Current Affairs 06 December 2025

Content

1. Govt. to Streamline Its Public Communications Framework
2. Judges Are Conscious, Won’t Let AI Overpower Judicial Process: Supreme Court
3. Health Security → National Security Cess Bill, 2025 Passed
4. Right to Disconnect Bill Introduced in Lok Sabha
5. India–Russia Reiterate $100-Billion Trade Target by 2030
6. DRDO Successfully Conducts Indigenous Dynamic Ejection Test

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Govt. to streamline its public communications framework

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 Why is this in News?

• Centre has initiated a system-wide overhaul of India’s public communication architecture.
• Reforms span human resources restructuring, technology upgrades, and real-time media response mechanisms.
• A major proposal in advanced stages: Cadre restructuring of the Indian Information Service (IIS) to increase intake and reorganise roles.
• Rising number of ministries, digital platforms, and citizen-facing schemes require a unified, data-driven communication system.
• Last restructuring of IIS occurred in 2016; expansion of government communication needs has outpaced current cadre strength.

Relevance

GS-II: Governance, Polity

• Government communication reforms.
• Accountability, transparency, citizen–state interface.
• Rights: privacy, information, media freedom.
• Ethical public communication.

GS-III: Internal Security

• Combatting misinformation/disinformation.
• Crisis communication readiness.

What is the Indian Information Service (IIS)?

• A Central Group ‘A’ service under Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
• Functions:
  • Government communication & public information dissemination.
  • Media management across print, TV, digital.
  • Press Information Bureau (PIB), Bureau of Outreach and Communication (BOC), DD News, AIR News roles.
  • Crisis communication, fact-checking, public campaigns.
• Recruitment: UPSC CSE.

What is Cadre Restructuring?

• Change in sanctioned strength, hierarchy, and distribution of posts.
• Objectives:
  • Modernise workforce.
  • Improve promotion avenues.
  • Add new roles, abolish outdated ones.
  • Align cadre with contemporary needs (digital, analytics, multilingual outreach).

What Exactly Is Being Revamped?

1. Human Resource Overhaul

• Increase intake of IIS officers to cover growing ministries and communication responsibilities.
• Reorganising functions:
  • Creation of posts in digital media, strategic communication, data analytics, behavioural insights.
  • Phasing out traditional press-centric roles.
• Improving career progression to attract and retain talent.

2. Technological Infrastructure Upgradation

• Real-time media monitoring systems.
• Rapid misinformation tracking and counter-response architecture.
• AI and analytics for campaign design, sentiment mapping, impact evaluation.

3. Unified Public Communication System

• Integration of all departmental communication wings under a single coordinated framework.
• Standardisation of messaging, tone, factual accuracy, and crisis protocols.

Why the Revamp Now?

• Information ecosystem transformation:
  • 800+ million internet users; explosive growth of social media.
  • Decline of print-first communication model.
• Government expansion:
  • New ministries, schemes, and regulatory bodies → each requires specialised communication specialists.
• Misinformation and national security concerns.
• Global trend:
  • UK Government Communication Service (GCS), US Public Affairs Model rely heavily on data-led messaging.

Key Objectives

• Real-time public communication.
• Data-driven policy messaging.
• Crisis communication readiness.
• Unified narrative building across ministries.
• Higher professionalisation of government communication.

Expected Implications

• Faster misinformation response, aiding national security and public order.
• Improved scheme awareness and behavioural change outcomes.
• Professional, evidence-based policy communication.
• Enhanced transparency if executed with accountability.
• Better citizen engagement through multilingual, digital-first outreach.

Challenges / Criticisms

• Risk of state propaganda if transparency safeguards are weak.
• Centralisation may reduce autonomy of departmental communication teams.
• Increased intake requires high-quality training in digital analytics, communication ethics, behavioural science.
• Need to balance proactive messaging with citizens’ Right to Information (RTI) and privacy.

Constitutional & Governance Lens

• Article 19(1)(a): Citizens’ right to information.
• Supreme Court: “Right to know is essential for democracy.”
• Public communication reforms must balance freedom of press, privacy, and state accountability.
• Aligns with SMART Governance, Good Governance Indicators, and Participatory Democracy.

