AIDIS & SAS 2026–27: Key Household & Agricultural Surveys by NSO

Source: TH

Context:
The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), has announced that the All India Debt and Investment Survey (AIDIS) and the Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of agricultural households will be conducted between July 2026 and June 2027.

About the All India Debt and Investment Survey (AIDIS):

What is it?
It is India’s flagship survey that assesses the financial condition of rural and urban households, gathering information related to debt, assets, and investments.

Origin and Publisher:
✔ Initially launched as the All India Rural Credit Survey in 1951–52.
✔ Expanded in 1961–62 to include investments and urban households.
✔ Conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

Objectives:
✔ Understand the extent and nature of household indebtedness.
✔ Assess asset ownership and distribution to inform national accounts.
✔ Provide data inputs to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), MoSPI, and NITI Aayog for credit policy, financial inclusion, and inequality studies.

Key Features:
✔ Decadal Survey: Last conducted in the 77th round (2019) at RBI’s request.
✔ Covers Rural & Urban Areas: Includes both institutional and non-institutional credit sources.
✔ Provides Disaggregated Data: Data segmented by state, region, income group, and asset class.
✔ Supports Policy Making: Used for designing schemes related to financial literacy, credit access, and asset creation.

About the Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households:

What is it?
It is a nationally representative survey that evaluates the economic well-being of farmers and their families.

Origin and Publisher:
✔ First launched in 2003 as part of the NSS rounds.
✔ Expanded in 2013 and strengthened in the 2019 round.
✔ Conducted by NSO (MoSPI) in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW).

Objectives:
✔ Assess income, expenditure, and debt profiles of farm households.
✔ Track livelihood patterns, crop and livestock production, access to government schemes, and crop insurance.
✔ Inform agriculture and rural development policies aimed at inclusive growth.

Key Features:
✔ Covers All Agricultural Households: Including landless families engaged in farming activities.
✔ Collects Data on Land, Livestock, Technology Adoption, and Market Access.
✔ Monitors Credit Access: Institutional finance, crop loans, and insurance coverage.
✔ Used in Policy Making: NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Agriculture, research institutions, and banks utilize the data for planning and schemes.

Conclusion:

These surveys will play a significant role in shaping India’s financial and agricultural policies. By accurately assessing the real economic condition of rural and urban households, they will strengthen policy-making aimed at sustainable and inclusive development.

Great Nicobar Island Project

Syllabus: Environment
Source: TH

Context:
The Government of India has approved the Great Nicobar Island Project, a comprehensive development plan of strategic and economic importance in the Indian Ocean Region.

About the Great Nicobar Island Project:

What is it?
✔ A multi-component mega project aimed at transforming Great Nicobar into a logistics, trade, and defence hub, enhancing India’s presence in the Indian Ocean.
✔ Planned with environmental safeguards and tribal welfare compliance under the EIA Notification 2006 and Shompen Policy 2015 to ensure sustainable development.

Key Components:

✔ International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT):
With a capacity of 14.2 million TEU, this terminal will reduce India’s reliance on Colombo and Singapore and establish the island as a global shipping hub.

✔ Greenfield International Airport:
Will improve air connectivity, boost tourism, and enable rapid deployment of troops and supplies during emergencies.

✔ 450 MVA Gas + Solar Power Plant:
Ensures uninterrupted power supply with a mix of conventional and renewable energy sources for sustainable growth.

✔ Integrated Township:
A planned township over 16,610 hectares will provide housing, infrastructure, and modern amenities for residents and workers.

✔ Phased Development:
The project is divided into three phases (2025–47) to spread investment, reduce ecological stress, and allow adaptive planning over two decades.

Strategic and Economic Significance:

✔ Strategic Location:
Being near the Malacca Strait, a vital global shipping lane, it strengthens India’s ability to monitor trade routes and project maritime power.

✔ Boost to Blue Economy:
Supports the Sagarmala and Maritime India Vision 2030 by positioning India as a major transshipment and shipping hub in the Indo-Pacific.

✔ Defence Preparedness:
Strengthens the Andaman & Nicobar Command, India’s only tri-service command, ensuring a rapid response to maritime threats.

✔ Trade Competitiveness:
ICTT is expected to reduce transshipment costs by USD 200–300 million annually, improving India’s export-import efficiency.

✔ Employment and Local Development:
Will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, enhance skill development, and promote eco-tourism-based livelihoods.

Challenges:

✔ Ecological Sensitivity:
The diversion of 1.82% forest land may impact endemic flora, fauna, and nesting sites of leatherback turtles.

✔ Tribal Welfare:
It is essential to protect the Shompen and Nicobarese PVTGs, ensuring no displacement and preserving their cultural heritage.

✔ Disaster Risk:
Nicobar is located in a high seismic zone; infrastructure must be tsunami- and cyclone-resilient (the 2004 tsunami killed over 6,000 people in A&N).

✔ Logistical Complexity:
Remoteness increases transportation, manpower, and maintenance costs, requiring robust supply chain management.

