Daily Current Affairs

July 9, 2025

Current Affairs

Vera C. Rubin Observatory 

Context: The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is set to become fully operational by the end of 2025.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Vera C. Rubin Observatory. 

About Vera C. Rubin Observatory: 

  • Formerly known as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), it is a large astronomical observatory designed to conduct a ten-year survey of the entire visible southern sky. 
  • Location: 8,684 feet above sea level on Cerro Pachón mountain in Chile. 
  • It is named after Vera C. Rubin who provided the first evidence of dark matter in the 1970s.
  • It is a joint project of the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the US Department of Energy's Office of Science.
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Key Features: 

The centerpiece of the Rubin Observatory is the Simonyi Survey Telescope. This device is unique for three main reasons: 

  • Wide Field of View: 
    • Most telescopes observe only tiny portions of the sky (E.g., Hubble sees just 1% of the full Moon’s disc).
    • The Simonyi Survey telescope can observe an area equivalent to 40 full moons at once, due to its distinct design comprising three differently curved mirrors.
  • Largest Digital Camera: 
    • The telescope has the world's largest digital camera, which is the size of a small car, weighs 2,800 kg, and boasts a staggering resolution of 3,200 megapixels. 
    • It can detect objects 100 million times dimmer than visible to the naked eye.
    • The camera has six filters designed to capture light from different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. This will help astronomers gather information about various celestial objects based on the type of light they emit. 
  • Fastest-Slewing Telescope:
    • The Simonyi Survey Telescope is the fastest-slewing telescope in the world, and takes just five seconds to move and settle from one target to another.
    • This speed is due to the telescope’s compact structure (owing to the three-mirror design), and its mount which floats on a film of oil.
    • Such speed will allow the telescope to snap up to 1,000 images a night, meaning it can capture the whole sky in just three days. 
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Why is Rubin Observatory Revolutionary?

  • The Vera Rubin Observatory will constantly scan the sky of the southern hemisphere for 10 years, this continuous scanning helps detect even small or sudden changes in the universe.
  • It captures 20 terabytes of data each night. This massive data pool will help solve some of the biggest mysteries of the universe, and discover numerous celestial objects such as comets and asteroids.
  • It took 225 years of astronomical observations to detect the first 1.5 million asteroids, Rubin will double that number in less than a year.
  • On June 23, when the first test images of the observatory were released, astronomers at the Rubin Observatory said that its software had identified 2,104 brand-new asteroids- including seven near-Earth objects with merely 10 hours of engineering data.

The observatory will expand our knowledge about the nature of dark matter and dark energy. While galaxies, stars, and planets make up 5% of the universe, dark energy makes up about 68%, and dark matter about 27%. 

Need for Climate-Smart Fabrics  in Heat Action Plans 

Context: India needs climate-smart fabrics to cope with intensifying heatwaves, as traditional clothing offers limited protection against extreme heat and humidity.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Climate Smart Fabrics.

What are Climate Smart Fabrics?

  • Climate Smart Fabrics, also known as Smart textiles, are textiles designed to adapt to environment conditions.
  • These fabrics integrate technologies like- sensors, microchips, and conductive fibres which enables them to monitor, react to, and even change their properties in response to stimuli like temperature, moisture etc. 
  • Examples:  
    • New Phase Change Materials (PCMs) integrated into fabrics can absorb excess heat and release it when things cool down. 
    • Scientists at Stanford University developed a textile that is transparent to infrared wavelengths and radiates heat away from the body. 

Key Features: 

  • Thermal Regulation: Absorb and release heat to maintain optimal body temperature.
  • Moisture-Wicking: Pull sweat away from the skin and enable faster evaporation. 
  • UV Protection: Shield against harmful ultraviolet rays.

