01.05.25

Dustlik 2025

• Joint Military Exercise: “Dustlik 2025” (6th edition) between India and Uzbekistan.
• Location & Dates: Foreign Training Node, Aundh (Pune), India, from April 16-28, 2025.
• Participants: Indian contingent: JAT Regiment battalion & Indian Air Force (IAF); Uzbekistan contingent: Uzbekistan Army personnel.
• Alternating Venue: Conducted annually, alternating between India and Uzbekistan. Previous edition (2024) in Termez, Uzbekistan.
• Focus: Joint multi-domain sub-conventional operations in semi-urban scenarios, specifically responding to terrorist activities involving territory capture.
• Key Activities: Establishment of Joint Operations Centre, counter-terrorism missions (population control, raids, search-and-destroy), use of air assets, securing helipads, drone deployment, counter-UAS measures, logistics support by IAF. Helicopters for reconnaissance and special operations.
• Objectives: Share best practices, enhance interoperability, build camaraderie, boost defense cooperation, and strengthen India-Uzbekistan bilateral relations.
• Significance: Improves joint operational capabilities and strengthens the defense partnership between India and Uzbekistan by focusing on counter-terrorism and interoperability.
• Theme: Joint Multi Domain Sub Conventional operations in Semi-Urban Scenario.

Basaveshwara

• Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated Jagadguru Basaveshwara on Basava Jayanthi, recognizing his lasting impact.

• Who He Was: A 12th-century philosopher, statesman, poet, and social reformer from Karnataka. He served as a minister in the court of King Bijjala I.

• Key Contributions: Founded Anubhava Mantapa, a public institution promoting open discussions regardless of social background. Founder of the Lingayat (Veerashaiva) sect.

• Philosophical Stance: Championed monotheism, rejected the caste system, ritualism, and Brahmanical dominance. Strongly advocated for ahimsa.

• Core Teachings: Emphasized Kayaka (work ethics) and Dasoha (selfless service), promoting gender equality and uplifting marginalized communities.

• Literary Legacy: Composed Vachanas, powerful Kannada poetic expressions making spirituality accessible.

• Impact and Legacy: Inspired social reform and a non-Brahminical religious movement, significantly impacting Karnataka. Lingayatism remains a major religious community today.

• Recognition: Commemorated with a statue near the Thames in London, unveiled by PM Modi in 2015.

Raghuji I Bhosale

• Sword Reclaimed: The Maharashtra government successfully reclaimed the sword of Raghuji Bhosale I from an auction in London for approximately ₹47.15 lakh.

• Historical Significance: The sword is an 18th-century artifact with a ‘firangi’ style, featuring a European blade and a Mulheri hilt adorned with gold inlay.

• Inscription: The sword bears a Devanagari inscription near the hilt, reading ‘Shrimant Raghoji Bhosale Senasaheb Subha Firang’, indicating it was either made for or used by Raghuji Bhosale I.

• Rare Weapon: It is considered rare due to its decorative detailing and the presence of the owner’s name, uncommon for medieval Indian weapons.

• Arms Trade Reflection: The European-made blade highlights the global arms trade in 18th-century India, showcasing the blend of Indian and European craftsmanship.

• Potential Loot: Experts believe the sword may have been looted by the British after the 1817 Battle of Sitabuldi or gifted to them.

• Government Action: The Maharashtra government, led by CM and Deputy CMs, acted swiftly after news of the auction surfaced to retrieve the historical artifact.

• Raghuji Bhosale I Overview: Founder of the Bhosale family of Nagpur, an important Maratha commander under Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, known for his bravery and war strategy. Bestowed with title ‘Senasahibsubha’

• Territorial Expansion: He led military campaigns in Bengal (1745 & 1755) and expanded the Maratha Empire into Bengal and Odisha, also establishing dominance in regions like Chanda, Chhattisgarh, and Sambalpur. Defeated Nawabs of Cuddapah and Kurnool.

• Nagpur Bhonsles: Played a significant role in expanding the Maratha Empire, ruling over a mineral-rich region (iron and copper) and were known for their skilled weaponry craftsmanship.

