DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th May 2026

Subject: Economy – Rural Employment; Polity – Social Legislation; Governance – MGNREGA Replacement; Viksit Bharat 2047.

Why in News?

• Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 will come into force across all rural areas from July 1, 2026
• Mahatma Gandhi NREGA stands repealed from the same date

Key Features

Employment Guarantee

• Statutory guarantee of 125 days of unskilled wage employment per financial year (up from 100 days under MGNREGA)
• Every eligible rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work

Unemployment Allowance

• Employment must be provided within 15 days of application
• If not provided: unemployment allowance payable by State Government
• Rate: one-fourth of notified wage rate for first 30 days; one-half for remaining period

Wage Payment

• Wages paid weekly or within a fortnight after muster roll closure
• Direct Benefit Transfer to individual bank/post office accounts
• Delay compensation: 0.05% of unpaid wages per day if not paid within 15 days

Institutional Framework

Fund Sharing Pattern

• 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan States
• 60:40 for other States/UTs with legislature
• 100% Central funding for UTs without legislature

Implementation Structure

• District Collector as District Programme Coordinator (DPC)
• Block Development Officer (or above) as Programme Officer
• Gram Panchayats central role: registration, employment applications, works execution, record maintenance

Material Expenditure Limit

• Not exceed 40% at district level

Works and Planning

Types of Permitted Works (4 Thematic Domains)

• Water Security Works
• Core Rural Infrastructure
• Livelihood-related Infrastructure
• Extreme Weather Mitigation Works

Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP)

• All works must originate from VGPPs prepared by Gram Panchayat and approved by Gram Sabha
• Promotes “single-plan, multi-funding” approach through convergence with Central, State, and local schemes

Prohibitions

• No contractors allowed
• No heavy machinery / labour-displacing machines as far as practicable

Transition from MGNREGA

• Existing Job Cards continue till new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued
• Ongoing MGNREGA works seamlessly migrated and prioritized for completion
• Adequate labour budget made available for uninterrupted employment until commencement
• Existing MGNREGA wage rates continue until new wage rates notified

Other Provisions

Worksite Facilities

• Safe drinking water, shade for children and rest periods, first aid box

Peak Agricultural Season

• State Governments to notify period during which works not undertaken (to ensure labour availability for sowing/harvesting)

Distance from Village

• Employment within 5 km radius; extra 10% of wage rate for transport if beyond (within Block)

Natural Calamities

• Central Government can make special relaxations (expanded works, enhanced employment, relaxed documentation)

Transparency

• “Janata Board” at every worksite displaying work details, estimated labour days, material quantities, item-wise costs
• Weekly public disclosure systems (digital and physical)

Attendance

• Face authentication-based attendance mechanism (exception handling for network issues)

Static-Dynamic Linkage

Static (Polity / Economy Syllabus)

• MGNREGA: Enacted in 2005; provided 100 days guaranteed employment
• Schedule I of VB-G RAM G Act: Permitted works categories
• Article 243G: Powers of Panchayats
• Eleventh Schedule: 29 functional items of Panchayats (including poverty alleviation, employment generation)

Dynamic (Current Affairs – May 2026)

• Effective date: July 1, 2026
• MGNREGA repealed after 21 years (2005-2026)
• Employment days increased: 100 → 125 days
• Face authentication for attendance (digital governance)
• Peak agricultural season exclusion (new provision)
• VGPP – participatory planning at Gram Panchayat level

Source/Reference:

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2259712&reg=3&lang=1

Subject: Economy – Textile Sector; Industrial Policy; PM MITRA Scheme; 5F Vision; Employment Generation.

Why in News?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first fully operational PM MITRA Park at Warangal, Telangana (Kakatiya Mega Textile Park) on May 10, 2026

What is PM MITRA?

