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Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) 

Context: DRDO has conducted the maiden flight test of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Features of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS). 

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Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS)

IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system comprising: 

  • Indigenous Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM)
  • Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles 
  • A high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) 

Three components of IADWS

Indigenous Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM): 

  • QRSAM is a short-range Surface to Air Missile (SAM) system. It is primarily designed to provide a protective shield to moving armoured columns of the Army from enemy aerial attacks.
  • The entire weapon system is configured on highly mobile platforms. It has search and track capability and can fire on short halts. The system has an operation range of 3 to 30 kilometers. 
  • The QRSAM weapon ensemble consists of a fully automated command and control system, two radars (Active Array Battery Surveillance Radar and Active Array Battery Multifunction Radar) and one launcher. Both the radars have a 360-degree coverage with ‘search on move’ and ‘track on move’ capabilities. 

Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) Missiles: 

  • VSHORADS is a fourth-generation, technically advanced miniaturised Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD). 
  • The weapon system can neutralise targets between the range of 300 meters and six kilometers, including drones and other classes of aerial threats.
  • Effective against drones, UAVs, and low-flying aircraft. Designed for all three services: Army, Navy, Air Force. 

Directed Energy Weapon (DEW): 

  • High-power laser-based weapon (range < 3 km).
  • Neutralises UAVs, swarm drones by structural damage & disabling sensors.
  • Places India in the exclusive group of nations with operational DEWs.

While QRSAM has been designed and developed by the DRDO, VSHORADS and DEW have been developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) respectively, both Hyderabad-based facilities of the DRDO.

Centralised Command and Control Centre: 

  • The integrated operation of all these weapon system components is controlled by a Centralised Command and Control Centre, developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad.

Strategic Significance of IADWS

  • Enhanced Air Defence: Provides a multi-layered shield against UAVs, drones, and short-range missiles up to 30 km, strengthening national security.
  • Indigenous Capability: Showcases India’s self-reliance in defence technology, reducing dependence on foreign imports.
  • Network-Centric Warfare: Will integrate with IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and Army’s Akashteer, improving jointness and real-time coordination.
  • Counter to Modern Threats: Combines missiles with Directed Energy Weapons, enabling defence against drone swarms and asymmetric aerial attacks.
  • Strategic Deterrence: Enhances India’s credibility to deter Pakistan’s drone incursions and China’s UAV warfare capabilities.
  • Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Marks an important step towards developing a indigenous nationwide security shield from multi-dominary enemy attacks under Mission Sudarshan Chakra by 2035. 

Role of Decoys in Contemporary Warfare 

Context: In contemporary warfare, as jets, tanks, and warships have become more sophisticated; the methods used to shield them from detection and attack have greatly evolved. Decoys have emerged as vital tools to protect assets through deception.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims & Mains: Decoys - working, applications, examples; Role of Decoys in Contemporary warfare.

What are Decoys ?

  • A decoy in warfare is a deliberately created false target (physical or electronic) that imitates real military assets with the objective of misleading enemy sensors and weapons, thereby protecting actual platforms, wasting adversary munitions, and buying time for counteraction.

Types of Decoys in Modern Warfare

  • Airborne Decoys:
    • Fibre-Optic Towed Decoys (FOTD):  E.g., Rafael’s X-Guard, Raytheon’s AN/ALE-50/55.
    • Expendable Active Decoys (EAD):  E.g., Leonardo’s BriteCloud, that imitate aircraft signatures.
    • Stand-in Decoys:  E.g., US MALD series, acting as mini-jammers or fake aircraft.
  • Land-Based Decoys: Inflatable tanks, artillery, or missile batteries with radar/thermal emissions. E.g., Russia’s Inflatech, Ukraine’s wooden/3D-printed systems, US Army’s fake vehicles.
  • Naval Decoys: Chaff, acoustic emitters, and self-propelled active decoys.  E.g.,
    • Nulka (Australia-US), mimicking large vessels to mislead anti-ship missiles.
    • India: Kavach (chaff decoy) & Maareech (anti-torpedo system).

India’s Deployment of Decoys

  • X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD):  
    • During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force reportedly deployed the X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD) on its Rafale jets. 
    • These decoys are believed to have misled Pakistan’s J-10C fighters and their PL-15E beyond-visual-range missiles, resulting in false kill claims by the adversary.
    • Integrated with the SPECTRA Electronic Warfare (EW) suite, the X-Guard provided an additional protective layer, enhancing the survivability of Rafales.
    • Following the operation, the Ministry of Defence began fast-tracking the emergency procurement of additional X-Guard units to strengthen the Air Force’s defensive capabilities.
  • T-90 Tank Decoys: In 2025, the Indian Army issued a Request for Information (RFI) to domestic vendors for the development of T-90 tank decoys. These decoys are required to replicate not only the physical dimensions but also the thermal and acoustic signatures of real tanks. 
  • Kavach Decoy System: Indian Navy has inducted the Kavach decoy system, designed to protect warships by diverting radar-guided anti-ship missiles.
  • Maareech Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS): Indian Navy has  also operationalised the Maareech Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS), jointly developed by DRDO and BEL, which detects incoming torpedoes and deploys decoys to neutralise them effectively.

