29th May 2025

The
Analyst
Handout
Marine Pollution
29th May 2025

CONTEXT: Ship capsizing off Kerala coast

Marine Pollution : Economic:

● Marine pollution: hazardous ● Tourism Potential
substances, debris, microplastics, ● Coastal Communities Livelihood
antibiotics, POPs
● Global plastic production: 359 million Environmental:
tonnes (2020) ● Altering Habitat - Artificial structures
● India - Plastic Waste - 63% of total e.g. Breakwaters, oil rigs
marine litter ● Invasive species, act as ecological
● CPCB - 26k tonnes a day traps
● Indian Ocean second-most polluted ● Climate Change
after North Pacific
● Abandoned fishing gear, plastic bags,
microbeads
● Suffocates mangrove seedlings
● Turtle nesting and feeding habits

Challenges:
● Land based sources
● Monsoon Sediment Influx
● Recreation
● Recycling
● Microplastic Effects of Pollutants:
● Civic participation
Nutrient Enrichment
● Causes eutrophication, algal blooms,
Impact of Marine Pollution: dead zones
Health: ● From kelps/corals to turf algae
● Marine organisms: Heavy Metals
a. Biodiversity ● Sources: industrial runoff, shipping
b. Coral Bleaching ● Toxic metals bioaccumulate
c. Food Chain disruption ● Essential metals toxic at high levels
● Humans: POPs
a. Ingestion via seafood ● hormonal & reproductive damage
b. Endocrine disruption, Plastic Debris
respiratory issues, potential ● Microplastics in food chains
carcinogenic effects
 The
Analyst
Handout
Marine Pollution
29th May 2025

CONTEXT: Ship capsizing off Kerala coast

Mitigation Strategies: Case Study 2: Plastic Debris (Taiwan)

Technological solutions: ● Banned single-use plastics, enforced
● Membrane filtration recycling
● Magnetic nanoparticles, ● Fines for improper waste sorting
photocatalytic degradation
● Bioremediation (seagrasses, mussels Case Study 3: Artificial Structures
as natural traps)
(Australia)
Innovations: ● Eco-engineered seawalls with rock
● Self-propelled nanomotors for pools, mangroves
microplastic capture ● Enhanced biodiversity
● Renewable-based biodegradable
plastics Approaches to Monitoring:
Unmanned Platforms
Policy:
● Drones, satellites, AUVs monitor
● International Efforts
remote areas
○ MARPOL Convention
● Limitations: biofouling, depth
○ UNEP’s Clean Seas Campaign
constraints
○ Global Partnership on Marine
Litter
AI & Machine Learning
○ G20 Action Plan on Marine Litter
● Oil spill detection, benthic monitoring,
○ Basel Convention
fish tracking
○ UNCLOS
● Potential for large-scale pollution
○ Blue Flag beach certification
analysis
initiative
Concluding Thoughts
● National Efforts
○ Plastic Waste Management ● Global monitoring, restoration for SDG
(Amendment) Rules, 2022 14.1
○ Single-Use Plastic Ban ● UN Ocean Decade (2021-2030) -
○ Merchant Shipping Rules, 2009 cleaner, safer oceans
○ Draft National Marine Litter ● Global Plastic Treaty
Policy ● Frame a National Marine Litter Policy
○ NGOs
○ Promoting Circular Economy

Replicable Models:
Case Study 1: Nutrient Pollution
(Chesapeake Bay)
● Reduced runoff, improved sewage
treatment
● Restored seagrass, monitored via
Annual Ecological Report Card
 The
Analyst Deforestation & Judicial
Handout Activism
29th May 2025

CONTEXT: Deforestation in Delhi Ridge

Causes: 3. Impact on Biodiversity

● Overgrazing ● Tropical forests host ⅔ of known
● Shifting Cultivation species
● Fuel Wood ● 65% of IUCN-endangered species
● Forest Fires ● Human-wildlife conflicts
● Commercial Logging ● Himalayas at risk: By 2100, only 10%
● Industries
dense forest
● Encroachment
● Landslides ● Traditional medicine loss
● Population & Urbanisation
4. Economic & Social Welfare
● Annual loss: ~$45B from tropical
deforestation
● Livelihood impacts:
○ 30% income for poor rural
households in MP, Chattis
○ Loss of timber, forest products,
ecotourism
● Cultural erosion

Forest Conservation Laws:

