09.08.25

Why in News: 80th anniversary of Hiroshima Day (August 6, 2025), marking the US atomic bombing of Japan and its surrender in WWII.

Global Power Shift:

• Emergence of the US and Soviet Union as superpowers, leading to the Cold War.
• Weakening of European colonial empires, fueling decolonization.

Key Causes of WWII:

• Harsh Treaty of Versailles terms on Germany.
• Failure of the League of Nations.
• Rise of Fascism and Nazism.
• Policy of Appeasement by Britain and France.
• German invasion of Poland.
• Japanese expansion (Pearl Harbor).

Key Events:

• German invasion of Poland (1939).
• Fall of France (1940).
• Battle of Britain (1940).
• Operation Barbarossa (Germany invades USSR, 1941).
• US entry into the war (1941).
• Turning points: Midway, Stalingrad (1942-43).
• Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945).

Key Consequences:

• Estimated 70-85 million deaths.
• Establishment of the United Nations.
• Nuclear age and arms race.
• Decolonization movements.
• Economic recovery efforts (Marshall Plan).

Impact on India:

• Economic hardship (famines, inflation).
• Intensified nationalism.
• Weakened British rule, contributing to independence in 1947.
• India’s massive military contribution to the Allied war effort.

Why in News: August 7th is National Handloom Day, commemorating the 1905 launch of the Swadeshi Movement, which championed indigenous industries, especially handlooms, as economic resistance to British rule.

Origins:

• Partition of Bengal (1905): Seen as a British tactic to divide and weaken nationalist unity.
• Lord Curzon’s Policies: Repressive measures fueled middle-class anger.
• Calcutta Townhall Meeting (August 1905): Formally launched the movement, advocating boycotting British goods and supporting Indian products.

Key Methods:

• Boycott of British Goods: Promoted economic self-reliance by supporting local industries and crafts.
• National Education: Led to the establishment of national schools and institutions like the Bengal National College.
• Formation of Samitis: Volunteer organizations like Swadesh Bandhab Samiti mobilized masses.
• Use of Traditional Festivals: Festivals like Ganapati and Raksha Bandhan were used to spread Swadeshi messages and foster unity.
• Emphasis on Self-Reliance (Atma Shakti): Linked national dignity with social reforms like fighting caste oppression and alcohol abuse.

Impact:

• Political: Shifted focus from petitions to demanding Swaraj, fueling revolutionary activism and influencing the Indian National Congress’s goals. Led to the Moderate-Extremist split.
• Social: Fostered Indian art and cultural pride (Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose), united Bengalis, and saw significant participation from women.
• Economic: Caused a decline in foreign imports, boosted Indian industries like handloom and textiles (Bengal Chemicals, Lakshmi Cotton Mills), and pressured Britain for reforms. Annulment of Bengal Partition followed.

Contemporary Relevance:

• Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan: Revives Swadeshi ideals, promoting Indian goods globally and aiming for self-reliance with goals like “local for global.”
• Make in India: Promotes India as a manufacturing hub, boosting FDI and exports, similar to Swadeshi’s focus on local industry.
• Revival of Khadi and Cottage Industries: The Khadi movement continues to be relevant, with KVIC showing significant growth in production, sales, and employment.
• Economic Nationalism and Protectionism: Modern strategies prioritize domestic industries through import substitution and incentives, reducing dependency on global supply chains.

SECI’s First Green Ammonia Auction: Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) held its inaugural auction for Green Ammonia under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). This is a significant step towards decarbonizing key industries.

Record Low Price: The auction discovered a price of ₹55.75/kg (approx. USD 641/MT), a substantial decrease from the previous year’s ₹100.28/kg. This near price parity with grey ammonia (USD 515/MT) makes green ammonia economically viable.

Large-Scale Procurement: SECI will procure 75,000 MT/year for Paradeep Phosphates. This is the first of 13 planned auctions targeting a total of 7.24 lakh MT/year, indicating a strong commitment to scaling up green ammonia adoption.

10-Year Fixed Price Contracts: These long-term contracts provide price stability, encouraging industries like fertilizers and shipping to transition to green ammonia.

Why Green Ammonia Matters:

• Climate Goals: Reduces CO₂ emissions from ammonia production, which currently accounts for 1-2% of global emissions.
• Energy Transition: Decarbonizes hard-to-abate sectors like shipping and fertilizers.
• Reduced Fossil Fuel Dependence: Decreases reliance on natural gas.
• Lower Fertilizer Subsidies: Contributes to economic benefits.

