Context: The Prime Minister of India was presented a Daruma doll by the Chief Priest of the Shorinzan Daruma-Ji temple, Takasaki-Gunma during his recent visit to Japan.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Daruma Doll.
Daruma Doll
Daruma doll is a hollow, round, Japanese traditional doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen tradition of Buddhism.
Daruma tradition in Japan is based on the legacy of Bodhidharma known as Daruma Daishi in Japan. He was an Indian monk from Kancheepuram who is said to have travelled here over a thousand years ago.
Bodhidharma spent nine years in meditation facing a wall at Shaolin Temple in China, demonstrating such unwavering determination that his legs atrophied from lack of use. This became the inspiration for the Daruma doll’s armless, legless form.
These dolls are typically red and can vary greatly in colour and design.
They are considered auspicious and a good luck charm in Japanese culture. Takasaki City in Gunma, Japan is the birthplace of the Daruma dolls.
The doll represents the popular Japanese proverb which translates to ‘fall seven times, get up eight,’ representing the power of resilience. The special gesture reaffirms the close civilisational and spiritual ties between India and Japan.
Context: Nepalese Prime Minister has voiced his concerns over India and China to resume using Lipulekh pass to carry out border trade. Nepal claims Lipulekh as its own territory, however, India has categorically dismissed it as “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence”.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Lipulekh Pass. Mains: An important aspect of challenges associated with India-Nepal Relations.
About Lipulekh Pass
The Lipulekh Pass is a Himalayan pass situated in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India. It is located on the border between Uttarakhand, Nepal and Tibet.
Lipulekh is strategically important to India as it provides access to Tibet and serves as a key route for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.
The pass is near the trading town of Taklakot (Purang) in Tibet and has been used since ancient times by traders, mendicants and pilgrims.
It is also used by pilgrims to Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra.
Nepal’s claim to Lipulekh Pass and Kalapani Region:
Historical Basis: Nepal claims the southern side of the pass called Kalapani territory, based on the Treaty of Sugauli 1816 between British East India Company and Nepal.
The treaty delimited the boundary along Kali river (Sharda/Mahakali river). It stated that Nepal would cede the territories west of the Kali river.
Nepal claims that the Kali river originates from Limpiyadhura, west of Kalapani and Lipulekh. On this basis, Nepal claims Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura as its part.
India claims that the Kali river originates at Kalapani village in Pithoragarh, where all its tributaries merge.
Hence, the bone of contention is the differing interpretation of the origin of the Kali River.
India’s stand on Lipulekh Pass:
Border trade between India and China through Lipulekh Pass commenced in 1954 and has been going on for decades. This trade had been disrupted in recent years due to COVID-19 and other developments, and both sides have now agreed to resume it.
India rejects Nepal’s objection to resumption ofIndia-China border trade through the Lipulekh Pass stating that the arguments are not based on “historical facts”. Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims by Nepal is untenable.
In the recent past the official map of Nepal, included in the constitution of Nepal, shows Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani located to the east of theMahakali River as integral parts of Nepal.
Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has signed an Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the government of Japan on Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Relevance of the topic:
Prelims: Article 6.2 of Paris Agreement, National Designated Authority.
Mains: Significance of India-Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism.
The MoC was unveiled as part of the broader Indo-Japan cooperation framework titled Green Energy Focus for a Better Future.
Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement
Under Article 6.2 countries can trade emissions reductions bilaterally. It enables a host country to sell units to a buyer country, in exchange for investments, support for capacity building, and access to technologies not available through domestic resources.
The buyer country purchases these units known as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) to address any gaps in meeting its own climate goals.
About the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)
The JCM is a Japanese initiative designed to promote global climate action. Under this mechanism, Japan implements and invests in low-carbon technologies in developing countries.
The resulting emission reductions are credited to both Japan and the host country, and Japan uses its share to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Unlike the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) established under Kyoto Protocol, host countries under JCM act as joint implementers, not just passive participants.
A Joint Committee manages the mechanism including rules, methodologies, project registration, and credit sharing.
India has established a National Designated Authority (NDA) to approve JCM projects and oversee the functioning of the domestic carbon market.
Significance for India’s Climate Commitments:
India has made ambitious NDC commitments under the Paris Agreement for 2030. These include:
Reducing the emission intensity of GDP by 45% from 2005 levels.
