August 13, 2025

Current Affairs

How does Satellite Internet work?

Context: Even after 25 years of terrestrial mobile services, India is 48% short in terms of broadband penetration today. Satellite Internet offers an alternative to bridge the gap and provide internet access in remote and underdeveloped areas.

Relevance of the Topic:Mains: Difference between Terrestrial Broadband Internet and Satellite Internet. Benefits and challenges associated with satellite internet.

Satellite Internet

Satellite internet is wireless internet beamed down from satellites orbiting the Earth instead of optical fiber or mobile networks.

How does Satellite Internet work?

A satellite internet network is composed of a space segment and a ground segment. The space segment consists of the satellites in orbit, while the ground segment includes all equipment on Earth that communicates with them.
The satellites carry communication payloads for data transmission and have a service life of 5 to 20 years.
Their deployment (orbital altitude) determines the satellite’s capabilities and coverage. Satellites are deployed in three main orbits:
- Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO)
- Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)
- Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

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What are the differences between satellites deployed in different orbits?

1. Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO):

GEO satellites orbit at 35,786 km above the equator. They match the Earth’s rotation time, allowing them to remain stationary relative to a point on the ground.
High altitude allows a single GEO satellite to cover nearly one-third of the Earth’s surface, though not the polar regions. E.g., Viasat’s Global Xpress (GX) system.
GEO satellites simply relay signals back to Earth without processing them.
Limitations: High propagation latency- As the signals must travel long distances it results in delays. This makes GEO systems unsuitable for time-sensitive applications like video conferencing or real-time transactions.

2. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO):

MEO satellites operate at altitudes between 2000 km and 35,786 km.
They require a constellation for global coverage. E.g., O3b MEO constellation consists of 20 satellites.
Limitations: Their latency is lower than that of GEO satellites, but often insufficient for many real-time applications, and the satellites remain large and costly to launch.

3. Low Earth Orbit (LEO):

LEO satellites orbit at altitudes below 2000 km.
Benefits: Their proximity to Earth results in very low latency. They are also smaller, often table-sized, making them cheaper and quicker to deploy.
Limitations: Smaller coverage area due to their location at lower altitudes. To achieve global coverage, the LEO satellites must form mega-constellations. E.g., Starlink has over 7,000 satellites in the LEO.

S.No.		Terrestrial Broadband Internet	Satellite Internet
1.	Data Aggregation	Happens on the ground (in base stations)	Happens in the space (via satellites)
2.	Line of Sight Requirement	No direct line of sight needed	Requires a clear line of sight to the satellite (via an antenna)
3.	Latency	Minimal latency	Higher latency due to time taken by signals to travel from space to Earth
4.	Coverage	Most suitable for urban areas, or areas with supporting infrastructure. High cost of deployment in remote/inaccessible areas.	Can cover remote and underserved areas.

Is Satellite Internet available in India?

Yes. Presently, the utilisation of satellite internet is restricted to minimal applications — such as disaster management, defence, scientific locations, etc. Key hurdles are high latency of these services, which means that real-time transmission is hard.
- However, things are changing with the launch of ISRO’s high throughput GEO (Geostationary Equatorial Orbit) satellites which can beam high-speed internet up to 14 gigabits per second.
Many global players are providing satellite broadband services by deploying low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. They are launching a constellation of satellites very close to the earth’s surface in order to reduce the latency of satellite broadband. E.g., Elon Musk’s Starlink, Airtel backed OneWeb, Amazon’s Project Kupier, Canadian satellite major Telesat, JioSpaceFiber etc.
India's Space Policy 2023 permits foreign entities to set-up infrastructure and offer satellite-based services, after obtaining permission from INSpace.

Benefits of Satellite Internet:

Provide high-speed internet services in remote and underserved areas, where terrestrial networks cannot be set up. (or the cost of putting fiber is too high) E.g., unreachable terrains of Himalayas, middle of the ocean etc.
High Scalability: Can be expanded quickly to cover large areas, as compared to the delays in laying optical fiber cable infrastructure.
Resilient to disasters: Maintain connectivity during terrestrial disasters where broadband cables infrastructure may be disrupted.