Applications: Primarily used in fertilizers, but also promising as a zero-carbon fuel for shipping, for power generation, and as a hydrogen carrier.

India’s Green Hydrogen Hub Vision: This auction reinforces India’s ambition to become a global leader in green hydrogen and its derivatives.

• Rationale: WACR is highly correlated with other money market rates, ensuring effective policy signal transmission.

• Rationale: Lower bank participation in 14-day auctions; shorter-term tools are preferred and more effective for managing transient liquidity.

• Rationale: Shorter-term operations better manage liquidity needs without market disruption.

• Rationale: Advance notice reduces market uncertainty and stabilizes money market rates.

• Rationale: Ensures banks hold adequate reserves and prevents liquidity shortfalls.

Stricter Enforcement of CAFE Norms: New draft rules empower the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to penalize automakers exceeding fleet-level fuel efficiency (CAFE) norms. This strengthens enforcement and aims to accelerate cleaner vehicle adoption.

Clear Penalty Structure: Penalties are defined: ₹25,000 per vehicle for CO₂ excess of 0–4.7g/km, and ₹50,000 per vehicle for excess above 4.7g/km. A base penalty of ₹10 lakh applies for administrative breaches.

Adjudication by State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs): SERCs will act as adjudicating authorities, with disputes resolved by the SERC in the state where the automaker’s registered office is located.

Revenue Allocation: 90% of penalties will be transferred to state governments, with 10% going to the Central Energy Conservation Fund, supporting energy conservation initiatives.

Industry Impact and Debate: Eight carmakers exceeded CAFE norms in FY23, facing potentially hundreds of crores in penalties. The industry is seeking non-retroactive application of the rules and broader recognition of cleaner technologies like hybrids and CNG.

Policy Evolution: These rules replace earlier, lighter fines and come into effect from January 2023, aligning with the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022. This provides a clear penalty process where none previously existed.

Deepened Defence Ties: India and UAE reaffirmed commitment to strengthening defence cooperation at the 13th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting in New Delhi.

• Why in news: This signals continued strategic alignment and mutual trust in the security domain between the two nations.

Enhanced Maritime Security: An MoU was signed between the Indian Coast Guard and UAE National Guard for maritime security, covering Search and Rescue (SAR), anti-piracy, pollution response, and real-time information sharing in the Indian Ocean Region.

• Why in news: This is crucial for regional stability, combating piracy, and ensuring safe maritime trade in a vital economic zone.

Joint Defence Manufacturing & Technology: Exploration of co-development in AI and shipbuilding technologies, including refits and maintenance of shared platforms, was discussed, building on the ICOMM-CARACAL small arms partnership.

• Why in news: This indicates a move towards collaborative innovation and self-reliance in defence production.

Boosted Inter-Service Cooperation: Talks aimed at increasing joint exercises, training, Subject Matter Expert (SME) exchange, and inter-service coordination were held for all three branches of the armed forces.

• Why in news: This enhances interoperability and strategic readiness for potential joint operations.

Strong Economic & Strategic Partnership: The UAE is India’s 3rd-largest trading partner and 2nd-largest export destination, with bilateral trade covering key sectors. The UAE also plays a vital role in India’s energy security and connectivity initiatives like IMEC and I2U2.

• Why in news: This highlights the significant economic interdependence and strategic importance of the UAE for India’s growth and global positioning.

• Why: ED registered 5,892 PMLA cases since 2015, but only secured 15 convictions. This highlights a significant gap between case registration and successful prosecution, raising questions about investigative effectiveness or legal processes.

• Why: The Supreme Court emphasized the ED must adhere to the rule of law. It also called for fast-track courts for PMLA cases and cryptocurrency regulation (without a ban) to curb misuse. This indicates a need for procedural fairness and specialized mechanisms to handle evolving money laundering methods.

• Legal/Enforcement Gaps: Misuse of Section 5 of PMLA (property attachment without registered offense) and prosecution delays hinder effectiveness.
• Complex Techniques: Cryptocurrencies, fintech, and cross-border schemes make detection difficult.
• Shadow Economy: High informal sector presence and lax regulation in real estate, jewelry, and luxury goods provide cover.
• Weak Global Cooperation: Limited information sharing with other countries hampers investigations.

• Fueling Crime/Terrorism: Sustains organized crime, drug trafficking, and terror financing.
• Erosion of Trust: Encourages corruption and weakens democratic institutions.
• Economic Distortion: Undermines monetary policy, causes volatility, inflates prices, deters FDI.