Achieving 50% cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.
Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through afforestation.
JCM will support India in meeting these targets by providing foreign investment, advanced technology, and access to international carbon markets.
It will also enable the international trading of carbon credits generated from such projects under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement with Japan and other countries on similar lines without adversely impacting India’s NDC commitments.
Context: India’s vast youth population promises a demographic dividend. However, without education and skills aligned to the AI-driven future, it risks becoming a demographic time bomb.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Issues in India’s education system & challenges of AI-driven transformations in the job market.
Rabindranath Tagore once remarked, “Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for she was born in another time.” India’s education system is preparing students for the jobs of yesterday while the future of work is being rapidly shaped by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other disruptive technologies.
With 800 million people below the age of 35, India’s youth population is considered its biggest asset. However, without appropriate reforms in education and skill development, this demographic dividend risks turning into a demographic liability.
Core Issues
The Indian education system remains outdated and examination-centric, with limited focus on employability and career readiness.
Curriculum update cycles run on three-year timelines, while technology and industry demands change at a much faster pace.
Increasing disconnect between degrees and job skills is leading to high underemployment and unemployability among graduates.
Despite multiple government skill-development initiatives, outcomes remain fragmented and insufficient.
Causes of the Crisis:
Curriculum Lag: Educational curricula do not adapt quickly enough to changing industry needs.
Narrow Career Awareness: Surveys show that 93% of high school students are aware of only seven career options, while the economy offers more than 20,000.
Examination-Centric Pedagogy: Schools prioritise rote learning and marks over creativity, problem-solving, and practical skills.
Ineffective Skill Missions: Programs like Skill India Mission, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra, Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana and SANKALP (Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion) etc. function in silos with weak industry integration.
Digital Tools but Analog Mindsets : Despite smartphones and EdTech platforms, most tools are used for test preparation, not job-ready skill development.
Consequences of Inaction:
Rising Unemployment and Underemployment: Only 43% of Indian graduates are considered job-ready (Graduate Skills Index 2025). Even engineering graduates face high unemployment, with 40-50% not securing placements.
Youth Disillusionment and Social Instability: The mismatch between expectations and opportunities risks creating frustration and unrest. Historical episodes like the 1990 Mandal protests show how youth frustration can spill into violence and instability.
Global Competitiveness at Risk: Without reskilling, India’s workforce may fall behind as AI and automation reshape global labour markets.
Demographic Time Bomb: Education without employability can worsen inequality and destabilise society.
Way Forward
Curriculum Reform: Shift from rote-based teaching to competency-driven learning that fosters creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving.
Early Career Guidance: Institutionalise career counselling in schools to widen awareness of diverse opportunities.
Industry-Education Linkages: Establish national skill councils to ensure curricula are updated in real-time with industry demands.
Focus on Reskilling and Upskilling: Encourage lifelong learning through flexible programs in emerging fields like AI, robotics, renewable energy, and healthcare.
Unified Skilling Mission: Consolidate fragmented schemes under a single, outcome-driven national framework.
Public-Private Partnerships: Foster collaboration between government, private sector, and universities to create a robust skill development ecosystem.
India stands at a decisive juncture: its demographic dividend could either power economic growth or explode as a demographic time bomb. Hence, we must not confine students to outdated learning models; instead, we must equip them for a rapidly transforming future.
Context: Indian government has extended the duty-free cotton import policy until December 31, 2025, to alleviate the impact of the 50% US tariffs on textile exports.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key trends related to Cotton Production & textile industry in India.
Cotton Production in India: Key Trends
Cotton is the main raw material for the textile industry and is grown by nearly six million farmers in India.
The import duty on cotton (11% import duty) was announced in the 2021 Budget when India had surplus cotton production (350 lakh bales of cotton annually against the requirement of 335 lakh bales). It was aimed at protecting the interest of cotton growers.
At present, domestic cotton production in India has declined.
Overall domestic cotton production is down to 294 lakh bales (the lowest in the last 15 years) against the requirement of 318 lakh bales (including non-mill use).
In FY 2025, India’s cotton imports surged 107% from FY 2024 (rising from $579 million to $1.2 billion).
In the present cotton season 2024-25, imports are likely to be highest at about 40 lakh bales with major supplies coming from Australia, the US, Brazil, and Egypt.
