Current Affairs 04 July 2025

Content :

1. Surface-to-Air Missiles, Armoured Vehicles: Nod for ₹1 Lakh-Cr Purchases
2. Ministry Defers Forest Land Nod for Puri Airport, Cites Concerns Over Olive Ridley Turtles, Migratory Birds
3. INS Tamal is Likely the Last Warship India Buys from Abroad
4. A Counter to China: Quad to Create Critical Minerals’ Supply Chain
5. Can the Supreme Court Halt an Act Passed by a State?
6. Apache Combat Helicopters to Arrive in India by July 15
7. Endocrine Disruptors in Plastic Waste: A New Public Health Threat

Surface-to-air missiles, armoured vehicles: Nod for ₹1 lakh-cr purchases

Context :

• Total Worth: ₹1.05 lakh crore in capital acquisitions cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
• All Indigenous: All 10 proposals cleared under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category — promoting Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured platforms.

Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security , Defence ) ,GS 2(Governance)

Key Systems Cleared

Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs)

• Address mobility mismatch with main battle tanks.
• Crucial for mechanised operations and battlefield support.

Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs)

• Boost to India’s air defence, especially after Operation Sindoor.
• Builds on success of Akash MR-SAM and S-400 systems.

Electronic Warfare (EW) Systems

• To jam/destroy enemy radars and communications.
• Enhances superiority of Indian UAVs and aircraft.

Common Inventory Management System (Tri-services)

• Enables cost-effective logistics and real-time availability.
• Allows inter-theatre resource balancing.

Naval and Maritime Modernisation

Procurement of:

• Moored Mines, Mine Countermeasure Vessels
• Super Rapid Gun Mounts, Submersible Autonomous Vessels
  Objective: Strengthen coastal and merchant vessel defence.

Operational Context & Implications

•  Comes after Operation Sindoor — India’s military retaliation for April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
•  Reflects priority on air defence, supply chain agility, and technological self-reliance.
•  Reinforces India’s push for Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence and readiness for multi-domain warfare.

Interlinkages with GS Topics

Governance & Policy

• Strategic decision-making bodies (DAC, CCS) and their role in national security.
• Civil-Military interface in procurement policy.

Security, Technology & Economy

• Indigenization of defence production (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
• EW Systems & UAVs as components of network-centric warfare.
• AI & unmanned platforms: part of emerging tech in India’s defence strategy.

Science & Tech

• Role of DRDO, BEL, HAL in indigenous R&D.
• Integration of AI, automation, sensor fusion in EW and missile systems.

Internal Security

• Response to terrorism (Pahalgam attack) and need for deterrent capabilities.
• Maritime security linked to blue economy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.

Data & Reports for Enrichment

• Sipri Report (2024): India is world’s largest arms importer, though imports dropped 11% due to domestic focus.
• DPP 2020 & DAP 2022: Emphasis on IDDM category to strengthen defence MSMEs.
• Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda Committee: Recommends institutional reforms for faster acquisition and tech evaluation.

Ministry defers forest land nod for Puri airport, cites concerns over Olive Ridley turtles, migratory birds

Context & Background

• Proposal: The Odisha government sought clearance for converting 273.8 hectares of forest land in Puri’s Sipasarubali area for the construction of a Shree Jagannath International Airport.
• Estimated Cost: ₹3,631 crore.
• Approval Status: Deferred by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) under the Environment Ministry due to ecological and biodiversity concerns.

Relevance : GS 3(Infrastructure ,Environment and Ecology)

Environmental Concerns Raised

Olive Ridley Turtles:

• Arribada : Odisha hosts one of the world’s largest mass nesting sites at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya.
  • The FAC cited threats to nesting grounds, migratory behavior, and hatching success.
  • Past nesting data: 34.5 lakh turtles were detected in Brahmagiri area (March 2025).
  • ZSI Study recommended a site-specific wildlife conservation plan.

Migratory Birds:

• The proposed site is close to Chilika Lake, a Ramsar site and critical bird habitat.
  • Part of the Central Asian Flyway—used by migratory birds from Siberia to South Asia.
  • FAC warned of disruptions to flight paths, particularly with aircraft operating at low altitudes.

