April 17, 2025

Current Affairs

Registration of Birth and Death in India

Context: Recently, the Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued a circular directing all public and private hospitals to report births and deaths within 21 days. This was in response to the persistent issue of under-reporting of births and deaths.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.

Registration of Birth and Deaths in India

Registration of births and deaths in India is regulated by the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. The Act is administered by the Registrar General of India.
Civil Registration System (CRS) is the administrative mechanism through which the RBD Act is implemented.

Key Provisions of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969:

All births and deaths must be registered within 21 days of occurrence.
The process of registration involves a hierarchy of Registrars:
- Local Registrars appointed by state governments at the village, municipal, or ward level are responsible for actual registration of births and deaths and issuing certificates.
- Chief Registrars appointed at the state/UT level supervise registration activities across the state and coordinate with local registrars and ensure compliance.
- Registrar General of India (RGI) is responsible for national coordination, publishing vital statistics, and maintaining the central Civil Registration System (CRS) portal.
Under the CRS, controlled by the RGI, government hospitals have been entrusted with the responsibility of functioning as registrar.

Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2023:

Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969 was amended in 2023 to modernise, digitise, and centralise the system of civil registration in India.

The amended Act mandated the digital registration of all births and deaths through the central Civil Registration System (CRS) portal. Data from CRS is used to update the National Population Register (NPR), Ration cards, Electoral rolls, and Property registration records.
It empowered the RGI to maintain a national database, and made it obligatory for Chief Registrars and local registrars to share real-time data with the Centre.
The digital birth certificate becomes the sole and legally valid document for accessing various services such as school admission, passport application, voter registration, and marriage registration.
The penalties for negligence or delay in registration is ₹1000 under the Act.

Challenges

Nearly 10% of births and deaths are not being registered, thus, undermining the goal of universal civil registration in India.
The Vital Statistics of India report has not been published since 2020.

Vital Statistics of India Report

The report is a compilation of all the vital statistics reports of state governments. It depicts data regarding infant mortality, still-birth and deaths at the national level. It is published by the Registrar General of India.
Such data is used by the government in socio-economic planning, to evaluate the effectiveness of various social sector programs and also serves as the cornerstone of the public health system.

India's Retail Inflation hits Six-Year Low

Context: Data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) shows that retail inflation slipped to near six-year low of 3.16% in April 2025, primarily due to moderation in prices of food items including vegetables, pulses, cereals, meat and fish.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Retail Inflation; Consumer Price Index

Retail Inflation

Retail inflation reflects the cost of everyday goods and services bought for consumption purposes by households. It is measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Retail inflation in India fell to a remarkable 3.34% in March 2025, the lowest since FY19.
Under the inflation-targeting regime (2016), the Reserve Bank of India has an inflation target of 4% (with a leeway of 2% points on either side).

What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)?

CPI is an economic indicator that measures inflation at retail level (changes in the level of retail prices over time).
It reflects how much households need to spend on a fixed basket of goods and services they typically consume, such as food, clothing, housing, and fuel.
Compiled by: National Statistical Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
Calculated using: base year 2012
CPI is a key benchmark for targeting inflation, monitoring price stability, and guiding monetary policy decisions by the Reserve Bank of India. It also serves as a deflator in the National Accounts to measure real economic growth.

Key government interventions to help lower Retail Inflation

The government’s strategic interventions have been pivotal in achieving this outcome. Key measures include:

Bolstering buffer stocks of essential food items, and releasing them periodically in open markets.
Subsidised retail sales of staples like rice, wheat flour, pulses, and onions.
Simplified import duties on critical food items.
Stricter stock limits to prevent hoarding.
Reduced GST rates on essentials have further eased price pressures.
Targeted subsidies, such as LPG support under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

With inflation now at its lowest since 2018–19, India has reinforced macroeconomic stability and created an enabling environment for sustainable growth. Easing inflation could raise domestic consumption and India’s sluggish industrial production.

However, the steep fall in food prices can lower farmer incomes and directly impact rural consumption demand. The government must take measures to improve farmers’ income.

India needs a Comprehensive AI Policy

Context: As of 2024, over 85 countries, including China, Canada, South Korea, European Union, African Union etc. have released National AI strategy documents for regulation of Artificial Intelligence. However India adopts a flexible - mission mode approach lacking a Comprehensive AI policy to address emerging challenges associated with AI.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: India’s Current AI regulations- its challenges and the need of a comprehensive AI policy.