Cotton textile exports accounted for approximately 33% of India’s total textile and apparel exports in 2024-25, making it the second-largest contributor after readymade garments.
Import Duty Exemption on Cotton:
The Indian government has extended the duty-free cotton import policy until December 31, 2025, to alleviate the impact of the 50% US tariffs on textile exports.
Rationale: To lower input costs across the textile value chain and enhance the competitiveness of Indian textiles in the global market.
Benefits of Import Duty Exemption on Cotton:
Addresses raw material (cotton) shortage faced by the textile industry. Cotton production in the 2024-2025 cotton season (October to September) is estimated to be nearly 20 lakh bales less than the last cotton season.
Reduces input cost across the textile value chain, including yarn, fabric, garments etc. and gives much needed relief to the textile industry (impacted by the 50% tariffs by the US).
Enhances export competitiveness of Indian textiles by lowering production costs and safeguarding small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the sector.
To safeguard the interest of the domestic cotton producers:
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) purchased nearly 100 lakh bales of cotton from farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) during the ongoing cotton season spending ₹37,500 crore, and has sold 73 lakh bales in the market.
For the 2025-2026 cotton season, the government has hiked the MSP by 8%. The MSP mechanism by CCI ensures that farmers receive at least 50% above their cost of production. Imported cotton often caters to specialised industrial requirements and does not substitute domestic cotton.
India’s textile industry is the second-largest employment provider in the country. The textile industry seeks a stable policy from the government so that the industry can plan for raw material procurement.
Context: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the Adi Karmayogi Initiative under the Dharti Aba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaan to improve last-mile scheme delivery in tribal villages.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key features for Adi Karmayogi initiative.
Adi Karmayogi Initiative
Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan is a national movement to build a decentralised tribal leadership and governance ecosystem.
Nodal Ministry : Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Aim: To empower tribal communities, strengthen responsive governance, and create local leadership opportunities across the country.
The initiative emphasises Sewa (service), Sankalp (Resolve), and Samarpan (Dedication) reflecting the guiding principle of “Sabka Saath, Saka Vikas, Saka Prayas, Sabka Vishwas.”
Objectives:
To promote responsive, people-centric governance at village and community levels.
To conduct multi-departmental Governance Lab Workshops / Process Labs from state to district, block, and village levels for capacity Building of state, District, and Block Master Trainers.
To co-create development plans where tribal communities and government officers jointly formulate the 1 Lakh Tribal Villages-Vision 2030, including detailed action plans and investment strategies.
To build a network of 20 lakh change leaders across 550 districts and 30 States/UTs to implement grassroots development initiatives.
To ensure 100% saturation of welfare schemes in tribal villages.
Key Features of Adi Karmayogi Initiative
The programme aims to build a cadre of 20 lakh trained grassroots change leaders across 550 districts in 30 States/UTs to foster responsive governance in tribal communities. Under this model, 240 state-level master trainers, 2750 district-level trainers, and 15,000 block-level trainers will be prepared, who will eventually train around 20 lakh tribal participants.
The initiative follows a cascade model of training, where knowledge flows from master trainers to district and block-level trainers and finally to village-level participants. The training methodology is participatory and activity-based.
Activities such as candle-lighting, fishbowl discussions, knot-tying tasks, cognitive group exercises, and role-playing are used to deliver leadership and problem-solving lessons.
Each village-level training session will include 15 volunteers, ensuring local participation and direct engagement with community members.
Villagers and officers will co-create the Tribal Village Vision 2030, aligned with national and international commitments towards sustainable development goals and inclusive development. These Village Vision documents will be displayed as public murals, serving both as community pledges and as aspirational blueprints for State machinery to follow.
The initiative actively involves community volunteers to strengthen outreach:
Adi Sahyogis (teachers, doctors, and other professionals)
Adi Saathis (SHG members, tribal elders, youth, and local leaders) — to strengthen outreach.
The Ministry plans to establish one lakh Adi Seva Kendras across tribal villages. These centres will function as single-window service hubs where villagers can access information and benefits of all welfare schemes.
Context: Recently, the US reported its first human case of New World screwworm infestation, a flesh-eating parasite once eradicated in 1966 through the Sterile Insect Technique.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about New World Screwworm.
What is the New World Screwworm?
The New World screwworm is a type of blue-grey blowfly, scientifically called Cochliomyia hominivorax. The parasite’s Latin name (hominivorax) literally means man-eater, reflecting its destructive nature.