Full Form

• PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel

Vision (5F Framework)

• Farm → Fibre → Factory → Fashion → Foreign
• Aims to create an integrated textile value chain from raw material to exports 

Scheme Approval

• Government approved 7 PM MITRA Parks in March 2023
• Locations: Tamil Nadu (Virudhnagar), Telangana (Warangal), Gujarat (Navasari), Karnataka (Kalaburagi), Madhya Pradesh (Dhar), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow), Maharashtra (Amravati) 

PLI Scheme Convergence

• Units in PM MITRA Park are also eligible for Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for textiles

Total Investment Interest

• Total investment interest received across all 7 PM MITRA parks: ₹63,177 crore (as of March 2026)
• Each PM MITRA Park expected to generate 3 lakh direct/indirect employments across the textile value chain 

Significance for Indian Textile Sector

• India is world’s sixth-largest exporter of textiles and apparel (USD 37.75 billion in 2024-25)
• Presence in over 200 global markets 
• PM MITRA Parks aim to:
  • Reduce logistics costs
  • Improve competitiveness of Indian textile exports
  • Create world-class industrial infrastructure
  • Attract FDI and encourage innovation 

Static-Dynamic Linkage

Static (Economy / Geography Syllabus)

• Textile industry in India: Second largest employment provider after agriculture
• Major textile clusters: Tiruppur, Ludhiana, Surat, Bhilwara, Ichalkaranji
• National Textile Policy (2000): Aimed at increasing share in global textile trade
• Technical textiles: 5th largest producer in the world

Dynamic (Current Affairs – May 2026)

• First operational PM MITRA Park inaugurated at Warangal (May 10, 2026)
• Total 7 parks approved across 7 states
• ₹63,177 crore total investment interest received
• 3 lakh jobs per park expected across value chain
• PLI scheme integration with PM MITRA parks
• December 2027 target completion for Tamil Nadu park

Source/Reference:

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2259537&reg=3&lang=1

Subject: Science & Tech – Nuclear Technology; History – Pokhran-II (1998); Defence – Missile Technology; Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Why in News?

• National Technology Day celebrated on May 11, 2026
• Marks 28th anniversary of India’s successful nuclear tests at Pokhran, Rajasthan (May 11 & 13, 1998)
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted citizens, stating the 1998 tests reflected India’s scientific excellence and unwavering commitment

About National Technology Day

Date: May 11 annually

Origin

• Commemorates the five nuclear tests conducted on May 11 and 13, 1998 at Pokhran range, Rajasthan desert
• First three detonations took place simultaneously at 15:45 hours IST on May 11, 1998

Significance

• Demonstrated India’s nuclear capability and advanced weapon designs
• Led to international sanctions but established India as a nuclear weapon state
• “Operation Shakti” – codename for 1998 nuclear tests

1998 Pokhran Tests (Operation Shakti)

Conducted By

• Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (then Scientific Adviser to Government of India) – later 11th President of India
• Dr. R. Chidambaram (then Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission)

Details

• Five nuclear tests (May 11 and 13, 1998)
• Primarily an underground nuclear test (no atmospheric release)
• Tests included: fission device, thermonuclear (hydrogen bomb) device, low-yield devices

Locations

• Pokhran in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan (Thar Desert)
• Previous test: Smiling Buddha (1974) – India’s first nuclear test at same location

Other Events on May 11

• 1998: India also successfully test-fired the Trishul surface-to-air missile
• The date celebrates India’s technological achievements beyond nuclear tests: missile technology, software development, space exploration

Static-Dynamic Linkage

Static (Science & Technology / History Syllabus)

• NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty): India not a signatory (maintains nuclear option)
• CTBT (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty): India has not signed
• Nuclear Doctrine: Credible Minimum Deterrence; No-First-Use (NFU)
• India’s nuclear triad: Land (Agni), Air (fighter-bombers), Sea (nuclear submarines – Arihant class)

Dynamic (Current Affairs – May 2026)

• 28th anniversary of Pokhran-II (1998)
• Recent MIRV test (May 8, 2026) – Advanced Agni missile with MIRV capability
• Atmanirbhar Bharat – technology as key pillar

Source/Reference:

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/1998-pokhran-nuclear-tests-reflected-indias-scientific-excellence-pm-on-national-technology-day/article70964324.ece

Subject: Science & Tech – Space Technology; AI Infrastructure; Orbital Data Centres; Private Space Sector; Pixxel; Sarvam.