Dolphins & Other Wildlife:

• Threats to Irrawaddy dolphins and other coastal species due to increased noise and habitat disruption.

Forest & Biodiversity Loss

• Over 13,000 trees (casuarina, cashew, acacia) to be felled — trees that naturally buffer cyclones.
• Potential to weaken the coastline’s resilience to extreme weather events.

Regulatory & Scientific Inputs

• FAC directed the state to:
  • Prepare a “climate eventuality” mitigation plan.
  • Justify the need to use forest land despite ecological risks.
• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Forest Survey of India (FSI) were consulted for impact studies.
• Wildlife Institute of India (WII) asked to assess mitigation options.

Operational Issues Highlighted

• The proposed flight path overlaps with migratory bird routes.
• Bird strikes and air safety risks could increase if proper safeguards are not adopted.

Comparative Global Perspectives

• Dubai, Singapore, and Heathrow airports have eco-mitigation zones for migratory birds and nesting species.
• India’s proposal lacks a multi-agency ecological buffer plan, unlike international best practices.

Interlinkages with Key Laws & Policies

• Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
• Environment Protection Act, 1986
• Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Rules
• Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980
• India’s obligations under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Additional Facts

• Over 39,000 turtle eggs collected and 388 hatchlings released in 2025 in the Brahmagiri forest division.
• 1,400m boundary wall already constructed — flagged by inspection reports.
• Odisha is the only Indian state with three mass nesting sites for Olive Ridleys.

Challenges & Policy Concerns

• Lack of prior biodiversity impact mapping before site finalization.
• Top-down infrastructure push conflicting with bottom-up ecological data.
• Absence of a standard protocol to reconcile development with biodiversity conservation.

Way Forward

• Explore alternate sites with lower ecological sensitivity.
• Integrate multi-stakeholder Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), including local communities and independent ecologists.
• Develop an airport-wildlife coexistence policy, similar to UN-IATA frameworks.
• Promote eco-sensitive zoning and green infrastructure design.

INS Tamal is likely the last warship India buys from abroad

Context & Background

• INS Tamal, a Talwar-class frigate, was commissioned in Kaliningrad, Russia.
• It is the last Indian Navy warship expected to be bought from a foreign shipyard.
• Marks a significant shift towards complete naval indigenisation — in both design and construction.

Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security , Defence)

Indigenisation in Shipbuilding: Key Milestone

• Post-Independence, India has relied on foreign powers for most of its naval fleet.
• Over the years, India has moved towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
• INS Tamal is part of Project 1135.6, involving improved versions of the Krivak/Talwar-class frigates.
• Built by Yantar Shipyard, Russia; the remaining Talwar-class ships are being built in Goa Shipyard Limited, India.

Technical Features of INS Tamal

• Length: 124.8 m, Displacement: 4,035 tonnes, Top speed: 30 knots (56 km/h)
• Endurance: 8,500 nautical miles
• Armament:
  • BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (versatile land-sea strike)
  • Shtil-1 air defence system, torpedoes, ASW (anti-submarine warfare) rockets
  • Barak-1 missiles, AK-630 close-in weapon system
• Capable of operating in blue-water missions (open ocean), includes stealth features

Evolution of Frigates (Sidebar Insight)

• Frigates evolved from small, fast warships in the Age of Sail to multi-role vessels post-WWII.
• Modern frigates are equipped for:
  • Anti-submarine warfare (ASW)
  • Anti-surface warfare
  • Air defence
  • Electronic warfare (EW)
  • Ballistic missile defence in some advanced navies
• Smaller than destroyers but more agile and cost-effective for escort missions and power projection.

India’s Shipbuilding Shift: Strategic View

• India’s naval strategy focuses on:
  • Maritime dominance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
  • Self-reliant production pipelines to reduce strategic dependencies.

• India now builds indigenous vessels like:
  • INS Vikrant (aircraft carrier)
  • Project 15B (Visakhapatnam-class destroyers)
  • Project 17A (stealth frigates)
  • Scorpene-class submarines under Make-in-India partnership.

Global Comparisons & Relevance

• Nations like the USA, Russia, China, France already have established self-sufficient naval production.
• India joins the club of nations with multi-domain naval autonomy — surface, subsurface, and aerial.