Comparison with Global Models

• UK GCS: Highly centralised, analytics-heavy communication; rapid response unit.
• US Federal Public Affairs Officers: Decentralised but coordinated; emphasis on transparency laws.
• India’s model is moving closer to UK’s centralised GCS.

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Judges are conscious, won’t let AI overpower judicial process: SC

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 Why is this in News?

• Supreme Court observed that judges are “very conscious, even overconscious” about risks of generative AI (GenAI) in judicial work.
• SC emphasised that AI will not be allowed to overpower judicial administration.
• Comments were made while hearing a petition seeking guidelines or a policy regulating GenAI use in courts, tribunals, and quasi-judicial bodies.
• Petitioner highlighted dangers such as:
  • AI hallucinations (inventing fictitious case law)
  • Bias propagation
  • Opaque data systems
  • Fake rulings generated by AI tools
• Court allowed the plea to be withdrawn but permitted the petitioner to take the matter to the administrative side of the SC.
• Issue arises amidst global debate over AI use in justice delivery systems.

Relevance

GS-II: Judiciary

• Judicial independence & oversight
• Regulation of AI in judicial administration
• Natural justice and due process

GS-II: Polity

• Article 14 (equality), Article 21 (fair procedure), Article 19(1)(a) (legal clarity)
• Administrative vs. judicial domain governance

GS-III: Science & Technology

• Ethical AI, algorithmic bias
• AI hallucinations and explainability concerns

What is Generative AI in the judicial context?

• AI tools capable of producing text, summaries, legal research, and even draft judgments.
• Uses:
  • Case summarisation
  • Research referencing
  • Transcription (already used via SUVAAS, Vidhik Anuvaad)
  • Predictive analytics (risk of misuse)

What is AI Hallucination?

• AI generating non-existent judgments, false precedents, or invented statutes—a major legal risk.

3. Judicial Administration

• Includes research, drafting, decision-making, case management, court records, and adjudication.

Core Concerns Raised (As per petition)

1. Fake Judgments & Fictitious Case Law

• GenAI can create fabricated citations, leading to wrong legal conclusions.

2. Bias Amplification

• AI trained on biased data may perpetuate caste, gender, religious or socio-economic biases.

3. Lack of Transparency

• Proprietary AI systems lack explainability → violates principles of natural justice and reasoned decision-making.

4. Data Ownership & Accountability

• Judicial data must be:
  • free of bias
  • stored transparently
  • accountable to stakeholders.

5. Risk to Fundamental Rights

• Arbitrary use of opaque AI tools may compromise:
  • Article 14 (equality)
  • Article 21 (due process, privacy)
  • Article 19(1)(a) (access to information, legal clarity)

What the Supreme Court said ?

• Judges are “overconscious” of risks.
• AI cannot replace judicial reasoning or adjudication.
• Judges and judicial officers must verify all AI outputs, especially research.
• Training camps are being conducted to familiarise judicial officers with risks and proper use of AI tools.
• Instances of subordinate courts citing non-existent SC judgments were flagged as cautionary lessons.

Judicial Philosophy behind the Position

1. Human oversight is non-negotiable

• Judicial discretion, empathy, context, and reasoning cannot be automated.

2. Rule of law requires interpretative judgment, not algorithmic output

• AI cannot exercise conscience, proportionality analysis, or balancing of rights.

3. Protecting constitutional morality

• Courts must prevent technological systems from undermining constitutional values.

Present State of AI in Judiciary

Already deployed:

• SUVAS: Judicial translation system
• SUPACE (SC): AI-assisted research (suspended over ethical concerns earlier)
• National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG): Data analytics for pendency

Not deployed:

• AI-driven decision-making systems (explicitly rejected by SC)

Governance and Policy

1. Need for Uniform National Guidelines

• No statutory framework exists for AI use in:
  • subordinate courts
  • tribunals
  • quasi-judicial authorities.

2. Administrative vs Judicial Domain

• SC suggested this issue is better handled on the administrative side than through litigation.

