Table of Contents

1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ________________4 3.9.11. Regulation of Payment Systems in India _____ 51
1.1. Freebies________________________________ 4 3.9.12. Digital Payments Index (DPI) ______________ 52
1.2. Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States __ 6 3.9.13. Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) ____ 52
1.2.1. Proxy Representation in PRIs ________________ 8 3.9.14. Algorithmic Trading _____________________ 53
3.9.15. Potash ________________________________ 53
1.3. News in Shorts __________________________ 9
3.9.16. Electronics Manufacturing ________________ 54
1.3.1. Govt to Set Up Deregulation Commission ______ 9
3.9.17. Union Budget 2025: Developing 50 Top Tourist
1.3.2. President’s Rule in Manipur _________________ 9
Destinations in 'Challenge Mode' ________________ 54
1.3.3. Union Cabinet Approves the Revised Waqf
3.9.18. RuTAGe Smart Village Center (RSVC) ________ 54
(Amendment) Bill, 2024 ________________________ 10
3.9.19. Global Capability Centers _________________ 55
1.3.4. Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) ________ 11
3.9.20. SwaRail Application _____________________ 56
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______________12 3.9. Errata ________________________________ 56
2.1. Geo-Economic Fragmentation _____________ 12
4. SECURITY _____________________________ 57
2.2. India’s Neighbourhood First Policy _________ 13
4.1. Regionalism ___________________________ 57
2.3. Triangular Partnership ___________________ 16
4.2. Algorithmic Amplification and Radicalisation _ 59
2.4. India - U.S.A Relations ___________________ 18
4.3. Hybrid Warfare _________________________ 60
2.4.1. India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement __________ 20
4.4. Nuclear Disarmament ___________________ 62
2.5. India-France Relationship ________________ 22
4.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 65
2.6. News in Shorts _________________________ 25
4.5.1. Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Short Range (NASM-SR) 65
2.6.1. India And Qatar Elevate Bilateral Ties to Strategic
4.5.2. Military Exercises ________________________ 65
Partnership __________________________________ 25
2.6.2. BIMSTEC________________________________ 25
4.6. Errata ________________________________ 66
2.6.3. International Criminal Court ________________ 26 5. ENVIRONMENT ________________________ 67
2.6.4. Economic Community of West African States 5.1. Solar Energy in India _____________________ 67
(ECOWAS) ___________________________________ 26 5.2. Soil Health Card Scheme _________________ 69
2.6.5. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries 5.3. Stubble Burning ________________________ 71
(OPEC) ______________________________________ 26 5.4. News in Shorts _________________________ 73
2.6.6. International Organization of Aids to Marine 5.4.1. Wetland Accredited Cities _________________ 73
Navigation (IALA) ______________________________ 27 5.4.2. Four More Wetlands Included Under The Ramsar
3. ECONOMY _____________________________28 Convention __________________________________ 74
3.1. Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs 28 5.4.3. Inland Mangrove of Guneri ________________ 75
3.2. National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) ___ 30 5.4.4. United Nations Human Settlements Programme
3.2.1. Major and Minor Minerals _________________ 32 (UN-Habitat) _________________________________ 75
3.3. Prime Minister Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana _ 34 5.4.5. Agri-NBSAPs ____________________________ 75
3.4. Makhana ______________________________ 35 5.4.6. Champions of Animal Protection ____________ 76
5.4.7. F11 Bacteria ____________________________ 76
3.5. Mission for Cotton Productivity ____________ 37
5.4.8. Shallow-Depth Earthquake ________________ 76
3.6. Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) ______________ 39 5.4.9. Shift In Earth’s Magnetic North _____________ 77
3.7. Urban Cooperative Banks ________________ 42 5.4.10. Draft Rules For ‘One Nation, One Time’ _____ 78
3.8. Restructured Skill India Programme ________ 45 5.4.11. Stratovolcano __________________________ 78
3.9. News in Shorts _________________________ 47 5.4.12. Mount Dukono _________________________ 78
3.9.1. Gross Domestic Knowledge Product _________ 47 5.4.13. CASPIAN SEA ______________________ 79
3.9.2. Deposit Insurance ________________________ 48 6. SOCIAL ISSUES ____________________ 80
3.9.3. New Harmonised System Codes For GI Tagged Rice 6.1. Middle-Income Class ____________________ 80
____________________________________________ 48
6.2. Three-Language Formula _________________ 82
3.9.4. ‘AI for Entrepreneurship’ Micro-learning Module
____________________________________________ 49 6.3. Quality Higher Education in India __________ 84
3.9.5. E-Shram Microsites & Occupational Shortage Index 6.4. Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G)___ 87
(OSI) ________________________________________ 49 6.5. Jal Jeevan Mission ______________________ 89
3.9.6. Time Use Survey (TUS) ____________________ 50 6.6. News in Shorts _________________________ 91
3.9.7. FDI Limit Hiked In Insurance Sector __________ 50 6.6.1. “Imagine A World With More Women In Science”
3.9.8. Enhanced Certificate of Origin (eCoO) 2.0 System Campaign ___________________________________ 91
____________________________________________ 50 6.5.2. Swavalambini ___________________________ 91
3.9.9. Tonnage Tax Scheme _____________________ 51 6.6.3. ASER 2024 Released by NGO Pratham Foundation
3.9.10. RBI Cut Repo Rate _______________________ 51 ____________________________________________ 92

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 6.6.4. WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control 8. CULTURE ____________________________ 105
(WHO FCTC) __________________________________ 92 8.1. Gyan Bharatam Mission _________________ 105
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ______________93 8.2. News in Shorts ________________________ 106
7.1. Nuclear Energy Mission __________________ 93 8.2.1. Vijay Durg (Fort William) _________________ 106
7.2. Deep Ocean Mission_____________________ 95 8.2.2. Tea Horse Road (THR) ____________________ 107
7.3. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) ________ 97 8.2.3. Tantric Buddhism _______________________ 107
7.4. News in Shorts _________________________ 99 8.2.4. Padma Awards _________________________ 107
7.4.1. EU AI Act Becomes Applicable ______________ 99 8.2.5. Sahitya Academy Award __________________ 108
7.4.2. Gene Bank for Crops Germplasm ___________ 100 8.2.6. Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme __________ 108
7.4.3. China’s EAST Creates New Record In Fusion 9. ETHICS ______________________________ 109
Reaction ____________________________________ 101 9.1. Obscenity on Digital Platforms ___________ 109
7.4.4. 100th Launch Of the Indian Space Research 9.2. Surveillance Capitalism _________________ 111
Organisation (ISRO) From Sriharikota _____________ 101 9.3. Ragging in India _______________________ 114
7.4.5. First Detailed Mapping of Moon’s South Pole _ 102
10. SCHEMES IN NEWS ___________________ 117
7.4.6. NASA Launches Satellite To Detect Water On The
Moon ______________________________________ 103
10.1. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan
7.4.7. Red Color of Mars _______________________ 103 Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) ______________________ 117
7.4.8. Lower-Sodium Salt Substitutes (LSSS) _______ 103 11. APPENDIX: CRITICAL MINERALS_________ 119
7.4.9. Shatavari ______________________________ 104 12. PLACES IN NEWS _____________________ 121
7.4.10. Bharat Tech Triumph Program ____________ 104 13. PERSONALITIES IN NEWS ______________ 122

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1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1.1. FREEBIES
Why in the News?
Recently, Supreme Court questioned whether freebies are fostering a parasitic lifestyle among the poor and discouraging
them of the will to find work.
What is meant by Freebies?
Definition: Although, there is no precise definition of freebies Reserve Bank of India defines it as “A public welfare
measure that is provided free of charge”. These are in the form of promises made by political parties during elections
and have now become an integral part of politics in India.

Welfarism vs. Freebies

• Welfarism: Rooted in constitutional duty, it includes sustained efforts like food security (PDS), jobs (MGNREGA),
and education/health support—building human capital.
• Freebies: Short-term handouts (e.g., free power, water, debt waivers) lack sustainability, distort markets, erode
credit culture, and discourage work, as per the Supreme Court.
Multiple approaches to Welfarism

Charity Approach Needs Approach Rights-Based Approach

Focuses on input not outcome Focus on input and outcome to Focus on process and outcome for realizing
meet needs rights

Recognizes moral responsibility of Recognizes needs as valid claims Recognizes rights as claims toward legal
rich towards poor and moral duty-bearers

Individuals are seen as victims Individuals are objects of Individuals and groups are empowered to
development interventions claim their rights

Focuses on manifestation of Focuses on immediate causes of Focuses on structural causes and their
problems problems manifestations

Constitutional and Legal Perspectives

• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP): Various Articles 38,39,41 emphasizes role of state to:-
o secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the people
o ensure men and women have adequate means of livelihood
o prevent concentration of wealth
o Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases
• Supreme Court judgement:
o Subramaniyam Balaji Case (2013): A two-judge bench held that “state distributing largesse in the form of
distribution of colour TVs, laptops, etc. to eligible and deserving persons is directly related to the Directive
Principles of State Policy” and warrants no interference by the court.
o Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v Union of India (case is pending): The Supreme Court is hearing challenges against
the practice of offering and distributing freebies during election campaigns.
• Election Commission’s: It has called for transparency in electoral promises, urging political parties to disclose
funding mechanisms for freebies.

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Impacts of Freebies

Positive (Welfarism) Negative (Freebies)

Fulfilment of Basic Needs: Provisioning of food Financial Burden: It leads to strained government budgets,
and nutrition, healthcare, housing, education increased fiscal deficits and reduced spending on infrastructure
can alleviate burden of poor. development, job creation.
Addresses social and gender disparities: Mid- Dependency culture: It can results in decreased individual
day meal, free bicycle has led to better motivation and productivity.
enrolment.
Promotes inclusivity and social mobility: Undermine Sustainable growth and affect Intergenerational
Removal of financial barriers through various equity: : E.g. Free electricity, water can led to depletion of ground
services can lead to better inclusive growth. water leading to wastage of resources, and increased burden on
future generations.
Political Participation: Freebies can attract Freebies Politics: It can be used as populist measure to secure
disengaged voters, increase electoral votes rather than address socio-economic disparities.
participation and foster a more representative
democracy.
Mitigate failure of market: Address Undermine Market: It can undermine quality and competitiveness
distributional consequences of economic of manufacturing sector by diverting resources away from
reforms such as Under-employment and low investments.
inter-generational mobility.

Many experts observed that in the recent times, the distinction between welfare and freebies seems to have vanished as
the two seem to have become synonyms.
Steps to be taken
• Policy Reforms
o Fiscal Prudence and Debt Management: Prioritize sustainable welfare schemes with sunset clauses
maintaining fiscal discipline and public debt sustainability.
o Prevent Leakages and Corruption: Subsidies must reach right people without leakage or corruption.
o Expand Insurance Coverage: It can act as a safeguard mechanism especially for vulnerable sections in case of
shocks such as Covid-19.
o Build political consensus: Centre & States together should come together to arrest misuse of welfare schemes
in name of freebies.
• Role of Election Commission: It can ensure transparency in electoral promises by regulating manifestos and
enforcing their accountability.
o Freebies aren't truly 'free,' and political parties must disclose funding and trade-offs to curb 'competitive
populism’.
• Skill Development and Self-Reliance: It helps to empower individuals and reduce dependency on freebies.
• Voter Awareness: Educate voters about long-term consequences of freebies to reduce their appeal for irrational
freebies.
• Judicial Oversight and Interventions: Expert committees comprising members from NITI Ayog, RBI, and Finance
Commission can be formed to assess impact of freebies.
• Learning from Global Examples:
o Sri Lanka's 2019 tax cuts as per election promise led to significant revenue loss snowballing into financial
collapse.
o Venezuela's populist policies in form of freebies and loan waivers led to an economic crisis and prolonged
recovery thereafter.

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Conclusion
In alignment with the Amartya Sen's "Capability Approach," governments must reprioritize long-term empowerment
enhancing human capabilities and freedoms over short-term freebies. It can help in avoiding the race to the bottom
and prevent fiscal disaster, as warned by NK Singh. (Chairman, 15th Finance Commission)

1.2. STATUS OF DEVOLUTION TO PANCHAYATS IN STATES

Why in the news?
Recently, Ministry of Panchayati Raj has released a report titled “Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States – An
Indicative Evidence Based Ranking”.
Devolution to Panchayats in States report
• Report provides an in-depth analysis at how well Panchayats are equipped to fulfil their Constitutional roles under
the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
o It was prepared by Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi.
• Key Highlights of Report
o Panchayat Devolution Index: Ranks States/ UTs along 6-dimensions of devolution. (Refer Image)
 The ‘function’ dimension, which is the base of local self-governments, has the lowest national average
among all 6 dimensions.
o Top 3 States in devolution are Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
o Lowest 3 states/UTs are Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Puducherry, and Ladakh.
o Devolution has increased from 39.9% to 43.9% during 2013-14 to 2021-22.
o Capacity Enhancement component of index increased from 44% to 54.6% due to initiatives like Rashtriya Gram
Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA).

Importance of Devolution Index

• For citizens: It provides transparency in tracking Panchayat functioning and resource allocation.
• For elected representatives: It offers data-driven insights for advocacy and reform.
• For government officials: It serves as a roadmap for implementing effective decentralization policies.
• For policymakers: They can use Devolution Index to assess the overall health of local governance and identify
where reforms are most urgently needed.

About Devolution of Panchayat

• Devolution is concerned with passing on of powers, authority and rights and/or duties and responsibilities or
funds from higher level of jurisdiction to lower level jurisdiction and making them autonomous in decision making.

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 o It is a form of administrative decentralization.
• Local government, including panchayats, is a state subject in the Constitution, and consequently, the devolution
of power and authority to panchayats has been left to the discretion of states.

Challenges regarding Devolution of Panchayat

• Framework: Irregular elections, delays in delimitation or formation of ward etc. contradict with constitutional
mandate such as holding regular elections (article 243 E).
o E.g. Delay in conducting elections to over 23,000 local bodies in Madhya Pradesh.
• Function: As per report, overall Panchayat Devolution Index is 43.89% (2021-22) due to Panchayats functions being
limited to traditional civic duties, supervisory nature of intermediate and district Panchayats, parastatal bodies.
o Parastatal Bodies are set up by specific Acts of Parliament and managed by Boards of Directors appointed by
government.
• Finances: Inadequate financial resources, heavy reliance on grants from centre/state government, and irregular
constitution of State Finance Commission, impede the functioning of PRIs.
o Around 95 % of their revenues come from grants by higher levels of government.
• Functionaries: Lack of support staff and personnel such as secretary, shortage of technical and administrative
staff, etc. leads to overburdening, and hampers efficient governance and service delivery at grassroots level.
o As per survey, one Panchayat Secretary manages on an average 17 Gram Panchayats in a State.
• Capacity Building: Inadequate infrastructure, lack of skills and regular training, digital infrastructure, and
inadequate financial and personnel management impacts the functioning of Panchayats.
o Only seven states and UTs reported that 100% of their panchayat offices were pucca buildings.
o Over 40,000 GPs in the country still do not have any computers in India.
• Accountability: Limited people participation, lack of awareness of accountability measures have led to increased
instances of corruption and misuse of funds by PRIs officials.
o E.g. 70% of panchayats in Krishna district (Tamil Nadu) have been misappropriating funds.

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Recommendations as per Report
• Strengthening State Election Commission (SEC): All election related matters like fixing election dates,
delimitation of constituencies should be vested with SEC. Further, have a common electoral role to be prepared
and yearly modified.
• Reserved seats: Reservations for all categories should be frozen for at least two/three terms. Extending tenures on
same seat for general candidates, women, as well as SC/ST candidates in general, to promote efficiency and
effectively empower local leaders.
• Autonomy: Central Sector Schemes (CSSs) need to provide active roles to Panchayats in all State, and subjects
listed in Eleventh Schedule be transferred to Panchayats and not to parallel bodies.
• Funding: State Finance Commission should be constituted timely every 5 years, reports should be tabled in state
legislatures regularly, and steps should be taken to diverse funding sources of the PRIs.
• Accountability: Enforce strict financial accountability measures, regular and independent audits, and Public
Financial Management System should be mandatory for all utilization certificates, releases, and transactions of
expenditure, to prevent misuse of funds and corruption.
• Manpower: Panchayats should have authority to manage ad hoc staff, engage external experts, and receive
adequate resources for staffing and infrastructure. Staff distribution must be based on workload and local needs
for equitable allocation.
o A separate body (Local Government Service Commission) may be established to recruit employees.
• Capacity Building: Training PRI members through comprehensive curriculum in Local Public Service Management
consisting of public systems, financial and personnel management, e-Governance etc. on the lines of MBA for
Panchayat functionaries.

1.2.1. PROXY REPRESENTATION IN PRIS

Why in the News?
Panel by Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR)
recommended ways for eliminating proxy participation
in Panchayati Raj Insititutions (PRIs).
More on the News
• Report of the committee is titled as“Transforming
Women’s Representation and Roles in
Panchayati Raj Systems and Institutions:
Eliminating Efforts for Proxy Participation”.
• In Mundona Rural Development Foundation vs
UoI (2023) Supreme Court directed forming
committee to examine proxy participation in
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
Women’s Reservation in PRIs
• Constitutional Mandated: 73rd Constitutional
Amendment Act (1992) established a three-tiered
panchayat system and also mandated 1/3rd
reservation of seats for women in PRIs.
o This quota was further expanded to nearly
50% by 21 States (Bihar was the first such
states).
• Current Representation: 46.6% of elected
panchayat representatives are women.
• Issue of Proxy Representation: Many elected
women serve as mere figureheads, with male
relatives (like sarpanch pati) taking control.

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 o Such practices give the impression that ‘women are not effective leaders’, defeating the purpose of
reservation.
Key Reforms Proposed by the Committee
• Strict Penalties: Punishment for proven cases of male interference, though specifics remain undefined.
• Stronger Policies: Kerala-style gender-exclusive quotas, public swearing-in ceremonies, and women
panchayat federations.
• Technological solutions: Virtual reality simulation training, integrating AI-powered query-driven replies to provide
real-time legal guidance to WERs [Women Elected Representatives] in vernacular languages etc.
• Accountability Mechanisms: Helplines, watchdog committees, and whistleblower rewards for reporting proxy
leadership.
o Use of Panchayat Nirnay Portal to allow citizens to track elected pradhans’ participation in meetings and
decisions.

1.3. NEWS IN SHORTS

1.3.1. GOVT TO SET UP DEREGULATION COMMISSION
Prime Minister announced that Government will set up Deregulation Commission to Reduce State's role in governance
• PM also emphasized government efforts through the Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 to cut bureaucratic hurdles by reducing
regulatory burdens.
• Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0: Announced in the Union Budget 2025-26. It aims to decriminalize over 100 outdated legal
provisions to enhance ease of doing business.
About Deregulation
• Definition: Deregulation is reduction or elimination of government oversight of an industry.
• Global Deregulation Initiatives: - US: Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE); UK: Better Regulation
Framework; New Zealand: Ministry of Regulation.
Significance of Deregulations in Fueling Economic
Activity
• Boosts Growth: India needs to increase
investment from 31% to 35% of GDP for 8%
growth. Deregulation attracts investments.
o E.g., Japan and China achieved high growth
through deregulation.
• Enhance Economic Freedom: Deregulation
removes bureaucratic hurdles, fostering
competition.
o E.g., Jan Vishwas Act 2023 decriminalized
183 provisions across 42 central Acts, easing
business compliances.
• Reduces MSME Compliance Costs: MSMEs,
lacks resources to navigate regulations, benefit from deregulation.
o E.g., Haryana & Tamil Nadu amended building regulations to ease compliance for small businesses.
• Enhances Competitive Federalism: States learn from each other’s deregulation efforts to improve industrial
activity.
o E.g., Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Haryana relaxed prohibitions on women working night shifts, boosting
employment opportunities.

1.3.2. PRESIDENT’S RULE IN MANIPUR

President of India issued Proclamation imposing President’s rule in Manipur.

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• This is the 11th (last being in 2001-02) such imposition in the state placing the state assembly under suspended
animation.
About President’s Rule
• Constitution: Article 356, provides for the imposition
of President’s Rule in the State if the President,
based on the report from the State Governor, is
satisfied that the government of the State cannot be
carried in accordance with the Constitutional
provisions.
o Additionally, Article 365 provides that if a State
fails to comply with any Union directions under
constitutional provisions, the President may declare a “Constitutional Emergency.
• Duration and Approval: As per Article 356 (3), it shall cease to operate at the expiration of two months unless
approved by both the Houses of Parliament by simple majority.
o If approved, can be extended to six months with the maximum extensions of 3 years (parliamentary approval
every 6 months).
• Revocation: By the President by a subsequent proclamation.
• Consequences:
o The President acquires extraordinary powers, with the Governor, on her behalf, administering the State with
assistance from the Chief Secretary or advisers appointed by the President.
o President can transfer State Legislature's powers to Parliament.
o It does not impact the functioning of the High Court.

1.3.3. UNION CABINET APPROVES THE REVISED WAQF (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024
In revised bill suggestions of Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) have been incorporated as per reports.
• Earlier, amendments were made in 2013 based on
the recommendations of the High-Level Committee
under the chairmanship of Justice (Retired)
Rajinder Sachar and the Report of the JPC.
About Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024
• Objective: To amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to
improve regulation of Waqf properties.
• Key Provisions:
o Inclusive composition of Waqf Management:
Involvement of Muslim women and Muslim
OBC in Management (Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards).
 Central Waqf Council: Statutory body established in 1964, to oversee and advise state-level Waqf
Boards across India. It does not exercise direct control over waqf property itself.
 State Waqf Board: It has superintendence over maintenance and administration of Waqf properties.
o Appeal on orders of Tribunals: Tribunal’s orders may be appealed in the High Court within 90 days.
o Others: Using technology to improve registration, Separate Waqf Boards for the Aghakhani and Bohra
communities, etc.

What is ‘Waqf’?
• Refers to properties dedicated exclusively for religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law, and any
other use or sale of the property is prohibited.
• Waqf properties are bestowed upon Allah and are managed and administered by an appointed ‘mutawalli’.
• Waqf Boards currently control 8.7 lakh properties spanning 9.4 lakh acres across India. India has the largest
waqf holding in the World.

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1.3.4. DIGITAL BRAND IDENTITY MANUAL (DBIM)
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) introduced DBIM to harmonize the government’s Digital
presence.
About DBIM
• The initiative focuses on simplifying and standardizing government websites.
• Aim: To ensure that citizens from diverse backgrounds can easily navigate and access essential government
services.
• Objective: To Enhance service delivery, and ensure consistent messaging across ministries, making government
priorities more transparent.
• Significance: Will enhance the government's "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance" approach by
introducing "Uniform Governance”.

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2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
2.1. GEO-ECONOMIC FRAGMENTATION
Why in the News?
The Economic Survey 2024-25 highlights a global shift from economic integration to geo-economic fragmentation
(GEF), signalling the replacement of globalization.
About Geo-Economic Fragmentation (GEF): The New Global Reality
• Geo-Economic Fragmentation (GEF): Is defined as a policy-driven reversal of global economic integration often
guided by strategic considerations. Examples:
o ‘Friendshoring’: Growing trade practice where supply chain networks are focused on countries regarded as
political and economic allies.
 E.g., Apple is shifting some of its iPhone production to India from China.
o ‘Nearshoring’: When a company chooses to work with a supplier that's located in a nearby country.
 E.g., a German company outsourcing customer service to a team in Poland
• Channels of GEF: GEF manifests through various channels, including trade restrictions, reduced capital
movements, disruptions in technology diffusion, Tech Decoupling etc.
o Technological decoupling involves reducing or ending international trade and investment in high-tech
industries due to national security, intellectual property, and data privacy concerns.
o E.g. USA’s Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act (2022) aims to
boost domestic manufacturing of semiconductor whereas China’s ‘Made in China 2025’initiative focuses
on achieving global leadership in high-tech industries.

Impact of Geo-Economic Fragmentation (GEF)

• Economic Output Losses: Reduced trade due to increased barriers (e.g., tariffs, non-tariff barriers) can lower global
domestic growth.
o India’s goal to become a USD 5 trillion economy by FY28 and USD 6.3 trillion by FY30 can be threatened.
• Relocation of Foreign investment: Foreign investment moving towards geopolitically aligned countries isolates
emerging markets, especially in developing economies.
o E.g., Foreign direct equity investments into India fell to a five-year low in FY24.
• Labor Market Effects: Limits on cross-border migration can deprive host economies of skills and reduce remittances
to migrant-sending countries.
• Hinders multilateralism: GEF hinders multilateral efforts on climate change, pandemics, and other global
challenges.
• Decline in globalization: Overall decline in globalization limits access to new markets, spread of technological
innovation, access to capital, competition and cultural exchange.

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Way Forward
• Strengthening Domestic Supply Chains: So as to ensure self-reliance in critical sectors like manufacturing, energy,
and technology.
o E.g., Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) to secure mineral supplies, particularly lithium and cobalt, through
overseas exploration and acquisition, with projects in Argentina, Australia, and Chile.
• Leveraging Regional Partnerships: Within the Indo-Pacific and build stronger trade and diplomatic relations with
countries that share similar interests, ensuring better access to markets and resources.
o Groupings like BIMSTEC, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) can be utilized by India.
• Innovation and Technology: Particularly in sectors such as renewable energy, digital transformation, and AI.
Conclusion
Geo-economic fragmentation marks a shift from the post-Cold War free trade model that fuelled globalisation and hyper-
globalisation. However, it would be too early to say that world is heading toward de-globalization where there is a fall in
trade volumes or overall ratio of trade to GDP.
India's success in achieving its 2047 goals hinges on adapting to geo-economic fragmentation, focusing on domestic
reforms, innovation, and strategic partnerships to drive sustainable growth and secure its global position.

2.2. INDIA’S NEIGHBOURHOOD FIRST POLICY

Why in the News?
India’s Neighbourhood First policy has completed a decade.

About India’s Neighbourhood First Policy (NFP)

• Genesis: The NFP was conceived in 2008, with its focus intensifying post-2014.

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• Concept: India’s ‘NFP guides its approach towards the management of relations with countries in its immediate
neighbourhood.
• Countries part of NFP: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• Aim: To enhance physical, digital and people to people connectivity across the region, as well as augmenting trade
and commerce.
• Key principles of engagement: 5S- Samman (respect), Samvad (dialogue), Shanti (peace), Samriddhi (prosperity)
and Sanskriti (culture) guided by Consultative and Non-Reciprocal, Outcome-Oriented and Holistic Approach.

Key aspects of India’s NFP

• Enhanced Economic Cooperation through Connectivity: Aims to create interdependencies that strengthen India’s
influence and counter external powers.
o E.g., Bangladesh: Mongla seaport rights and rail transit in July 2024 reduce costs for northeastern India.
• Increased High-Level Political Engagements: Build trust and strengthen diplomatic ties, ensuring a stable regional
environment.
o E.g., Nepal: Prime Minister of India’s 2014 visit, first in 17 years.
o E.g., Afghanistan: Zaranj-Delaram Road, Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul Transmission Line, Salma Dam Power Project,
Afghan Parliament Construction.
• Development Assistance and Infrastructure Projects: Aid is critical during crises and for long-term development,
consequently, positioning India as a reliable partner.
o E.g., Maldives: Greater Malé Connectivity Project bridge, Hanimadhoo Airport, etc.
• Energy Cooperation and Regional Power Markets: Develop regional energy markets and enhance energy security
through hydropower and power trade agreements.
o E.g., Bangladesh: Tripartite Power Trade in 2024 enables importing 40 MW from Nepal via India.
• Geopolitical Balancing and Countering External Influence: The policy provides opportunities to counter China’s
influence and maintain South Asia as India’s sphere of influence.
o E.g., Maldives: Steady financial support to Maldives, particularly currency swaps, is a direct counter to China’s
influence.
• Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Engagement: India has consistently responded as the first responder.
o E.g., Vaccine Maitri: Maldives and Bhutan becoming the first recipients, in line with “Neighbourhood First”
policy.
o E.g., Sri Lanka: India’s US$4 billion financing during the 2022 economic crisis.
Challenges Faced by India in its Neighbourhood

• Internal instability: Recent political upheavals and instability in neighbouring countries have significant
implications for regional stability and India's strategic interests in the neighbourhood. (see infographic)

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• Perceived Interventionism: Negative perceptions of India as an interventionist power (perceived ‘Big-Brother’
attitude), consequently, worsening relations.
o E.g., India’s 2015 economic blockade in Nepal, seen as protecting Madhesi interests, heightened anti-India
sentiment.
• Slow Project Implementation: Delays in infrastructure projects erode confidence and fuel anti-India sentiment.
o E.g., The Greater Malé Connectivity Project in Maldives faced protracted timelines, becoming a political issue.
• Unresolved Disputes and Irritants: Failure to resolve key issues like water sharing, taxes, and fishing, causing
ongoing friction.
o E.g., Teesta River water sharing with Bangladesh, illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters, and the Kalapani dispute
with Nepal remain unresolved.
• Lack of Coordination Within India: Internal policy inconsistencies affect trade and transit, exacerbating tensions.
o E.g., The Suvidha fee implemented by West Bengal increased costs for boulder exports from Bhutan to
Bangladesh via India.
• China's Growing Influence: Despite India’s efforts, China’s increasing presence in South Asia, notably in Sri Lanka
(e.g., Hambantota Port), Nepal & Bangladesh (part of BRI), and Maldives, continues to challenge India’s regional
dominance.
To know more about India’s approach to tackle instability in its neighbourhood, refer to Article 2.1. Instability in India’s
Neighbourhood in July 2024 Monthly Current Affairs Magazine.
Way forward
• Diplomatic Engagement and Sensitivity: India needs to engage diplomatically with its neighbors while being
sensitive to their political realities and domestic issues.
o Given that most of these nations are democratic, the pressures of electoral cycles and competitive politics
also have to be managed.

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• Addressing Critical Irritants: India must resolve long-standing issues, such as water-sharing disputes (e.g., the
Teesta River issue) and territorial disputes (e.g., Kalapani and Kachatheevu).
• Balancing Economic Assistance: While offering economic support, India should avoid fostering over-dependence.
Projects should be implemented efficiently to enhance India’s image as a reliable partner.
• Geopolitical Prudence: By managing China’s growing influence in the region while ensuring that neighboring
countries do not feel pressured into choosing sides.
• Encouraging Democratic Values: India must support democratic processes while addressing concerns regarding
political instability, as seen in Bangladesh, the Maldives, Afghanistan & Myanmar.
• Adapting to Domestic Political Shifts: India should remain flexible in its approach to diplomatic relationships,
especially in countries like the Maldives and Sri Lanka, where domestic politics often shift.
Conclusion
India’s Neighbourhood First policy, guided by Samman (respect), Samvad (dialogue), Shanti (peace), and Samriddhi
(prosperity), contrasts with China’s neo-imperialistic, debt-trap diplomacy, fostering cooperative, sustainable, and
mutually beneficial regional relations.

