21.04.25

Perovskites & India’s Solar Leap

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  • Sustainable Perovskite Recycling: A Nature study introduces a water-based method using sodium acetate, sodium iodide, and hypophosphorous acid to recycle Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs), eliminating toxic organic solvents like dimethylformamide. This process recovers 99% of materials and maintains efficiency over five cycles.

  • Environmental

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    Concerns with PSCs: Perovskite crystals contain toxic lead, posing environmental risks. Traditional recycling methods use harmful organic solvents.

  • India’s Solar Capacity & Goals: As of April 2025, India’s installed solar capacity is 105.65 GW. Target to reach 100 GW by 2030.

  • Key Initiatives: Rooftop Solar Programme supported by SUPRABHA and SRISTI; PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) has reached 10

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    lakh solar-powered homes.

  • Challenges: Land acquisition conflicts, infrastructure deficits, investment constraints, domestic manufacturing gaps, environmental impacts (solar waste), and limited battery storage capacity.

  • Solutions for Growth: Optimizing land use (agrivoltaics), grid modernization and energy storage, DISCOM reforms, circular economy for solar waste (recycling policy), enhancing domestic manufacturing (PLI scheme), and international collaboration (ISA).

  • Significance of New Recycling Method: The water based recycling method adresses one of the major concerns for Perovskite cells and paves way for low-cost high-efficiency solar technology.

CROP Progress

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  • Wheat Production Estimate: ISRO projects India’s wheat production from eight major states to reach 122.724 million tonnes by March 31, 2025. This uses advanced satellite-based remote sensing technologies.
  • CROP Definition: CROP stands for Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress.
  • CROP’s Purpose: Aims for near real-time monitoring of crop sowing, growth, and harvesting, especially during the Rabi season in India.
  • Technological Components: Integrates data from satellites like EOS-04 (RISAT-1A), EOS-06
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    (Oceansat-3), and Resourcesat-2A, using both Optical and SAR data.
  • Key States Covered: Focuses on Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
  • Framework: It is a semi-automated and scalable framework, developed by ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).
  • Wheat Sown Area: Satellite data estimates wheat sown area at 330.8 lakh hectares, close to the Ministry of Agriculture’s statistics.
  • Methodology: The assessment involves assimilating satellite-derived parameters like crop area, sowing date, and crop condition into a crop growth simulation model.
  • Enhanced Accuracy: Multi-source data integration enhances accuracy in production estimation at a finer spatial level.
  • Coordination: The CROP program is coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture in
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    collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and state agricultural departments
  • Published date: April 20, 2025

Tackling India’s Stubble Burning

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  • News: Stubble burning in Punjab, exacerbated by structural market distortions and policy incentives like MSP, contributes significantly to air pollution in North India.
  • IIM Amritsar Study (2025): MSP unintentionally reinforces unsustainable agricultural practices.
  • Policy-Induced Mono-Cropping: MSP for wheat and rice discourages diversification, leading to excess paddy stubble.
  • Market Distortions: Middlemen (arhtias) control prices, trapping farmers in debt and pushing them towards cost-effective but harmful stubble burning. Farmers only receive 40-67% of consumer prices.
  • Lack of Alternatives: Insufficient affordable, sustainable alternatives and inadequate government support force reliance on burning.
  • Climate Stress: Unpredictable weather patterns amplify the urgency to clear fields quickly.
  • Ineffective Bio-Decomposers: Logistical delays and inconsistent results hinder effective implementation.
  • Jagadale and Shaikh (2025) study Governmentality
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    and Marketing System Failure: The Case of Stubble Burning and Climate Change in Neoliberal India’, which relies on Michel Foucault’s concept of ‘governmentality’ to analyses the problem and says Union government’s MSP policy prioritises wheat and rice production, discouraging crop diversification.
  • Solutions:
    • Promote crop diversification with assured procurement.
    • Create markets for stubble-based products (fodder, pellets).
    • Enhance regulatory interventions: enforcement, permits, incentives.
    • Ensure fair pricing for farmers by improving market transparency.
    • Promote biofuels and bio-fertilizers from crop residues.
    • Strengthen Custom Hiring Centres for mechanization access.
    • Establish joint task forces for coordinated efforts.
    • Socio-cultural organizations to play a role in de-marketing non-essential aspirational consumption, the authors conclude.
  • Need for Stakeholder Involvement: Effective implementation needs stakeholders, including state and market actors, across the value chain.

