ISRO Launches Advanced GSAT-7R | Engage Taliban,Don’t Recognise Them | Vision of Model Youth Gram Sabhas | Depressing Pattern | Cruising Ahead | Looming Scarcity Of Urea | Cloud Seeding in Winter Misguided | Restraint Has A Half-Life | Criminal Apathy | Not On The Pulse
ISRO LAUNCHES ADVANCED GSAT-7R
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- ISRO successfully launched the Indian Navy’s communication satellite GSAT-7R (CMS-03) using the LVM3-M5 rocket from Sriharikota.
- Weighing ~4,400 kg, it is India’s heaviest indigenous communication satellite, placed into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
- Aimed at enhancing secure maritime communication, the launch marks a key step in Aatmanirbhar Bharat and space defence indigenisation.
Key Points
- Launch Vehicle: LVM3-M5 (India’s most powerful rocket).
- Orbit: GTO, to be circularised by onboard propulsion.
- Coverage: Indian Ocean Region – secure voice, data, and video links.
- Payload: Multi-band transponders enabling seamless communication between ships, aircraft, submarines, and command centres.
- Strategic Role: Enhances maritime domain awareness and operational coordination.
- Self-Reliance: Reduces dependence on foreign launchers and supports Gaganyaan preparations.
Static Linkages
- Geostationary Orbit: 35,786 km altitude; remains fixed relative to Earth – ideal for communication satellites.
- GSAT Series: Part of India’s INSAT-GSAT network for civil and defence communications.
- LVM3: Formerly GSLV Mk-III; used for Chandrayaan-2 and future Gaganyaan missions.
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Promotes self-reliance in critical technologies including space and defence.
- Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA): Central to India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.
Critical Analysis
- Strengths:
- Strengthens strategic communication and surveillance in IOR.
- Promotes technological autonomy and defence synergy.
- Enhances LVM3’s heavy-lift reliability and global competitiveness.
- Challenges:
- High cost of heavy satellites.
- Space debris and cyber vulnerabilities.
- Need for rapid R&D upgrades to match global tech pace.
Way Forward
- Operationalise Defence Space Agency (DSA) for unified control.
- Promote private sector via IN-SPACe and NSIL.
- Adopt quantum encryption for secure defence networks.
- Enhance space sustainability through debris management norms.
ENGAGE TALIBAN,DON’T RECOGNISE THEM
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India marks the highest-level contact since 2021.
- Pakistan’s airstrikes on Kabul amid the visit reveal deep rifts between Islamabad and the Taliban.
- India plans to upgrade its Kabul mission to a full embassy, signalling a cautious expansion of ties.
- The move renews debate on whether India should recognise the Taliban regime or sustain conditional engagement.
Key Points
- India invested $3 billion (2001–2021) in Afghan reconstruction and goodwill projects.
Core objectives:
- Safeguard investments and
- Prevent use of Afghan soil by anti-India
- Limit Pakistan’s strategic depth in
- Taliban rule remains highly repressive, barring women’s education and employment.
- UN reports indicate enduring Taliban–al-Qaeda links despite public denials.
- Russia and China have upgraded ties; India maintains pragmatic engagement.
Static Linkages
- Neighbourhood First Policy – promotes regional stability and outreach.
- Gujral Doctrine – goodwill-based diplomacy with neighbours.
- Recognition Policy – India recognises states, not regimes.
- Strategic Autonomy – independent, interest-based diplomacy.
Critical Analysis
- Pros:
- Protects India’s long-term stakes and influence.
- Counters Pakistan’s regional leverage.
- Enables humanitarian and developmental outreach.
- Positions India in evolving regional connectivity (e.g., Chabahar).
- Cons:
- Taliban’s ideology conflicts with India’s democratic values.
- Risk of re-emerging terror networks.
- Recognition may legitimise extremism.
- Fragile Afghan economy heightens instability.
- Stakeholders:
- India: Conditional engagement, no formal recognition.
- Taliban: Seeking legitimacy and aid. Pakistan: Concerned over India– Taliban proximity.
- Regional powers: Pragmatic ties for security and trade.
Way Forward
- Maintain conditional, non- recognition engagement.
- Use multilateral forums (SCO, UN) for coordinated counterterrorism and aid.
- Tie cooperation to Taliban’s human rights commitments.
- Expand humanitarian, education, and health assistance.
- Strengthen intelligence coordination on regional terror activity.