NHRC Explained

• NHRC Takes Suo Motu Cognizance: NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of the abduction, rape, and murder of a minor girl in Hubballi, Karnataka, and the subsequent death of the accused in a police encounter (April 2025).
• Violation of Human Rights: NHRC observed that the incident, if true, indicates a serious violation of the human rights of both the victim and the accused.
• Report Demanded: Notices issued to the Chief Secretary and DGP of Karnataka, requesting a detailed report within four weeks, including post-mortem and magisterial enquiry reports of both deceased individuals.
• Citizen Protest: Reports indicate citizens protested demanding arrest of the accused after recovery of the girl’s body.
• Accused Death: The accused was apprehended but died after allegedly attacking the police while being taken for questioning, resulting in gunshot injuries.
• NHRC’s Role: This highlights NHRC’s mandate to independently investigate alleged human rights violations and its active role in safeguarding human rights.
• NHRC Structure The NHRC is a statutory body established in 1993, consisting of a Chairperson (retired CJI) and members including judges and human rights experts.
• Appointment and Tenure: Members are appointed by the President of India and serve for three years or until age 70.
• Mandate and Objectives The commission focuses on strengthening human rights frameworks, investigating violations, and supporting other institutions in promoting human rights.

Red-Crowned Roof Turtle

• Return to Ganga River: The endangered Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur kachuga) has reappeared in the Ganga River after 30 years. This marks a significant success in biodiversity conservation efforts.

• Species Overview: It’s a freshwater turtle endemic to South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal). Historically widespread in the Ganga and Brahmaputra basins.

• Current Habitat: A substantial population now exists only in India’s National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary.

• Physical Characteristics: Medium-sized (up to 56 cm, 25 kg). Males smaller than females. Reddish-orange head with black crown, greenish-brown carapace, yellow plastron with black markings.

• Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on plants and animals.

• Conservation Status:

  • IUCN: Critically Endangered
  • Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I
  • CITES: Appendix II

May Day 2025

• International Labour Day (May Day) is observed on May 1st to honor workers’ contributions globally.

• Celebrates the struggles and achievements of the labor movement.

• Originated from the 1886 Chicago strike for an 8-hour workday and the Haymarket Affair.

• May 1st declared International Workers’ Day in 1889 by the Second International in Paris.

• Over 160 countries observe May 1st with parades, gatherings, and emphasis on worker rights.

• The US and Canada celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September.

• This divergence is due to political reasons, particularly distancing from socialist/communist associations and the bloody Pullman Strike in the US.

• The UK commemorates labor with the Early May Bank Holiday (first Monday of May).

• First celebrated in India in Chennai in 1923 by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan.

• Serves as a reminder of sacrifices of the labor movement and its role in building just societies.

Stockholm Convention

• India’s Opposition: India has opposed listing Chlorpyrifos, a hazardous insecticide, under Annex A of the Stockholm Convention.
• Chlorpyrifos Concerns: Chlorpyrifos is linked to neurodevelopmental issues, reduced birth size, and potential cancer risks upon chronic exposure.
• BRS Convention: Discussions regarding Chlorpyrifos are taking place at the BRS conventions (Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm) in Geneva.
• POPRC Recommendation: The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) recommended Chlorpyrifos’s inclusion, citing its persistence, bioaccumulation, and long-range transport.
• India’s Stance: India initially argued against the listing due to potential impacts on food security. It has also approved the use of chlorpyrifos on several crops.
• Exemptions Under Consideration: Discussions involve numerous crop-specific exemptions, including those for cotton, rice, and sugarcane. India is seeking further exemptions.
• Alternatives: The Indian government promotes alternatives such as natural farming. The government has already banned/phased out 46 pesticides and four pesticide formulations
• Global Impact: If consensus is reached on exemptions, Chlorpyrifos usage in India needs further review.
• Historical Context: India previously opposed the global ban of endosulfan in 2010.
• Widespread Use: Chlorpyrifos was a widely used pesticide in India, accounting for a significant portion of insecticide consumption.
• Health Concerns: The WHO classifies chlorpyrifos as moderately hazardous, affecting the nervous system. Chlorpyrifos is the most detected pesticide with a detection frequency of 33 per cent in food products in some Indian markets.
• Global Trends: Over 40 countries have already banned Chlorpyrifos.

S8: The Breaking Point

• S8 Tension: Mismatch in S8 (a measure of matter clumpiness) values obtained from CMB measurements (higher) vs. cosmic shear/lensing surveys (lower). This challenges the standard cosmological model (ΛCDM).

• S8 Definition: Sigma 8 (S8) quantifies the clustering of matter in the universe on a scale of about 26 million light-years. Higher S8 means more clumping.