Why in News?

• Pixxel (space-tech startup) partnered with Sarvam (AI startup) to develop Pathfinder, India’s first orbital data centre satellite 
• Expected launch: Fourth quarter of 2026 
• Launch provider: either ISRO or SpaceX (depending on slot availability) 

What is Pathfinder?

Type

• 200 kg class satellite designed as a technology demonstrator 
• Combines datacenter-class GPUs with hyperspectral imaging camera 

How It Works

Traditional Satellites

• Capture raw imagery → beam down to Earth → process in ground data centres → analyse → act (long delays) 

Pathfinder (Orbital Processing)

• Captures hyperspectral imagery → analyses directly in orbit using AI models → transmits only actionable insights back to Earth 
• Significantly reduces latency between data capture and decision-making 

Key Hardware

• Datacenter-grade GPUs (same generation as ground-based AI data centres) 
• Hyperspectral imaging camera (Pixxel’s core technology) 

Why Orbital Data Centres?

Limitations of Ground-Based Data Centres

• Huge power consumption (~1.5% of global power per WEF) 
• High water consumption for cooling (1 million+ tons annually per 40 MW cluster) 
• Land and regulatory constraints 
• Environmental sustainability concerns 

Advantages of Orbital Data Centres

• Abundant solar power (uninterrupted in dawn-dusk sun-synchronous orbit) 
• Free radiative cooling in deep space (ambient temperature ~ -270°C) – eliminates freshwater needs 
• Scalability through modular design 
• Operates closer to space-based data – reduces downlink bandwidth requirements 

Strategic Significance

Technological Sovereignty

• Sarvam CEO Pratyush Kumar: “AI infrastructure is not just a software question – it is a sovereignty question” 
• India-built AI models running aboard India-built satellite, independent of foreign cloud infrastructure 

Reduces Dependence

• No reliance on foreign cloud or ground infrastructure for data processing 
• Keeps critical data processing within India’s sovereign stack 

Applications

• Early detection of crop diseases 
• Disaster response (real-time flood mapping, fire detection) 
• Environmental monitoring and resource management 
• Infrastructure tracking 

Development and Testing

Development Facility

• Built at Gigapixxel, Pixxel’s upcoming facility in Bengaluru 
• Designed to scale production to 100 satellites per year 

Technology Validation

• Pathfinder is a single-satellite demonstrator 
• Will test: real-time AI inference, power management, thermal performance, radiation-hardened computing in harsh space environment 

Global Context

• Axiom Space launched first data centre nodes for low-Earth orbit on January 11, 2026 
• Elon Musk (SpaceX) floated concept of data centres in space using Starlink satellites (late 2025) 
• Google has explored solar-powered orbital compute systems 
• Pathfinder is India’s entry into this emerging global race 

Static-Dynamic Linkage

Static (Science & Technology Syllabus)

• IN-SPACe: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre – regulates private space activities in India
• ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation – government space agency
• Hyperspectral Remote Sensing: Captures data in hundreds of narrow spectral bands
• LLM (Large Language Model): Foundational AI technology for natural language processing

Dynamic (Current Affairs – May 2026)

• Partnership announced: May 4, 2026 
• Launch target: Q4 2026 
• India’s first orbital data centre satellite – significant milestone for private space sector
• Combines AI + space – convergence of two critical emerging technologies
• Sovereignty focus: indigenous AI infrastructure in space 
• Launch provider: either ISRO (India) or SpaceX (US) 

Source/Reference:

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/what-is-indias-first-orbital-data-centre-satellite/article70958948.ece

Subject: International Relations – IORA; Maritime Security; Blue Economy; India’s Leadership; Indian Ocean Region.

