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  • India needs to ‘connect, build and revive’ with Africa

    Introduction

    Indiaā€™s partnership with Africa is embedded in shared anti-colonial history, South-South cooperation, and long-standing developmental commitments. Over the last decade, Indiaā€™s diplomatic presence, investments, training initiatives, and cultural engagement have expanded across the continent. However, shifting geopolitical equations, intensifying global competition, and Africaā€™s rising economic potential demand an upgraded, value-driven, and sustained approach. The article argues that India must now ā€œconnect, build and reviveā€ its Africa policy to maintain its strategic foothold and align with Africaā€™s aspirations.

    Why in the News?

    A decade after hosting the largest-ever India-Africa Forum Summit, Indiaā€™s engagement with Africa is again at a pivotal moment. India has added 17 new missions, trade has crossed USD 100 billion, and investment flows are surging. Yet Indian trade still lags behind China, and many flagship promises made in 2015 require renewed momentum. As Africa is set to become home to one-fourth of the worldā€™s population by 2050, the scale, urgency, and strategic importance of Indiaā€™s outreach makes this moment historically significant.

    How has Indiaā€™s outreach to Africa evolved in the past decade?

    1. Expanded diplomatic footprint: India added 17 new missions across Africa, enhancing its on-ground presence and bilateral engagement.
    2. Rising investment flows: Indiaā€™s investment stock has crossed USD 100 billion, making it among Africaā€™s top five investors.
    3. Growth in trade partnerships: Bilateral trade has crossed USD 100 billion, demonstrating the growing economic synergy.
    4. Enhanced defence cooperation: Joint naval exercises such as AIMKEME (April 2025) saw participation from navies of Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, and Tanzania.
    5. Stronger multilateral alignment: India played a key role in enabling African Union membership in the G20, elevating Africaā€™s global voice.

    Why is Africa emerging as a strategic priority for India?

    1. Demographic transformation: By 2050, one in four people on Earth will be Africa, a major consumer, labour, and talent base.
    2. Economic potential: Africa will be the worldā€™s third-largest economy, creating opportunities in technology, health, infra, and manufacturing.
    3. Geopolitical influence: Africaā€™s global role is expanding, and India aims to support African representation in global institutions and peacekeeping operations.
    4. Shared developmental priorities: From education to digital public goods, Indiaā€™s model aligns naturally with African development aspirations.

    What challenges persist in India-Africa trade relations?

    1. Lag behind China: Indiaā€™s trade with Africa is expanding but still far behind China, which has deeper and wider market penetration.
    2. Logistical hurdles: Indian firms often face bureaucratic delays, small balance sheets, and scalability issues.
    3. Fragmented strategy: Indiaā€™s UPID, digital stack, and trade missions have strengths but lack coordinated continental impact.
    4. Competition from Europe and Asia: New entrants are building deeper financial and infrastructural linkages across the continent.

    How is India building capacity and knowledge partnerships in Africa?

    1. Human capital initiatives: Indiaā€™s most enduring export to Africa is human capital, created through scholarships, training programs, and institutional partnerships.
    2. Education & digital training: The new IIT Madras campus in Zanzibar is a flagship example of education-based cooperation.
    3. Decadal knowledge ecosystems: Pan-African e-Network and Indiaā€™s ITEC programme continue to train thousands across African nations.
    4. Institutional bridges: African experts, ministers, and students working in India create lasting diplomatic and economic linkages.

    What future steps should India take to revitalise momentum?

    1. Move from promises to real outcomes: Lines of credit must become visible, viable, and deliverable rather than symbolic.
    2. Build the India-Africa Digital Corridor: Collaboration on UPI, Aadhaar-stack, and digital payments can create a shared digital infrastructure.
    3. Reinforce the institutional base: Revive the summit-based momentum of IAFS and reintroduce regular leadership exchanges.
    4. Integrate private sector participation: Encourage start-ups, MSMEs, and fintech companies to expand into African markets.
    5. Strengthen maritime cooperation: The Western Indian Ocean is becoming central to supply-chain security and blue-economy partnerships.