Challenges associated with Satellite Internet:

Limited coverage: Satellite internet is most effective in areas with clear line-of-sight to the satellites, which would be challenging in densely populated urban areas or regions with obstructive terrain.
Latency: Higher latency as signals must travel between Earth and satellites in orbit, may impact real-time applications. (especially GEO satellites)
Affordability: Equipment-cost related to satellite dish passed on to end-users may present barriers in adoption, in comparison to cheaper broadband internet. The cost per bit is also very high currently to make it operationally viable.
Space debris: Launch of thousands of satellites for internet constellations has raised concerns about space debris.
Cyber security: Satellites are vulnerable to jamming, hacking and other cyber-attacks which can disrupt internet communication.

Satellite internet can complement the existing traditional fiber and mobile broadband services to bridge digital divide and scale-up quality internet access.

Mass Mortality of Starfish

Context: Scientists have identified the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida as the cause of a decade-long wasting disease that killed billions of starfish along North America’s Pacific coast.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Starfish and the cause behind its wasting disease.

Mass Mortality of Starfish

Since 2013, starfish populations along the Pacific coast of North America have been devastated by a mysterious wasting disease leading to the death of over 5 billion sea stars.
The disease caused disintegration of their bodies, leaving only organic mush, and triggered major ecological imbalances.
For years, scientists suspected viruses like densovirus. Recently, researchers discovered that the disease was caused by bacterium Vibrio pectenicida, related to cholera-causing Vibrio cholerae.

About Starfish (Sea Stars):

Habitat & Distribution: Found in all world oceans, from tropical coral reefs to cold deep-sea habitats. Most abundant in intertidal and subtidal zones.
Feeding & Ecological Role:
- Carnivorous Predators: Feed on bivalves (clams, mussels), snails, and other invertebrates.
- Unique Feeding Method: Evert their stomachs outside their body to digest prey externally.
- Help regulate populations of prey species like sea urchins, thereby maintaining kelp forest ecosystems.
Reproduction: Starfish reproduce both sexually (external fertilization) and asexually (regeneration).
Regeneration: Can regrow lost arms; in some cases, a single arm can regenerate an entire new body.
Threats: Many species face threats from:
- Marine diseases (e.g., Vibrio pectenicida in wasting disease)
- Ocean warming and acidification.
- Habitat destruction and pollution.
- Sunflower Sea Star is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN (2020) after a 90% population decline.

Other Key Facts:

Starfish do not have a brain. Instead, they possess a nerve ring around the central disc, from which radial nerve cords extend into each arm to coordinate movement and sensory responses.
They also lack a heart and blood. Circulation of nutrients, gases, and immune cells is carried out through coelomic fluid, aided by the water vascular system.
No specialised excretory organs; nitrogenous waste is removed by diffusion through body surfaces.

Ecological Significance:

Keystone Species Role: Starfish regulate sea urchin populations; their loss destabilises the marine food web.
Maintains Kelp Forest Health: Overgrazing by unchecked urchin populations leads to kelp decline, reducing biodiversity and climate resilience. Kelp forests act as major blue carbon sinks; their destruction indirectly increases atmospheric CO₂.

Conservation Implications:

Identification enables targeted interventions:

Probiotic treatments for wild starfish.
Breeding Vibrio-resistant starfish in labs for reintroduction.
Informs marine disease management protocols and biosecurity measures.

India’s Fisheries Sector on the Rise

Context: As per the latest government data, India’s fisheries sector has experienced a significant growth and contributes approximately 8% to global fish production.

Relevance of the Topic:Mains: Fisheries Sector in India: Present status; Challenges; Govt. schemes.

Fisheries Sector in India

With a vast coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million square kilometres, India boasts of rich marine resources. India is the second largest fish producing country with around 8% share in global fish production.

Present status: In the five year period between 2019-20 to 2023-24:
- India’s fisheries sector has achieved record production of over 184 lakh tonnes (lt) in FY24 from 141 lt in FY20 (nearly a 30% growth).
- Fisheries exports from India increased to ₹60,500 crore in FY24.
- Increase in per capita fish consumption from 5-6 kg to 12-13 kg in FY24.
- Aquaculture productivity increased from 3 tonnes per hectare to 4.7 tonnes per hectare.
Increased investment: In the last 10 years, the government has made a cumulative investment in the fisheries and aquaculture sector of over ₹38,500 crores through various programmes and initiatives.

