Content :
- Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain part of India’
- The road to safety
- Value of new govt. projects announced hits a six-year high
- How did India develop genome edited rice?
- Tackling Pakistan’s proxy wars and the dangers posed by Lashkar-e-Taiba
- Indigenous weapon systems highly effective, says Centre
- Birth rates in Delhi, Kerala, and T.N. declining at twice the rate of national average: report
- Centre revamps PLFS, includes rural jobs data
- Scientists make unique 2D metals much sought after for future tech
Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain part of India’
Context : MEA’s Firm Response
- MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal categorically rejected China’s attempt to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Asserted that “creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality” — Arunachal Pradesh is, was, and will remain an integral part of India.
- Emphasized that Arunachal Pradesh is inalienably Indian territory and no external naming can change the ground reality.
Relevance : GS 2(Polity and International Relations)
China’s Repeated Attempts
- China’s Foreign Ministry, through spokesperson Lin Jian, announced “standardisation” of names in Arunachal Pradesh (which it refers to as Zangnan).
- This is part of a pattern of provocation — similar renaming attempts:
- April 2024: ~30 places renamed.
- April 2023: 11 places, including mountain peaks, renamed.
- These actions are aimed at asserting its territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as part of “South Tibet.”
India’s Consistent Position
- India has consistently protested these actions, terming them “vain and preposterous.”
- Maintains that such acts hold no legal or territorial validity.
- Asserts sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh in all diplomatic engagements.
Underlying Geopolitical Context
- Part of broader India-China border tensions, especially post-Galwan (2020).
- China’s renaming is a soft power and cartographic aggression strategy to reinforce its claims.
- India’s strong rebuttal reflects its resolve to maintain territorial integrity and counter information warfare tactics.
Conclusion
- Renaming places is a symbolic move with no impact on sovereignty or legal status.
- India continues to vigilantly guard its borders and respond diplomatically to such provocations.
- The message: Territorial integrity cannot be redrawn through words.
The road to safety
Scale and Severity of India’s Road Safety Crisis
- India has one of the largest road networks and also the highest number of road traffic deaths globally.
- 1.68 lakh fatalities in 2022 → ~12.2 deaths per 1 lakh population.
- In contrast: Japan (2.57), UK (2.61) per 1 lakh population.
- Road crashes cost ~3% of India’s GDP annually, impacting development and economic productivity.
Relevance : GS 2(Health ) ,GS 3 (Infrastructure, Environment)
Right to Safe Mobility = Right to Life
- Safe road travel is a constitutional right under Article 21 – Right to Life.
- Emphasizes that road safety is a human right, not just a technical issue.
- Calls for treating roads as public spaces for all, not just vehicle corridors.
Urbanisation and Mobility Challenge
- By 2047, 50% of India will be urban → sharp rise in vehicle ownership.
- This urban growth must be met with people-centric urban planning:
- Focus on vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists, elderly, public transport users.
Safe System Approach: Paradigm Shift
- Recognises human error is inevitable, but deaths are preventable.
- Prioritises:
- Pedestrian-first design
- Wider footpaths, dedicated cycle tracks
- Raised intersections, refuge islands
- Speed limits & traffic calming
- Shifts accountability from individuals to system design resilience.
Government Initiatives (MoRTH)
- 5000+ black spots on highways identified and being rectified.
- Mandatory road safety audits, stricter norms (airbags, ABS).
- Electronic enforcement: Speed cameras, CCTVs for compliance.
- Launch of driver training centres & vehicle fitness centres in every district.
Funding Road Safety: CSR Route
- Proposal: Auto manufacturers to channel 100% CSR funds to road safety for 20–25 years.
- Target areas:
- Black spot removal
- Awareness campaigns
- Emergency trauma care
- Driver education and research
- Encourages industry-government collaboration to build safer roads.
4 Es of Road Safety Strategy
- Engineering – Infrastructure upgrades and black spot fixes.
- Enforcement – Stricter penalties, digital surveillance.
- Education – Road user awareness and driver training.
- Emergency Care – Timely trauma response and medical infrastructure.
Global Insights & Investment Needs
- World Bank 2020 report: $109 billion needed in 10 years to cut fatalities by 50%.
- Returns: Up to 4x economic benefit per ₹1 spent on proven safety interventions.
- iRAP Four States Report also confirms high benefit-cost ratio for safety investments.
Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047
- Road safety is not a luxury, but essential for sustainable development.