• Purpose: Enacted to prevent money laundering and confiscate illicit property, targeting crimes like drug trafficking and terror financing.
• Key Provisions: Empowers attachment, seizure, and confiscation of property; allows proceedings based on ECIR (not requiring FIR); has strict bail conditions (Section 45).

• Strict FATF compliance, independent investigations, better evidence collection, improved inter-agency coordination, effective use of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs), and judicial oversight are needed.

One in Five Indians Aged 45+ Had Diabetes in 2019: A Lancet Global Health study using LASI data revealed a significant prevalence of diabetes in older Indian adults. This is concerning due to the long-term health complications associated with the disease, including heart disease, kidney failure, and vision loss.

40% Unaware of Diabetes Diagnosis: A large proportion of affected individuals are undiagnosed. This highlights critical gaps in awareness and access to diagnostic services, preventing timely intervention and management, which can worsen outcomes.

Type 2 Diabetes Dominant (Over 95%): Most diabetes cases in India are Type 2, linked to lifestyle factors like inactivity and being overweight. This underscores the potential for prevention through widespread lifestyle modification campaigns.

India’s Initiatives: The government is promoting healthy lifestyles via Fit India Movement, conducting population-based screenings at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, and educating children on sugar content in schools. These efforts aim to curb the rising tide of diabetes by fostering a healthier environment and increasing public knowledge.

• Why it’s news: This signifies a major government push to integrate AI into India’s cancer care ecosystem.

• Why it’s news: Provides significant financial incentive for AI innovation in a critical healthcare area.

• Why it’s news: Addresses a broad spectrum of challenges within oncology using AI.

• Why it’s news: Promotes a multi-stakeholder approach, crucial for translating AI into practical healthcare solutions.

• Why it’s news: Ensures AI solutions are clinically validated and can achieve widespread adoption.

• Why it’s news: Sets a clear roadmap for the program’s implementation.

• Why it’s news: Provides comprehensive support beyond just funding, crucial for early-stage innovation.

• Why it’s news: Reinforces the transformative potential of AI in healthcare globally and specifically in India.

NEP 2020 replaces 10+2 with 5+3+3+4 model: Aligns education with child’s cognitive development.

Objective: Universal access, increase Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education to 50% by 2035, increase public investment in education to 6% of GDP.

5+3+3+4 Structure Explained:

• Foundational (5 yrs): Age 3-8 (Preschool + Classes 1-2). Focus on play-based learning, social skills, language, basic numeracy.
• Preparatory (3 yrs): Age 8-11 (Classes 3-5). Introduces subjects, discovery-oriented learning, critical thinking.
• Middle (3 yrs): Age 11-14 (Classes 6-8). Deeper subject knowledge, interest exploration, structured environment.
• Secondary (4 yrs): Age 14-18 (Classes 9-12). Prepares for higher education/vocational training, flexible subject choices.

Core Shift: Emphasis from rote memorization to experiential, multidisciplinary, inquiry-based learning, holistic assessment.

Implementation Challenges:

• Infrastructure Gaps: Many government/rural schools lack basic facilities (toilets, water, proper classrooms, teaching materials) for foundational stage.
• Teacher Preparedness: Teachers lack exposure to new teaching methods, B.Ed. courses are outdated, insufficient continuous training and mentoring.
• Curriculum & Textbook Changes: Uneven state-level rollout, late textbook delivery, inconsistent quality due to reliance on old materials.
• Parental Awareness: Parents in semi-urban/rural areas are unaware of NEP’s approach, doubt value of play-based learning, focus on rote outcomes.

Progress & Initiatives:

• PM SHRI Schools aim to upgrade 14,000 government schools.
• States like Delhi, Maharashtra, Odisha piloting new curricula.
• NISHTHA and DIKSHA platforms offer teacher training.

What Needs to Be Done: Strengthen infrastructure, revamp teacher education, ensure timely curriculum rollout, engage parents/communities, monitor progress transparently.

Significance: It’s a mindset shift for education, requiring collective effort for success and global benchmark potential.

• Quality Enhancement: Improving teaching, research, governance, and industry relevance.
• Equity & Inclusion: Focusing on women faculty, diverse student groups, and regional balance.
• Research & Innovation: Boosting institutional autonomy, innovation culture, and R&D.
• Skills & Employability: Promoting curriculum reform, internships, blended learning, and setting up research hubs and skill labs.
• Digital Transformation: Expanding the use of digital tools and e-learning platforms.
• Governance Support: Capacity-building for state/UT technical education departments.