3. Regulatory Vacuum

• India lacks:
  • Standards on AI explainability
  • Accountability frameworks
  • Data protection enforcement (DPDP Act partially applicable).

4. Comparative Global Context

• EU AI Act: classifies justice-related AI as “high-risk”.
• US Federal Courts: require disclosure if AI-assisted.
• Canada: strict transparency mandates.

India has no comparable regulatory architecture yet.

Risks of Unregulated AI

1. Miscarriage of Justice

• Fake case law may lead to wrongful convictions, incorrect civil rulings.

2. Data Bias

• Sentencing or bail recommendations generated from biased data harm marginalised groups.

3. Accountability Failure

• If a judgment uses AI reasoning, who is responsible for error?

4. Erosion of Public Trust

• Justice system credibility depends on human deliberation, not probabilistic output.

5. Confidentiality Breach

• AI tools may process sensitive case data without adequate safeguards.

Why the debate matters?

Article 21 – Fair Procedure

• Automated, opaque decision-making violates due process.

Article 14 – Right to Equality

• Algorithmic discrimination breaches equal protection guarantees.

Natural Justice

• Right to reasoned decision → algorithms cannot provide judicial justification.

Benefits of regulated AI

• Faster case summarisation.
• Reducing pendency in procedural stages.
• Improved access to legal information.
• Assistance for judges, not replacement.

Real Policy Question

How to use AI as a tool without compromising judicial independence, fairness, and constitutional rights?

What should be the guidelines?

1. Mandatory human oversight

• AI cannot draft judgments; must only assist research.

2. Verification requirement

• Every AI output must be independently checked.

3. Transparency norms

• Mandatory disclosure when AI tools are used in submissions or drafting.

4. Data governance

• Only vetted, bias-audited datasets allowed.

5. Ethical and legal accountability

• A responsibility matrix for errors arising from AI-assisted work.

6. Clear prohibition zones

• No AI use in:
  • bail decisions
  • sentencing
  • adjudication of rights
  • constitutional interpretation

7. Regular training for judges

• Handling AI tools safely, understanding limitations.

Implications for the Indian Justice System

Positive (with safeguards)

• Efficiency gains in drafting/non-adjudicatory tasks.
• Reduction in backlog.
• Better multilingual access.

Negative (if unsupervised)

• Threat to judicial independence.
• Risk of fabricated precedents.
• Erosion of citizens’ trust in the justice delivery system.

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Health Security → National Security Cess Bill, 2025

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Why is this in News?

• Lok Sabha passed the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025 by voice vote.
• The Bill levies a new cess on manufacturing units of paan masala and gutkha, with revenue earmarked for:
  • Strengthening national security, and
  • Improving public health.
• Finance Minister clarified that defence modernisation is capital-intensive, and India must find additional internal resources.
• Debate triggered due to:
  • Rising defence costs (precision weapons, autonomous systems, space assets, cyber warfare).
  • Public health hazards from paan masala/gutkha.
  • Ethical questions on funding defence via “sin goods.”

Relevance

GS-III: Economy

• Taxation structure (cess), fiscal federalism
• Resource mobilisation for defence expenditure
• Pigouvian taxes and sin goods

GS-III: Security

• Defence modernisation & capital-intensive warfare
• National security financing models

GS-II: Governance

• Public health policy (tobacco regulation)
• Parliament’s role in budgetary decisions

BASICS

1. What is a Cess?

• A cess is a tax levied for a specific purpose, over and above existing taxes.
• Not part of divisible pool → not shared with states (goes to Consolidated Fund but is earmarked).
• Used earlier for: Swachh Bharat Cess, Krishi Kalyan Cess, Health & Education Cess.

2. What is “Health Security se National Security” Cess?

• Conceptually links public health risk mitigation with resource mobilisation for defence.
• Levy on “harmful, addictive products” → paan masala & gutkha manufacturing.

KEY FEATURES  

1. Target of the Cess

• Manufacturing units of paan masala & gutkha.

2. Intended Use of Funds

• National security preparedness, including:
  • Modern weapons
  • Surveillance systems
  • Cyber defence
  • Space assets
  • Upgradation & modernisation of armed forces
• Public health improvement, addressing hazards of tobacco-based products.