Smart Fabrics use Important Technologies to function: 

  • Nanotechnology: Developments in nanotechnology allow fabrics to be treated or engineered at a molecular level to give them unique properties like water resistance or enhanced durability. E.g., Graphene Modified Protective Clothing. 
  • Miniaturised Electronics enable the embedding of sensors and circuits directly into textiles without affecting their flexibility or comfort.
  • Wireless Technologies like Bluetooth and NFC (Near Field Communication) facilitate the communication of smart textiles with smartphones and other devices, enabling real-time data tracking and interaction.
  • Thin and flexible batteries or solar cells: Improvements in energy harvesting and storage technologies are crucial to power these smart textiles.
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Why India Needs Climate-Smart Fabrics?

  • India is experiencing record-breaking heatwaves. For instance, Delhi's heat index touched 54°C, Ooty witnessed its warmest day in 73 years and Kashmir had its hottest June in five decades.
  • As heatwaves intensify and humidity levels rise across India, especially in the Indo-Gangetic plain, traditional cotton clothing is proving inadequate.
    • In high humidity, cotton dries slowly, sticks to the body, traps heat, and raises the risk of skin infections.
    • Natural fibres like cotton offer little protection against harmful UV rays, increasing the risk of skin-related illnesses, including cancer.
  • Over 50% of India’s workforce is engaged in outdoor occupations such as farming, construction, and street vending, making them highly vulnerable to extreme heat exposure.
  • Vulnerable groups often lack access to appropriate protective clothing. For instance, in Varanasi, Blinkit delivery partners recently went on strike, demanding cotton uniforms to cope with the summer heat.
  • An analysis from Down to Earth estimates that a single five-day heat wave leads to 30,000 excess deaths in summer.

Despite growing threats, India's Heat Wave Action Plan lacks longterm, science-backed interventions such as climate-smart clothing. 

It relies only on a combination of early warning systems, public awareness campaigns, emergency medical response, and structural interventions like cool roofs and shaded public spaces.

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Way Forward

  • Integrate smart fabrics into Heat Action Plans.
  • India’s new Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme (₹1 lakh crore outlay) should prioritise affordable wearable technologies and mass production of climate-adaptive fabrics.

Effects of Rising Military Expenditure 

Context: At the recent North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in June, NATO members pledged to increase their military spending to 5% of their GDP by 2035, a significant jump from the previous target of 2%. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: SIPRI Military Expenditure data.
Mains: Effects of Rising Military Expenditure. 

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

  • Global military spending in 2024 hit a record $2.7 trillion, the highest year-on-year rise (9.4%) since 1988.
  • Top Five Military Spenders are: 
    • The US ($997 billion) 
    • China ( $314 billion)
    • Russia ($149 billion)
    • Germany ($88.5 billion)
    • India ($86.1 billion)
  • In terms of GDP percentage (excluding countries at war such as Russia, Ukraine and Israel), the highest spenders include:
    • Saudi Arabia (7.3%)
    • Poland (4.2%)
    • The US (3.4%) 
  • According to the Global Peace Index, in 2023, militarisation increased in 108 countries and the year saw the highest number of conflicts since World War II.
  • All of the NATO members (32) combined spent $1,506 billion, which makes it around 55% of global military spending. There is a concentration of spending in a few countries.

Military Expenditures in India: 

  • India is the fifth-largest military spender in the world, with an annual defence budget of $86.1 billion.
  • Military spending stands at 2.3% of India’s GDP. In comparison, the Public Health spending is only 1.84% of GDP, far below the 2.5% target of the National Health Policy.
  • Following Operation Sindoor, the government has approved an additional ₹50,000 crore for emergency defence procurement. This is over and above the regular ₹6.81 lakh crore annual defence allocation. In contrast, Ayushman Bharat, India’s flagship health insurance scheme covering 58 crore people, received just ₹7,200 crore in 2023-24.

