Content :
- AI flight with 242 on board crashes in Ahmedabad
- Retail inflation eases to six-year low
- Central schemes must pass ‘effectiveness’ test to continue
- IAEA board censures Iran for not complying with nuclear obligations
- Science behind right AC temperature
AI flight with 242 on board crashes in Ahmedabad
Incident Overview
- An Air India London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Flight AI 171) crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad.
- Crash site: Into a medical college hostel in Meghani Nagar, 5 km from the airport.
- Time of crash: Within 40 seconds of take-off at 1:38 p.m., as captured on CISF CCTV footage.
- Fatalities: All 242 on board (230 passengers + 12 crew) feared dead; 1 survivor identified — British national Viswashkumar Ramesh.
- Ground casualties: At least 24 people killed at the crash site (students and residents), per local police.
Relevance : GS 3(Disaster Management )
Emergency Signals & Communication
- Pilots issued a ‘Mayday’ alert immediately after take-off — indicating a life-threatening emergency.
- No further communication was received from the cockpit post-Mayday, suggesting a rapid systems failure or incapacitation.
Passenger Demographics
- 169 Indians, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian among the passengers.
- Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was confirmed among the deceased.
Aircraft Details
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, known for its advanced safety systems.
- This is the first-ever crash involving a 787 Dreamliner variant, raising serious concerns for Boeing.
Investigation & Response
- Authorities are searching for the black box (Flight Data Recorder & Cockpit Voice Recorder) to determine the cause.
- Potential cause: Still under investigation, with fuel explosion (1.25 lakh litres) contributing to the inability to rescue.
Official & Humanitarian Response
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the survivor and assured a detailed inquiry.
- Air India & Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran announced:
- ₹1 crore compensation to each victim’s family.
- Relief flights from Delhi & Mumbai for kin of victims.
Broader Implications
- Raises aviation safety concerns in India and globally regarding the Dreamliner fleet.
- May lead to grounding and technical review of Boeing 787s in India and abroad.
- Highlights the need for improved emergency response protocols and urban planning near airports.
Retail inflation eases to six-year low
Headline Trend: Retail Inflation at 6-Year Low
- Retail inflation (CPI) dropped to 2.8% in May 2025, the lowest in 75 months (since February 2019).
- Marks a major disinflationary trend — average retail inflation in FY 2025–26 (so far) stands at 2.99%, lowest for the first two months since 2017–18.
Relevance : GS 3 (Inflations)
Food Inflation Drives Decline
- Food and beverages inflation eased to 1.5% in May, down from 2.1% in April.
- This is the 7th straight month of slowing food inflation.
- Deflation in:
- Vegetables
- Pulses
- Spices
- Meat
- Offset by:
- Double-digit inflation in edible oils and fruits, showing uneven food price movements.
RBI Policy Implication
- Recent RBI interest rate cuts have supported economic activity.
- Given the current low inflation, further rate cuts are unlikely in the near term — a pause in the monetary easing cycle is expected.
- Signals price stability, giving the central bank more flexibility but also caution due to uneven food trends.
Economic Implications
- Positive for consumers, improving real incomes and consumption demand.
- Eases input cost pressure for businesses, especially in food processing and FMCG sectors.
- May allow fiscal space for the government to sustain growth-oriented spending without inflation risks.
Broader Economic Context
- Low inflation aligns with global disinflationary trends, especially in oil and commodity markets.
- Supports macroeconomic stability, attracting foreign investment.
- Helps maintain the inflation target band (4% ± 2%) under the RBI’s Monetary Policy Framework.
Central schemes must pass ‘effectiveness’ test to continue
Core Directive from Finance Ministry
- Only schemes with proven effectiveness via evaluation reports will be allowed to continue beyond FY 2025–26.
- All Central (54) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (260) expiring by March 31, 2026, will undergo reappraisal.
- Evaluation conducted by:
- Third parties (for Central Schemes)
- NITI Aayog (for Centrally Sponsored Schemes)
Relevance : GS 2(Governance)
Sunset Clause Mandated
- Every scheme must have a defined sunset date — discourages indefinite continuation.
- Ensures fiscal prudence and accountability for outcomes.
- Objective: Improve the quality of government expenditure by ending unproductive schemes.
Caps on Funding & New Outlay Norms
- Future outlays restricted to 5.5 times the annual average expenditure between 2021–22 and 2024–25.
- Fund-limited approach: Sanctions and disbursals over Finance Commission cycle must not exceed approved outlay.
- Ministries can propose new schemes with lesser expenditure or seek trade-offs with existing ones.
Impact on Demand-Driven Schemes like MGNREGS
- Even MGNREGS, a flagship rural employment scheme, will face financial limits.