Policy & Institutional Linkages

• GS 3: Defence Technology, Indigenisation in Defence Sector
• Key Institutions:
  • Ministry of Defence
  • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
  • Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL)
  • Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL)
  • Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL)
• Initiatives:
  • Make in India
  • Strategic Partnership Model (SPM)
  • Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)

Additional Data & Achievements

• India is now among the top 10 naval powers globally in terms of tonnage and capability.
• DEFEXPO 2024 highlighted India’s push toward becoming a net defence exporter — $5B by 2028.
• Indian Navy’s goal: 100% indigenous warship construction by 2030.

Challenges Ahead

• Import dependency still exists for:
  • Gas turbines, radars, and sensor suites
  • Advanced combat management systems
• Need for skilled shipyard workforce and global-level R&D investment
• Long gestation periods and project cost overruns

Way Forward

• Strengthen Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) models in naval manufacturing.
• Promote defence exports of light frigates, OPVs (Offshore Patrol Vessels), and weapon systems.
• Enhance cooperation with friendly countries for technology transfer while prioritizing indigenous design.
• Continue fleet modernization under Maritime Capability Perspective Plan (MCPP)

A counter to China: Quad to create critical minerals’ supply chain

Context & Background

• The QUAD alliance — India, USA, Japan, and Australia — has launched a new initiative to build an alternative supply chain for critical minerals.
• The move is a strategic response to:
  • China’s dominance in rare earth and critical minerals.
  • Risks of supply chain disruptions due to geopolitical tensions, especially in the Indo-Pacific.
  • The need for technology sovereignty in sectors like EVs, semiconductors, defence, and renewable energy.

Relevance : GS 2(International Relations ) , GS 3(Critical Minerals)

What Are Critical Minerals?

• Include: Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Rare Earths, Graphite, Manganese, etc.
• Crucial for:
  • EV batteries
  • Semiconductors
  • Green energy technologies
  • Aerospace & defence
  • Advanced electronics
• These minerals are scarce, concentrated geographically, and hard to replace technologically.

China’s Dominance

• China controls:
  • 60–70% of rare earth processing
  • 50%+ of lithium refining
  • 90%+ of some rare earth minerals like Lanthanum, Neodymium, and Dysprosium
• China uses its dominance strategically, allegedly manipulating supply, prices, and exports.
• The West’s overdependence on China for rare minerals has led to supply risks and inflationary pressures in global manufacturing.

Quad’s Response: A Strategic Alternative

• The Quad initiative aims to:
  • Secure reliable & resilient supply chains.
  • Reduce “coercive leverage” of any one country (read: China).
  • Promote ethical mining, sustainable sourcing, and diversification of sources.

• India’s potential:
  • Rich in bauxite, lithium, and titanium.
  • Upcoming projects like Mandla rare earth plant (MP) and exploration in Aravalli, Satpura belts.
  • India is also part of the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP).

India’s EV and Tech Industry at Stake

• India aims for:
  • 30% EV penetration by 2030
  • Semiconductor self-reliance through initiatives like the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)
• Requires stable access to cobalt, lithium, rare earths
• Quad supply chains can reduce import dependence and fuel India’s Make-in-India vision.

Global Trends & Linkages

• USA passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and CHIPS & Science Act — both promote domestic mineral sourcing.
• EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act seeks diversification from China.
• The G7’s Clean Energy Supply Chain Initiative aligns with Quad efforts.

Additional Insights

• QUAD+ (including Korea and EU) may eventually join to broaden the supply chain security grid.
• India’s FAME II scheme and PLI schemes in battery, electronics, and automobile sectors depend heavily on secure mineral imports.

Challenges Ahead

• Mining critical minerals is environmentally sensitive.
• India faces regulatory bottlenecks, lack of skilled mining manpower, and infrastructure gaps.
• Global competition may trigger a resource nationalism wave, limiting cooperative access.

Way Forward

• Develop strategic reserves of key minerals.
• Expand India-Australia collaboration (Australia is rich in lithium and rare earths).
• Incentivize domestic exploration, R&D, and clean refining technologies.
• Leverage Quad as a techno-strategic platform, not just military.

Can the Supreme Court halt an Act passed by a State?