- Mobility should prioritise inclusivity, safety, and human dignity over speed.
- Calls for data-driven policies, accountability, and rethinking civic values around public space usage.
Value of new govt. projects announced hits a six-year high
Surge in New Investment Announcements (March 2025 Quarter)
- New projects worth₹19.8 lakh crore announced — highest in six years.
- Private sector: ₹13.4 lakh crore (~2x the previous quarter).
- Government sector: ₹6.4 lakh crore — a five-fold increase over Dec 2024 quarter.
Relevance : GS 3 (Economy & Infrastructure)
Sectoral and Contextual Drivers
- Power sector led the surge — ~₹9 lakh crore worth of announcements, especially in renewables.
- Announcement boost aided by global investor summits in four states.
- Companies are investing cash reserves post-COVID — indicating cyclical recovery.
Government Investment Factors
- Bump in Q4 due to delayed capex during election period (Lok Sabha 2024).
- PSU expansion plans contributed significantly to govt. announcements.
- Possibly a strategic push to counter revised lower growth forecasts by RBI (6.5%), IMF (6.2%), and World Bank (6.3%).
Ground Reality: High Drop and Low Completion Rates
- Government projects dropped in FY25: ₹7.6 lakh crore (↓ from ₹8.5 lakh crore in FY24).
- Private sector dropped over₹10 lakh crore in FY25 — 10% ↑ from last year.
- Completed projects: ~₹2.9 lakh crore (govt.); <₹3 lakh crore (private) — both significantly lower than previous years.
- Dropouts > Completions, especially in post-COVID years.
Gestation Period and Implementation Challenges
- Gestation period increased: 16.5 months (FY19) → 19+ months (FY25).
- Longer gestation in private sector than in government projects.
- Reasons for abandonment: lack of clearances, financial infeasibility, shifting demand, and bureaucratic delays.
- ~90% of dropped projects in FY25 due to “lack of information”, reflecting poor tracking and monitoring.
Investment vs Execution Gap
- Investment announcements reflect intentions, not outcomes.
- Projects frequently shelved mid-way, exposing systemic bottlenecks in execution.
- Experts caution against overinterpreting the surge without accounting for high attrition rates.
Outlook Ahead
- Despite potential U.S. tariffs, India’s exposure is limited; ongoing trade talks may cushion impact.
- Domestic demand will remain key driver for investments.
- Export-driven sectors may slow down, but overall capex momentum could sustain if execution improves.
Conclusion
- The surge in announcements is encouraging, but marred by a low success ratio.
- Without addressing implementation inefficiencies, project announcements will not translate into real economic gains.
- Emphasis must shift to project completion, transparency, and policy support to sustain momentum.
How did India develop genome edited rice?
Development and Varieties
- India becomes the first country to develop rice varieties using genome editing technology.
- Developed by scientists from ICAR and allied institutions.
- Two new rice varieties announced:
- DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala): Derived from Samba Mahsuri.
- Pusa DST Rice 1: Derived from Maruteru 1010 (MTU1010).
Relevance : GS 3(Agriculture ,Science)
Unique Characteristics of the Varieties
DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala):
- Higher yield: 5.37 tonnes/ha vs. 4.5 tonnes/ha of Samba Mahsuri.
- Drought-tolerant and climate-resilient.
- High nitrogen use efficiency.
- 20 days earlier maturity, saving water, fertilizers, and reducing methane emissions.
Pusa DST Rice 1:
- Yield under stress: 3,508 kg/ha vs. 3,199 kg/ha of MTU1010.
- Tolerant to inland and coastal salinity, and alkaline soils.
- 9.66% to 30.4% yield advantage under various stress conditions.
Technology Used
- Employed genome editing techniques: Site-Directed Nuclease 1 (SDN-1) and SDN-2.
- SDN-1: Induces mutation without external guidance.
- SDN-2: Repairs gene with guided editing but without inserting foreign DNA.
- No use of SDN-3, which involves foreign gene insertion (true GMOs).
- Hence, these are not considered Genetically Modified (GM) crops.
Significance for India
- Addresses climate change-related stress: drought, salinity, pest resistance.
- Aligns with food security goals amid growing population and limited resources.
- Potential to reduce dependence on GM imports and improve domestic seed innovation.
Controversies and Objections
- Farmer backlash: Venugopal Badaravada (ex-ICAR governing body member) called the claims premature and demanded transparency and accountability.