- Projected beneficiary numbers will cap the fund allocation for each Finance Commission cycle.
- Ministries must seek explicit approval to exceed the cap if beneficiary numbers increase unexpectedly.
Sectors Affected
- Wide-ranging schemes across:
- Social sectors: health, education, women and child development, tribal welfare
- Infrastructure: rural/urban development, water, sanitation
- Agriculture, environment, scientific research
Strategic Implications
- Promotes results-based budgeting and performance-linked funding.
- Encourages rationalisation of schemes and elimination of redundancies.
- Could cause social pushback if popular schemes face curtailment or stricter funding norms.
IAEA board censures Iran for not complying with nuclear obligations
IAEA Censure: First in 20 Years
- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has formally censured Iran for non-compliance with nuclear safeguards — first such censure since 2005.
- Resolution passed by 19 countries, led by U.S., France, U.K., and Germany.
- Russia, China, Burkina Faso opposed; 11 abstained, and 2 didn’t vote.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)
Iran’s Immediate Retaliatory Measures
- Iran announced plans to:
- Establish a new uranium enrichment facility in a more secure location.
- Consider “other measures” in response to the “political resolution.”
- Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and Foreign Ministry jointly condemned the resolution, citing unfair pressure.
Escalating Regional Tensions
- The U.S. and Israel have historically warned of military strikes if Iran’s nuclear program escalates.
- U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem imposed movement restrictions on staff due to security concerns.
- U.S. personnel and families in West Asia are reportedly being relocated as a precaution.
Diplomatic Divide
- The resolution reflects deepening geopolitical divides:
- Western bloc pushing for compliance and accountability.
- Russia-China bloc defending Iran or resisting Western pressure.
- The vote may be a precursor to efforts for reimposing UN sanctions on Iran later in 2025.
Implications for U.S.-Iran Talks
- Comes just days before Iran-U.S. talks in Oman, casting a shadow over potential diplomatic progress.
- Could harden Iran’s position, reducing chances of a revived nuclear agreement.
Strategic Significance
- Sets up a potential confrontation at the UN Security Council over sanctions.
- Indicates shrinking space for nuclear diplomacy in a region already on edge.
- Could derail broader West Asia stability, especially given concurrent crises in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.
Science behind right AC temperature
Policy Proposal: Temperature Restriction for ACs
- The Union Ministry of Power is considering mandating air conditioner temperature limits between 20°C and 28°C for new ACs in households, hotels, and vehicles.
- Follows earlier attempts (2018, 2021) to fix default AC temperature at 24°C after consultations and awareness drives.
Relevance : GS 3(Science),GS 2(Governance)
Energy Efficiency Benefits
- According to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE):
- Each 1°C increase in AC setting saves 6% electricity.
- If all consumers adopt 24°C, India could save 20 billion units/year.
- AC load in India projected to be 200 GW by 2030.
- ACs work on vapor-compression cycle:
- Major power is consumed in the compressor.
- Efficiency depends on operating within optimal refrigerant temperature range.
Health Risks of Lower Temperatures
- Temperatures below 18°C can:
- Increase blood pressure (by 6–8 mm Hg due to vasoconstriction and sympathetic activation).
- Raise risk of hypertension, asthma, and respiratory infections.
- WHO (2018) recommends 18°C as minimum safe temperature in temperate climates.
Vulnerable Populations Affected
- Children, elderly, and infants have impaired thermoregulation:
- Children in Japan, NZ, and UK studies slept and breathed better at >18°C.
- Older adults (50+ years) in cold homes faced higher BP, lower vitamin D, and lung function decline.
- A 2013 study showed lung function in children worsened with each 1°C drop below 14–16°C.
Comfort Science and Global Standards
- Comfort = balance between core (37°C) and skin temperature without sweating/shivering.
- Standards:
- ASHRAE-55 & ISO 7730: Comfort range adjusted by region, clothing, cultural context.
- Typical human heat dissipation at rest: ~100 W via radiation/convection around 20–24°C.
Mental Health Implications
- U.K. 2022 study found:
- People in “cold homes” were at 2x higher risk of depression and anxiety.
- Association remained even after controlling for income and prior mental distress.
Global Context & Demand
- As of 2022, 2 billion ACs in use worldwide; 1.5 billion in residences (tripled since 2000).
- Asia-Pacific region still faces a large cooling gap — 43% lack sufficient cooling.
Conclusion: Case for Temperature Standardisation
- The proposed temperature cap ensures:
- Public health protection
- Energy conservation
- Sustainable load management
- Reinforces India’s move toward climate-conscious, health-aligned cooling policies.