✔ Global Scrutiny:
Environmental groups and international watchdogs concerned about biodiversity and climate impacts may oppose the project.

Way Forward:

✔ Strengthen EIA Monitoring:
Use real-time satellite monitoring and third-party audits to ensure compliance with environmental safeguards.

✔ Community Participation:
Involve tribal communities in planning and offer livelihood schemes through eco-tourism, mangrove restoration, and craft promotion.

✔ Green Infrastructure:
Prioritize solar/wind energy mix, rainwater harvesting, and low-carbon building technologies to minimize emissions.

✔ Climate-Resilient Planning:
Integrate early warning systems, cyclone shelters, and resilient construction techniques to mitigate disaster risks.

✔ Strategic Partnerships:
Collaborate with Quad, BIMSTEC, and SAGAR vision partners to leverage investments, logistics, and maritime security cooperation.

Conclusion:

The Great Nicobar Island Project is an effort to balance development and conservation, integrating national security, economic opportunity, and environmental responsibility. If implemented with strict compliance and local participation, it can become a model for sustainable island development and strengthen India’s role in the Indo-Pacific power structure.

India–Mauritius Special Economic Package

Syllabus: International Relations
Source: TOI

Context:
Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam visited Varanasi, where India announced a USD 680 million Special Economic Package covering health, infrastructure, maritime security, and education.

About the India–Mauritius Special Economic Package:

Key Components of the Partnership

Development and Economic Cooperation:
✔ USD 680 Million Package: Includes grants and a line of credit for health, infrastructure, and maritime projects.
✔ Healthcare Support: Construction of the new Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital, the first Jan Aushadhi Centre outside India, and an AYUSH Centre of Excellence.
✔ Education & Research: Memorandums of understanding between IIT-Madras, IIPM-Bengaluru, and the University of Mauritius to promote innovation and skill development.
✔ Infrastructure: Development of Motorway M4, Ring Road Phase II, a new ATC tower at SSR Airport, and acquisition of port equipment.

Maritime and Strategic Cooperation:
✔ Port Development: Joint redevelopment of Port Louis to strengthen Mauritius as a regional maritime hub.
✔ Blue Economy & Surveillance: Cooperation in monitoring the Chagos Marine Protected Area and hydrographic mapping of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
✔ Defence Support: Provision of helicopters, capacity building, and joint security initiatives.

Cultural and Civilisational Ties:
✔ Over 68% of Mauritius’s population is of Indian origin, creating strong bonds through shared cultural heritage.
✔ Symbolic gestures such as welcoming PM Ramgoolam in Varanasi and participating in the Ganga Aarti reaffirm spiritual and cultural ties.

Strategic Significance

Geopolitical Importance:
✔ Mauritius is located near crucial sea lanes of communication (SLOCs) in the Indian Ocean, making it vital for India’s maritime security and countering China’s growing influence.
✔ It serves as a gateway to Africa and a trusted partner in forums like IORA, the Commonwealth, and the Indian Ocean Commission.

Economic Opportunities:
✔ Mauritius is a major route for FDI inflows into India due to bilateral tax treaties.
✔ Port modernisation will boost India’s Sagarmala Project and regional trade connectivity.

Soft Power and Diaspora Diplomacy:
✔ A large Indian diaspora enhances goodwill between the countries and ensures Mauritius remains India’s closest maritime ally.
✔ Cooperation in AYUSH and training modules like Mission Karmayogi expand India’s soft power reach.

Challenges

✔ Geopolitical Competition: China’s Belt and Road Initiative investments (e.g., Hambantota) challenge India’s maritime outreach.
✔ Climate Risks: Mauritius is vulnerable to cyclones, sea-level rise, and coastal erosion, posing risks to new infrastructure.
✔ Economic Fragility: Mauritius’s tourism- and finance-driven economy is sensitive to global downturns and external shocks.
✔ Implementation Delays: India-funded projects in island nations often face logistical and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
✔ Maritime Security Threats: Piracy, illegal fishing, and hostile misuse of the EEZ require constant vigilance and joint monitoring.

Way Forward

✔ Strengthen Maritime Partnership: Expand joint EEZ surveillance, hydrographic mapping, and training for Mauritius Coast Guard under SAGAR.
✔ Build Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Adopt cyclone-resistant designs, renewable energy integration, and mangrove restoration to ensure sustainable development.
✔ Accelerate Project Delivery: Use digital monitoring dashboards, single-window clearances, and private sector participation to avoid delays.
✔ Economic Diversification: Collaborate in fintech, digital public infrastructure (UPI, RuPay), and green hydrogen to strengthen the economic base.
✔ Cultural and People Diplomacy: Expand scholarships, cultural exchanges, and tourism circuits (e.g., Varanasi–Mauritius connections) to deepen people-to-people relations.

Conclusion

The India–Mauritius relationship is evolving from a traditional partnership to a comprehensive, future-oriented strategic alliance. With health, education, infrastructure, and maritime cooperation at its core, this partnership embodies India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy in practice. It has the potential to elevate regional stability, maritime security, and cultural ties to new heights.