VISION OF MODEL YOUTH GRAM SABHAS
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Context of the News
- In 2025, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and the Aspirational Bharat Collaborative, launched the Model Youth Gram Sabha to promote participatory democracy at the grassroots.
- It introduces school students to Gram Sabha functioning — the foundation of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) under Article 243A.
- Phase 1 covers 1,000+ schools across 28 States and 8 UTs, including Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), and Zilla Parishad schools, following successful pilots in U.P. and Rajasthan.
Key Points
- Objective: Simulate Gram Sabha meetings where students act as Sarpanch, ward members, and officials discussing budgets and plans.
- Teacher Training: 126 master trainers, 1,238 teachers trained in 24 States/UTs.
- Goal: Convert civics theory into experiential learning and promote youth leadership.
- Incentives: Certificates and prizes for participants.
- Phase 2: Expansion to all State-run schools and colleges.
Static Linkages
- 73rd Amendment (1992): Gave constitutional status to PRIs and introduced the 11th Schedule.
- Article 40 (DPSP): Directs the State to organize village panchayats.
- Balwantrai Mehta Committee (1957): Recommended Gram Sabha as the base of local democracy.
- Second ARC (2007): Stressed civic engagement and participatory governance.
- NEP 2020: Advocates experiential learning and constitutional values in education.
Critical Analysis
- Strengths
- Promotes democratic literacy and civic pride.
- Builds leadership, accountability, and communication skills.
- Encourages local participation among youth and women.
- Reflects strong inter-ministerial coordination.
- Challenges
- Uneven teacher training and curriculum integration.
- Monitoring gaps in impact assessment.
- Social barriers may restrict inclusivity.
Way Forward
- Integrate in NCERT/State curricula.
- Develop digital Gram Sabha simulators on DIKSHA.
- Expand teacher training via NIRDPR/IGNOU.
- Ensure inclusive participation of girls and marginalized youth.
- Create measurable outcome indicators under NITI Aayog’s framework.s
DEPRESSING PATTERN
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Context of the News
- A crowd collapse in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, at an unregistered private temple, exposed serious safety lapses — no separate entry/exit, overcrowding, and weak supervision.
- Similar to Hathras (2024) and Sabarimala (2011) incidents, the tragedy reflects systemic crowd management failures.
- Despite existing frameworks — NDMA Guidelines (2014) and National Building Code (NBC) — implementation remains poor.
Key Points
- Nearly 80% of Indian stampedes occur at religious gatherings (NDMA).
- Recurring causes: shared gates, overcrowding, untested structures, and lack of real-time monitoring.
- Existing provisions:
- NDMA’s Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering (2014).
- NBC standards for occupancy and evacuation routes.
- Best practices:
- Tirumala Command Centre uses AI-based crowd control.
- Licensed, coded crowd plans at Sabarimala.
- Core issue: No mandatory licensing or compliance audits for most religious or private events.
Static Linkages
- Disaster Management Act, 2005 – NDMA’s legal mandate.
- 11th Schedule – Panchayat functions like public health, local safety.
- NBC – BIS standards for crowd capacity and egress.
- Article 21 – Right to life implies public safety.
- Ethical dimension: Accountability and preventive governance.
Critical Analysis
- Positives:
- India has detailed NDMA/NBC guidance.
- Pilgrimage zones like Tirupati use tech-enabled crowd management.
- Gaps:
- Weak enforcement; no unified licensing law.
- Low local capacity for risk audits.
- Public acceptance of unsafe practices.
- Minimal accountability after tragedies. Moral/Constitutional Angle:
- Right to safe public spaces (Art. 21) and Duty to act responsibly (Art. 51A).
Way Forward
- Mandatory crowd-safety licensing for all large gatherings.
- Trained safety officers and certified infrastructure audits.
- Integration of AI/IoT for real-time monitoring.
- District-level enforcement via DDMAs.
- Accountability and periodic drills at major venues.
- Public awareness on safe crowd behaviour.
CRUISING AHEAD
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Context of the News
- India Maritime Week 2025, inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, marked a strategic shift in viewing shipping as a national asset, not just commerce.
- Investments worth lakhs of crores announced, largely in ports, connectivity, and seafarer training.
- The COVID-19 crisis exposed India’s dependence on foreign-owned ships, limiting trade control.
- The government now seeks self-reliance in shipping, revival of the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), and incentives for foreign firms to register ships in India.