Role of Decoys in Contemporary Warfare: 

  • Protection of High-Value Assets: Decoys act as the first line of defence for expensive platforms like fighter jets, tanks, and warships. E.g., Indian Air Force reportedly used X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoys on Rafales during Operation Sindoor to protect jets from Pakistan’s J-10C fighters and PL-15E missiles.
  • Confusing and Misleading Enemy Sensors: They replicate radar, thermal, and acoustic signatures to misguide surveillance and targeting systems. E.g., X-Guard mimics a Rafale’s radar cross-section and Doppler velocity, making it hard for missiles to distinguish between real and fake targets.
  • Wastage of Enemy Munitions: By drawing enemy fire onto false targets, decoys force adversaries to expend costly missiles and bombs. E.g., Ukraine has used wooden and 3D-printed decoys of artillery and missile systems to make Russia waste drones and precision strikes.
  • Buying Time for Counteraction: Decoys delay enemy decision-making and create windows for evasion or retaliation. E.g., In naval warfare, Australia-US Nulka active decoy draws incoming missiles away from warships, giving them time to maneuver or launch countermeasures.
  • Force Multiplication in Ground Warfare: Ground decoys simulate massed formations, creating the illusion of greater strength. E.g., Russia’s Inflatech decoys can quickly create fake tank or artillery formations; Indian Army in 2025 issued an RFI for T-90 tank decoys with thermal and acoustic signatures to deceive drones.
  • Multi-Layered Defence Systems: Decoys work in tandem with Electronic Warfare (EW) suites to form a layered shield. E.g.,
    • On Rafales, SPECTRA EW suite + X-Guard FOTD together provide both onboard jamming and an external trailing shield.
    • Indian Navy’s Kavach chaff system and Maareech ATDS provide similar protection against radar-guided missiles and torpedoes.
  • Psychological and Strategic Impact: Decoys undermine the enemy’s confidence in their own sensors and kill claims, adding to the fog of war. 
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Decoys, across air, land, and sea, have become indispensable to modern war fighting. For a relatively low investment, they deliver high-impact protection.

How Haryana’s new ‘dictionary meaning of forest’ will affect the Aravallis?

Context: While following the directive of the Supreme Court to identify forests, the state government of Haryana has notified new definition of forest in the state. However, the environmental activists express concern that the new definition of forest would exclude most of the state’s remaining Aravalli forests from legal protection under the Forest Conservation Act. 

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Definition of Forest; Forest Conservation Act 1980; T.N. Godavarman judgment.

Mains: Issues in defining forests; challenges in balancing conservation with development.

Supreme Court Directive

  • The Supreme Court, while hearing challenges to the 2023 amendment to the Forest (Conservation) Act in the Ashok Kumar Sharma vs Union of India case, directed all States and Union Territories to define what constitutes a “forest” and begin surveys to identify such areas.
  • It mandated the formation of expert committees within one month to map “forest-like areas,” “unclassified forests,” and “community forests,” and required these reports to be submitted to the Centre within six months.

Haryana’s definition of Forests

  • In a recent notification, Haryana’s Environment, Forest and Wildlife department stated: A patch of land shall be deemed to be ‘forest as per dictionary meaning’, if it fulfils following conditions:
    • It has a minimum area of five hectares (if it is in isolation).
    • It has a minimum area of two hectares (if it is in contiguity with the government notified forests); and
    • It has a canopy density of 0.4 (40%) or more. 
  • All linear/ compact / agro-forestry plantations and orchards situated outside the government notified forests shall not be treated as forests under the above definition.   
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Criticism of Haryana’s Definition:

  • High Canopy Density Threshold (40%): 
    • Environmentalists argue that Haryana’s definition creates an unreasonably high threshold for recognising land as forest. 
    • The requirement of a minimum canopy density of 40% is seen as problematic because the Aravallis naturally consist of scrub and thorn forests adapted to low rainfall conditions of 300-600 millimetres annually. 
    • These ecosystems, though ecologically valuable, would fail to meet the high canopy density criterion and thus risk exclusion from legal protection under the FCA. 
  • Large Minimum Area Requirement (2-5 hectares): In a dry state like Haryana, smaller forest patches are ecologically significant. The threshold of 2-5 hectares is unreasonably high and risks ignoring these smaller but vital ecosystems.
  • Exclusion of Plantations and Orchards: Excluding plantations and orchards from the definition of forests undermines their ecological contributions such as soil conservation, carbon sequestration, and micro-climate regulation.

By setting such restrictive thresholds, Haryana’s definition risks excluding large portions of the Aravallis from legal protection under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA). 

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Forest Conservation Act 1980: 

  • Enacted in 1980 to check rapid deforestation. Aimed at maintaining ecological balance, preserving biodiversity, and preventing indiscriminate diversion of forests for non-forests produce without the prior approval of the Centre.