Brazilian Vibe

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  • BRICS Agriculture Meeting: Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan led the Indian delegation to the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting in BrasĂ­lia, Brazil. The meeting focused on inclusive and sustainable agriculture through cooperation, innovation, and equitable trade.
  • India-Brazil Agricultural Cooperation: The visit aimed to strengthen agricultural trade, technology, and innovation between India and Brazil. Discussions included cooperation in biofuel, bioenergy, supply chain integration, and agricultural machinery.
  • Focus on Soybeans: Shri Chouhan emphasized promoting soybean production and export in India, expressing a desire to share knowledge on climate-friendly varieties and explore investment in soybean processing plants.
  • Global Food Security: Shri Chouhan stressed the importance of empowering small farmers for global food security and highlighted India’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable agriculture, echoing the “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” principle.
  • Technology and Innovation: India
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called for enhanced cooperation in agricultural technology transfer, research, food processing, and trade facilitation within the BRICS platform. Shri Chouhan intends to upgrade Indian farmers by enabling them the benefits of global technologies.
  • Bilateral Meetings: Shri Chouhan held meetings with Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Henrique Baquetta Favero, and Minister of Agricultural Development and Family Agriculture, Luiz Paulo Teixeira, to discuss cooperation in agriculture, agro-technology, rural development, and food security.
  • Learning from Brazil: Shri Chouhan expressed his desire to learn from Brazil’s agricultural model, mechanization, irrigation, and research to implement in Indian agriculture.
  • Environmental Initiative: Shri Chouhan participated in a tree plantation drive at the Indian Embassy in Brasilia, promoting environmental protection and respect for motherhood under the initiative ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’.

    • Chennai & Kesari

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    • Joint Exercises: INS Chennai and INS Kesari successfully conducted maneuvering exercises and Visit, Board, Search & Seizure (VBSS) drills during the sea phase of Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025.
    • INS Chennai:
      • Third and last of the Kolkata-class stealth-guided missile destroyers (Project 15A).
      • Built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.
      • Commissioned November 21, 2016.
      • Under Western Naval Command.
      • 164 meters long, over 7,500 tonnes, 30+ knots speed.
      • Equipped with BrahMos and Barak-8 missiles, Kavach and Mareech defense systems.
      • Carries up to two helicopters.
    • INS Kesari:
      • Shardul Class Landing Ship Tank (LST).
      • Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders
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        and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
      • Commissioned April 5, 2008.
      • Carries troops, tanks, armored vehicles, and military equipment.
      • Supports amphibious operations and HADR missions.

    Sapsan Missile

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    • Russian Acknowledgment: The Russian Ministry of Defence has acknowledged the threat posed by Ukraine’s newly developed Sapsan short-range ballistic missile.
    • Sapsan (Hrim-2/Grom-2): It’s a Ukrainian tactical ballistic missile system, designed to function as both a tactical missile system and a multiple rocket launcher.
    • Range: Export versions have a range of 50-280 km. The range for Ukrainian armed forces has been extended to 700 km, significantly exceeding previous estimates of 450-500 km.
    • TEL: The system uses a 10-wheeled Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) that can carry two missiles.
    • Evasion Capabilities: Sapsan’s aero-ballistic capabilities allow it to evade modern air defenses like the S-300 and S-400, similar to the Russian Iskander missile.
    • Versatility: It can launch both ballistic and cruise missiles,
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      making it suitable for various applications including air defense and coast guard roles.
    • Warhead: The single-stage ballistic missile carries a 480 kg warhead with unitary and cluster options.
    • Guidance System: The onboard control system is inertial and integrates radar-based and optoelectronic navigation.

