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Asteroids are rocky, airless remnants from the early solar system, primarily orbiting between Mars and Jupiter in the Asteroid Belt. There are around 1.3 million known asteroids, and in recent years, tracking efforts have intensified due to the potential threats they pose to Earth.

Threat of Asteroids Causing Extinction

1. In NASA’s fifth biennial Planetary Defense Interagency Tabletop Exercise, it has found that a potentially hazardous asteroid has a 72% chance of hitting Earth, highlighting potential gaps in Earth’s preparedness to prevent such an event.
2. Historical Evidence: asteroid impact caused the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago, as seen in Chicxulub crater in Mexico.
3. Near-Earth Objects (NEOs): According to NASA (2023), over 30,000 NEOs have been discovered with about 2,300 classified as “potentially hazardous.”
4. Impact Consequences: Even small asteroids (e.g., 20 meters wide) can cause significant damage. Eg- If Bennu impacted Earth, it would release the energy equivalent to the detonation of 1.4 billion tons of TNT.
5. Extinction-Level Threat: Asteroids over 1 km in size can cause global climatic effects. However, NASA estimates such impacts occur every 500,000 years, making the risk relatively low but not negligible.
6. Disasters: The kinetic energy from an asteroid impact can cause earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes, which can be global in impact. 

Counter Argument

1. Atmospheric Protection: Earth’s atmosphere provides a natural shield, burning up most smaller asteroids before they reach the surface. 
2. Astronomical and Statistical Odds: The chances of a civilization-ending asteroid (larger than 10 km) hitting Earth are one in several million per year.

Strategies developed to prevent such a catastrophe:

1. Early Detection Systems:

1. NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations (NEOO) program and ESA’s Space Situational Awareness Program continuously monitor potential threats.
2. ISRO has launched the Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis (NETRA), which tracks space debris and NEOs. 
3. Deflection Techniques:

1. DART Mission (2022): NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test successfully altered the orbit of an asteroid, demonstrating the feasibility of deflection.
2. Gravity Tractor where a spacecraft can use gravitational attraction over time to gradually change an asteroid’s trajectory.
3. Planetary Defense Coordination: International collaboration under the United Nations fosters information-sharing and readiness through bodies like the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN).

The findings from the OSIRIS-REx mission will provide valuable insights not only into the nature of asteroids but also into the broader context of planetary defense and the importance of continued vigilance in monitoring the skies.

The world population is projected to reach approximately 9.7 billion by 2050, significantly increasing demand for freshwater resources. UNESCO notes that, 30% of the world’s aquifers are being over-exploited, particularly in regions like the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.

Reasons for Shortage of Clean and Safe Fresh Water:

1. Climate Change Impacts:

1. Droughts: The United Nations reported that the number of severe droughts globally has increased by over 29% since the 1970s.
2. Glacial Retreat: glaciers in the Himalayas have lost more than 40% of their mass over the past 40 year
3. Groundwater Depletion

1. Over-extraction: In Ogallala Aquifer(US) water levels dropped by as much as 30 meters.
2. Agricultural Use: Agriculture accounts for 80% of global freshwater withdrawals, with some regions, like South Asia, relying heavily on groundwater for irrigation.

3. Inadequate Water Supply: in India according to NITI Aayog, 40% of urban households lack access to piped water.
4. Water Quality Issues:

1. Contaminated Water Sources: CPCB reported in 2021 that 70% of India’s surface water is contaminated due to industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and untreated sewage.
2. Health Risks: According to WHO, waterborne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, and dysentery affect 2.3 billion people annually.

Alternative Technologies which can solve this issue:

1. Solar Desalination – uses solar energy to evaporate and condense seawater, producing freshwater. This process mimics the natural water cycle, where the sun’s energy evaporates water, which is then condensed into clean water.

1. Merits: Environmentally friendly, using renewable energy and Suitable for remote, off-grid locations.
2. Demerits: Limited water output compared to conventional desalination plants and  Initial investment costs for solar infrastructure are high.

2. Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) – extracts water from the moisture in the air through condensation. Devices can be designed to capture water by cooling the air or by using desiccants that absorb moisture.  

1. Merits: Produces clean drinking water from the atmosphere, reducing dependence on surface or groundwater and Can be used in off-grid locations with solar-powered AWG units.
2. Demerits: Limited output in areas with low humidity and High energy demand for cooling and dehumidification processes.
3. Fog Harvesting – capturing water droplets from fog using large mesh nets. The droplets condense on the mesh and are collected in containers for use.