Definition of Forest

  • In 1996, the Supreme Court in T.N. Godavarman v. The Union of India ruled that the word “forest” under the Forest Conservation Act 1980 must be understood in its dictionary meaning, covering all statutorily recognised forests i.e., reserved, protected, or otherwise. This landmark judgment meant that any forested land irrespective of size, ownership, or official status could be deemed a forest, thereby expanding the scope of the FCA. 
  • Criticism: This broad interpretation of forest was later criticised for obstructing even small-scale developmental and public utility projects.
  • Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023: To address this, the 2023 amendment to the FCA restricted its applicability only to:
    • Notified forests, and
    • Lands recorded as “forest” in government documents.

The amendment was challenged by retired IFS officers and NGOs like Vanashakti and Goa Foundation, who argued it diluted the Act and weakened protections.

Gender Disparity in Organ Transplants in India

Context: The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) recently issued a direction stating that women patients and relatives of deceased donors will receive priority in organ allocation. This is part of a 10-point advisory aimed at addressing gender disparity in organ transplants and encouraging donations. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: State of Organ Donation in India and world.Mains: Gender Disparity in Organ Transplants in India. 

India’s Organ Transplant Paradox

A study in the British Medical Journal titled “India’s organ transplant paradox: women donate the most and receive the least” highlighted striking imbalances:

  • Between 2019 and 2023, 63.8% of all living organ donors in India were women. In the same period, men accounted for 69.8% of all organ recipients, showing a stark gender gap.
  • Out of 56,509 living organ donations made in the last five years, 36,038 donations came from women. However, only 17,041 transplants were performed on women, while 39,447 transplants went to men.

This indicates that women form the majority of donors but remain a minority among recipients.

Legal Framework for Organ Donation in India:  

  • The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA) 1994 provides the basic legal framework for organ donation and transplantation in India.
  • The Act permits organ donation by both living donors and deceased (brain-stem dead) donors, subject to strict medical and ethical conditions. 
  • It prohibits commercial trade in human organs, making buying or selling of organs a punishable offence with stringent financial and judicial penalties.
  • An amendment in 2011 expanded the scope of the law to include the donation of human tissues. 

The Act has established the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) as the apex body to oversee Organ donation. All hospitals engaged in organ retrieval or transplantation be registered and linked with NOTTO.

Status of Organ Donation:  

  • According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) around 1,30,000 solid organ transplants are performed worldwide each year, but this meets only about 10% of the global demand.
  • Countries with streamlined donor systems and higher public awareness, such as Spain and the U.S., have achieved much better organ donation rates. 
  • In India, the demand-supply gap is severe. Every year, nearly 1.8 lakh people develop end-stage kidney disease, but only around 12,000 kidney transplants are performed. Due to this shortage, a large number of patients are forced to remain on dialysis or face premature death. 
  • An organ donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and can help many more through tissue donation such as corneas, skin, and bones.

However, lack of awareness, cultural myths, and hesitation to discuss organ donation within families remain the biggest obstacles in organ donation.

GST Rate Rationalisation: Two slab GST proposal gets GoM nod 

Context: The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Rate Rationalisation formed by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has decided to accept the Centre’s two-rate structure proposal for GST. Final decisions on all matters pertaining to GST are taken by the GST Council, as GoMs are only recommendatory bodies. 

Earlier, the former Chief Economic Adviser has emphasised the need for simplification of GST structure and rate rationalisation. 

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Features of GST; GST Rate Rationalisation. Mains: Challenges in GST Implementation. 

Features of Goods and Services Tax: 

  • GST is a single tax levied on the supply of goods and services across all stages of the supply chain (right from the manufacturer to the consumer). 

GST subsumes multiple state and central taxes: 

  • Excise duty 
  • Service tax 
  • Additional excise duty 
  • Additional customs duty 
  • States sales tax 
  • Entertainment tax 
  • Octroi tax (Entry tax)
  • GST has dual tax structure: 
    • CGST (Central GST) goes to the Central Government.
    • SGST (State GST) goes to the state government, in which the sale is taking place.
  • GST is a destination based tax. During interstate trade, tax is imposed by the state (importing state) in which the consumption takes place instead of the state which supplied the goods/service. 
  • Rate slabs: There are four primary tax rates (5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%) under GST.  

GST Rate Rationalisation

The GST reforms will simplify the tax structure, reduce disputes on classification of products and also boost consumption. They include: 

  • Elimination of two tax slabs of 12% and 28% in the current GST structure and retention of the 5% and 18% tax rates. This would entail 99% of the items in the 12% slab moving to 5%, and 90% of the items in the 28% slab moving to 18%. 
  • Special slab of 40% for luxury and sin goods: Ultra-luxury goods (like high-end cars) along with sin goods and services such as tobacco, cigarettes, and online real-money gaming would be moved to a higher 40% slab. However, the compensation cess currently being levied on the items in the 28% slab would no longer apply. 
  • Proposed exemption of individual life and health insurance premiums from the 18% goods and services tax (GST) slab to nil. 

Final decisions on all matters pertaining to GST are taken by the GST Council, as GoMs are only recommendatory bodies. The date of the next GST Council meeting is expected to take place in early September 2025.  