Key Points
- Strategic Focus: Shipping recognised as vital for trade security and national resilience.
- SCI Revival: Expansion of fleet and renewed priority in transporting Indian cargo.
- Port Modernisation: Investments under Sagarmala and Maritime India Vision 2047, including Andaman transshipment hub.
- Landlord Model: Ports retain ownership; private operators run terminals on revenue share.
- Seafarer Training: Renewed focus on skill- building and maritime education.
- Shipbuilding Gap: India lags in LNG and green- fuel vessel production, limiting industrial depth.
Static Linkages
- Blue Economy and sustainable maritime growth.
- Strategic Autonomy in critical infrastructure.
- Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 enabling port autonomy.
- Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat for shipbuilding revival.
- 95% of India’s trade by volume moves through sea routes.
Critical Analysis
- Pros:
- Boosts strategic control and economic resilience.
- Strengthens port efficiency and private investment.
- Builds domestic maritime skills and allied industries.
- Challenges:
- Weak shipbuilding ecosystem.
- Policy inconsistency and limited R&D.
- Global competition and regulatory hurdles.
Way Forward
- Launch a National Shipping Policy 2047.
- Incentivise Indian-flag registration and coastal shipping.
- Develop maritime clusters and green fleet initiatives.
- Deepen PPP models in ports and shipbuilding.
LOOMING SCARCITY OF UREA
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Context of the News
- India’s urea consumption is projected to touch 40 million tonnes (mt) in 2025–26 due to higher Rabi acreage and unchanged Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for over a decade.
- Sales reached 38.8 mt in 2024–25 (Apr–Mar), up 2.1% year-on-year in the first half of the fiscal.
- MRP for urea has remained fixed at ₹5,360/tonne since 2012 (₹5,628 with neem coating from 2015), despite rising costs of other fertilisers.
- This price distortion and sustained subsidies are leading to overuse, rising fiscal burden, and nutrient imbalance in Indian soils.
Key Points
- Trend: Doubled from 14 mt (1990–91) to 30 mt (2013–14); crossed 35 mt (2020–21).
- Policy Efforts: Neem-coating (2015), 45-kg bag (2018), Nano Urea (2021) — limited impact on demand.
- Production: Peaked at 31.4 mt (2023–24); six new plants (2019–22) added ~7.8 mt capacity.
- Subsidy Distortion: Urea MRP ₹5,628/tonne vs ₹12,000–38,000 for others → price-driven overuse.
- Stock Shortage: Opening stock 3.7 mt (Oct 2025) vs 6.3 mt last year; long farmer queues.
Static Linkages
- Soil Science: Nitrogen vital for chlorophyll and vegetative growth.
- N:P:K Ratio: Ideal 4:2:1 balance disturbed by excessive urea use.
- Policy: Urea excluded from Nutrient- Based Subsidy (NBS); price controlled by Centre.
- Economy: Fertiliser subsidy ≈ 0.7–1% of GDP (Economic Survey).
- Energy Link: Urea tied to LNG-based feedstock and India’s gas import network.
Critical Analysis
- Pros:
- Supports food security and affordability.
- Boosts yields in nitrogen-hungry crops.
- Enhances industrial linkages with LNG and chemical sectors.
- Cons:
- High fiscal burden (₹2.5 lakh crore subsidy).
- Soil degradation and N₂O emissions. Skewed cropping patterns (rice– wheat bias).
- Import reliance ~25%; uneven production.
- Slow Nano Urea adoption due to limited awareness.
Way Forward
- Rationalise MRP, gradually link to cost.
- Bring urea under NBS for balanced nutrient use.
- DBT-based rationing (limit subsidised bags/farmer).
- Promote Nano Urea, bio-fertilisers, organic inputs.
- Expand Soil Health Card awareness.
- Encourage green ammonia from renewables.
- Import gas, not urea, for inland manufacturing.
CLOUD SEEDING IN WINTERS MISGUIDED- The Delhi government recently conducted cloud seeding experiments to induce artificial rain as a temporary measure to reduce air pollution levels in the National Capital Region (NCR).
- The initiative was undertaken in collaboration with leading institutions such as IIT-Kanpur, IMD, and ISRO, following permissions from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
- The move revives an old debate on the scientific, environmental, and policy viability of cloud seeding as an air quality intervention.
Key Points
- Objective: To artificially induce rainfall to wash out particulate pollutants (PM2.5 and PM10) from the atmosphere.