    Conclusion

    Indiaā€™s partnership with Africa is rooted in trust, shared history, and developmental solidarity. But the world around both regions is changing rapidly. Africaā€™s demographic rise, digital aspirations, and geopolitical importance demand that India convert intent into implementation. ā€œConnect, build, and reviveā€ offers a timely blueprint for elevating India-Africa relations into a mature, inclusive, and futuristic partnership, one that benefits both regions and strengthens Indiaā€™s global standing.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2024] Explain the reasons for the growth of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India. As a result of it, has the Indian Supreme Court emerged as the worldā€™s most powerful judiciary?

    Linkage: Judiciary is one of the most important topics for GS-II. This PYQ tests how failures of the lower judiciary, delay, pendency, and weak remedies, drive the rise of PILs and expand the Supreme Courtā€™s role. The article directly shows these systemic gaps, explaining why litigants bypass subordinate courts and seek relief through PILs.

  • What are UNESCO new guidelines for the use of neurotechnology

    Introduction

    Neurotechnology includes devices and procedures that access, assess, or act upon neural systems. Earlier limited to health care, it now merges neuroscience, AI, computing, and engineering to improve or manipulate brain function. Rapid investments, private-sector involvement, and research innovations, such as brain implants enabling paralysed patients to speak, have increased both possibilities and ethical risks. UNESCOā€™s new standard attempts to balance innovation and human rights, defining responsibilities for governments, researchers, and companies.

    Why in the News?Ā 

    UNESCO has issued the worldā€™s first global normative framework on the ethics of neurotechnology, marking a major shift in global governance of brain-data systems. This is historic because neurotechnology, once confined to medicine, now expands into marketing, political persuasion, employment screening, insurance, and behaviour profiling. With misuse risks escalating and national laws lagging behind, UNESCOā€™s framework seeks to protect mental privacy, cognitive liberty, and brain-derived data in an era where neurodata can be exploited commercially or politically.

    How does the article define neurotechnology?

    1. Devices/Procedures: Used to access, assess, and act on neural systems including the brain.
    2. Neurodata: Brain-derived data that can reveal intentions, emotions, or mental states, posing risks of exploitation.
    3. Dual-use potential: While used for medical enhancement or disability support, the same can be misused for persuasion, surveillance, or profiling.

    Why is neurotechnology expanding so rapidly?

    1. Investment surge: According to a UNESCO study (2023), neurotechnology investment reached $8.6 billion, with private investment growing from $7.3 billion by 2020.
    2. Big tech involvement: Projects like US BRAIN Initiative, Elon Muskā€™s Neuralink accelerating market adoption.
    3. Medical promise: Supports mental health, paralysis recovery, chronic illness treatment, and palliative care.
    4. Commercial incentives: Insurance sector, HR screening, political messaging all exploring neurodata applications.

    What are the key challenges highlighted?

    1. Mental privacy threats: Neurodata gives deep access to personal thoughts; existing legal standards insufficient.
    2. Political misuse: Brain signals used to influence voters or detect political leanings.
    3. Employment misuse: Screening employees for suitability, stress tolerance, or hidden traits.
    4. Commercial exploitation: Recruiting applicants based on subconscious brain responses to marketing stimuli.
    5. Human rights concerns: Risk of discrimination, autonomy loss, and manipulation.

    What does UNESCOā€™s new framework propose?

    1. Human rights foundation: Anchors mental privacy, liberty, dignity.
    2. Responsible innovation: Based on OECD principles, responsibility, inclusion, sustainability.
    3. Four-pronged strategy:
      1. Scope definition of neurotechnology and neurodata.
      2. Identification of ethical principles for countries.
      3. Recommendations focusing on health, education, and vulnerable groups.
      4. Governance considerations for safety and equity.
    4. Intellectual property balance: Calls attention to potential conflicts between innovation and human rights when brain data becomes privatised.
    5. Open science model: Encourages free sharing of discoveries for societal benefit.
    6. Inclusive innovation: Participation of public, stakeholders, scientists, vulnerable communities.

    What are the implications for governance and public policy?

    1. AI-Neuro convergence: Need for regulations preventing manipulation or exploitation of neural activity.
    2. Global governance: Calls for adoption by states to standardize mental privacy protections.
    3. Sectoral impact: Health, education, military, and employment policies require safeguards.
    4. IP reform: Recommends new licensing structures to prevent monopolisation of brain-interfacing technologies.
    5. R&D ethics: Researchers to involve the public and align innovations with societal needs, not corporate priorities.