• CMB Measurement: The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), radiation leftover from the Big Bang, suggests a more uniform early universe. CMB measurements yield a higher S8 value.

• Cosmic Shear: Cosmic shear, the distortion of galaxy shapes by gravitational lensing, is used to map dark matter distribution and calculate S8. These surveys find a lower S8 value, indicating less clumping.

• Subaru Telescope Result: The Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, using the Hyper Suprime-Cam, reported an S8 value of 0.747, consistent with previous lensing estimates, but still disagreeing with CMB.

• Implications: The S8 tension suggests a potential problem with the ΛCDM model and could indicate issues with the understanding of dark matter and dark energy.

• Future Research: The Rubin Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) is expected to provide new data that may help resolve the S8 tension.

• Unresolved issues The discrepancies are also there because of the lack of understanding of how fast galaxies are receding away from us which makes the entire understanding doubtful in some sense.

• Possible Deceleration: Data suggest dark energy’s push might be weakening, potentially leading to a slowing expansion or even a “big crunch” scenario.

Vembanad Lake

• Vembanad Lake Rejuvenation Project: Inspired by the Namami Gange Programme, aiming to

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  restore the deteriorating Vembanad Lake.

• ₹188.25 Crore Plan: A comprehensive five-year plan has been submitted to the Kerala Chief Minister for approval, focusing on various restoration aspects.

• Subcommittees Established: Eight subcommittees formed across sectors like agriculture, fisheries, water resources, and disaster management to coordinate restoration efforts.

• Lake Shrinkage: The lake has shrunk by 27% between 1917 and 1990 due to land reclamation, sedimentation, and encroachment, reducing floodwater retention.

• Pollution and Eutrophication: Severe threats from plastic waste, pollution, eutrophication, unsustainable agricultural practices, and invasive weed proliferation affect the lake’s health.

• Cleaning Drives: Recent drives have removed 28.72 tonnes of plastic waste and water hyacinth from the lake.

• Ecological Significance: Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India, a Ramsar site, and crucial for Kerala’s ecology, tourism (Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race), and water resources.

• Declining Fish Catch: Fish catch has declined by about 66% over the last three decades due to deteriorating water quality.

• Short-Term Goals: Include plastic waste removal, bio-shields, fish ranching, weed eradication, and bio bund construction.

• Long-Term Targets: Involve dredging, promoting organic farming, conserving flora and fauna, establishing treatment plants, creating value-added products from water hyacinth, and boosting tourism and fish yield.

• Challenges Remain: Houseboat pollution and land encroachment pose significant hurdles, requiring strong political support and decisive action.

BCI: Brain & Machine

• Breakthrough in BCI Technology: Researchers at UCSF developed a BCI enabling a paralyzed man to control a robotic arm by imagining movements.
• How it Works: The BCI uses sensors implanted on the brain’s surface to detect neural signals representing imagined movements. An AI algorithm decodes these signals to control a robotic arm.
• Addressing Instability: The research team developed an AI framework to account for shifts in brain activity patterns that occur over time, improving the BCI’s stability and allowing it to function for months.
• Successful Applications: The paralyzed participant could perform tasks like picking up objects, turning them, relocating them, opening a cabinet, retrieving a cup, and holding it under a water dispenser.
• Significance of the Study: This breakthrough represents a significant step towards restoring mobility and independence for individuals with paralysis.
• Future Goals: Further refinement is needed for the technology to function smoothly in complex real-world scenarios.
• Understanding the Technology: A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a technology that enables direct communication between the human brain and an external device (such as a computer or prosthetic limb), bypassing traditional neural pathways.
• Types of BCI: Invasive, Semi-invasive, Non-invasive.
• Applications of BCI: Medical(Restoring mobility in paralysis, aiding speech in locked-in syndrome), Military, Neuroprosthetics, Gaming & Communication.