3. Fiscal Rationale

• Defence is capital-heavy → “precision weapons are not cheap.”
• Defence allocation needs predictable, insulated revenue sources to avoid budget shocks.

WHY GOVERNMENT SAYS THIS IS NECESSARY ?

1. Modern Warfare = High Cost

• Precision missiles, drones, autonomous systems, AI-driven warfare, space-based ISR are extremely capital-intensive.
• India’s military modernisation is lagging relative to technological shifts.

2. National Security is Public Good

• Cannot be compromised by cyclical budget pressures.
• FM cited Operation Shakti, Kargil experience and the 1990s budget crisis, when only “70–80% of authorised weapons/equipment” could be procured.

3. Defence Sovereignty

• Long-term self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta in Defence) requires sustained funding.

4. Public Health Justification

• Paan masala & gutkha are linked to oral cancers, addiction, and large public health costs.
• Higher taxation reduces consumption and funds treatment/prevention.

PUBLIC HEALTH DIMENSION

• India has one of the highest global burdens of oral cancer, heavily linked to smokeless tobacco & gutkha.
• A targeted cess aligns with WHO-recommended strategy: tax harmful goods + invest revenue in healthcare.
• Addresses dual problems:
  • Reduce harmful consumption
  • Generate revenue for public goods (health + security)

NATIONAL SECURITY DIMENSION

1. Precision Warfare Era

• Conflicts today require:
  • Hypersonics
  • Long-range precision strikes
  • Electronic warfare
  • Cyber resilience
  • Space-based surveillance
• These drastically increase defence costs.

2. Need for Predictable Funding

• Capital acquisitions must be multi-year; cess creates a dedicated non-shareable revenue pool.

ECONOMIC & GOVERNANCE ANALYSIS

Advantages

• Pigouvian taxation: Taxing socially harmful goods to fund national goods.
• Reduces public health burden.
• Earmarks revenue for sectors often under fiscal strain (health + defence).
• Politically more acceptable than broad-based tax increases.

Concerns

• Regressivity: Cess may disproportionately affect lower-income consumers.
• Narrow tax base: Revenue potential is limited; cannot substitute mainstream defence budgeting.
• Centre–State tension: Cess is not shareable → States may lose potential revenue streams.
• Moral argument: Linking defence funding to addictive substances may attract ethical criticisms.
• Industry impact: Paan masala/gutkha units (many in MSME sector) may face higher compliance costs.

POLITICAL CONTEXT

• Some MPs urged withdrawal of national awards from celebrities endorsing gutkha.
• Widening debate on:
  • Tobacco advertising ethics
  • Public health priorities
  • “Sin tax” governance
• Bill passed despite objections, signalling strong government push for defence-capex financing.

STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE FOR INDIA

1. Defence Modernisation Push

• Aligns with India’s shift from manpower-heavy forces to technology-centric forces.

2. Health–Security Linkage

• Recognises that national security is not only defence, but includes public health resilience (post-COVID learning).

3. Fiscal Innovation

• Part of a global trend: countries using targeted levies for security preparedness.

POTENTIAL IMPACT

ON HEALTH

• Higher prices → reduced consumption → lower disease burden.
• More resources for cancer screening, awareness, PHC strengthening.

ON DEFENCE

• Dedicated revenue stream for:
  • procurement
  • research
  • ammunition stocks
  • modernisation pipeline

ON INDUSTRY

• Market contraction for paan masala & gutkha; may encourage diversification.

CRITICISMS & CHALLENGES

• Cess proliferation creates non-shareable pools, weakening federal fiscal balance.
• Should defence be funded via a stable tax base rather than “sin goods revenue”?
• Risk of creating dependency on consumption of harmful products to fund essential sectors.
• Implementing cess effectively requires tight monitoring to prevent tax evasion and illicit manufacturing.

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Right to Disconnect Bill

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WHY IS THIS IN NEWS?

• NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule introduced a Private Member’s Bill in Lok Sabha proposing an employees’ Right to Disconnect — i.e., the legal right to ignore work-related calls, emails, and messages outside official working hours.
• Bill seeks to address the modern crisis of overwork, blurred boundaries between home and workplace, and mental-health deterioration in an always-connected digital economy.
• India currently has no statutory right to disconnect, despite rising cases of burnout, information overload, and 24×7 digital surveillance tools used by employers.
• The Bill aligns with global moves (France, Portugal, Ireland) recognising disconnecting as a fundamental labour right necessary for work-life balance.

Relevance

GS-II: Social Justice

• Labour rights, workplace dignity
• Mental health and well-being as part of Article 21

GS-II: Governance

• Regulation of digital-era work culture
• Rights of gig workers and remote workers

GS-III: Economy & Technology

• Digital tools, algorithmic management
• Productivity vs. overwork dynamics

BASICS

1. What is the Right to Disconnect?

• A labour right allowing employees to refuse work communications after official hours without penalty.
• Protects personal time, rest, leisure, health, and family life.
• Based on the principle:
  “Work must end when working hours end.”

2. Why is this needed today?

• Remote work, hybrid models, smartphones, and collaboration tools (WhatsApp, Teams, Slack) make employees perpetually reachable.
• Overwork →
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Burnout
  • Anxiety & depression
  • Reduced productivity
  • Health disorders (cardiac risk, obesity, cognitive overload)
• Especially severe in IT, finance, e-commerce, gig work, and start-up ecosystems.

3. Why a legal right?

Voluntary corporate guidelines lack enforceability; without law, employees cannot refuse after-hours work pressures.

KEY FEATURES OF SULE’S RIGHT TO DISCONNECT BILL, 2025

1. Right to ignore after-hour work communications

• Employees cannot be penalised for not responding to:
  • Calls
  • Emails
  • Messages
  • Official digital monitoring tools
    Outside notified working hours.

2. Employer obligations

• Cannot force employee availability beyond hours unless mutually agreed.
• Failure → penalties up to 1% of the company’s total remuneration bill.

3. Employees’ Welfare Authority (new regulatory body)

• To frame rules for:
  • Work-hour boundaries
  • Digital communication limits
  • Monitoring compliance
• To mediate disputes between employer and employee on work-after-hours issues.

4. Mandatory counselling services

• Large workplaces must offer mental-health support for overworked employees.

5. Data collection & audit

• Authority to set baseline metrics for continuous assessment of work-related stress and time-use patterns.

6. Negotiation committees

• When Parliament is in session, employers must discuss and finalise disconnection norms with workers’ unions or representatives.

THE PROBLEM: WHY SUCH A BILL IS EMERGING NOW

1. Digital capitalism has erased boundaries

• Employees remain “on-call” 24×7.
• Increased notifications → cognitive overload (“info-obesity”).

2. Gig and remote work expansion

• India has ~8–10 million gig workers; they face unregulated, unpredictable hours.

3. Mental health crisis

• Burnout is classified as an occupational phenomenon (WHO).
• Work-from-home during COVID accelerated the trend.

4. Feminisation of stress

• Women face “double burden”: paid work + domestic labour.

5. India’s labour codes silent on digital after-hours work

• Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code doesn’t address digital-era work overload.

GLOBAL CONTEXT  

France (2017)

• First country to legally recognise the right to disconnect.
• Companies with >50 employees must negotiate digital boundaries.

Portugal (2021)

• Employers banned from contacting workers after hours except in emergencies.

Ireland, Italy, Spain, Belgium

• National guidelines + statutory protections for workers’ digital disengagement.

Learning for India:
Legal frameworks help institutionalise mental-health protections and enforce predictable working hours.

GOVERNANCE & POLICY ANALYSIS

1. Labour Rights Perspective

• Reinforces constitutional values under Article 21 (right to live with dignity, mental well-being).
• Supports ILO principles on decent work.

2. Public Health Governance

• Sleep deprivation & burnout are public health concerns → increase NCD risks and reduce national productivity.

3. Economic Impact

• Balanced work regimes → higher productivity, innovation, employee retention.
• Helps companies reduce burnout-driven attrition, especially in IT-BPM sector.

