April 1, 2025

Current Affairs

Tiger Triumph: India-US Tri-Service Exercise

Context: The Fourth edition of the bilateral Tri-Service Exercise codenamed “Tiger Triumph” is scheduled to take place on the Eastern Seaboard (Visakhapatnam) from 1 to 13 April, 2025.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Tiger Triumph: India-US Tri-Service Exercise.

Tiger Triumph

It is an India-US Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise.
Aim:
- To develop interoperability for conducting HADR operations.
- To formulate SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to establish a Combined Coordination Center for rapid and smooth coordination between Indian and US Joint Task Forces (JTF) during exercises, crises, and contingencies.
Indian Armed forces, as well as the US Navy and Marine troops, will participate in various phases including joint command exercises and medical aid camps.

Key details of the Tri-Service Exercise

Indian side would be represented by:
- Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa, Gharial, Mumbai and Shakti; Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I.
- Army Troops from 91 Infantry Brigade and 12 Mechanical Infantry Battalion.
- Air Force C-130 Aircraft and MI-17 Helicopters, along with the Rapid Action Medical Team (RAMT).
The US side would be represented by US Navy Ships Comstock and Ralph Johnson, with troops of the US Marine Division embarked.

Why is Naini Lake seeing Record-Low Water Levels?

Context: The Naini Lake, one of Nainital’s key attractions, has recorded a water level of 4.7 feet in 2025 — marking a five-year low.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Location of the Lake; Factors responsible for deterioration of health of a wetland.

Naini Lake

The Naini Lake is a natural kidney-shaped lake in the heart of Nainital, surrounded by seven hills.
Location: Nainital, Uttarakhand

Naini Lake Crisis

With the record depletion of water level, there are concerns that the lake could go below the zero level.
- This does not mean that the lake will dry up, but that its water level will go below the normal gauge level, which is set for each lake based on historical data.
- With its deepest point at 89 feet, the Naini Lake has a gauge level of 12 feet.
There are concerns over drinking water scarcity ahead of the summer season. 10 million litres is extracted everyday from the lake to supply drinking water to the city. Over 75% of the Nainital city’s water demand (in 2024) was met alone by the Naini Lake.

Reasons for deteriorating health of the Lake:

Decrease in snowfall and rainfall in the winter months, compounded by long-term issues surrounding the lake’s upkeep. Annual mean temperatures in Uttarakhand have increased by nearly 1.5 degrees Celsius between 1970 and 2022. The warming is affecting rainfall and snowfall.

Man-made manipulations have led to the degradation of recharge zones.
- Encroachments and illegal construction coming up near the lake have reduced the catchment area.
- Also, construction of concrete structures causes low rainwater infiltration, worsened by the low rainfall in some years.
- Enhancing siltation and dumping debris in Sukhatal Lake (major aquifer recharge area for Naini lake) is causing the lake to shrink from its two-hectare area.
- Pollution from discharge of untreated wastewater, solid waste, and inadequate sewer systems, which ultimately discharge into the Lake.
Pressure from increasing population, the increase in tourist activity, and commercialisation of nearby areas have impacted the health of the lake.

Several petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court and the state High Court to stop concretisation of the lake bed, revamp Sukhatal Lake, and ban commercial complexes in Nainital. However, there has been no concrete step to restore the health of the lake and its aquifers.

Laser allows long-range detection of Radioactive Materials

Context: Physicists from the US have successfully demonstrated a new way to detect radioactive materials from a distance using carbon-dioxide lasers.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Basics of the technology and potential applications.

Avalanche-Based Laser for Radiation Detection

The researchers used a carbon-dioxide laser to detect the alpha particles from a radioactive source (Caesium-137) located 10 m away.
Mechanism:
- Radioactive decay: When radioactive material undergoes radioactive decay it releases charged particles (alpha, beta & gamma radiation). These charged particles ionise the air around it, i.e. separate its positive and negative charges, and create a state of matter called plasma.
- Avalanche breakdown: The negative charges (or electrons) can be accelerated to collide with other atoms of air, and release even more electrons. This is avalanche breakdown.
- Laser-based detection: The researchers used a carbon-dioxide laser emitting long wave infrared radiation to accelerate the electrons, and making them emit light (optical backscatter). The sensors placed near the laser were able to detect the alpha particles from the radioactive source.

Advantages of the Laser-based detection Technique

Detecting low concentration radioactive source: The ability of lasers to induce (initiate) electron avalanches can be utilised to detect even very low concentration of ionisation. The lasers can be scaled to detect gamma rays that travel much farther in air than alpha particles, and have low density of ionisation.
Scalability: The researchers are scaling up the current detection capabilities to detect radiation from distances over 100 metres.

