July 14, 2025

Current Affairs

Assessing India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme Targets

Context: The Indian government recently notified greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity targets for entities across key industrial sectors under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS).

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme.

What is the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) ?

Launched in 2023 under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022.
It is a market based mechanism designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by pricing carbon and facilitating trading of carbon credits.
CCTS introduces carbon pricing through two key mechanisms to ensure comprehensive carbon reduction efforts.
- Compliance Mechanism: Mandates energy-intensive industries to meet sector-specific GHG reduction targets. Entities that emit below their set intensity targets earn Carbon Credit Certificates (CCC); while those exceeding targets must purchase credits or face penalties.
- Offset Mechanism: Allows voluntary participation from entities outside the compliance framework to earn carbon credits by reducing emissions.
As of now, 8 heavy industrial sectors are included under the compliance mechanism of CCTS: Aluminium, Cement, Paper and Pulp, Chlor-Alkali, Iron and Steel, Textiles, Petrochemicals, Petroleum Refineries.
Administered by: multiple bodies like the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the National Steering committee for the Indian carbon market.
Trading of Carbon Credit is expected to begin by October 2026.
The CCTS aims to help India achieve its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels.

Assessment of India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme:

Lack of Ambitious Targets:

India’s overall energy emissions intensity is projected to decline by 3.44% per year from 2025 to 2030. The manufacturing sector should ideally reduce its emissions intensity by 2.53% per year.
But current CCTS targets for industries show only a 1.68% per year drop. This suggests the CCTS targets are not ambitious enough to achieve India's NDC targets and decarbonisation goals.

Limited Sectoral Coverage:

CCTS currently covers only 8 of the 9 heavy industrial sectors.
Several major emitters are excluded like- thermal power plants, transport, agriculture, and MSMEs, limiting the scope and impact of the scheme.

Sectoral vs. Economy-Wide Focus

The scheme largely focuses on sectoral/entity-specific targets rather than an integrated, economy-wide reduction strategy. This narrow focus on select industrial players may risk intra-sector credit trading without meaningful reduction in national-level emissions.

A robust carbon market should drive aggregate decarbonisation with participation of major sectors, and not just trading between a few large players.

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau

Context: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a preliminary report on the deadly Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad. The report stated that the two engine fuel control switches onboard transitioned from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ position within a second of each other, moments after the lift-off.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau; Convention on International Civil Aviation; International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Matters of International Civil Aviation are governed by:

Convention on International Civil Aviation or the Chicago Convention governs the matters of international civil aviation. It was signed in 1944.
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a UN agency with 193 member countries (including India, the US, and the UK), oversees its technical standards.
The Chicago Convention (Annex 13) lays out the international protocols for investigating aircraft accidents and serious incidents.
- The responsibility for investigation is bestowed with the ‘State of Occurrence’, i.e., the country where the accident happened.
- Other countries connected to the aircraft have a formal right to participate. These include the 'State of Registry’ (where the aircraft is registered), the ‘State of the Operator’ (which operated the flight), the ‘State of Design’, and the ‘State of Manufacture’ (of the aircraft in question).

Since the AI 171 air crash occurred on Indian soil, India holds the ‘State of Occurrence’ right. The investigation into the accident is thus led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.

International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO):

Specialised agency of the United Nations established in 1947 by the Chicago Convention.
The aim and objective of the ICAO is to safeguard the orderly development of civil aviation.
Functions:
- establishing and reviewing technical standards for aircraft and the licensing of personnel
- promoting flight safety
- developing airways, airports and air navigation facilities
- preventing economic waste caused by unreasonable competition
- continuing the development of international aviation law.
It defines the protocols for air accident investigation that are followed by transport safety authorities in countries signatory to the Chicago Convention.
Structure: The Assembly is the supreme organ of the ICAO. It is composed of representatives of all member states and meets at least once every three years, reviewing work and setting policy.
Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau:

AAIB is a statutory body under India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents and serious incidents.
The government can make rules for investigations under Section 7 of the Aircraft Act of 1934.
AAIB was established in 2012 in accordance with the standards issued by ICAO and to provide independence to the investigation function from the regulatory function, independent of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Until 2012, the Air Safety Directorate of the DGCA (under the aviation ministry) investigated accidents and safety-related incidents.