- Technique: Introduction of silver iodide (AgI) or sodium chloride (NaCl) into moisture-laden clouds to enhance precipitation.
- Effectiveness: Cloud seeding works only with hygroscopic (warm-rain) clouds, which form under specific humidity and temperature conditions.
- Limitation: These clouds rarely form between November and January—the period of severe air pollution in North India.
- Outcome: Despite localized drizzle, PM2.5 levels remained well above national standards (as per SAFAR data).
- Major Pollutant Sources: Vehicular emissions (~40%), industrial combustion, construction dust, biomass burning.
- AQI Status (2024-25): Delhi’s average AQI remained in the ‘Very Poor’ category, with episodic improvement post-rainfall.
Static Linkages
- Artificial rain = Example of Weather Modification Technology under geoengineering.
- Cloud seeding first tested in India (1983, Tamil Nadu; later in Maharashtra, Karnataka).
- Silver iodide listed under Schedule I of the Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016.
- PM2.5 standard (NAAQS): 40 µg/m³ (annual), 60 µg/m³ (24-hour).
- Air Act, 1981 empowers CPCB and SPCBs to regulate emissions and enforce standards.
- National Clean Air Programme (NCAP, 2019): Targets 40% reduction in particulate matter by 2026.
Critical Analysis
- Pros:
- Enhances understanding of atmospheric chemistry and cloud microphysics.
- Could support drought mitigation efforts under controlled conditions.
- Fosters scientific experimentation in environmental engineering.
- Cons:
- Low success rate during winter months when pollution peaks.
- Potential environmental hazards from chemical dispersal (AgI toxicity).
- Provides only short-term relief, failing to address root causes of pollution.
- High operational cost with uncertain meteorological returns.
- May divert attention and funding from sustainable long-term mitigation.
- Stakeholder Perspectives:
- Government: Experimentation as a crisis- management tool.
- Scientists: Concerned over efficacy and reproducibility.
- Public: Demand for visible relief, even if temporary.
- Environmentalists: Advocate systemic emission control, not quick fixes.
Way Forward
- Adopt an “Airshed Management Approach” for Delhi-NCR (as recommended by NIAS–NARFI framework).
- Strengthen NCAP implementation with inter- state coordination.
- Invest in continuous emission reduction: electric mobility, clean fuels, urban planning.
- Improve vehicular congestion management and enforce BS-VI standards.
- Promote citizen awareness to curb emissions from biomass and waste burning.
- Institutionalize scientific audits for all techno- environmental interventions.
RESTRAINT HAS A HALF-LIFE
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement on possible resumption of U.S. nuclear testing has reignited global debate on nuclear restraint.
- For nearly three decades, a global voluntary moratorium has held since 1992 — politically driven rather than legally binding.
- Major powers — Russia, China, and the U.S. — are reconsidering the sufficiency of non- testing verification, hinting at a shift in the post–Cold War nuclear consensus.
- India, which declared a voluntary moratorium after its 1998 Pokhran-II tests, faces new strategic challenges amid evolving global nuclear postures.
Key Points
- India became a declared nuclear power after Pokhran-II (1998), adopting credible minimum deterrence (CMD) and No First Use (NFU).
- India is not a signatory to CTBT; the treaty hasn’t entered into force.
- Global trends:
- China expanding warheads and missile silos.
- Russia exiting arms-control pacts.
- U.S. questioning simulation-based verification
- India’s deterrence relies on 1998 designs, despite new systems like Agni-V and K-series SLBMs.
- India’s restraint brought NSG waiver (2008) and civil nuclear cooperation with the U.S., France, and Russia.
Static Linkages
- Nuclear Doctrine: CMD, NFU, civilian control of arsenal.
- Institutions: NSC, SFC, BARC, DRDO. International Law: CTBT (1996), NPT (1970); India’s non-signatory but responsible stance.
- Constitutional Basis: Article 51(c) – peace and disarmament.
- Historical Path: From Atoms for Peace (1954) to Pokhran-II (1998) to Indo–US Nuclear Deal (2008).
Critical Analysis
- Advantages of Moratorium
- Reinforces India’s image as a responsible nuclear state.
- Enables civil nuclear cooperation and global legitimacy.
- Concerns
- Aging test data from 1998; limited empirical validation.
- China–Pakistan modernization shifting deterrence balance.
- Weakening arms-control regime globally.
- Stakeholders
- Strategists: Demand readiness with restraint.