    Conclusion

    UNESCOā€™s guidelines mark a foundational step in governing an emerging field where technological capacity has outpaced ethics. By protecting mental privacy and anchoring innovation within a human-rights framework, the guidelines seek to ensure neurotechnology remains a tool for empowerment rather than manipulation. For India and other countries, the challenge lies in integrating these recommendations into national law and ensuring safe, inclusive, and responsible neuro-innovation.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2023] How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of AI in healthcare?

    Linkage: This directly links to the PYQ on AI in clinical diagnosis because neurotechnology goes even deeper, AI can now read and interpret brain signals, making privacy risks far sharper than ordinary medical data. The same issue fits under Ethics too, since it raises questions about autonomy, consent, dignity, and the basic right to mental privacy.

  • Sakurajima Volcano erupts in Japanā€™s Kyushu

    Why in the News?

    Japanā€™s Sakurajima volcano has erupted several times sending ash plumes up to 4.4 km into the atmosphere.

    Sakurajima Volcano erupts in Japan's Kyushu

    About Sakurajima Volcano:

    • Location: Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, sitting on the southern rim of the Aira caldera inside Kagoshima Bay.
    • Geological Origin: Linked to formation of the Aira caldera (22,000ā€“29,000 years ago); Sakurajima developed as a post-caldera cone about 13,000 years ago.
    • Volcano Type: A classic stratovolcano built from alternating lava and ash layers; active vents include Minamidake crater and the Showa flank crater.
    • Physical Features: Height 1,117 m, circumference ā‰ˆ50 km; originally an island until 1914 lava flows connected it to the Osumi Peninsula.
    • Eruption Style: Dominantly Strombolian eruptions (ash, bombs, lapilli) but historically capable of large Plinian eruptions.
    • Historical Activity: Continuous eruptive record since 963 AD; major episodes in 1471ā€“76, 1779ā€“82, and the 1914 catastrophic eruption.
    • Risk Status: Considered one of Japanā€™s most dangerous volcanoes due to high activity, caldera-linked magma supply and extreme proximity to inhabited zones.

    What makes it unique?

    • Near-Continuous Activity: Erupts hundreds of times annually, ranking among the worldā€™s most persistently active volcanoes.
    • Caldera System: Built on the Aira caldera, giving it a deep, complex, highly active magma plumbing network.
    • Landform Transformation: The 1914 eruption converted Sakurajima from an island into a peninsula, an unusual event in recorded volcanology.
    [UPSC 2005] Where is the volcanic mountain, Mount St- Helens located?

    Options: (a) Chile (b) Japan (c) Philippines (d) United States of America*

     

  • 75th anniversary of National Sample Survey (NSS)

    Why in the News?

    The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is conducting the 75th-anniversary culmination ceremony of the National Sample Survey (NSS) along with World Statistics Day on 18 November 2025.

    About National Sample Survey (NSS):

    • Origins: Started in 1950 to fill gaps in national income data; expanded into Indiaā€™s largest multi-topic socio-economic survey system.
    • Institutional Home: Conducted by NSSO (set up 1970), now merged into the National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI.
    • Organisational Structure: Four key divisions – SDRD (Kolkata) for survey design, FOD (Delhi/Faridabad) for fieldwork, DPD (Kolkata) for data processing, and SCD (New Delhi) for coordination.

    Survey Design and Coverage:

    • Rounds Structure: Includes large thick rounds every five years (ā‰ˆ1.2 lakh households) and thin rounds on specialised themes.
    • Geographic Coverage: Expanded from 1,833 villages in 1950ā€“51 to over 14,000 rural villages and urban blocks in recent rounds.
    • Scope: Generates national and state-level estimates on consumption, employment, migration, health, education, disability, housing, agriculture, elderly conditions, and more than 50 socio-economic themes over 75 years.
    • Representativeness: Provides robust national and regional estimates but does NOT offer district-level granularity.

    Major Surveys Under NSS / NSO:

    1. Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): Launched 2017; Indiaā€™s key source on employment, unemployment, labour force participation, and quarterly urban labour indicators.
    2. Annual Survey of Industries (ASI): Tracks organised manufacturing ā€” output, inputs, employment, productivity, structural change.
    3. Price Surveys: Produce CPI-Rural, CPI-Urban, CPI-AL/RL, and contribute to WPI, forming the backbone of inflation monitoring.
    4. Urban Frame Survey (2022ā€“27): Updates the sampling frame for all urban socio-economic surveys.
    5. Agriculture and Crop Surveys: Estimate crop yields and support state agricultural statistics systems.