Constraints in the growth of Fisheries Sector

Overexploitation of fish stocks due to increased demand for seafood. Additionally, seasonal nature of fishing operations, depleted stocks in natural waters, use of obsolete technology for harvesting coupled with low capital infusion threatens the livelihoods of fishing communities and overall health of marine ecosystems.
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing: IUU fishing practices contribute to overfishing and undermine efforts to manage fisheries sustainably. Lack of effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms exacerbates this issue.
Inadequate infrastructure including lack of proper storage, transportation, and processing facilities, hinders the efficiency of the supply chain. This can lead to post-harvest losses and affect the quality of seafood products.
Pollution including industrial runoff, untreated sewage, and plastic waste, poses a threat to aquatic ecosystems.
Changing climate patterns impact fish habitats, migration routes, and breeding grounds. This affects fish populations and can result in shifts in the distribution of species, impacting the traditional fishing patterns of communities.
Limited access to modern fishing technologies and practices hampers the efficiency and productivity of the fishing industry. The adoption of sustainable and technologically advanced methods is crucial for long-term viability.
Ineffective fisheries management, including poorly enforced regulations and a lack of participatory approaches involving local communities, contributes to overfishing and resource degradation.
Social and Economic challenges faced by fishing communities such as poverty, lack of education, and limited access to healthcare.

Government Schemes for supporting the growth of Fisheries Sector:

Blue Revolution Scheme: Launched in FY16 with a central outlay of Rs 3000 crores for 5 years. It focused mainly on increasing fisheries production and productivity from aquaculture and fisheries resources, both inland and marine.
National Policy on Marine Fisheries 2017: The policy guides the conservation and management of India’s marine fishery resources. It places strong emphasis on sustainability as the core principle for all marine fisheries actions.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Approved with a total estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crores for 5 years from FY 2020-25. Extended till FY26. It aims to address critical gaps in the fisheries value chain from fish production, productivity and quality to technology, post-harvest infrastructure and marketing.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana: Central Sector Sub-scheme under PMMSY for 4 years from FY 2024-27. It intends to address inherent weaknesses and bring in institutional reforms to the sector through identified financial and technological interventions.
Technological Interventions:
- GIS-Based Resource Mapping: Implementation of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology for mapping marine fish landing centers and fishing grounds, aiding in effective resource management.
- Satellite Technology Integration: National Rollout Plan for Vessel Communication and Support System, application of Oceansat, Potential Fishing Zones (PFZ) etc., undertaken by the Department of Fisheries.

Also Read: PMMSY: bridging gaps in the fisheries sector

Strategies to be adopted to boost Blue Revolution:

Horizontal Expansion in untapped areas like Brackish aquaculture, cold water fisheries, Pond aquaculture, Reservoirs, canals, ornamental fisheries, Recreational fisheries.
Vertical Expansion through diversification of culture species; Integrated farming system; rice-cum-fish culture system; wastewater aquaculture system, Organic aquaculture.
Restoration of natural productivity and conservation of indigenous fisheries resources through ecosystem restoration to boost riverine fisheries.
Address stagnation in Marine fisheries through deep sea fishing, Mariculture, open-sea cage farming etc.
Upgradation of fishing fleet. Organise fishermen into FPOs and fishing village communities into VPOs to reap economies of scale and promote value-addition
Address problems of seed, feed and health.
Enhancing extension through Sagar Mitras.
Address technical and managerial gaps in shrimp farming through Foreign Direct Investment.
Development of fisheries post-harvest infrastructure especially modern markets, cold storages, processing plants etc. through Public Private Partnership.
E-markets and e-trading of fish and fish products will be encouraged and promoted.
Ecological certification of fisheries to boost exports.

Cabinet gives approval to four new Semiconductor Plants

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved four new projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). Two of the projects will be in Bhubaneswar in Odisha, and one each will be in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: India’s efforts towards semiconductor self-reliance.

