Current Affairs 15 May 2025

Content :

1. Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain part of India’
2. The road to safety
3. Value of new govt. projects announced hits a six-year high
4. How did India develop genome edited rice?
5. Tackling Pakistan’s proxy wars and the dangers posed by Lashkar-e-Taiba
6. Indigenous weapon systems highly effective, says Centre
7. Birth rates in Delhi, Kerala, and T.N. declining at twice the rate of national average: report
8. Centre revamps PLFS, includes rural jobs data
9. 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

1. Crude Birth Rate (CBR): The number of live births per 1,000 people in a given year.
2. Birth Rate Decline (%): Annual percentage decrease in the crude birth rate over a specified period.
3. Total Fertility Rate (TFR):The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years.
4. Gross Reproduction Rate (GRR):The average number of daughters a woman would have who survive to reproductive age.
5. Civil Registration System (CRS):A government system for recording vital events like births and deaths for statistical and administrative purposes.
6. Demographic Transition:A shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a society develops economically.
7. Fertility Rate:The number of births per 1,000 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in a year.
8. Replacement Level Fertility:The level of fertility (TFR ≈ 2.1) at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next.
9. Population Stabilization:A condition where the birth rate and death rate are balanced, leading to a steady population size over time.
10. 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.