Why in News?

• IORA Secretary-General Sanjiv Ranjan emphasized that maritime safety and security is of primordial importance to the Indian Ocean region

About IORA

Establishment

• Founded: March 1997 (Mauritius)
• Formerly known as: Indian Ocean Rim Initiative; later Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)
• Renamed IORA in 2013

Membership

• 23 Member States, 11 Dialogue Partners, 2 Focus Groups, 2 Observer Organizations

Secretariat

• Located in: Ebene, Mauritius

India’s Role

• Founding member of IORA
• Actively engaged in all six priority areas

Priority Areas (6 Pillars)

1. Maritime Safety and Security
2. Trade and Investment Facilitation
3. Fisheries Management
4. Disaster Risk Management
5. Tourism and Cultural Exchanges
6. Blue Economy (including academic, science, technology cooperation)

Cross-cutting Issues

• Women’s economic empowerment
• Maritime governance
• Combating piracy and transnational crime

IORA’s Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG)

• Engages universities, research institutions, and think tanks
• Focuses on collaborative research on Blue Economy and Ocean Governance
• India’s Ministry of External Affairs has been a key partner

Why IORA Matters for India

Geopolitical Significance

• Indian Ocean carries 90% of India’s trade by volume and 80% of its energy imports
• Securing Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) is vital for national security

Maritime Security Concerns

• Piracy, human trafficking, illegal fishing, drug smuggling
• Natural disasters, maritime pollution, climate change impacts
• Geopolitical competition (China’s presence in IOR – Gwadar, Hambantota, Djibouti)

Blue Economy Potential

• Sustainable use of ocean resources (fisheries, renewable energy, seabed minerals, biotechnology)
• India’s Deep Ocean Mission (2021) and Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling and Science (O-SMART) scheme

Static-Dynamic Linkage

Static (International Relations / Geography Syllabus)

• UNCLOS (1982): Legal framework for maritime zones and rights
• Indian Ocean: Third largest ocean; carries half of world’s container ships and oil tankers
• Chokepoints in IOR: Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, Bab el-Mandeb
• SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region): India’s maritime vision (PM Modi, 2015)

Dynamic (Current Affairs – May 2026)

• IORA Secretary-General’s visit to India (May 2026) – maritime safety as top priority
• Current geopolitical context: West Asia crisis (Iran-Israel-US war); Strait of Hormuz closure
• India’s leadership: Chair of IORA (2017-2019); currently Vice-Chair
• Blue Economy push: India’s Deep Ocean Mission, O-SMART scheme
• China’s presence in IOR: Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), Djibouti (first overseas base)

Source/Reference:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maritime-safety-and-security-is-of-primordial-importance-to-indian-ocean-region-secretary-general/article70962579.ece

GS Paper II – Polity & Governance (Judiciary) | GS Paper II – Social Justice
Judicial Reforms; Pendency; Judge-Population Ratio; Access to Justice

Introduction

The Union Cabinet’s decision to raise the strength of the Supreme Court of India from 34 to 38 judges is a welcome move to address rising pendency, which has crossed 93,000 cases. However, since Supreme Court cases form only a tiny share of overall judicial backlog, with most pendency concentrated in district and high courts, increasing judges alone cannot solve the crisis without broader structural reforms in the lower judiciary.

Main Body

The Pendency Crisis: A Tale of Three Tiers

Supreme Court:

• Over 93,000 pending cases as of May 7.
• More than 50% increase since 2019.
• Accounts for only 0.14% of total case pendency across all courts.
• SC disposes of roughly 90% of cases instituted each year.
• Functions at or close to its sanctioned strength.

High Courts:

• Account for approximately 12% of total case pendency.
• Backlog across 25 high courts remains substantial.