    Significance of the NSS:

    • Policy Backbone: Critical for designing and evaluating programmes such as MGNREGA, PDS reforms, Ayushman Bharat, labour policies, rural development, and welfare targeting.
    • Macroeconomic Relevance: Supports GDP estimation, poverty assessment, consumption tracking, and inflation analysis.
    • Long-Term Value: Provides the most reliable, comparable household-level datasets in India, enabling analysis of structural change over decades.
    [UPSC 2018] As per the NSSO 70th Round ā€œSituation Assessment Survey of Agriculture Householdsā€, consider the following statements:

    1. Rajasthan has the highest percentage share of agriculture households among its rural households.

    2. Out of the total households in the country, a little over 60 percent being to OBCs.

    3. In Kerala, a little over 60 percent of agriculture households reported to have received maximum income from sources other than agriculture activities.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    Options: (a) 2 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only* (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

  • Sixteenth Finance Commission submits its report for 2026-31 to the PresidentĀ 

    Why in the News?

    The Sixteenth Finance Commission (16th FC), chaired by Arvind Panagariya, has formally submitted its report to the President of India on 17 November 2025.

    Recommendations will be made public once tabled in Parliament under Article 281.

    Back2Basics: Finance Commission

    • Constitutional Body: Established under Article 280 of the Constitution to define financial relations between the Union and the States.
    • Appointment: Constituted every 5 years or earlier by the President.
    • Composition: A Chairperson and 4 members, all appointed by the President.
    • Qualifications (under Finance Commission Act, 1951):
      • Chairperson must have experience in public affairs.
      • Members must be persons with expertise as:
        1. a High Court judge,
        2. an expert in government finance and accounts,
        3. a specialist in financial administration,
        4. an economist.
    • Functions: Recommends
      • Distribution of net proceeds of central taxes between Centre & States (vertical devolution);
      • Allocation of Statesā€™ share across individual States (horizontal distribution);
      • Principles governing grants-in-aid under Article 275;
      • Measures to augment State resources to support Panchayats and Municipalities;
      • Any additional financial matter referred by the President.
    • Submission & Tabling: Submits report to President; President lays it before both Houses of Parliament along with an explanatory memorandum.
    • Purpose: Ensures cooperative fiscal federalism, balanced revenue distribution, financial stability, and predictable Unionā€“State relations.

    About Sixteenth Finance Commission:

    • Constitution & Basis: Constituted by the President of India under Article 280(1) in November 2024 to examine Union and State finances and recommend tax-sharing for the period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031.
    • Chairperson & Members: Chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya with members Annie George Mathew, Dr. Manoj Panda, T. Rabi Sankar, Dr. Soumyakanti Ghosh, and Secretary Ritvik Pandey.
    • Report Submission: Submitted its report to the President on 17 November 2025; copies also presented to the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister.
    • Term of Work: Mandated to submit the report by 31 October 2025, covering a five-year award period starting FY 2026-27.
    • Mandate (Terms of Reference): Recommend
      • Vertical devolution ā€“ share of States in the Centreā€™s divisible pool;
      • Horizontal distribution ā€“ breakup of the Statesā€™ share across individual States;
      • Principles for grants-in-aid to States under Article 275;
      • Measures to augment State resources to support Panchayats and Municipalities;
      • Review of financing arrangements for Disaster Management, including National and State Disaster Response Funds;
      • Any other matter referred by the President.
    • Method of Work: Analysed finances of Union & States; held extensive consultations with
      • Central government, all State governments,
      • Local governments (urban & rural),
      • Chairpersons of previous Finance Commissions,
      • Multilateral institutions, academic & research bodies,
      • Advisory Council and domain experts.
    • Structure of Report: Final output organised in two volumes ā€“ Volume I (recommendations) and Volume II (annexures and analytical backup).
    [UPSC 2023] Consider the following:

    1. Demographic performance 2. Forest and ecology 3. Governance reforms 4. Stable government 5. Tax and fiscal efforts

    For the horizontal tax devolution, the Fifteenth Finance Commission used how many of the above as criteria other than population area and income distance?

    Options: (a) Only two (b) Only three* (c) Only four (d) All five

     

  • Remembering Batukeshwar Dutt (1910ā€“1965)

    Why in the News?

