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GS Paper: GS3

  • VOC Port: Model for Green Maritime Growth

    Why in News?

    Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted V. O. Chidambaranar Port Authority as a model for sustainable maritime development, releasing its first Sustainability Report and launching several green and digital initiatives.

    Key Highlights

    • Net carbon emissions reduced by 45%.
    • Renewable energy offsets nearly 94% of the port’s energy consumption equivalent.
    • Carbon intensity per tonne of cargo reduced by nearly 50% over the last four years.
    • Recognized as a Scope-2 Emission Free Port for its transition to clean energy.

    Green Hydrogen Initiative

    • Hosts India’s first Green Hydrogen pilot project at a major port.
    • Featured in an Indian Institute of Management Calcutta case study titled “The Hydrogen Pivot”.

    Education & Innovation

    • Kendriya Vidyalaya, VOC Port commenced academic activities for the 2026-27 session.
    • MoU signed with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya for Maritime logistics research, Skill development, Sustainable port operations, and Centre of Excellence in Maritime Logistics & Port Management.

    Digital Transformation

    • Launched PortGPT, making VOC Port the first major port in India to introduce an enterprise-grade generative AI mobile application for Operational efficiency, Knowledge management, and Data-driven decision-making.

    Scope-2 Emissions

    • Indirect greenhouse gas emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heating, or cooling consumed by an organization.
    • Defined under the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol.

    Green Hydrogen

    • Produced through electrolysis of water using renewable energy.
    • Emits zero carbon dioxide during production.
    • Key pillar of India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.

    [2023] Consider the following pairs :
    Port—–Well known as
    1.Kamarajar Port—-First major port in India registered as a company
    2.Mundra Port—–Largest privately owned port in India
    3.Visakhapatnam—-Largest container port in India

    [A] Only one pair

    [B] Only two pairs

    [C] All three pairs

    [D] None of the pairs

  • April 2026 Net FDI at Nearly 5-Year High

    Why in News?

    India’s Net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rose to $6.6 billion in April 2026, the highest level since May 2021, driven by a sharp increase in gross FDI inflows.

    Key Highlights

    • Net FDI: $6.6 billion in April 2026, up from $917 million in March 2026.
    • Gross FDI Inflows:$15.3 billion, the highest since at least March 2021.
      • Increased 65% year-on-year.
      • Increased 131% over March 2026.
    • April inflows alone accounted for over 16% of total FDI received in FY 2025-26.

    Major Source Countries

    • Japan, Singapore, and Mauritius
    • Together accounted for more than 75% of FDI inflows.

    Outward FDI

    • Gross outflows: $8.7 billion (up 13.7% YoY).
    • Outward FDI by Indian companies: $4.8 billion, the highest on record since at least March 2021.
    • Around 80% of outward FDI was directed to United States and Cayman Islands
    • Major sectors Financial and insurance services, Business services, and Manufacturing

    Significance

    • Marks a strong recovery after six consecutive months of negative net FDI up to February 2026.
    • Reflects renewed investor confidence and stronger capital inflows into the Indian economy.

    Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

    • Investment by a foreign entity in a business located in another country with a lasting interest and management control (generally 10% or more equity ownership).
    • Includes Greenfield investments, Brownfield investments, and Reinvested earnings

    FDI vs FPI

    • FDI: Long-term investment with management control.
    • FPI (Foreign Portfolio Investment): Investment in financial assets without management control; generally more volatile.

    [2021] Consider the following:
    1. Foreign currency convertible bonds
    2. Foreign institutional investment with certain conditions
    3. Global depository receipts
    4. Non-resident external deposits
    Which of the above can be included in Foreign Direct Investments?

    [A] 1, 2 and 3

    [B] 3 only

    [C] 2 and 4

    [D] 1 and 4

  • Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report (Jan-Mar 2026)

    Why in News?

    TRAI released the Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report for the quarter ending 31 March 2026, highlighting growth in telecom, internet, broadband, DTH, and broadcasting sectors.

    Telecom

    • Total telephone subscribers: 1,330.58 million (↑1.87% QoQ).
    • Tele-density:93.26%: Urban: 151.47% and Rural: 60.46%
    • Private operators’ market share: 92.32%.

    Internet & Broadband

    • Internet subscribers: 1,092.79 million (↑6.24% QoQ).
    • Broadband subscribers: 1,065.88 million.
    • Wireless internet: 1,046.26 million.
    • Wired internet: 46.54 million.
    • Internet penetration: 76.59 per 100 population.

    Wireless Services

    • Wireless (Mobile + FWA) subscribers: 1,282.33 million.
    • Wireless (Mobile) subscribers: 1,265.73 million.
    • 5G FWA subscribers: 16.61 million.
    • Average wireless data usage: 26.70 GB/subscriber/month.