District and Trial Courts:

• Account for over 4.92 crore pending cases.
• Represent approximately 88% of total case pendency across all courts.
• This is where the crisis is most acute and where reform must focus.

The Core Reality:

• A purely top-down approach to reform is unsustainable.
• Adding four judges to the SC (from 34 to 38) will not address 4.92 crore pending cases at the trial court level.

Why Adding SC Judges Alone Is Insufficient

Marginal Impact on Total Pendency:

• SC pendency (93,000 cases) is negligible compared to 4.92 crore cases in district courts.
• SC already disposes of 90% of cases instituted each year.
• Additional judges may marginally ease pressure on individual benches but cannot address underlying causes.

The Expanding Jurisdiction of SC:

• The Supreme Court’s jurisdiction has expanded significantly over the years.
• It is the court of last resort for constitutional matters, appeals, and special leave petitions.
• Volume of litigation generated by the state (India’s biggest litigant) continues to grow.

Justice B.V. Nagarathna’s Concern (2025):

• Stressed the need for the government to “litigate with restraint and be a model litigator.”
• The state’s litigation practices contribute substantially to docket pressure.

The Root Cause: Judge-Population Ratio

India’s Abysmal Ratio:

• India has roughly 19 judges per million population.
• This is far below the recommended ratio of 50 judges per million (Law Commission, 1987).
• Even lower than the 40 per million suggested by the Law Commission in its 245th Report (2014).

International Comparison:

• United States: approximately 150 judges per million.
• China: approximately 150 judges per million (by comparable measures).
• India’s ratio is less than one-seventh of these figures.

Consequence:

• Overburdened judges handle thousands of cases annually.
• Adjournments become routine; trials are delayed by years.
• Undertrials languish in prisons for longer than the maximum sentence for their alleged offence.

The Human Cost: Undertrials and Access to Justice

Prolonged Incarceration:

• Prolonged incarceration of undertrials due to delays undermines the right to a speedy trial (Article 21).
• Many undertrials spend more time in jail awaiting trial than they would if convicted.

Access to Justice:

• At the apex court—the court of last resort—ensuring real access to justice is especially important.
• Pendency at lower levels means justice delayed, often denied, for the vast majority of litigants.

The Irony:

• The SC is the focus of attention and reform (adding judges), but the crisis is at the bottom.
• A pyramid where the apex gets more resources while the base crumbles.

What Must a Comprehensive Plan Include?

1. Increase Judge-Population Ratio Across All Tiers:

• Fill existing vacancies in high courts and district courts urgently.
• Increase sanctioned strength of high courts and district courts.
• Set a target of 50 judges per million population (Law Commission recommendation) with a clear timeline.

1. Strengthen Lower Judiciary Infrastructure:

• More courtrooms, residential accommodations for judges, and support staff.
• Digitization of case records and virtual hearing infrastructure (post-COVID gains must be sustained).
• Fast-track courts for specific categories (e.g., cases against MPs/MLAs, sexual offences, civil disputes).

1. Reform Litigation Practices:

• Government as model litigator: litigate with restraint, avoid frivolous appeals, settle where possible.
• Encourage alternative dispute resolution (ADR): arbitration, mediation, conciliation (Section 89 of CPC).
• Lok Adalats should be strengthened and held more frequently.

1. Case Management and Procedural Reforms:

• Strict adherence to adjournment limits (no more than three adjournments per side, as per various High Court rules).
• Time limits for disposal of specific categories of cases (e.g., criminal appeals, election petitions).
• Use of information technology for case scheduling, hearing lists, and judgment delivery.

1. Address Undertrial Crisis:

• Section 436A of CrPC (release of undertrials who have served half the maximum sentence) must be implemented rigorously.
• Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 retains similar provisions; require proactive judicial oversight.

The Way Forward: From Top-Down to Bottom-Up

Immediate (1-2 years):

• Fill all existing vacancies in high courts and district courts (currently hundreds of vacancies).
• Implement fast-track courts for undertrials and specific offence categories.
• Government to conduct internal audit of its litigation and withdraw frivolous cases.

