passing GST cuts to end-users.
• Revenue concerns: Lower GST rates may impact govt. revenue in short run.
• Structural issues: Beyond GST, farmers need credit access, infrastructure, and market reforms.

Way Forward

• Awareness campaigns in rural & tribal areas about GST benefits.
• Strict monitoring to ensure dealers pass on GST rate cuts.
• Integration with PM-KUSUM, PMFBY, FPO schemes for maximum impact.
• Periodic review of GST rates based on farmer adoption & sectoral needs.
• Export push: Incentivise agro-processing & value-added exports.

Conclusion

• The 2025 GST rationalisation in agriculture is a farmer-friendly, pro-rural, and pro-sustainability step.
• By lowering input costs, boosting mechanisation, encouraging natural farming, and supporting allied activities, the reform strengthens farm incomes, rural enterprises, and food security.
• It is not just a tax adjustment but a holistic policy intervention driving India towards Atmanirbhar Krishi and sustainable rural development.