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Significance: 

  • Bring down tax burden on consumers: The proposed shift of most items from 12% slab to 5% and from 28% slab to 18% eases costs and enhances affordability for households.
    • The GST rate of essential items (food, cloth) is expected to decline to 5% from 12%, the CPI inflation in this category may also come down by 10-15 bps after considering a 60% pass through effect on food items. 
    • Rationalisation of GST rates of services will lead to another 5-10 bps reduction in CPI inflation on other goods and service items, considering a 25% pass through effect.
  • Spur growth of MSMEs: Lower GST slabs will have a subsequent multiplier effect because of lower reduced logistics costs and simplified compliance, especially for MSMEs. 
  • Makes goods competitive: A lower GST rate for both the final products and their inputs would make Indian goods competitive in global markets. 
  • GST exemption would provide significant relief to millions of Indians currently paying 18% GST on both life and health insurance premiums.

GST reforms align with the government’s broader agenda of growth and financial inclusion.

Concerns of GST Rate Rationalisation:

  • Revenue loss to states due to rationalisation: Earlier rate rationalisation by the GST Council has brought down the effective weighted average GST rate from 14.4% to around 11.6%. With the current rationalisation of rates the effective weighted average GST rate is believed to further come down to 9.5%. 
    • Positive scenario: Lower GST slabs will encourage consumption in the states, lead to higher sales volumes and can partly make up for lower rates.
    • Negative scenario: If consumption growth is not high enough, this will lower the GST revenue of the state (unless compensated by the Central government). According to an SBI research report, estimated revenue loss due to the changes could be ₹85,000 crore per annum and around ₹45,000 crore in the current financial year.
  • Burden on exchequer: GST exemption would cost the exchequer an estimated ₹9,700 crore in annual revenue. 

However, since more than 70% GST collections come from 18% slab (which is not proposed to be changed in general) the revenue impact of GST cuts may be limited, particularly because reduced prices will spur demand. 

There should be a comprehensive discussion on the possibility of loss in revenue for the States due to GST rate rationalisation. If the States incur any losses due to rationalisation, there should be a mechanism to compensate the States and preserve revenue neutrality. 

Also Read: Challenges in GST Implementation 

Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025

Context: The President of India has given assent to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The Act encourages e-sports and online social games, while prohibiting harmful online money gaming services, advertisements, and financial transactions related to them.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Online Gaming in India, provisions of Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.

Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025

  • The Act imposes a complete ban on online money games which applies to games of chance, games of skill, and those that combine both. Advertising and promotion of such games is strictly prohibited. Financial transactions related to these platforms cannot be processed by banks or payment systems. Authorities will be empowered to block access to unlawful platforms under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
  • Offences and Penalties: 
    • Offering or facilitating online money games can lead to imprisonment of up to 3 years and a fine of up to 1crore rupees. Financial transactions linked to these games are also punishable with similar penalties. 
    • Advertising such games can attract a jail term of up to 2 years and a fine of up to 50 lakh rupees. 
    • Repeat offenders face harsher punishments, including imprisonment of up to 5 years and fines of up to 2 crore rupees. 
    • Offences under key provisions will be cognisable and non-bailable (police can arrest without a warrant and bail is not a right). Central Government may authorise officers to investigate, search and seize both digital and physical property linked to offences. 
    • Corporate and Institutional Liability: Companies and their officers will be held accountable for offences.
  • Promotion and Recognition of E-Sports: 
    • E-sports have been recognised as a legitimate competitive sport in India. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will prepare guidelines and standards for tournaments. 
    • Training academies, research centres and technology platforms will be set up to advance the sector, along with providing incentive.
  • Establishment of Online Gaming Authority: A national-level regulatory authority will be established, or an existing one may be designated for oversight. Its functions will include categorising and registering online games, deciding whether a game qualifies as a money game, and addressing public grievances. The Authority will issue guidelines, codes of practice and directions to ensure compliance. 
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Online Gaming Sector in India

  • Online gaming has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments of India’s digital economy, driven by cheap data, smartphone penetration, and a young demographic.
  • India is among the largest online gaming markets by users, though the industry remains dominated by Real Money Gaming (RMG) platforms. 
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Market Size & Growth: 

  • India had over 500 million gamers in 2023 expected to cross 650 million by 2025.
  • Online gaming revenue stood at around ₹16,000 crore in 2023, projected to grow rapidly.
  • Composition: RMG constitutes nearly 80-86% of gaming revenues (fantasy sports, rummy, poker, etc.). Non-monetary games (casual, educational, e-sports) form a smaller share but growing base.
  • The RMG sector currently contributes ₹20,000 crore in annual GST, alongside ₹25,000 crore in investments, 2 lakh jobs, and 400 companies are at stake.  

Why is the Ban Imposed? 

  • Addiction and Massive Financial Loss: Online money games encourage compulsive playing. It is estimated that roughly 45 crore Indians collectively lose about ₹20,000 crore each year on real-money gaming platforms.
  • Mental Health and Suicide: Rising Suicide cases linked to gambling debts. E.g., Karnataka police records attribute 32 suicides in just 31 months to online gambling debt spirals.
  • Distorted Industry Structure: In 2024, 86% of online gaming revenues came from Real Money Gaming (RMG) platforms, overshadowing creative and educational games.
  • Regulatory challenges: The “skill vs chance” legal loophole allowed quasi-gambling to flourish unchecked.
  • Fragile growth model: The 28% GST imposition in 2023 caused huge losses, layoffs, and investor exits. The business model relied on tax loopholes and user losses, not on real innovation.
  • Threat to National Security: Investigations have shown that some gaming platforms were being used for terror financing and illegal messaging, which compromise the country’s security.
  • Closing Legal Loopholes: Gambling and betting are already restricted under Indian laws such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and by various state legislations. But the online domain remained largely unregulated. The Bill ensures that the same standards apply in both physical and digital spaces.