4. Technology Governance

• Addresses ethical use of digital monitoring tools and employee surveillance.
• Encourages transparency in algorithmically scheduled work.

CRITICISMS & CHALLENGES

1. Compliance cost for employers

• SME/MSME sector may struggle to formalise strict digital boundaries.

2. Sectoral differences

• Emergency services, healthcare, logistics, and 24×7 operations may require flexible norms.

3. Enforcement gap

• Private Member’s Bills rarely become law (only ~14 passed since Independence).
• Implementation may be difficult without strong trade unions.

4. Global competitiveness concerns

• Some argue it may reduce responsiveness in highly competitive export sectors.

5. Cultural barrier

• India’s corporate culture often normalises long hours → legal right alone may not fix mindset.

IMPLICATIONS IF THE BILL IS ADOPTED

Positive

• Improved mental and physical health outcomes.
• Clearer work-life boundaries.
• Reduced information overload & burnout.
• Better employee satisfaction and retention.
• Progressive labour policy signalling globally.

Negative

• Possibility of informal pressure continuing outside legal frameworks.
• New compliance burden may deter startups.

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India–Russia Trade Target of $100 Billion by 2030

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WHY IS THIS IN NEWS?

• India and Russia, during high-level meetings involving PM Modi and President Putin (BRICS & Annual Summit frame), reaffirmed their commitment to achieve USD 100 billion bilateral trade by 2030.
• Russia emphasised it is a reliable supplier of fuel and will continue uninterrupted shipments to India.
• Comes amid US-imposed tariffs and increasing Western scrutiny of India–Russia economic ties, especially following the Ukraine conflict.
• India also pushed for rapid conclusion of the FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers.
• Trade gap has sharply widened due to surging Russian oil imports and falling Indian exports.

Relevance

GS-II: International Relations

• India–Russia strategic partnership
• Energy security, defence cooperation
• Multilateral linkages (EAEU, BRICS)
• Navigating sanctions environment

GS-III: Economy

• Bilateral trade imbalance
• Currency settlement (rupee–rouble)
• Oil imports and global supply chains

GS-III: Security

• Defence logistics and spare parts dependency
• Strategic autonomy

BASICS

1. What is the India–Russia trade relationship?

• Traditionally driven by defence, energy, nuclear cooperation, fertilizers, and diamonds.
• Post-2022, Russia became India’s largest crude oil supplier, radically altering the trade composition.

2. What is the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)?

• A regional economic bloc led by Russia including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.
• Negotiating an FTA with India since 2017.

3. Why are US tariffs mentioned?

• The US introduced tariffs and sanctions related to geopolitical tensions, indirectly affecting global supply chains and trade flows with Russia.
• India’s continued high-volume trade with Russia is closely watched by Western partners.

DATA: THE WIDENING TRADE GAP (Commerce Ministry)

Imports from Russia (largely crude oil):

• 2021–22: $6.9 bn
• 2022–23: $46.2 bn
• 2023–24: $61.15 bn
• 2024–25 (Apr–Aug): $63.81 bn (annualised trend)

Exports to Russia:

• Remain under $4 billion, flat for years.

Result:

• Massive trade imbalance, driven by discounted Russian crude flows.

CURRENT DRIVERS OF INDIA–RUSSIA TRADE

1. Crude Oil as the Dominant Component

• India imported heavily discounted Russian oil after 2022.
• Russia now accounts for 35–40% of Indian crude imports at times.

2. Use of National Currencies

• About 96% of trade settlements in rupees and roubles, reducing dollar dependency.
• Helps bypass sanctions-related transaction bottlenecks.

3. Russia’s role as a stable fuel supplier

• Putin reassured India of continuous & uninterrupted shipments.

4. Defence & High-tech cooperation

• Components, spares, joint ventures, and nuclear energy (Kudankulam) remain core areas.

WHY BOTH SIDES WANT THE $100-BILLION TARGET ?

