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Type: Prelims Only

  • Nuclear Energy

    Roadmap for India’s Fusion Power Plan

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Why in the News?

    Researchers at the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar have released a roadmap for India’s fusion programme, envisioning the Steady-State Superconducting Tokamak-Bharat (SST-Bharat) as the country’s first fusion electricity generator.

    Back2Basics: ITER and India’s Contribution in ITER

    • ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor): It is the world’s largest nuclear fusion project, based in France, involving 35 nations.
      • What is Nuclear Fusion: It is the process where light atomic nuclei, like hydrogen, combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a tremendous amount of energy, as seen in the Sun and stars.
    • Aim: Demonstrate safe, carbon-free fusion energy by achieving Q = 10 (500 MW output from 50 MW input).
    • Uses Tokamak design, heating plasma to 150 million °C with superconducting magnets.
    • India joined as a full partner in 2005, contributing 9% of ITER hardware (~₹17,500 crore).
    • Major Indian contributions:
      • Partnership: Member since 2005, contributes 9% of hardware (~₹17,500 crore) with full IP rights.
      • Cryostat (3,800 tonnes, world’s largest vacuum vessel) – fabricated by L&T in Gujarat.
      • Superconducting magnets, cryogenic systems, RF heating systems, diagnostics, and shielding modules.
      • R&D on lithium-lead breeder blankets for tritium self-sufficiency in fusion reactors.
    • ITER serves as a training ground for Indian scientists, engineers, and industry, strengthening the country’s precision engineering and high-tech capabilities.

    Roadmap for India’s Fusion Power Plan:

    • Vision: Outlined by the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, aligned with India’s Net Zero 2070 goal.
    • Strategy: Transition from fusion–fission hybrids (SST-Bharat) to a full fusion demonstration reactor (INDRA) by 2060.
    • Phased Targets:
      • 2025–2035: ITER participation, validation of deuterium-tritium (D–T) fueling, superconducting magnets, and plasma control.
      • 2035–2060: Build INDRA (500 MWe, Q > 20), continuous operation >6 months, tritium breeding ratio >1.1.
      • Post-2060: Commercial-scale fusion plants, target 50 GW fusion capacity by 2100, offsetting ~750 MT CO₂ annually.
    • Hybrid Approach: Fusion neutrons to drive thorium-based subcritical assemblies until pure fusion matures.
    • Innovations: Digital twins of tokamaks, AI-assisted plasma confinement, and radiation-resistant materials.
    • Global Context: UK STEP targets 2040, US startups 2030s, China’s EAST plasma records; India aims for 2060 cautiously.

    About Steady-State Superconducting Tokamak-Bharat (SST-Bharat):

    • Design: Planned as India’s first fusion electricity generator, a fusion–fission hybrid.
    • Output: 130 MW total; 100 MW from fission, 30 MW from fusion.
    • Target: Q-Value = 5 (fusion output/input ratio), vs ITER’s goal of Q = 10.
    • Cost: Estimated at ₹25,000 crore.
    • Features: Superconducting magnets, advanced plasma control, hybrid breeding design to generate fuel and reduce waste.
    • Legacy: Builds on SST-1 tokamak, which achieved 650 ms confinement (designed for up to 16 min).
    • Goal: Pave way for INDRA (250 MW, Q = 20) by 2060.
    [UPSC 2016] India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?

    Options: (a) It can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation

    (b) It attain a global role in satellite-navigation

    (c) It can drastically improve the efficiency of its fission reactors in power generation

    (d) It can build fusion reactors for power generation*

    [UPSC 2025] The fusion energy programme in India has steadily evolved over the past few decades. Mention India’s contributions to the international fusion energy project International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). What will be the implications of the success of this project for the future of global energy?

     

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  • Water Management – Institutional Reforms, Conservation Efforts, etc.

    Commissioning of Oju Hydel Project

    Prelims Only | Geography | Mains Paper 1: Geographical Features & Their Location

    Why in the News?