● The Indian Forest Act, 1927
○ procedures for declaring
● Forest Conservation Act, 1980
○ prior approval for diversion
● National Forest Policy
Impacts of Deforestation: ○ sustainable utilization,
1. Impact on Global Climate maintenance, restoration and
● CO₂ levels enhancement
● Regional radiation flux ● Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
● Evapotranspiration ○ protect wild animals, birds and
● Shifts cloud formation plants
● Polar ice melting, biodiversity loss, ● The Scheduled Tribes and Other
food insecurity Traditional Forest Dwellers
2. Impact on Hydrology & Soil Quality (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act,
● Water cycle 2006
● Flood risks ○ responsibilities and authority
● Soil erosion & compaction for sustainable use,
● Siltation conservation of biodiversity
● Degrades watersheds, reducing
water quality & availability
 The
Analyst Deforestation & Judicial
Handout Activism
29th May 2025

CONTEXT: Deforestation in Delhi Ridge

Other Initiatives: Judicial Activism:

● CAMPA 1. Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar (1991)
● Integrated Forest Protection Scheme ● Right to pollution-free environment
● National Mission for a Green India ● Public Trust Doctrine
○ 5 mn + 5 mn hectares
● National Afforestation Programme 2. Vellore Citizens’ Welfare Forum v. Union
○ people’s participation of India (1996)
● Nagar Van Yojana ● Polluter Pays Principle
● Local BMCs - ⅓ women reservation ● Industries must compensate for
environmental damage
Forest Conservation :
Case Study 1 3. T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union
● Miyawaki: Japan of India (1996)
● dense, native forests in a short period ● Expanded forest conservation under
● variety of indigenous species close FCA, 1980.
together ● Banned non-forest activities without
● mutual support and competition central approval
● India - land availability, funding
4. Karnataka Industrial Areas Dev. Board
Case Study 2 v. C. Kenchappa (2006)
● Biomimicry: USA ● Quashed illegal encroachment on
● Prairie Restoration Project wetlands
● restore native grasslands
5. Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt. Ltd. v. Union
Case Study 3 of India (2011)
● Erodium copy technique: Australia ● Mining in eco-sensitive zones
● designing seed pods that mimic the requires prior environmental
Erodium’s spiral shape, which helps clearance
seeds drill into the soil and germinate
● potential to transform drylands into 6. Kancha Gachibowli Forest, In re (2025)
productive landscapes ● No deforestation of University land
 The
Analyst
Handout
Outward FDI Concerns
29th May 2025

SYLLABUS : GS Paper 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning

Newspaper: Indian Express Page Number: 10

Determinants of FDI:
● Stable policies
● Economic factors - tax exemption,
subsidies to foreign investors
● Low cost labour
● Infrastructure facility
● Availability of natural resources

Advantages of FDI:
● Development of industries = quality
of life
● More opportunities in trading
● Employment
● Technological Advancement
● Outsourcing of knowledge
 The
Analyst
Handout
Free Speech
29th May 2025

SYLLABUS : GS Paper 2: Indian Constitution— Significant Provisions

Newspaper: The Hindu Page Number: 12

Background :

● Romesh Thappar v. State of

Madras (1950)
○ freedom of the press
at the foundation of all
democratic
organizations
● Abbas v. UoI (1970)
○ censorship of films
including
pre-censorship
● Bennett Coleman and Co. v.
UoI (1972)
○ struck down Newsprint
Control Order
● Maneka Gandhi vs UoI
(1978)
○ FoS&E not confined to
National boundaries
● Indian Express v. UoI (1985)
○ courts duty to uphold
the freedom of press
● Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of
Kerala (1986)
○ includes the right to
be silent
● UoI v. ADR (2002)
○ includes the right to
impart and receive
information, hold
opinions
 The
Analyst
Handout
Sodium Ion Batteries
29th May 2025

SYLLABUS : GS Paper 3: Science and Technology

Newspaper: Indian Express Page Number: 13

● Ultra-fast charging: 80% in 6 Indian Advancements:

minutes ● JNCASR’s innovation:
● Long lifespan: Over 3,000 charge ○ NASICON-type cathode material
cycles (comparable to lithium-ion) ○ Nanoscale + carbon-coated
● Developed by: JNCASR (Bengaluru), anode for faster ion movement
DST-funded ● Other Indian players:
○ KPIT-Trentar collab:
Why Sodium-Ion? 3,000–6,000 cycle lifespan
● Abundant & cheap: Extracted from ○ IIT Bombay: Solved cathode
seawater (vs. lithium’s limited instability issues (2023)
reserves)
● Safer: Global Context:
○ Transportable at zero volt ● China’s dominance: Controls 80%+
(lithium requires charge) lithium-ion supply chain
○ No thermal runaway risk ● China’s Na-ion push: CATL’s
(stable in extreme temps) 500km-range Naxtra battery by 2025
● Eco-friendly: No rare metals (cobalt,
nickel) like lithium-ion Potential Applications
● EVs, solar grids, drones, rural
electrification
● Scalable for mass adoption in energy
storage