Tech & Forest Sustainability

• AI-Based Real-Time Forest Alert System (RTFAS): Madhya Pradesh is the first state in India to pilot RTFAS for active forest management.
• Technology Integration: RTFAS uses satellite imagery, AI, machine learning, and mobile feedback.
• Deforestation Combat: It detects land encroachment, land use change, and forest degradation.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Alerts are sent to field staff via a mobile app for verification.
• Pilot Project: Initially implemented in Shivpuri, Guna, Vidisha, Burhanpur, and Khandwa divisions.
• Multi-Temporal Data Analysis: Google Earth Engine analyzes satellite data to identify land use changes.
• Continuous Improvement: Combines satellite data, AI, and field feedback in a self-improving cycle.
• Key Features: Polygon alerts, field verification via mobile app, GPS-tagged photos, voice notes.
• Dashboard Monitoring: Divisional Forest Officers can monitor real-time alerts by beat and field post.
• Early Fire Detection: AI cameras & thermal sensors detect smoke and heat for early fire alerts. FireSat tracks wildfires.
• Encroachment Detection: Systems like RTFAS notify forest officers of unauthorized activities.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation: AI camera traps & GPS track animal movement, reducing conflicts.
• Carbon Management: Satellites monitor forest health, while hyperspectral imaging assesses carbon stock.
• Afforestation: Green bots track tree growth and soil health.
• Biodiversity Monitoring: Acoustic sensors use AI to recognize animal sounds and track endangered species.
• Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): Afforestation is crucial for reducing carbon intensity of exports and trade competitiveness.
• Green India Mission (GIM): Increased forest cover by 0.56% between 2017 and 2021.
• Article 6 of the Paris Agreement: Establishing a national carbon credit registry to incentivize afforestation.

Caste Count

• Delayed 2021 Census: The 2021 Census, postponed due to COVID-19, is imminent but without confirmed dates.
• Historical Context: Since 1951, Censuses only collect data on SCs, STs, and religious denominations, excluding other caste groups. The last comprehensive caste data is from 1931.
• Demand for Caste Census: Parties with OBC support have repeatedly requested a caste census for better representation and policy-making.
• SECC 2011: A Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) was conducted in 2011 separately from the Census but its caste data remains unreleased.
• Logistical Concerns: Objections to including caste in the Census cite difficulties in accurate data verification and analysis by enumerators.
• Political Pressure: UPA allies pushed for SECC due to OBC representation concerns.
• State-Level Initiatives: Some states are conducting caste “surveys” to implement “quota within quota” for OBCs.
• NCBC Request: The National Commission for Backward Classes urged the government to collect OBC population data in the 2021 Census.
• Government Stance: In 2021, the government stated it would not enumerate caste-wise populations other than SCs and STs in the Census.
• Electoral Impact: Ahead of the 2024 elections, most parties supported a caste census.
• Pending Petitions: Several petitions demanding a caste census are before the Supreme Court.
• Impact on Delimitation: Census data impacts the delimitation of constituencies, frozen until after the first Census after 2026, also affecting women’s reservation in legislatures.
• Increased Reservations: A caste census is likely to fuel demands for increased reservations and sub-categorization, particularly among OBCs.

301 Report

• India on Priority Watch List: The U.S. has placed India on its ‘priority watch list’ in the 2025 Special 301 Report. This indicates serious concerns regarding intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement in India.

• USTR’s Assessment: The Special 301 Report, issued annually by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), evaluates global IPR protection and enforcement.

• Inconsistent Progress: The report highlights India’s “inconsistent” progress in IPR protection over the past year, despite some efforts to strengthen its IP regime.

• Long-Standing Concerns: The report points to continued lack of progress on pre-existing IPR issues, particularly patent-related concerns. These include potential patent revocations, discretionary application of patentability criteria, long patent grant waiting periods, and excessive reporting requirements.

• Patent Issues: Patent issues are a major concern, including interpretation vagueness, long waiting periods, and potential revocations.

• High Customs Duties: The report mentions India’s high customs duties on IP-intensive products like technology and pharmaceuticals.

• U.S. Trade Interests: The report comes amid negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between the U.S. and India, aiming to boost trade and address the U.S.’s trade deficit.

• India’s Stance: India views the report as a unilateral measure and maintains its IPR regime complies with global trade norms, specifically the WTO’s TRIPS agreement.

• Other Countries: The report also places other countries on the Priority Watch List (China, Russia, etc.) and Watch List.

Ban Chlorpyrifos Now

• Global Call to Ban Chlorpyrifos: The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Stockholm Convention is considering listing chlorpyrifos under Annex A, effectively banning it globally.

• Reasons for the Ban:

  • Health Impacts: Chlorpyrifos exposure can cause neurological damage, especially in children, impacting brain development and leading to lifelong consequences.
  • Environmental Persistence: It persists in the environment, contaminating remote areas like the Arctic, and poses risks to birds, fish, bees, and earthworms.
  • Residue Concerns: Chlorpyrifos residues have been found in agricultural produce, water, human blood, and breast milk, even at levels exceeding safety limits.