Four new Semiconductor Plants

The cumulative value of the new projects is ₹4,594 crore. This brings the total number of projects under the India Semiconductor Mission to 10.

Key details about the four new projects:

1. Silicon Carbide integrated facility in Bhubaneswar, Odisha:

SicSem Pvt Ltd will establish an integrated facility of Silicon Carbide (SiC) based Compound Semiconductors. This will be the 1st commercial compound fab in the country.
The project proposes to manufacture Silicon Carbide devices. This compound semiconductor fab will have an annual capacity of 60,000 wafers and packaging capacity of 96 million units.
The proposed products will have applications in Missiles, Defence equipment, Electric Vehicles (EVs), Railway, Fast Chargers, Data Centre racks, Consumer Appliances, and Solar Power Inverters.

Silicon Carbide:

Silicon carbide (also known as SiC) is a semiconductor base material that consists of pure silicon and pure carbon.
SiC can be doped with nitrogen or phosphorus to form an n-type semiconductor or can be doped with beryllium, boron, aluminum, or gallium to form a p-type semiconductor.
SiC devices offer advantages such as higher power density, reduced cooling requirements and lower overall system cost.

2. Vertically integrated advanced packaging and embedded glass substrate unit in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha:

3D Glass Solutions Inc. will bring world’s most advanced packaging technology to India.
Planned capacity of this unit will be approximately 69,600 glass panel substrates, 50 million assembled units, and 13,200 3D Heterogeneous Integration (3DHI) modules per annum.
The products will have significant applications in defence, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, RF and automotive, photonics and co-packaged optics etc.

3. Semiconductor manufacturing unit in Andhra Pradesh:

Advanced System in Package (ASIP) Technologies will set up a semiconductor manufacturing unit with an annual capacity of 96 Million units.
The products will find applications in mobile phones, set-top boxes, automobile applications, and other electronic products.

4. Semiconductor manufacturing facility at Mohali, Punjab:

Continental Device India Pvt Limited will expand its discrete semiconductor manufacturing facility.
The proposed facility will manufacture high-power discrete semiconductor devices such as MOSFETs, IGBTs, Schottky Bypass Diodes, and transistors, both in Silicon and Silicon Carbide.

About India Semiconductor Mission

ISM is a strategic initiative to establish a robust semiconductor and display ecosystem in the country. It seeks to position India as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and chip design.
Launched: 2021
Budget outlay: ₹76,000 crores
Implemented by: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
Incentives: Financial incentives up to 50% of the project cost are provided to companies involved in Semiconductor Fabs, Display Fabs, Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging (ATMP/OSAT) units, Semiconductor Design.

Previous Projects approved under India Semiconductor Mission:

Earlier, six major projects have been approved under the India Semiconductor Mission. Already five semiconductor units are in advanced stages of construction.
Advanced 7 nm (nanometre), 5 nm and 3 nm chips are being designed in India.
The first chip from one of the previous six units is expected to be rolled out by the end of 2025.

Company / Joint Venture	Location
Micron	Sanand, Gujarat
Tata Electronics + PSMC (Taiwan)	Dholera, Gujarat
Tata Semiconductor Assembly & Test (TSAT)	Morigaon, Assam
CG Power + Renesas (Japan) + Stars Microelectronics (Thailand)	Sanand, Gujarat
Suchi Semicon	Surat, Gujarat
HCL + Foxconn (Taiwan)	Jewar, Uttar Pradesh

Also Read: India’s push for Semiconductor Chip Production amid Rising Imports

India’s Retail Inflation hits 8-year low of 1.55%

Context: India's retail inflation rate has dropped to 1.55% in July 2025, its lowest rate since June 2017 (lowest level in eight years), driven by a drop in food prices.

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).
Under the inflation-targeting regime (2016), the Reserve Bank of India is mandated to keep inflation within a 2%-6% band, and must explain to the government if it breaches either end for three consecutive quarters.

Retail Inflation in India

India's retail inflation rate has dropped to 1.55% in July 2025, its lowest rate since June 2017.
Inflation is well below the Reserve Bank of India's tolerance band of 2%-6% for the first time since January 2019.
Food prices have been the main driver for the drastic fall in inflation for the last eight months.
Concerns: A drop below 2% signals weak demand and can hurt farm incomes and rural spending. However, it is unlikely to trigger an immediate rate cut as policymakers may view the decline as temporary and driven by volatile food prices.