Potential Applications

National security: Detection of illicit possession or smuggling of radioactive substances, especially at airports or borders.
Nuclear safety: Detection of radiation leakage from Nuclear reactors and installations.
Environmental monitoring: Tracking radioactive contamination in air, water, soil, mines, space etc.
Exploration of naturally occurring radioactive materials.

Mechanisation of Agriculture

Context: The rising agricultural labour shortages in India is driving demand for farm machinery from harvesters to rotavators. India’s farms are being mechanised, dominated by use of tractors. However, still the demand for farm machinery is far behind that in the global market.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Mechanisation of Agriculture: Benefits, Schemes; Challenges.

India’s Agriculture Sector

Agriculture sector in India contributes to 16% of GVA and accounts for almost 45.8% of India's workforce. There is a high level of disguised unemployment and inefficient utilisation of the Indian workforce. This needs to be countered through skilling of rural youths and promotion of agricultural mechanisation.
India’s agricultural sector has achieved limited farm mechanisation, particularly dominated by the use of tractors. The market for other farm machinery, like tractor-mounted implements (tillage tools, chemical sprayers, balers, loaders, laser land levellers), self-propelled harvester combines, rice transplanters, is expanding though at a pace much slower than global markets.

Benefits:

Efficient use of inputs: Mechanization improves the precision in which the agricultural inputs like seeds, pesticides and fertilizers are used in the field. This not only reduces the input cost for the farmer but will also minimize the impact over environment.
Reduces labour cost: Increased mechanization may reduce the labour costs involved in farming. E.g., Harvesting an acre of wheat utilising 5-7 labourers costs around Rs 5,000 per acre. Using a harvester (combine) to harvest, thresh, clean and deliver an acre of grain to the farmer’s tractor trolley costs Rs 2,000-3,000 per acre.
Improved land productivity: Helps in conversion of uncultivable land to agricultural land through advanced tilling techniques and in shifting land used for feed and fodder cultivation by draught animals towards food production.
Social benefits:
- With increasing feminisation of agricultural labour, mechanisation also helps in reducing the burden on women.
- Helps in encouraging the youth to join farming and attract more people to work and live in rural areas.

As per Dalwai Committee, adoption of agricultural mechanisation can help reduce input costs by 25%, enhance productivity by 20% and increase farmers’ income by 25-30%.

Challenges:

Small landholding size: Mechanising small and non-contiguous groups of farms is against ‘economies of scale’ especially in operations like land preparation and harvesting. As per the latest agricultural census, the average land holding size in India is 1.08 hectares.
High-procurement costs prevent most of the small/marginal farmers from acquiring capital-intensive farm machinery.
Cumbersome Credit Procedure to avail agriculture term-loan, creates hindrance to smooth disbursement of loans for mechanisation. The procedure to avail agriculture term loan is more cumbersome than production credit. Availability of suitable officer with required technical appraisal skill is also key issue for the banks, which is also creating hindrance for smooth disbursement of term loan for various activities helping farm mechanization.
Lack of adequate awareness amongst farmers about technology and Lack of Confidence about increasing productivity due to mechanisation and market-volatility disincentives investment in farm-mechanisation.
Dependent population: Over dependence of family labour on agriculture due to lack of alternate employment opportunities in rural areas disincentivises many farmers to invest in mechanisation.

Government Initiatives:

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (2014): Assistance to Farmers for procurement of agricultural machineries; Demonstration of Newly Developed Agricultural/ Horticultural Equipment.
Promotion of Agricultural Mechanisation for in-situ Management of Crop residue: Implemented in Punjab, Haryana, UP, Delhi; Setting of Custom hiring centres; Financial Assistance to farmers for buying agricultural machinery.
FARMS (Farms Machinery Solutions) Mobile App: Facilitates farmers to hire agricultural machinery and tools.

Way forward:

Ease of financing: Like KCC, procedures to avail term loan may be simplified with minimum documentation. Capacity building of bank staff dealing with agriculture term loan products may be ensured.
Shared utility or Uberization: Development of Aggregating apps to aggregate agri-mechanised inputs on rental basis. This enables the small and marginal farmers to mechanise their farms.
Service facilities: It is important to ensure availability of repair and service facilities in close proximity, so that operation & maintenance issues are addressed.

India’s Coal Reliance has Risen to 79%: MOSPI

Context: India’s coal reliance has risen to 79% in FY2024, as per the MOSPI’s latest Energy Statistics in India. Renewable energy sources have not seen any meaningful rise in the share of the total energy produced in the past decade, despite the push for renewable energy.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Key highlights of the MoSPI’s Energy Statistics in India 2025.