Medium-Term (3-5 years):

• Increase sanctioned strength of high courts and district courts based on workload, not population alone.
• Mandatory continuing legal education for judges at all levels.
• Expand e-courts project to Phase III with AI-assisted case management.

Long-Term (5-10 years):

• Achieve judge-population ratio of 50 per million.
• Establish separate courts for commercial disputes, family matters, and service matters to reduce mixing of case types.
• Comprehensive review of court procedures to eliminate obsolete steps.

Conclusion

The Union Cabinet’s move to raise the strength of the Supreme Court of India from 34 to 38 judges is a necessary step to address rising pendency of over 93,000 cases. However, since most pending cases lie in district courts and India’s judge-population ratio remains very low, meaningful judicial reform must also focus on filling lower court vacancies, improving case management, strengthening ADR mechanisms, and reducing excessive government litigation.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

1. “Increasing the strength of the Supreme Court alone cannot resolve India’s judicial pendency crisis.” Examine the causes of rising pendency and suggest comprehensive judicial reforms. (250 words, 15 marks)

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/judicial-reform-shouldnt-stop-at-sc-10682867/

GS Paper I – Indian Heritage & Culture (Performing Arts) | GS Paper I – Society
Traditional Puppetry; Regional Variations; Storytelling; Cultural Preservation

Introduction

In the age of AI and immersive media, India’s traditional puppetry forms are witnessing renewed interest as carriers of storytelling, ethics, and cultural heritage. Traditions such as Togalu Gombeyaata and Tholu Bommalata preserve epic narratives and folk traditions, while institutions like the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath help revive these declining art forms amid the impact of television and cinema.

Main Body

Puppetry Traditions in India: An Overview

Two Major Categories Discussed:

String Puppets (Marionettes) – Kathputli:

• Predominantly from North India (Rajasthan).
• Traditionally practised by the Putli Bhats, a community of itinerant performers.
• Travelled with portable theatres; gained popularity in royal courts.
• Eventually settled in different kingdoms, creating puppets modelled on rulers, queens, court dancers, acrobats, and other courtly figures.

Leather Shadow Puppets:

• Practised across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Goa.
• While performance techniques remain broadly similar, regional variations in language, style, and narrative lend each tradition unique character.
• Puppets are crafted from leather (deer, goat, or buffalo hide) and mounted on bamboo sticks.

Regional Forms of Leather Shadow Puppetry

Togalu Gombeyaata (Karnataka):

• The name literally means “leather puppet play.”
• Draws on epics, folktales, humour, and drama, often performed through the night.
• Regional variations within Karnataka:
  • Bijapur and Gulbarga: known as katabarata (smaller puppets).
  • Bellary and Dharwad: called kille katarata (larger figures).
  • Bengaluru and Kolar: larger puppets in Togalu Gombeyaata.
• Visual language reflects both temple and Islamic artistic influences.
• Narratives drawn from Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, and local folklore (Janapada Kathegalu).

Tholu Bommalata (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana):

• One of the most elaborate shadow puppetry traditions.
• Puppets can reach heights of up to eight feet.
• Craft dates back to at least the 12th century.
• Significant development under the Vijayanagara rulers in the 16th century.
• Artisans, many of whom migrated from Maharashtra during the Maratha period, created intricately painted and perforated figures.
• Performances staged using a white cloth screen, illuminated from behind by oil lamps or bulbs, with puppets mounted on bamboo sticks for movement.
• Episodes from Ramayana and Mahabharata remain central, often accompanied by song.

Other Regional Forms (Mentioned):

• Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Goa have their own distinct shadow puppetry traditions.
• Each has unique regional variations in language, style, and narrative.