2.3. TRIANGULAR PARTNERSHIP

Why in the News?
A recent report by the OECD and the Islamic
Development Bank stresses that triangular
partnerships can effectively win influence in
a divided and conflicted world.
About Triangular Partnership or Triangular
Cooperation
• Definition: Triangular cooperation refers to
projects and initiatives combining the
comparative advantages of traditional
donors and southern countries to share
knowledge and address development
concerns in developing countries.
• Key Advantages
o Enables more efficient development
delivery through resource pooling, co-
creation, and the best available
technology
o Builds the capacity of developing
countries as providers of development cooperation
o Contributes to the SDGs
• Global Trends
o Between 2000 and 2022, 199 countries and 85 organizations engaged in over 1,000 triangular projects (OECD
estimate).
o 68% of these projects had budgets under $1 million, providing low-cost, flexible development solutions
ensuring cost-effective, flexible solutions.
• India’s Participation in Triangular Cooperation
o Ranks 8th among top 10 countries in triangular partnerships.

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 o Key India-led Triangular Partnerships
 India and Japan signed a memorandum of cooperation with Sri Lanka to develop the East Container
Terminal (ECT) in 2019.
 India and the US signed the ‘Statement of Guiding Principles on Triangular Cooperation for Global
Development’ (SGP) and its validity extended up-to 2026.
Reasons for Resurgence of Triangular Partnerships
• Failure of Western Aid Model: By the early 2000s, the traditional charity-based development aid system with strict
donor-recipient hierarchies lost credibility, prompting calls for reform.
• Rise of Emerging Donors: Countries like China, India, and Brazil introduced development programs based on equal
partnerships and mutual benefit, gaining support from recipient nations.
• China’s Influence: China’s growing footprint, particularly in the infrastructure sector in Africa, the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the South Pacific, has made it imperative for the G7 countries to engage with
India, a democratic country with shared values.
• Geopolitical rivalries: Conflicts within and between nations are exacerbating economic instability demanding new
model of development
Challenges of Triangular Partnerships
• Power Imbalance and Trust Issues: Donor countries' priorities and agendas may often overshadow recipient
countries' interests.
o For e.g., some developed countries prefer to work with only investment-grade countries in Africa, not the Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs).
• Hesitance of recipient countries: Developing countries find it cumbersome to adhere to all the norms and
standards required by developed country partners.
o For e.g., most recipient countries, particularly in Africa, find it cumbersome to abide by the European notions of
sustainability, and their required norms and standards.
• Implementation Challenges: Partner countries often differ over procurement rules, financial structure, and legal
framework.
o For e.g., Under the Indian lines of credit programme, 75 % of the inputs are procured from India, and Indian
companies implement the projects. This often leads to disagreements with partner countries, which prefer
prioritizing their own companies.
• Limited scale and scope: Most of these trilateral partnership initiatives adopt a project-based approach, which the
Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness warns may result in a disconnect with broader development goals.
Way Ahead for Strengthening Triangular Partnerships
• Promoting Inclusive Partnerships: Ensure recipient nations have a say in decision-making to build trust. Encourage
mutual learning to create practical and feasible guidelines.
• Simplifying Standards for Recipient Countries: Adapt sustainability and regulatory norms to local contexts rather
than imposing one-size-fits-all European standards.
• Enhancing Flexibility in Implementation: Align procurement policies to balance donor interests with local
economic priorities.
• Scaling Up and Aligning with Long-Term Development Goals: Move beyond project-based approaches to integrate
triangular cooperation with national and regional development strategies.
o Leverage international frameworks like the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness to ensure sustainable
impact.
Conclusion
By fostering equity, adaptability, and long-term vision, triangular cooperation can become a more effective and
mutually beneficial development model.

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2.4. INDIA - U.S.A RELATIONS
Why in the News?
The Indian Prime Minister paid an Official Working Visit to the USA.
Key Outcome of the Visit
Area/Sphere Development
Defense & • Proposed Ten-year Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership: Announced
Security plans to sign Partnership to advance defense ties further.
• Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA): To scale industry partnerships and
production in the Indo-Pacific.
• Other: Announced new co-production arrangements of Javelin (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles)
and Stryker (Infantry Combat Vehicles) in India.
Technology • U.S.-India TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) Initiative:
and Innovation It will catalyze government-to-government, academia and private sector collaboration to
promote the application of critical and emerging technologies in areas like defense, etc.
• INDUS Innovation: It will advance U.S.-India industry and academic partnerships and foster
investments in space, energy, and other emerging technologies.
o It is modeled after the INDUS-X initiative, which facilitates partnerships between U.S. and
India to enhance military capabilities.
• Strategic Mineral Recovery Initiative: A new U.S.-India program to recover and process
critical minerals (including lithium, cobalt, and rare earths) from heavy industries like
aluminum, coal mining and oil and gas.
Others • U.S.-India COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated
Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century: Promote a results-driven agenda to
demonstrate the level of trust for a mutually beneficial partnership.
• Indian Ocean Strategic Venture: A new bilateral, whole-of-government forum to advance
coordinated investments in economic connectivity and commerce.
• Launched Mission 500, aiming to more than double total bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
Significance of a Robust India-US Relationship
• Advancing Economic Opportunities: USA is the top-most
merchandise export destination for India.
o India has joined three pillars of USA led Indo-Pacific Economic
Framework [IPEF].
• Strengthening Global Strategic Influence: E.g. Quad, a
diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the
United States committed to supporting an open, stable and
prosperous Indo-Pacific.
o Such initiatives will help in countering the influence of China.
• Defense Modernization and Capacity Development: India has
signed foundational defense agreements with US which include a
General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA),
Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA),
Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement
(COMCASA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement
(BECA).
o US recognized India as a Major Defense Partner with Strategic
Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) authorization.
• Expanding Frontiers in Emerging Technologies: Launched US-India Initiative on Critical & Emerging
Technologies (iCET, 2023).

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• Expanding Space Outreach: E.g. NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission.
o Also, India has joined the US led Artemis Accord, provides a common set of principles to enhance the
governance of the civil exploration and use of outer space.
• Ensuring Energy Security: U.S.-designed nuclear reactors will be built in India to fully realize the U.S.-India 123
Civil Nuclear Agreement, 2008.
o In recent years, the U.S. has emerged as one of the largest suppliers of Liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India.
• Countering Terrorism: U.S. recently approved the extradition to India of Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 26/11
attacks.
• Support at Multilateral Forums: E.g. US support for India's permanent UN Security Council membership and
Nuclear Suppliers Group.
o Supports India’s bid to join the International Energy Agency as a full member.
• Fighting Climate Change & Renewable Energy: US joined the India led International Solar Alliance.
o Also, launched US-India Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP).
o Both are part of Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA)

Issues Straining India-US Partnership in recent times

• Trade & Economic Challenges
o Imposition of reciprocal tariffs along with other protectionist measure will make Indian products less
competitive.
o India remained on the Priority Watch List of the U.S. 2024 “Special 301” report, an annual review of the global
state of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement.
o US revoked India’s GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) in 2019, impacting duty-free Indian exports.
• Geopolitical Divergences: India follows strategic autonomy and independent foreign policy.
o E.g. India is part of QUAD but avoids turning it into a military alliance and India's stance on Russia-Ukraine War
• Visa & Immigration Challenges: Recently, US is tightening visa regulations (E.g. H-1B Visa), which will affect Indian
IT professionals and others.
o Also, illegal Indian Immigrants have been deported.
• Concerns over Human & Religious Rights: Concerns raised by the United States Commission on International
Religious Freedom (USCIRF) against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019 have been seen as internal
interference in India.
• Imposition of Sanctions: US has raised concerns over the acquisition of advanced weaponry, such as the S-400 air
defense system from Russia by India, citing potential implications under the Countering America’s Adversaries
through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Ways to further Strengthen India-US Partnership
• Finalizing Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA): The recently announced plan to negotiate a BTA would enhance market
access, reduce tariffs, boost investment, strengthen supply chains, etc.
o Also, it will help in resolving issue related with reciprocal tariff, IPR, etc.

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• Finalisation of defence framework: Both countries can work for early finalization of new 10-year defence framework
that will run from 2025 to 2035
o Reciprocal Defense Procurement (RDP) agreement can also be finalised.
• Easing H-1B Visa Restrictions: The US can streamline visa processes for Indian IT professionals, researchers, etc.
• Waiver under CAATSA: Influence of Indian-American can be used to get long-term exemptions for India under
CAATSA to strengthen defense ties and counter regional threats.
• Managing Concerns over Human & Religious Rights: The US should avoid interference in India’s internal affairs,
recognizing the diversity of its democratic system.
• Enhance cooperation in emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI): It is essential as data regulation,
information sharing, and privacy protection is crucial to national security.
o E.g. U.S.-India Roadmap on Accelerating AI Infrastructure will be prepared under U.S.-India TRUST Initiative.
To know more about USA’s protectionist measures and their impacts, refer to Article 2.1. USA's Protectionist Measures
in January 2025 Monthly Current Affairs Magazine.

2.4.1. INDIA-U.S. CIVIL NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

Why in the News?
The budget's focus on developing 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047, alongside amendments to the Atomic Energy Act
and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, can revitalize the dormant India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement.
More on the News
• Also, recently, the United States (U.S.) has removed three Indian nuclear entities from its Entity List.
o The U.S. Entity List restricts trade with foreign entities deemed a national security risk.
• The three entities are: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre (IGCAR) and
the Indian Rare Earths (IRE).
• Significance of the Removal: Paves the way for implementing the long-pending “The U.S.-India Agreement
Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy”, also known as the 123 Agreement.
The Nuclear Energy Mission, that proposes to amend Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
Act, 2010 has been discussed in Article 7.1. Nuclear Energy Mission.
About India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement or 123 Agreement
• Background
o 1978: U.S. imposed sanctions on India after India’s 1974 nuclear test.
o 2005: U.S. and India agreed on civilian nuclear cooperation.
o 2008: U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, or "123 Agreement" (under Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy
Act), was finalized
• Overview of India-U.S. Nuclear Agreement
o International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards: India permanently placed its civilian nuclear reactors
under IAEA safeguards.
 Further, India signed an Additional Protocol, enabling more intrusive IAEA inspections of civilian nuclear
facilities.
o Nuclear Testing & Security: India put a voluntary moratorium on nuclear weapons testing and strengthened
the security of its nuclear arsenals.
o U.S. Collaboration: U.S. companies were allowed to build nuclear reactors in India and supply nuclear fuel
for its civilian energy program.
o Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Waiver: Despite being a non-signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),
the NSG lifted its ban, enabling other countries to sell nuclear fuel and technology to India.
 NSG: Formed in 1974 post-India’s Pokhran-I test; regulates nuclear trade.
 NPT: Effective in 1970 under the UN, aims to prevent proliferation, promote disarmament, and enable
peaceful nuclear use.

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Significance of India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement
• Ended India’s Nuclear Isolation: The Agreement marked a historic shift by lifting a three-decade U.S. ban on
nuclear trade with India.
• Legitimized India’s Nuclear Status: It granted India de facto recognition as a nuclear weapons state (despite its
refusal to sign the NPT), allowing access to international nuclear technology and fuel at the same time permitting it
to maintain its nuclear weapons program.
o E.g., Cooperation agreements with France, Russia, UK, Japan, and Canada enabled peaceful nuclear projects
like Jaitapur and Kudankulam plants.
• Strengthened India-US Strategic Partnership: The agreement laid the foundation for deeper U.S.-India ties,
transforming a once-strained relationship into a comprehensive global strategic partnership.
• Enhanced Domestic Energy Security: Nuclear fuel access improved reactor efficiency from 50-55% (2006-2007) to
80%, supported by long-term uranium import agreements with France, Kazakhstan, Australia, Canada, and
Russia.
• Enabled participation in other regimes: Post 2008, India joined 3 major export control regimes- Missile Technology
Control Regime (MTCR) (Joined in 2016); Wassenaar Arrangement (2017); Australia Group (2018).
Challenges in India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement
• Civil Liability Law Conflicts: India's Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLND) 2010 created tension with
international norms.
o Section 17B of CLND Act: It allowed operators (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), which
operates India's nuclear power plants) to seek compensation from suppliers (e.g., US companies) in case of
accidents.
• Supreme Court Judgement: In 2010 SC, influenced by Bhopal Gas Tragedy lessons, upheld supplier liability
under India's nuclear law, deterring private investments.
• Commercial Viability Challenges: Westinghouse, a major nuclear power plant manufacturer, filed for bankruptcy
in 2017 jeopardized the implementation of India-U.S. nuclear deal.
o It affected plans to set up six AP1000 nuclear reactors in Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh.
• High Capital Costs of Nuclear Energy: India had gradually shifted its focus toward solar and wind energy, which
are more cost-effective than nuclear power.

Key Features of India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010
• Operator Liability: The CLND Act channels strict liability exclusively to the nuclear plant operator.
• Supplier’s Right of Recourse: Section 17 allows operators to seek recourse from suppliers for
defects/intentional damage (via contracts).
• Compatibility with Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC): India’s CLND
Act complies with CSC requirements, enabling India to join the CSC.
• Insurance Pool Mechanism: The India Nuclear Insurance Pool (₹1,500 crore) covers operator/supplier
liabilities, reducing litigation risks and enabling market-based risk-sharing.
• No Retrospective Application: Future amendments to liability limits cannot retroactively alter existing contracts,
protecting suppliers under the law at the time of agreement.

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Way forward to operationalize India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement

• Amend India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act: Align the CLND Act with the international
Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC) by channelling all liability solely to the operator of a nuclear
plant.
• Establish an Intergovernmental Understanding on Liability: Formalize an agreement between the U.S. and Indian
governments to confirm the limited liability of foreign private companies involved in nuclear trade.
• Expedite the Implementation of the Insurance Pool: Fully fund and operationalize the insurance pool created
under the CLNDA to provide financial safety for operators and suppliers.
Conclusion
The India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement holds transformative potential for energy collaboration, but resolving liability
challenges is essential to unlock technological partnerships and attract critical foreign investments.

2.5. INDIA-FRANCE RELATIONSHIP

Why in the News?
India and France co-chaired Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Action Summit held in France.
More on the news
• The AI Action Summit, organized by France in Paris,
with UNESCO as a key participant, aimed to ensure
that the development and deployment of AI benefits
societies, economies, and the environment, in the
interest of the common good.
• The Summit witnessed participation from Heads of
State/Government, Heads of International
Organizations, and business leaders from the field.
• France supported India as the host of the next AI
Action Summit.

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Key Dimensions of India-France Partnership
France was the first country with which India launched its first-ever Strategic Partnership on 26 January 1998 to deepen
bilateral relations. Key Areas of Cooperation are:
Cooperation Area Description
Economic • The total trade for FY 2022-23 breached the USD 13 billion trade mark for the first time, with
exports from India crossing USD 7 billion.
Defence • Important exercises: SHAKTI (Army Exercise), Exercise GARUDA (Bilateral Air Exercise), TARANG
SHAKTI (Multinational Air Exercise), Exercise VARUNA (Naval Exercise).
• FRIND-X (France-India Defence Startup Excellence) launched in line with the vision enshrined
in Horizon 2047 and the India-France Defence Industrial Roadmap.
o This collaborative platform brings together key stakeholders across both defence
ecosystems, including defence startups, investors, incubators, accelerators, and academia
• Horizon 2047: roadmap was launched on the 25th Anniversary of the India-France Strategic
Partnership to set the course for the bilateral relationship up to 2047.
o 2047 will celebrate the centenary of India’s independence, the centenary of the
diplomatic relations between the two countries and 50 years of the strategic partnership.
• India-France Defence Industrial Roadmap: Launched for co-design and co-development of
military hardware and space cooperation.
Science • India-France Roadmap on AI: Rooted in the philosophical convergence in their approaches
focusing on the development of safe, open, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence.
• Creation of the Indo-French Life Sciences Sister Innovation Hub.
• NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and France’s Lyra Collect executed an agreement
to implement Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in France and Europe.

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 Space • France is a key supplier of components and equipment for India's space program. Both nations
signed an agreement for India's first human space mission, Gaganyaan.
• Ongoing projects include joint satellite TRISHNA, maritime domain awareness, payloads,
ground station support, human spaceflight, and professional exchanges.
Civil Nuclear • India and France signed a civil nuclear agreement in 2008 and continue to collaborate on
peaceful nuclear energy, including the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant.
• India is also a member of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a
global fusion project based in Cadarache, France.
• Both nations are now working on a partnership for Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and
Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR)
Other Areas • Climate Change: Both nations actively drive the implementation of the 2015 Paris Climate
Agreement and in 2018 Co-launched the International Solar Alliance.
• Culture: To mark 60 years of the India-France cultural agreement (1966), both countries will
hold cultural exchanges as part of the Year of Innovation 2026.
o Year of Innovation 2026 is a cross-sectoral initiative that includes culture. Recently a logo
for this was launched.
• Trilateral Cooperation
o The India-France-Austral: Promotes a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
o The India-France-UAE: focuses on solar and nuclear energy, climate action, and
biodiversity protection.
Key Challenges in India-France relations
• Roadblocks in Nuclear Energy Cooperation: France has offered to build nuclear power reactors in Jaitapur, but
challenges remain, including high costs, delays, and concerns over India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act
(2010).
o The CLNDA that ensures compensation for nuclear disaster victims created tensions with foreign (including
France) suppliers.
• Divergent Geopolitical Stances: France actively supports Ukraine against Russia, whereas India maintains a neutral
stance, abstaining from UNGA resolutions. This difference in approach could affects diplomatic alignment,
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) Concerns: French businesses cite weak enforcement of intellectual property rights
in India, particularly in pharmaceuticals, fashion, and technology.
o Issues like counterfeiting, prolonged patent approval processes, and inadequate legal protection discourage
French investment and innovation collaborations.
• Trade Barriers and Protectionist Policies: Indian exports face resistance in France, especially in agriculture. The
French rice association’s opposition to recognizing Basmati rice as a Geographical Indication (GI) product is a notable
example. Additionally, stringent EU sanitary and phytosanitary measures create non-tariff barriers for Indian goods.
• Stalled India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA): The India-EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) has
been in negotiation since 2007 with no resolution.
o Because of this both countries have not been able to harness their trade potential.
• Limited Private Sector and People-to-People (P2P) Engagement: India-France cooperation is largely government-
driven (G2G), focusing on defense, space, and energy.
o However, business-to-business (B2B) and people-to-people (P2P) engagement remain suboptimal.
Conclusion
Strategic Partnership does not mean agreeing on everything, but handling disagreements privately. India and France have
built this kind of relationship over many years. Both countries need to solve nuclear energy problems, speed up trade
agreements with the EU, and improve intellectual property protections to strengthen economic connections. They also
need to find shared positions on global conflicts like Ukraine to work better together diplomatically.

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2.6. NEWS IN SHORTS
2.6.1. INDIA AND QATAR ELEVATE BILATERAL TIES TO STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Elevation was done during state visit to India by Amir
of Qatar with a focus on strengthening cooperation
in trade, energy, investments, technology, food
security, and people-to-people ties.
• Both sides also aimed to double bilateral trade to
$28 billion in five years.
Other Key outcomes of Visit:
• Two MoUs signed to strengthen the strategic
partnership, covering double taxation
avoidance and fiscal evasion prevention.
• Additional MoUs signed between Qatari
Businessmen Association and CII, and between
Invest Qatar and Invest India to boost business
and investment collaboration.
India Qatar Ties
• Economic Ties: Bilateral trade is USD 14.08
billion (2023-24). (With an effective trade deficit
for India).
o India was among Qatar's top three export
destinations and is also among top three
sources of Qatar’s imports (2022-23).
• Energy Ties: Qatar is India's largest LNG supplier, providing over 40% of imports.
• Defense Ties: India-Qatar Defense Cooperation Agreement was extended for five years in 2018.
o Bilateral Exercises: Za’ir Al Bahr (Naval).
o India also regularly participates in the biennial Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference
(DIMDEX) in Qatar.
• Cultural Relations: Regular exchanges and activities under the 2012 Agreement on Cultural Cooperation, with the
Indian Cultural Centre active in Qatar.
o People-to-People Ties: A vibrant Indian community of over 830,000 in Qatar strengthens cultural bonds.

2.6.2. BIMSTEC
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has hosted the first-ever Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical
and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Youth Summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Its goal is to strengthen youth collaboration across region and facilitating exchange of youth-led initiatives among
BIMSTEC Member Countries.
About BIMSTEC (Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh)
• Genesis: Established in 1997 with the signing of Bangkok Declaration.
• Members: Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan.
• Objective: Promote rapid economic development, social progress, and ensure peace and stability across Bay of
Bengal region.
• 7 focus area: Trade; Environment and Climate Change; Security; Agriculture and Food Security; People-to-People
Contact; Science, Technology, and Innovation; Connectivity.’

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2.6.3. INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
USA President signed an executive order sanctioning International Criminal Court (ICC).
• The order imposes financial and visa restrictions on individuals and their families who assist in ICC investigations
of American citizens or allies such as Israel.
International Criminal Court (Headquarter:
Hague, Netherlands)
• It is the world’s first permanent international
criminal court.
• Founding Treaty: Rome Statute (adopted in
1998 entered into force in 2002).
• Type of Crimes dealt: Genocide, War Crimes,
Crimes against Humanity & Crime of
Aggression.
• Membership: 125 countries
o India, Israel, the US, Russia and China are
not parties to the Rome Statute.
o Recent Members: Malaysia (2019) Ukraine (2025).
• Management: The Assembly of States Parties is the Court's management oversight and legislative body.
o It is composed of representatives of the States which have ratified or acceded to Rome Statute.
• Official languages: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish.
Structural Issues in functioning of ICC
• High dependence on state cooperation as it lacks executive power for arrests and evidence collection.
• Political Pressure: It often gets caught between power politics and human rights and is often used by some States
for targeting opponents.

To know more about ICC, refer to Article 2.4. International Criminal Court (ICC) in May 2024 Monthly Current Affairs Magazine.

2.6.4. ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS)

Three countries (Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger) under military rule have officially left West African regional bloc,
ECOWAS, following diplomatic tensions.
About ECOWAS (Hq: Abuja, Nigeria)
• Genesis: 1975
• Aim: Promote economic cooperation among member states in order to raise living standards and promote
economic development.
o Citizens of ECOWAS countries have the right to live and work in all member states, along with free circulation
of goods.
• Members: 12 (after the current withdrawal)
o Benin, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, and Togo.

2.6.5. ORGANIZATION OF THE PETROLEUM EXPORTING COUNTRIES (OPEC)

Recently, Brazil approved entry into OPEC+.
About OPEC
• It is a permanent intergovernmental organization of 12 oil-exporting developing nations.
o India is not a member.
• Genesis: It was created at the Baghdad Conference in 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

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• Objective: To co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among Member Countries, in order to secure fair and
stable prices for petroleum producers.
• HQ: Vienna (Austria)
• OPEC+
o In response to falling oil prices driven by significant increase in U.S. shale oil output, OPEC signed an agreement
with 10 other oil-producing countries in 2016 to create OPEC+.

2.6.6. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF AIDS TO MARINE NAVIGATION (IALA)

India is elected to the Vice Presidency of IALA in Singapore, strengthening its commitment to maritime safety,
navigation, and international cooperation.
About IALA (Hq: Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France)
• Establishment: 1957 as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
• Transition to IGO: In 2024, IALA transitioned from a NGO to an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO).
• Aim: Urges members to cooperate to standardize Marine Aids to Navigation globally, ensuring safe, efficient, and
environmentally friendly vessel movement.
• Member Categories: Three types of IALA Members- National Member, Associate Member and Industrial Member.

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3. ECONOMY
3.1. MUTUAL CREDIT GUARANTEE SCHEME FOR MSMES
Why in the News?
Government approved Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme to Strengthen MSME Manufacturing Sector, fulfilling the
budget announcement of 2024-25.
Key Features of Mutual Credit Guarantee scheme for MSMEs
• Guarantee Coverage: Offers 60% guarantee coverage by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited
(NCGTC) (a wholly owned company of Department of Financial Services) to MLIs for loans sanctioned under MCGS-
MSME.
o Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) are Financial Institutions such as Commercial Banks, NBFCs registered
with NCGTC under the Scheme.
• Eligible Borrower: MSME with valid Udyam Registration; Not a Non-Performing Asset with any lender;
Minimum 75% of project cost for equipment/machinery.
• Duration of the Scheme: Available for 4 years or until Rs 7 lakh crore in guarantees are issued, whichever is earlier.
• Repayment Terms:
o Loans up to ₹50 crore: Repayment period of up to 8 years, with a moratorium of up to 2 years on principal
installments.
o Loans above ₹50 crore: Longer repayment schedules & moratorium periods can be considered.
Other Key Measures Announced for MSMEs in Union Budget 2025-26
• Revised the classification
for MSMEs: The new
thresholds set at 2.5 times
the current investment and
twice the turnover
limits (refer infographic).
• Enhanced Credit
Availability: The credit
guarantee cover will be
enhanced -
o For Micro and Small
Enterprises, from 5
crore to 10 crore, leading to additional credit of 1.5 lakh crore in the next 5 years.
o For Startups, from 10 crore to 20 crore, with the guarantee fee being moderated to 1 per cent for loans in 27
focus sectors important for Atmanirbhar Bharat.
o For well-run exporter MSMEs, for term loans up to 20 crores.
• Customised Credit Card Scheme: It will provide ₹5 lakh in credit to micro enterprises registered on Udyam
portal, with 10 lakh cards set to be issued in first year.
• A new Fund of Funds with ₹10,000 crore will be established to expand support for startups.
• A scheme for 5 lakh first-time women, Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs will provide term
loans up to ₹2 crore over five years.

Significance of MSMEs for India

• Contribution to GDP: MSMEs contributes approximately 30 % of the country’s GDP, 36 % to the country’s
manufacturing output.
• Employment: India has over 1 crore registered MSMEs, employing nearly 7.5 crore people.
• Foreign Currency: MSMEs contribute ~45% of India’s total exports.

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• Reduces Disguised Unemployment: Absorbing the surplus agricultural labour, they help to reduce the problem
of disguised unemployment in rural areas.
o Disguised unemployment is a situation where more people are employed than are required for a job or role. It's
also known as hidden unemployment or labor hoarding.
• Rural Development: Around 50% of the total MSMEs operate in rural areas and provide 45 % of total employment.
Challenges Faced by MSMEs
• Finance issues: Informal nature of MSMEs, credit assessment difficulties due to information gaps, absence of
collateral etc. make it difficult for MSMEs to secure loans.
• Infrastructure Bottlenecks: Poor roads, unreliable power supply, and inadequate digital infrastructure hinder
business operations.
• Delayed Payments: A large number of MSMEs are cater to the needs of large industries, both in public and private
sector. But they face delayed payments, impacting cash flow and working capital.
• Regulatory & Compliance Burden: Complex taxation, labor laws, and frequent policy changes increase operational
difficulties.
• Limited Integration of Technology: Affects productivity and competitiveness.
• Export issues: Inadequate infrastructure, Lack of Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reports by Indian
MSMEs impacts exports competitiveness.

Initiatives Undertaken for MSMEs

• Trade Enablement & Marketing (TEAM) Initiative: To enable and assist micro and small enterprises to onboard
e-commerce platforms by assisting in catalogue preparation, account management, logistics and packaging.
• PM VISHWAKARMA: Provide end-to-end support to artisans and craftspeople of 18 trades who work with their
hands and tools.
• Self-Reliant India Fund Scheme: Launched by Ministry of MSME, provides equity funding to those MSMEs which
have the potential and viability to grow and become large units.
• Public Procurement Policy: It mandates 25% of annual procurement by Central Ministries from Micro and
Small Enterprises.
• RAMP Scheme: It is a World Bank supported Central Sector Scheme aimed at improving access of MSMEs to
market, finance and technology upgradation.
• Udyam Assist Platform (2023): Launched to bring the Informal Micro Enterprises under the formal ambit for
availing the benefit under Priority Sector Lending.
• National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Ni-MSME): For enterprise promotion and
entrepreneurship development.

Way Forward
• Policy Support: Consistent and supportive government policies that address the specific needs of MSMEs,
including tax incentives and infrastructure development.
o Assist MSMEs embrace best business practices in line with the fast-changing business environment.
• Addressing Credit Gaps: Assess credit worthiness of MSMEs by utilising unexplored data sources like digital
transaction trails & data generated through e-commerce sites to expedite lending.
• Technological Adoption and Digitalization: Providing training and resources for digital literacy, promoting e-
commerce platforms, and encouraging the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies.
• Market Access and Expansion: Facilitating participation in trade fairs and exhibitions, promoting exports, and
creating platforms for B2B networking.
• Simplification of Regulatory Framework: Reducing bureaucratic hurdles, streamlining compliance procedures,
and creating a business-friendly environment.
• Integration with Global Value Chains (GVC): Being part of GVC would enable MSMEs to produce quality goods and
services which will have greater acceptability in the global market.
• Promoting the formation of MSME clusters: To enhance collaboration, resource sharing, and collective bargaining
power.

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3.2. NATIONAL CRITICAL MINERAL MISSION (NCMM)
Why in the News?
The Union Cabinet has approved the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM).
About NCMM
• Genesis: In Budget for 2024-25, establishment of Critical Mineral Mission was announced.
• Key Objective: To secure India's critical mineral supply chain by ensuring mineral availability from domestic and
foreign sources.
• Coverage: It will encompass all stages of the value chain, including mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation,
processing, and recovery from end-of-life products.
• Key Features:
o It will offer financial incentives for critical mineral exploration and promote the recovery of these minerals
from overburden and tailings.
o It aims to create a fast track regulatory approval process for critical mineral mining projects.
o It will encourage Indian PSUs and private sector companies to acquire critical mineral assets abroad and
enhance trade with resource-rich countries.
o It proposes development of stockpile of critical minerals within the country.
o It includes provisions for setting up of mineral processing parks.
o Mining in offshore areas (Polymetallic nodules contain minerals like Cobalt, REE, etc.)
• Governance Framework:
o Activities will be coordinated by the Empowered Committee on Critical Minerals.
o Ministry of Mines will be the administrative Ministry.