1. Merits: Provides water in arid, foggy regions where other sources are limited and Low-tech and low-energy solution, relatively inexpensive to set up.
2. Demerits: Only viable in regions with frequent fog and Limited water output, making it impractical for large-scale use.

A combination of these solutions, along with improved water management and policy frameworks, is essential for ensuring water security and achieving SDG 6.

Buffer stocks are reserves of essential commodities, aimed at stabilizing agricultural prices and ensuring food security. India currently maintains over 80 million tonnes of buffer stock, well above the norm set by the Buffer Stocking Policy (around 30-40 million tonnes), managed primarily by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). 

Importance of buffer stocks for stabilizing agricultural prices:

1. Mitigating Price Volatility: According to the RBI Report, despite adverse climatic conditions and international disruptions, buffer stocks helped contain food inflation at average of 5.9%.
2. Mitigating Global Supply Disruption (2022-23): Even during the Russia-Ukraine war, buffer stocks helped stabilize the market by releasing 18 lakh tonnes of wheat in early 2023.
3. Stabilizing Farmers’ Incomes: In 2021-22, FCI procured 43 million tonnes of wheat and 58 million tonnes of rice, stabilizing farmer incomes during surplus production.
4. Public Distribution System (PDS): Buffer stocks support the National Food Security Act (NFSA), ensuring food supply to 67% of India’s population at subsidized rates, and controlling inflation for essential goods.
5. Export Management: In times of surplus, the government can release surplus grains for export. Conversely, during shortages, restricting exports ensures price stabilization.
6. Meeting Emergency Needs – Buffer stocks help meet food requirements during natural calamities or crises. Eg- Garib Kalyan Yojana during COVID

Challenges Associated with Storage of Buffer Stocks:

1. Wastage and Quality Degradation: As per Ministry of Consumer Affairs, more than 25000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of food grains were wasted in the last five years in FCI godowns.
2. Excess Procurement:  In 2020-2021, India held about 90 million metric tons of food grains particularly due to the open procurement policy, far exceeding the buffer norms.
3. Management and Leakages:  Shanta Kumar Committee highlighted that 46% of PDS grains do not reach the intended beneficiaries due to inefficiencies and corruption.
4. Mismatch Between Procurement and Regional Needs:  Procurement is concentrated in states like Punjab, Haryana, and UP, whereas Bihar and West Bengal often face shortages.
5. Inadequate Storage Infrastructure and obsolete technology: Using temporary facilities like Covered and Plinth (CAP), lacking modern technology for temperature control, pest management, and moisture regulation.    
6. Financial burden on the government due to high costs of procurement, storage, and management, especially during years of large-scale purchases, straining the budget.

Recommendations to revamp storage of buffer stocks:

1. Ashok Gulati Committee (2011): revision of buffer stock norms based on actual requirements for the PDS and emergency situations.
2. Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Report on FCI (2013): use of Technology to digitize inventory management systems, allowing real-time tracking of food stocks at FCI warehouses.
3. Shanta Kumar Committee (2015): It suggested decentralizing the procurement process by encouraging states to take up procurement based on their regional capabilities. 

India’s “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan” aims to create 70 million tons of modern storage through cooperatives, enhancing rural capacity, improving grain handling, and reducing post-harvest losses by building silos and warehouses in underserved areas.

Irrigation is critical to Indian agriculture, which accounts for 80% of the country’s freshwater consumption. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, about 52% of India’s net sown area is irrigated, but inefficiencies in the system have hampered agricultural productivity. 

Major challenges faced by Indian irrigation system in recent times:

• Groundwater exploitation: According to CGWA, India extracts nearly 25% of global groundwater annually. Punjab and Haryana groundwater tables deplete by 33% in the last two decades.
• 
• Inefficient Water Use: Due to electricity subsidies and Traditional methods like flood irrigation, still used in 85% of irrigated areas.
• Poor Infrastructure: Canal systems, which cover around 40% of irrigated land, suffer from leakages and evaporation losses, leading to about 30-40% wastage (Central Water Commission).
• Unequal Distribution: Punjab, with 98% irrigation coverage, contrasts with underdeveloped infrastructure in eastern and southern states. (NITI Aayog).
• Low Adoption of Modern Techniques: As per ICAR, only 6% of India’s irrigated land uses drip or sprinkler systems, mainly due to high initial costs and lack of awareness.