- Expelled from ICAR after his remarks.
- Activists’ concerns:
- Alleged lack of field-level data and trials.
- Legal concerns over India’s deregulation of gene-edited crops.
- IPR issues: Fears of corporate control and erosion of seed sovereignty.
- Genome editing not necessarily precise or risk-free, per some scientific literature.
Regulatory and Legal Status
- Genome editing using SDN-1 and SDN-2 is exempt from GM crop regulations in some countries (including India currently).
- ICAR claims no foreign gene is present, hence no GM label.
- Supreme Court is still hearing a case on GM crop regulation; any precedent here could influence future approvals.
Next Steps
- Seeds to be available after regulatory clearance within 6 months.
- Large-scale seed production expected over 3 crop seasons.
Tackling Pakistan’s proxy wars and the dangers posed by Lashkar-e-Taiba
Background Context
- Pakistan has employed proxy wars as a long-term strategic tool to undermine India, described as “bleed India through a thousand cuts.”
- Key militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed have been central to these proxy operations.
- Notable incidents include:
- 2016 Uri attack by JeM
- 2019 Pulwama attack by JeM
- 2025 Pahalgam massacre claimed by TRF, a front for LeT
- India responded with cross-border strikes, escalating tensions including aerial dogfights and missile/drones exchange.
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT): Characteristics and Role
- LeT is Pakistan’s most loyal militant proxy, integral to the country’s geopolitical strategy.
- It operates with ideological convergence with Pakistan’s military and establishment.
- While other groups have sometimes challenged Pakistani military’s authority, LeT restricts its militancy outside Pakistan (mainly India and Afghanistan), maintaining social and philanthropic activities inside Pakistan.
- This dual role grants LeT protection from Pakistani state action and allows it to rebrand under different names (e.g., Jamaat-ud-Dawa) to avoid bans and international pressure.
- LeT survived despite bans and international designation as a terrorist group, with extensive organizational networks for recruitment, fundraising, and activism.
Pakistan’s Strategic Use of Militants (“Double Game”)
- Pakistan’s proxy war strategy extends beyond India — also involves complicity with Taliban in Afghanistan.
- During the U.S. war on terror in Afghanistan (2001-2021), Pakistan acted as both an ally to the U.S. and protector of the Taliban.
- Pakistan’s intelligence agency (ISI) reportedly provided support and shelter to al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden despite global scrutiny.
- This “double game” allowed Pakistan to pursue its strategic interests while avoiding full international consequences.
Challenges in Countering Proxy Wars
- Options to deal with Pakistan’s proxies as per experts include:
- Maintaining the status quo (limited responses, diplomatic efforts)
- Decapitating militant leadership (targeted elimination or disruption of groups)
- Escalating tensions (cross-border strikes, controlled military operations)
- India’s strategy has leaned towards “controlled escalation,” calibrating responses below the nuclear threshold to retain strategic leverage without triggering all-out conflict.
- Pakistan’s proxy warfare continues to test India’s resilience and strategic patience.
Strategic Implications & Way Forward
- Pakistan’s proxy war doctrine is deeply embedded in its geopolitical ambitions to challenge India’s regional dominance.
- India must maintain a multi-dimensional approach including intelligence operations, diplomatic pressure, and calibrated military responses.
- International cooperation is crucial to dismantle militant networks and cut off their funding and support.
- Long-term peace requires addressing underlying regional disputes alongside counter-terrorism measures.
Indigenous weapon systems highly effective, says Centre
Performance of Indigenous Defence Systems
- Indigenous systems like the Akash short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system proved highly effective during Operation Sindoor.
- All Indian offensive strikes on Pakistan military targets were executed without loss of any Indian assets, highlighting excellent surveillance, planning, and weapon delivery.
- India’s long-range drones and guided munitions played a crucial role in making strikes precise and well-calibrated.
- Indian Air Force successfully jammed and bypassed Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied air defence systems (HQ-9 SAMs), showcasing technological superiority.
- The entire operation was completed in just 23 minutes, demonstrating operational efficiency and preparedness.
Relevance : GS 3(Defence)
Defence Sector Growth and Export Potential
- Defence exports surged from₹686 crore (2013-14) to ₹23,622 crore (2024-25), reflecting rapid growth driven by Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) initiatives.
- Countries in Southeast Asia, West Asia, and Africa have shown increasing interest in Indian systems like Akash and BrahMos, validating their global appeal.