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.

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.

With inflation now at its lowest since 2017, India has reinforced macroeconomic stability and created an enabling environment for sustainable growth. However, the steep fall in food prices can lower farmer incomes and directly impact rural consumption demand.

ICICI Bank’s Minimum Average Balance Hike

Context: ICICI Bank has sharply increased the Minimum Monthly Average Balance (MAB) for new savings accounts. This has triggered debate over financial inclusion as Public Sector Banks (PSBs) move towards zero-MAB policies.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About RBI's stand on Minimum Monthly Average Balance (MAB) Policy.

ICICI Bank’s Minimum Average Balance Hike

ICICI Bank, India’s second-largest private lender, has sharply increased the Minimum Monthly Average Balance (MAB) requirement for new savings account customers effective 1 August 2025.
New MAB levels:
- Metro & Urban: ₹50,000 (earlier ₹10,000) → 5× hike
- Semi-Urban: ₹25,000 (earlier ₹5,000)
- Rural: ₹10,000 (earlier ₹2,500)
Exemptions:
- Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts
- Pensioners’ accounts
- Salary accounts
- Customers who maintain savings plus fixed deposit amount of up to ₹2 lakh with the bank.

If a customer fails to maintain the required MAB, the bank will levy a penalty equal to 6% of the shortfall amount or ₹500, whichever is lower.

RBI’s Position on Minimum Average Balance Policy:

The Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has clarified that Minimum Average Balance (MAB) requirements do not fall under RBI regulation. Banks are free to set their own MAB thresholds, with no regulatory cap on the amount.

Why did ICICI Bank do this?

Few customers have less than ₹50,000 MAB: Low-balance customers are not the bank’s core segment. High MAB customers are more likely to keep money parked long-term, providing a cheap source of funds.
Low-balance accounts = high cost and low returns: These accounts still use customer service, tech infrastructure, and compliance resources but generate less revenue.
Fraud risk: Lower-balance accounts see more mule account misuse (used for illegal fund transfers).
Free up resources: Better service for premium customers, tech upgrades, and more fee-based product launches.

Impact on ICICI Bank:

Limited business impact: Very few current customers fall below the new threshold.
Applies only to new accounts; existing customers are unaffected.

Why the Backlash?

Seen as anti-financial inclusion: Many urban customers do not even earn ₹50,000/month. Demanding they keep almost an entire month’s income idle in a low-interest savings account feels exclusionary.
Contrast with PSBs: The hike comes while public sector banks (PSBs) are removing MAB requirements to promote financial inclusion. E.g., Multiple PSBs (PNB, BoB, Indian Bank, etc.) recently waived MAB penalties entirely.

NASA to shut down Orbiting Carbon Observatories

Context: The US administration has asked the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to prepare to shut down Orbiting Carbon Observatories (two major satellites) that monitor atmospheric Carbon dioxide (CO2) and crop health.

The missions, still working perfectly, are being terminated to align with the US budget priorities.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Orbiting Carbon Observatories; Carbon dioxide.

Orbiting Carbon Observatories

OCOs are a series of dedicated Earth remote sensing satellites designed specifically to observe atmospheric CO2 from space to better understand the characteristics of climate change. The two OCOs include: OCO-2 (launched in 2014) and OCO-3 (2019).
Function: The satellites:
- measure atmospheric CO2 and can also locate its sources and sinks.
- track crops and crop-growing seasons by measuring the glow that plants emit when they photosynthesise.
OCO-3 and OCO-2 do the same function, but they provide different perspectives to scientists.
- OCO-2 flies around Earth in a sun-synchronous polar orbit which allows it to see any given location at the same time of day.
- OCO-3 flies aboard the International Space Station (ISS) which orbits Earth every 90 minutes. It can observe a location at many different times of day, and add to the dataset of its predecessor mission.

The US government now plans to shut down both OCO-2 and OCO-3 satellites. The satellites are more sensitive and accurate than any other mission operating or planned, in the world.