Significance of the Ban: 

  • Protects Vulnerable Populations: Prevents gambling addiction, debt spirals, and suicides linked to persistent small-value losses.
  • Correct Market Distortion: Shifts India’s gaming sector away from Real Money Gaming (86% revenues) towards building creative, export-oriented games instead of quasi-gambling apps.
  • Regulatory Clarity: A blanket ban ends the legal ambiguity of “skill vs chance” and simplifies enforcement.
  • Consumer Welfare and Social Stability: Safeguards household savings, reduces predatory advertising, and curbs associated crimes.
  • Encouraging Healthy Alternatives: E-sports will be promoted as a legitimate sport, while social and educational games that build skills and cultural values will receive government support.

Regulations for Online Gaming Sector in India

1. Information Technology Act, 2000 and Related Rules: 

The IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 laid down norms for online gaming platforms.

  • Online gaming intermediaries must ensure unlawful or illegal content is not shared on their networks.
  • Intermediaries offering money games are required to register with self-regulatory bodies (SRBs) which verify whether a game is permissible.
  • Section 69A of the IT Act empowers the Government to block access to illegal websites or links. E.g., Over 1500  betting and gambling websites and mobile apps have been blocked between 2022 and 2025 (till date).

2. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023: 

  • Section 111 penalises unlawful economic activities and cybercrimes.
  • Section 112 prescribes punishment for unauthorised betting and gambling. Offenders face a minimum of one year imprisonment, extendable up to seven years and fine.

3. Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act 2017: 

  • Illegal and offshore gaming platforms are regulated under the IGST Act.
  • Online money gaming suppliers must register under the Simplified Registration Scheme.
  • Directorate General of GST Intelligence is authorised to direct intermediaries to block access to unregistered or non-compliant gaming platforms. This ensures digital entities follow the same taxation rules as physical businesses. 

4. Consumer Protection Act 2019: 

  • Prohibits misleading and surrogate advertisements.
  • The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has powers to investigate, penalise and take criminal action against offenders. CCPA has issued advisories to prevent celebrities and influencers from endorsing betting platforms.

Global Lessons

  • Finland, despite its small population, has built a globally competitive gaming ecosystem. It hosts over 250 gaming studios, generates more than €3 billion in turnover, and has produced multiple global hits through companies like Supercell and Rovio.
  • Its ecosystem is export-led, talent-dense, resilient, and achieved entirely without money-based apps.

India should take inspiration from Finland’s experience. Rather than letting its industry be dominated by real-money apps that erode savings, it must shift towards a creative, export-oriented ecosystem that nurtures world-class intellectual property.

Need for a Separate Budget for Agriculture

Context: The imposition of 50% penal tariffs by the United States on Indian farm products in 2025 underlines the structural fragility of Indian agriculture and the asymmetry in global trade. 

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture (AoA); Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS); MSP, FPOs; PMFBY.

Mains: State of Indian Agriculture, Issues of subsidy. 

Asymmetry in Global Trade

  • The US and EU’s so-called “Green Box” subsidies, which they claim are non-trade-distorting, effectively grant their farmers an unfair advantage in global markets.
                        United States                            India 
As per WTO, the US spends over $48 billion annually on domestic farm support. This includes crop insurance subsidies covering up to 60% of premium. A large number of our farmers are waiting for compensation for their produce losses under PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna). 
Price guarantees and marketing loans ensure farmers earn above-market rates.India farmers are waiting for a legal guarantee of MSP. 
Export-linked supports disguised as food aid and development programmes allow the US’s wheat, corn or dairy farmers to sell abroad at or below cost without losing income.India’s WTO-notified support (Aggregate Measurement of Support) is less than 5% of production value. It is far below the 10% limit allowed for developing countries.

State of Indian Agriculture: 

Agriculture sustains 42% of our population and employs 46% of our workforce. It contributes less than 20% of the GDP. The recent NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) Rural Financial Inclusion Survey reveals that:

  • Low household income: An average farming household earns Rs 13,661 per month, with a mere Rs 4,476 from actual farming, the rest comes from supplementary work, such as working as labourers or engaging in petty trade. 
  • Fragmentation of Land: Average farm size has shrunk from 2.28 hectares in 1971 to 0.74 hectares in 2021 which is too small for efficient mechanisation.
  • High Input Cost: Input costs (diesel, fertilisers, seeds) have risen faster than crop prices, and are squeezing margins.
  • Lack of employment alternatives: A large percentage of India’s population is engaged in agriculture is a symptom not of farming’s attractiveness, but of manufacturing and services failing to create the 7.9 million jobs a year.