India’s perspective

• Secure long-term energy supplies.
• Diversify away from Gulf dependence.
• Gain favourable pricing in oil & gas.
• Expand exports: pharma, agricultural products, machinery, engineering goods.
• Promote India’s presence in Russia’s Far East through connectivity initiatives (INSTC, Chennai–Vladivostok route).

Russia’s perspective

• Pivot to Asian markets after Western sanctions.
• Stable buyer for oil, coal, fertilizers.
• Attract Indian investments in infrastructure, mining, and energy in the Far East.
• Strengthen geopolitical partnership amid global realignment.

STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES

1. Huge Trade Imbalance

• India imports far more from Russia → unsustainable gap.
• Indian exporters face logistical, payment & certification hurdles.

2. Payment & Currency Issues

• Rupee accumulation in Russian banks is large; Russia wants to use rupees to buy Indian goods, but supply is limited.
• Exchange rate volatility & currency convertibility constraints.

3. Logistics Bottlenecks

• INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) still not fully optimised.
• Limited maritime connectivity.

4. Sanctions Environment

• Western sanctions complicate shipping insurance, banking channels, and trade finance.
• Indian entities must navigate compliance risks.

5. Limited Indian Market Penetration

• Lack of market awareness, limited brand presence in Russia, certification & regulatory hurdles.

FTA WITH THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION (EAEU)

India wants a swift conclusion because:

Benefits

• Reduced tariffs → boost Indian exports.
• Address non-tariff barriers (phytosanitary, certification).
• Improve predictability in bilateral trade.
• Help in rupee-rouble settlement mechanisms.
• Strategic foothold in the Eurasian region.

Hurdles

• Complex negotiation environment due to sanctions.
• Sensitive sectors (metals, fertilizers) require careful balancing.
• Logistics & standards harmonisation needed.

GEOPOLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR INDIA

1. Balancing Act Between West and Russia

• India seeks strategic autonomy:
  • Buys Russian oil
  • Cooperates with Russia in defence
  • Deepens Quad partnership with US
• Maintaining diversified partnerships mitigates geopolitical risks.

2. Energy Security

• Russian crude provides price stability, reducing India’s import bill.

3. Defence Readiness

• Russia remains major supplier of critical defence spares & technologies.

4. Strategic Presence in Eurasia

• Connectivity corridors with Russia strengthen India’s Eurasian footprint vis-à-vis China.

ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA

Positive

• Lower energy costs due to discounted Russian oil.
• Opportunity to expand export base in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, textiles, auto components.
• Investment openings in the Far East → minerals, hydrocarbons, infrastructure.

Risks

• Overdependence on Russian energy.
• Exposure to secondary sanctions.
• Trade imbalance if exports don’t rise substantially.

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Build strong export support mechanisms

• Market intelligence cells for Russia
• Certification/standards harmonisation
• Export credit, logistics subsidies

2. Accelerate INSTC operationalisation

• Reduce transit time and cost via Iran & Caspian Sea.

3. Diversify beyond crude

• Promote IT services, engineering goods, medical devices.

4. Currency mechanism innovation

• Expand rupee-rouble convertibility windows
• Explore digital currency settlement channels

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DRDO Successfully Conducts Indigenous Dynamic Ejection Test

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WHY IS THIS IN NEWS?

• DRDO announced the successful dynamic ejection test of a new indigenous fighter aircraft crew escape module (ejection system).
• The test took place at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh.
• This marks a technological milestone in India’s defence aviation ecosystem, enhancing safety for pilots during emergencies such as high-speed crashes, mid-air failures, or loss of control.
• The development strengthens India’s move toward self-reliance in advanced aerospace safety technologies, previously dominated by foreign suppliers.

Relevance

GS-III: Security / Defence

• Defence R&D, aerospace indigenisation
• Pilot safety and combat readiness
• Support for indigenous fighter programmes (Tejas, AMCA, etc.)