India’s Current Approach to AI Governance

AI's rapid growth poses profound ethical, legal, economic, and societal challenges, therefore the governance and regulation of AI have garnered significant global attention. India has adopted a mission-driven, flexible approach without formal legislative or strategic endorsement.

Absence of a National Strategy: India neither has an officially approved National AI Strategy document nor a law specifically regulating AI.
NITI Aayog document titled ‘National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence’ from 2018 remains a recommendation without formal endorsement from the Government of India or an implementation plan or budget.
Mission-based framework: Instead, India has focused its resources on a government mission (IndiaAI Mission) which focuses on Innovation, Skill development, Trustworthy, safe AI ecosystem and several initiatives, such as a foundational AI model.
Expert Advisory Committee: An advisory group of experts is currently working to develop recommendations for governance frameworks that could be suitable for India. But there is limited clarity regarding whether these recommendations will be adopted into official governance policies or integrated as internal mechanisms.

Analysis of India's Approach

India's current approach has many benefits like the flexibility to adapt plans in response to the evolving nature of technologies, their adoption, geopolitics, economics, trade, and citizen sentiments. However this approach leaves significant gaps:

It does not provide a comprehensive view of India’s vision, priorities, capacity, achievements, planned milestones, initiatives, or accountability mechanisms.
AI efforts lack institutional continuity or a constitutional mandate. Initiatives remain reactive and may or may not follow a planned trajectory towards the envisioned goals.
Crucial sectors such as healthcare, education, banking, and governance are deploying AI tools without public transparency regarding their functioning or impact.
Absence of public awareness, civic dialogue, and oversight mechanisms on issues like algorithmic fairness, data origins, or labour disruptions heightens the risk of societal harm.

This concern is further aggravated by past instances in India where AI-generated content on social media incited violence, underscoring the urgent need for ethical and accountable AI governance.

What can be India’s Approach?

Globally, countries have adopted varied models for AI and data governance.
- Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023 represents a centralised, cross-sectoral model, similar to the EU’s GDPR and China’s PIPL, offering a strong foundation for future AI regulation.
- The U.S. follows a decentralised, sector-specific approach.
- China has enacted AI-specific laws for targeted technologies like generative AI and deep synthesis.
India could adopt any of these models or design a hybrid framework.

Also Read: Artificial Intelligence and its Regulation

India should aim to formulate a comprehensive AI policy that outlines a national vision, ethical guidelines, capacity-building strategies, governance mechanisms, and sectoral priorities. This would enable the government to pilot regulatory tools, initiate civic discourse and pave the way for formal legislation.

Rising power demand in India and the Hydrogen Factor

Context: India is the third highest energy consumer in the world. As India’s economy is expanding, India faces twin challenges- meeting growing energy demand and production of sustainable energy. In this context, India can rely on two alternatives - Nuclear Energy and Hydrogen as an energy source, to achieve a net-zero economy

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Alternatives to meet the growing Energy demand of India.

India’s Net-Zero Imperative

Presently, the power sector is dominated by fossil fuels (particularly coal) which is used to generate electricity, provide heat and molecules for industrial processes (carbon is used to reduce iron ore to produce steel).
The goal of achieving a net-zero economy by 2070 can be realised only by massive electrification of end uses of energy (from transport to industry).
Solar and wind electricity cannot provide all the electricity that India needs owing to their intermittency, and thus India has to increase the share of non-polluting alternatives like Nuclear Energy and Green Hydrogen, in its energy mix.

Crucial Role of Nuclear Energy

India has set an aspirational target to reach 100 GW of installed capacity based on nuclear power by 2047. As of January 2025, India’s nuclear capacity is 8.18 GW (8180 MW).
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has announced an ambitious programme to set up several 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). (E.g., 26 units of 700 MW capacity are announced/set to be completed in upcoming years)
Many PSUs and departments such as the Indian Railways are looking to deploy nuclear power plants. NPCIL has invited proposals from the industry for setting up 220 MW PHWRs (Bharat Small Reactors) for its captive use.