    The Union Environment Ministry has cleared the 2,220 MW Oju Hydroelectric Project on the Subansiri River in Taksing, Upper Subansiri district, near the China border.

    About the Oju Hydroelectric Project:

    • Capacity & Location: A 2,220 MW run-of-river hydro project on the Subansiri River at Taksing, Upper Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh, near the China border.
    • Infrastructure:
      • Dam: 93 m high, 355 m long concrete gravity dam.
      • Tunnels: Two diversion tunnels, 14.17 km headrace tunnel.
      • Powerhouse: Underground, with 8 turbines of 231.25 MW each.
    • Hydrology: Catchment area 9,827 sq. km; average annual yield 11,339 million cubic meters.

    Significance of the Project:

    • Hydro Cascade: Largest in Subansiri basin, upstream of projects like Niare, Naba, Nalo, Dengser, Upper & Lower Subansiri, making it vital for basin-wide energy planning.
    • Border Security: Strengthens India’s strategic presence near China border through infrastructure development.
    • Energy Security: Provides clean power at ~₹5.65/kWh, supporting renewable targets and reducing fossil dependence.

    Back2Basics: Subansiri River

    Commissioning of Oju Hydel Project

    • Also called the Gold River, it is the largest tributary of the Brahmaputra, about 518 km long with a 32,640 sq. km basin.
    • It originates in Lhuntse County, Tibet, flows through Upper Subansiri district (Arunachal Pradesh), and enters India via the Miri Hills.
    • The Upper Subansiri refers to its Himalayan origin stretch, while the Lower Subansiri marks its descent into the Assam Valley through Lower Subansiri district.
    • It joins the Brahmaputra at Jamurighat/Majuli Island in Assam; key tributaries are Rangandi, Dikrong, Kamle, Char Chu, and Tsari Chu.
    • Known for floods, rapids, and hydropower projects like the Lower Subansiri, the river also carries cultural importance in Tibet’s Tsari region.

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  • Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.

    [pib] Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS), 2025

    DOMRPrelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    Why in the News?

    The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry has released Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS), 2025 Report.

    What is Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS)? 

    • Overview: It is a national index benchmarking logistics performance across States and Union Territories of India.
    • Origin: Conceived in 2018, modelled on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI).
    • Authority: Prepared by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
    • Methodology: Combines objective indicators (infrastructure, regulatory support, enablers) with perception-based feedback from stakeholders on cost, efficiency, and services.
    • Purpose: Promotes healthy competition, identifies best practices, and guides policy interventions to improve logistics efficiency.

    About LEADS 2025:

    • Launch: Released by the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry in New Delhi.
    • Framework: Built on 4 pillars – Infrastructure, Services, Operating & Regulatory Environment, and Sustainable Logistics.
    • New Features:
      • Corridor-level assessment of major national and regional corridors (journey time, truck speed, waiting periods).
      • API-enabled evaluation of section-wise truck speeds using real-time data.
    • Classification: States/UTs ranked as Leaders, Achievers, and Aspirers.
    • Alignment: Supports Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Viksit Bharat 2047.

    Key Highlights of LEADS 2025:

    • Top States: Gujarat (1st), Karnataka (2nd), Maharashtra (3rd), Tamil Nadu (4th), Rajasthan (5th).
    • Parameters: Journey time, logistics costs, infrastructure quality, service reliability, waiting times, and sustainability practices.
    • Strategic Outcomes: Identifies bottlenecks, promotes evidence-based policymaking, reduces logistics costs, and enhances supply chain competitiveness.

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  • Defence Sector – DPP, Missions, Schemes, Security Forces, etc.

    India’s first overseas Defence Facility in Morocco

    Prelims Only | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Indigenization Of Technology

    Why in the News?

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated Tata Advanced Systems’ plant at Berrechid, Morocco—India’s first overseas and Morocco’s largest defence manufacturing facility.