- Diplomats: Stress on moral capital.
- Scientists: Seek technical assurance.
Way Forward
- Periodic doctrine review via NSC.
- Invest in simulation, subcritical testing, AI verification.
- Maintain NFU and CMD, keeping testing option technically viable.
- Strengthen global disarmament engagement and strategic communication.
CRIMINAL APATHY
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Context of the News
- Nine people, mostly women and children, died in a stampede at Kasibugga, Andhra Pradesh, during Ekadashi celebrations.
- Railings collapsed, single entry–exit, and poor planning triggered chaos as the crowd swelled to 25,000 — double normal capacity.
- Adds to a string of crowd disasters in Tirupati, Delhi Station, Karur, and Bengaluru Stadium in 2025.
- State officials were uninformed, revealing administrative gaps despite existing NDMA guidelines.
Key Points
- Cause: Structural weakness, lack of coordination, poor crowd control, and negligence.
- Pattern: Repeated mass-gathering failures in religious, political, and entertainment events.
- Guidelines Ignored: NDMA’s 2014 framework for mass gatherings remains unenforced.
- Victims: Mostly from marginalized communities; highlight governance inequity.
Static Linkages
- Article 21 – Right to life implies safe public spaces.
- Seventh Schedule: Public order & police → State List.
- DM Act, 2005 – Legal basis for NDMA & disaster prevention.
- NDMA Guidelines (2014): Recommend risk mapping, entry–exit segregation, real-time monitoring.
- Public Trust Doctrine – State as guardian of citizen safety.
- ARC Report (2009): Urged proactive crisis management and accountability.
Critical Analysis
- Strengths:
- Legal framework exists (DM Act, NDMA guidelines).
- Periodic inquiries highlight lapses.
- Concerns:
- Implementation deficit and weak inter-agency coordination.
- No trained personnel or simulation drills.
- Poor infrastructure and capacity violations.
- Lack of accountability; tragedies recur without reform.
- Ethical lapse: Negligence violates Article 21 and moral duty of care.
Way Forward
- Crowd Science Training Institute under NDMA.
- Mandatory safety audits before large events.
- AI-based crowd monitoring & geofencing.
- Legal penalties for violating safety norms.
- Unified Command System led by DM/SP.
- Infrastructure redesign: Segregated entry–exit routes.
- Public awareness on safety protocols.
NOT ON THE PULSE
- The Government imposed a 30% import duty on yellow peas (Dec 2023) after a year of zero- duty imports.
- Comes amid harvesting of kharif pulses (moong, urad, arhar) and rabi sowing (chana, masoor).
- Pulses are selling below MSP, discouraging sowing.
- India imported 7.3 million tonnes (USD 5.5 billion) of pulses in 2024–25 after El Niño– induced crop loss.
- With inflation now negative for 8 months, the policy pivot aims to support farmers.
Key Points
- Tariff Shift:
- Mar–Apr 2025: 10% on masoor, desi chana.
- Dec 2023: 30% on yellow peas.
- Support Plan: ₹15,096 crore approved for MSP procurement of pulses and soyabean.
- Skewed Procurement: Rice and wheat stocks exceed 2–3× buffer norms, while pulse MSPs remain weakly implemented.
- Sowing Concern: Better soil moisture and wheat profitability may reduce pulse acreage.
Static Linkages
- Pulses are part of the Kharif and Rabi cropping system, contributing to nitrogen fixation and soil fertility.
- MSP determination is based on the CACP’s cost-plus 50% formula (A2+FL+50%).
- Foodgrain Procurement Policy operates under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 and buffer stock norms managed by FCI.
- Import duties are governed by the Customs Act, 1962 and Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) under the DGFT.
- Direct Income Support Schemes (e.g., PM- KISAN) are examples of non-price-based support mechanisms.
Critical Analysis
- Advantages
- Safeguards farmers from cheap imports.
- Encourages domestic cultivation and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Stabilizes farm incomes after price crashes.
- Concerns
- May raise retail prices if supply dips.
- Lacks long-term MSP enforcement.
- Risks trade tensions with exporters.
- Persistent bias towards rice–wheat depletes water and distorts cropping.
Way Forward
- Frame a rules-based import policy linked to price bands.
- Reform MSP fixation to reflect market demand. Strengthen pulse procurement via NAFED.
- Promote crop diversification and direct income support (per-acre DBT).
- Develop value chains and FPO-based marketing.