Construction and Craftsmanship

Kathputli (String Puppets) – Construction:

• Head, neck, and face carved from a single piece of wood.
• Torso and hands made from stuffed cloth.
• Female puppets typically have no legs and are dressed in long, flowing skirts of leheriya or bandhej adorned with gota work.
• Male puppets include legs or footwear.
• Wood carefully selected based on the character, coated with chalk, and then painted with stylised features, especially elongated eyes.

Leather Puppets (Shadow Puppets) – Construction:

• Made from deer, goat, or buffalo hide.
• Can reach heights of up to eight feet (Tholu Bommalata).
• Intricately painted and perforated to create detailed patterns.
• Mounted on bamboo sticks for manipulation during performances.

Performance and Storytelling

Performance Setup:

• White cloth screen (comparable to a cinema screen).
• Illuminated from behind by oil lamps or bulbs (traditional lighting).
• Puppets placed close to the screen to cast sharp shadows.
• Accompanied by song, music, and narration.

Narrative Content:

• Epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• Puranas: Bhagavata Purana (stories of Krishna and Yashoda).
• Local folklore (Janapada Kathegalu).
• Humour and drama, not just serious mythology.

Performance Duration:

• Often performed through the night (Togalu Gombeyaata).

Decline and Adaptation

Causes of Decline:

• Advent of television and cinema.
• Immersive digital experiences replacing traditional storytelling.
• Changing audience preferences.
• Economic viability of itinerant performers diminished.

Adaptation Strategies:

• Many puppeteers have adapted by creating smaller decorative items: miniature puppets, lampshades.
• Transition from performance art to craft production for tourists and urban consumers.

Preservation Efforts:

• Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad’s leather puppetry gallery (established 2007) houses over 3,000 traditional puppets.
• Indian Music Experience, Bengaluru: puppets dressed in regional attire narrating stories from the Bhagavata Purana.
• Renewed interest in traditional forms amidst AI and digital experiences.

Cultural Significance and Contemporary Relevance

Connection to India’s Storytelling Traditions:

• Puppetry is deeply connected to India’s vast oral and performance heritage.
• Represents the “magic of storytelling, the beauty of the handmade, and the dexterity of the human hand.”

Bringing Alive Morality and Ethical Living:

• Not just stories, but enduring ideas of morality and ethical living.
• Epics and Puranas convey dharma (righteousness) through accessible, entertaining performances.
• Puppetry makes complex philosophical concepts accessible to all ages and literacy levels.

Reflection of Material Culture:

• Regional variations in puppetry reflect India’s diversity: language, artistic influences (temple and Islamic), and local folklore.
• Puppets modelled on rulers, queens, court dancers, acrobats, and courtly life provide glimpses into historical social structures.

Way Forward: Preservation and Promotion

For Government and Cultural Institutions:

• Document regional puppetry traditions before they are lost.
• Support puppeteers through grants, performance venues, and inclusion in festivals.
• Establish more museums and galleries (like the Chitrakala Parishad collection).
• Integrate puppetry into school curricula as part of arts education.

For Artisans and Performers:

• Adapt to contemporary themes while retaining traditional craftsmanship.
• Explore collaborations with digital media (e.g., animated films using puppet designs).
• Train younger generations in both performance and craft.

For Society:

• Attend performances; support local puppeteers.
• Recognise puppetry as living heritage, not just a museum artefact.

Conclusion

India’s puppetry traditions such as Togalu Gombeyaata, Tholu Bommalata, and Kathputli preserve ancient storytelling, morality, and folk culture through leather shadow puppets and string marionettes. Though television and cinema led to their decline, institutions like the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath and renewed interest in traditional arts are helping revive these living performance traditions beyond mere museum preservation.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

1. “India’s diverse puppetry traditions reflect rich regional storytelling and cultural heritage.” Discuss the major forms of puppetry in India, the challenges they face, and measures needed for their preservation as living traditions. (250 words, 15 marks)

https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2026/May/10/the-living-light-of-ancient-tales