    About India’s Morocco Defence Facility:

    • Developer: Established by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) – India’s first overseas defence manufacturing facility and Morocco’s largest defence plant.
    • Scale & Capacity: Spread over 20,000 sq. m. with capacity to produce ~100 armoured vehicles annually.
    • Product: Focused on the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8×8, jointly developed by TASL and DRDO.
    • Variants: Modular designs include Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Armoured Personnel Carrier, Reconnaissance Vehicle, Command Post, Mortar Carrier, and Ambulance.
    • Operations: First deliveries to the Royal Moroccan Army scheduled for October 2025.

    Significance:

    • Strategic Expansion: Extends India’s defence vision from Make in India to Make for the World.
    • Diplomatic Milestone: Symbolises stronger India–Morocco defence ties, marked by the first visit of an Indian Defence Minister to Morocco.
    • Economic & Employment Boost: Creates jobs in Morocco; 33% local sourcing of components (to increase to 50%).
    • Export Hub: Morocco’s location makes it a gateway to Africa and Europe, enhancing India’s defence export footprint.
    • Security Role: Enhances regional defence capacity and establishes India as a credible global supplier of armoured vehicles.
    [UPSC 2017] What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?

    Options: (a) India’s trade with African countries will enormously increase.

    (b) India’s relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened.

    (c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. *

    (d) Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India.

     

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  • Freedom of Speech – Defamation, Sedition, etc.

    Criminal Defamation in India

    Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

    Why in the News?

    Justice M.M. Sundresh of the Supreme Court remarked that the time has come to decriminalise defamation, reflecting concern over its growing misuse.

    Free Speech and Defamation: Constitutional Provisions

    • Article 19(1)(a): Freedom of speech & expression.
    • Article 19(2): Allows reasonable restrictions in the interests of:
      • Sovereignty & integrity of India.
      • Security of the State.
      • Friendly relations with foreign States.
      • Public order, decency or morality.
      • Contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to an offence.
    • Article 21: Right to reputation is part of right to life (Subramanian Swamy v. UOI, 2016).

    What is Criminal Defamation?

    • Overview: Offence of harming a person’s character, fame, or reputation with false and malicious statements.

    • Forms:

      1. Libel: False defamatory statement in writing.
      2. Slander: False defamatory statement spoken orally.
    • Indian Context: Both libel & slander are criminal offences if made publicly.
    • Earlier IPC Section 499: Criminalised communication of false info harming reputation; punishment under IPC Section 500 – up to 2 years imprisonment.

    • Law under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023:

      • Section 354(2) – punishment up to 2 years simple imprisonment, or fine, or both, or community service.
      • Section 356 – covers words, signs, or visible representations harming reputation.
    • Scope: Applies to individuals, companies, and deceased persons if family reputation is harmed.
    • Essential Elements: False statement, harm to reputation, communication to third party, and intent/knowledge of likely harm.
    • Nature of Offence: Non-cognizable and bailable – requires a warrant for arrest; bail available.
    • Digital Extension: Covers defamatory posts on social media, websites, and messaging platforms.
    • Defences/Exceptions: Truth in public interest, fair comment on public servants, judicial proceedings, public performances, and cautionary statements made in good faith.

    Judicial Pronouncements related to Defamation:

    • Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India (2016): SC upheld constitutionality of IPC Sections 499 & 500; held that reputation is part of Article 21; criminal defamation valid under Article 19(2) restrictions.
    • Kaushal Kishore v. Union of India (2017): SC held no extra restrictions on free speech beyond Article 19(2).
    • Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015): SC struck down Section 66A of IT Act, calling it vague and violative of free speech.
    • Imran Pratapgarhi Case (March 2025): Court adopted the “reasonable person” test (Clapham omnibus standard), not that of overly sensitive individuals.
    • Recent Stays: SC stayed multiple cases (incl. against Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor) stressing courts should not be tools for political vendetta.
    [UPSC 2014] What do you understand by the concept of “freedom of speech and expression”? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss.