Also Read: Nuclear Energy Sector in Union Budget 2025-26

Green Hydrogen or Low-carbon Hydrogen

In the coming years, the share of electricity provided by low-carbon sources (hydro, nuclear, solar and wind) will increase.
Excess/surplus energy can be used to produce green hydrogen or low-carbon hydrogen. It will solve the dual problem of storing excess energy and production of sustainable energy (green hydrogen).
Electrolysers are low-cost equipment and can be operated at different power levels. This hydrogen can be used to meet the energy demand of the end-use industry.

As India races towards the net-zero economy by 2070, India needs a robust energy policy that focuses on expanding Nuclear Energy and leverage low-carbon Hydrogen to handle/utilise surplus energy and meet energy needs.

Also Read: Hydrogen as an alternative fuel: Explained

How is safety ensured in Gaganyaan Spaceflight Mission?

Context: The recent safe return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS) has brought attention to the critical importance of robust safety protocols in human spaceflight. The mission lasted nine months and highlighted NASA's behind-the-scenes efforts to ensure astronaut safety—physically and mentally.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight safety.

As India advances towards its maiden human space mission, Gaganyaan, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is meticulously putting similar protocols in place, drawing from both historical precedents and modern aerospace research.

Safety Protocols in Gaganyaan (Human Spaceflight Mission)

1. Crew Escape System:

Human-rated LVM3 (launch Vehicle Mark-3) is equipped with a Crew Escape System that acts like an emergency door — allowing the astronauts to rapidly detach and escape safely from the rocket, if anything goes wrong after the rocket has taken off.
It uses a tower-like structure on the top of the rocket containing solid fuel engines designed to ignite quickly and produce a tremendous amount of thrust in a short period of time, propelling the space capsule upwards and away from the rocket.
The Crew Escape System adjusts its response depending on how high the rocket is. It uses LEM for low altitudes and HEM for high altitudes, ensuring the astronauts can escape safely at any stage during launch.
- Low-altitude Escape Motor (LEM): Used in the initial seconds after takeoff. Produces enough thrust to quickly pull the crew module away from the rocket when it is still near the ground.
- High-altitude Escape Motor (HEM): Activates when the rocket is much higher in the sky. Provides enough pulling force to separate the crew module from the rocket safely, even at high speed and altitude.

2. Pad Abort System: Emergency Escape Right After Ignition:

Pad Abort refers to a life-threatening emergency that happens just moments after the rocket engines ignite, while the rocket is still on or very close to the launchpad.
In this scenario, both motors LEM and HEM of ISRO's Crew Escape System are activated. Together, they provide maximum thrust to quickly pull the entire crew module and escape system away from the rocket as fast as possible. After escaping, the crew module will splash down safely in the sea at a pre-decided location.

3. Safety in Orbit:

ISRO’s Gaganyaan crew capsule consists of a pair of interconnected modules:
- Crew module: serves as the living quarters for the crew and passengers)
- Service module: carries the fuel, engines, control systems, etc.
By the time the spacecraft reaches near its target orbit, the Crew Escape System is no longer needed and is discarded in space.
If an emergency arises before reaching full orbit, the service module’s propulsion system can change the flight path and bring the crew module down safely on a sub-orbital trajectory (meaning it will come back to Earth without completing an orbit).
If something goes wrong after the spacecraft is already in orbit, then both the service module’s engines, and the crew module’s small thrusters will work together to slow down the spacecraft and guide it back into Earth’s atmosphere for a safe return.

4. Returning to the Earth:

Once reentry has begun, atmospheric friction will heat the capsule’s outer heat shield to up to 1800º C. The crew in the crew module will be protected by the shield. Once the capsule has descended to a particular altitude, the crew will slow its descent using retrograde thrusters and deploy parachutes.

5. Final Descent Using Parachutes:

Gaganyaan crew capsule will decelerate throughout re-entry using a multi-stage parachute system (10-parachute system) to reduce speed in phases:
- Apex cover separation parachutes deploy at 15.3 km altitude from the ground and at 276 m/s speed.
- After that, drogue parachutes are deployed to stabilise and decelerate the capsule to 70 m/s up to a height of 3 km.
- Then the three primary canopies will be deployed, reducing the drop speed to 10-12 m/s.
Splashdown: Just before or after splashdown in the sea, the parachutes are disconnected using a pyrotechnic mechanism.

Also Read: Gaganyaan Mission