Significance of the OCO Missions

Before the launch of the OCOs, scientists measured atmospheric CO2 mainly through instruments placed at various locations on the Earth’s surface. However, this did not provide them information about the whole planet.

Provide a range of Data: OCOs have the ability to monitor crop health. NASA and other agencies have used the data to create high-resolution maps of plant growth around the world. The data generated by OCOs is used:
- For CO2 measurement
- To forecast and track crop yields and drought conditions
- For drought monitoring
- Forest mapping
- To assess emission reduction efforts, and to develop effective strategies to tackle climate change.
Advance scientific knowledge: OCOs have advanced scientific knowledge by paving the way for some surprising discoveries. For instance:
- For decades, it was believed that tropical rainforests functioned as the lungs of the planet by clearing out vast quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere. However, data from OCO-2 revealed that boreal forests (also known as taiga), the coniferous forests in the higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere, play a significant role in the absorption of CO2.
- The data showed how natural carbon sinks such as forests could become carbon emitters due to drought or deforestation.

About Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide, a colourless gas, is one of the most important greenhouse gases linked to global warming. It is a minor component of Earth’s atmosphere (about 3 volumes in 10,000).
Sources of Emission:
- Natural: Respiration, decomposition of living animals, fermentation, emitted from oceans and other natural bodies of water, volcanoes, forest fires, and carbonate rocks.
- Anthropogenic: Transportation, power and heat generation, chemical and petrochemical production, manufacturing, agriculture, food production.

Global Warming Potential:

GWP describes how much impact a gas will have on atmospheric warming over a period of time compared to carbon dioxide. Each greenhouse gas has a different atmospheric warming impact, and some gases remain in the atmosphere for longer than others.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) has the lowest global warming potential, is the most abundant and lasts for thousands of years, so it is used as the baseline.

Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 2025 & Coastal Shipping Act 2025

Context: In the biggest overhaul of India’s maritime legal framework, two landmark legislations- ‘Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025’, and the ‘Coastal Shipping Act, 2025’ have been enacted.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key provisions of ‘Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025’, and the ‘Coastal Shipping Act, 2025.’

Overhaul of India’s Maritime Legal Framework

The Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025 replaces outdated provisions of the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925.
The Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 seeks to simplify and modernise the legal framework governing coastal shipping. It replaces outdated provisions of Part XIV of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.

Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025

The Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025 adopts Hague-Visby Rules, a globally accepted maritime standard. It standardises Indian maritime trade law with globally accepted norms (especially regarding bills of lading and cargo liability).
The Act lays out clearly defined roles, responsibilities, liabilities and protections for parties involved in the carriage of goods by sea to reduce legal disputes.
It caps carrier liability to provide predictability for shippers and insurers. Exemptions cover force majeure events like war and natural disasters, while allowing negotiated terms for special cargo.
The Act outlines clear rules around the Bill of Lading- including who is responsible if something goes wrong, and what rights both parties have. The government can update or modify the rules related to bills of lading, without needing to bring a new law to Parliament.

Bill of Lading:

It is a legal receipt issued by a shipping company to the person sending the goods.
It lists what goods are being shipped, their quantity and condition, and where they are going.
It acts as proof of ownership of the goods and is essential for international trade.

Coastal Shipping Act, 2025

The Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 consolidates rules for coasting trade, defined as cargo or passenger movement between Indian ports or related offshore activities.

It introduces a simplified licensing system for coastal shipping and lays down the framework for regulating foreign vessels engaged in coasting trade.
- It requires foreign vessels to obtain licences from the Director-General of Shipping.
- Indian vessels, while exempt from licensing, must meet reporting norms.
The Act mandates formulation of National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan to map routes, forecast traffic and integrate coastal shipping with inland waterways. It has to be updated every two years.
It provides for creation of a National Database for Coastal Shipping to enable real-time access to authentic and regularly updated data. This database will keep potential investors informed about the government’s development plans and policy priorities.
Strict penalties target unlicensed operations, false declarations and safety breaches. The government is empowered to reroute or ban vessels in public interest or for national defence.