Note: The Mission will follow a whole-of-government approach which means it will work closely with relevant
ministries, PSUs, private companies, and research institutions to achieve its objectives.

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About Critical Minerals
• Definition: Critical minerals are minerals which are essential for economic development and national security of any
country. The lack of availability or concentration of existence, extraction or processing of these minerals in few
geographical locations may lead to supply chain vulnerability and disruption.
Economic Importance+Supply Risk= Criticality of Minerals
• India has released a list of 30 critical minerals for India including Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Phosphorous, Potash,
Rare Earth Elements (REE), Silicon, Tin, Titanium, etc.
• Currently, India has heavy reliance on imports of critical minerals.
Information about important critical mineral such as their reserve in India, largest producer in world, etc. is given in the
Appendix-1.

Significance of Critical Minerals

Environment National Security Economic & Electronic
• Crucial for renewable energy • Essential for India's defense • Shift to electric vehicles (EVs)
technologies such as solar sector, including missile requires lithium-ion batteries.
panels, wind turbines, and systems, aerospace, and • Essential for semiconductor chips
semiconductors. communication technologies. in smartphones, computers, and
• Also, crucial for Battery Energy communication devices.
Storage Systems (BESS).
Roadblocks to India's Critical Mineral Security
• Limited Domestic Reserves: India does not have many critical mineral reserves, or its requirements may be higher
than the availability.
o E.g., currently, there are no working mining leases for cobalt, nickel, lithium, and neodymium for production
purposes.
• Challenges in Exploration: Many critical minerals are deep-seated, requiring high-risk investments in exploration
and advanced mining technologies.
o E.g. Presence of 5.9 million tonnes lithium deposits in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Supply chain Disruptions: Production and processing of many critical minerals are geographically concentrated,
making global supply vulnerable to several risks.
o China controls 60% of rare earth production, 60% of critical minerals production and 80% of the processing
worldwide.
 In 2024, China banned exports of gallium, germanium, antimony, and other key materials to US
(weaponising critical mineral exports).
o Democratic Republic of Congo supplies ~70% of the world's cobalt, but political instability has led to supply
disruptions.
• Environmental Concerns: Mining and processing of critical minerals often have significant environmental footprint
resulting in protests from local population and environmental groups.
o E.g., An estimated 54% of critical materials lie near indigenous people’s land. (International Renewable
Energy Agency (IRENA))
• Inadequate recycling infrastructure: Recycling of critical minerals from e-waste is underdeveloped, with the sector
remaining largely unorganized and inefficient.

Other Initiatives taken for critical Minerals

Policy and Regulatory Framework
• Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023: It enables exploration and mining of
critical minerals.
• National Mineral Policy, 2019: It promotes sustainable mining and exploration of critical minerals.
• Elimination of customs duties on majority of the critical minerals in Union budget 2024-25

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 Exploration and Domestic Production
• Geological Survey of India (GSI): Conducting extensive exploration for lithium, rare earths, and other critical
minerals.
• Lithium Reserves Discovery (2023): Significant lithium deposits found in Reasi, Jammu & Kashmir.
• Strategic Mineral Reserves: Plans to establish reserves for critical minerals like lithium and cobalt.
International Collaborations & Trade Agreements
• Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), 2019: A joint venture company of Ministry of Mines to acquire critical
minerals globally.
o KABIL has engagements with countries like Argentina, Australia etc.
• Minerals Security Partnership (MSP): India joined the US-led initiative to ensure a stable critical minerals supply
chain in 2023.

What strategies can India adopt for long-term critical mineral security?
• Strengthening Domestic Critical Mineral Production:
o Exploring alternative allocation mechanisms to attract more private investment, such as granting exploration
companies the right to mine the minerals they discover.
o Increase public and private investment in geological surveys, exploration technologies, etc.
• Developing Domestic Processing Capabilities: Provide financial incentives, tax breaks, and other policy support
to encourage private and public sector companies to invest in processing facilities.
o Special Economic Zones (SEZs) focused on critical mineral processing can be established.
• Need for Robust Global Cooperation: Strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnerships with mineral-rich
countries and other key stakeholders to secure access to critical mineral supplies.
• Develop a Comprehensive Critical Minerals Strategy (CMS): It can help focus on priority concerns in supply risks,
domestic policy regimes, and sustainability.
o Conduct periodic detailed assessments of India’s critical mineral needs across various sectors.
o Setting up state-of-the-art e-waste recycling facility, introducing a nationwide "Recycle for Resources"
campaign to increase public awareness and participation in e-waste recycling, etc.
o Diversifying import sources from various countries.
• Role of State Government: Infrastructure Development- Develop transportation, power, and storage infrastructure
near Critical Mineral mining areas, etc.
Conclusion
Securing critical minerals is crucial for India's economic growth, energy transition, and national security. Strengthening
domestic mining, refining, and recycling, along with a robust National Critical Minerals Strategy, will help reduce import
dependence and ensure long-term supply stability.

To know more about Minerals Security Partnership, refer to Article 3.8. Minerals Security Partnership Finance Network in
September 2024 Monthly Current Affairs Magazine.

3.2.1. MAJOR AND MINOR MINERALS

Why in the news?
The Ministry of Mines has reclassified Barytes, Felspar, Mica, and Quartz from minor minerals to major minerals.
More on the news
• This move follows the recent approval of the National Critical Mineral Mission by the Union Cabinet.
• Reclassification is based on recommendations from an Inter-Ministerial Committee led by Dr. V. K. Saraswat.
Reason for Reclassification
• The decision to shift these minerals to the major minerals category is based on their association with critical
minerals and their importance in various high-tech industries.

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 o Critical minerals are those minerals that are essential for economic development and national
security (Ministry of Mines).
• Quartz, Felspar, and Mica in Pegmatite Rocks
o These minerals are found in pegmatite rocks, which also contain essential critical minerals like Beryl, Lithium,
Niobium, Tantalum, Molybdenum, Tin, Titanium, and Tungsten.
o Earlier, when these minerals were leased as minor minerals, leaseholders did not report or extract the critical
minerals present.
• Baryte and its Industrial Significance
o Baryte often occurs in concretions and vein fillings in limestone and dolostone, alongside ores of Antimony,
Cobalt, Copper, Lead, Manganese, and Silver.
o It has extensive industrial applications in oil and gas drilling, electronics, TV screens, rubber, glass,
ceramics, paint, radiation shielding, and medical applications.

About Major and Minor Minerals

• A mineral is a natural substance of organic or inorganic origin with definite chemical and physical properties,
forming the building blocks of rocks and ores.
• Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957, minerals are broadly classified
in two categories, i.e. major minerals and minor minerals.
• Minor minerals means building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, ordinary sand other than sand used for prescribed
purposes and any other mineral which the Central Government may declare to be a minor mineral.
• Major minerals include all minerals other than minor minerals. E.g. Coal, Iron, Zinc, Limestone etc.
• Framework for Governance:
o Legal Framework for Mineral Regulation: The MMDR Act, 1957 is the primary law governing the mining sector,
except for petroleum and natural gas.
o The GoI has framed additional rules for mineral management:
 Mineral Concession (MC) Rules, 1960: Regulates permits, licenses, and leases for all minerals except
Atomic and Minor Minerals.
 Mineral Conservation and Development (MCD) Rules, 1988: Ensures conservation and systematic
development of minerals.
o Role of State Governments in Mineral Regulation:
 Section 15 of MMDR Act, 1957: Gives State Governments the power to make rules for minor minerals.
 Section 23C of MMDR Act, 1957: Empowers State Governments to prevent illegal mining, transportation,
and storage of minerals.
 Section 9 (b) of the MMDR Act as amended in 2015: Mandates the State Government to establish District
Mineral Foundation Trust in every district affected by the mining operation.

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3.3. PRIME MINISTER DHAN DHAANYA KRISHI YOJANA
Why in the news?
Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP)
Finance Minister announced the launch of
• It is initiated by the NITI Aayog in collaboration with the state
the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi
governments.
Yojana (PMDKY) in the Union Budget 2025.
• Aim: To quickly and effectively transform 112 of the most under-
About Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya developed districts across India, based on 3 Cs
Krishi Yojana (PMDKY) o Convergence (of Central and State schemes),
• Coverage: It will cover 100 districts o Collaboration (of Central and State level nodal officers, and
based on 3 broad parameters: low District Collectors), and
productivity, moderate crop intensity, o Competition (among districts through monthly delta ranking).
and below-average credit parameters. • It focuses on the strength of each district, identifying low-hanging
o Cropping intensity is a measure of fruits for immediate improvement and measuring progress by
how efficiently land is used, and it is ranking districts on a monthly basis.
defined as number of crops grown on • The ranking is based on the incremental progress made across 49
the same field during a given Key Performance Indicators under 5 broad socio-economic
agricultural year. themes.
o At the all India level, the cropping o Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources,
intensity was recorded at 155% in Financial Inclusion & Skill Development, and Infrastructure.
2021-22 (Ministry of Agriculture).
• Inspired by ADP: It will be on the line of Aspirational Districts
Programme (ADP), which was launched in 2018.
• Outlay: Budget documents do not provide a separate allocation for
the scheme.
• Implementation Strategy: The program will be executed in
partnership with state governments, focusing on the convergence of
existing schemes.

Agriculture in India
• Backbone of India's economy: Agriculture plays a pivotal role in ensuring food security, providing employment, and
contributing to overall economic development.
• Agricultural production and yield: Despite high level of production i.e 329.7 million tonnes for FY23, agricultural
yield is found to be lower in most crops compared to other countries like China, Brazil & US.

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 o Example: India's rice yield stands at 2,191 kg per hectare, compared to the global average of 3,026 kg per
hectare. Wheat yield in India is 2,750 kg per hectare, lower than world average of 3,289 kg per hectare.
Key Reasons for Low Agricultural Productivity
• Small and Fragmented Landholdings: The average farm size in India is only 0.74 hectares in 2021-22 (NABARD),
leading to inefficiencies in farming operations.
o Fragmentation makes mechanization and irrigation difficult, reducing overall productivity.
• Dependence on Monsoons: Nearly 51% of India’s farmland depends on rainfall rather than irrigation.
• Poor Irrigation: Percentage of net un-irrigated area over net area sown in the country is estimated to be about
48.65%.
o It is estimated that 40% of the net sown area is expected to remain rainfed even after attainment of full irrigation
potential of the country.
• Low Use of Modern Technology: Limited access to high-yield seeds, fertilizers, and advanced machinery restricts
productivity.
• Soil Degradation & Overuse of Chemicals: Soil erosion, salinity, and loss of organic matter reduce agricultural
output.
• Lack of Credit and Investment: Hardly 20% of the 12.56 crore small and marginal farmers have access to
institutional credit.
Recent Initiatives to Increase Productivity of Agriculture
• National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Launched in 2007-08 to increase the production of rice, wheat, pulses,
coarse cereals, and nutri-cereals sustainably.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (2015): For extending the coverage of irrigation ‘Har Khet ko pani’ &
improving water use efficiency ‘More crop per drop' in a focused manner.
• PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi): Launched in 2019, it is a Central Sector scheme
providing ₹6000 per year in 3 equal installments to farmers as an income support.
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (2020-21): To mobilize a medium to long term debt financing facility for investment
in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.
• MSP Enhancement: Government has increased the MSP for all mandated Kharif, Rabi and other commercial crops
with a return of at least 50% over all India weighted average cost of production from 2018-19.
• Kisan Credit Card Scheme: To provide farmers with easy access to affordable credit.
o In 2019, KCC scheme was expanded to include animal husbandry, dairying, & fisheries.
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (2016): Aims to provide insurance coverage to farmers for crop failure, stabilise
farmers’ income, and encourage farmers to adopt modern agricultural practices, etc.
• Nutrient based subsidy policy (2010): The policy was formulated with the objective of promoting a balanced use of
N, P and K fertilizers.
Conclusion
Enhancing agricultural productivity is crucial for ensuring food security, rural development, and economic growth in
India. By promoting modern irrigation, mechanization, high-yield seeds, and sustainable farming practices, India
can bridge the productivity gap with global standards. Making markets easier to access, giving financial support, and
educating farmers will further increase crop yields. A multi-dimensional approach, combining policy support,
innovation, and rural infrastructure development, is essential for achieving higher yields, and a more resilient farming
ecosystem in India.

3.4. MAKHANA
Why in the News?
Union Budget 2025-26 announced constitution of Makhana Board in Bihar under ‘Agriculture as the first engine’ for
India’s development journey.

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More on the News
• Board will be established to improve production, processing, value addition, and marketing of makhana.
• Board will also provide handholding and training support to makhana farmers and will also work to ensure they
receive the benefits of all relevant Government schemes.
• Budget Allocation: Rupee 100 crores.
• To streamline operations and improve collective bargaining
power, people engaged in these activities will be organized into
Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
About Makhana
• Foxnut, commonly known as Makhana, is an important aquatic
flowering crop with botanical name Euryale ferox (prickly
water lily).
• It is a plant of tropical and subtropical climate.
• It is also referred to as the ‘Black Diamond’ due to its dark outer
layer.
• It is grown in stagnant perennial water bodies like ponds, land depressions, oxbow lakes, swamps and ditches with
water depths of 4-6 feet.
• Makhana is now being recognized as a super food.
• Preferred Climatic conditions
o Temperature: 200C to 350 C
o Relative humidity: 50% to 90%
o Annual rainfall: 100 cm to 250 cm
o Soil: Smooth loamy soil
• Makhana plant is considered as native of South-East Asia and China.
• Major Producing Regions
o Domestic:
 Bihar in India is the leading state accounting for ~90% of India’s makhana production.
 Other states: West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya
Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh but commercially produced in few states only.
o International: Makhana is also grown in Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Russia and Korea.

Other initiatives taken to promote Makhana Cultivation

• National Research Centre for Makhana, Darbhanga: Established under the Indian Councuil Agricultural
Research in 2001.
• National Institute of Food Technology: Provides a strong fillip to makhana processing activities.

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 • One District One Product (ODOP): Makhana recognize under ODOP for the districts of Darbhanga and
Muzaffarpur from Bihar.
• GI Tag: In 2022, ‘Mithila Makhana’ was conferred a GI tag.
Challenges in Makhana Cultivation
• Low productivity: Traditional farming methods result in lower yields, with farmers achieving only 1.7–1.9 tonnes per
hectare compared to the potential 3–3.5 tonnes per hectare using modern techniques.
• Lack of processing infrastructure: Due to inadequate food processing units, raw makhana is often sold at lower
prices to companies outside Bihar, reducing local farmers’ earnings.
• Export barriers: Strict global quality standards like food safety and hygiene certifications have limited exports, with
only 2 percent of Bihar’s makhana meeting international requirements.
• Market inefficiencies: The absence of an organized marketing chain means farmers often receive lower prices due
to the dominance of intermediaries.
• Limited awareness among farmers: Many makhana farmers lack awareness about government schemes, financial
incentives, and modern agricultural practices.
• Others: Proper weed management in water bodies, better quality equipment and related accessories, better cold
storage facilities etc.
Conclusion
The establishment of the Makhana Board marks a significant step towards the organized promotion, research, and
commercialization of makhana cultivation in India. By addressing challenges like traditional farming inefficiencies, post-
harvest losses, and limited global reach, the board can play a pivotal role in making makhana a globally competitive
superfood. Sustainable cultivation practices, coupled with government initiatives, will not only boost rural livelihoods
but also position makhana as a key player in India's agri-export sector.

3.5. MISSION FOR COTTON PRODUCTIVITY

Why in the News? About Staple Cotton Fibre
The ‘Mission for Cotton Productivity’ was announced A staple is an individual cotton fibre. Based on the length
during Budget 2025-26. of the staple, cotton is classified as:
• Very short-staple cotton: ≤21 mm
Mission for Cotton Productivity
• Short staple cotton: >22mm and ˂25 mm
• It is a five-year mission to facilitate improvements • Medium Staple cotton: >26 mm and ˂ 28 mm
in productivity and sustainability of cotton • Long staple cotton: >29mm and ˂ 34 mm
farming, and promote extra-long staple (ELS) • Extra-long staple cotton: ≥34.925 mm
cotton varieties. o It is a premium cotton variety cultivated in
• Ministry: Ministry of Textiles about 10% of the cotton area, contributing 4% of
o It will provide science & technology support to global production.
cotton growing farmers. o Major ELS Producing states in India: Karnataka,
• Aligned with the Government’s integrated 5F vision Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh etc.
for the textile sector, the mission will help in
increasing incomes of the farmers as well as ensure a steady supply of quality cotton for rejuvenating India’s
traditional textile sector.
• It will aid in reducing import dependence and enhance the global competitiveness of India’s textile sector, where
80% of capacity is driven by MSMEs.
Need for the Mission:
• Stagnant Productivity: Challenges of stagnant cotton productivity. For instance, in 2023-24 the cotton yield was
435kg/hectare which is similar to 2024-25’s yield of 447kg/hectare.
• Rainfed Crop: Majority cotton area is rainfed, mainly in the Central and Southern States.
o Approximately 67% of India’s cotton is produced on rain-fed areas and 33% on irrigated lands.
• Pests Menace: Cotton crop is highly prone to pests and diseases. E.g. Pink Bollworm, Whitefly etc.
• Unstable Prices: Wide fluctuation in cotton prices, inadequate market infrastructure and cotton export policy.

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 Cotton Production, Productivity and Consumption in India
• Production: India ranks 1st in cotton acreage with around 40% of the world area under cotton.
• Major Cotton Producing Zones in India:
o Northern Zone - Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan
o Central Zone - Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
o Southern Zone - Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
• India ranks 2nd in cotton production with estimated production of 343.47 lakh bales (5.84 MMT) in 2022-23 i.e.
23.83% of world cotton production.
• Productivity: India ranks 39th in overall cotton yield which is lower than countries like USA, China, Brazil etc.
• Consumption: India is the 2nd largest consumer of cotton in the world with 22.24% of world cotton
consumption (2023).
o Less than 10% of the total consumption of cotton in India is imported by the textile industry (2023).
Significance of Cotton in India
• Economic Significance: It is a commercial/cash crop also called ‘White Gold’ due to its economic importance
in India.
• Contributes to Forex Reserves: It is one of the largest contributors to India’s net foreign exchange by way of
exports.
• Export Potential: India exported an estimated 30 lakh bales i.e. 6% of world export in 2022-23.
• Livelihood Provider: It helps in sustaining the livelihood of an estimated 6 million cotton farmers and 40-50
million people engaged in related activity such as cotton processing & trade.
o The cotton textiles industry is the second largest employer in the country after agriculture.
Cotton (Scientific name: Gossypium spp)
• Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll (protective case) around its seeds.
• It is a shrub (semi-xerophyte) native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas,
Africa, Egypt and India.
• Four species of cotton are G. Arboreum & G. Herbaceum (Asian cotton), G. Barbadense (Egyptian cotton) and G.
Hirsutum (American Upland cotton).
o India is reportedly the only country which grows all four species of cotton.
o G. Hirsutum represents 90% of the hybrid cotton production in India and all the current Bt cotton hybrids are G.
Hirsutuim.

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 Bt Cotton
• Genetically Modified (GM) cotton, also known as Bt cotton, is developed by incorporating a gene from the
bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) making it resistant against pests like bollworm.
• It is the only GM crop approved in 2002 by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for commercial cultivation.
• Bollgard I and II technologies are famous for developing Bt Cotton.
• Recently, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) has developed the world's First Pink Bollworm-
Resistant GM Cotton.
o CSIR-NBRI engineered a novel insecticidal gene demonstrating superior resistance against Pink bollworm
compared to Bollgard II cotton.
o It also protects against other pests like the cotton leafworm and fall armyworm.
• Climate & Soil Requirement
o Temperature:
 At germination stage, minimum temperature required is 15°C whereas in vegetative growth the optimum
temperature is 21-27°C.
 It can tolerate temperature to the extent of 43°C but temperature below 21°C is detrimental to the crop.
 It requires at least 210 frost-free days and 50 to 100 cm of rainfall for its growth.
 Warm days of cool nights with large diurnal variations during the period of fruiting are conducive to good
boll & fibre development.
o Soil: Cotton is grown on a variety of soils like well drained deep alluvial soils in the north, black clayey soils of
varying depth in central region and black and mixed black and red soils in south zone.
 Cotton is semi-tolerant to salinity and sensitive to water logging and thus prefers light well drained soils
capable of retaining moisture.
o Crop Season: April-May in northern India and is delayed as we proceed down south (monsoon based in southern
zone).
Other Steps taken for development of cotton sector:
• Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Cotton: Cotton is procured by Government at MSP through Cotton Corporation
of India (CCI).
o There is no maximum quantity limit of purchase of produced cotton from farmers.
o Based on the recommendations of CACP, Ministry of Agriculture declares MSP for two basic varieties of Fair
Average Quality (FAQ) cotton viz. Medium Staple length and long staple length.
• Branding of Indian Cotton: Brand “KASTURI Cotton India” launched to attain the objective of making India
Atmanirbhar and vocal for local in the field of cotton.
o E.g. Encourage self-regulation by industries by owning complete responsibility of Traceability, Certification and
Branding of KASTURI Cotton India.
• Mobile App “Cott-Ally”: A farmer-friendly app to increase awareness about MSP of cotton, best farm practices and
nearest procurement centres of CCI in regional languages.
• Technological Interventions: High Density Planting System (HDPS), scientific assessment of quality, processing
of cotton in modernized Ginning & Pressing factories, Extension services etc.
Conclusion
There is a need to improve processing of cotton beyond yarn and weaving to production of finished products. The role of
MSMEs is primary in promotion of the cotton textile industry. The Mission promotes production of quality cotton to help
cotton farmers increase their income along with promoting exports. It is vital for the growth of Brand India and making
India self-reliant.

3.6. URBAN CHALLENGE FUND (UCF)

Why in the News?
Budget 2025-26 announced the creation of Urban Challenge Fund (UCF).

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What is the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF)?
• Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) of Rs 1 lakh crore aims to encourage states to think innovatively towards attaining
sustainable urbanisation and redevelopment goals in existing cities.
o Fund is to implement the proposals for ‘Cities as Growth Hubs’, ‘Creative Redevelopment of Cities’ and
‘Water & Sanitation’
• Financing Mechanism: Fund will finance up to 25% of the cost of bankable projects with a stipulation that at least
50% of the cost is funded from bonds, bank loans, and PPPs.
o An allocation of Rs. 10,000 crore is proposed for 2025-26.
What is the need for the UCF?
• Cater to rising Urban Population: India’s urban population increased from 27.7% in 2001 to 31.1% (377.1 million)
in 2011, at a rate of 2.76% per year. (Census 2011).
• Ensure Sustainability: Cities in India face the risk of looming water crisis, are prone to disasters like earthquakes,
face severe pollution leading to urban heat island effect.
o E.g., Delhi is located in Seismic zone IV and is also one of the polluted cities in the world.
• Support Developmental Projects: Focus on integrated development covering critical infrastructure components
in Transport and Logistics, Energy, Water and Sanitation, etc.
• Ensure absorption of the available funds: Ensuring ability to divert the available money properly into bankable,
needs-based projects with effective delivery mechanisms.
• Address issues with Urban Planning: Land parcels of high urban densities are sub-optimally utilized due to
fragmented and poorly recorded ownership of land.
o Urban Planning is a state subject as per the 12th Schedule of the Constitution.
• Address Deficit of Human Resources: It is a major bottleneck as the State machinery lacks qualified urban
planners responsible for urban planning and design.

Urbanisation in India
• Urbanisation: It is an index
of transformation from
traditional rural economies
to modern industrial one.
o It is a long term
process and a cycle
through which a nation
pass as they evolve
from agrarian to
industrial society.
• As per Census 2011, an
urban unit in India is
referred to as:
o All administrative units that have been defined by statute as urban like Municipal Corporation, Municipality,
Cantonment Board, Notified Town Area Committee, Town Panchayat, Nagar Palika etc. are known as
Statutory Town. Further, Statutory Towns with population of 1,00,000 and above are categorized as cities.
o All other places which satisfied the following criteria:
 A minimum population of 5,000 persons;
 75% and above of the male main working population being engaged in non-agricultural pursuits; and;
 A density of population of at least 400 persons per sq. km. (1,000 per sq. mile)
• Key Characteristics of Urbanisation in India
o Poverty Driven: It is largely driven by economic distress, with both rural-to-urban and urban-to-urban
migration.
 This is different from Western countries where urbanisation followed industrialisation creating jobs for
rural labour.

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 o Slow Progress: India’s urbanisation has progressed slowly due to slow process of reclassification of rural
areas as urban when compared to other countries.
 The lack of ‘urban’ status poses an institutional challenge in terms of planning and management of these
settlements.
o Spatial Variations: While India’s level of urbanisation as a whole appears to be low, it varies significantly
across the States and UTs.
 Economically diverse states such as Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, etc., have greater urbanisation.
o Obsolete Definition: Definition of ‘urban’ is based on the criteria formulated in 1961.
 Currently, socio-economic landscapes in India have changed with cities emerging as the loci of
economic growth.
o Paradox of exclusion: India’s urban infrastructure is fraught with issues like growing influx, proliferation of
slums, overburdening public services leading to social alienation.
What more can be done to improve the situation of urban areas in India?
• Re-engineering and Strengthening of Urban Governance Structures: It can be done based on the 2nd
Administrative Reform Commission (ARC) recommendations suggesting clear division of roles and
responsibilities among various authorities.
• City Master Plan: It should be statutorily backed as it is essential for socio-economic development, better liveability,
inclusion, citizen engagement, environmental sustainability, etc.
o About 52% of statutory towns in India lack any kind of master plan. (NITI Ayog, 2020)
• Town Planning Professionals: An All India Urban Planning Service similar to other civil services like Indian
Information Service, etc., should be set up to have qualified planners. [High Level Committee (HLC) on Urban
Planning under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)].
o NITI Ayog recommends constitution of National Council of Town and Country Planners as a statutory body.
• Integrated Capacity Building Programme: MoHUA is funding capacity-building events for town planners and urban
functionaries which should be strengthened.
o Further, capacity building institutions should be rejuvenated by strengthening centres of excellence
established by MoHUA.
• Reviewing existing legislations: States should undertake a regular review of planning legislations (including town
and country planning or urban and regional development acts, etc.).
• Involvement of Citizens: Technocratic planning without adequate citizen participation is the reason for the
disconnect between plan preparation and its acceptance on ground.
• Strengthen the role of Private Sector: This should be enhanced by creating gainful employment opportunities,
adopting of fair processes for procuring technical consultancy services, etc.

Measures taken for reforming Urban Areas

India
• Swachh Bharat Mission focuses on safe sanitation, waste management with focus on door to door
collection/segregation, waste processing etc.
• Smart Cities Mission promotes cities that provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and
decent quality of life through the application of ‘smart solutions’.
• National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability of the urban poor
households by enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment.
• PM SVANidhi scheme, special micro-credit facility of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for providing
affordable loans to street vendors.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) (PMAY-U) intends to provide housing in urban areas among Economically
Weaker Sections/Low-Income Groups and Middle Income Groups.
• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) focuses on development of basic
infrastructure, in the selected cities and towns, in the sectors of water supply, sewerage, etc.
• Incentives to states under schemes like Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2022-
23 – Part – VI (Urban Planning Reforms), etc.

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 Global
• Sustainable Development Goal-11 aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and
sustainable.
• United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the focal point for all urbanization and human
settlement matters within the UN system.
• Other Initiatives like Global Alliance for Buildings & Construction (Global ABC), the UrbanShift initiative, or the
Cool Coalition by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to reduce climate impacts in urban
environments.

3.7. URBAN COOPERATIVE BANKS

Why in the news?
The RBI has imposed a six-month moratorium on New India Co-operative Bank Limited, restricting loans, deposits,
and withdrawals.
More on the news
• According to the RBI, these measures have been taken due to concerns over the bank’s financial stability and
liquidity situation.
• The RBI also superseded its Board of Directors for 12 months, citing “poor governance standards”.

About Urban Cooperative Banks

• Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) are a subset of cooperative banks in India that operate primarily in urban and
semi-urban areas.
• History: The Cooperative Credit Societies Act of 1904 (during Lord Curzon’s tenure) and its 1912 amendment laid
the legal foundation for these institutions.
o The first urban cooperative credit society was established in 1889 in Baroda (Anyonya Sahakari Mandali).

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• Currently, they are registered as cooperative societies under the respective State Cooperative Societies Acts (for
single-state operations) or the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 (for operations across multiple states).
• Control and Regulation: UCBs function under a dual regulatory framework:
o Banking Regulation Act, 1949: Since 1966, RBI has been supervising UCBs regarding licensing, capital
adequacy, loan policies, and financial stability.
 The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2020 has given RBI more control over UCBs, allowing it to
intervene in their management and governance.
o Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS): The respective state governments or the central government control
administrative functions through the RCS.

Significance of UCBs
• Financial Inclusion: UCBs primarily cater to small borrowers, micro-businesses, and lower-income groups in urban
and semi-urban areas.
• Local Focus: UCBs operate within specific communities, allowing them to understand local needs and provide
tailored financial services.
• Priority Sector Lending: UCBs have to allocate 65% to PSL in FY 2024-25 but increasing it to 75% by March 2026.
• Developmental Support: UCBs are catering the needs of the non-agricultural sector, particularly small borrowers
in urban and semi-urban areas.
o UCBs, till 1996, were allowed to lend money only for non-agricultural purposes. This distinction does not hold
today.
Challenges Faced by UCBs
• Weak Governance and Fraud Risks: Many UCBs suffer from political interference, nepotism, and financial
mismanagement, leading to fraud and operational inefficiencies.
o During 2023-24, licenses of 24 UCBs were cancelled.
• Competition from Commercial Banks and Fintechs: UCBs share in the banking sector declined to 2.5% of total
banking assets in March 2024, down from 3.8% in 2017.

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• High Non-Performing Assets (NPAs): High levels of NPAs erode profitability and weaken the financial health of
UCBs.
o Gross NPAs of UCBs were 8.8 per cent at the end of March 2024.
• Capital Adequacy Shortfalls: Limited access to capital markets restricts their ability to meet regulatory capital
requirements and expand operations.
• Regulatory Non-Compliance: Dual regulation by RBI and state cooperative bodies leads to compliance challenges
and operational inefficiencies.
• Technological Obsolescence: Many UCBs lag in adopting digital banking technologies, impacting efficiency and
customer experience.