- Operation Sindoor served as a live demonstration of indigenous systems’ real-time performance, likely boosting export inquiries.
Air Defence and Electronic Warfare Capabilities
- Indian air defence network showed resilience against hundreds of drones, UAVs, and high-speed missiles launched by Pakistan.
- Most hostile aerial targets were successfully intercepted or neutralized; only a few caused damage.
- Several key Pakistani air defence radar sites were struck, including disabling the HQ-15 SAM system in Lahore.
- Integration of Army and IAF air defence networks, supported by Akashteer system and Integrated Air Command and Control Systems (IACCS), proved robust.
- Pieces of foreign-supplied hostile technologies recovered included Chinese PL-15 air-to-air missiles, Turkish UAVs, long-range rockets, and commercial drones, confirming Pakistan’s reliance on foreign weaponry.
- Despite Pakistan’s advanced foreign-supplied armaments, India’s indigenous air defence and electronic warfare capabilities remained superior.
Akashteer System and Network Automation
- Akashteer, a networking and automation air defence project by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), was fielded within a year after contract signing.
- Akashteer integrated ground-based defence systems and significantly enhanced air defence response.
- BEL highlighted Akashteer’s battlefield performance as exceeding expectations and effectively countering Pakistani aerial threats.
Current Border Situation and Diplomatic Notes
- Situation along western borders remained calm as of May 13-14 post-Operation Sindoor.
- No confirmed schedule yet for the next Directors-General of Military Operations (DGMOs) talks between India and Pakistan.
- The calmness suggests a phase of strategic consolidation after the operation’s high-intensity engagement.
Birth rates in Delhi, Kerala, and T.N. declining at twice the rate of national average: report
Key Findings on Birth Rate Decline
- Delhi, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu show birth rates declining at roughly twice the national average rate.
- Tamil Nadu: birth rate decline of 2.35% per year (2016-2021)
- Delhi: decline of 2.23% per year
- Kerala: decline of 2.05% per year
- The national average birth rate decline during 2016-2021 was 1.12% per year (crude birth rate 19.3 in 2021).
Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues)
States with Slowest Decline or Increase in Birth Rates
- States with the slowest birth rate decline:
- Rajasthan (0.48%)
- Bihar (0.86%)
- Chhattisgarh (0.98%)
- Jharkhand (0.98%)
- Assam (1.05%)
- Madhya Pradesh (1.05%)
- West Bengal (1.08%)
- Uttar Pradesh (1.09%)
- Uttarakhand was the only state to witness a rise in birth rate during this period.
Other States with Faster than Average Decline
- Besides Tamil Nadu and Kerala, other southern states also recorded faster decline rates than the national average:
- Andhra Pradesh (1.26%)
- Telangana (1.67%)
- Karnataka (1.68%)
- Other large states with faster declines:
- Maharashtra (1.57%)
- Gujarat (1.24%)
- Odisha (1.34%)
- Himachal Pradesh (1.29%)
- Haryana (1.21%)
- Jammu & Kashmir (1.47%)
- Punjab’s birth rate decline was nearly equal to the national average.
Civil Registration System (CRS) Registered Births Trends
- Some states with slow birth rate decline showed rising number of registered births:
- Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep
- Indicates possible improvements in birth registration or population growth factors in these states.
Fertility and Reproduction Rates (TFR & GRR)
- States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh have:
- Total Fertility Rate (TFR) above national average — indicating more children per woman on average.
- Gross Reproduction Rate (GRR) also above national average — implying higher number of daughters surviving to reproductive age.
- TFR: average children born per woman over her reproductive years.
- GRR: average daughters born who survive to reproduce.
Implications and Context
- Southern states’ faster decline aligns with higher socio-economic development, education, and healthcare access.
- Northern and central states with slower decline or birth rate rise may face challenges like lower female literacy, poverty, and traditional fertility preferences.
- Birth registration improvements in some states may partly explain the rise in registered births despite slow birth rate decline.
- Data signals regional disparities in demographic transition within India.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Crude Birth Rate (CBR): The number of live births per 1,000 people in a given year.
- Birth Rate Decline (%): Annual percentage decrease in the crude birth rate over a specified period.
- Total Fertility Rate (TFR):The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years.
- Gross Reproduction Rate (GRR):The average number of daughters a woman would have who survive to reproductive age.
- Civil Registration System (CRS):A government system for recording vital events like births and deaths for statistical and administrative purposes.