    [UPSC 2021] ‘Right to Privacy’ is protected under which Article of the Constitution of India?

    Options: (a) Article 15 (b) Article 19 (c) Article 21 * (d) Article 29

     

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  • Water Management – Institutional Reforms, Conservation Efforts, etc.

    Pollution in Indian Rivers: CPCB Report, 2023

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News?

    The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) released its latest assessment (2022–23) on the health of Indian rivers.

    About Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): 

    • Overview: Statutory body set up in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
    • Expanded mandate: Later entrusted with powers under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
    • Umbrella role: Serves as the technical arm of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), implementing provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

    • Principal Functions:

      1. Water pollution control: Promote cleanliness of streams and wells across states by preventing, controlling, and abating pollution; Oversee the National Water Quality Monitoring Program to collect, collate, and disseminate data.
      2. Air pollution control: Improve air quality and control emissions; Run the National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP) to determine current status and trends. Regulate industrial pollution, provide baseline data for industrial siting and town planning.
      3. Data Management: Collects, collates, and disseminates technical and statistical data on air and water pollution.

    • Key Initiatives and Programs:

      • NAMP: Monitors air quality and pollution trends.
      • NAQI (National Air Quality Index): Offers real-time air quality data.
      • GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan): Measures graded interventions based on severity of pollution.
      • Clean Air Campaign: Awareness and enforcement measures for pollution reduction.

    CPCB Assessment of Pollution in Indian Rivers:

    Parameters & Definitions:

    • Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): It is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by microbes to break down organic matter.
      • Healthy river: BOD <3 mg/L.
      • Unfit for bathing: BOD >3 mg/L.
    • Polluted River Stretch (PRS): When two or more consecutive locations in a river exceed bathing criteria (BOD >3 mg/L).
    • Priority Classification (BOD levels):
      1. Priority 1: >30 mg/L → Most polluted, urgent remediation.
      2. Priority 2: 20–30 mg/L.
      3. Priority 3: 10–20 mg/L.
      4. Priority 4: 6–10 mg/L.
      5. Priority 5: 3–6 mg/L → least polluted category but still polluted.

    Key Findings of the Report: 

    • Unfit bathing locations: 807 (2023) vs 815 (2022), shows marginal dip.
    • Polluted River Stretches (PRS): 296 stretches/locations across 271 rivers in 2023 vs 311 stretches in 279 rivers in 2022.
    • State-wise PRS (2023):
      1. Maharashtra: 54 (highest).
      2. Kerala: 31.
      3. Madhya Pradesh: 18.
      4. Manipur: 18.
      5. Karnataka: 14.
    • Most polluted states by Priority 1 (2023): Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand (5 each).
    • Most polluted states by Priority 1 (2022): Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh (6 each).
    [UPSC 2017] Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a standard criterion for:

    Options: (a) Measuring oxygen levels in blood

    (b) Computing oxygen levels in forest ecosystems

    (c) Pollution assay in aquatic ecosystems *

    (d) Assessing oxygen levels in high altitude regions

     

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  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough

    Optical Computing and AI with Light

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Why in the News?

    Finnish researchers showed that nonlinear optical fibres can perform AI tasks efficiently, advancing optical computing.

    About Optical Computing:

    • Overview: A computer that uses light (photons) instead of electricity (electrons) to process data.
    • Why Important: Light is faster, makes less heat, and carries more data at once.
    • Technology Used: Runs through optical fibres, the same cables that carry internet data.
    • Main Challenge: Hard to control how light behaves, especially when it gets very strong and non-linear (changes colour, merges, or spreads).

    Recent Breakthrough:

    • Research:
      • Turned images into light pulses.
      • Sent them through optical fibre where the light changed.
      • These changes acted like a hidden computing layer.
      • The system read the light at the other end to classify the images.
    • Results: Reached 91–93% accuracy, close to normal AI computers.

    How can it help AI working?