Functions of AAIB:

AAIB classifies ‘Safety Occurrences’ involving aircraft operating in the Indian airspace into the categories- Accidents, Serious Incidents and Incidents.
It investigates all Accidents and Serious Incidents involving aircraft with All Up Weight (the total weight of an aircraft with passengers and cargo) over than 2250 kg, as well as Turbojet aircraft. The objective is to prevent accidents and incidents and not to apportion blame or liability.
AAIB deputes an investigation team to reach the site and gather perishable evidence. This includes- obtaining samples of wreckage and surroundings, retrieving black boxes etc.
AAIB is also mandated immediate and unrestricted access to all relevant evidence from any agency/organisation without seeking prior consent from judicial bodies or other government authorities.

After completion of the investigation, a draft report is presented internally and accepted by the AAIB Director General.

Following further consultations and reviews, the final report is made public and published on the official website. The accepted ‘Final Investigation Report’ is also forwarded to the ICAO and the states participating in the investigation.

DRDO develops Photonic Radar

Context: Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced that it has developed a photonic radar system. India will likely become the fourth country after the US, China and Israel to induct these radars after key trials in late 2025.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to Photonic Radar.

What is a Radar?

Radar is short for Radio Detection and Ranging.
Radar uses radio waves to determine the distance, velocity, and physical characteristics of objects around the device.
A transmitter emits a radio frequency signal aimed at an object (E.g., a cloud) whose characteristics are to be ascertained.
A part of the emitted signal is echoed by the object back to the device (reflected back), where a receiver tracks and analyses it to determine the features of the targeted object.

What is a Photonic Radar?

Photonic Radar is a next-generation radar system that uses light-based (photonic) technology to generate, process and analyse radio-frequency (RF) signals.
Conventional radars generate radio frequency (RF) signals using electronic components (like oscillators). However, such radars find it difficult to generate high-frequency signals beyond 40 GHz.
Photonic radars use lasers and optical components (like optical fibres and modulators) to generate radio frequency (RF) signals and process signals using a technique called optical heterodyning. Photonic integrated circuits (PIC) used in the photonic radar can generate RF signals in the frequency range of 100 GHz to terahertz range, which is difficult to achieve using traditional electronic circuits.

The Photonic Radar System in India has been designed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a DRDO lab known for creating advanced radars like Arudhra, Aslesha, and Uttam AESA.

Superiority of Photonic Radar over Conventional radars:

High Detection Ability: Photonic radars can spot objects that conventional radars miss, including stealth aircraft, drones, and even incoming hypersonic missiles.
Longer Range, Sharper Image and Lesser Noise:
- Photonic radars can generate high bandwidth signals (the higher the bandwidth, the greater the resolution).
- It has a higher signal-to-noise ratio (noise emanates from the heat generated by electronic components in conventional radar) leading to sharper detection of the ‘echo’ from the target.
- As a result, the radars have longer range and the ability to map targets in high-resolution 3D.
Immune to Jamming: Photonic components are practically immune to electromagnetic jamming or electronic warfare tactics that often try to blind or confuse traditional radars. Additionally, Photonic radars are capable of frequency hopping- they keep changing their frequencies, which confuses the jammers.
Light Weight: Photonic components do not have copper and are lighter. This enables the fitting of these small, lighter radar systems in satellites, swarms of drones and fighter jets.

Potential Applications of Photonic Radar:

Military Applications:
- With its ultra-wide bandwidth, low signal noise, and high precision, the photonic radar may be able to spot threats early.
- The radar system can be integrated with India's existing air defence infrastructure- such as Akashteer command and control system. Can be deployed on various platforms- including fighter jets (Su-30 MKI, Rafale, Tejas); mobile ground units for the Indian Army.
Medical Applications: Photonic radar could be used as a non-invasive way to monitor patient vital signs, such as breathing and heart rate. The device could fit onto a photonic chip that is small enough to incorporate into electronic devices like a smartphone.
Space Missions: Can be integrated into small satellites for deep-space tracking.
Weather monitoring, high-resolution atmospheric observations & coastal surveillance.