It is mainly found in South America and the Caribbean though outbreaks have occurred in other regions.
Female screwworms are attracted to open wounds or natural entry points like the nasal cavity of warm-blooded animals and rarely humans.
A single female can lay up to 300 eggs at once, and nearly 3000 eggs during her lifespan of 10-30 days. These eggs hatch into larvae (maggots) that burrow into living flesh in a screw-like manner, feeding on tissue.
After feeding, the larvae fall to the ground, burrow into the soil, and later emerge as adult flies.
Deadly threat of New World Screwworm Infestations:
New World screwworm infestations can be extremely painful, especially in humans, with a high mortality rate if left untreated.
Once an infestation starts, it often attracts more flies that lay more eggs and depending on where the wound is, the maggots can make their way into vulnerable tissue like the brain, or enlarge the wound to the point of causing severe infection and sepsis.
Symptoms of Infestation include:
Wounds or sores that do not heal
Bleeding from open sores
Feeling larvae movement within a skin wound or sore
A foul-smelling odour from the site of the infestation.
Reasons for the recent spread of New World screwworms:
The US eradicated screwworms in 1966 using the sterile insect technique, where billions of sterile males were released to prevent reproduction.
This method was later used to eliminate screwworms in Mexico (1970s), Central America (early 2000s), and to contain a Florida outbreak in 2017. Despite eradication efforts, new cases have recently been reported in Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras.
Experts suggest movement of infested cattle across borders as possible reasons for the recent spread of New World screwworms.
Context: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out its first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-1) at Sriharikota, a critical milestone in preparations for Gaganyaan Mission- the country’s maiden human spaceflight programme.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Gaganyaan Mission.
Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT)
The first Integrated Air Drop Test was conducted for an end-to-end demonstration of the parachute-based deceleration system for the Gaganyaan Mission.
The IADT is a specialised trial to ensure the parachute system designed for the Gaganyaan crew module performs reliably in real-world conditions.
During the test, a dummy crew capsule weighing around 5 tonnes was lifted up through the air by a Chinook helicopter, and then dropped.
As it descended through a few kms, its main parachutes had to open in a specific sequence to decelerate the capsule to a safe splashdown speed.
During an actual flight with astronauts, the main parachutes will have to deploy after the capsule has re-entered the atmosphere and has been slowed first by the heat shields and drogue parachutes.
Significance:
The ascent, descent, and post-splashdown phases of the Gaganyaan mission are expected to be the most risky for the astronauts. The successful conduction of the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) is vital to ensure the safety of astronauts in the upcoming Gaganyaan Mission.
Gaganyaan Mission
ISRO’s ambitious human spaceflight mission which will carry 3 astronauts (Vyomanauts) to Low Earth Orbit (400 kilometres) for a 3-days mission, and bring them back safely to Earth by landing in Indian sea-waters.
Expected launch: Crewed launch is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
Launch Vehicle: Human Rated LVM3.
Human Space Flight Centre will coordinate the programme, and will be responsible for the implementation of the project.
Once completed, India will become the world's fourth nation to conduct independent human spaceflight after Russia, United States and China.
Components of Gaganyaan Mission:
Crew Module: A crew module and service module. The crew members have been shortlisted by the IAF and ISRO. The crew will perform micro-gravity and other scientific experiments.
Gaganyaan would return back to Earth. While re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft needs to withstand very high temperatures created due to atmospheric friction.
A prior critical experiment was carried out in 2014 along with LVM3, when the CARE capsule successfully demonstrated that it could survive atmospheric re-entry.
Crew Escape System- PAT: Crew Escape System is an emergency accident avoidance measure. In 2018, ISRO completed the first successful flight ‘pad abort test’ or Crew Escape System.
Environmental Control & Life Support System ECLSS: ECLSS will:
Maintain steady cabin pressure and air composition
Remove carbon dioxide and other harmful gases
Control temperature and humidity
Manage parameters like fire detection and suppression
Vyom Mitra: ISRO’s female humanoid robot that will test-flight Gaganyaan.
Preparatory work for Gaganyaan Mission:
The major preparatory work for Gaganyaan had already been completed.
Propulsion systems for the crew module and service module have been developed and tested.
Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) engineering model has been realised.