Measures taken by the government for efficient irrigation management:

1. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): to promote sustainable agriculture practices, enhance water use efficiency, and encourage adoption of new irrigation technologies.
2. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): aims to improve irrigation coverage, enhance water efficiency, and promote modern irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler systems.
3. Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM): Improves irrigation efficiency by repairing and upgrading canal systems  across 17 million hectares (CWC).
4. Atal Bhujal Yojana: With a budget of ₹6,000 crores, this scheme focuses on sustainable groundwater management in stressed regions, aiming to reduce over-extraction in 78 districts.
5. Jal Shakti Abhiyan: A water conservation campaign targeting 256 water-stressed districts, focusing on rainwater harvesting and recharging groundwater (NITI Aayog).

State Led initiatives:

1. Mission Kakatiya(Telangana)-for rejuvenation of tanks and micro-irrigation sources.
2. Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan(Maharashtra)-promotes water conservation and management by constructing farm ponds, percolation tanks, and check dams.
3. Krishi Bhagya(Karnataka)-promotes the adoption of micro-irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting, etc.

Therefore, as recommended by the Ashok Dalwai Panel, a substantial investment in modern irrigation infrastructure, including drip and sprinkler systems, and the need to revisit water pricing policies to increase water-use efficiency and agricultural productivity.

India’s vast geography and diverse regions make efficient air connectivity a critical element in driving economic growth, enhancing national integration, and ensuring equitable development across the country. The UDAN Scheme was launched with the objective of connecting small and medium cities with big cities through air service.

Need for expanding the regional air connectivity in India:

1. Decongesting Overloaded Metros: Major urban airports like those in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru are experiencing severe congestion due to increased passenger traffic.
2. Economic and Trade Development: Improved air connectivity can further boost initiatives like “Making Districts as export hubs” thereby facilitating local economies.
3. Promoting Tourism: Unlocking Tourism Potential, especially in states like Northeast India, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan.
4. Enhancing National Security: Improved connectivity, particularly in border and strategic areas such as Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, is critical for national security.
5. Disaster Management and Relief: Regions prone to natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, and landslides, benefit from rapid response and evacuation efforts when accessible by air.

The Government’s UDAN Scheme

Key features:

1. Subsidized Airfare: airfares for a 500 km flight are capped at ₹2,500 for a one-hour journey.
2. Viability Gap Funding (VGF): To incentivize non-commercially viable regional routes.
3. Development of Airports: Particularly in unserved and underserved areas by improving infrastructure, including runways, terminals, and navigational aids.
4. Public-Private Partnership (PPP): Encourages private sector participation in developing regional airport infrastructure.

Achievements of UDAN Scheme:

1. As per Ministry of Civil Aviation, UDAN scheme is operating over 2.8 lakh flights and serving 1.43 crore passengers as of August 31, 2024. 
2. Increased Regional Connectivity: The scheme has launched operations on 583 routes, linking 86 airports, including 13 heliports and 2 water aerodromes. 
3. Affordable Air Travel: India has emerged as the third-largest domestic aviation market, with the total number of air passengers handled at Indian airports reaching 37.6 crore in FY24—a year-on-year increase of 15%. 
4. Growth in Regional Aviation: Airlines such as Star Air, Trujet, and Air India Regional have expanded their operations under the scheme. Eg- Akasa Air ordering 200 aircraft within 17 months
5. Development of Infrastructure: Airports, such as those in Jharsuguda (Odisha), Kishangarh (Rajasthan), and Pakyong (Sikkim), have been operationalized.
6. Boost to Regional Economies and Tourism: To promote tourism, 46 important tourist spots have been selected under UDAN Scheme.

Issues	Way Forward
Out of the 479 airport routes that were revived by the Union Government, 225 have ceased operations.	Enhancing Financial Viability: Implementing revenue-sharing models to incentivize the operationalization of less profitable routes.
As per CAG Report, there is excessive collection of Regional Air Connectivity Fund (RCF) and delay on the part of RACFT in raising RCF levy claims on the airline operators.	Streamlining Regulatory Processes: Expediting the process of obtaining regulatory clearances from agencies like the DGCA , state governments, and airport authorities.
AAI’s Viability Gap Fund’s claims approved through self-certification led to non-compliance to several scheme provisions. (CAG Report)	Focus on Sustainable Practices and leveraging technology: Adopting fuel-efficient technologies to reduce carbon footprints and Data Analytics for Route Optimization

India can draw inspiration from the “Regional Connectivity Scheme” (RCS) in the United Kingdom whose emphasis on PPP and operational efficiency, can help realising the vision of ‘New India’.