Mains: Reasons behind high reliance on coal.

Key Stats in the Energy Sector

The share of coal in India’s total energy generation increased to 79% to 16,906 petajoules (PJ) in 2023-24, about two percentage points more than previous year (MoSPI’s Energy Statistics in India 2025).
Coal has consistently accounted for over 70% of India's energy output since 2014-15. Despite increased domestic production, coal import dependence remains high (26%), peaking at 31% in 2019-20.
Crude oil’s share has been at 6% in 2023-24. This share has reduced from 2014-15 when it was 11% in 2014-15.
Natural gas was 7% of the total energy produced in 2023-24, down from 9% in 2014-15.
Renewable energy sources (hydro, solar, nuclear) have not significantly increased their share, standing at 7% in 2023-24 compared to 6% in 2014-15. Their share in total energy production has always been under 10% in the past decade.
Estimated potential for generation of energy from renewable resources has reached 2109 GW as of March 2024. The highest potential for generation of energy comes from wind at 1163 GW (55%), followed by solar energy 749 MW (35.5%) and large Hydro.
- India’s total renewable energy-based electricity generation capacity: 203 GW (2024).
- India’s ambitious renewable energy target: 500 GW from non-fossil sources by 2030.

Major Initiatives related to Renewable Energy Transition:

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM): Focuses on solarisation of irrigation pumps.
PLI Scheme for Solar PV Modules: Promotes domestic manufacturing of solar panels.
Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana: Aims to provide rooftop solar to households.
Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power: Encourages large-scale solar power projects.
Green Energy Corridor Scheme: Facilitates transmission infrastructure for renewable energy.
National Green Hydrogen Mission: Focuses on developing green hydrogen technology.
National Bioenergy Programme: Promotes the use of biofuels.
Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA): Aims to provide electricity to all households.
Green Energy Corridor (GEC): Facilitates the transmission of renewable energy.
National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) and Smart Meter National Programme: Modernises the electricity grid.
Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME): Promotes the adoption of electric vehicles.

Reasons for High Reliance on Coal despite Renewable Energy Transition Efforts:

Stable and Reliable Energy Source: Coal-based power plants provide consistent base load electricity, essential for meeting India’s growing energy demands. Unlike intermittent renewable sources (like solar and wind), coal ensures uninterrupted power supply.
Economic Viability: Coal is one of the cheapest energy sources in India due to vast domestic reserves. Setting up coal-based power plants has lower upfront costs compared to renewable infrastructure. RE technology requires large capital investment, and large contiguous land, which are in short supply.
Employment and Socio-economic Factors: Coal mining and associated industries provide jobs to millions, especially in coal-rich states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Phasing out coal would impact livelihoods and local economies, making the transition politically sensitive.
Infrastructure Constraints to scale RE Energy: India has a well-established network of coal-based thermal power plants, which would require significant investment to replace. There is inadequate infrastructure for transmission of RE generated in remote locations to load centres.

What are the Rules on Judicial Transfers?

Context: The transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court from the Delhi High Court has raised concerns and stirred debates about the role of judiciary in transfers.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Transfer Process of HC Judges.

Constitutional Provisions for Judicial Transfers

Article 222(1) of the Constitution empowers the President, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI), to transfer a judge from one High Court to another.
The transfer of High Court judges in India has evolved through a series of landmark Supreme Court judgments known as the "Judges Cases".

1. First Judges Case (S.P. Gupta versus President of India, 1981):

The Supreme Court held that consultation with the CJI did not necessitate concurrence, it only means exchange of views.
The opinion of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) was not binding on the President regarding judicial appointments and transfers.
It affirmed the executive’s primacy in judicial appointments and transfers.

2. Second Judges Case (Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India 1993):

The Court overruled the First Judges Case and institutionalised the concept of "Collegium System".
The SC held that consultation means concurrence, and in the event of a disagreement between the President and the CJI, the latter’s opinion would prevail.
The CJI must consult the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court, relevant Supreme Court judges, and at least one senior High Court judge or any other significant individual (including senior members of the Bar) where appropriate.
The court emphasised that judicial transfers must serve public interest and improve the administration of justice.

3. Third Judges Case (1998):

It further refined the collegium system, mandating that transfer recommendations be made by the CJI in consultation with the four senior most judges.
It requires inputs from Supreme Court judges who had previously served in the High Court from which the judge was being transferred.
Following the collegium’s recommendation, the Law Minister reviews it and advises the Prime Minister, who then forwards the recommendation to the President. Once approved, the transfer is formalised through a gazette notification, and the judge assumes office in the new High Court.