    Revenue & Usage

    • Monthly Wireless ARPU: ₹196.04.
    • Minutes of Usage (MOU): 1,017 minutes/subscriber/month.
    • Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR): ₹86,716 crore.

    Broadcasting

    • Private satellite TV channels: 917
    • Pay TV channels: 342
    • Private FM channels: 390 across 120 cities
    • Pay DTH subscribers: 49.05 million
    • Community Radio Stations: 564.

    Prelims Pointer

    • TRAI is a statutory body established under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
    • It regulates telecom services, ensures consumer protection, promotes competition, and recommends licensing and spectrum policies.
    • Tele-density = Number of telephone connections per 100 population.

    [2019] With reference to communications technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution)?
    1. LTE is commonly marketed as 3G and VoLTE is commonly marketed as advanced 3G.
    2. LTE is data-only technology and VoLTE is voice-only technology.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    [A] 1 only

    [B] 2 only

    [C] Both 1 and 2

    [D] Neither 1 nor 2

  • India’s Emerging Technology Ecosystem

    Why in the news?

    The Government highlighted India’s progress in AI, semiconductors, quantum technologies, supercomputing, cloud computing, blockchain, and biotechnology as key pillars of Viksit Bharat 2047.

    Digital India

    • Internet connections: 25.15 crore (2014) → 102.86 crore (2026).
    • Broadband: 6.1 crore → 99.56 crore.
    • 5G services cover 99.9% of districts.
    • Data cost reduced from ₹269/GB to ₹8-10/GB.

    Supercomputing

    • National Supercomputing Mission (2015): ₹4,500 crore.
    • 38 supercomputers with 47 petaflops capacity.
    • Indigenous PARAM Rudra series developed.

    Semiconductor Ecosystem

    • Semicon India Programme (2021): ₹76,000 crore.
    • ISM 2.0 (2026-27): ₹1,000 crore.
    • 12 projects worth ₹1.64 lakh crore approved.
    • DLI Scheme: 24 companies supported; 7 chips fabricated.

    National Quantum Mission

    • Approved in 2023 with ₹6,003.65 crore.
    • Focus: Quantum Computing, Communication, Sensing, Materials.
    • 1,000 km secure quantum communication network demonstrated.
    • India’s first Quantum Valley coming up in Amaravati.

    IndiaAI Mission

    • Approved in 2024 with ₹10,300+ crore.
    • 38,000+ GPUs common computing facility.
    • AI Kosh: 12,115 datasets and 306 AI models.
    • Around 89% of new startups use AI.

    Cloud Computing

    • MeghRaj: Government cloud platform.
    • 2,323 government departments using MeghRaj (2026).

    Blockchain

    • National Blockchain Framework (2021).
    • 3 crore+ property documents verified through blockchain.
    • Supports Vishvasya Blockchain Stack and Digital Rupee (e₹) pilots.

    Biotechnology

    • Sector size: USD 190 billion (2026).
    • 94 BioNEST incubators across 25 States/UTs.
    • Key initiatives: National Biopharma Mission, BioE3 Policy.

    Research & Skilling

    • ANRF (2024) operationalized.
    • RDI Scheme (2025): ₹1 lakh crore corpus.
    • FutureSkills PRIME: 27.53 lakh registrations.
    • Chips to Startup (C2S): Targets 85,000 semiconductor professionals.

    Global Technology Indicators

    • Global Innovation Index: Rank 81 (2015) → 38 (2025).
    • 2,100+ Global Capability Centres (GCCs) employing 2.36 million professionals.
    • India AI Impact Summit 2026: Declaration adopted by 92 countries.

    [2022] Which one of the following is the context in which the term “qubit” is mentioned?

    [A] Cloud Services

    [B] Quantum Computing

    [C] Visible Light Communication Technologies

    [D] Wireless Communication Technologies

  • How far are India’s internal security challenges linked with border management, particularly in view of the long porous borders with most countries of South Asia and Myanmar?

  • What are the consequences of illegal mining? Discuss the ministry of environment and forests’ concept of “GO AND NO GO” zones for coal mining.

  • Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution control and management. What are the legal provisions for management and handling of hazardous wastes in India?

  • Money laundering poses a serious threat to country’s economic sovereignty. What is its significance for India and what steps are required to be taken to control this menace?

  • What are social networking site and what security implications do these sites present?

  • Cyber warfare is considered by some defense analysts to be a larger threat than even Al Qaeda or terrorism. What do you understand by Cyber warfare? Outline the cyber threats which India is vulnerable to and bring out the state of the country’s preparedness to deal with the same.