As per recommendations of 2nd National Commission on Labour, 29 labor laws in India have been consolidated into Four comprehensive labor codes which aim at boosting the ease of doing business, while also extending social security to millions of workers, particularly in the informal and gig economy.

1. Code on Wages: Standardized wage and bonus payments.
2. Industrial Relations Code: Streamlines dispute resolution and labour relations.
3. Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code: Ensures safe and healthy working conditions.
4. Code on Social Security: Expands social security benefits.

Merits of Labour Codes:

1. Simplification and Rationalization of Laws: The consolidation of 29 laws into 4 codes reduces the complexity of compliance Uniform definitions E.g. simplifying payroll calculations.
2. Promoting Formalization and Social Security: Code on Social Security brings gig and platform workers (e.g., delivery workers, app-based drivers) under the social security net 
3. Minimum floor wage: to be determined by the Central government based on the minimum living standards and level of skills of workers based on which state governments shall identify a minimum wage rate, to be revised every 5 years or earlier. 
4. Minimise exploitative practices – Provisions for overtime wages twice the normal wages on an hourly or part-of-hour basis as well as coverage of Employees’ State Insurance (ESI). 
5. Flexibility in Hiring and Firing: The Industrial Relations Code allows firms with up to 300 workers (previously 100) to hire and fire employees without requiring government permission.
6. Improved Worker Safety and Health Standards: The Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code mandates stricter safety norms, such as proper ventilation, cleanliness, and adequate lighting at workplaces.
7. Easier Resolution of Industrial Disputes: The Industrial Relations Code mandates the formation of Grievance Redressal Committees for companies with 20 or more workers and allows faster resolution through tribunals.
8. Changes in EPF & gratuity: the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and gratuity contributions are now applicable to both organised and unorganised sectors. Further, the codes permit a 1-year service for employees to collect gratuities from earlier 5 years.
9. Gender Equality – The Code of Wages prohibits discrimination in remuneration and recruitment of employees for work of similar nature.
10. Maternity benefits: the SS Code continues to ensure 26 weeks of paid maternity leave along with creche facilities funded by the employer.

Demerits of Labour Codes:

1. Lack of Uniformity Across States: Labour is a concurrent subject in India, this could lead to lack of uniformity in implementation across different regions.
2. Delegated Legislation – Standing Committee on Labour has noted that the Acts delegates various aspects for rule-making by the government. Eg-  defining the entitlements 
3. Concerns about Gig and Informal Workers’ Security: the Code on Social Security does not provide clear mechanisms for ensuring comprehensive coverage and enforcement.
4. Impact on Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining: A requirement that 75% of workers in a company must vote for a strike before it is legally recognized can dilute the role of trade unions        
5. Weakening of Workers’ Rights and Protections: The increased threshold for government permission for layoffs is criticized for potentially weakening job security.
6. Power to government to modify or reject tribunal awards – it raises the question of conflict of interest, as government may modify an award made by the Tribunal in a disputes it is a party.  
7. Provisions on fixed term employment – unequal bargaining powers between the worker and employer could affect the rights of workers as the power to renew contracts lies with employer.

Progress so far in this regard:

1. Publication of draft rules: over 20 states have published draft rules, but final notifications are still awaited in most cases.
2. Implementation: Implementation has been delayed due to state-level preparations and ongoing consultations with stakeholders. 
3. Centre has already enforced few provisions like Central Advisory Board and establishment of an employee’s and his family members’ identities through respective Aadhaar numbers.

Reasons For Delay 

1. Some states are yet to publish rules to set the codes in motion 
2. Talks between the Union labour ministry and unions have stalled  
3. Centre is inclined to take all stakeholders on board for which there needs agreement on key provisions.

Way Forward

1. Labour Market Information System (LMIS): to pinpoint skill shortages, training needs, and disseminate new job opportunities.
2. Comprehensive Economic Reforms: upgrading infrastructure, skilling the workforce, and maintaining a consistent export-import policy to bolster investment and job creation.

India can draw on Denmark’s “flexicurity” system which combines labor market flexibility with comprehensive social security, to ensure ensure ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and realise target of VIKSIT BHARAT 2047.