Significance of overhauling India’s Maritime Legal Framework:

Align India’s maritime framework with global conventions and international protocols.
Streamline coastal trade and prioritise Indian-owned vessels in domestic waters. Enhance supply-chain security by increasing Indian ships’ participation in domestic cargo movement.
The National Database for Coastal Shipping will promote transparency and confidence.
Reduce India’s dependence on foreign vessels thereby preventing the outflow of foreign exchange.
Promotes ease of doing business for Indian shipping operators, cuts freight costs and enhances multimodal transport efficiency.
Catalyses local economic development generating employment opportunities across coastal regions.

India moves a step closer to building a rule-aligned, integrated, efficient, and globally competitive coastal and inland shipping ecosystem, while securing the country’s vast 7500 km coastline for strategic and commercial benefit.

SC’s New Directions on Stray Dogs

Context: The Supreme Court has issued new directives to manage stray dogs in Delhi-NCR after the death of a six-year-old girl from rabies highlighting the need to balance animal rights with public safety.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960; ABC Rules.
Mains: Balancing animal rights with human safety.

SC’s New Directions on Stray Dogs

In a suo motu case, the SC directed Municipal Authorities to pick up and house all stray dogs in Delhi and parts of the National Capital Region in dedicated shelters within eight weeks.
The SC directed that the stray dogs, once they are picked up and brought in, should be sterilised and immunised.
The dog shelters must be put under CCTV surveillance in order to ensure the dogs were neither released nor taken out.
Municipal Authorities must maintain a record of strays captured and housed in pounds, and produce the records in court.
The Bench directed the authorities to start a helpline to report incidents of dog attacks. The authorities would assist the victim in accessing treatment without delay.

Dog Bites in India

India has the largest population of stray dogs. In 2019, the government told Lok Sabha that stray dogs numbered 1.53 crore; it repeated this data in 2022.
In 2024, over 37 lakh cases of dog bites were reported throughout the country. Over 50 people died from rabies in 2024.
As per the WHO:
- Dog bites are responsible for about 96% of the mortality and morbidity associated with rabies in India.
- 36% of Rabies death in the world occur in India.
- 30-60% of reported rabies cases and deaths in India occur in children under the age of 15 years.

About Rabies:

Vaccine-preventable zoonotic disease caused by a RNA virus which infects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans.
Transmission: Bite of an infected animal (dogs, cats, bats, monkeys, foxes), contact with saliva or other bodily fluids of infected animal.
Symptoms: Fever and headache, hallucinations, paralysis and hydrophobia.
Treatment: Once symptoms appear, there is no cure for Rabies (100% fatal).
Vaccines are available such as RABIVAX-S, VaxiRab N and VERORAB to immunise people both before and after potential exposures.

Government Policy on Stray Dogs:

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 :

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 provides the primary legal basis for regulating and protecting stray animals in India.
The Act aims to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals.
Under the Act, the Centre in 2001 promulgated the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules.

Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme :

The ABC (Dogs) Rules, 2001 mandate that stray dogs must be humanely captured, sterilised, vaccinated against rabies, and then released back into the same locality from where they were caught.
Under no circumstances are stray dogs to be killed unless they are rabid, critically injured, or fatally ill.
Under the ABC Rules 2023, stray dogs have been recognised as community animals, acknowledging their co-existence in public spaces. This classification allows for regulated community feeding and protection against displacement.

Previous Court Judgments on Stray Dogs:

Supreme Court’s Stand on Culling: In earlier hearings, the Supreme Court observed that indiscriminate culling of stray dogs is not permissible under Indian law. The SC emphasised that stray dog management must be carried out in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules.
Kerala High Court Observations (2015): In response to rising dog-bite incidents, the HC permitted local bodies to eliminate dangerous and rabid stray dogs. This order was challenged, leading to the matter being taken up by the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Intervention (Post-2015): The SC stayed orders allowing mass killing of stray dogs and directed that the ABC Rules must be strictly implemented instead. The Court stressed that balance must be maintained between human safety and animal rights.
Bombay High Court (2018): The HC upheld the right of citizens to feed stray dogs, provided it is done at designated spots identified by local authorities. The Court underlined that feeding should not cause public nuisance or health hazards.

Also Read: Animal Birth Control Rules 2023

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