    This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in The Hindu.

    Remembering Batukeshwar Dutt (1910ā€“1965)

    About Batukeshwar Dutt (1910 to 1965):

    • Early Life: Born 18 November 1910 in Burdwan, Bengal Presidency; educated at Theosophical High School and Prithvinath College, Kanpur.
    • Political Affiliations: Joined Hindustan Socialist Republican Association and Naujawan Bharat Sabha; became a close associate of Bhagat Singh during his Kanpur days.
    • Jail Endurance: Known for remarkable resilience in Multan, Jhelum, Trichinopoly, Salem, and Andaman Cellular Jail.
    • Later Imprisonment: Released in 1938; joined Quit India Movement in 1942 and jailed again for four years.
    • Life Post-Independence: Settled in Patna, married Anjali; daughter Bharti became a professor.
    • Death: Died on 20 July 1965 at AIIMS Delhi from bone cancer.
    • Last Wish: Cremated at Hussainiwala, beside Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.

    Important Revolutionary Activities:

    • Assembly Bombing (8 April 1929): Co-executed the Central Legislative Assembly bombing with Bhagat Singh to protest colonial repression; bombs were non-lethal.
    • Political Message: Threw pamphlets, shouted ā€œInquilab Zindabad,ā€ and refused to escape, converting the trial into a political platform.
    • Sentencing: Received life imprisonment on 12 June 1929 in the Delhi Assembly Bomb Case.
    • Cellular Jail: Deported to Andamans; repeatedly led hunger strikes demanding recognition of political prisoners.
    • Long Fasts: Undertook multiple prolonged fasts, including two over a month long.
    • Prison Transfers: Shifted through Multan, Jhelum, Hazaribagh, Delhi and Patna jails.
    • Post-Illness Activism: Continued revolutionary involvement even after severe health decline; joined Quit India after release.
    • Cultural Protest: Criticised misrepresentation of revolutionaries in films; approved only Manoj Kumarā€™s 1965 film Shaheed.

    Association with Bhagat Singh:

    • Early Bond: Met Bhagat Singh in Kanpur and was shaped by his discipline and ideological clarity.
    • Joint Action: Collaborated closely in HSRA; jointly executed the Assembly bombing as symbolic resistance.
    • Hunger Strike: Participated with Singh in the historic 114 day hunger strike for humane jail conditions.
    • After the Martyrdom: News of Singhā€™s execution (23 March 1931) reached him in Salem jail; he was haunted by visions of Singh.
    • Family Ties: Maintained lifelong connection with Bhagat Singhā€™s family; Mata Vidyawati stayed with him during his last illness.
    • Comradeship: Supported through final days by HSRA comrades like Shiv Verma, Sadashivrao Malkapurkar, and Kiran Das.
    [UPSC 2022] Consider the following freedom fighters:

    1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh 2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee 3. Rash Behari Bose

    Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?

    Options: (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 3 only*

     

  • Centre announces National Gopal Ratna Awards

    Why in the News?

    The National Gopal Ratna Awards for 2025 has been announced by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

    About the National Gopal Ratna Awards:

    • Overview: Established in 2021 under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission to promote excellence in dairy management and indigenous breed conservation.
    • Target Groups: Recognises dairy farmers, Dairy Cooperatives, Milk Producer Companies (MPCs), Dairy FPOs, and Artificial Insemination (AI) Technicians for outstanding performance.
    • Breed Focus: Encourages scientific rearing and genetic improvement of indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds with high productivity and economic value.
    • Regional Inclusion: Contains a special category for North Eastern and Himalayan States to strengthen dairy development and acknowledge regional innovation.
    • Institutional Responsibility: Conferred annually by the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
    • Award Categories: Best Dairy Farmer (indigenous breeds), Best Dairy Cooperative Society or MPC or FPO, Best AI Technician, and special regional awards for NER/Himalayan States.
    • Selection Parameters: Based on breed improvement results, milk yield, adoption of scientific practices, cooperative performance, and quality of AI service delivery.
    • Participation Scale: Receives thousands of applications annually (e.g., 2081 entries in the current cycle), reflecting wide national engagement.
    • Commemoration: Awards are presented on National Milk Day (26 November), marking the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien.