Associated Challenges:

Gaining access to PICs: India lacks infrastructure to fabricate Photonic integrated circuits (PIC).
Export Restrictions: In order for large-scale production of PICs, India will have to design the circuits and get them fabricated outside India. However, that is a humongous task given the export restrictions from the US; security risks in fabricating them from China.
Material Constraints: Photonics utilise special materials, mainly indium phosphide and silicon photonics, which are hard to procure. Similarly, other components like tunable lasers and modulators are hard to procure.

DRDO is preparing for extensive trials of the Radar in late 2025 to assess its effectiveness in diverse and challenging conditions. The technology strengthens India’s position in regional military balance and makes its defence systems much harder to bypass or fool.

New Emerging Radar Systems:

Two radar systems under development promise to be better than photonic radars.

Quantum Radar:

Quantum radar uses quantum technology for detection and imaging. The technology is still in the experimental stage.
At the core of this technology is the production of a pair of entangled photons- sending one photon to the target, and then comparing it on reflection with the second photon; the difference will be used to analyse the location and characteristics of the target.

Terahertz Radar:

Terahertz radar operates in the electromagnetic spectrum between microwaves and infrared light (typically 0.1-10 THz) - where the signal oscillates a trillion times a second. The corresponding wavelength is about 0.3 mm. This will offer high resolution imaging.

Also Read: What is Synthetic Aperture Radar?

Why must India recognise its Open Ecosystems?

Context: Deserts and other open ecosystems are often viewed as barren or degraded lands. Land degradation is now synonymously used with desertification.

However, a functioning desert with its intricate food webs, seasonal rhythms and cultural continuities also holds significance and is far more alive than a monoculture plantation.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Wastelands; Significance of Wastelands.

Desert and other Open Ecosystems

Deserts and other open ecosystems such as grasslands, savannas, scrublands, and open woodlands are often viewed as degraded lands or broken ecosystems which need to be fixed.
On official maps, millions of hectares of these ecosystems are classified as wastelands- a term inherited from colonial land-use categories.
In policy terms, a wasteland is seen as land waiting to be corrected usually by (i) planting trees, (ii) converting it into agriculture, (iii) paving it over for industrial use. This perception has led to large-scale efforts to “green” deserts through afforestation, irrigation schemes, and even climate engineering.
However, this narrow view ignores the deep ecological, historical and cultural significance of deserts and other open landscapes.

Significance of Desert Ecosystems:

Deserts occupy nearly one-third of the Earth’s terrestrial surface, and are home to uniquely adapted plants, animals, and human cultures.

India's deserts, grasslands and savannas are home to rare and endemic species like the Great Indian Bustard, caracal, and Indian wolf which are not found elsewhere.
These ecosystems store carbon deep in the soil.
Millions of pastoral groups such as the Dhangar, Rabari, Kuruba etc depend on these ecosystems for grazing.
These landscapes support rich indigenous knowledge systems related to animal husbandry, grazing cycles, and weather patterns.
Early civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley emerged in desert climates. The harsh desert conditions prompted humans to develop complex societies and technologies that could invent ingenious ways of irrigation to survive in otherwise inhospitable conditions.

Way Forward

We need policies that recognise ecosystem diversity, reward soil carbon storage, and support pastoralist land use.

Deserts, grasslands, and savannas should be recognised as distinct valuable ecosystems- not wastelands.
Shift from the term “desertification” to “land degradation” to avoid unjust vilification of deserts.
Reversing degradation in drylands requires careful restoration that respects native vegetation, focuses on soil and moisture conservation, and draws from indigenous knowledge of land management.
Recognize pastoral communities as biodiversity stewards and integrate their traditional knowledge into restoration policies.
Low-tech solutions like water harvesting, rotational grazing, and protecting natural regrowth in place of greenwashing projects that aim to plant millions of trees to “green” the desert.