Background of the Case

• Issue: Use of Special Police Officers (SPOs) and state-supported vigilante groups like Salwa Judum and Koya Commandos in counter-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh.
• Petitioner: Activist Nandini Sundar and others challenged the constitutional validity and human rights implications of arming untrained civilians.
• Key Legal Focus: Violation of Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 21 (Right to Life with dignity).

Relevance : GS 2(Constitution , Polity ) , GS 3(Internal Security)

2011 Supreme Court Judgment Highlights (Original Writ Order)

• Dated July 5, 2011.
• Directed the State of Chhattisgarh to:
  • Cease appointing and using SPOs in counter-insurgency roles.
  • Recall all firearms issued to SPOs.
  • Shut down operations of groups like Salwa Judum and Koya Commandos.
• Directed the Union of India to stop funding SPO recruitment.
• Held the use of inadequately trained and armed civilians in internal conflict as:
  • Unconstitutional, violating Articles 14 & 21.
  • An abdication of the State’s responsibility to provide professional policing.

Chhattisgarh’s Legislative Response

• Chhattisgarh Auxiliary Armed Police Forces Act, 2011 was passed after the SC order.
  • Created a new force to aid regular forces, but with stricter checks.
  • Key Provisions:
    • Recruitment only through a screening committee.
    • SPOs must meet eligibility standards.
    • Mandatory training of at least 6 months.
    • Auxiliary force members not to be deployed at front-line positions.
• State claimed that this addressed SC’s concerns.

Contempt Petition: What Was Alleged?

• Petitioners claimed:
  • The new Act violated the spirit of the 2011 SC judgment.
  • The Act was a backdoor attempt to reintroduce SPOs under a different name.
  • Therefore, it amounted to contempt of court.

Supreme Court’s 2024 Ruling on Contempt (Disposal of Petition)

• Held that passing a new Act by the Legislature does not amount to contempt.
• Contempt relief was rejected for the following reasons:

 1. Doctrine of Separation of Powers

• Legislature is constitutionally empowered to pass new laws unless:
  • They are beyond legislative competence, or
  • They are violative of the Constitution.
• Making laws—even in response to court judgments—is not contempt, but an exercise of legislative power.

 2. Judicial Review vs Contempt

• Courts may review the constitutionality of such laws.
• But until a law is declared unconstitutional, it cannot be deemed contemptuous.

 3. Compliance Consideration

• The Court noted compliance with all directions from the 2011 order.
• Progress reports were submitted by the State of Chhattisgarh.

Legal Doctrines & Case Linkages

• Separation of Powers: Courts cannot stop a legislature from passing a law unless it violates the Constitution.
• Indian Aluminium Co. v. State of Kerala (1996):
  • Emphasized balance between legislature, executive, and judiciary.
• Judicial Review remains the only tool to test the law—not contempt jurisdiction.

Apache combat helicopters to arrive in India by July 15

Context :

• First batch of 3 Apache AH-64E helicopters to be delivered by July 15, 2025.
• Second batch of 3 helicopters expected by November 2025.
• These helicopters are part of the Army Aviation Corps’ first dedicated Apache squadron, headquartered in Jodhpur.

Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security, Defence)

Background & Strategic Relevance

• Apache helicopters are among the most advanced multi-role combat helicopters globally:
  • Equipped with Hellfire missiles, night vision systems, and precision strike capability.
  • Enhances air-to-ground offensive capability of Indian Army, especially in Western and Northern frontiers.
• Delay: The squadron was raised over 15 months ago, but lacked the actual aircraft.

Defence Ministerial Talks: Rajnath Singh & Pete Hegseth

• Held a telephonic conversation to review and accelerate defence cooperation.
• Rajnath Singh:
  • Thanked the U.S. for support during Operation Sindoor.
  • Reiterated India’s right to pre-emptively defend itself against cross-border terrorism.
  • Urged timely delivery of:
    • Apache helicopters.
    • GE engines for Tejas Mk1A (Light Combat Aircraft).
    • Requested production setup of GE engines in India as part of Make in India.
• Pete Hegseth:
  • Assured timely deliveries.
  • Committed to setting up a jet engine manufacturing unit in India.