Next Steps
● Commercialization: Further R&D
needed
● Cost reduction: Scaling production

Challenges:
● Lower energy density
● Limited flexibility: Cannot be
molded into shapes
(prismatic/cylindrical)
● Early-stage tech: Higher costs, fewer
manufacturers
 The
Analyst
Handout
Deputy Speaker
29th May 2025

SYLLABUS : GS Paper 2: Parliament and State Legislatures

Newspaper: The Hindu Page Number: 10

Decoding the News: Implications of Vacancy:

● 6-year vacancy: since 2019 (17th LS) ● Centralization of power: Weakens
● 18th LS (2024): No indication of Opposition’s role in parliamentary
appointment oversight
● Allegation: Government unwilling to ● Constitutional vacuum: Risk of crisis if
offer post to Opposition Speaker resigns or is incapacitated
● Government’s refusal disrupts ● Undermines democracy: Erodes
power-sharing norms Westminster model principles of
deliberation and accountability
Constitutional Provisions: ● Legal and Procedural Lapses
● Article 93: Mandates election of ○ Rule 8 (Lok Sabha Rules, 1952):
Speaker & Deputy Speaker "as soon Speaker must fix election date
as may be" (implies urgency) for Deputy Speaker
● Article 94: Deputy Speaker serves
until resignation/removal (ensures Broader Concerns:
continuity) ● Precedent-setting
● Article 180: Empowers Deputy ● Democratic resilience:
Speaker to act as Speaker if chair is consensus-driven governance
vacant ● Accountability: Reduces
parliamentary scrutiny of executive
Role of Deputy Speaker: actions
● Critical functions:
○ Presides over LS in Speaker’s
absence
○ Chairs key committees (Private
Members’ Bills, Budget
Committee)
● Not ceremonial: checks and
balances in parliamentary
democracy
 The
Analyst
Handout
Dark Patterns
29th May 2025

SYLLABUS : GS Paper 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning

Newspaper: Indian Express Page Number: 9
 The
Analyst
Handout Daily Quiz
29th May 2025
Q1. Consider the following international Which of the above are commonly
initiatives and conventions: recognized as advantages of FDI?
1. MARPOL Convention a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 2, 3 and 5 only
2. UNEP’s Clean Seas Campaign c) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
d) All five
3. Global Partnership on Marine Litter
Answer: d
4. G20 Action Plan on Marine Litter
Q4. Consider the following statements
5. United Nations Convention on the Law of regarding Sodium-Ion batteries:
the Sea (UNCLOS) 1. Sodium is abundant and inexpensive
and can be extracted from seawater,
How many of the above aim to combat marine unlike lithium which has limited global
litter and ocean pollution? reserves.
a) Only Two
b) Only Three 2. Sodium-ion batteries are safer than
c) Only Four lithium-ion batteries, as they are
d) All Five transportable at zero volts and pose no
risk of thermal runaway at all.
Answer: d
3. Sodium-ion batteries are more
Q2. Consider the following landmark eco-friendly, as they require less
environmental judgments in India: percentage of rare metals such as
1. Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar cobalt or nickel.
recognised the right to a pollution-free
environment under Article 21 and upheld Which of the statements given above are
the Public Trust Doctrine. correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
2. Vellore Citizens’ Welfare Forum v. Union of b) 2 and 3 only
India established the Polluter Pays Principle c) 1 and 3 only
and mandated compensation for d) 1, 2 and 3
environmental damage.
Answer: c
3. T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of
India expanded the scope of forest
conservation under the Forest Q5. Consider the following provisions related
Conservation Act, of 1980. to the office of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok
Sabha:
Which of the statements given above are
correct? 1. Article 93 mandates the election of the
a) 1 and 2 only Speaker and Deputy Speaker “as soon
b) 1 and 3 only as may be,” indicating urgency in filling
c) 2 and 3 only these positions.
d) 1, 2 and 3
2. Article 180 states that the Deputy
Answer: d Speaker continues to hold office until
resignation or removal ensuring
Q3. Consider the following statements continuity.
regarding Foreign Direct Investment (FDI):
1. It leads to the development of industries, 3. Article 94 empowers the Deputy
thereby improving the quality of life Speaker to perform the duties of the
Speaker when the office is vacant or
2. It increases opportunities in trading and the Speaker is absent.
global market integration
Which of the statements given above are
3. It generates employment in both skilled correct?
and unskilled sectors a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 only
4. It facilitates technological advancement c) 1 only
and innovation d) 2 and 3 only
5. It promotes the outsourcing of knowledge Answer: c
and expertise