• India’s Opposition: India opposes the ban, citing the lack of viable alternatives and potential threats to food security.

• What is Chlorpyrifos? An organophosphate insecticide used to control pests in agriculture and public health. It inhibits an enzyme essential for nerve function.

• Stockholm Convention: An international treaty aiming to eliminate or restrict Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to protect human health and the environment. Annex A lists chemicals for complete elimination.

• Arguments for the Ban Reinforced: Findings from the POPs Review Committee (POPRC) concluded that chlorpyrifos meets all criteria for a global phased-out ban.

• Alternatives Exist: Safe and effective alternatives, including agroecological and organic pest management techniques, are available.

• Impact on Developing Nations: Such pesticides disproportionately affect vulnerable communities and unborn children.

Arjan Singh’s Birth Anniversary

• 106th Birth Anniversary: Celebrated on April 15, 2025, commemorating the birth of Air Force Marshal Arjan Singh.
• Bust Unveiled: A bust of Marshal Arjan Singh was unveiled at Astha Senior Citizen Home, Tughlakabad, Delhi, as a tribute.
• Key Attendees: Air Mshl Vijay Kumar Garg, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command, and Air Mshl Jagjeet Singh (Retd), Senior Vice President Air Force Association, unveiled the bust. Other attendees included Mrs Ritu Garg, President AFFWA(R), IAF veterans, and personnel from Air Force Station, Tughlakbad.
• Legacy Highlighted: The event emphasized his courage, leadership, and service, particularly his role in the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
• 1965 War Significance: As Chief of Air Staff in 1965, his leadership enabled the IAF to repel Pakistan’s offensive in Akhnoor, leading to India’s victory.
• Five-Star Rank: He is the only IAF officer with the Five-Star rank of Marshal of the Air Force.
• Interaction with Veterans and Seniors: The AOC-in-C, Maintenance Command and President AFFWA (R) interacted with senior citizens, and Air Force personnel had the opportunity to engage with veterans who served with the Marshal.
• Enduring Inspiration: Marshal Arjan Singh is remembered as a guiding figure for future generations of the IAF.

India’s Waste Crisis

• India is a Major Plastic Polluter: India emits 9.3 million tonnes of plastic annually, ~20% of global plastic emissions, largely due to mismanaged waste.
• Underreporting & Data Issues: Official waste data is underestimated, especially in rural areas and informal sectors. No clear methodology is in place for auditing waste data, particularly in rural areas.
• Infrastructure Deficit: Dumpsites significantly outnumber sanitary landfills (10:1). Waste collection is overestimated, and processing facilities are limited, especially in rural areas.
• Key Initiatives in place: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is showing positive impact on waste management. Waste to Wealth scheme, and Waste Management Rules are other key initiatives.
• Judicial Intervention Needed: Courts should enforce compliance with environmental norms using the “polluter pays” principle. The Supreme Court emphasizes the constitutional imperative of environmental protection, including waste management.
• Third-Party Scrutiny & Geotagging: Waste data should be transparent, independently verified, and publicly accessible. Geotagging waste management infrastructure enhances tracking and accountability.
• Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs): Local governments need mandatory links to MRFs, recyclers, and EPR kiosks. Kiosks should be established to collect waste, especially under EPR schemes.
• Circularity Imperative: Shift to product designs that prioritize recyclability, reusability, and modularity. Consumer engagement is crucial.
• International Collaboration: India can adopt global
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  best practices through collaborations like the Global Alliance for Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE).
• Accountability for Pollution: The waste management system must be held accountable for health impacts caused by pollution.

Digital Life & Liberty

• SC Ruling (Amar Jain v. Union of India & Ors, 2025): Inclusive digital access to e-governance and welfare is a fundamental right under Article 21 (right to life and liberty).

• KYC Accessibility: SC directed revisions to digital KYC norms to accommodate PwDs (Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016), including vision impaired and acid attack survivors. RBI and other entities must ensure accessibility.

• Addressing Digital Divide: Court highlighted the digital divide affecting PwDs, rural communities, senior citizens, and economically weaker sections. Universal digital access for vulnerable groups is a constitutional obligation (Articles 21, 14, 15, 38).