    Award Components and Cash Prizes:

    • Cash Awards: Given only in the first two categories: Best Dairy Farmer and Best Dairy Cooperative/MPC/FPO.
    • Prize Amounts:
      1. First prize- ā‚¹5,00,000
      2. Second prize- ā‚¹3,00,000
      3. Third prize- ā‚¹2,00,000
    • Regional Prizes: Special NER and Himalayan category winners receive ā‚¹2,00,000.
    • Artificial Insemination (AI) Technicians Category: No cash component; recognition only.
    [UPSC 2025] Regarding the Rashtriya Gokul Mission:

    I. It is important for the upliftment of rural poor as majority of low producing indigenous animals are with small and marginal farmers and landless labourers.

    II. It was initiated to promote indigenous cattle and buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    Options; (a) I only (b) II only (c) Both I and II* (d) Neither I nor II

     

  • Asiatic Caracal spotted at Ramgarh in Rajasthanā€™s Jaisalmer

    Why in the News?

    The elusive Asiatic Caracal (Caracal caracal schmitzi) has been rediscovered at Ramgarh, Jaisalmer, reaffirming its survival in the Thar Desert after years of uncertainty.

    Asiatic Caracal spotted at Ramgarh in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer

    About Asiatic Caracal:

    • Scientific Name: Caracal caracal schmitzi, the Asiatic subspecies of the globally distributed caracal species.
    • Distribution: Native to Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, Pakistan, and historically across northwestern and central India, now restricted mainly to Rajasthan and Gujarat.
    • Indian Population: Fewer than 50 individuals survive in India, with small, fragmented groups in the Thar Desert, Ranthambhore landscape, and Kutch region.
    • Habitat: Prefers semi deserts, savannahs, scrublands, steppes, dry forests, and open arid terrains; uses grassland scrub mosaics for hunting and denning.
    • Ecology: A shy nocturnal mesopredator feeding on rodents, hares, birds, and occasionally small ungulates; known for vertical leaps up to 3 metres to strike flying prey.
    • Legal Protection: Listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and categorised as Least Concern globally but critically sparse within India.
    • Threats: Habitat loss from land conversion, solar parks, linear infrastructure, hunting, and misclassification of grasslands as wastelands reducing viable habitat.
    • Conservation Status in India: Included in the 2021 Species Recovery Plan by National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and MoEFCC, with urgent need for grassland restoration, monitoring, and community based protection.
    [UPSC 2019] Question: Consider the following statements:

    1. Asiatic lion is naturally found In India only.

    2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only.

    3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only.

    Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

    Options: (a) 1 only* (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

  • [17th November 22] The Hindu Op-ed: Delhi’s air, a ‘wicked problem’ in need of bold solutions

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2021] Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the WHO. How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in Indiaā€™s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve these revised standards?

    Linkage: This PYQ directly links to Delhiā€™s recurring ā€œsevereā€ AQI episodes and the articleā€™s emphasis on PM2.5 toxicity, life-expectancy loss, and structural regulatory failure. It is relevant because achieving WHOā€™s revised AQGs requires stronger, coordinated, long-term reforms, precisely what the article argues Indiaā€™s NCAP currently lacks.

    Mentorā€™s Comment

    Delhiā€™s air crisis has again reached ā€œpublic health emergencyā€ levels, revealing the chronic and structural nature of Indiaā€™s most persistent environmental challenge. This article breaks down Dr. Shashi Tharoorā€™s analysis of Delhiā€™s air pollution as a ā€œwicked problem,ā€ expands it with UPSC-relevant framing, and provides a structured, exam-oriented guide with value additions, PYQs, micro-themes, and practice questions.

    Introduction

    Delhiā€™s annual winter pollution has evolved from a seasonal inconvenience into a chronic public health emergency. Air Quality Index (AQI) levels routinely breach the 400+ ā€œsevereā€ category, shortening life expectancy by up to 10 years in highly exposed regions. The article argues that Delhiā€™s air crisis is a ā€œwicked problemā€, a complex mix of geographical, meteorological, and man-made factors requiring bold, holistic, and long-term solutions.

    Why in the NewsĀ 

    Delhiā€™s air quality has once again plunged into the ā€œsevereā€ category post-Diwali, with AQI values exceeding 400 and triggering health alarms across NCR. What is striking is the persistence: for over a decade, seasonal pollution spikes have recurred despite policies, committees, bans, and monitoring systems. The article highlights the worsening public health impact, including a 10-year reduction in life expectancy, and shows that despite years of institutional attention, the crisis remains structurally unchanged, making this yearā€™s episode another stark reminder of policy failure.