The US tariff shock highlights a stark truth- protection alone cannot secure agriculture’s future. The agriculture sector in India needs structural reforms as the long-term strategy. It requires equipping farmers with the essential tools, providing market access, and creating alternative employment opportunities. 

Way Forward

India must implement three urgent and decisive shifts.

  • Labour Transition (From Agriculture to Manufacturing & Services): India must shift surplus workers from low-yield farming into manufacturing and services by promoting labour-intensive sectors like textiles, food processing, and light engineering, supported by rural skill training and urban job creation.
  • Prioritise farm consolidation and mechanisation: Land pooling through cooperative farming, FPOs, and land leasing reforms can enable mechanisation, modern irrigation, and precision farming, thereby raising productivity and reducing costs.
  • Need to boost value addition and enhance export competitiveness:
    • India’s farm exports, which stand at $48.15 billion for 2023-24, could experience substantial growth through improved logistics, branding, and quality certification.
    • Reducing post-harvest losses from the current 15-25% to the global standard of 5% can release vast quantities for export.

Protection serves a purpose, but it is reform that will ultimately secure our agricultural future, and for this the Rashtriya Kisan Kalyan Kosh (a separate budget like defence) is the need of the hour.

Also Read: Needs of Indian Agriculture Sector

Agni 5: Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile 

Context: Recently, India successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) Agni 5 from the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Agni 5 missile; Agni Missile series. 

About Agni 5 missile

  • Developed by: Defence Research and Development Organisation. 
  • Agni-5 is among India’s most advanced long-range ballistic missiles. Equipped with modern navigation, guidance, warhead and propulsion technologies, it strengthens India’s nuclear deterrence.

Key features of Agni 5 missile:

  • Nuclear-capable ICBM: Agni 5 is a land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) capability.
  • Extended range: Designed for nuclear use, Agni 5 has a range of over 5000 kilometres.
  • Propelled by a solid rocket propellant system. Agni 5 is powered by a three-stage solid-rocket-powered missile system capable of delivering a 1.5-tonne nuclear warhead.
  • MIRVed test launch: In 2024, India conducted the first MIRVed test launch of Agni 5 from validating its ability to carry and release multiple warheads.
  • Warhead capacity: Capable of carrying and firing up to 3 nuclear warheads simultaneously.
  • Future enhancements: New variants under development aim to integrate bunker-buster bomb technology, expanding the missile’s strike capability against fortified targets.
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Key Facts: 

  • India’s missile development accelerated after it joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016 gaining access to advanced systems.
  • India has a no-first use policy for nuclear weapons, hence, the missile can offer incredible deterrence to prevent a nuclear attack.

The successful test reaffirms India’s commitment to maintaining a credible minimum deterrence posture. 

Also Read: Mission Divyastra: Agni-V with Multiple Warhead Technology 

India needs a National Space Law

Context: India’s space programme has achieved remarkable milestones from the cost-effective success of Mangalyaan (2014) to the historic soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 (2023) and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. These achievements have positioned India among the top spacefaring nations. 

However, India lacks a comprehensive National Space Law which is essential to regulate private participation, ensure accountability, and align with international obligations.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: India's and Global Space Legislation.Mains: Why India Need for National Space Legislation? 

Global Space Legislation

The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 is the foundational legal framework for outer space.

Outer Space Treaty of 1967: 

  • It declares space to be the province of all mankind
  • Prohibits any national appropriation of celestial bodies, and 
  • Makes states responsible for all space activities conducted under their jurisdiction, including those by private actors.
  • Its companion agreements create binding frameworks of rights, responsibilities, and liability rules. 

Companion Agreements of OST 1967: 

  • Liability Convention 1972: Establishes state responsibility for damages caused by space objects.
  • Registration Convention 1976: Mandates registration of space objects.
  • Moon Agreement 1979: Treats space resources as “common heritage of mankind” (India is not a party).

Limitations: 

  • These treaties are not self-executing. They need to be translated into national laws for effective enforcement.

India’s Current Legal & Policy Framework

India has ratified the key UN space treaties but it is still in the process of enacting comprehensive national space legislation. Current regulatory measures include : 

  • Indian Space Policy, 2023: outlines roles of government and private entities.
  • IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre): Regulator for non-governmental space activities.
  • Catalogue of Indian Standards for Space Industry: Provides technical safety guidelines.
  • Norms, Guidelines and Procedures (NPG), 2023: Framework for authorisation of space activities.

Need for National Space Legislation: 

  • International Obligations: Under Article VI of the OST, India is internationally liable for activities of private companies. Without national law, India risks treaty violations or arbitrary regulation.
  • Predictability & Legal Clarity: National space legislation offers predictability, legal clarity, and a stable regulatory environment for both government and private actors, critical for attracting private investments.
  • Industry Concerns: 
    • IN-SPACe lacks statutory authority; its decisions are vulnerable to procedural challenges.
    • Companies face delays due to the dual-use nature of space technology (defence and civilian), requiring multiple ministry clearances.
    • Unclear FDI rules and lack of affordable third-party insurance hinder startups.
    • Weak IPR protection risks migration of talent to IP-friendly jurisdictions.
  • Strategic Importance: Space technologies are dual-use and critical for national security, absence of legal clarity can weaken strategic autonomy in space.