    Why it matters:

    • Increased Threat: The extended range of the Sapsan significantly enhances Ukraine’s strike capabilities, posing a greater threat to Russian forces and potentially targets within Russia.
    • Advanced Capabilities: Its ability to evade air defenses and launch different types of missiles makes it a versatile and potent weapon system.
    • Strategic Implications: The development and deployment of the Sapsan could alter the strategic balance in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

    Desert Flag X

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    • IAF Participation in Exercise Desert Flag-10: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in Exercise Desert Flag-10, a multinational air combat exercise hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Al Dhafra Air Base from April 21 to May
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      8, 2025.
    • Aircraft Deployed: The IAF is fielding MiG-29 air superiority fighters and Jaguar ground attack aircraft known for their deep strike capabilities.
    • Multinational Participation: Air forces from Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States are also participating alongside the UAE and India.
    • Exercise Objective: The exercise aims to conduct complex fighter engagements, facilitate the exchange of operational knowledge, share best practices, and enhance air combat
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      tactics among participating air forces.
    • Enhancing Interoperability: Participation in Exercise Desert Flag-10 enhances mutual understanding, interoperability, and strengthens military cooperation between India and other participating nations.
    • Commitment to Defence Ties: The IAF’s participation underscores India’s commitment to strengthening defense ties and interoperability with friendly nations in the region and globally.
    • Premier Multinational Exercise: Exercise Desert Flag is a premier exercise designed to simulate complex aerial combat scenarios under realistic operational conditions.

    MCQ Practice Daily

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    • Daily Practice MCQs: The primary news centers around the availability of daily multiple-choice questions (MCQs). This signifies a commitment to consistent practice and self-assessment for

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      users.

    • Sequential Answers: The pattern “Q.1) – b, Q.2) – b, Q.3) – b” reveals the provision of correct answers. The inclusion of correct answers is crucial for effective learning and enables users to verify their understanding and identify areas for improvement.

    • Structured Learning: The focus on MCQs promotes a structured approach to learning. MCQ assessments are designed to evaluate understanding and knowledge recall.

    Earth Day ’25

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    • Date: Earth Day is observed annually on April 22nd. Why: A consistent date provides a focal point for global environmental action and awareness.

    • Theme: The official theme for Earth Day 2025 is “OUR POWER, OUR PLANET”. Why: This theme emphasizes individual and collective agency in addressing climate change.

    • Focus: The 2025 message stresses the urgent need to transition to renewable energy. Why: Renewable energy is crucial for reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change.

    • Call to Action: Individuals, businesses, and governments are urged to triple clean energy production by 2030. Why: A significant increase in clean energy is necessary to meet global climate goals and limit warming.

    • Historical Significance: The first Earth Day in 1970 mobilized

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      20 million Americans, demonstrating the power of collective action. Why: Highlights the potential for large-scale social movements to drive environmental change.

    • Global Impact: Earth Day went global in 1990, reaching over 200 million people across 141 countries. Why: Earth Day serves as a unifying force for environmental advocacy worldwide.

    • Collective Responsibility: Earth Day is a reminder of our shared duty to protect the environment. Why: Emphasizes that environmental protection is a responsibility shared by all.

    UNSC Overhaul

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    • India’s Stance: India opposes introducing religion or faith as a basis for representation in the UN Security Council, emphasizing regional representation as the accepted norm.
    • Comprehensive Reform: India advocates for reforms that include expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories to achieve meaningful reform. Partial reforms are deemed insufficient.
    • G4’s Position: India, along with Brazil, Germany, and Japan (G4), seeks permanent membership, reflecting contemporary global realities. The G4 model proposes increasing the UNSC to 25 or 26 members, including 11 permanent and 14 or 15 non-permanent members.
    • Current Composition: The UNSC currently has 15 members: 5 permanent members (P5 – China, France, Russia, UK, USA) with veto power, and 10 non-permanent members elected
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      for two-year terms.
    • Uniting for Consensus (UfC) Group: This group (including Argentina, Canada, and others) prefers increasing only non-permanent seats, proposing a 27-member council without expanding permanent membership.
    • Arab Group’s Demand: Bahrain, speaking for the Arab group, demands full privileges for an Arab permanent seat and proportionate representation in non-permanent seats.
    • France’s Support: France supports India’s permanent membership and advocates for permanent seats for African states and other nations like Brazil, Germany, and Japan. France recognizes the veto power for new permanent members.
    • Inefficiency Concerns: India rejects the argument that an expanded UNSC would be inefficient,
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      stating that a reformed council with improved working methods would be effective.
    • Text-Based Negotiations: The G4 supports text-based negotiations with defined timelines and milestones to achieve concrete reforms.