    • Energy-efficient AI hardware: Can make faster and greener AI systems in the future.
    • Tech needs: New tools like photonic chips and optical neural networks before large-scale use.
    [UPSC 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

     

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  • Global Geological And Climatic Events

    Super Typhoon Ragasa

    Prelims Only | Geography | Mains Paper 1: Important Geophysical Phenomena

    Why in the News?

    China is planning to evacuate 4 lakh people ahead of the landfall of Super Typhoon Ragasa.

    Super Typhoon Ragasa

    About Typhoon & Super Typhoon:

    • Typhoon: A tropical cyclone forming in the Western Pacific Ocean and China Sea, usually above sea temperatures of 27°C.
    • Formation: Warm, moist air rises and creates a low-pressure system with spiralling winds.
    • Super Typhoon: Defined by the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) as sustained winds of ≥240 km/h (some agencies use 185 km/h).
    • Structure:
      • Eye: Calm centre.
      • Eyewall:  Strongest winds and rainfall.
      • Spiral Rainbands: Bands of showers spreading outward.
    • Impacts: Can cause storm surges, coastal flooding, landslides, and destruction of infrastructure, agriculture, and homes.

    Back2Basics: Tropical Cyclones

    • What is it: Large low-pressure systems over warm oceans, marked by rotating winds, heavy rain, and storm surges.
    • Conditions: Form when ocean temps >27°C, with moist rising air releasing latent heat to fuel convection.
    • Rotation: Driven by the Coriolis force – anticlockwise in Northern Hemisphere, clockwise in Southern.
    • Structure: Eye (calm), Eyewall (violent winds/rains), Rainbands (widespread showers).
    • Regional Names: Typhoons (Pacific), Hurricanes (Atlantic/Caribbean), Cyclones (Indian Ocean).
    • Drivers & Frequency: Common in Southeast Asia due to warm Pacific waters, El Niño/La Niña cycles, and climate change.
    • Impacts: Loss of life, property damage, flooding, soil salinisation, displacement, and disease outbreaks.
    • Climate Change Link: Global warming is making tropical cyclones stronger, less predictable, and more frequent, raising risks for coastal populations.

     

    [UPSC 2020] Consider the following statements:

    1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.

    2. Only some cyclones develop an eye.

    3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C lesser than that of the surroundings.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

     

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  • Global Geological And Climatic Events

    Earth gains new tiny ‘Quasi-Moon’ 2025 PN7

    Prelims Only | Geography | Mains Paper 1: Important Geophysical Phenomena

    Earth gains new tiny 'Quasi-Moon' 2025 PN7

    Why in the News?

    Astronomers have confirmed the discovery of asteroid 2025 PN7, Earth’s latest quasi-moon.

    About Quasi-Moon 2025 PN7:

    • Discovery: First detected on 2 August 2025 by the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in Hawaii; confirmed in September 2025 as Earth’s newest quasi-satellite.
    • Orbit: Circles the Sun, not Earth, but remains near Earth due to a 1:1 orbital resonance – meaning it completes one solar orbit in the same time as Earth.
    • Distance from Earth: At closest, ~299,000 km, similar to the Moon’s distance.
    • Physical Traits: Roughly 19 metres wide, very faint (magnitude 26.4), requiring large telescopes to track.
    • Orbital Parameters: Semi-major axis 1.003 AU (same as Earth), eccentricity 0.108 (slightly oval), inclination just under 2°.
    • Arjuna Nature: Fits the Arjuna asteroid class criteria – extremely Earth-like orbit, low eccentricity, and low inclination, making it appear as a temporary companion.
    • Stability: Expected to remain a quasi-satellite for ~128 years before shifting into another orbital configuration.

    What is the Arjuna Asteroid Class?