At present, more than 20 countries including the U.S., Luxembourg, and Japan already have national space legislation. To compete in this rapidly expanding market which is projected to reach $1 trillion globally by 2040, India cannot afford regulatory ambiguity.

In the words of UNOOSA, “policy signals intent, but law creates enforceable structure.” For India to lead the new space age, enacting this law is no longer optional but an imperative.

What are Machine Readable Electoral Rolls?

Context: Recently, the Leader of Opposition alleged vote theft and demanded that the Election Commission (EC) provide machine-readable voter rolls to political parties.  

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Machine Readable Electoral Rolls.

What are Electoral Rolls? 

  • Electoral Roll is the authoritative list of all eligible voters prepared under the Representation of the People Act, 1950. 
  • Voter rolls are prepared by district officials under the EC’s authority using ERONET, a digital system for adding or deleting voter entries. They are regularly updated to include newly eligible voters, address changes, or removals of ineligible voters. 

How are Voter Rolls shared?

  • The Election Commission shares electoral rolls mainly as image PDF files on its website. These PDFs include details like name, age, gender, address, and EPIC number, but do not include photographs online.
  • Physical copies or printouts may also be provided to political parties and the public.
  • Limitations: 
    • Image PDFs cannot be easily indexed or searched by computers.
    • Detecting duplicates requires manual effort, and with over 99 crore entries, spotting errors becomes highly challenging.

Opposition parties are demanding machine-readable voter rolls, as these would allow data to be searched, indexed, and analysed by computers, enabling quick detection of duplicate or bogus entries across constituencies and facilitating large-scale analysis for greater accuracy and fairness.

Why does the EC not provide Machine-Readable Voter Rolls?

  • Privacy risks: The EC stopped uploading machine-readable rolls before the 2019 elections citing privacy risks - foreign entities can access sensitive details such as the full names and addresses of Indian voters.
    • In Kamal Nath vs Election Commission of India (2018), the Supreme Court refused to compel the EC to provide machine-readable rolls. The Court observed that political parties could convert the existing image PDFs into searchable format on their own if they wished.
    • This position, however, contradicted the EC’s own manual which states that draft rolls should be published on State CEO websites in “text mode.”
  • Technical and financial barriers: Voter rolls are divided into hundreds of separate PDF parts for each constituency, making large-scale analysis difficult. Converting these files through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is resource-intensive; with over six crore pages nationwide, the estimated cost is about $40,000 per revision cycle.

Saltwater Crocodiles on Rise in Sundarbans

Context: As per the latest survey, the estimated population of saltwater crocodiles, one of the largest reptiles in the world, has increased in the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR).

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about crocodile species in India; Sunderbans. 

About Sundarbans

  • The Sundarbans is a cluster of low-lying islands in the Bay of Bengal. Located in the delta of Rivers Ganges and Brahmaputra in India & Bangladesh.  
  • Sunderban is the largest delta and mangrove forest in the world. It is the only mangrove forest in the world where tigers are found. 
  • Area: covering ~10,000 sq km of which around 40% lies in India (rest in Bangladesh).
  • Indian Sunderban is bounded on the west by river Muriganga and on the east by rivers Harinbhahga and Raimangal. Other major rivers flowing through this eco-system are Saptamukhi, Thakuran, Matla and Gosaba. 
  • Protection status: 
    • Listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
    • Ramsar Site (2019)
    • Important Bird Area (IBA) under BirdLife International 
  • Part of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve has been declared a critical tiger habitat under national law, and Tiger Conservation Landscape of global importance.  
  • Fauna: Critically endangered northern river terrapin (Batagurbaska); endangered Irrawaddy dolphin; Other species include- Gangetic dolphins, Fishing cat, Olive Ridley Turtle, Tiger, Saltwater crocodile. 
  • Flora: Dominated by Sundari tree (from which Sundarbans gets its name); Mangroves. 
image 21

Crocodiles in India

  • India is home to three crocodile species- Gharial, Mugger, and Saltwater Crocodiles. 
  • Crocodiles are cold-blooded animals usually spotted on banks of the aquatic systems.
  • Crocodiles are apex predators and play a critical role in the ecosystem by maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance: they control the population of other aquatic animals. 
  • Conservation:
    • All three crocodile species are placed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. 
    • India launched Crocodile Conservation Project in Odisha's Bhitarkanika National Park in 1975 with aid from United Nations Development Programme.
image 22

1. Saltwater Crocodile:

  • Largest of all crocodile species and the largest reptile in the world. Recognised as a man eater.
  • It is a hypercarnivorous apex predator that keeps flowing water ecosystems clean by feeding on the carcasses and wild remains in the water.
  • Also known as estuarine crocodiles. It is distributed across the swamplands, rivers, mangroves of Odisha (Bhitarkanika National Park) and West Bengal (Sundarbans) and the coastal areas of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • IUCN status: Least concern
  • Concern: Increasing salinity may reduce the suitability of their habitat and may threaten their conservation, particularly in the Sundarbans which is vulnerable to climate change.
  • Conservation Effort: Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project (conservation and breeding facility in West Bengal). 