• Key Hindrances for PwDs: Digital literacy gap, weak enforcement of accessibility guidelines (RPwD Act, 2016, Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), and scarcity of affordable assistive technologies (AT).

• Measures for Digital Empowerment: Inclusive digital infrastructure (assistive technologies, WCAG adherence), improved digital literacy programs (NIEPMD, PMGDISHA), disability-sensitive urban planning, and an Inclusive Innovation Lab.

• Obligation to Marginalised: State has a duty to provide an inclusive digital ecosystem to the marginalised, underprivileged, vulnerable, disabled, and historically-excluded.

• 20 Directions Issued: To improve KYC processes to make them more accessible.

• Constitutional Imperative: Bridging the digital divide is a constitutional imperative to ensure a life of dignity, autonomy, equal participation in public life.

• Substantive Equality: Digital transformation must be inclusive and equitable.

• India must uphold its obligations: under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), 2006.

NOTAM

• India Issues NOTAM: India recently issued a Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) that restricts its airspace.

• Pakistan-linked Aircraft Banned: The NOTAM specifically prohibits Pakistan-registered, operated, or leased aircraft (including airlines and military flights) from using Indian airspace.

• NOTAM Definition: A NOTAM is a notice that provides timely information about any changes/hazards to aeronautical facilities, services, procedures, or airspace that are essential for flight operations.

• Purpose of NOTAMs: NOTAMs inform pilots about temporary or permanent changes affecting airspace, airports and equipment.

• Issuer: A country’s national aviation authority issues NOTAMs.

• Reasons for Issuance: NOTAMs are issued for various reasons, including airshows, VIP flights, runway closures, unserviceable navigation aids, military exercises, and temporary obstacles.

• Concise & Encoded: NOTAMs are encoded for conciseness but are generally self-explanatory.

• Communication Method: NOTAMs are rapidly communicated to relevant parties who need the information and would not otherwise receive it in a timely manner.

• Accessibility: NOTAMs are accessible through online platforms, flight planning tools, and aviation weather services.

• Pilot Responsibility: Pilots must review NOTAMs before each flight to ensure safety. Neglecting to do so poses safety risks.

Caste Count in Census

• Caste Enumeration Approved: The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming population census, a move that comes as the Opposition is also pushing for the same.

• Historical Data: Detailed caste data was last recorded in the 1931 Census. While the 1941 Census collected caste information, it wasn’t published due to World War II. Since 1951, only SC/ST data has been consistently included, leaving OBC population estimates unclear.

• Absence of OBC Data: The lack of comprehensive OBC data makes it difficult to accurately assess their population and tailor welfare programs effectively.

• 2011 SECC: The 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) aimed to improve welfare targeting but its caste data remains largely unpublished, limiting its impact.

• Government’s Shifting Stance: In July 2021, the government stated it had no plans for a caste census but now it has shifted stance to include caste enumeration.

• UPA’s Attempt: The UPA government initiated the SECC but faced challenges in classifying and categorizing the data.

• Differing Views: While there’s support for collecting caste data for welfare purposes, some oppose it, fearing its use for political gains and its potential to hinder the creation of a casteless society.

GARDP

• GARDP Research Findings: A recent GARDP study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases reveals significant gaps in access to appropriate treatment for multidrug-resistant infections in LMICs, including India.

• India’s Situation: Only 7.8% of patients with drug-resistant infections in India receive appropriate antibiotics, compared to an average of 6.9% across the eight countries studied.

• Impact of Lack of Access: Insufficient access to appropriate treatment increases morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs, and hospitalisation duration.

• Study Focus: The study examined the barriers along the treatment pathway, from presentation at a healthcare facility to diagnostic testing and antibiotic access, focusing on carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative (CRGN) infections.

• Paradox: There is irrational overuse of high-end antibiotics in countries like India, which contributes significantly to resistance against these life-saving drugs, alongside insufficient access to these same antibiotics for those who genuinely need them.

• Recommendations: The study calls for regulatory measures to control antibiotic use and bridge the access gap, as well as more research to understand barriers to care, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment.

• GARDP’s Goal: To develop and provide access to new antibiotics for drug-resistant infections.

• GARDP’s Creation: GARDP was created by the WHO and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).

• GARDP’s Headquarters: GARDP is legally established as an independent foundation in Geneva, Switzerland.

Native Hydrogen

• Renewed Interest: The American Association of Petroleum Geologists and USGS have initiated formal hydrogen exploration programs.