Effect of Rising Military Expenditure: 

  • Loss of Post-Cold War Peace Dividend: After the Cold War ended (1991), global military spending declined significantly, dropping to its lowest level of 2.1% of world GDP by 1998. The current wave of remilitarisation risks undoing the post-Cold War peace dividend, where falling military spending allowed greater investment in health, education, and development.
  • Crowding Out of Social Sector Spending: Higher military budgets reduce funds for health, education, welfare, and poverty alleviation. Example: Spain refused NATO's 5% target, saying it would cut welfare spending by €300 billion. Study of 116 countries shows rising defence spending reduces public health investment, especially in middle- and low-income nations.
  • Hampers SDG Progress: Redirects funds from Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like ending poverty, ensuring health and education, combating climate change etc.  
  • Increases Climate Burden: According to a study by the Conflict and Environment Observatory, if NATO’s defence spending reached 3.5% of GDP, greenhouse gas emissions would increase 200 million tonnes annually.
  • Weaken Peace-Building Institutions: Rising military expenditure diverts global resources away from peace and development, leaving institutions like the United Nations severely underfunded. The UN's latest $44 billion budget has received only $6 billion in six months, forcing a cut to $29 billion despite growing humanitarian needs.
  • Humanitarian Consequences: Cuts to foreign aid (e.g., USAID closed down by Trump) may cause 14 million additional deaths by 2030, one-third being children.
  • Hurts Poor and Developing Countries: Poor and developing countries are forced to match defence spending trends, harming basic services. Lebanon spent 29% of GDP, Ukraine 34% on defence.

Revisit Digital Search Powers under I-T Bill 2025

Context: The Income-Tax Bill 2025 has a provision to allow tax authorities to access an individual’s “virtual digital space” during search and seizure operations. While the rationale is to keep pace with the digitalisation of financial activity, the provision has raised serious questions about privacy, transparency, and the scope of state surveillance. 

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961; Income-Tax Bill, 2025, Proportionality test.

Mains: Issues related to Income-Tax Bill 2025.

 Key Features of the Proposed Provision

  • The Income-Tax Bill, 2025 proposes that tax authorities can access an individual’s “virtual digital space” during search and seizure operations.
  • This includes access to emails, cloud storage, social media accounts, digital platforms, apps, and any other “space of similar nature”.
  • Tax authorities will be allowed to override access codes (E.g., passwords, encryption) to access digital devices and platforms.
  • It extends powers under Section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (currently limited to physical spaces) to the digital realm.

Issues with the proposed Income Tax provision:  

  • Lack of Clarity and Overbreadth:
    • The term "virtual digital space" is vaguely defined and open-ended. May include sensitive, non-financial and unrelated personal data (photos, chats, cloud files, etc.).
    • The phrase "any other space of similar nature" makes the scope very vague and limitless, and can lead to misuse or arbitrary targeting of individuals.
  • Privacy Concerns: Risks violating individual privacy without proper safeguards. Digital data includes intimate personal information of not just the individual but also their contacts, colleagues, or sources (in case of journalists, lawyers, etc.).
  • Absence of Procedural Safeguards: No requirement for prior judicial approval or warrants. "Reason to believe" behind the action is not disclosed to the person being searched.
  • Violation of Proportionality Principle: 
    • It contradicts the proportionality test upheld by the Supreme Court in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs Union Of India. 
    • The Court has held that any restriction to an individual’s privacy must meet a four-fold test, of which proportionality was key, requiring state action to pursue a legitimate aim, satisfy necessity and adopt the least intrusive means available.
    • The move does not distinguish between what is relevant and what is intrusive.

Best Global Practices

Canada: The Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees : 

  • Right to be secure against “unreasonable search or seizure”. 
  • Sets a three-part default standard : prior authorisation, approval by a neutral and impartial judicial authority, and reasonable and probable grounds. 

United States: 

  • The Taxpayer Bill of Rights ensures that enforcement actions are legally compliant, respect due process, and are not more intrusive than necessary.
  • The U.S. Supreme Court in Riley v. California ruled that a warrant is required to access digital data due to its deeply personal nature.