2. Mugger: 

  • They have a broad-snouted nose. They are also known as Marsh crocodiles. They are found in freshwaters like rivers and also in estuaries and marshy areas. 
  • Mugger has a diverse and broad diet. They are known to dig burrows or holes for nesting purposes.
  • Muggers have stronger legs which allow them to bask mainly on river banks choosing steeper slopes and elevated platforms.
  • Their tough keratin scales are known to be sensitive to even the slightest motion in the water and this helps them detect prey easily. 
  • IUCN status: Vulnerable
image 23

3. Gharials:

  • They are endemic to the Indian subcontinent. 
  • They are shy-natured and the most aquatic of all the species. 
  • They are the longest living crocodile species, native to northern India and are distinguished by their long, narrow snouts. The gharials are predominantly a fish-eater.
  • Gharials prefer to bask on mid-river sand islands on gentle slopes as they have weaker legs and can only crawl. 
  • Chambal River (tributary of river Yamuna) holds the largest population of Gharials in the wild.
  • IUCN status: Critically Endangered
image 24
Note: Both Mugger and Gharials are freshwater species and have overlapping habitats in the northern rivers (Ganges, Chambal, Son, Ramganga and Girwa) and eastern (Mahanadi) river systems of India. They have shown systematic resource partitioning in their aquatic environments.

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2025

Context: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have recently passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025. The Bill seeks to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.  

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key Features of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2025; Critical Minerals and National Critical Mineral Mission.

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2025

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025 seeks to boost the supply of critical and deep-seated minerals, and relax the regime for mineral conservation, zero waste management and extraction of strategic minerals.

Key Features of the Bill:  

Inclusion of other minerals in a Mining Lease :  

Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957, a mining lease is granted for a specific mineral.

  • The Bill provides that lease holders may apply to the state government for adding other minerals to an existing lease.
    • For inclusion of other minerals, the lease holder must pay an amount equivalent to the royalty for that mineral. 
    • For inclusion of critical and strategic minerals and other specified minerals no additional amount needs to be paid. These include minerals such as lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, gold, and silver.
  • In case of auctioned mines, the lease holder must additionally pay the auction premium for the included mineral. The central government may change payment requirements through a notification.
  • An atomic mineral above a specified grade cannot be included in a mining lease granted for non-atomic minerals.

Expanded scope of National Mineral Exploration Trust:  

The 1957 Act established the National Mineral Exploration Trust to fund mineral exploration in the country.

  • The Bill widens the scope of the Trust to fund development of mines and minerals. 
  • It allows the usage of funds in the Trust for exploration and development in offshore areas and outside India. 
  • The Bill renames the Trust as the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust. 
  • Under the 1957 Act, all lessees are required to pay 2% of royalty into the Trust. The Bill increases the rate of contribution to 3% of the royalty.

Removal of limit on sale for Captive Mines: 

  • Under the 1957 Act, captive mines are allowed to sell up to 50% of minerals produced in a year, after meeting end-use requirements. The Bill removes the limit on sale of minerals. 
  • The Bill also empowers state governments to allow sale of mineral dumps stacked in the leased area up to a date specified by the central government.

Inclusion of contiguous area in mining lease for Deep-seated Minerals : 

  • The Bill allows for a one-time extension of the area under a mining or composite lease. This will be applicable for deep-seated minerals. Deep-seated minerals are minerals which occur at a depth of more than 200 metres from the surface of land. 
  • Mining area may be extended by up to 30% of the existing leased area under a composite licence, and by up to 10% of the existing leased area under a mining lease. A composite licence provides rights for both prospecting and mining.

Mineral Exchanges:

  • The Bill provides for establishing an authority to register and regulate mineral exchanges. 
  • The Bill defines mineral exchange as a registered electronic trading platform or marketplace for trading minerals and metals. 
  • The central government will frame Rules regarding mineral exchanges.

Significance of the Bill: 

  • Boosts domestic exploration and production of critical minerals.
  • Positions India as a major player in global mineral supply chains reducing dependence on China.
  • Encourages private-sector participation via royalty waivers and easier lease amendments.
  • Strengthens energy transition goals (solar, wind, EVs, batteries).
  • Institutionalises mineral trading platforms, improving transparency and investor confidence.

Critical Minerals

  • Natural resources that are essential for economic development, clean energy transition, and national security, but are vulnerable to supply disruptions due to:
    • Limited availability
    • Concentration of supply in a few countries
    • Geopolitical risks 

Examples of Critical Minerals: 

  • Energy Transition Minerals: Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Graphite (for batteries & EVs).
  • Technology Minerals: Gallium, Germanium, Rare Earth Elements (for semiconductors, electronics, space).
  • Defence & Aerospace Minerals: Beryllium, Titanium, Tungsten.
  • Others: Copper, Manganese, Molybdenum, Chromium.

Supply of Critical Minerals is highly concentrated: 

  • China: Dominates processing of rare earths, graphite, gallium, germanium.
  • Democratic Republic of Congo: Supplies over 70% of global cobalt.
  • Australia & Chile: Major producers of lithium.

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