Recent measures taken

• Banking Regulation Amendment Act,
2020: The amendment empowered the
RBI to supersede boards, restructure
managements and formulate resolution
plans.
• Revised Prompt Corrective Action
(PCA) Framework: In 2024, the RBI
extended the PCA framework to UCBs,
setting thresholds for capital adequacy,
asset quality, and profitability.
o PCA is a mechanism that allows the
RBI to intervene early when a bank
shows signs of financial distress.
• Liquidity Support via Umbrella Organization (UO): Established National Urban Co-operative Finance and
Development Corporation as UO for UCBs.
• Tiered Regulatory Framework: The RBI introduced a four-tiered regulatory framework for UCBs based on deposit
size to tailor regulatory approaches effectively.
• Other steps
o UCBs can now open new branches up to 10% (maximum 5 branches) of the existing number of branches in
the previous financial year without prior approval of RBI.
o UCBs have been allowed by RBI to offer doorstep services to their customers.
o Cooperative banks have been allowed to make one-time settlement of outstanding loans, like Commercial
Banks.
Way forward
• Strengthening Governance and Supervision: Mandate professionalization of UCB boards by requiring at least
50% of directors to have expertise in banking, finance, or law.
• Consolidation and Mergers: Encourage voluntary mergers of weak UCBs with stronger ones to create financially
resilient entities.
• ⁠Independent Audits: Conduct regular audits by autonomous bodies for all UCBs to ensure financial discipline.
• ⁠Technology Adoption: Cooperative banks are encouraged to adopt modern technology for efficient operations
and better customer service.
• Social Audits: Enable stakeholder-led audits to assess policies and fund allocation.

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3.8. RESTRUCTURED SKILL INDIA PROGRAMME
Why in the News?
Union Cabinet approves continuation and restructuring of Skill India Programme (SIP).
More on the News

• It has been extended till 2026 with an outlay of Rs.8,800 crore from the period 2022-23 to 2025-26.
• The scheme is restructured by combining 3 key components, namely, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0
(PMKVY 4.0), Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS) and Jan Shikshan Sansthan
(JSS) Scheme.

Skill India Mission

• Launched in 2015 as a Centre Sector Scheme under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
(MSDE).
• Aim: To provide a strong institutional framework to implement and scale up skill development and to impart
training to 1 crore youth every year.
• Skill Development through:
o Short-term training: Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS)
o Long-term training: Craftsmen Training Scheme through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)
• Other Schemes
o Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKK) to standardize quality training.
o Pradhan Mantri YUVA Yojana promotes entrepreneurship.
o PM Vishwakarma Yojana supports traditional artisans by modernizing their skills.
o SANKALP (Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion)

About the Restructured Schemes

Restructured Skill India Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0)
Programme • Provides NSQF-aligned demand-driven skill training through Short-Term
• It is a composite Central Training (STT) and reskilling and upskilling through Recognition of Prior
Sector Scheme under MSDE. Learning (RPL).
• Aim: To provide structured • Target beneficiary: 15-59 years
skill development, on-the- • Future Skills: 400+ new courses on emerging technologies like AI, 5G
job training, and technology, Cybersecurity, Green Hydrogen, Drone Technology etc.
community-based learning • Skill Hubs: Established across premier academic institutions like IITs, NITs,
ensuring access to high- Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), CIPET etc.
quality vocational education. • International Mobility Initiatives: Equipping Indian workers with globally
• Formal recognition of skills: recognized skills through Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPAs),
All certifications are mapped sectorial skill gap studies and training in domain skills, soft skills etc.
to the National Skills o India has signed MMPAs with 10 countries. E.g. France, Germany, Israel
Qualification Framework etc.
(NSQF) and seamlessly o 30 Skill India International Centers to be set up to cater to the demand
integrated with DigiLocker for skilled workers for foreign countries.
and the National Credit • Whole-of-government approach: Inter-ministerial convergence and "Ease
Framework (NCrF). of Doing Business" approach for seamless execution of skilling initiatives.
o E.g. collaboration with PM Vishwakarma, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana,
National Green Hydrogen Mission, NAL JAL Mitra etc.

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 Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS)
Scheme
• Aimed at fostering apprenticeship training across India, ensuring
• Objective: Community- apprentices gain industry-specific skills in both manufacturing and
centric skilling initiative to services through real-world exposure.
provide vocational training o This is in accordance with the Apprenticeship Act, 1961.
to non-literates, neo-literates • Target Beneficiary: 14-35 years
as well as school drop-outs in • Financial incentives to industries for engaging apprentices
rural regions by identifying o 25% of the stipend, up to Rs.1,500 per month per apprentice, will be
relevant skills in that region. provided by the Central Government through Direct Benefit Transfer
• Target Beneficiary: 15-45 (DBT).
years • Future Skills: Apprenticeship opportunities in emerging fields such as AI,
• Inclusivity: Focus on women, Industry 4.0 technologies etc.
rural youth, and economically • Inclusivity: Promotes enrolment of apprentices in small establishments like
disadvantaged groups. MSMEs and underserved areas such as aspirational districts and North-East
o JSS is linked with Region.
initiatives like PM
JANMAN, Understanding
of Lifelong Learning for All
in Society (ULLAS), etc. to
promote inclusive
skilling.
Need for Restructuring Skill India Mission
• In-silos approach: Low impact of schemes like PM-NAPS, PMKVY, and JSS due to lack of convergence in impact on
skilling of population.
• Industry-academia linkage: Lack of industry-specific skilling leading to low employability.
o E.g. Under PMKVY while 3,155,984 are enrolled, only 1,445,166 are certified and fewer are employed. (March
2025)
• Others: Mismatch between demand and supply at the sectoral and spatial levels, limited mobility between skill
and higher education programmes and vocational education and very low coverage of apprenticeship
programmes.
Other Challenges to skilling
• Fast-changing job market: The dynamics of the employment market require constant upskilling and reskilling which
is not effectively available for all.

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• Lack of quality skilling: Lack of quality faculty, curriculum, lack of application-oriented learning methods etc.
impact the quality of skilling.
o This also limits the opportunities of international employment.
• Governance issues: Multiplicity of assessment and certification leading to inconsistent outcomes and confusion
among employers, and lack of assured wage premium for skilled workers.
• Lack of Quality Infrastructure: Inadequate maintenance and lack of resources in skilling institutions.
• Gender inequality: Low participation of women compared to men in skilling as well as labour force.
Way Forward
• Evidence-based interventions: Improve mapping of skills to understand the job market and design programmes
catering to the evolving needs of the employment market.
o E.g. 36 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), led by industry leaders set up by NSDC to identify the skill development
needs of sectors and to determine skill competency standards.
• Promote experiential learning: Strengthening vocational education and expanding apprenticeship opportunities.
o Strengthen the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)
• Private sector participation: Encourage active involvement of industries and civil society in skilling through
awareness generation, providing apprenticeship opportunities etc.
• Learning from Global Best Practises:
o Technical and Vocational Vouchers Program (TVVP), Kenya: To increase access to vocational education by
stimulating supply of vocational training through vouchers.
o Apprenticeship Levy, United Kingdom: To incentivise employers to recruit apprentices, the levy on employers
is used to fund apprenticeship training.

3.9. NEWS IN SHORTS

3.9.1. GROSS DOMESTIC KNOWLEDGE PRODUCT
Recently, Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) organised a session on “Conceptual
Framework of Gross Domestic Knowledge Product (GDKP) Measurement”.
• Previously, GDKP was discussed earlier in 2021 when NITI Aayog made a presentation on the concept note.
• Gross Domestic Knowledge Product (GDKP) captures the contributions of knowledge-driven sectors,
innovation, and intellectual assets to India’s economic growth.
o It evaluates the impact of knowledge on economic and social life in the country.
• MoSPI will form a technical committee to evaluate the proposal and provide guidance on measuring the knowledge
economy.
Need of GDKP
• Enhancing Economic Metrics: Better measure knowledge sectors, innovation, and intellectual assets driving India's
economic growth.
• Supplementing the GDP measure: GDKP would supplement the Gross Domestic Product measure.
• Sync with global standards: Advanced economies are adopting indicators for intangible assets, digital innovation,
and intellectual capital. India plans to align its framework with global standards.
• Guiding Policy Innovation for Key Sectors: A clear GDKP framework can assist the government in shaping effective
policies for education, research, technology, and entrepreneurship development.

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3.9.2. DEPOSIT INSURANCE
Government is considering increasing the bank deposit insurance cover above current limit of ₹ 5 lakh.
About Deposit insurance
About Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee
• It is a measure of protection to depositors, particularly Corporation (DICGC)
small depositors, from the risk of loss of their savings
• Established on January 01, 1962 under the DICGC
arising from bank failures.
Act, 1961.
• Background: Deposit insurance was introduced in India
• It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve
in 1962 under the Deposit Insurance and Credit
Bank of India.
Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) Act, 1961.
• Head Office: Mumbai
o India was the second country (after the US in 1933)
in the world to provide for such provision.
• Coverage: The insurance protection extends to ₹ 5 lakh per depositor, which covers the aggregate of all accounts
maintained by that depositor across all branches of the insured bank.
o However, if the deposits are held with more than one bank, deposit insurance coverage limit is applied
separately to the deposits in each bank.
• Covered Bank: Insures all commercial banks, including branches of foreign banks functioning in India, local area
banks, regional rural banks, and cooperative banks.
o Deposit insurance scheme is compulsory and no bank can withdraw from it.
o Exceptions: Land development banks, Non-Banking Financial Company’s (NBFCs) etc.
• Insures: Savings, fixed, current, and recurring deposits are insured.
o Exceptions: Does not provide insurance for deposits by foreign, central, and state governments, and for inter-
bank deposits.
• It insures both the principal and interest amount held by a depositor in a bank.
• Through amendment in 2021, Section 18A amendment to the DICGC Act allowed depositors to receive time-bound
(within 90 days) interim payments up to the insured amount when the RBI imposes restrictions on banks.
• Deposit insurance premium is borne entirely by the insured bank.
o DICGC collects premiums from member banks at flat or risk-based differentiated rates.

3.9.3. NEW HARMONISED SYSTEM CODES FOR GI TAGGED RICE

India reportedly introduces New Harmonised System (HS) Codes for GI Tagged Rice.
• An amendment to the Customs Tariff Act (1975) was introduced to provide an HS (Harmonised System) code for
GI-recognised rice varieties.
• The amendment will make it possible for the exports of GI-tagged rice without any problem or special notification
from the Ministry of Finance.

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About HS
• Definition: HS is a global product classification system
developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO).
• Classification Structure:
o HS assigns specific six-digit codes for varying
classifications and commodities.
o Countries are allowed to add longer codes to the first
six digits for further classification.
• Governance and Updates
o HS is governed by "The International Convention on the
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding
System".
o HS Committee, made up of member countries, oversees
the HS classification system and also updates HS every
5 – 6 years.
• Widespread adoption
o Classifies approximately 98% of international trade
o Encompasses over 5,000 commodity groups
o Implemented by more than 200 countries
• Benefits of HS
o Common coding method helps countries organize and track products in global trade.
o Extensively used by governments, international organizations and private organisations for internal taxes, trade
policies, etc.
o Reduces international trade costs and supports economic research.
To know more about GI Tags, refer to Article 8.2. Geographical Indication (GI) tag in January 2025 Monthly Current Affairs
Magazine.

3.9.4. ‘AI FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP’ MICRO-LEARNING MODULE

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship launched the ‘AI for Entrepreneurship’ micro-learning module.
‘AI for Entrepreneurship’ Micro-learning Module
• Launched in collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Intel India
• Purpose: To simplify AI concepts and encourage entrepreneurial thinking among young innovators across India.
• Target: To empower 1 lakh youth by 2025 by equipping them with essential skills to thrive in a technology-driven
economy.

3.9.5. E-SHRAM MICROSITES & OCCUPATIONAL SHORTAGE INDEX (OSI)

Union Minister for Labour & Employment launched the State and Union Territory Microsites under the e-Shram
initiative and the Occupational Shortage Index (OSI).
About e-Shram Microsites
• State-specific digital platforms seamlessly integrated with the National e-Shram database.
• Benefits
o For States/UTs: Ready-to-use digital infrastructure, real time data analytics dashboard, etc.
o For Workers: Seamless registration process, multilingual facility, etc.
About OSI
• Purpose: Identify workforce demand-supply gaps using ILO methodology and PLFS data.
• Key Functions: Tracks job shortages in high-demand sectors, Supports workforce planning and skill development
etc.

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3.9.6. TIME USE SURVEY (TUS)
Recently, National Statistics Office (NSO) released the 2nd Time Use Survey (TUS) for the year 2024.
About Time Use Survey (TUS)
• Purpose: It provides a framework for measuring time dispositions by the population on different activities.
• Objective: To measure the participation of men and women in paid and unpaid activities.
• Key findings
o Increase in women participation in employment related activities (paid activities).
o There is increased acknowledgement of caregiving activities regardless of gender within Indian families.
o Time spent in Culture, leisure, mass-media and sports practices has increased in both men and women.

3.9.7. FDI LIMIT HIKED IN INSURANCE SECTOR

Finance Minister announced proposal to raise FDI limit in Insurance sector from 74% to 100%.
• This enhanced limit will be available for those companies which invest entire premium in India.
• To enhance FDI limit, government will have to bring amendments to Insurance Act 1938, Life Insurance
Corporation Act 1956, and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.
Significance of 100% FDI in insurance sector
• Higher Investment: More foreign capital for growth and
expansion.
• Enhanced Competition: Better products, improved
services, and competitive pricing.
• Technological Advancements: Adoption of advanced tech
and innovative products.
• Improved Penetration: More people brought under
insurance coverage and help achieve the target of 'Insurance
for All' by 2047.
Status of India’s Insurance sector (Economic Survey 2024-25)
• Total insurance premium grew 7.7% in FY24, reaching Rs.11.2 lakh crore.
• Insurance penetration declined from 4% in FY23 to 3.7% in FY24.
• Insurance Density rose from USD 92 in FY23 to USD 95 in FY24.
o Insurance penetration is measured as percentage of insurance premium to GDP whereas insurance density
is calculated as ratio of premium to population (per capita premium).
Challenges Faced by Insurance Sector in India
• Absence of top companies: Out of 25 world’s top insurance firms, 20 are not present in India now.
• Economic Constraints: Affordability issues restrict insurance adoption.
• Cultural Preferences: Preference for traditional financial practices over insurance.
To know more about IRDAI, refer to Article 3.13. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in April
2024 Monthly Current Affairs Magazine.

3.9.8. ENHANCED CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN (ECOO) 2.0 SYSTEM

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has launched the enhanced Certificate of Origin (eCoO) 2.0 System.
About eCoO 2.0
• It is a significant upgrade to simplify the certification process for exporters and enhance trade efficiency.
• Offers several user-friendly features, such as multi-user access, which enables exporters to authorize multiple
users under a single Importer Exporter Code (IEC).
• Supports Aadhaar-based e-signing alongside digital signature tokens, providing greater flexibility.

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About Certificate of Origin:
• It is a document used in international trade to certify that the goods being exported originated in a specific
country.

3.9.9. TONNAGE TAX SCHEME

The Budget 2025-26 has expanded the tonnage tax scheme.
Tonnage Tax Scheme
• The Scheme was previously available to sea going ships.
• Now it is available to inland vessels registered under the Indian Vessels Act, 2021 to promote water transport.
o Inland Vessels Act, 2021 aims to promote safe, economical inland water transport, ensure legal uniformity and
vessel procedures.
• Ministry: Ministry of Shipping (now part of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways).
• Genesis: Introduced in 2004 under the Indian Finance Act, 2004.
• Significance: Encourage more cargo movement; will further incentivises shipping companies to invest in inland
waterways vessels.

3.9.10. RBI CUT REPO RATE

Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of RBI has cut repo rate by
25 bps to 6.25%.
• MPC has cut policy repo rate under the liquidity
adjustment facility (LAF) nearly after a five-year gap.
Other important decisions
• To continue a 'neutral' monetary policy stance.
o A neutral stance indicates that the RBI maintains
flexibility in adjusting policy rates based on
prevailing economic conditions.
• GDP growth for FY '26 projected at 6.7%.
• Food inflation pressures are likely to see significant
"softening", Core inflation expected to rise but remain
moderate.
Rationale for MPC decisions
• Inflation has declined and growth is expected to recover from the low of Q2:2024-25.
• Excessive volatility in global financial markets and
• Continued uncertainties about global trade policies coupled with adverse weather events.
About Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF)
• It is a monetary policy tool used by central banks to manage liquidity in the banking system. It includes repo and
reverse repo rates.
o The repo rate is the interest rate at which the central bank lends money to banks, while the reverse repo rate is
the rate at which banks can park their surplus funds with the central bank.

3.9.11. REGULATION OF PAYMENT SYSTEMS IN INDIA

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released ‘Payment System Report, December 2024’.
• It is a bi-annual report which analyses the trends in payment transactions carried out using different payment
systems in the last 5 calendar years (CY) up to CY-2024.

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Key findings:
• Digital payment transactions: In 2013 there were 222
crore digital transactions valued at Rs 772 lakh crore, it
has increased 94 times in volume and more than 3.5
times in value in CY-2024.
• Unified Payment Interface (UPI): Volume of UPI
transactions reflects a CAGR of 74.03 %, value of the
transactions represented a CAGR of 68.14% in last 5
years.
• Credit cards & Debit cards: Number of credit cards has
more than doubled in five years whereas debit cards
have remained relatively stable in last 5 years.
• Global trends: India joined Project Nexus, facilitating
multilateral linkage of fast payment systems (FPS) of four
ASEAN Nations (Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and
Thailand) and India.
o Project Nexus, conceptualized by Bank for
International Settlements (BIS), enables instant
cross-border retail payments by interlinking
domestic FPSs.
Payment Systems in India
• Payment systems are mechanisms established to facilitate the clearing and settlement of monetary and other
financial transactions.

3.9.12. DIGITAL PAYMENTS INDEX (DPI)

Recently, RBI published the Reserve Bank of India–Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI).
About RBI-DPI
• Objective: capture the extent of digitisation of payments systems & measure the adoption of online transactions
• Released frequency: Semi-annual (March & September).
• Base Period: March 2018.
• Parameters involved:
o Payment Enablers
o Payment Infrastructure (demand-side factors)
o Payment Infrastructure (supply-side factors)
o Payment Performance and
o Consumer Centricity.

3.9.13. MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE INSTITUTIONS (MIIS)

The SEBI issues guidelines for the evaluation of the performance of statutory committees of market infrastructure
institutions (MIIs).
• Under the guidelines, MIIs are required to appoint an independent external agency to evaluate their performance
and the functioning of their statutory committees.
• This needs to be done once every three years.

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About Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs)
• These are organizations that provide the infrastructure for trading securities & are regulated by SEBI.
• It includes stock exchanges, depositories, and clearing corporations.
• Purpose: Enabling trading, securing investor holding, transaction settlement etc.

3.9.14. ALGORITHMIC TRADING

SEBI proposed Retail Algo Trading Framework.
• Algo trading automates buy/sell orders using preset conditions for precise execution.
• Erstwhile, only institutional investors were allowed to use it via Direct Market Access (DMA).
Key highlights of Regulatory Framework
• Categorization of Algorithms
o White-box: Logic is disclosed and replicable i.e. Execution Algos
o Black-box: Algos where the logic is not known to the user and is not replicable
• Trading Limits for Retail Traders: Retail traders must follow exchange-set limits (yet to be decided).
• Registration of Algo Providers: Algo providers are not regulated by SEBI, but must register with exchanges and
partner with a broker to sell algos.

3.9.15. POTASH
Government will explore Potash Mining in Punjab’s
Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib Districts.
• Geological Survey of India (GSI) surveys have also
identified potash reserves in Rajasthan, highlighting
potential to reduce India’s import reliance.
About Potash
• Definition: Potash is an impure combination of
potassium carbonate & potassium (K) salts.
• Principal ore: Sylvinite.
• Uses of Potash:
o Agriculture: Over 90% of potash is utilized as
fertilizer, making it one of the three primary
nutrients in agriculture, alongside nitrogen and
phosphorus, collectively known as N-P-K.
 The ideal nutrient ratio for optimal plant
growth is 4:2:1 (N:P: K).
o Purification of water: Potash alum removes
hardness of water & has anti-bacterial
properties.
o Other industrial Uses: Manufacturing of Glass
ceramics, Soaps and detergents, Explosives
etc.
• Common Types of Potash Fertilizers: Sulphate of
Potash (SOP) & Muriate of Potash (MOP).
• Potash Derived from Molasses (PDM): It is 100% indigenous fertilizer under the Nutrient Based
Subsidy (NBS) scheme.
o NBS: Provides fertilizer subsidies to farmers based on actual nutrient content (Nitrogen, Phosphorus,
Potassium).
• Potash classified as Critical Mineral: Under “The Mines & Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment
(MMDR) Act, 2023”.

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Economic Status of Potash in India
• Deposits: Rajasthan (89%), Madhya Pradesh (5%) and Uttar Pradesh (4%).
• Import: India meets 100% of its Potash requirement through imports (Indian Mineral yearbook 2022).

3.9.16. ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING

After China, India has become the World's 2nd largest mobile manufacturing country and is followed by Vietnam.
• Presently, 99.2% of all mobile phones sold in India are made in India.
• Mobile phones constitute 43% of India’s total electronics production.
Electronic manufacturing sector status
• Total valuation: India’s electronics sector has experienced rapid growth, reaching USD 155 billion in FY23.
• Production: Production nearly doubled from USD 48 billion in FY17 to USD 101 billion in FY23.
• Exports: Electronics has become the country's fifth largest export commodity, but India represents less than 1% of
global share.

3.9.17. UNION BUDGET 2025: DEVELOPING 50 TOP TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN

'CHALLENGE MODE'
These destinations will be developed in partnership with states to elevate tourism infrastructure, improve ease of
travel, and strengthen connectivity to key sites.
• States will be required to provide land for critical infrastructure, which will be classified under the Infrastructure
Harmonized Master List (HML).
Key Focus of Budget
• Employment-Led Growth: Skill development programs, MUDRA loans for homestays, improved travel and
connectivity to tourist spots.
• Spiritual Tourism: Focus on pilgrimage and heritage tourism, especially Buddhist sites.
• Medical Tourism: Promote "Heal in India" initiative to boost India’s global healthcare position.
• Gyan Bharatam Mission: Documentation and
conservation of India’s manuscript heritage.
Contribution of Tourism Sector:
• Accounted for 5% of GDP in FY23. The sector also created
7.6 crore jobs during the same period.
• India received 1.8 per cent of world tourism receipts
and attained a rank of 14th worldwide in world tourism
receipts during 2023.
Measures taken by government
• Infrastructure Development: Swadesh Darshan 2.0,
PRASHAD Scheme, RCS-UDAN for regional connectivity.
• Policy & Legal: National Tourism Policy, E-Visa for multiple categories.
• Thematic Tourism: Promoting wellness, culinary, rural, and eco-tourism.
• NIDHI (National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry): Digital system for ease of business in hospitality &
tourism.

3.9.18. RUTAGE SMART VILLAGE CENTER (RSVC)

Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAGe) Smart Village Center (RSVC) launched in Mandaura, Haryana.
• RSVC was developed under aegis of Office of Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA).

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• It aims to integrate cutting-edge technologies with rural
needs, enhancing quality of life and empowering
communities through sustainable solutions.
• PSA conceptualized RuTAGe in 2003-04.
Key Features of RSVC Model
• Physical Presence: Offers long-term tech support at
Panchayat level, assisting 15-20 villages with 12
technology tracks, including Agriculture & Waste
Management etc.
• Market Access: Emphasizes collaboration with platforms
like ONDC, Amazon, and Market Mirchi to connect rural
producers with larger markets.
• Scalability: Plans to expand with 20 new centers and
empower women entrepreneurs through Techpreneurs
program to ensure sustainability.
Role of Technology in Rural Growth
• Agricultural Innovation: Platforms like e-NAM connect
farmers to markets, offering better prices and transparent
trade.
• Entrepreneurship: E-commerce and 3D printing support small businesses, allowing them to access global markets
and reduce dependency on imports.
• Education: Programs like PM e-VIDYA and SWAYAM offer online education, improving access to quality learning
and bridging digital divide.
• Financial Inclusion: DBT program and PM Jan Dhan Yojana facilitate direct, cashless transfers, reducing fraud and
increasing transparency.
• Water Management: National Program on Aquifer Mapping and Management uses technology to manage
groundwater resources, ensuring efficient water use in agriculture.

3.9.19. GLOBAL CAPABILITY CENTERS

Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to bring a dedicated Global Capability Centre (GCC) policy.
About GCCs

• GCCs are designed to leverage global talent pools and technological advancements to enhance organizational
capabilities and drive business transformation.
• India’s GCC are emerging as strategic hubs reshaping the Indian corporate landscape while influencing global
business dynamics.
• Present Scenario: Number of GCCs in India has grown from ~1430 (FY 2019) to >1700(FY 2024) in FY24.
o As of FY24, GCCs in India employ nearly 1.9 million professionals.

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3.9.20. SWARAIL APPLICATION
The Ministry of Railways has introduced the ‘SwaRail’ SuperApp, a one-stop solution to streamline various railway
services.
About SwaRail
• Offers services like Reserved Ticket Bookings, Unreserved Ticket & Platform Ticket Bookings, etc.
o A key focus of the App is enhancing user experience with a seamless and clean user interface (UI).
• Developed by Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS).

3.9. ERRATA
• In the Monthly Current Affairs Magazine (January 2025), under the Article 3.1 titled ‘Rupee Depreciation’, it was
incorrectly mentioned that “Currently, India follows Floating Exchange Rate with occasional RBI interventions, when
necessary. “
o The correct information is – Currently, India follows Managed Floating Exchange Rate, in the sense that there
is a currency market and the exchange rate is not visibly administratively determined. However, RBI actively
trades on the market, with the stated goal of “containing volatility”, and influencing the exchange rate.

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4. SECURITY
4.1. REGIONALISM
Why in the News?
Vice-President raised concerns about the forces that are trying to create a clash between nationalism and regionalism.

Regionalism
• Shared Identity: Regionalism reflects a shared sense of identity among people in a specific geographical area.
o It often originates among groups in particular areas due to distinct ethnic, linguistic, economic, and cultural
consciousness.
• Evolution in India: Roots of regionalism in India can be traced back to the colonial period which deepened regional
disparities across the country.
o First form of regionalism in post-independent India was the demand for the creation of linguistic states,
sparked by the hunger strike of Potti Sriramalu, who fasted unto death in 1952.
o Later on, the creation of the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand in 2000, and formation of
Telangana state separated from Andhra Pradesh in 2014, are some of the recent chapters in the trajectory of
regional movements in India.
Factors Behind Regionalism
• Linguistic and Cultural Identity: For example, the Dravidian movements in Tamil Nadu stemmed from linguistic
identity.
• Ethnocentrism: Natives presume that they possess the authenticity over the regional issues and they imagine a
sort of body politics that includes themselves and exclude the ‘other’ as outsiders.
o For instance, the construct of Marathi Manoos, which is meant to imply those persons who are natives of
Maharashtra belonging to Maharashtra, thus excluding persons of other states.
• Tribal Identity: Socio-economical differences in tribal life accentuates regional tendencies.

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 o Rationale for creation of state of Jharkhand was partly based on its tribal cultural heritage.
• Unequal distribution of resources: For example, Gorkha Nationalist Liberation Forum (GNLF) emerged in
Darjeeling due to the feeling of regions underdevelopment compared to South Bengal.
• Development and Administrative Issues: Some regions feel left out while taking policy decisions for the entire
region such as water distribution, budget allocations, employment opportunities etc.
o These were driving factors for the formation of state of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh.
Impact of Regionalism (National Unity and Regionalism)
• Positive Impact
o Strengthening Federalism: Promotes a stronger federal structure by encouraging states to assert their rights
and seek greater autonomy.
o Enhanced Political Representation: Gives voice to local issues and marginalized communities that national
parties may overlook.
o Promotion of Cultural Diversity: Preserves and promote India’s cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity by
championing local traditions, languages and customs, etc.
o Conflict Resolution and Integration: Provides a platform for expressing regional grievances and aspirations
within the democratic framework, reducing the likelihood of violent conflicts.
• Negative Impact
o Threat to National Unity: Extreme regionalism can foster divisive sentiments, leading to conflicts between
states or between regional and national interests and in extreme cases it also leads to rise of Secessionist
Movements.
o Bias and Discrimination: Regionalism often encourages identity-based politics.
✓ For example, Driven by the spirit of ‘Son of the Soil,’ demands for job reservations for locals have been
raised. There have been many instances where attacks on migrant laborers led to their mass exodus.
o Political Fragmentation: The proliferation of regional parties often leads to fragmented electoral outcomes,
making it difficult to form stable governments.
o Prioritization of Regional over National Interests: The narrow focus on regional interests can lead to resource
allocation imbalances and policies that serve regional rather than national goals.
Way Forward
• Fostering National Unity: Encourage an inclusive national identity through education programmes and promote
cultural exchange programmes.
• Cultural Integration: Frequent cultural contacts should be promoted to break the regional barriers and to develop
the nationalist spirit.
o For example, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme enhances interaction & promote mutual understanding
between people of different states/UTs.
• Strengthening Federalism: Empowering states and local bodies and promoting Cooperative Federalism can help
in accommodating regional aspirations within the national framework.
• Inclusive Development: Implement targeted programs and infrastructure projects to boost economic activity and
create jobs in under-developed areas.
• Functioning Autonomy: Union Government must not interfere in the affairs of the state unless it is unavoidable for
national interest.

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4.2. ALGORITHMIC AMPLIFICATION AND RADICALISATION
Why in the news?
Recently, experts have raised concerns regarding social media algorithms having the potential to amplify and spread
extremism.
Understanding Social Media Algorithmic Amplification
• Social media algorithms: These are computerized rules that examine user behaviour and rank content based
on interactive metrics such as likes, comments, shares, timelines etc.
o It uses machine learning models to make customized recommendations.
o It works as amplifiers because posts with higher engagement, shares, likes etc., alongwith hashtags, quickly
tend to gain popularity and emerge as viral trends.
• Algorithmic Radicalisation: It is the idea that algorithms on social media platforms drive users towards
progressively more extremist propaganda and polarizing narratives.
o It then influences their ideological stances, exacerbating societal divisions, promoting disinformation,
bolstering influence of extremist groups etc.
o It reflects social media algorithms, which are intended to boost user interaction, inadvertently construct echo
chambers and filter bubbles, confirming users’ pre-existing beliefs, leading to confirmation bias, group
polarization etc.
o It shows how social media platforms coax users into ideological rabbit holes and form their opinions through
a discriminating content curation model.