- Demographic Transition:A shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a society develops economically.
- Fertility Rate:The number of births per 1,000 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in a year.
- Replacement Level Fertility:The level of fertility (TFR ≈ 2.1) at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next.
- Population Stabilization:A condition where the birth rate and death rate are balanced, leading to a steady population size over time.
- Registered Births: Births officially recorded under the Civil Registration System, used to assess population trends and service delivery.
Centre revamps PLFS, includes rural jobs data
Key Points of PLFS Revamp
- Inclusion of rural employment and unemployment data in PLFS, which earlier covered mainly urban areas quarterly.
- PLFS to provide monthly estimates of key labour indicators — Labour Force Participation Rate, Worker Population Ratio, and Unemployment Rate — for both rural and urban areas at the all-India level in the Current Weekly Status (CWS).
- Quarterly estimates from PLFS will now also cover rural areas at the country level and major States.
- PLFS will estimate employment/unemployment indicators annually for both usual status (one-year reference) and current weekly status (last 7 days).
Relevance : GS 3(Labour Force)
Sampling and Coverage Enhancements
- From January 2025, revamped PLFS started with an enlarged sample size:
- 22,692 First Stage Units (FSUs) surveyed annually (12,504 rural FSUs; 10,188 urban FSUs).
- From each FSU, 12 households will be surveyed.
- Total sample size of around 2,72,304 households, a 2.65 times increase from previous ~1,02,400 households.
- Larger sample size aims to provide more reliable and precise labour market estimates.
Release Schedule and Scope
- First monthly PLFS bulletin covering rural and urban areas for April 2025 to be released soon (May 2025).
- First quarterly bulletin for April-June 2025 (rural + urban) scheduled for August 2025.
- PLFS will now serve as a high-frequency labour market indicator source for policymakers and researchers.
Implications and Significance
- Extending coverage to rural areas is crucial given India’s large rural workforce.
- Monthly data availability will improve timeliness and responsiveness of labour market analysis.
- Enhanced granularity at state and national levels will support better policy formulation on employment generation, unemployment, and workforce participation.
- Important step for India’s statistical system to capture labour market dynamics more accurately, especially in the post-pandemic economic context.
- Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat goals by providing data-driven insights to optimize skill development, job creation, and social security programs.
Scientists make unique 2D metals much sought after for future tech
Background:
- Quantum confinement causes electrons in extremely small materials to behave differently, leading to unique properties.
- Quantum dots (0D materials) and graphene (2D carbon sheets) are examples of materials with such confined electron behavior.
- These materials have revolutionized tech sectors like LEDs, solar cells, and sensors.
Relevance : GS 3(Science and Technology)
Challenge with 2D Metals:
- Metals naturally form 3D bonds, making it difficult to isolate atomically thin 2D metal sheets.
- Previous attempts produced metal sheets only a few nanometers thick, far thicker than ideal atomic scale (angstrom level).
- Metal surfaces often oxidize, reducing material stability and performance.
New Breakthrough by Chinese Scientists:
- Researchers created ultra-thin (6.3 Å, about 2 atoms thick) 2D sheets of metals like bismuth, gallium, indium, tin, and lead.
- The method involves sandwiching molten metal powder between layers of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and sapphire, then applying immense pressure and controlled cooling.
- MoS2 and sapphire provide strong, smooth, non-reactive surfaces essential for preserving the 2D structure.
Significant Findings:
- The bismuth sheets show strong field effect (electric conductivity tunable by external electric field) and nonlinear Hall effect (voltage generated perpendicular to electric field).
- These effects are unique to 2D metals and not found in 3D metals.
- The technique is scalable and simpler compared to prior complex and costly methods.
Potential Applications:
- 2D metals could enable next-gen technologies such as super-sensitive sensors for medical diagnostics and military use.
- 2D bismuth and tin may act as topological insulators—conducting electricity only on edges, promising faster and more energy-efficient computing.
Future Directions:
- Exploration of multi-metal 2D sheets and larger-area production.
- Tuning materials to operate as room-temperature topological insulators.
- Integration of 2D metals with other materials for advanced electrical and photonic devices.
- Deepening understanding of the novel electronic properties of 2D metals beyond bismuth.
Broader Context:
- The discovery parallels the impact of quantum dot research recognized by the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
- Represents a major advancement towards harnessing unique quantum phenomena in metals for practical use.