Criticism of the High Court Judges' Transfer Process:

A recent report by the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) raises serious concerns about judicial independence in India, citing growing executive interference, opacity in appointments, and weak accountability mechanisms

Transfers are frequently justified on vague grounds such as "public interest" or "better administration of justice," making it difficult to distinguish legitimate transfers from punitive actions. This lack of clarity raises suspicions of executive interference.
To mitigate these concerns, the ICJ recommended that Parliament establish a “Judicial Council” to oversee appointments and transfers based on transparent, objective, and predetermined criteria.

National Judicial Appointments Commission Act:

National Judicial Appointments Commission Act was an attempt by the union government to address concerns over the collegium system’s opacity.
It recommended establishing an independent body to replace the collegium system for appointing judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts.
The NJAC was to be chaired by the CJI and include the two senior-most Supreme Court judges, the Union Law Minister, and two eminent civil society members.
However, it was struck down by the Supreme court as unconstitutional. The inclusion of the Law Minister and two eminent persons was seen as giving the executive a say in judicial appointments, which compromised the independence of the judiciary.

Reforming India’s Textiles Industry

Context: India has set an ambitious target to elevate its textile and apparel (T&A) exports from $34.8 billion in 2023-24 to an eye-popping $100 billion by 2030. This requires game-changing reforms in the textile sector.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Challenges in India’s Textile Sector and way forward

Key Stats in the Textile Sector

India has set an ambitious target to increase its textile and apparel (T&A) exports from $34.8 billion in 2023-24 to $100 billion by 2030.
India’s Textile and Apparel exports have grown steadily from $11.5 billion in FY2001 to $34.8 billion in FY24, accounting for only a 4% share in global exports of $774.4 billion.
- India's apparel export growth has remained stagnant at around 3% of global apparel exports from FY2001 to FY24, despite an increase in export value from $5.5 billion to $14.5 billion.
- In contrast, competitors like Bangladesh and Vietnam have significantly increased their global share during the same period.
At this pace, achieving the $100 billion target by 2030 seems a tall order, unless dramatic, game-changing reforms are introduced.

Challenges in the Textile Sector

Stagnation in Cotton Production:
- India’s cotton production surged after introducing Bt cotton hybrids (2002), but has declined since 2014. Production is projected to fall to 30 million bales (2024-25), the lowest in 15 years.
- India may become a net importer of cotton, with imports (2.6 million bales) surpassing exports (1.5 million bales).
- Next-gen Ht Bt seeds not approved despite the clearance from Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).
Outdated Fibre Mix: India’s cotton-to-Man Made Fibre ratio (60:40) contrasts with the global average (30:70), indicating an outdated fibre mix, and the global shift towards man-made fibres.
Raw Material Cost: MMF (Man-Made Fibres) such as polyester and viscose are 20% costlier in India compared to competitors (Bangladesh, China, Vietnam). Non-tariff barriers like quality control orders hinder MMF-based apparel growth.
Decentralised Production: 80% of India's garment factories are in the decentralised sector, leading to inefficiency and low export potential.
Lack of Modernisation: Slow adoption of modern technology and weak value chain integration.
Trade Barriers: High tariff rates on apparel exports to key markets: EU (9.7%) and US (11.47%). In contrast, the EU offers zero-duty access to Bangladesh under the “GSP Everything but Arms” arrangement and imposes a 1.66% tariff on Vietnam’s apparel exports under the “EU-Vietnam FTA” this creates a competitive disadvantage for Indian exports.

Reforms needed in India’s Textile Sector

India’s garment sector needs to transition into a fashion-driven industry. To support this transformation, it is crucial to incentivise and invest in MMF-based apparel while removing non-tariff barriers, such as the quality control orders on MMF.
The PM-MITRA scheme must be fast-tracked to create integrated textile hubs, which will enhance scalability and efficiency in fabric and garment manufacturing.
India needs to negotiate Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the EU and the US — key markets that account for nearly 66% of India’s apparel exports.
India should explore emerging markets like Japan, Russia, Brazil, and South Korea, which offer significant opportunities for products like women’s western wear, intimate wear, swimwear, and outerwear.
Improving cotton productivity and fibre quality. Expanding irrigation, promoting high-density planting techniques, and investing in precision farming can help India bridge the productivity gap (435 kg/hectare) with global leaders like China (1,945 kg/hectare) and Brazil.
Streamlining the approval process for GM crops and establishing a single-window clearance system to speed up the adoption of high-yield, pest-resistant, next-generation cotton varieties.

To achieve the ambitious target of $100 billion in textile and apparel exports by 2030, India must address the challenges hampering the sector. This requires modernising production, adopting MMF-based apparel, enhancing value chain integration, removing trade barriers through strategic FTAs and capitalising on emerging markets.