Jet Engine Collaboration: GE & HAL

• GE–HAL collaboration is crucial to India’s indigenous LCA Tejas Mk1A programme.
• Engine: Likely to be F414-GE-INS6 model.
• Part of the broader Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) between India–U.S.
• Signals movement toward technology transfer, co-development, and co-production.

Strategic and Geopolitical Implications

• Reflects deepening India–U.S. defence industrial partnership, especially amid:
  • Rising Indo-Pacific tensions.
  • Cross-border security threats.
• Boosts Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence through localized manufacturing.
• Strengthens deterrence posture via enhanced Army air power.

Endocrine disruptors in plastic waste: a new public health threat

Microplastics: An Invisible, Bioactive Threat

• Definition: Microplastics are plastic fragments <5 mm in size; once considered inert, now recognized as biologically active pollutants.
• Alarming Presence in Human Body:
  • Found in blood (89% of Indian samples), lungs, heart, semen, placenta, ovarian follicular fluid, and breast milk.
  • Indian men’s testicular tissue had 3x more microplastics than dogs.
  • Urban exposure (e.g., Mumbai): 382–2012 microplastic particles/day via air, water, and food.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology-Pollution)

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) in Plastics

• Common EDCs:
  • BPA & BPS – found in bottles, containers.
  • Phthalates (DEHP, DBP) – used in cosmetics, toys, IV tubing.
  • PFAS (Forever Chemicals) – in packaging, non-stick cookware.

• Mechanisms of Harm:
  • Mimic/block hormones like estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, thyroid.
  • Interfere with receptor binding, alter gene expression, induce oxidative stress & apoptosis.

Reproductive & Developmental Disruption

• Male Fertility:
  • Microplastics reduce sperm count, motility, and morphology.
  • Testosterone disruption, elevated LH levels – signs of endocrine imbalance.

• Female Fertility:
  • Microplastics in ovarian fluid linked to:
    • Lower egg quality
    • Reduced estradiol levels
    • Higher miscarriage risk
  • Linked to PCOS, endometriosis, spontaneous abortions.

Cancer & Chronic Disease Link

• Carcinogenic Risk:
  • IARC classifies several plastic additives as probable carcinogens.
  • DEHP linked to 3x higher risk of breast cancer in Indian women.
  • Also linked to prostate, testicular, and uterine cancers.

• Metabolic Disorders:
  • EDCs mimic cortisol, alter insulin sensitivity → obesity, type 2 diabetes.
  • PFAS linked to cardiovascular disease, thyroid dysfunction, metabolic syndrome.

India’s Alarming Plastic Footprint

• Plastic Waste: India generates 9.3 million tonnes/year:
  • 5.8 million tonnes incinerated (releases toxins)
  • 3.5 million tonnes pollute the environment
• Poorest communities (near landfills/recycling sector) worst hit by exposure.

Public Health Costs & Governance Gaps

• Economic Burden:
  • India: ₹25,000+ crore/year due to health costs and productivity loss.
  • Global (U.S.): $250 billion/year, as per Endocrine Society.

• Policy Gaps:
  • Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016, 2022, 2024) exist but enforcement is weak.
  • Current laws don’t address low-dose EDC effects or vulnerable populations (e.g., pregnant women, children).

Emerging Science: Ageing & Bio-Monitoring (BHARAT Project)

• BHARAT Study (IISc):
  • Tracks biomarkers of healthy ageing in Indians.
  • Aims to build India-specific health indicators due to genetic, environmental, lifestyle differences.
  • Uses AI/ML models to interpret complex data and simulate interventions.

Recommendations & Systemic Solutions

Short-Term

• Enforce existing rules, plug regulatory gaps.
• Ban or restrict hazardous additives (BPA, phthalates, PFAS).
• Educate public on EDC exposure (e.g., microwaving plastic).
• Promote safe alternatives – glass, stainless steel, EDC-free packaging.

Medium-Term

• Fund longitudinal studies, national EDC biomonitoring.
• Build India-specific threshold levels for EDCs and ageing biomarkers.
• Prioritise waste segregation, safe disposal, and recycling infrastructure.

Long-Term

• Incentivize biodegradable materials, circular economy models.
• Invest in microplastic filtration for water treatment.
• Integrate plastic pollution into national health policy.