Challenges in curbing Algorithmic Radicalization

• Complex mechanisms involved: The opacity of algorithms used in social media present challenges in addressing
extremist contents.
o Social media algorithms work as ‘black boxes’, in which even some developers fully don’t understand the
underlying processes for recommending certain content.
o E.g., complexity of TikTok’s “For You” page’s operational mechanics, limits the mitigation of its algorithmic bias.
• Modulated content: Extremist groups change their radical contents to euphemisms or symbols to evade
detection systems.

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 o E.g., IS and al-Qaeda uses coded language and satire to avoid detection.
• Moderation vs. free speech: Maintaining the right balance between effective content moderation and free
speech is a complex issue.
o Extremist groups exploit this delicate balance by ensuring that their contents remain within the permissible
limits of free speech, while still spreading divisive ideologies.
• Failure in accounting local context: Extremist contents are generated from the socio-political undercurrents in
a specific country, and algorithms deployed globally often fail to account for these local socio-cultural
contexts, exacerbating the problem.
• Lack of international regulation and cooperation: Countries primarily view radical activities from their national
interest rather than from the perspective of global humanity.

Steps taken to curb Algorithmic Radicalisation

Global steps
• European Union's (EU’s) Digital Services Act 2023 requires social media apps to disclose how their algorithms
work and allows independent researchers to assess their impact on users.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven moderation: E.g., YouTube’s machine-learning model, 2023, reduced flagged
extremist videos by 30%.
• Christchurch Call: A community of over 130 governments, online service providers, and civil society organisations
acting together to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.
Indian steps
• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s several initiatives have flagged over 9,845 URLs hosting
harmful content.
• IT Rules 2021: It enables tracing the first originator of content on social media, digital news, OTT platforms etc.,
and removing flagged content within 36 hours.

Way forward
• Algorithmic Audits: Regular algorithm audits should be mandatory to ensure transparency and fairness, similar
to European Union's (EU’s) Digital Services Act 2023.
• Accountability measures: Policymakers should clearly define the rules for algorithmic accountability, including
penalties for platforms that fail to address the amplification of harmful content.
o E.g., Germany’s Netz law imposes fines on social media platforms for not removing illegal content within 24
hours.
• Custom-made content moderation: Customized moderation policies (or algorithmic frameworks), tailored to
localized contexts, can enhance the effectiveness of interventions to curb radicalisation spread by social media
platforms.
o E.g., regulators in France partnered with social media companies to enhance their algorithms’ ability to
detect and moderate extremist content, considering various dialects spoken within the country.
• Public awareness: Government must conduct public awareness drives to help users identify propaganda and
avoid engaging with extremist content.
o E.g., UK's Online Safety Bill contains provisions for public education initiatives to improve online media literacy.

4.3. HYBRID WARFARE

Why in the news?
Recently, Union Defence Minister underlined the dangers of hybrid warfare to India.
More on the news
• Defence Minister highlighted the growing overlap/ blurring line between border security and internal security,
emphasizing that hybrid warfare can threaten critical national infrastructure.

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• He noted that, traditional concept of frontline is rapidly
changing, with threats such as terrorism, extremism, cyber
warfare or cyber-attack, human trafficking or humanitarian crises
etc., transcend national borders and challenges the established
notions of India’s internal security.
About Hybrid Warfare
• Definition: Hybrid warfare, also known as asymmetric warfare, is
a strategy that combines conventional tactics (kinetic warfare)
with unconventional methods (non-kinetic warfare), often
employed to achieve political or strategic goals without resorting
to full-scale war.
• Examples:
o China’s three warfare strategy including psychological,
political and legal tactics;
o Use of cyberattacks, disinformation and propaganda
witnessed during Russia-Ukraine conflict;
o Psychological and information warfare tactics seen in
Israel-Palestine conflict;
o Pager blasts as a form of disruption in Lebanon etc.
Reasons for emergence of hybrid warfare
• Strategic advantage: Helps achieve political, military or
economic objectives without any declaration of war
keeping the possibility of diplomatic negotiations open.
o E.g., Use of ‘little green men’ (unmarked soldiers) is a
hallmark of Russia’s approach to hybrid warfare,
providing strategic advantage to achieve its political
and military objectives while minimizing the risk of direct
confrontation with other states.
• Cost effectiveness: It evades direct responsibility, and is
logistically and economically less costly and complex.
o E.g., U.S. uses a range of policy tools intended to reduce
threats posed by Iran, including economic sanctions,
which restrict former’s financial and military spending
without deploying troops or engaging in direct combat.
• Technological advancement: Rise of cyber capabilities,
artificial intelligence, digital communication tools etc., has
enabled non-traditional methods of warfare, such as cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns etc., without
direct military confrontation.
o E.g., Russian cyber-attacks against Ukraine have persisted ever since Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea
in 2014, intensifying just before the 2022 invasion.
• Rise of non-state actors and proxy warfare: Traditional warfare has become less frequent, while conflicts
involving state and non-state actors (terrorist groups, militias, cyber warriors, etc.) have increased, engaging in a
complex web of alliances, proxy support, information warfare and vile tactics to achieve their strategic objectives,
while maintaining deniability.
o E.g., Iran’s support for Houthi rebels in Yemen through arms smuggling.
• Global interconnectivity: Economic interdependence and internet, accelerated hybrid warfare by allowing
adversaries to exploit cyberspace, manipulate through economic coercion (sanctions, trade restrictions etc.),
spread propaganda through media (election interference) etc., destabilizing nations, without engaging in open
conflict.
o E.g., alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections using social media bots.

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Hybrid warfare threats to India
• Hostile neighbours and non-state actors: E.g., Pakistan has been a master in hybrid warfare and its support for
proxy war, terrorist organisations, and counterfeit currency threatens India’s security.
• External threats: E.g., China specializes in Grey Zone strategies and has been winning wars without fighting to
meet its global aspirations.
• Internal insurgencies: E.g., Left Wing Extremism (Naxalism) challenges in central India, ethnic conflicts in
northeast, etc.
• Threat to critical infrastructure: E.g. cyberattacks on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in 2019; alleged
Chinese malware attack on Mumbai grid in 2020 etc.
• Economic warfare: E.g., significant Chinese imports of electronic goods, APIs (pharmaceutical ingredients) etc.,
makes India vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.
India’s preparedness towards hybrid warfare
• Modernization of defence capabilities: E.g., developing advanced weapons under ‘Directionally Unrestricted
Ray-Gun Array (DURGA)-II Project’ (Initiated by DRDO), defence indigenization through 'Make in India' initiatives
etc.
• Structural reforms and establishing institutions: E.g., military integration through creation of Chief of Defence
Staff (CDS), Defence AI Project Agency (DAIPA), Defence AI Council (DAIC), etc.
• Counter cyber security measures: E.g., operationalization of Defence Cyber Agency in 2021 to specifically
address cyber threats to national security.
• International partnerships: E.g. Cooperation through General Security of Military Information Agreement
(GSOMIA) with USA, working with Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) framework to address issues like cyber
security etc.
• Parliamentary reviews: Indian armed forces’ preparedness to deal with hybrid warfare is one of the subjects that
the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence (2024) has narrowed down for deliberation.
o It will assess areas like cyber defence, anti-drone technologies, integration of advanced systems to address
evolving threats etc.
Way forward
• Capacity building: Indian defence forces and security apparatus needs to build experts, systems and doctrines in
multiple domains to tackle future hybrid challenges.
o E.g., building resilience of armed personals to handle advanced technologies; develop capabilities for cyber
retaliation and offensive cyber operations etc.
• Integrate hybrid warfare into adaptive defence strategies: E.g., creation of a division dedicated to hybrid warfare
with both offensive and defensive abilities, which should form an integral part of national security strategy.
• Adopting proactive approach instead of reactive: Using smart power and establishing a set of response options
using all available tools, such as diplomatic (Track-II channels), economic, informational, infrastructural, politico-
military coordination etc.
• ‘Whole of government’ approach: E.g., a coordinated ‘grand plan’ encompassing all ministries, designed by
National Security Council Secretariat under the direction of the National Security Advisor and with the consent of
the Cabinet Committee on Security, can be used to address hybrid warfare risks.

4.4. NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

Why in the news?
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned at the “UN Conference on Disarmament” in Geneva that the risk of
nuclear war is rising and urged governments to push for total disarmament.
Factors behind Rising Risk of Nuclear War
• Geopolitical Risks: Rising Geopolitical tensions push nations toward nuclear security. For example, Russia
suspended the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) and withdrew from the Comprehensive
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), during the Ukraine war.

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• Doomsday Clock Alert: In January 2025, the symbolic clock moved one second closer to catastrophe, signaling
rising nuclear war risks.
• Expanding Nuclear Arsenals: Global stockpiles exceed 12,000 warheads, with nations upgrading delivery systems.
o E.g., China may reach 1,500 “operational” nuclear warheads by 2035 (Pentagon Report, 2022), signaling rapid
expansion.
• Nuclear Modernization Risks: For example, Hypersonic missiles reduce response time, increasing the risk of
misidentification and rapid escalation.
• Risk of False Alarms & Accidental Escalation: As highlighted during the 1983 Soviet false alarm incident, where
early warning systems wrongly detected a U.S. strike, later prevented by human intervention.
• Newer Technologies: Weaponization of Artificial Intelligence is moving forward at an alarming pace which raises
concerns over automated nuclear decision-making.
• Arms Race Spreading to Outer Space: such as U.S. Space Force Expansion, India's ASAT Test (Mission Shakti,
2019) etc.
What is Nuclear Disarmament?
• Nuclear disarmament refers to the act, by unilateral decision or international agreement, of reducing or eliminating
the total number of nuclear weapons worldwide, with the end goal of a nuclear-free world.
Key Obstacles to Nuclear Disarmament Efforts
• Commitment vs. Implementation Gap:
Nuclear states pledge disarmament on one
hand but modernize arsenals on the other.
o E.g., Russia supports NPT and START but
has also developed ICBMs and
hypersonic weapons.
• Key Issues Regarding Global Disarmament
Initiatives:
o Ineffective Implementation: The
Conference on Disarmament has made
little progress in two decades, raising
skepticism about disarmament efforts.
o Loopholes in Treaties: Treaties like the
NPT contain vague provisions, allowing
nuclear-armed states to delay or evade
commitments.
 E.g., USA & USSR focused on
stopping others from acquiring
nuclear weapons but avoided
binding self-reduction.
o Withdrawal from Agreements: E.g.,
North Korea (DPRK) exited NPT and
conducted nuclear tests, setting a
precedent for treaty non-compliance.
• Bilateral Arms Control Failure: The
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF)
Treaty, banning ground-launched missiles
(500–5500 km), collapsed after the U.S. accused Russia of violations, exposing major powers' disarmament
failures.
• Outside Disarmament Framework: Three De-facto Nuclear States (India, Israel, and Pakistan) remain outside
the NPT, challenging global disarmament efforts.
• Global Military Imbalance: In 2023, the U.S. spent $916B (37% of global defense spending), while Russia spent
$109B (4.5%). This significant gap reinforces Russia’s reliance on nuclear deterrence for strategic balance.

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• Other Issues:
o Prestige and Power Symbolism: Nuclear weapons enhance national status, discouraging disarmament (UN
observation).
o Lack of Legal Framework: No binding multilateral treaty specifically regulates missiles.
o NATO Nuclear Doctrine: NATO upholds nuclear deterrence to prevent coercion and aggression, hindering
disarmament.
o Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) Doctrine: The U.S. and Russia rely on MAD, assuming overwhelming
retaliation would discourage either side from launching an attack.

India’s stance on Nuclear Disarmament

• India is committed to the goal of global, non- discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament.
• Key Actions:
o 1954: First country to call for a ban on nuclear testing worldwide.
o 1978: Proposed an international convention to prohibit the use or threat of nuclear weapons.
o 1982: Called for a nuclear freeze, urging a halt to fissile material production for nuclear weapons.
o 1988: Introduced an ‘Action Plan for Ushering in a Nuclear - weapon free and Non - Violent World Order’
at the UNGA for eliminating nuclear weapons in three phases by 2010, emphasizing global and non-
discriminatory disarmament.
o 1998: Voluntarily adopted measures to prevent nuclear proliferation despite conducting nuclear tests.
 Policy of a ‘no - first - use’ and non - use of nuclear weapons against a non - nuclear weapon State.
o 1999: Draft Nuclear Doctrine asserted “global, verifiable, and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament
is a national security objective.”
• India’s Stands on Global Nuclear Treaties:
o NPT: Opposes due to its discriminatory nature, which legitimizes nuclear weapons for only five countries.
o CTBT: Did not sign it because it failed to address nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and India's security
concerns.
o TPNW: Does not support this treaty since it lacks new legal standards for disarmament.
• Multilateral Approach
o India advocates gradual disarmament through universal agreements and emphasized this in its 2006
Working Paper on Nuclear Disarmament at the UNGA.
o India supports negotiating a Nuclear Weapons Convention within the Conference on Disarmament,
considering it the primary platform for a global nuclear ban treaty.

Way Forward
• Transitional Approach: A phased strategy balancing deterrence and disarmament, ensuring security while
gradually reducing nuclear reliance. It covers -
o Bilateral Arms Reduction: The U.S. and Russia, holding the largest nuclear stockpiles, must lead by example
by reviving stalled New START negotiations to reduce arsenals.
o Adopting Minimal Nuclear Deterrence & No-First-Use (NFU) Policy.
• Treaty-based limits on strategic missile defences in the light of emerging hypersonic weapons.
• Strengthened international norms against both nuclear and conventional aggression, in particular against preventive
war.
• Need for Global Cooperation: Inspired by the Cold War era, health professionals should continue International
Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) nuclear disarmament efforts, which earned the 1985 Nobel
Peace Prize.
• UN's Role in Disarmament: UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged new negotiations to prevent an arms
race in outer space, emphasizing a stronger UN role in global security and disarmament.

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4.5. NEWS IN SHORTS
4.5.1. NAVAL ANTI-SHIP MISSILE–SHORT RANGE (NASM-SR)
DRDO and Indian Navy successfully flight-tested the first-of-its-kind Naval Anti-Ship missile (NASM-SR) from
Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur.
Key Features of NASM-SR
• Indigenous Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker: It facilitates high-precision strikes.
• Man-in-Loop Control: Allows real-time targeting adjustments.
• Propulsion System: It uses a solid propulsion system with an in-line ejectable booster and long-burn sustainer
for extended range and efficiency.
• Other: Incorporates advanced indigenous technologies, including a Fiber Optic Gyroscope-based Inertial
Navigation System (INS), etc.
• Significance: Strengthens naval strike capability, promotes indigenous defense production, and enhances
operational flexibility.

4.5.2. MILITARY EXERCISES

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4.6. ERRATA
• In the January 2025 Monthly Current Affairs Magazine, under Article 4.3. Coastal Security Scheme, due to a
typographical error in the infographic titled ‘Significance of Coastal security in India’, it has been incorrectly
mentioned that India is world’s 7th largest fishing nation.
o The correct information is- India is the world’s 2nd largest fish producing country.

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5. ENVIRONMENT
5.1. SOLAR ENERGY IN INDIA
Why in the News?
India has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 100 GW of installed solar power capacity.
More on the news

• As of January, 2025, India’s total solar capacity installed stands at 100.33 GW with remarkable growth trajectory (see
infographic).
o 84.10 GW is under implementation and an additional 47.49 GW under tendering.
• India’s also witnessed growth in hybrid and round-the-clock (RTC) renewable energy projects.
o Projects generating 64.67 GW are under implementation and tendered, bringing the grand total of solar and
hybrid projects to 296.59 GW.

About Solar Energy

• Solar power is energy from the Sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy.
• This is done through-
o Photovoltaic cells: which is utilized in solar panels made of different semiconductor materials.
o Concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) systems: which use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto
receivers that collect solar energy and convert it to heat.

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• Potential of Solar Energy in India: 748 GW assuming 3% of the waste land area to be covered by Solar PV modules
[National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE)]
• Significance of Solar energy in India
o Achieving India’s climate targets: In accordance with the Paris climate agreement, India’s Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs) include cutting emissions intensity by 45% and achieving 50% non-fossil fuel
capacity by 2030.
 Further, India aims to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030 (Panchamrit
announced at UNFCCC COP26).
o Fulfill future Energy Needs: India’s energy use is 3 times the global average (India Energy Outlook 2021) and is
expected to drive 25% of global demand growth over next 20 years.
o Rural Electrification: Solar energy can support off-grid power generation with fast capacity expansion,
benefiting remote areas.
Factors behind growth of Solar Energy in India
• Geographical Advantage: India receives abundant solar radiation, with ~300 sunny days per year and an average
of 4-7 kWh/m²/day, making most regions ideal for solar power generation.
• Government Schemes:
o Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme targeting 30.8 GW
solar power in agricultural sector.
o PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana enabling nearly 10.09 lakh rooftop solar installations (March 2025),
establishment of National Institute of Solar Energy etc.
• Financial support and encouraging investment: India has allowed 100% of foreign direct investment (FDI)
through the automated process.
o Further, Interstate transmission system (ISTS) fees are waived for solar and wind energy sales across states
for projects that are scheduled to be put into service by June 30, 2025.
• Boost RE consumption: Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) trajectory has been announced till 2029-30 including
separate RPO for Decentralized Renewable Energy.
• Indigenous manufacturing of solar components: Through initiatives like Solar Park Scheme, Production Linked
Incentive (PLI) Scheme under National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, etc.
• Consumer awareness: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) launched Standards and Labeling (S&L) programs for
both grid-connected solar inverters and solar photovoltaic (PV) modules in March 2024, aiming to help
consumers make informed choices and improve energy efficiency.
• Building infrastructure: Under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme, the government is laying new transmission lines
and creating new sub-station capacity for evacuation of renewable power.

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• International Cooperation and Leadership: Initiatives like International Solar alliance, put India at the forefront
of investing in clean energy technologies, by increasing energy access, guaranteeing energy security, and
accelerating the energy transition among its member nations.
o Further, Indo-German Solar Energy Partnership (IGSP) is developing market forces while introducing enabling
mechanisms and facilitating investments in rooftop PV systems.
Issues constricting in further advancement of solar energy in India
• Land Acquisition: Solar can need 300 times as much space as nuclear energy (Economic Survey 2023-24).
o Extremely large-scale solar farms require huge areas of land often conflicting with food security and
environmental interests.
• Infrastructure constraints: Grid integration and energy storage, pose challenges to scalability due to technological
limitations, high costs etc.
• Environmental concerns: Extraction of minerals needed for Solar, particularly Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, and some
rare earth minerals, leave large scars in the landscape and require substantial water, releasing about 15 tonnes of
CO2 per tonne of mineral. (Economic Survey 2023-24)
• Challenges to domestic manufacturing: Lack of R&D, modern development facilities, and manufacturing
infrastructure impact the development of solar panels, equipment, and inverters in India leading to increased
dependence on imports
• Policy and Regulatory Hurdles: Complex regulatory frameworks and inconsistent policies across states affect
project implementation.
o Delays in approvals and land clearances reduce the pace of solar energy deployment.
• Other issues: High initial Investment; waste problem as solar panels have to be replaced every couple of decades;
etc.
Way forward
• Modernize grid: Invest in smart grid technologies and develop localized microgrids in rural areas.
• Increase land-use efficiency: Promote agrivoltaics and increase development of floating solar panels on
reservoirs, irrigation canals, and water bodies to minimize land use conflicts.
• Policy Simplification: Harmonizing state and central policies can help streamline project approvals and
incentivize investments.
• Technological Innovations: Advancements in solar panel efficiency, energy storage (batteries), and hybrid
systems (solar-wind) can boost adoption.
o The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in solar systems can optimize
energy production and consumption.
• Circular economy approach: Establish a robust recycling ecosystem for solar panels and batteries to recover
critical materials and reduce the need for new mineral extraction.
• Boost Domestic Manufacturing: Encouraging local production of solar cells, modules, and storage solutions
through programs like “Make in India” can help boost the solar production further.

5.2. SOIL HEALTH CARD SCHEME

Why in the News?
Recently, Soil Health Card Scheme, launched in 2015, completed 10 Years of its implementation.
More on the News
• The Scheme was introduced to assist State Governments in issuing soil health cards to all farmers in the country.
• Since 2022-23, SHCS has been integrated with PM-Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Cafeteria scheme as one
of its components under name ‘Soil Health & Fertility’.

PM Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Cafeteria Scheme

• Launched: In 2007-08.
• About: Flagship scheme of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) in 2007-2008.

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 • Objective: To incentivize States to draw up comprehensive agriculture development plans for ensuring more
inclusive and integrated development of agriculture and allied sectors.
• Components: Soil Health Management, Rainfed Area Development, Agro Forestry, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas
Yojana, Agricultural Mechanization including Crop Residue Management, Per Drop More Crop, Crop
Diversification Programme, RKVY DPR component, and Accelerator Fund for Agri Startups.
About the SHCS
• Ministry: Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Objectives:
o To issue soil health cards every three years to all farmers.
o To develop and promote soil test based nutrient management for enhancing nutrient use efficiency.
o To find out the type of particular soil and provide ways to improve it.
• Features of Scheme:
o Soil Health Cards: Provides information to farmers on key nutrient status of the soil along with
recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health.
 Card contains status of soil with respect to 12 parameters (see infographic)
o Setting up of
Village level Soil
Testing Labs to
test the soils.
o Soil Health Card
Portal to facilitate
generation of
SHCs in a uniform
and standardized
format across
country in all
major languages
and 5 dialects.
• Implementation: By
Department of Agriculture of respective State /UTs.
• Technological Advancements:
o Integration of portal with a Geographic Information System (GIS) system to capture and show test results on
a map.
o Creation of Mobile app for obtaining a Soil Health Card with enhanced accessibility, efficiency, and
transparency.

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Key Achievements of the Scheme
• Coverage: 24.74 crore Soil Health Cards (SHC) generated (as of February, 2025).
• Increased Coverage: Number of SHC issued to farmers increased from 16 lakh (2020-21) to 53 lakh (2024-25).
• Mapping: Soil and Land Use Survey of India generated 1,987 village-level soil fertility maps for 21 States and Union
Territories.
• Labs: 8272 Soil Testing Labs have been set up.
• Funding: ₹1706.18 crore have been released to various States/UTs.
Constraints with the Scheme
• Quality and accuracy issues: Soil samples are sometimes collected improperly, leading to inaccurate test results.
o Many SHCs provide broad, one-size-fits-all recommendations instead of location-specific and crop-specific
advice.
• Lack of Understanding: Many farmers are unable to understand the content, hence unable to follow the
recommended practices.
• Absence of physical and micro-biological indicators: Such as soil texture, water holding capacity, and water
quality and bacterial content affect the process.
• Others: Inadequate testing Infrastructure, lack of availability of recommended fertilisers and bio-fertilisers at village
level, etc.
Way Forward
• Sample Collection and Testing: Identify best practices by examining across countries and different state
governments practices.
• Training and Development: Appropriate training, easy to use sampling tools keeping in mind specialized and highly
skill nature of job.
• Modern Labs: Soil testing labs at direct level should be
equipped with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic
Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) which is used to assess
soil health by quantifying the elemental composition.
• Creation of Specialized body: At central as well as at
state level for the management of soils with responsibility
of monitoring the quality of delivery service.
• Others: Coordination among agricultural extension
officers and farmers, development of Soil Health Index;
reduction in subsidy for NPK to rationalize fertilizer usage,
etc.

5.3. STUBBLE BURNING

Why in the news?
A parliamentary standing committee has recommended introducing a minimum support price (MSP) for paddy
residue to discourage stubble burning, one of the main causes of air pollution in Delhi.
More on the news
• The recommendations were made by the Committee on Subordinate Legislation which examined the Commission
for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (Imposition, Collection and
Utilization of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning) Rules, 2023.
• The rules were notified under the CAQM Act, 2021 to deal with the problem of stubble burning and fulfil the provision
of Section 15 of the Act.
About Stubble Burning
• A stubble burn refers to the act of setting on fire straw that has been left over after the harvest of grains, such as
paddy, wheat, etc.

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• Stubble burning (parali) is used to remove Paddy crop residues from fields in preparation for sowing wheat, which
is done around the end of September and the beginning of November.
o Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh are the primary states where this practice is prevalent during this time
of year.
• Reasons for stubble burning: Cheaper than alternative disposal methods, weed management, pest control etc.

Challenges in controlling stubble burning

• Technical and Infrastructural Challenges
o Inadequate harvesting technology: Current combine harvesters leave 10-15 cm stubble that cannot be easily
removed.
o Limited storage infrastructure: Lack of large land parcels for safe storage of paddy straw as well as limited
availability of custom hiring centers, especially for small farmers.
o Inadequate supply chain support: From companies collecting stubble
o Wear and tear on machinery: Technical difficulties in using 100% paddy straw as feedstock due to high silica
content causing wear and tear on machinery
o Short window (15-20 days): between harvesting rice and sowing wheat crops.
• Regulatory and Administrative Challenges
o Ambiguity in definitions: Of key terms like "stubble burning" and "environmental compensation".
o Unclear procedures: For the "RED ENTRY" system marking non-compliance with the rules related to stubble
burning.
 Lack of exit provisions for removing red entries from farmers' records
o Insufficient coordination: Between multiple ministries and state governments.
• Financial and Economic Barriers
o Insufficient subsidies for widespread adoption of machinery
o Lack of proper utilization frameworks: For environmental compensation fund.
• Socioeconomic and Awareness Issues
o Insufficient education and training programs on alternative methods and sustainable farming
o Imbalance between punitive measures and positive incentives.

Steps taken by government to reduce stubble burning

• Framework by the CAQM:
o In-situ Crop Residue Management: It involves machines procurement, setting up of Custom Hiring
Centers (CHCs), high yield and short duration paddy varieties, staggering of harvesting schedule, extensive
use of bio-decomposer.

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 o Ex-situ Crop Residue Management: Alternative usage of paddy straw viz. Biomass Power Projects, Co-firing
in Thermal Power Plants, Feed stock for 2G Ethanol plants, Feed stock in Compressed Biogas plant, packaging
materials etc.
o Prohibition of stubble residue burning: Through effective monitoring, enforcement Schemes to reduce
the generation of paddy straw as well as imposition of environmental compensation from the farmers
causing air pollution by stubble burning.
• Financial support mechanisms: Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) provides financial assistance
for procurement of agricultural machinery and equipment to small and marginal farmers.
• Promotion of alternatives: Like Bio Enzyme-PUSA, Palletization, Happy Seeder machine, utilization of biomass
for Biofuel Production etc.
• State level Initiatives:
o Uttar Pradesh: “Parali Ke Badle Govansh Khaad” (cow manure in exchange for stubble) aimed at curbing
stubble burning and promoting sustainable farming practices.
o Punjab: Mobile apps like i-Khet (for facilitating farmers to have access to the agriculture machinery/
equipment for In-situ management of crop residue), and “Cooperative Machinery Tracker” are in place to
ensure availability of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines.
Way Forward: Recommendations made by Parliamentary standing committee
• Financial Framework and Support Systems: Create a price system similar to Minimum Support Price (MSP) to
guarantee returns when farmers sell stubble
o Review and notify benchmark prices annually before the Kharif harvest season.
o Ensure prices reflect farmers' actual costs for residue collection, including labor and machinery.
• Technical and Infrastructure Development
o Establish a Real-time Mapping of Crop Acreage and Forecasting of Crop Maturity to assess district-wise crop
yields for better planning.
o Create interim storage facilities in districts where industries or end users are unavailable within 20-50 km.
o Support local entrepreneurs and aggregators and develop supply chain infrastructure.
• Regulatory and Administrative Improvements
o Designate a specific authority to address farmers' grievances in a time-bound manner
o Provide clarity through necessary amendments in existing rules.
o Introduce an incentive-based Red Entry removal system for farmers participating in sustainable practices
o Incorporate a new sub-rule for proper utilization of Environmental Compensation Fund for stubble burning.
• Agricultural Practice Improvements
o Incentivize adoption of short-duration paddy varieties as alternatives to long-duration varieties like PUSA 44
o Standardize procurement processes for alternative crop varieties and enforce seed certification bans for
problematic varieties
• Coordination and Policy Integration: Unified National Policy for integrating agricultural residue into bioenergy
generation which
o Prioritize adoption of technologies like bioethanol, compressed biogas, and biomass pellet.

5.4. NEWS IN SHORTS

5.4.1. WETLAND ACCREDITED CITIES
Indore and Udaipur have become the first two Indian cities to make it to the global list of accredited wetland cities
under Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
• Indore: Sirpur Lake (Ramsar Site) recognised for water bird congregation and is being developed as a bird
sanctuary.
• Udaipur: Surrounded by five major wetlands, namely, Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and
Doodh Talai.

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About Wetland City Accreditation (WCA)
• It is a voluntary Accreditation system that provides an
opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-
made wetlands to gain international recognition and
positive publicity for their efforts.
• It was approved at Uruguay in COP12 of Ramsar
Convention (2015).
• It is valid for 6 years, after which it must be renewed,
providing that it continues to fill each of the 6 criteria (refer
image).
Significance of WCA
• Promote conservation and wise use of urban and peri-
urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic
benefits for local populations.
• Help in implementation of Amrit Dharohar initiative of
MoEF&CC.

5.4.2. FOUR MORE WETLANDS INCLUDED UNDER THE RAMSAR CONVENTION

This has increased wetlands tally from 85 to 89, highest in Asia, third globally. Wetlands have been added from Tamil
Nadu, Sikkim and Jharkhand.
• Tamil Nadu leads with 20 Ramsar sites, the highest among Indian states.
• Sikkim and Jharkhand have added their first Ramsar sites.

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Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
• Intergovernmental treaty adopted in Ramsar (Iran) in 1971 (came into force in 1975).
• Objective: Provides a framework for national and international efforts to conserve and wisely use wetlands.
• World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2nd February.

5.4.3. INLAND MANGROVE OF GUNERI

Gujarat has notified "Inland Mangrove of Guneri" in the District of Kutch as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS).
• It is Gujarat’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site.
• Notified in accordance with the Biodiversity Act, 2002.
About Inland Mangrove of Guneri
• Guneri mangroves grow 45km from Arabian Sea and 4km from Kori Creek, representing a rare inland ecosystem.
o Unlike conventional mangrove ecosystems, this site does not receive tidal water inflow and lacks muddy or
swampy conditions.
• It is reportedly one of only eight of its kind across the world.
• Area houses around 20 migratory and 25 resident migratory avifaunal species.