Crew Escape System (CES): five types of motors developed and static tested.
Infrastructure had been established for the orbital module preparation facility, Gaganyaan Control Centre, Gaganyaan control facility, crew training facility, and second launch pad modifications.
After successful execution of IADT-01, ISRO will conduct two critical trials before the actual Gaganyaan Mission carrying astronauts. It includes-
Second Test Vehicle Mission (TV-D2): will put to test the crew escape system (CES) under critical conditions.
Uncrewed Gaganyaan-1 (G1) flight: The unmanned spacecraft will be launched aboard a human-rated LVM3 rocket. The mission will also have on board Vyommitra, the humanoid robot developed by the ISRO.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) plays major role:
VSSC had a major role in IADT-01, being responsible for 90% of the activities alongside the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) and SDSC-SHAR.
IADT-01 successfully demonstrated the parachute-based crew module deceleration system for Gaganyaan Mission.
Context: In July 2025, the Kerala High Court issued India’s first policy on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the district judiciary, highlighting both its potential to tackle the backlog of over 5 crore cases and the risks of errors, bias, and accountability gaps.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Use of AI in Judiciary: Promises and Challenges.
AI in Judiciary
The judiciary faces longstanding challenges such as case backlogs, language barriers, and the need for digital modernisation.
AI in Judiciary including Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and Predictive Analytics are being leveraged to automate administrative tasks, improve case tracking, and enhance crime prevention.
Initiatives like e-Courts Project Phase III, AI-assisted legal translation, predictive policing, and AI-driven legal chatbots are reshaping the legal landscape, making processes faster, smarter, and more transparent.
The Kerala High Court’s July 2025 guidelines on AI use in district judiciary marked the first official policy in India addressing AI adoption in courts.
Promise of AI in Judiciary:
Speed and Efficiency:
Translation of documents into regional languages can help judges and litigants overcome language barriers.
Automated transcription of oral arguments and witness depositions saves manual effort.
Defect identification in filings ensures faster case listing and reduces delays.
Enhanced Legal Research: AI enables quick scanning of vast legal databases, saving time and supporting more focused, substantive legal analysis.
Improved Accessibility: AI-based tools can simplify judgments into easy-to-read summaries for litigants. Translation features enhance access to justice in regional languages.
Administrative Support: AI can assist registries in case classification, docket management, and scheduling, helps reduce the burden on court staff and ensures smoother case flow.
Potential Cost Reduction: By saving time and resources in transcription, research, and filing checks, AI can lower litigation costs, making justice more affordable.
Problems with AI in Judiciary
While AI promises efficiency and accessibility, its deployment in the judiciary raises serious legal, ethical, and technical concerns.
Translation and Transcription Errors: E.g., “Leave granted” translated as “holiday approved” in Hindi. In Noel Anthony Clarke vs Guardian News & Media Ltd. (2025), the claimant’s name “Noel” was repeatedly transcribed as “no.” Such errors, though small, can distort meaning and impact case outcomes.
AI Hallucinations: A study published in theJournal of Empirical Legal Studies found that legal Large Language Models (LLM) can make up case laws and cite incorrect sources to substantiate claims. E.g., OpenAI’s Whisper has been reported to “hallucinate” entire phrases or sentences, especially when speakers pause during speech.
Search Engine Bias: AI-powered legal research may reflect user behaviour patterns, not objective comprehensiveness. Risk of “invisibilising” important precedents, skewing legal arguments and judgments.
Loss of Human Nuance: Judicial decision-making requires context, empathy, and balancing of equities. Over-reliance on AI risks reducing adjudication to mechanical rule-based inferences.
Data Privacy and Security: Use of sensitive, non-public, or personal data in AI systems lacks a clear framework. Risk of data leaks, misuse, or surveillance by private vendors supplying AI tools.
Infrastructure Deficits: Many courts in India still rely heavily on paper-based processes. Weak internet connectivity, lack of digitisation, and poor hardware are major obstacles to AI deployment.
Courts are not just service providers; they are custodians of justice. Over-reliance on AI risks undermining fairness, transparency, and human judgment. Hence, AI must be adopted with caution, transparency and safeguards.
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.
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.
Decoys, across air, land, and sea, have become indispensable to modern war fighting. For a relatively low investment, they deliver high-impact protection.
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.
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 slabsof 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.
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.