• Fuel of the Future: Hydrogen is viewed as a clean energy source for decarbonizing the global economy. Natural hydrogen offers a potentially low-cost and low-emission alternative to grey and green hydrogen.

• Formation Processes: Natural hydrogen is generated via serpentinization, radiolysis, and decomposition of organic matter.

• Potential in India: Regions with hard rock formations, ophiolite complexes, cratonic belts (Dharwar, Singhbhum), sedimentary basins (Vindhyan, Cuddapah, Gondwana, Chhattisgarh), fractured basement rocks, and hot springs show promise for natural hydrogen.

• Global Reserves: Significant hydrogen seeps have been cataloged worldwide, potentially supplying demand for thousands of years. Lorraine region in France has deposits estimated at 92 million tonnes.

• Industry Rush: The potential for untapped renewable fuel reserves has sparked a “gold rush,” with approximately 40 companies actively searching for natural hydrogen by the end of 2023, up from 10 in 2020.

• Extraction Cost: Producers estimate extraction costs around $1/kg or less.

• Investment: Venture funding in natural hydrogen startups is increasing, with investments from Amazon’s climate fund and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Conventional energy companies are also investing.

• Why it matters: If even 2% of the earth’s proven natural gas reserves were commerically exploitatable, it would provide about twice as much energy as all the earth’s provable natural gas reserves – enough to meet projected hydrogen demand for around two hundred years.

Deep-Tech Doldrums in India

• Limited Incubation Support: Only 25% of public-funded R&D orgs in India offer incubation to startups; only 16% focus on deep-tech.
• Low Collaboration: Only 15% of institutions collaborate with foreign industry; 50% restrict facility access to external researchers.
• R&D Spending Issues: Government R&D spend skewed towards strategic sectors (defense, space, atomic energy); Only 25% institutions spend 75-100% budget on R&D activities.CSIR, ICMR, Ministry of AYUSH, and DST reported R&D spending below the median level
• Focus on Consumer Services: Indian startups primarily target consumer-facing sectors due to quick profitability, diverting investment from deep-tech.
• Low R&D Investment: India’s R&D spending is 0.64% of GDP, far below leading nations, and concentrated in strategic sectors inaccessible to startups.
• Lack of Risk Capital: Deep-tech needs substantial upfront and sustained funding, which is lacking in India.
• Insufficient Collaboration: Weak industry-academia partnerships hinder applying research to real-world solutions.
• Infrastructure Deficiencies: Inadequate infrastructure, especially in Tier II/III cities, limits deep-tech startup growth.
• Talent Drain: Researchers migrate to countries with better funding and opportunities.
• Policy Delays: Slow policy responses, like delayed AI initiatives, hinder deep-tech development. Complex regulations add challenges.
• Staffing Issues: Labs reported decreased permanent staff and increased reliance on contractual staff.

Why These Points are Important: These points highlight systemic weaknesses in India’s support for deep-tech startups, hindering innovation in crucial sectors like AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology. Addressing these issues is crucial for India to achieve technological self-reliance and compete globally.

FIIs

• FIIs Net Buyers: FIIs turned net buyers in April 2025 after four months, with inflows of ₹4,223 crore in Indian equities.
• Fiscal Year Trends: FIIs were net sellers for seven months in fiscal 2025, with significant outflows after October 2024 (almost ₹1 lakh crore).
• Dollar Index Impact: A softening U.S. Dollar Index (from 104-105 to 99-100) improved the Indian rupee’s relative strength and encouraged FII participation.
• Sectoral Focus: FIIs increased investments in banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sectors due to the RBI’s accommodative stance.
• IT Sector Reduction: FIIs reduced exposure to the IT sector amid U.S. recession concerns and potential impact on tech earnings.
• Rupee Appreciation: The rupee experienced its largest single-day gain since November 2022, appreciating 42 paisa against the U.S. dollar.
• Regulatory Framework: FIIs are governed by FEMA 1999 and SEBI (Foreign Portfolio Investors) Regulations. The RBI monitors sectoral investment ceilings.
• Investment Limits: FIIs can invest up to 10% in a single Indian company, with a cumulative FII/NRI/PIO limit of 24%.
• Trade Deal Optimism: Increase in foreign inflows may be impacted by the 90-day pause on U.S. tariffs until July 9, along with potential of India being among first nations to seal a trade deal with the U.S.