5.4.4. UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME (UN -HABITAT)

C40 Cities & UN-Habitat have announced a landmark partnership to transform urban planning.
• It will launch an Urban Planning Accelerator to cut city emissions by 25% by 2050 while promoting safer, fairer, &
inclusive urban spaces.
About UN Habitat
• Launch: 1978
• Mission: To promote socially & environmentally sustainable towns and cities, ensuring adequate shelter for all.
• Role: Through initiatives like New Urban Agenda, it seeks to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, & sustainable.
About C40
• C40 is a global network of nearly 100 mayors of world’s leading cities that are united in action to confront climate
crisis.
• Six Indian cities are currently members of C40: Bengaluru; Chennai; Delhi NCT; Jaipur; Kolkata and Mumbai.

5.4.5. AGRI-NBSAPS
UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP 16.2) in Rome builds on
COP16 momentum in Colombia, where FAO launched Agri-
NBSAPs with the Colombian government and the Convention
on Biological Diversity (CBD).
About Agri-NBSAPs
• Agri-NBSAP aims to assist governments in integrating
agrifood systems (AFS) into National Biodiversity Strategies
and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and their implementation.
o An agrifood system encompasses all stages of food
production, from farm to fork.
o NBSAP provides a framework for biodiversity
conservation, enables sustainable use of biological
resources.
 Countries frame NBSAP under the Kunming-Montreal
Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) which aims
to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
• It provides a collective mechanism to help governments build capacity, identify and implement strategic levers
across AFS to achieve their NBSAP targets.

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Why should AFS be Integrated into NBSAPs?
• Meeting KM-GBF Goals: Over half of 23 targets of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF)
are directly or indirectly related to agriculture.
• Cutting Emissions: Agrifood systems produce nearly 1/3 of global greenhouse gases driving climate change,
which further degrades habitats and causes biodiversity loss.
• Protecting Food Security: Biodiversity supports pollination, soil fertility, and pest control.
o Biodiversity decline threatens 3 billion lives with 75% of food crops depend on pollinators.

5.4.6. CHAMPIONS OF ANIMAL PROTECTION

AWBI will honour Champions of Animal Protection under two major categories Prani Mitra and Jeev Daya Award.
• This initiative aims to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations for their remarkable contributions to
animal welfare and protection.
About AWBI
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act (PCAA) 1960 established the AWBI in 1962 as a statutory advisory body on
Animal Welfare Laws and promotes animal welfare.
• It was started under the stewardship of Rukmini Devi Arundale, well known humanitarian.
• It consists of 28 Members including 6 Members of Parliament (2 from Rajya Sabha and 4 from Lok Sabha).

5.4.7. F11 BACTERIA

A recent study discovered F11 bacteria (Labrys portucalensis) that degrades at least 3 types of per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
About F11 Bacteria
• It is an aerobic bacteria from the Xanthobacteraceae family.
• It may aid Bioaugmentation in wastewater treatment etc.
o Bioaugmentation is the addition of microorganisms that can biodegrade recalcitrant molecules in a polluted
environment.
About PFAS
• PFAS are toxic chemicals that resist grease, oil, water, and heat. They are called ‘forever chemicals’ due to their
almost indestructible nature.
• Uses: Nonstick cookware, grease-resistant food packaging, and waterproof and firefighting clothing etc.

5.4.8. SHALLOW-DEPTH EARTHQUAKE

Earthquake Measuring 4.0 in richter scale shakes Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).
• Unlike Himalayan quakes caused by plate tectonics, this earthquake was an intra-plate event, resulting from "in
situ material heterogeneity”.
• Tremors were more intense due to the epicentre (point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an
earthquake) located within Delhi and the earthquake's shallow depth of 5 km (See box).
Earthquakes Due to In-Situ Material Heterogeneity
• Definition: It refers to seismic activity caused by the inherent variability in the physical properties of the Earth's
crust. E.g., Rock type, presence of fluids in rock pores, etc.
• Formation: Variations in physical properties (heterogeneities) can cause stress concentration, which eventually
increase the likelihood of earthquakes.
• Influence on Faults: ‘In-situ heterogeneity’ creates stress buildup in fault zones, increasing the chances of
earthquakes.
o Delhi is placed in seismic zone IV in the seismic zoning map of India, the second highest in the country.

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 About Shallow Earthquake
• An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the ground caused by the shifting of rocks deep underneath the
earth’s surface.
o A shallow earthquake occurs at a relatively shallow depth (0 to 70 km) within the Earth's crust.
o Whereas, intermediate earthquakes occur in between 70 to 300 km and deep earthquakes occur in
between 300 to 700 km.
• Impact: Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage due to their proximity to the surface.

5.4.9. SHIFT IN EARTH’S MAGNETIC NORTH

Earth’s Magnetic North Pole is shifting toward Siberia, according to updated World Magnetic Model (WMM).
About WMM
• WMM is a standard model of the core and large-scale
crustal magnetic field.
• New version of model is updated every five years to
address changes in Earth’s magnetic field.
• It is produced by the United States’ National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the
United Kingdom’s Defence Geographic Centre
(DGC).
Shift in Earth’s Magnetic North Pole
• Magnetic North is where the Earth’s magnetic field
lines enter Earth in the North while Geographic North
is where lines of longitude (meridians) converge in the
north.
o Earth rotates on the geographic north and south poles.
• Since Earth’s Magnetic North Pole was first discovered in 1831 by explorer James Clark Ross, it has gradually
shifted.
o Over past century, its movement from Canada toward Siberia (Russia) has accelerated reaching a peak of 31
miles annually by 2000s but rate of movement has slowed in last five years.
• Positions of Earth’s Magnetic North and South Poles gradually change due to variations in Earth’s magnetic field
over time.
o Magnetic declination – the angle between magnetic North and Geographic North – at a given location also
changes over time.
• Sometimes, Magnetic Poles also undergo Pole Reversal i.e. swapping of magnetic north and south poles.
o According to Paleomagnetic records, Earth’s magnetic poles have reversed 183 times in the last 83 million
years.
o Potential Implications: Errors in navigation systems, impact on migratory species, risks from solar storms to
satellites and power grids etc.

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5.4.10. DRAFT RULES FOR ‘ONE NATION, ONE TIME’
Department of Consumer Affairs notifies Draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025.
• These landmark rules aim to standardize and mandate use of Indian Standard Time (IST) across all sectors in India.
About Draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025
• Mandatory time reference: Would be IST across all sectors, including commerce, transport, public administration,
legal contracts, and financial operations.
• Prohibition: No person/entity shall use, display, or record time other than IST for official/commercial purposes.
o Provided that any law/government direction/guidelines permits same.
• Adoption of Time Synchronization Protocols: Such as Network Time Protocol and Precision Time Protocol etc. by
government offices is required.
• Cybersecurity: To ensure resilience, cybersecurity
measures and alternative reference mechanisms are
prescribed.
• Authorized Deviations: Use of alternative timescales
(GMT, etc.) is permitted for specific purposes e.g.
astronomy, navigation, scientific research, etc. subject
to prior permission.
Significance of New Draft Rules
• Strengthens national security by improving the
synchronization of critical infrastructure
• Synchronization of digital devices and public services ensures reliable and efficient services
• Will ensure accurate financial transactions and consistency in record-keeping
About IST
• Central meridian of country (i.e. 82°30’E meridian passing through Mirzapur) is taken as Standard Meridian or IST
(Maintained by CSIR-NPL).
• It is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) (now Universal Coordinated Time (UTC)).
o Local time at Prime Meridian (0° longitude) is known as GMT.
• Several tea gardens in Assam follow an informal ‘Chaibagan’ or ‘Bagan time’ ('Tea Garden Time'), which is one hour
ahead of IST.
o It was introduced by the British tea companies to increase daylight work hours and productivity.

5.4.11. STRATOVOLCANO
In a rare event, massive methane plumes emitted from volcano Mount Fentale (Ethiopia).
• Mount Fentale is a stratovolcano which last erupted in 1820.
About Stratovolcano
• A stratovolcano is a large, steep-sided volcano built up by alternating layers of lava flows and volcanic ash, often
associated with explosive eruptions.
• E.g., Mount Fuji (Japan), Mount Vesuvius (Italy), Mount Etna (Italy), Mount Rainier (USA), Krakatoa (Indonesia), etc.
About Methane Plumes
• It’s the release of large quantities of methane from super-emitter sites like gas drilling sites.
• Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with 80 times the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide over a
20-year period.

5.4.12. MOUNT DUKONO

Recently, a volcano erupted at Mount Dukono in Indonesia.

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About Mount Dukono
• About: With a height of 1,087 metres above sea level, it is one of Indonesia’s 127 active volcanoes.
• Location: on Halmahera Island
Other major volcanoes erupted recently in Indonesia
• Mount Merapi: Located near the city of Yogyakarta.
• Mount Ruang: It is a stratovolcano located in the Sulawesi Islands.
• Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki: Located in Flores island

5.4.13. CASPIAN SEA

Environmental activists raised concerns over the rapidly declining water levels
in the Caspian Sea.
• It has already lost nearly 31,000 square km since 2005.
About Caspian Sea
• It is the largest enclosed water body in the world.
• The sea is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia,
Turkmenistan, and Iran.
o Kazakhstan has the longest coastline along the Caspian Sea.
• Its oil reserves are estimated at 48 billion barrels.
• Reasons for declining water level: The climate crisis, excessive water use
for agriculture, and pollution from nuclear waste, industry and poor urban planning, etc.

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6. SOCIAL ISSUES
6.1. MIDDLE-INCOME CLASS
Why in the News?
The new income tax structure offering income tax relief to the annual income of ₹12 lakh provides the much-needed tax
relief to the middle-income class in India.
More on the news
• The nil tax slabs has increased from INR 7 lakhs to INR12 lakhs under the new tax regime, with salaried taxpayers
effectively benefiting up to INR 12.75 lakhs due to the INR 75,000 standard deduction.
• The tax relief to the middle class seeks to uplift disposable incomes and stimulate consumption thereby driving
growth in the economy.
About Middle Income Class (MIC)
• Definition
o Though, there is no specific definition of the middle-income class, yet different approaches have been used to
define them. Some of them being:
 Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) considers those whose earnings are in
the range of US $10 to US $100 per day to be the middle-income class.
 The People Research on India’s Consumer Economy (PRICE) defines the middle-income class household
with an annual income of Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 30 lakhs (at 2020-21 prices).
o Therefore, they can be regarded as the socio-cultural groups which are economically secure with little chance
of falling into poverty or vulnerability.
• Within the MIC, there are notable variations
o Lower Middle Class: Spend much of their income on private healthcare, education, non-essential consumer
durables and assets like vehicles, basic household appliances, etc.
o Upper Middle Class: Along with spending on the above areas, also spend on discretionary goods and are likely
to own luxury assets like computers, air conditioners, etc.

Growth of Indian Middle-Income Class

• Pre-Independence: The MIC initially comprised a small group of educated, upper-caste, English-speaking elites,
shaped by British colonial education policies.
• Post-Liberalization Expansion: The Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization (LPG) reforms of the 1990s
marked a turning point. It opened the Indian economy to multinational corporations, creating new job opportunities
in services and IT sectors. This expanded the MIC significantly, especially in urban areas.
• Current and Future Projections: According to PRICE, India’s middle class is projected to grow from 31% in 2021 to
38% by 2031 and further to 60% by 2047.

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Impact of the Changing Nature of Middle Class on various domains
Economy
• Driving Consumption: Rising incomes and the expansion of middle-class will reshape future consumption driving
incremental consumption on apparel, communication, personal care, etc.
o Middle-class and rich households will drive nearly $2.7 trillion of incremental consumption spend by 2030-31
(PRICE).
• Emergence of New Market: The urban middle-income acts as a huge market and a revenue source for local and
global companies, with brands designing policies to effectively target them.
o The MIC also promotes a dynamic entrepreneurial environment by creating demand for startups and new
services.
• Inclusive Growth: Strong and prosperous middle class support healthy societies with investment in education,
health, intolerance of corruption, etc., offering the basis for inclusive growth.
City Infrastructure
• Making Tier II Cities attractive: Rising affluence and higher purchasing power of the middle class would make the
Tier II and III cities attractive on the demand side.
• Emerging Growth Centres: The new middle-income consumption patterns are aspirational leading to the rise of
various entertainment centres in the cities like coffee shops, shopping malls, recreation centres, etc.
• Emergence of Residential Societies: While earlier gated residential societies were looked up as the preferred
housing model for the upper classes, with the emergence of the middle class, it has percolated even to the tier II
cities.
Social
• Better Socio-Economic Outcomes: Researches have established that higher share of middle class creates better
institutions which in turn lead to better socioeconomic outcomes.
• Foster Social Values: There exists a positive feedback relationship between values and economic growth as
when the wealth increases, individuals tend to be more likely to hold democratic values, emphasize free speech, de-
emphasize religion, and care more about the environment.
Challenges faced by the Middle-Income Classes in India
• Rising Inflation: The privatization of healthcare and education has made quality services expensive, straining
middle-class finances.
• Unemployment: The high levels of unemployment or underemployment leads to financial insecurity and a lack of
stable income.
• Stagnant Wage Growth: Despite economic growth, middle-class salaries are not rising proportionately, affecting
their purchasing power.
• Technology Threat: The automation of jobs is displacing many middle-class professionals, particularly in banking,
IT, and manufacturing sectors.
• Taxation and Insufficient Social Security: Despite being the primary taxpayer group, the MIC receives limited tax
incentives and social benefits compared to lower-income groups.
• Debt Burden: To meet lifestyle aspirations, the MIC often resorts to consumer loans and credit card debts, increasing
their financial vulnerability.
o In FY23, India's household debt has reached 38% of GDP, reflecting a growing trend in household leverage
(CareEdge report).
• Social Constructs: Like patriarchal attitudes often affect middle-class women in professional settings, limiting their
career growth.
Reasons for the Neglect of Middle Class in India
• Self-Sustaining Trait: There is a misconception that the middle class is self-sustaining and not require government
support, despite facing increasing pressure from indirect taxes, inflation, etc.

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• Heterogenous Composition: This segment comprises of populace from various sections like public sector
employees, unorganised workers like carpenters, gig workers, etc., making it difficult to design a particular incentive
for them.
o Middle class usually do not organize into pressure group and are less ideologically driven, even political leaders
emerging amongst them have lack of focus on them.
• Lower Political Participation: Lower voter turnout among the middle class is the primary reason for them being
politically and economically overlooked.
• Limited Representation in Policy-Making: Middle-class concerns are underrepresented in policymaking bodies,
which are often dominated by business lobbies or rural-centric agendas.
Conclusion
Empowering the middle class requires a multifaceted approach, including tax benefits, affordable housing, and
strengthened labour market policies. A comprehensive, stakeholder-driven action plan is essential to address their
vulnerabilities, enhance financial security, and promote sustainable growth, ensuring their continued contribution to the
economy and society.

6.2. THREE-LANGUAGE FORMULA

Why in the news?
In some states there have been opposition of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's three-language formula.
About NEP and Three Language Formula
• NEP 2020 Policy: Requires students to learn three languages, with at least two being Indian.
• Changes from Past Policies: Unlike the NEP 1968, which mandated Hindi, English, and a regional language, NEP
2020 allows flexibility in language selection.
• Regional Flexibility: States and students can choose languages, promoting multilingualism while respecting
cultural and regional diversity.

Evolution of Three Language Formula Policy

• Article 351 of the Constitution: Makes the Union duty bound to promote the spread of the Hindi language.
• Kothari Commission (1964-66): It first proposed the three-language formula, which was later adopted in the
National Policy on Education (1968).
• National Education Policy (NEP), 1968: Observed use of regional languages at the primary and secondary stages,
and called to adopt the same at the university stage as well.
• 1992 Programme of Action: Mother tongue/ regional language should be the medium of communication at the
pre-school level
• Right to Education Act, 2009: As far as possible, the medium of instruction in school should be the child’s mother
tongue.
• National Education Policy (NEP),2020: Advocates for utilising the home language, mother tongue, local language,
or regional language as the medium of instruction at least until Grade 5, but preferably extending till Grade 8 and
beyond.
Advantages of Three Language Formula
According to UNESCO's latest report Languages Matter: Global Guidance on Multilingual Education, multilingual
education
• Enhances Access and Inclusion
o Wider educational access: Helps children from diverse linguistic backgrounds learn in a language they
understand.
o Parental engagement: Learning in native languages boosts parental involvement in education.
o Inclusion of marginalized groups: Respects and integrates linguistic and cultural diversity in education.

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• Improves Learning Outcomes
o Nurturing Socio-emotional growth: Multilingual education helps children express themselves better and
understand diverse perspectives.
o Better academic performance: Research shows multilingual students excel in other subjects due to enhanced
cognitive abilities.
• Supports Sustainable Development
o Cultural preservation: Protects languages and traditions for future generations.
o Economic benefits: E.g. Switzerland attributes 10% of its GDP to its multilingual heritage.
o Social harmony: Encourages understanding and tolerance between linguistic and cultural groups.
o Environmental protection: Indigenous languages preserve traditional knowledge and sustainable practices.
• Facilitates National Integration
o Effective communication: Helps students interact across regions.
o Unity in diversity: Promotes respect for different cultures and languages, strengthening national identity.
Arguments Against Three-Language Formula
• Politicisation: Language is a politically sensitive issues in many part of the world. Multilingual education could be
used as a tool to mobilise people in spirit of the ‘sons of the soil’ which may hamper national integrity.
o Sons of the soil are culturally dominant in their region but a minority in the country. They feel threatened by
migrants from the majority culture settling in their homeland.
• Language Learning Should be a Choice: Adults can learn languages based on their profession and other needs,
making compulsory school language policies unnecessary.
• Struggles in Primary Education: Many students in India lack basic literacy. Adding a third language could
overburden an already strained education system.
o Additionally, Children from monolingual homes may find multilingual education confusing and stressful.
• Shortage of Qualified Teachers: Shortage of teachers for 2nd and 3rd language could divert funds from more pressing
educational needs like infrastructure for faculty training.
• Challenges for Linguistically Diverse States: States like Nagaland, with multiple languages and limited resources,
may struggle to implement a three language formula.
• Execution difficulties: For example, Haryana introduced Tamil but faced difficulties.
• Technology Reduces Barrier: AI tools like Google Gemini provide instant translations, making language
proficiency less necessary.

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Way Forward for Effective Implementation of Three Language Formula
• Prioritizing Education Quality: Focus on improving teaching quality and learning outcomes rather than adding more
languages.
• Strengthening Cooperative Federalism: Encourage dialogue between the Centre and States to ensure smooth NEP
2020 implementation and avoid funding delays.
• Aligning with UNESCO’s Multilingual Education Guidance
o Data-Driven Policy: Collect sociolinguistic and educational data for effective planning.
o Learning Materials & Assessments: Develop resources in learners' languages and adapt assessments.
o Qualified Teachers: Train educators fluent in both the mother tongue and official language.
o Community Engagement: Involve parents, caregivers, and Indigenous groups in designing effective multilingual
programs.

6.3. QUALITY HIGHER EDUCATION IN INDIA

Why in the News?
NITI Aayog launched a policy report titled ‘Expanding Quality Higher Education through States and State Public
Universities’.
State Public Universities
Universities established or incorporated by a Provincial Act or by a State Act, and funded by the State Government are
called State Public Universities (SPUs).

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Scenario of Higher Education in India
According to AISHE Report 2021-2022
• Access & Enrolment
o Institutions: There were 1,168 universities, 45,473 colleges and 12,002 stand-alone institutions in the country.
o Student Enrolment: Over 4 crore students, making India the second-largest after China.
o Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): Increased 71 times from 0.4 (1950-51) to 28.4 (2021-22); National Education
Policy (NEP) 2020 aims for 50% by 2035.
o Gender Parity Index (GPI): Improved from 0.87 (2011-12) to 1.01 (2021-22) (improvement of 16%).
• Quality & Research
o Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR): Steady at 23:1 for the last five years.
o Research: India's global research share grew from 3.5% (2017) to 5.2% (2024), but higher education contributes
only 10% of total research output.
• Funding: Combined expenditure by the Centre and States
(as % of GDP)-
o University & Higher Education: 0.62%
o Technical Education: 0.95%
o Overall Tertiary Education: 1.57% (outperformed
most European nations, slightly behind the US & UK).
Key Challenges to Quality Higher Education in India
• Inefficient Accreditation System: After almost 35 years of
the introduction of the NAAC accreditation system, less
than 39% of universities nationwide have been
accredited partly due to high costs of accreditation.
• Financing Gap: While India is fourth globally in terms of
overall tertiary education budget, its per capita
government expenditure on tertiary education is only
about US$30.
o This is lower than many emerging countries like Brazil
(2.6 times higher) and most developed countries like the USA (35 times higher).
• Suboptimal Research
o There is low expenditure on R&D by Government (around 0.7% of GDP), and by HEIs resulting in lower
innovation outcomes.
o Researchers lack incentives such as funding, recognition, commercialisation of prototypes and career
advancement opportunities. This results in lack of quality PhD students leading to faculty shortage.
• Policy & Governance Issues
o Multidisciplinary Education Gaps: No strong framework for MERUs (Multidisciplinary Education & Research
Universities) and lack of dedicated policies in areas such as technology implementation, AI, data privacy etc.
o University Tax Burden: It impacts taxation on revenue of public universities, including CSR grants, and
commercial rates for utilities, impacts their financial sustainability.
o Limited Autonomy: HEIs face lack of administrative autonomy including the freedom to decide fee or
curriculum, impacting decision-making and hindering innovation.
• Regional Disparities: According to AISHE Report 2021-2022-
o University Density (per 1 lakh eligible students): Highest in Sikkim (10.3), Arunachal Pradesh (5.6), Ladakh
(5.2), etc.
 In Bihar (0.2), UP (0.3), West Bengal & Maharashtra (0.6) the density is below national average
o GER: Southern states including Tamil Nadu (highest at 47) Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh have higher GER
while Northern States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh have low GERs.
o GPI: Kerala has highest GPI of 1.44, followed by Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, while Odisha and Tripura
have lowest GPIs at 0.88 and 0.89 respectively.
o PTR: Better in Tamil Nadu (14), Goa, Karnataka, Kerala leads with a higher PTR than national average whereas
Bihar (64), Jharkhand, MP, Chhattisgarh have a lower PTR.

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 Key Initiatives for Quality Higher Education

• Budget 2025-26 Announcements

o 10,000 Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) selected
 PMRF Scheme aimed to support India’s brightest talents in doctoral research.
o Addition of 6,500 seats in second-generation IITs.
o Bharatiya Bhasha textbook scheme for regional language education
• Assessment and Ranking:
o National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC): NAAC was established in 1994 as an autonomous
institution under the UGC and has established seven criteria for assessing HEIs and accrediting them.
o National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF): NIRF, launched in 2015, provides a standardized
methodology to rank HEIs across India.
• Infrastructure Development
o Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA): To provide financing for the creation of capital assets and state-
of-the art infrastructure such as research labs, sports facilities in premier educational institutions.
o National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR): Launched in 2021, NDEAR established a comprehensive
digital infrastructure for educational innovation.
o Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA): Aimed at funding specific state government
universities and colleges, so as to improve its quality.
• R&D
o Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): To seed, grow and promote R&D throughout India’s
universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.
o Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC): To promote high-quality
research by facilitating partnerships between top-ranked Indian HEIs and globally recognized foreign
institutions.
o One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme: To democratize access to high-quality scholarly research in
India.
o Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) Programme: Launched by ANRF, institutions
with high NIRF ranking (Hubs) will guide emerging institutions (spokes) in research activities, provide
access to harness their resources and expertise.
• Employability Facilitation
o National Credit Framework (NCrF): A comprehensive system introduced under NEP 2020 to integrated
academic learning with vocational and experiential education.
o PM Internship Scheme: Aims to provide 1 crore internships over five years to enhance employability and
skill development.
Way Forward for Quality Higher Education
• Funding and Financing: Ensure NEP-recommended budget allocation. Use Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
for infrastructure, research & skill development.
o For instance, Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK) was started as not-for-profit organization to
bridge the industry-academia gap by offering quality human resources and services.
• Improving Governance: Shift to a ‘regulatory-facilitator’ model for Public Universities and grant greater autonomy
in areas like curriculum development, faculty recruitment, etc.
• Improving infrastructure: For Instance, Odisha Higher Education Programme for Excellence and Equity
(OHEPEE) covered 850 colleges focusing on uplifting educational standards and infrastructure.
• Improving Pedagogy: Develop a framework for evaluating teaching effectiveness and establish curriculum
review committees within each university.
• Digitalization of Higher Education: Establish dedicated digital learning centres, adopt digital platforms for student
lifecycle management.
o Kerala’s ‘Let’s Go Digital’ Initiative initiated digital learning initiatives through ICT-based teaching methods and
digital course content.

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• Improving Research Quality
o Policy Framework: Develop and implement a National Research Policy framework in alignment with the ANRF.
o Capacity Building: Develop capacity building programmes for faculty members and administrators.
 For instance, Maharashtra State Faculty Development Academy was established to enhance faculty
capabilities.
o Internationalization of Higher Education: For instance, GIFT City in Gujarat allowed world-class foreign
universities to establish campuses within its boundaries.
o Industry Academia Collaboration: Establish Industry Relations Cell (IRC) in universities and utilize existing
industry association platforms like CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, NASSCOM etc.
 Establish incubation centers or co-working spaces to support student-led startups.

6.4. SWACHH BHARAT MISSION-GRAMEEN (SBM-G)

Why in the News?
The Standing Committee on Water Resources published a report analysing the implementation of Swachh Bharat
Mission-Grameen.
About Swachh Bharat Mission- Grameen
• A centrally sponsored scheme, launched in 2014 to achieve comprehensive sanitation coverage in rural areas.
• Objectives of SBM-G:
o Phase-I (2014-2019): To make the country Open Defecation Free (ODF) by October 2, 2019, the 150th birth
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, by providing access to toilets to all the rural households.
o Phase-II (2019-2025):
Launched in 2020 to ensure
Sampoorn Swachhata, that is,
no one is left behind in their
pursuit for having Individual
Household Toilets and proper
waste management systems,
making villages ODF Plus
Model.
 ODF Plus Model includes: -
✓ ODF Sustainability
✓ Solid Waste
Management
✓ Liquid Waste
Management
✓ Visual Cleanliness
• Key features
o Funding pattern:
 60:40 between Centre and
States for all components
 90:10 in case of North Eastern States and Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and UT of Jammu & Kashmir
 Other UTs: 100% share is borne by Centre.
o Incentive of Rs.12000/-: For construction of individual household latrine (IHHL) for all BPL households and
identified Above Poverty Line (APL) household (SC/ST households, households with physically disabled person,
landless labourers with homestead, small and marginal farmers and women headed households)
o Jan Aandolan model: It is considered as the largest mass movement and behavioral change programme in
the world.
o Swachh Survekshan Grammen (SSG): A yearly survey conducted through a third-party survey agency.
o Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2024 campaign: To reignite the spirit of collective action and citizen participation in
cleanliness efforts across India.

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Progress and Achievements
• Impact of Phase-I
o By October 2019, all
villages across the country
in all 36 States/UTs
declared themselves ODF.
o Rural sanitation
coverage: Increased from
39% in 2014 to 100% in
2019.
o Health: SBM helped avoid
3 lakh diarrheal deaths in
2019 compared to 2014.
(WHO)
o Nutrition and
productivity: Cases of
wasting among children
are 58% higher in non-ODF
areas (The Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation).
o Safety and dignity of women: 93% women feel safer after getting a toilet at home. (UNICEF)
o Savings in health expenditure: An average of ₹50,000 was being saved every year by families in ODF villages,
due to health costs avoided. (UNICEF)
• Achievements of Phase-II
o 5,57,468 villages out of 5,87,529 villages (~95%) have been declared ODF Plus.
o According to the SBM-G Dashboard (March, 2025):
 ODF-Plus Model States / UTs: Sikkim and Lakshadweep
 ODF-Plus States / UTs: Ladakh
 More than 5 lakh villages have arrangements for both Solid and Liquid Waste Management.
Challenges in Implementation (Standing Committee on Water Resources)
• Underperformance: Slow Progress during last 5 years hinders achieving targets-
o Only 35% and 57% targets were achieved in SWM (Solid Waste Management) and LWM (Liquid Waste
Management) respectively.
o Only 56% targets in respect of ODF Plus (Model) villages achieved.
o Only 31% and 8% targets were achieved in Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) and Community Sanitary
Complexes (CSCs) respectively.
• Underutilization of allocated funds: Only 19.61% of the allocated budget is utilized in the current FY 2024-25.
• Reliance on Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR): Substantial portion of the budgetary allocation (9-17%) had been
spent on payment of interest on EBR during the last 5 years thereby reducing the availability of funds for effective
utilization.
• Inadequate incentive: The BPL section is given an incentive of ₹12,000 for construction of IHHL which is found to be
inadequate as it is based on 2014 assessment.
• Functional Assessment: SSG-2023 has issues like- inadequate scale (small sampling), doubtful credibility of the
third-party survey agency and the methodology used etc.
• Regional disparity: States/UTs like Manipur, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Punjab and Nagaland are lagging behind in
achieving SWM saturation.
• Others: Insufficient availability of vehicles for Sanitation services in States/UTs; Low coverage of blocks with
Plastic Waste Management Units (PWMUs); Lack of a new baseline survey to identify the leftout households etc.
Recommendations (Standing Committee on Water Resources)
• Fast-track implementation through coordinated efforts with States/UTs needed to identify and address issues
faced in achieving Mission goals.

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• Fully utilize the allocated budget in a time-bound manner and prepare a road map for prudent utilization/release
of funds.
o Avoid raising funds through EBR as it leads to payment of substantial interest.
• Reviewing and revising the incentive for IHHLs based on present rate of inflation.
• Devise Comprehensive monitoring mechanism to accurately assess the functionality of key ODF Plus parameters.
• Improve Solid and Plastic Waste Management by augmenting activities like increasing number of sanitation
vehicles, development of forward linkage for plastic waste management and increasing number of functional
PWMUs.