    Delhiā€™s Air Pollution as a Wicked Problem

    1. Complex Interactions: Combines geographical, meteorological, and human-made factors.
    2. Valley-like Topography: Delhi is landlocked with restricted air flow.
    3. Temperature Inversions: Trap pollutants close to the ground in winter.
    4. No Single Villain: Emissions arise from vehicles, industries, agriculture, construction, and households simultaneously.

    What Makes the Crisis Structurally Persistent?

    1. Chronic Health Emergency: PM2.5 toxicity linked to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), strokes, cancers, anxiety, depression, and DNA damage.
    2. Reduced Life Expectancy: Exposure reduces life expectancy by up to 10 years in consistently high-PM areas.
    3. Population Movement: People relocate away from Delhi despite career opportunities due to health concerns.
    4. Elderly & Children at Risk: Respiratory illnesses sharply rise during winter.

    Why Are the Existing Measures Not Working?

    1. Weak Enforcement: BS-VI vehicles, dust-control norms, and industrial regulations remain poorly enforced.
    2. Rapid Urbanisation: Construction adds 27% of PM emissions; monitoring is patchy.
    3. Outdated Technology: Many industries in NCR still use old boilers and furnaces.
    4. Vehicular Emissions Rising: Over 3 crore vehicles in NCR; old diesel vehicles persist.

    Who Are the Major Contributors Highlighted in the Article?

    1. Stubble Burning: Seasonal crop residue burning in Punjab & Haryana adds massive smoke plumes.
    2. Firecrackers: Diwali and wedding fireworks spike PM levels.
    3. Waste Burning: Municipal waste, rubber, and plastic burning persists due to weak surveillance.
    4. Industries: Brick kilns, factories, and outdated machinery emit sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and PM.

    Structural Reforms Advocated to Address the Air Pollution Crisis

    1. System-wide Pollution Control Plan: Not piece-meal bans; requires unified regional strategy.
    2. Relocating Polluting Industries: Move red-category industries away from dense areas.
    3. Urban Design Changes: Create green lungs, redesign mobility, and improve public transport.
    4. Electric Mobility Transition: Incentivise EV adoption and shared mobility.
    5. Agricultural Alternatives: Support farmers with smoke-free residue management.
    6. Firecracker Alternatives: Scale up ā€œgreen crackersā€; enforce bans with political will.

    Conclusion

    Delhiā€™s air pollution demands collective regional action, technological upgrade, and political resolve. Seasonal, reactive measures have repeatedly failed; the crisis is structural and chronic. Treating it as a ā€œwicked problemā€ requires system-wide transformation in transport, agriculture, industry, and governance, with long-term investment in cleaner technologies and behavioural change. The window for incrementalism has closed.

  • Growing unchecked, no guardrails: On Cryptocurrency

    INTRODUCTION

    Indiaā€™s crypto ecosystem is witnessing rapid expansion, with millions of users participating through exchanges that operate in a regulatory grey zone. Even though cryptocurrencies are not recognised as legal tender, trading continues unchecked through global and domestic platforms. Simultaneously, enforcement agencies report increasing difficulty in conducting investigations, seizing digital assets, and identifying crypto flows due to lack of disclosure norms, anonymous digital wallets, and absence of a comprehensive cryptocurrency law.
    As the RBI continues to caution against private crypto assets on grounds of financial instability, the mismatch between rapid adoption and weak regulatory architecture is emerging as a major economic and governance challenge.

    WHY IN THE NEWS?Ā 

    The Indian crypto industry is projected to grow from $2.6 billion in 2024 to $15 billion by 2035, showing unprecedented expansion despite lack of regulatory oversight. This contrast, booming investments vs. near-absence of guardrails, has placed the industry at the centre of policy debate. Law-enforcement agencies have flagged that crypto-linked frauds, pump-and-dump schemes, and money-laundering networks are rising, while agencies lack legal backing and technical capability to tackle cases, making the issue urgent and nationally significant.

    Understanding Cryptocurrencies and Exchanges

    What are cryptocurrencies?