    • Overview: A rare group of near-Earth objects (NEOs) with orbits closely matching Earth’s path around the Sun.
    • Etymology: Originated with the discovery of asteroid 1991 VG by astronomer Robert H. McNaught at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia in 1991.
    • Name Origin: Inspired by Arjuna from the Mahabharata – symbolising fast-moving and elusive objects.
    • Special Traits:
      • Can approach Earth more closely than most asteroid families.
      • Sometimes become temporary mini-moons or quasi-satellites.
      • Have relatively low relative velocities, making them attractive for spacecraft missions.
    • Scientific Importance:
      • Offer natural laboratories for studying orbital resonance and gravitational effects.
      • Useful for testing asteroid mining and redirection technologies.
      • Significant for planetary defence, since tracking their movements refines collision risk predictions.
    [UPSC 2023] Consider the following pairs:

    Object in space – Description

    1. Cepheids – Giant clouds of dust and gas in space

    2. Nebulae – Stars which brighten and dim periodically

    3. Pulsars – Neutron stars that, are formed when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse

    How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

    (a) Only one * (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None

     

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  • Agmark, Hallmark, ISI, BIS, BEE and Other Ratings

    Centre to simplify Quality Control Order (QCO) framework

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth

    Why in the News?

    A NITI Aayog panel has proposed easing India’s Quality Control Orders (QCOs) by simplifying certification, assessments, and inspections to support MSMEs amid domestic and global criticism.

    About Quality Control Orders (QCOs):

    • Overview: Issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016, QCOs make Indian Standards compulsory for specific products in public interest (health, environment, security, fair trade).
    • Voluntary vs. Mandatory: Normally BIS certification is voluntary, but under QCOs manufacturers/importers must obtain a BIS licence or Certificate of Conformity before production, imports, or sales.
    • Standard Mark: Products under QCOs carry the ISI mark (or Hallmark for jewellery) to indicate conformity.
    • Legal Backing: Governed by BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018; violation punishable with fines or imprisonment.
    • Imports: Applies equally to foreign manufacturers via the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS).
    • Coverage: Of ~23,000 BIS standards, only 187 QCOs covering 770 products exist; 84 QCOs covering 343 products issued in the last three years.
    • Example: QCOs for compressors & ACs (2023) boosted compressor output from <2 million (2021–22) to 8 million (2023–24); ACs to 12 million+ units.

    Challenges Related to QCOs:

    • High Costs: Certification involves inspections, documents, and assessments—burdening MSMEs.
    • Non-Tariff Barrier Issues: US, EU, UK, NZ claim India’s QCOs exceed global norms. USTR (2025) flagged BIS marks even for chemicals, requiring site visits.
    • Industry Pushback: MSMEs fear inflationary costs; imports of cheaper raw materials/components restricted.
    • Limited Enforcement: Only 187 of 23,000 standards notified, mainly steel, electronics, chemicals.
    • Implementation Delays: Licence approvals slow; procedures disrupt production and supply chains.
    • Conflicting Views: Some MSMEs benefit (e.g., Birla Aircon turnover jumped ₹7 crore to ₹42 crore after QCO on water coolers), others call it “malign intervention” (NITI Aayog VC Suman Berry).

    Steps Taken by Government:

    • Digitisation: Simplified certification covering 750+ products; licences granted in 30 days.
    • MSME Outreach:
      • Jan Sunwai: Online open-house thrice weekly.
      • Manak Manthan: BIS field initiative for MSME support.
      • Regional Conferences: Led by Department of Consumer Affairs to resolve issues.
    • Capacity Building: Of 50,753 BIS certifications, ~40,000 (≈80%) issued to MSMEs; 24,625 voluntarily obtained for credibility/exports.
    • Trade Readiness: Govt projects QCOs as tools to raise quality and global competitiveness.
    • WTO Consistency: Justified if linked to health, safety, environment, deceptive trade, or security, in line with WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement.
    [UPSC 2017] With reference to `Quality Council of India (QCI)’, consider the following statements:

    1. QCI was set up jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry.

    2. Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendations of the industry to the Government.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2* (d) Neither 1 nor 2

     

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