6.5. JAL JEEVAN MISSION

Why in the News?
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was extended till 2028 with an enhanced outlay during the Union Budget 2025.
About Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
• Launched in 2019 by restructuring and subsuming National
Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP).
o At inception, it aimed at providing additional ~16 crore
rural households with tap water by 2024.
• Aim: ‘Har Ghar Jal (HGJ)’ i.e. to provide-
o Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to
every rural household
o ensuring adequate quantity (minimum service level of
55 litres per capita per day (lpcd)) of prescribed quality
(as per Bureau of Indian Standards)
o on regular and long-term basis
o at affordable charges.
• Nodal Ministry: Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Funding pattern: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (Centre and State)
o 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States.
o 100% for UTs.
o 50:50 for rest of the States.
• Key Features of the scheme:
o Shift of focus for water supply: From 'habitations to households'.
o Decentralized, demand-driven, community-managed water supply programme.
 Gram Panchayat or its sub-committee comprising of user groups plays the role of a 'public utility'.
 At least 5 persons in every village, preferably women, are trained on using Field Test Kits (FTKs) for testing
of water quality at village level.
o Jal Jeevan Survekshan (JJS): Launched in 2022 to assess districts and States/UTs on their performance in
achieving the objectives of the JJM.
o Central role of women and weaker sections: Minimum 50% members of Village Water & Sanitation Committee
(VWSC)/ Pani Samitis are to be women and proportionate representation of weaker sections of society.
o Technological interventions: JJM–IMIS, real-time Dashboard, geo-tagging of assets, sensor-based IoT solutions
for water supply measurement, JJM - Water Quality Management Information System (JJM - WQMIS) etc.
o Awareness generation and involvement of stakeholders: Janandolan for water, and encouraging contribution
in cash, kind and/or labour and voluntary labour (shramdaan).
To know more about importance of community participation in water conservation, refer to Article 5.1. Jal Hi Amrit in
October 2024 2024 Monthly Current Affairs Magazine.
Progress and Achievements
• 11 States/UTs have provided tap water connection to all rural households (100%).
o HGJ Reported States/ UTs (confirmed by State/UT Water Supply Department): Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh,
Gujarat, Telangana.

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 o HGJ Certified States/ UTs (Resolution passed by Gram
o Sabha ascertaining claims of Water Supply Department): Goa, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab,
Haryana, A &N Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu
• Addition of 75.89% connections since the launch of the mission.
o Households with tap water connections increased from 3.23 crore (17%) of rural households in 2019 to 15.44
crore (79.74%) in February 2025.
• 9,32,440 schools and 9,69,585 Anganwadi centres have tap water supply.

Challenges in Implementation (Standing Committee on Water Resources (2024-25) Report)

• Under-utilization of Funds: Only 30.72% of the funds allocated for the current FY 2024-25 have been utilized.
• Slow rate of saturation in achieving HGJ Status: Only 11 States/UTs have achieved HGJ status due to issues like-
o Long gestation period of Multi Village Schemes.
o Lack of dependable groundwater sources in drought-prone & desert areas, geogenic contamination.
o Terrain challenges in hilly & forested areas.
o Lack of financial and technical capabilities in the States.
o Delay in clearances from nodal agencies, etc.
• Lack of a comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) Policy: The responsibility for O&M policies is shifted
to the states; only 12 State/UTs have notified O&M Policies for sustainability of rural water infrastructure.
o Issues faced by States include lack of institutional and technical capacity, financial constraints and coordination
challenges.
• Insufficient Water Quality Testing Laboratories (WQTL): Presently, only 2160 WQTLs present for ~5.86 lakh
villages.
o Further not all labs have accreditation by NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration
Laboratories).
• Low focus on water sustainability: Presently, major sources for water under JJM are 52% Ground water and 48%
Surface water.
Recommendations (Standing Committee on Water Resources (2024-25) Report)
• Expediting the utilization of funds for implementation of JJM in a time-bound manner with centre-state
coordination.
• Provide pro-active assistance to under-performing States.
• Involve local elected representatives in the Apex Committee of the State Water and Sanitation Mission.
• Provide assistance to States/UTs in notifying their O&M policy at the earliest.
• Increase number of WQTLs in rural areas and prepare time-bound Plan for NABL accreditation of existing labs.
o Further, 2% allocation to States/UTs can be made mandatory for Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance
(WQM&S) by revising operational guidelines of JJM.
• Formulate schemes/strategy for Water conservation in rural areas.
o E.g. revival and rejuvenation of traditional water bodies, desilting, rainwater harvesting and educating masses.

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6.6. NEWS IN SHORTS
6.6.1. “IMAGINE A WORLD WITH MORE WOMEN IN SCIENCE ” CAMPAIGN
UNESCO launched “Imagine A World With More Women In Science’’ campaign.
• The campaign marks the 10th anniversary of International Day of Women and Girls in Science and highlights
positive impact of diverse perspectives by using hashtag #EveryVoiceInScience.
• UNGA has in 2015 declared 11th February as International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Gender Gap in Science
• Global:
o Low Representation: Women make up only one-third of the global scientific community
o Leadership Gap: Just 1 in 10 STEM leadership roles are held by women.
• India:
o Women constitute 43% enrolment in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine)
o The number of women scientists is 18.6%, R&D projects run by Women are ~25%.
Challenges
• Social & Cultural Norms (restrictive gender roles), Lack of role models (few visible female leaders in science
limits aspirations), workplace inequality (biased work cultures) etc.
Steps to be Taken

6.5.2. SWAVALAMBINI
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with NITI Aayog launched
Swavalambini.
About Swavalambini
• A Women Entrepreneurship Programme, initially introduced across Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Eastern
regions has been now expanded to other regions of the country.

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• Implementation: By National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) in joint
partnership with NITI Ayog.
• Aim: To establish a structured and stage-wise entrepreneurial journey for young women. The programme will take
participants through various stages, including awareness-building, skill development, training, mentorship, policy
support and funding support.
• It also provides six months of mentorship and handholding support to help participants translate their ideas into
sustainable prospects.

6.6.3. ASER 2024 RELEASED BY NGO PRATHAM FOUNDATION

The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) is a nationwide rural household-based survey of children's schooling
and learning status.
• It tests the schooling status for children in the age group of 3-16, and the ability to read simple text & do basic
arithmetic in the age group of 5-16.
• The ASER survey was conducted annually from 2005 till 2014. Thereafter, an alternate-year cycle was introduced.
Key Findings
• Reversing the Learning Gap: Improvements in basic reading and arithmetic among students of classes 3 and 5 in
rural areas reverting back from the post-pandemic damage.
o Improvement in both reading & arithmetic levels for all elementary grades (Std I-VIII) since 2022 with
arithmetic levels being highest over the decade.
• Digital Literacy: In 2024, for the first time, it includes a component of ‘Digital Literacy’ among the age group 14-16.
o Access to smartphones is close to universal: Almost 90% of both girls and boys report having a smartphone at
home.
o Gender Gap in Smartphone Ownership: 36.2% of boys own a smartphone compared to just 26.9% of girls.
o Smartphone Usage More for Social Media than Education: Only 57% of teenagers use smart devices for
educational purposes, while approximately 76% use them for social media.
• School Infrastructure: All Right to Education indicators in ASER show slight improvements, including functional
girls' toilets, drinking water facilities etc.

6.6.4. WHO FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL (WHO FCTC)

WHO marked 20 years of its first global treaty, the WHO FCTC.
About WHO FCTC
• Genesis: Adopted in 2003, enforced in 2005.
• Purpose: Provides a legal framework for tobacco control which includes large pictorial health warnings, smoke-
free laws, and higher taxes.
• India’s Role: Ratified in 2004, served as South-East Asia’s regional coordinator.
• Impact: 5.6 billion people covered by at least one policy, contributing to declining global smoking rates.

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7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
7.1. NUCLEAR ENERGY MISSION
Why in the News?
Union Finance Minister announced a dedicated Nuclear Energy Mission; one of the biggest moves to expand nuclear
energy sector with an allocation of a 20,000 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26.
About the Nuclear Energy Mission
• Target: To achieve 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, aligning with its long-term energy transition strategy
and broader "Viksit Bharat" vision.
o India’s installed nuclear energy capacity is 8180 MW as of January 30, 2025. The government plans to increase
this to 22,480 MW by 2031-32.
• Aim: For research and development of small modular reactors (SMRs), and setting up of at least five SMRs by 2033.
• Private Sector Participation: Proposed changes to the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear
Damage Act, 2010, aim to encourage private sector involvement in nuclear energy projects.
o Partnerships with the private sector with the motive of: Setting up Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs), Research
& development of Bharat Small Modular Reactor, and Research & development of newer technologies for
nuclear energy.
o In addition to BSRs, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is developing Small Modular Reactors
(SMRs) for repurposing retiring coal-based power plants and meeting power needs in remote locations.
• Indigenous Technology Development: The mission emphasizes the development of BSRs, which are compact 220
MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) designed for captive use.
o The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) also plans to introduce new nuclear reactors, including high-
temperature gas-cooled reactors for hydrogen co-generation and molten salt reactors aimed at utilizing India's
abundant thorium resources.
• Help in energy transition: India's commitment to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy generation
by 2030 and meeting 50% of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030, as pledged at the COP26
Summit in Glasgow in 2021.
What are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)?
• Definition: Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300
MW (e) per unit, which is about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors. SMRs,
which can produce a large amount of low-carbon electricity, are:
o Small: Physically a fraction of the size of a conventional nuclear power reactor.
o Modular: Making it possible for systems and components to be factory-assembled and transported as a unit to
a location for installation.
o Reactors: Harnessing nuclear fission to generate heat to produce energy.

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Significance of SMR Nuclear Energy
• Compact Architecture and Passive Safety: There is less reliance on active safety systems and additional pumps,
as well as AC power for accident mitigation.
o US based NuScale's SMR design includes passive cooling systems that eliminate the need for external
electricity during emergencies.
• Flexibility in Applications: SMRs can be used for diverse applications such as electricity generation, industrial heat
supply, and desalination.
o South Korea's SMART (System-integrated Modular Advanced Reactor) is designed for generating electricity
(up to 100 MWe) and/or thermal applications such as seawater desalination.
• Modularity for Factory Fabrication: Major components of SMRs are factory-built, enabling higher quality standards
and reducing construction time and costs.
o NuScale's SMR plant can be assembled in modules at a factory and transported to the site, reducing overall
space.
• Potential for sub-grade (underground or underwater) location: Reactor unit providing more protection from
natural (e.g. seismic or tsunami according to the location) or man-made hazards.
o For Example, Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov, a floating nuclear power plant is designed to operate in remote
Arctic regions.
• Scalability: The modular design and small size lends itself to having multiple units on the same site.
• Portability: Ability to remove reactor module or in-situ decommissioning at the end of the lifetime.

India’s Civil Nuclear Deals

• In September 2008, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) adopted a policy decision allowing civil nuclear
cooperation between its members and India.
• Russia: The 2008 Inter-Governmental Agreement established a framework for collaboration on constructing
additional nuclear reactors at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP).
• United States: 123 Agreement (2008) opened pathways for U.S. nuclear fuel and technology exports to India.
• France: 2008 Civil Nuclear Agreement, project is under discussion is the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project.
• Other countries are: Canada, South Korea, Japan (2016), The United Kingdom (2015) and Namibia, Argentina,
Kazakhstan, the Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, European Union, Australia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Vietnam, UAE,
and Ghana.
Some of the issues with SMRs
• Private sector and profit orientation: Private sector can be tempted to lower costs by cutting corners compromising
safety and security. The Fukushima accident review has already resulted in new safety requirements for operating
and new reactors.
• Unreliability of passive safety features: SMRs has passive safety which may not always work, especially during
extreme events such as large earthquakes, major flooding etc.
o As per U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission review of the NuScale design revealed that passive emergency
systems could deplete cooling water of boron, which is needed to keep the reactor safely shut down after an
accident.
• Economic Viability: The cost per kilowatt-hour of the electricity produced by a small reactor will be higher than that
of a large reactor, all other factors being equal.
o For example, a 1,100 MWe plant would cost only about three times as much to build as a 180 MWe version, but
would generate six times the power.
• Problem of what to do with radioactive waste: In terms of the quantity of highly radioactive isotopes, small reactors
will produce just as much as large reactors per unit of heat generated and will require same disposal arrangements.
• No fuel efficiency than large reactors: On contrary some SMRs require fuel called “high-assay low enriched
uranium (HALEU),” with higher concentrations of the isotope uranium-235 than conventional light-water reactor fuel
requiring cumbersome enrichment process.
Way forward
• Universal Regulatory Frameworks: Standardization and Licensing by regulatory frameworks to facilitate the
deployment of SMRs across different countries.

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• Addressing Safety Concerns: Engaging with the public to address safety and environmental concerns can improve
acceptance and support for SMR projects.
• A comprehensive safety assessment methodology is required to ensure that the Systems, Structures and
Components (SSCs) of SMRs.
• Construction of FOAK (First of a kind) SMR demonstration units and learning: Government can support projects
in many forms, ranging from specific long-term power purchase agreements to cost-sharing mechanisms that can
minimize construction risks so as to attract more investors.
• Project specific Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA): It needs to be performed against a set of pre-defined criteria
such as potential of the SMR towards emission free generation of electricity etc.
• Safeguards by Design (SBD): Consideration of Safeguards requirements during early stages of SMR designs in close
interaction with IAEA, such that the implementation of Safeguards can be effective throughout the life cycle of SMR
plant.
• Innovative Financing Framework: Availability of low-cost finance, green finance and incorporation of nuclear into
green taxonomy can improve the economics of SMR projects.

7.2. DEEP OCEAN MISSION

Why in the News?
Recently, the fourth-generation deep-ocean submersible named Matsya 6000 successfully completed its wet testing.
About MATSYA 6000
• MATSYA 6000 is an indigenously built manned submersible, under the Samudrayaan project ( a project under
the Deep Ocean Mission).
o Objective of Samudrayan Project (Period 2020-2021 to 2025-2026): To develop a self-propelled manned
submersible to carry 3 human beings to a water depth of 6000 meters in ocean with scientific tools for deep
ocean exploration.
• Developed by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), it is designed to carry three humans to a depth of
6000 m.
o National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) Chennai is an autonomous institute under Ministry of Earth
Sciences.
• Aim: To comprehensively study deep-sea resources and marine biodiversity assessment up to 6000 meter depth.
• With its launch, India will become sixth country (after US, Russia, Japan, France, and China) to have crewed under-
sea expedition.
About Deep Ocean Mission
• Launched: In 2021 by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
as a Central Sector Scheme with Cabinet approval.
• Purpose: To develop technologies for exploring deep
ocean resources, promoting sustainable marine
development, supporting the Blue Economy initiative,
and addressing climate change and pollution.
• Alignment with Global Goals: Mission aligns with
United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14
(SDG-14), which emphasizes the protection of “Life
below Water” and highlights ocean's role in sustaining life and the environment.
o Considering importance of oceans on sustainability, UN has declared decade, 2021-2030 as Decade of Ocean
Science for Sustainable Development.
• Budget and Timeline: Mission has an estimated budget of Rs.4077 crore, to be implemented over 5 years (2021-
2026) in a phase-wise manner.
o The first phase (2021-2024) is allocated Rs.2823.4 crore.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is nodal ministry overseeing this multi-institutional mission.

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Significance of Deep Ocean Mission
• Strategic Importance: India's unique maritime
position with a 7517 km coastline, nine coastal states,
and 1,382 islands offers significant potential for marine
resource utilization.
o India has an Exclusive Economic Zone allocated
nearly 23, 72,298 sq. km which is unexplored and
unutilised.
o Mission supports the government's ‘New India’
vision, which identifies Blue Economy as one of
ten core dimensions of growth.
• Economic Impact: Aims to ensure the
sustainable utilization of ocean resources for
long-term economic benefits. It will contribute
to GDP growth, improved livelihoods, and job
creation.
o Focuses on exploring resources like nickel,
cobalt, and other minerals, including
polymetallic nodules.
• Science and Technology: Facilitates deep-sea
exploration through a manned submersible,
enabling scientists to observe and study
unexplored deep-sea areas directly.
o Underwater Engineering: Promotes
innovation in asset inspection, enhancing
safety and maintenance in marine
infrastructure.
• Ocean Literacy and Tourism: Encourages
public awareness about marine ecosystems
and opens avenues for marine tourism.
Challenges of Deep Ocean Mission
• High Pressure: At a depth of 5,000 meters,
pressure will be approximately 500 times
greater than pressure at sea level. Thus the
mission requires specially designed, durable
equipment to withstand immense pressure.
• Technical Challenges:
o Equipment Vulnerability: Electronics and
instruments struggle to function efficiently
underwater.
o Material Extraction: Requires significant
power to pump materials from the ocean
floor to the surface.
o Communication Limitation:
Communication systems face challenges
due to waves backscattering, high
attenuation etc.
• Geopolitical and strategic challenge: China's
increased presence in deep-sea regions could
restrict India's exploration efforts, especially in resource-rich zones like the Southwest Indian Ocean.

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Way Forward

• Accelerating Indigenous Capabilities: Investing in additional ocean research vessels and acoustic research
systems will boost India's self-reliance in deep-sea exploration.
• Leveraging International Cooperation: India should actively collaborate with technologically advanced nations
such as US, Japan, and Australia to enhance expertise, resource-sharing, and technology transfer.
o Platforms like Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) can facilitate coordinated efforts in deep-sea research
and mining.
• Utilizing Indo-Pacific Oceans' Initiative (IPOI): India should focus on IPOI's four key pillars i.e., Maritime Ecology,
Maritime Resources, Capacity Building, and Science & Technology Cooperation to strengthen deep-sea
exploration strategies.

7.3. NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (NCD)

Why in the News?
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched the Intensified Special NCD Screening Drive.
About Screen Drive on NCD

• Aim: To achieve 100% screening of all individuals aged 30 years and above for prevalent NCDs and three common
cancers—Oral, Breast, and Cervical.
• Implementation: Through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) and various healthcare facilities nationwide, under
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD).
o Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are established under Ayushman Bharat initiative by upgrading existing Rural and
Urban PHCs/Sub Centers.
About NP-NCD:

• Background:
o Launch: NP-NCD, formerly known as National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes,
Cardio- vascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) was launched in 2010 across 100 districts in 21 states to
combat NCDs as part of 11th Five Year Plan.
o 12th Five Year Plan: Proposed phased expansion to cover all districts.
o 2013-14: Subsumed under National Health Mission (NHM) which is a flagship centrally sponsored scheme to
achieve universal access to affordable and quality health care services?
• Objectives of NP-NCD:
o Health promotion through behavior change with involvement of community, civil society, media etc.
o Screening, early diagnosis, management and follow-up at each level to ensure continuum of care.
o Capacity building, Strengthening supply chain management for drugs, equipment and logistics, Monitoring
and evaluation through a uniform ICT application.
About Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

• NCDs are chronic diseases that are not transmissible from one person to another.
• Main types of NCDs are Cardiovascular Diseases (such as heart attacks and Stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory
diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
o When these are caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, these diseases are also called lifestyle diseases.
• NCDs tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and
behavioral risk factors.

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• Burden of NCDs
o Global Scenario:
 NCDs are number 1 cause of death and disability worldwide, accounting for 74% of all deaths and more than
three out of four years lived with a disability.
 Burden is greatest within low- and middle-income countries, where 77 percent of all NCD deaths
occurred.
 Four top killers that together account for more than 80% of all premature NCD deaths annually include
cardiovascular diseases (17·9 million), cancers (9.3 million), chronic respiratory diseases (4.1 million),
and diabetes (2.0 million).
o Indian Scenario (Please refer Infographic)
Impact of NCDs:
• NCDs in childhood: Causes about 1.2–4.2 fewer years
of completed education.
• Higher out of pocket medical expenditure: Overall,
travel costs are the primary out-of-pocket expense for
many Indian patients with NCDs.
• Life expectancy: Life expectancy is lowest at the age
of 15 among lowest education groups due to higher
death rates during 30–69 years from NCDs.
• Economic impact: WHO projects the economic
burden of NCDs (E.g. Household health expenditure,
Budget expenditure etc.) in India to surpass ₹280 lakh
crore by 2030.
• Poverty: The rapid rise in NCDs is predicted to impede
poverty reduction initiatives in low-income countries,
particularly by increasing household costs associated
with health care.
• Gendered Impact: The prevalence of NCDs among
women is 62 per 1,000, as compared to 36 per 1,000
men.
• Other Impact: Low human capital, unhealthy labor force, revenue loss, etc.
• Initiatives for Controlling NCDs
o Global
 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: SDG target 3.4 aims to reduce premature NCD mortality by
one-third by 2030.

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  WHO Global Action Plan: World Health Assembly extended the WHO Global action plan for the
prevention and control of NCDs 2013–2020 to 2030.
 Global NCD Compact 2020–2030: By WHO aims to accelerate progress on the prevention and control of
NCDs.
o Indian:
 Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) aims to provide affordable
medicines for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases etc.
 Eat Right India movement by FSSAI promotes healthy eating.
 Fit India Movement: Launched in 2019 aims to promote a physically active lifestyle and make fitness an
integral part of daily life in India.
 National Oral Health Programme: Launched to provide integrated, comprehensive oral health care in the
existing healthcare facilities.
 National Mental Health Programme (NMHP): Launched in 1982 to ensure availability and accessibility
of minimum mental healthcare for all in the foreseeable future.
 National Programme for healthcare of Elderly (NPHCE): It was launched in 2010 to address various
health related problems of elderly people.
 National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP): Launched in 2007-08 for creating awareness about
tharmful effects of tobacco consumption; reduce production and supply of tobacco products etc.
Recommendations for Prevention and Control of NCDs:
• Comprehensive Approach: To lessen the impact of NCDs collaboration across sectors like health, finance,
transport, education, and agriculture is crucial.
• NCD Management: Investing in better management of NCDs is critical. It includes detection, screening, treatment,
and palliative care, ideally through primary healthcare for early intervention.
• Digital Health Interventions (DHIs): An additional US$0.24 per patient per year in DHIs, including telemedicine,
mobile messaging, and chatbots, could Save over 2 million lives from NCDs over next decade.
• Leveraging fiscal tools: To reduce risk factors e.g. raising taxes on tobacco, Salt, sugar etc.
• Life-course approach to NCDs: Prevention and Management of NCDs along with other policy reforms like labor
markets, social protection and long-term care.
• Policy Efforts: Increased government expenditure, encouraging private sector investments to address issue of
regional imbalance in availability of human resources & infrastructure for treatment of chronic NCDs.

7.4. NEWS IN SHORTS

7.4.1. EU AI ACT BECOMES APPLICABLE
Rules on AI Literacy and Prohibited Systems Under the European Union AI Act became applicable.
• Under the new AI literacy obligations, providers and deployers will be required to ensure a sufficient level of AI
literacy for their staff and other persons working with AI systems.
About European Union AI Act
• Genesis: The AI Act is the first-ever legal framework on AI, which entered into force in 2024 (will be fully implemented
by 2026).
• Approach: The act takes a risk-based approach to regulation, applying different rules to AI according to the risk they
pose.
• Prohibitions: The Act list AI prohibited practices (see image), emphasizing the importance of ethics, safety and
transparency.
Impact of the AI Act
• Global Impacts:
o Human-centric focus: The Act safeguards fundamental rights, prevents discrimination, and promotes ethical
AI, fostering global trust and responsible AI adoption.

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 o Global Benchmark for AI Regulation: Other countries may adopt similar frameworks, aligning their regulations
with the EU's standards.
o Increased Compliance Costs: Non-EU companies may face additional costs to adapt their AI systems to
comply with the Act.
• Impact on India:
o Risk-based regulation: India’s AI policy could benefit from a risk-based approach, categorising AI applications
by their potential societal impact.
o Global alignment: Aligning India’s AI regulations with international standards can enhance global cooperation
and help Indian companies stay competitive internationally.

7.4.2. GENE BANK FOR CROPS GERMPLASM

Union Budget 2025-26 announced setting up of second National Gene Bank, comprising a million germplasm lines for
future food and nutritional security.
• A gene bank is a repository of genetic material, such as seeds, pollen or tissue samples to protect them from
potential extinction.
About First National Gene Bank
• First National Gene Bank was set up in 1996 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Bureau of
Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) in New Delhi.

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• This bank comprises 12 regional stations across the country for collection and storage of vital crop germplasms.
o These germplasms are the genetic constituents of plants or animals that are used in research, conservation
and crop breeding.

7.4.3. CHINA’S EAST CREATES NEW RECORD IN FUSION REACTION

China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) created new record in Fusion reaction.
• EAST, also known as China’s Artificial Sun, maintained a steady-state high-confinement plasma operation for
1000+ seconds reaching a temperature of 100 million °C.
• A tokamak is a machine that confines a plasma using magnetic fields in a donut shape to harness the energy of fusion.
Significance of this achievement:
• Step towards fusion-based nuclear reactors which can
act as alternatives to other sources of clean energy
such as wind, solar etc.;
• can address world energy crisis & problem of climate
change
Advantage of nuclear fusion
• High Energy Output – It produces greater amounts of
energy than any other source.
• Abundant & affordable fuel –It uses cheap input materials, available in almost limitless supply. E.g., deuterium,
tritium, hydrogen, Lithium
• Environmentally friendly – It has a zero-emission footprint and it does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions
or global warming
• Safe and Clean Process – Fusion reactors produce helium, an inert gas. They also generate and recycle tritium, a
radioactive substance with a short half-life. As a result, fusion does not produce long-lived radioactive nuclear waste.
Challenges in nuclear fusion
• Extreme Temperature Requirement: Fusion requires temperatures of hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius, even
higher than the Sun’s core.
• Plasma containment: At such high temperatures, matter exists only in the plasma state (atoms get split into
positively and negatively charged particles). Keeping plasmas stable in order to extract energy is difficult.
• Magnetic Confinement: The plasma must be suspended within a confined space using strong magnetic fields to
prevent contact with reactor walls.

7.4.4. 100 T H LAUNCH OF THE INDIAN SPACE

RESEARCH ORGANISATION (ISRO) FROM
SRIHARIKOTA
The ISRO successfully placed the NVS-02 satellite into
Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit using GSLV-F15 from
Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
• GSLV-F15 Vehicle is a three stage launch vehicle with a
third-stage CUS 15 cryogenic engine.
• The NVS-02 is the second satellite in the NVS series,
and part of India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation
(NavIC).
What is NavIC?
• About: It is a regional navigation satellite
system (erstwhile known as Indian Regional Navigation
Satellite System) launched by ISRO.

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• NavIC Network: NavIC is designed with a constellation of 7 satellites of which 3 satellites placed in geostationary
orbit & 4 satellites are placed in inclined geosynchronous orbit.
• NavIC Services: Standard Position Service (SPS) for civilian users & Restricted Service for strategic users.
• Coverage Area: India and a region up to 1500 km beyond Indian boundary.
• Accuracy: NavIC’s SPS offer accuracy of better than 20 meters and a timing accuracy of better than 40
nanoseconds.
• Other: NavIC SPS signals are interoperable with the other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals i.e., GPS
(of USA), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (European Union) & BeiDou (China).

7.4.5. FIRST DETAILED MAPPING OF MOON’S SOUTH POLE

First detailed geological papping of Moon’s south pole area made from Chandrayaan Data.
• Researchers from ISRO (among others) created the first detailed lunar map using data from the Pragyan rover,
which was deployed by Vikram (lander of India's Chandrayaan-3) on its nine-day mission.
• South Pole-Aitken Basin: Vikram landed near this ancient, massive impact crater (one of the largest in the Solar
System).

Key Findings from Chandrayaan-3’s Lunar South Pole Exploration

• Terrain Types: Undulating landscape of highlands and low, flat plains.
• Confirmation of Subsurface Magma Ocean: Findings confirms ancient ocean of molten lava that extends across
the entire moon.
• Age of the Lunar South Polar region: Calculated to be around 3.7 billion years, around the time the first signs of
microbial life emerged on the earth.
• A Common Origin with Earth: The Moon’s geochemical similarities with Earth supports the theory that both bodies
originated from the same molten material.
o Possibly due to a massive collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body about 4.5 billion years ago.

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Significance of Lunar Craters
• The Moon’s craters have been preserved for billions of years due to no atmospheric erosion.
• They offer vital insights into the solar system’s early history and help date geological features on other planets.
• Lunar craters act as time capsules, preserving records of space-rock impacts shaping the entire solar system.

7.4.6. NASA LAUNCHES SATELLITE TO DETECT

WATER ON THE MOON
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer orbiter
as a secondary payload. The primary payload was Intuitive
Machines' lunar lander mission (IM-2).
• IM-2’s Objective: To settle on to the moon where it will drill
beneath the surface in a bid to find water there.
About Lunar Trailblazer Mission
• Objective: It will orbit at an altitude of roughly 100 km and collect
high-resolution images of targeted areas to determine:
o The form, distribution and abundance of water and to better
understand the lunar water cycle.
• Significance: Guide future human missions to locate and
extract water resources.
• Components: Two Lunar Trailblazer instruments will take
measurements from lunar Orbit:
o Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM): will map and measure the
lunar surface temperature.
o High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper
(HVM3): It will search for light patterns indicating water on
Moon.
Importance of Lunar Water
• Drinking Supply: Processed into drinkable water
• Breathable Oxygen: Converted into oxygen for breathing
• Rocket Fuel: Hydrogen fuel for rockets.
• Exploration of the Solar System: Lunar water enables deeper
space exploration, including Mars.

7.4.7. RED COLOR OF MARS

A study published in Nature Communications challenges the long-held belief about Mars' red color.
Findings of the New study about Red Color of Mars (The Red Planet)
• Previous studies attributed Mars’ red color to anhydrous hematite formed through recent weathering.
• New study finds poorly crystalline ferrihydrite (Fe5O8H · nH2O) is the main iron oxide in Martian dust.
o It is formed during a cold, wet period on early Mars under oxidative conditions. It suggests Mars underwent
aqueous alteration before becoming the dry desert seen today.

7.4.8. LOWER-SODIUM SALT SUBSTITUTES (LSSS)

The Department of Nutrition and Food Safety (NFS) of the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its new
guideline on the use of lower-sodium salt substitutes.
About the LSSS
• Composition: They contain less sodium than regular salt and often include potassium chloride, with or without other
agents, to achieve a flavour similar to regular salt.
• Advantages: Help in limiting sodium intake to below 2 g/day to reduce noncommunicable diseases such as blood
pressure and risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

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• Concerns: LSSS with potassium can be harmful as too high a level of blood potassium (hyperkalaemia), can affect
individuals with impaired kidney function.
7.4.9. SHATAVARI
The Ministry of AYUSH has launched a campaign titled “Shatavari –For Better Health" to increase awareness about
Shatavari’s health benefits.
About Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus)
• Shatavari, meaning “curer of a hundred diseases”
• It is a medicinal woody climber growing to 1-2 m in height.
• Uses: Dried roots, leaves are used as a drug in Ayurvedic medicine
• Habitat: Low altitudes in shade and in tropical climates.
o It is spread across Asia, Australia and Africa.
• Health Benefits: Improves female reproductive health, hormonal balance, ulcer healing effect, promotes vitality
and longevity, imparts immunity, treating nervous disorders etc.