    • Decentralised Digital Assets: Built on blockchain, enabling encrypted, irreversible peer-to-peer transactions.
    • No Government Backing: Value based purely on demand-supply and market sentiment.
    • Popular Coins: Bitcoin, Ethereum; Indian users largely rely on global exchanges.
    • Not Legal Tender in India: Cannot be used for officially recognised payment obligations.

    What are crypto exchanges?

    • Online Trading Platforms: Allow users to buy, sell, hold crypto.
    • Wide Accessibility: Millions of Indians use both domestic and offshore exchanges.
    • Indiaā€™s Absence of Recognition: Exchanges operate as digital intermediaries without formal regulatory status.

    How Crypto Scams Proliferate in India

    What mechanisms drive frauds?

    1. Pump-and-Dump Rackets: Influencers artificially inflate coin prices before exiting.
    2. Social Media-Driven Scams: Fraudsters lure users through WhatsApp/Telegram channels promising unrealistic returns.
    3. Disappearing Exchanges: Operators collect deposits and shut down overnight.
    4. Lack of Investor Awareness: Complex technology makes retail investors vulnerable.

    Magnitude of Indiaā€™s Crypto Adoption

    How large is the user base?

    • 11 Million Global Crypto Holders: India hosts one of the worldā€™s largest user bases.
    • 7 Million Indian Users (approx. 7%): Indicating wide penetration despite lack of backing.
    • ā‚¹45,000 Crore Transaction Volume: Public adoption remains high regardless of regulatory uncertainty.
    • Young Demography: Primarily 18-35 age group investing through mobile apps.

    Why Does RBI Oppose Private Crypto Assets?

    What risks concern the central bank?

    1. Threat to Monetary Stability: Crypto bypasses sovereign currency systems, undermining control.
    2. Capital Flight Risks: Easy cross-border transferability allows funds to move outside the formal system.
    3. Volatility Concerns: Extreme price swings harm financial stability and investor protection.
    4. IMF FSR Context: RBI flags that widespread crypto usage could weaken monetary transmission and destabilise macroeconomic foundations.

    Why Crypto Investigations Are a Minefield in India

    What obstructs law-enforcement agencies?

    1. Disclosing Data
      1. Opaquely Stored User Data: Off-shore exchanges hide ownership/trade history.
      2. No Mandatory Registration: Agencies struggle to compel disclosure.
      3. Jurisdictional Challenges: Crypto platforms operate globally.
    2. Wallet Complexities
      1. Self-Custody Wallets: Google/MetaMask wallets controlled solely by users; agencies cannot freeze.
      2. Unregulated Cross-Border Flows: Enable illegal transfers with no paper trail.
    3. Seizing Digital Assets
      1. Technical Restrictions: Investigators require passphrases; non-cooperation prevents seizure.
      2. Custodial Limitations: No authorised secure government platform for holding crypto.
      3. High-Risk Volatility: Digital assets fluctuate, affecting value during investigations.
    4. Legal Blocks
      1. No Comprehensive Law: India lacks a crypto-specific statute.
      2. Ambiguity for Officers: Enforcement provisions unclear; actions challenged in court.
      3. Regulatory Vacuum: Agencies rely on IT Act, PMLA,insufficient for decentralised tech.
    5. Technical Snag
      1. Privacy Coins (e.g., Monero): High anonymity and advanced obfuscation algorithms.
      2. Untraceable Transactions: Blockchain mixers complicate forensic trails.

    Should Individuals Invest in Crypto?

    What risks do investors face?

    1. High Market Volatility: No asset backing; price fluctuations extreme.
    2. Unregulated Exchanges: Shutdowns lead to permanent loss of funds.
    3. Cyberattacks and Hacks: Wallets vulnerable to phishing and malware attacks.
    4. RBI and Global Position: Institutions including the IMF, RBI, European regulators warn of structural risks.

    CONCLUSION

    Indiaā€™s crypto sector is expanding rapidly without an accompanying regulatory architecture. While blockchain offers transformative potential, the risks of fraud, volatility, and money-laundering remain high. Strengthening legal frameworks, mandating registration of exchanges, and improving cross-border cooperation will be essential before mainstreaming digital assets. Balancing innovation with stability remains the core policy challenge.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2021] Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international levels.

    Linkage: This PYQ fits because the article shows how crypto and global digital platforms enable anonymous cross-border laundering. It also matches the articleā€™s focus on legal gaps and enforcement challenges in tackling such flows.