Way Forward

  • The provisions must be made fair and balanced by following the principles of proportionality, legality, and transparency.
  • Clearly define the term ‘virtual digital space’ to avoid ambiguity.
  • Mandate prior judicial warrants and disclosure of reasons for such access to digital content.
  • Establish mechanisms of redress for aggrieved individuals.
  • India can take inspiration from global best practices by ensuring judicial oversight, clear legal standards, and reasonable grounds for digital searches- similar to safeguards in countries like the U.S. and Canada to balance enforcement with the right to privacy.  

AI in Warfare and India’s Preparedness

Context: According to a research report by Delhi-based Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, an autonomous think tank, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to rapidly transform the landscape of warfare with deeptech being deployed for tasks ranging from autonomous weapons systems to intelligence gathering and cybersecurity. 

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: How AI is transforming the landscape of warfare and India’s Preparedness.

Use case of AI in Warfare includes

  • Development of autonomous weapons systems that can select and engage targets without human intervention.
  • Analysing vast amounts of data to identify potential threats. 
  • Tracking enemy movements, and forecasting future attacks.
  • Creating realistic battlefield simulations to enable field evaluation trials as well as allowing soldiers to train in virtual environments to prepare for real-world combat scenarios.
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Countries around the world have started integrating AI in Warfare

China 

  • China is using the AI models to improve artillery systems by reducing the time between shots and increasing accuracy.
  • Chinese military drones are equipped with generative AI that allows them to detect and destroy enemy radars automatically.
  • China combines AI across land, air, sea, space, cyberspace, and electromagnetic spectrum. This gives it a strong edge in multi-domain operations.

Pakistan

  • Pakistan’s Air Force set up a Centre of Artificial Intelligence and Computing (CAIC) in 2020.
  • During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan likely received LIVE satellite images and data from China. AI may have been used to quickly process this data, helping Pakistan track Indian troop movements in real-time.

Ukraine

  • Ukraine has equipped its long-range drones with AI that can autonomously identify terrain and military targets, using them to launch successful attacks against Russian refineries. 

Israel

  • Israel has also used its Lavender AI system in the conflict in Gaza to identify 37,000 Hamas targets. As a result, the current conflict between Israel and Hamas has been dubbed the first “AI war”.

India

  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) established the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) in 1986, with the aim of developing autonomous technologies for military use.
  • CAIR has worked on a wide range of applications including combat systems, path planning, sensor integration, target identification, underwater mine detection, patrolling, logistics, and localisation.

However, despite this early start, India faces several key challenges in effectively harnessing AI for modern warfare.

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Challenges for India in AI Warfare

  • Lack of Energy Infrastructure
    • AI technologies need continuous, high-power electricity for data centres and simulations. India has low nuclear power capacity (around 7.5 GW), much less than countries like South Korea.
    • Overdependence on solar and wind energy without backup storage makes the power grid unstable.
  • Inadequate AI Infrastructure: India lacks large-scale, defence-specific AI data centres. Limited access to high-performance computing for real-time battlefield analysis and decision-making.
  • Fragmented Research & Development: Agencies like DRDO’s CAIR have been working since 1986, but progress has been slow. No large-scale, coordinated national mission focused on AI for defence.
  • Weak Civil-Military Fusion: Unlike China or the U.S., India does not have strong collaboration between private tech firms, startups, academia, and the military. Defence R&D is mostly government-driven, limiting innovation speed.
  • Lag in C4ISR, Space, Cyber, and Electromagnetic Domains: India lags behind China in C4ISR capabilities- Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, particularly in the domains of space, cyberspace, and the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • Lack of National Policy or defence doctrine on AI integration: No clear national policy or defence doctrine on AI integration in military strategy. Regulatory and bureaucratic delays slow down tech adoption in defence forces.
  • Limited Private Sector Participation: Private sector involvement in nuclear energy and AI defence systems is limited. Without private innovation and investment, India cannot scale up AI infrastructure quickly.

AI is transforming modern warfare into an “agentic” battlefield, where autonomous systems, rapid decision-making, and multi-domain dominance decide outcomes.

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