7.4.10. BHARAT TECH TRIUMPH PROGRAM

Bharat Tech Triumph Program has been launched to support digital and online gaming in India.
About Bharat Tech Triumph Program
• Launched by: Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council (IEIC), in partnership with the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting (MIB),
• Objective: To identify and showcase India’s gaming talent on the international stage.
• It will provide Indian innovators with a global platform to highlight their expertise and expand India’s presence in
the international gaming industry.

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8. CULTURE
8.1. GYAN BHARATAM MISSION
Why in the News?
Union Budget 2025-26 announced the Gyan Bharatam Mission for the survey, documentation, and conservation of
India’s manuscript heritage.
What are Manuscripts?
• A manuscript is a handwritten composition on paper, bark, palm leaf, etc., dating back at least 75 years that has
significant scientific, historical or aesthetic value.
o E.g., Bakhshali manuscript (Third or fourth century BCE), an ancient Indian mathematical text written on
birch bark.
 Some study highlighted that Bakhshali Manuscript Contains Oldest Example of Mathematical Symbol
‘Zero’.
• Lithographs (A techniques involving drawing on a stone and then transferring the image to paper) and printed
volumes are not manuscripts.
• Themes can include history, religion, literature, astrology, and agricultural practices.
• India possesses ‘memory of the world’ with an estimated 10 million manuscripts in 80 ancient scripts like
Brahmi, Kushan, Gaudi, Lepcha, and Maithili.
o Of these, ~75% are in Sanskrit and 25% are in regional languages.
About Gyan Bharatam Mission Other Initiatives for Manuscript Conservation
• National Manuscripts Mission (NMM): Launched
• Key components:
In 2003, by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to
o Conservation: To undertake the survey,
locate and preserve manuscripts.
documentation and conservation of more than one
• National Library of India, Kolkata: It has about
crore manuscript heritage lying with academic
3600 rare and historically important manuscripts.
institutions, museums, libraries and private
collectors. • Asiatic Society of Bengal: Founded on Jan. 15,
o Creation of Digital Repository: National Digital 1784, by Sir William Jones, undertakes digitization
Repository of Indian knowledge systems for of ancient manuscripts.
knowledge sharing to be created. • National Archives of India: National Archives of
 This platform will be accessible to researchers, India (NAI) is a repository of the non-current
students, and institutions across the globe. records of Government of India and possesses
private papers of prominent personalities of India.
• Nodal Ministry: Union Ministry of Culture.
• Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts: It acts
Significance of the Mission as a main resource Centre for the Indian art and
• Fundamental Duty: To fulfill the objective in Article 51A culture.
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.
• Documentation: Location of the unknown manuscript reserves in the country, reaching out to the grass root level for
gathering information, and creation of the digital catalogue of manuscripts.
• Manuscript Studies: Create a resource pool of scholars and specialists in various aspects of manuscript studies
• Conservation: Safeguarding tangible cultural heritage while ensuring its accessibility to present and future
generations.
• Accessibility: Allows wider access to rare and valuable texts keeping them for long times.
• Collaboration: Facilitates collaborative research and sharing of resources for knowledge systems.
Challenges in the Manuscript Conservation
• Environmental: India’s diverse climate, especially high humidity in coastal and tropical regions, coupled with natural
disasters accelerates the deterioration of manuscripts.
• Lack of Awareness and Cultural Neglect: Traditional knowledge stored in manuscripts is often undervalued in the
modern education system, leading to a lack of urgency in preservation.

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• Infrastructure deficiencies: Lack of adequately trained professionals, storage of manuscripts in poorly maintained
libraries or private collections without climate control, etc.
• Linguistic and script diversity: Manuscripts exist in multiple ancient scripts (Brahmi, Kharosthi, etc.), making
transcription and preservation difficult.
Way Forward
• Digital preservation: It refers to a series of managed activities, which are necessary to ensure continued access of
digital materials for as long as they are necessary.
o By harnessing advanced imaging techniques and digital preservation strategies, digitization ensures the
longevity and accessibility of manuscripts, transcending geographical boundaries and facilitating global
collaboration in scholarly research and education.
• Use of 3D Printing Technology: Tara Prakashana Vedic Library and Research Centre inaugurated a 3D printing
laboratory for manuscript preservation and conservation.
• Using Artificial Intelligence: A process called inpainting AI algorithms has been used by the MACH laboratory in
Cambridge to identify damage and reconstruct lost images in old manuscripts.
o Inpainting is a technique for filling in missing or damaged parts of an image, can be achieved "via" various
methods, including deep learning models, spatial projections, and iterative probabilistic modeling, among
others.
Some important Manuscripts in India
Manuscripts Author
Natyashastra Bharata Muni
Mahabharata Vyasa
Mahabhashya Patanjali
Prayoga-Ratnamala Vyakarana Purushottama Vidyavagish
Arthashastra Chanakya
Aryabhatiya Aryabhata
Brahmasphutasiddhanta Brahmagupta
Sushruta Samhita Sushruta
Ashtadhyayi Panini
Rajatarangini Kalhana
Gitagovinda Jayadeva

8.2. NEWS IN SHORTS

8.2.1. VIJAY DURG (FORT WILLIAM)
Fort William in Kolkata, the headquarters of the Eastern Army Command, recently renamed as Vijay Durg.
About Vijay Durg
• It was named after King William III of England.
o "Renaming to ‘Vijay Durg’ pays homage to the oldest fort on Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg coast, which served
as naval base during Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s reign"
• It is located on the banks of the river Hoogly.
• Black Hole Tragedy took place on June 20, 1756 in Fort William.
o Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula imprisoned British captives in a tiny cell overnight, causing many deaths from suffocation
and extreme heat, it is known as Black Hole Tragedy.

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8.2.2. TEA HORSE ROAD (THR)
China’s Ambassador to India recently posted on X about historic Tea
Horse Road.
About THR
• It connected India to China, through Tibet (although not as well-
known as Silk Road, which linked China and Europe).
• It does not refer to a single road but a network of branching paths
that began in southwest China and ended in the Indian
subcontinent.
• The means for transporting goods on these routes were trains of
horses (ponies and mules) and human porters, and the network
of trails and roads to Tibet became known as the Tea Horse Road.
• Two main pathways passed through cities like Dali and Lijiang in
Yunnan province, and reached Lhasa in Tibet, before entering the Indian subcontinent where they branched into
present-day India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
• Origin: Tang dynasty in China (618-907 CE).
• It was a crucial commercial pathway for centuries.

8.2.3. TANTRIC BUDDHISM

A 1.4m Buddha head and stupas (1,500+ years old) found in Ratnagiri, Odisha, confirm its role as a Tantric Buddhism
hub.
• Buddhism has three main schools: Theravāda (orthodox), Mahāyāna (includes Zen & Pure Land), and Vajrayāna
(includes Tibetan Buddhism).
o Guru Padmasambhava, (Also known as Guru Rinpoche/Second Buddha) is an important figure in Buddhism who
was instrumental in establishing Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet around 8th century CE.
Evolution of Tantric Buddhism
• Tantric Buddhism was a shift from abstract philosophy to sadhana (practical methods) for enlightenment.
o Vajrayāna or Tantric Buddhism believes in esoteric healing; deals with social activism and social
transformation and is prevalent in Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal and Tibet.
o Mahayana Buddhism introduced mantras & rituals, leading to two branches: Mantrayana (early Tantra) &
Paramita-yana.
o The mantra-yana may be regarded as the ‘initial’ stage of Tantric Buddhism when yogic practices got added
to it, it was full-fledged Tantric Buddhism’.

8.2.4. PADMA AWARDS

Ministry of Home Affairs has announced Padma Awards 2025 on Republic day.
About Padma Awards
• Instituted in 1954, they are one of the highest civilian Awards of country.
• Conferred by President at Rashtrapati Bhawan in three categories, namely:
o Padma Vibhushan: For exceptional and distinguished service.
o Padma Bhushan: For distinguished service of high order.
o Padma Shri: For distinguished service in any field.
• Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz. art, social work, public affairs, science and
engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.
• Except for interruptions in 1978, 1979 and between 1993 and 1997, every year the names of the recipients are
announced on Republic Day eve.
• Padma award is just an honor. No cash allowance or any facility/benefit in terms of concession etc. in rail/air
travel is attached to these awards.

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8.2.5. SAHITYA ACADEMY AWARD
Recently, Chaman Arora was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award 2024 in Dogri (Spoken in parts of Jammu and Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh and Punjab) for his book “Ik Hor Ashwthama”.
About Sahitya Academy Awards
• Genesis: Inaugurated in 1954 and given by the Sahitya Academy (an autonomous body under Union Ministry of
Culture).
o First Awards were given in 1955.
• Awarded to the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the major Indian languages
recognised by the Akademi.
o Languages recognized by the Academi include 22 Languages listed under the Schedule VIII of the Constitution
and English and Rajasthani
• Award is in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper-plaque and a payment of ₹ 1,00,000/-

8.2.6. BHARATIYA BHASHA PUSTAK SCHEME

Finance Minister has introduced Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme in Union Budget 2025-26.
About Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme
• Aim: To provide digital form of Indian language books for schools and higher education to help students
understand their subjects better.
• It is aligned with National Education Policy, 2020, wherein students across schools and universities will get
textbooks, learning materials in digital formats.
• It also complements ASMITA (Augmenting Study Materials in Indian Languages through Translation and Academic
Writing) initiative.
o It was launched by Ministry of Education and UGC in 2024 to develop 22,000 books in 22 Indian languages in next
five years.

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9. ETHICS
9.1. OBSCENITY ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS
Introduction
The Supreme Court, while hearing a case on obscene remarks in the INDIA’S GOT LATENT show on YouTube, urged the
Solicitor General to propose regulatory measures to curb vulgar content online while balancing free speech.
Also, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) warned OTT (Over-The-Top) platforms against transmitting “any
content that is prohibited by law”, and urged them to follow age-based classification as per the Information Technology
(Intermediary Liability and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Platforms were also directed to enforce age-gating
requirements for mature content.
About Obscenity
The term ‘Obscene’ is used to describe those things which are either disgusting to the senses or offensive to an
individual in a sexual manner whereby they aim to incite lust in a person.
Key Stakeholders for content Streaming on Digital Platforms.
Key Stakeholders Associated interest
Content Creators & • Maintain creative freedom and artistic expression, generate income and build
Artists audience.
Digital Platform • Ensure their revenue model follows laws of the land and protect users from harmful
content without excessive censorship.
• Maintain advertiser trust to avoid revenue loss as brands may withdraw if platform is
associated with questionable content.
Government & • Define and enforce laws on online content, balancing free speech with public morality.
Regulatory Bodies
Society at large • Access desired content with minimal restriction, Avoid exposure to unwanted obscene
material particularly children for children.
• Maintain agency in content consumption choices.
Need for Regulating Obscenity on Digital Platforms
• Preserving Social and Cultural Values: Allowing unchecked
obscene content weakens moral character, fostering disrespect
and moral decay.
o E.g., The 2021 “Bulli Bai” app incident, where images of
women of a minority community were auctioned online,
exposed the misuse of social media to target and humiliate women, prompting calls for stricter regulation.
• Protecting Human Dignity: Kant asserts that humans must never be treated as mere means to an end. Content that
reduces people to objects of prurient interest violates the core principle of dignity and personal autonomy.
• Avoiding Normalization of Obscenity: The Harm Principle (by John Stuart Mill) suggests that freedom of
expression should not cause harm to society.
o Regular exposure to obscene content can desensitize individuals, eroding empathy and reinforcing harmful
stereotypes.
• Ethical Responsibility of Platforms: Utilitarianism suggests that actions should promote the greatest good. Digital
Platforms are thus, ethically mandated to ensure content balances free speech with societal well-being, fostering a
safe digital environment.
• Upholding Constitutional Morality: Constitutional morality safeguards core values such as social justice and
equality, ensuring that digital content aligns with these principles.
o Article 19(2) establishes that the fundamental rights of freedom of speech and expression is not absolute and
reasonable restrictions could be put on such rights on various grounds including public order, decency,
morality, incitement to an offense, among others.

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Ethical Issues in Regulating Obscene Digital Content
• Vagueness and Subjectivity of Obscenity: Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave highlighted that decency and morality
vary over time and across regions. While the language in India’s Got Latent was inappropriate, it may not meet
the legal definition of a crime, as such speech is common in everyday discourse in society.
• Censorship vs. Reasonable Restrictions: While laws protect morality, over-regulation could stifle creativity. Since
obscenity is subjective and evolving, excessive restrictions could limit diverse perspectives in media.
o E.g., The 2024 ban of 18 OTT platforms by the Ministry of I&B for “obscene and vulgar” content was criticized as
arbitrary, with some arguing it stifled creative expression.
• Evolving Social Norms and Cultural Sensitivity: Obscenity is a cultural construct that changes over time. Ancient
Khajuraho and Konark temples feature erotic sculptures, yet today, such expressions might face censorship.
• Power Dynamics: Questions arise about who decides what content is acceptable, with the risk of censorship
being weaponized against marginalized communities.
• Agency and Paternalism (Interference with personal autonomy): There's an ongoing tension between protecting
users from harmful content and respecting their autonomy to make their own content choices.
o Excessive regulation may infantilize users, assuming they cannot make informed decisions about the content
they consume.
• Regulating Obscene vs. Artistic Freedom: Tension between censorship to protect public morality and freedom
of artists to express themselves creatively.
o E.g., In Maqbool Fida Hussain v. Raj Kumar Pandey case, court ruled that nudity alone does not constitute
obscenity, highlighting ethical dilemma between artistic expression and societal norms.

Conflict between Ethics and Law of Banning Content with Obscenity

The conflict between legal restrictions on obscenity and evolving ethical standards presents a complex
challenge in Indian jurisprudence. This conflict emerges from several key factors:
Legal Framework Without Clear Definition
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 67 of the IT Act 2000 both prohibit obscene content.
• Information Technology (Intermediary Liability and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 require films and
shows featuring explicit content such as swearing, sex, nudity, substance abuse, and violence to have age-based
ratings.
• Additionally, laws like the Cinematograph Act (1952), Cable TV Act (1999), and Indecent Representation of
Women Act (1986) also regulate obscenity.
• However, obscenity is not explicitly defined in criminal law or the Constitution, leaving room for subjective
interpretation and inconsistent enforcement.
Evolving Judicial Interpretation
• Judicial understanding of obscenity has evolved over time. In Ranjit D. Udeshi v. State of Maharashtra (1964), the
Supreme Court applied the Hicklin test, which considered any material with a "tendency to deprave and corrupt"
as obscene.
• Decades later, in Aveek Sarkar v. State of West Bengal (2014), the Court shifted to the community standards
test, evaluating obscenity based on prevailing social and moral norms.
o However, defining community standards remains challenging as they constantly evolve and vary across
regions.
• Justice (retired) Gautam Patel of the Bombay High Court has stated that profane language alone does not
constitute obscenity, further highlighting the subjective nature of the law.
Above all, the increasing trend of filing multiple FIRs for the same offense has been criticized as a form of harassment
that unfairly prejudices the accused and undermines their right to a fair defense. While content that offends public
sensibilities may invite criticism or boycotts, excessive legal action risks infringing on freedom of expression.

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Way ahead
• Justice & Objectivity: Define clear and consistent obscenity guidelines that consider India's cultural diversity to
avoid bias or subjective judicial rulings.
• Accountability & Responsibility: Introduce a Broadcasting Bill to regulate OTT content, digital news, and
emerging technologies, ensuring ethical and socially responsible media.
• Encouraging Ethical Content Creation: To ensure social responsibility & cultural sensitivity, promote self-
regulation and ethical storytelling that reflects societal values and cultural respect.
• Empowerment & Informed Choice: Implement digital literacy programs to educate youth on media ethics,
responsible viewing, and online safety.
Conclusion
Obscenity is highly subjective, varying across cultures and time. Therefore, creating a responsible digital media space
requires legal clarity, self-regulation, public awareness, and global cooperation. By upholding ethical values such as
justice, dignity, transparency, and accountability, digital platforms can strike a balance between creative freedom
and social responsibility.

Check Your Ethical Aptitude

With the rise of obscenity and profanity on digital platforms, the Supreme Court has directed the Solicitor General to
propose measures to curb "filthy language" and "vulgarity" in online content, emphasizing the need to balance freedom
of speech with societal moral standards.
In this context, answer the following questions:
1. What one society/country finds offensive and obscene may be part of daily discourse for another. What ethical
issues arise from the increased use of obscenity on digital platforms?
2. How can the government ensure that freedom of speech is protected while maintaining public decency? What
guidelines should be proposed to limit obscene content without stifling creativity and artistic expression?
3. What role should digital media platforms play in regulating content, and how can they balance their responsibility
to society with the protection of free speech?

9.2. SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM

Introduction
With digital information growing exponentially—from just 1% in 1986 to 98% by 2013—personal data has emerged as the
new gold of the 21st century. This transformation has fueled the rise of Surveillance Capitalism, a system where human
experiences and behaviors are harvested as raw materials for profit. This shift, led by tech giants like Google, Meta, and
Amazon, raises profound ethical, social, and regulatory concerns about privacy, autonomy, and democratic
accountability.
What is Surveillance Capitalism?
• Definition: It is an economic system where private corporations (e.g., Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, etc.)
systematically collect, analyze, and monetize personal data to predict and influence human behavior for profit
(e.g., targeted ads, pricing, insurance decisions).

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• Mechanism: It operates through –
o Data extraction: Platforms like Google, Facebook, and Amazon track user activities, from search queries to
purchase history.
o Predictive analytics: AI and algorithms analyze behavioral patterns to anticipate user preferences.
o Influence techniques: The insights gained are used to shape consumer choices, political opinions, and even
emotions through targeted ads, dynamic pricing, and behavioral nudging.

Traditional Capitalism vs. Surveillance Capitalism

Feature Traditional Capitalism Surveillance Capitalism
Resource base Labor and natural resources (coal, steel, etc.) Personal data extracted from users
Mass production of goods (e.g. Ford’s assembly Behavioral modification through
Value creation
line) digital nudging
Monetizing data via targeted
Profit model Selling physical products or services
advertising, AI-driven pricing
Google Ads, Amazon
Example Steel mills, automobile factories
recommendations
Ethical Implications of Surveillance Capitalism
• Manipulation: Algorithms exploit cognitive biases to shape user decisions unconsciously.
o E.g., YouTube’s recommendation system maximizes engagement by promoting emotionally charged content.
• Privacy Erosion: Data is often collected without proper consent, leading to mass surveillance.
o E.g.: In 2021, Clearview AI was stopped in France from collecting Individual’s data without legal basis.
• Commodification of Personal Data: Sensitive data, once private, is now bought and sold like a commodity.
o E.g., In 2018, Sleep apnea machines in the U.S. secretly sent usage data to insurance firms, affecting coverage.
• Unfair Commercial Practices: Lack of transparency about data usage.
o E.g., Italy fined Facebook €7 million in 2021 for misleading users about data collection.
• Democratic Violations: State and corporate surveillance weaken citizen autonomy.
o E.g., India’s IT Rules (2021) blur the line between national security and government control.
• Mental Health Risks: Exposure to curated content designed to maximize engagement can cause stress and anxiety.
o E.g., Social media algorithms prioritize content that triggers anger and fear, amplifying political polarization
Challenges in controlling the Surveillance Capitalism
• Regulation: Existing laws have failed to dismantle the core practice of commodifying data. Tech giants often lobby
against stringent oversight, as seen in their resistance to antitrust measures.
• Technology: The rapid evolution of AI and IoT (Internet of Things) outpaces regulatory frameworks.
• Corporate-State Collusion: The alignment of corporate and state interests, e.g., data sharing with intelligence
agencies reduces public scrutiny, complicating accountability.

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 Efforts to regulate Surveillance Capitalism
Global India
• EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (2018): • K.S. Puttaswamy Case (2017): Supreme Court of India
Enforces strict data consent and imposes fines for declared privacy a fundamental right under Article 21
breaches, enhancing user rights. of the Indian Constitution.
• California Consumer Privacy Act (2020): Grants • Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act (2023):
California residents the right to know what personal Requires individual’s consent for data processing,
data companies collect, opt out of its sale, and allows individuals to access and erase their data, and
request its deletion. imposes penalties on companies for breaches.
Way Forward
• Stronger Regulatory Frameworks: Enact adaptive laws with clear accountability, regular audits, and severe
penalties to deter misuse. E.g., India should strengthen the DPDP Act by limiting exemptions and ensuring judicial
oversight.
• User Empowerment: Promote data literacy campaigns and enforce transparent consent mechanisms, enabling
individuals to reclaim agency over their data.
• Antitrust Measures: Break up tech monopolies to reduce their unchecked power, as being discussed in the USA,
ensuring fair competition and innovation.
• Global Cooperation: Harmonize international standards to prevent data exploitation in less-regulated regions,
fostering a unified response to a borderless challenge.
• Ethical Technology Design: Encourage tech firms to prioritize privacy-by-design, reducing surveillance incentives
at the development stage.

Check your Ethical Aptitude

You are the CEO of a mid-sized Indian tech startup that has developed an innovative mobile app designed to improve
financial inclusion. The app uses AI algorithms to analyze users’ online behavior, spending habits, and social media
activity to offer personalized micro-loans and financial advice to underserved populations, such as rural farmers and
small vendors. Since its launch, the app has gained popularity, serving over 500,000 users and attracting significant
investment from venture capitalists. However, a recent exposé by a news outlet revealed that your company has been
sharing anonymized user data with third-party advertisers and insurance firms to generate additional revenue, a
practice buried in the app’s lengthy terms of service that most users did not fully understand or consent to.
You are at a crossroads. Continuing the data-sharing could secure the company’s financial stability and fuel
expansion, but it risks legal action, loss of user trust, and employee morale. Stopping it might jeopardize the
company’s growth and investor confidence, potentially undermining your mission to serve marginalized communities.
Based on the above case study, answer the following questions:
• Identifying the stakeholders analyze the ethical issues at play in this scenario.
• What are your possible courses of action as the CEO? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each.
• What decision would you take, and how would you justify it to your stakeholders?

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9.3. RAGGING IN INDIA
Introduction
Recently, Kerala High Court has directed state government to create a working group to draft rules for anti-ragging law
enforcement amid rise in incidents of ragging.
What is Ragging?
Generally, ragging is a form of systematic and sustained physical, mental and sexual abuse of freshers or juniors students
at the colleges, university and educational institutions at the hands of senior students and sometimes even by outsiders
in campus and hostel.

Consequences of Ragging on various stakeholders

On Victims (Junior Students) On Family
• Low Self-Esteem and Confidence: due to its degrading • Emotional and Psychological Distress: Families
and dehumanizing nature. experience emotional distress and feel helpless,
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Some guilty, or angry.
students develop symptoms of anxiety, depression, • Financial Burden: Incur additional expenses for
PTSD, including flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional counselling or medical treatment.
distress • Loss of Trust in Institutions: Fear for the child’s
• Decline in Academic Performance: It can lead to loss safety and future.
of focus, absenteeism.
On Institutions On Perpetrators
• Loss of Reputation: It may bring in negative publicity to • Career Setbacks: Expulsion from institutions,
the institution affecting funding and enrolment of record of misconduct affects future employment
students. and reputation.
• Undermines Ethical Values: It weakens the moral and • Erodes moral authority and credibility among
ethical culture within educational institutions. peers.
• Administrative Challenges: Leads to issues such as • Moral and Ethical Degradation: Normalization of
lawsuits, disciplinary actions, and regulatory scrutiny. violence and lack of empathy.
Challenges in Eradication
• Deep-Rooted Cultural & Traditional Acceptance: Ragging is perceived as a tradition or rite of passage which
prepares newcomers for the challenges of academic life and the real world.
• Lack of Awareness: Lack of awareness among fresher’s about anti-ragging helplines and complaint portals.
• Fear of Retaliation: Victims often hesitate to report incidents due to fear of retaliation, further harassment or ridicule
by others.
• Lack of Strict Enforcement: Weak enforcement of anti-ragging laws and the burden of proof on victims often allow
perpetrators to go unpunished.
• Role of Institutions: Institutions often downplay enforcing anti-ragging laws to protect their reputations, rankings
and funding.

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 Anti-Ragging Legal Frameworks in India
Raghavan Committee Recommendations (2007)

• Accreditation: National Assessment and Accreditation Council bodies should factor incident of ragging while
accrediting institutions.
• Set up Anti-Ragging Cells, Anti-Ragging Committee and an Anti-Ragging Squad.
• Setting up of ‘Mentoring Cell’ in each institution to oversee and involve senior students as Mentors for the
‘fresher’.
• Advertisement: Launch effective advertisement campaigns at the national and regional level regarding `zero
tolerance' towards ragging.
• National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and State Council of Educational Research
and Training (SCERT) should devise Human Rights education of which awareness against ragging should be a
compulsory part.
UGC Regulations on Curbing Ragging (2009)
Ragging is a criminal offense and UGC has framed regulations on curbing the menace of ragging in higher educational
institutions. These regulations are mandatory for all universities/ institutions.

• During admission: Institution shall organize joint sensitization programmes of 'freshers' and seniors.
• Burden of Proof: It shall lie on the perpetrator of ragging and not on the victim.
• Role of police, local administration and Institution: All of them should ensure vigil on incidents that may come
within the definition of ragging.

Steps to be taken

• Peer Support: Student mentors, buddy systems, and life skills education should be continued into college to support
youth in handling social pressures and relationships.
• Safety of student over reputation of Institution: Reporting of ragging incidents by institutions should be seen as a
commitment to student safety and institutional integrity rather than damage to reputation of the institutions.
• Follow 2009 Supreme Court Directives on Anti-Ragging Measures
o Display Contact Details: Institutions must prominently display the email addresses and contact details of nodal
officers from anti-ragging committees.
o Inform Parents/Guardians: Annually, institutions must inform parents/guardians about anti-ragging regulations
and their legal consequences.
o Install CCTV: Set up CCTV cameras at critical locations to identify potential trouble spots and respond promptly.
o Conduct Surprise Inspections: Regularly inspect hostels, student accommodations, canteens, recreation
areas, restrooms, bus stops, and other key locations to deter ragging incidents.

Case Study
"A prestigious engineering college in a state recently witnessed a disturbing incident of ragging. A first-year student,
Rahul, was subjected to severe physical and psychological harassment by a group of senior students. This included
verbal abuse, forced physical exercises, and humiliating acts, leading to significant emotional distress and a decline
in Rahul's academic performance. Despite the college having an anti-ragging committee and clear guidelines against
ragging, the incident occurred, and initial attempts to address the issue were met with resistance from some faculty
members who downplayed the severity of the situation, fearing damage to the college's reputation. Rahul's parents,

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 deeply concerned about their son's well-being, have approached the college administration and threatened to
escalate the matter to the media and legal authorities.
As the newly appointed head of the college's anti-ragging committee, you are tasked with handling this situation. You
are aware of the Supreme Court guidelines, Raghavan Committee recommendations, and UGC regulations concerning
ragging. However, you also recognize the deep-rooted cultural acceptance of ragging in some quarters and the
challenges in ensuring strict enforcement.
Questions:
a) Identify the ethical dilemmas involved in this case. Discuss the responsibilities and obligations of the institution,
faculty members, senior students, and the victim in addressing the issue of ragging.
b) What steps would you take to address the immediate situation concerning Rahul, ensuring his safety and well-
being? Discuss the measures you would implement to prevent future incidents of ragging, focusing on fostering a
culture of inclusion and respect within the college.

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10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. PRADHAN MANTRI ANNADATA AAY SANRAKSHAN ABHIYAN (PM -AASHA)
Why in the News?
Government approves continuation of the integrated Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
Scheme till 2025-26 during the 15th Finance Commission cycle.
Objectives Features
To provide price assurance for • An umbrella scheme launched in 2018.
pulses, oilseeds and copra, ensuring • Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
financial stability for farmers, reduce • Type: Central Sector Scheme
post-harvest distress selling & • Fund allocated: Rs. 35,000 crores during 15th Finance Commission
promote crop diversification towards Cycle up to 2025-26.
pulses and oilseeds. • Components of PM-AASHA:
o Price Support Scheme (PSS): Notified Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra
are procured at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) directly from the
pre-registered farmers by the Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs)
(through the State level agencies) given they conform to the
prescribed Fair Average Quality (FAQ). Its key features are:
 Provision Government Guarantee to lender banks by the
Central Government: To extend cash credit facilities to CNAs
for undertaking procurement operations.
✓ The existing government guarantee has been renewed and
enhanced to Rs. 45,000 crores.
 Implemented on the request of the States/ UTs: that agree to
exempt from levy of Mandi tax in the interest of farmers.
 Procurement ceiling: 25% of national Production of notified
crops from 2024-25 season onwards.
✓ Ceiling will not be applicable in case of Tur, Urad & Masur
for 2024-25 season (100 % procurement during in 2024-25
season).
o Price Stabilization Fund (PSF): It aims to provide working capital
and other incidental expenses for procurement and distribution of
agri-horticultural commodities. E.g. Tomato, subsidized retail sale of
Bharat Dals, Bharat Atta and Bharat Rice.
 Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) will procure pulses at
market price when prices exceed MSP on-
✓ eSamridhi portal of National Agricultural Cooperative
Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and
✓ eSamyukti portal of National Cooperative Consumers'
Federation of India (NCCF).
o Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): Envisages direct
payment of the difference between the MSP and the selling/ modal
price to pre-registered farmers selling oilseeds upto 15% of MSP
value by the Central Government. Its key features are:
 Beneficiaries: Pre-registered farmers selling the oilseeds up to
40% of its production through a transparent auction process.
 Option with States/UTs: To implement either PSS or PDPS for
the particular oilseeds for the particular year/season.
o Market intervention Scheme (MIS): Aimed at bridging the price gap
and countering the effect of price volatility in case of perishable

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 agriculture/horticulture commodities such as Tomato, Onion and
Potato (TOP) etc. not covered under MSP. Its key features are:
 No need of physical procurement: States have an option to
make differential payment between Market Intervention price
(MIP) and selling price.
✓ This is subject to coverage of 25% of production of crops and
maximum price difference up to 25% of MIP.
 Implemented on the request of the States/UTs: When there is
a reduction of prices in the market by at least 10% over the rates
of previous normal season in the States/UTs.

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11. APPENDIX: CRITICAL MINERALS

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12. PLACES IN NEWS

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13. PERSONALITIES IN NEWS

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