GS-III: Science & Technology

• High-speed aerodynamics
• Rocket sled testing, flight safety systems
• Indigenous engineering capabilities

GS-II: Governance

• Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing
• Reducing reliance on foreign suppliers

BASICS

1. What is an Ejection System?

• A system designed to save a pilot’s life when the aircraft experiences catastrophic failure.
• Includes:
  • Ejection seat
  • Explosive charges/rockets to propel the pilot out
  • Parachute deployment system
  • Survival kit

2. Dynamic Ejection Test

• A high-speed test that simulates real-life aircraft escape conditions, including:
  • Aerodynamic loads
  • High-speed airflow
  • Changing acceleration forces
  • Seat–pilot interaction
• Conducted on a “rocket sled track” to mimic aircraft speed.

3. Why dynamic tests matter?

• Static tests cannot reproduce real conditions like:
  • High wind blast
  • Instability
  • G-forces
  • Canopy fragmentation
  • Pressure variations
• Dynamic tests help validate crew survivability under extreme operational conditions.

THE TEST: KEY DETAILS

• Conducted by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and TBRL.
• Rocket sled propelled the ejection seat & dummy at simulated aircraft speeds.
• System was tested for ensuring:
  • Pilot safe separation
  • Stable trajectory
  • Correct sequencing of explosive & rocket elements
  • Proper parachute deployment envelope
• Involved:
  • Canopy fragmentation or breaking
  • Safe clearance from aircraft body
  • Avoiding seat tumbling
  • Ensuring steady descent

TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES

1. Simulating High-Speed Ejection

• Faster aircraft (modern fighters reach >1.6 Mach) → greater aerodynamic forces.

2. Complex escape sequence

• Canopy must shatter/jet away → seat rockets fire → seat stabilizes → parachute deploys.
• Each step must occur within milliseconds.

3. Dummy behaviour

• Human-like crash dummies mimic:
  • Body movements
  • Neck/torso response
  • Pressure effects
• Ensures realistic data on spinal loads and shock absorption.

4. All-weather complexity

• Ejections may occur:
  • At low altitude
  • High altitude
  • Low speed
  • Very high speed
• System must handle flight-envelope extremes.

5. Safety margins

• Preventing neck injuries, fractures, and uncontrolled spinning.

WHY THIS MATTERS: STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE ?

1. Critical for Indigenous Fighter Programmes

The ejection system is essential for:

• LCA Tejas variants
• AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft)
• LCA Mk-2
• Twin-engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF)
• Future trainer and combat aircraft

2. Reduces Dependence on Foreign Suppliers

• India historically relied on:
  • Martin-Baker (UK)
  • Russian K-36 systems
• Indigenous system → cost reduction + strategic autonomy.

3. Enhances Pilot Safety

• Pilot survivability affects:
  • National morale
  • Training costs
  • Military readiness
• Losing pilots to avoidable ejection failures is unacceptable in modern Air Forces.

4. Boosts Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence

• High-tech R&D ecosystem strengthened.
• Spinoff benefits for space, missile, and aerospace sectors.

5. Supports High-Speed Future Platforms

• AMCA, unmanned–manned teaming, and future air combat platforms will need advanced escape systems.

ADDITIONAL CONTEXT FROM THE ARTICLE

1. First-of-its-kind achievement

• Rare capability globally; dynamic ejection tests require sophisticated rail-track rocket facilities.

2. Avoiding 1990s setbacks

• Earlier generations of Indian aviation depended on foreign imports for survival equipment.
• This test helps India avoid bottlenecks in supply chains due to geopolitical pressures.

3. Data gathered

• Test generated critical data:
  • Oscillation dynamics
  • Parachute stability
  • Dummy kinematic response
• Used to adjust seat design.

4. Actual dummy test

• Test used a human-like dummy fitted with sensors that tracked:
  • Pressure
  • Acceleration
  • Impact loads
  • Flight dynamics

IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA’S DEFENCE CAPABILITY

1. Improves Aircraft Certification

• Safe escape systems are mandatory for aircraft clearance.

2. Enhances Export Potential

• Indigenous fighters with indigenous safety systems become more attractive for foreign buyers.

3. Strengthens R&D Infrastructure

• RTRS facility’s success encourages more flight-safety and airframe-testing experiments.

4. Boosts confidence of IAF & Navy pilots

• Reliable ejection systems improve operational confidence during risky missions.

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