The Indian Express

Centre plans to launch National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0

Context: The Central Government is preparing to launch Phase II of the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) with an ambitious asset monetisation target of Rs 10 lakh crore over 5 years (FY26-FY30). 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to NMP 2.0; Asset Monetisation. 

What is Asset Monetisation?

  • Asset Monetisation is defined as transfer of core assets owned by the Government to the private sector for a limited period. 
  • Ownership of the assets would continue to remain with the Government. The assets would be only transferred to the private sector for a limited duration based upon the contract.
  • The government uses the money earned from monetisation to fund new infrastructure projects without taking on more debt. This is called capital recycling – using old assets to fund new ones.
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National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP 1.0)

  • In Phase 1 (FY22 - FY25): government planned to raise Rs 6 lakh crore from Asset Monetisation. The government was able to manage about Rs 5.65 lakh crore, or 94% of the target.
  • NMP includes monetisation of core assets (central to the business objectives of the government). Core infrastructure assets include roads, ports, airports, telecom, railways, warehousing, energy pipelines, power generation, power transmission, hospitality and sports stadiums. 
  • NMP does not include monetisation of non-core assets (such as land, buildings etc).
  • Initiative of: NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance. 

National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP 2.0):

  • Phase 2 (FY26 - FY30): Target of Rs 10 lakh crore in total over 5 years, and in FY26 the target is Rs 1.9 - 2 lakh crore.
  • Asset classes and land parcels to be monetised: Highways, railways, power, petroleum and natural gas, civil aviation, ports, warehousing and storage, urban infrastructure (housing and transport), coal and mines, and telecom.
  • New focus area: Developing vacant public land in partnership with private companies.
  • A consultant will be hired to identify government assets and land suitable for monetisation, estimate how much money or investment these assets can attract and suggest new models of public-private partnerships to speed up infrastructure growth.
  • Monetisation proceeds could be in the forms of upfront revenues for leases, revenue sharing from operations, and capital expenditure by private parties.

Sattriya Dance

Context: Recently, Sattriya dance was performed during the Rongali Bihu celebrations in Assam. Rongali Bihu (Bohag Bihu) marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year, coinciding with the first day of Hindu Solar calendar (mid April/ Baisakha). 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Sattriya Dance. 

Sattriya Dance

About Sattriya Dance

  • The Sattriya dance of Assam is one of the eight classical dance forms of India.
  • It derives its name from the ‘satras’ (Vaishnavite monasteries) of Assam.
  • It emerged in the 15th century as part of the neo-Vaishnavite Bhakti movement spearheaded by Srimanta Sankardev (a saint and social reformer). 
  • It is based on the Borgeet (devotional songs) composed by Sankardev and his disciple Madhavadev. 
  • The dance was originally practiced solely by male bhokots (monks), and its performance was strictly limited to the confines of the satras. 
  • Now, the dance can be categorised into two styles: 
    • Paurashik Bhangi: masculine style involves more energetic gestures and leaps.
    • Stri Bhangi: feminine style characterised by more delicate gestures and poised feminine movements. 
  • The dance is a crucial part of the region’s neo-Vaishnavite worship system. It is a vibrant expression of devotion, spirituality, and tradition. It combines the elements- nritta (pure dance), nritya (expressive dance) and natya (drama). 

Tamil Nadu Governor Case: Executive Inaction vs Judicial Activism

Context: The recent judgement of the Supreme Court regarding the powers of governor with respect to bills has ignited a debate around the powers and limitations around judicial decision making. The landmark judgment, which set a deadline for the Executive to clear Bills, also curtailed the President's absolute veto powers. In this context, let us see where the judgement falls short.

Relevance of the Topic:Mains: Executive Inaction vs Judicial Activism. 

Criticism of the Supreme Court’s Judgment in Tamil Nadu Governor case

  • Judicial Overreach and Usurpation of Legislative Functions: The Supreme Court, through a two-judge bench, has been criticised for crossing the line from interpretation into legislation. By imposing time limits on the Governor’s assent to Bills, the Court has effectively rewritten Article 200, a task that lies within the domain of Parliament under Article 368. This is seen as a breathtaking expansion of judicial power that goes beyond constitutional limits and undermines the federal structure.
  • Undermining Doctrine of Separation of Powers: By claiming the power to compel the President to seek judicial advice under Article 143, the Court has intruded into executive discretion thus blurring the roles of Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. This also challenges the scheme of Articles 74, 200, and 201, where the President must act on the advice of the Council of Ministers, not the judiciary.
  • Violation of Constitutional Procedures: The matter involved a substantial constitutional question, which by Article 145(3), should have been heard by a Constitution Bench (minimum five judges), not a two-judge bench. The judgment sets a precedent that allows significant constitutional reinterpretations without due procedural thoroughness.
  • Absence of Federal Consultation: The Court passed a judgment that affects all states in India, yet no notice was issued to any state government, nor were they given a chance to present their views. This is seen as a breach of the federal spirit.
  • Use of Article 142 to bypass Constitutional Amendments: Article 142, intended to do “complete justice,” was used to effectively amend Article 200 by setting time limits for gubernatorial assent — a power the judiciary does not constitutionally possess. Critics argue that constitutional amendments require a special legislative procedure, not a judicial decree.
  • Erosion of Democratic Accountability: Judges are not directly accountable to the public. Their exercise of quasi-legislative powers, without democratic legitimacy, has raised questions about institutional checks and balances. The judgment is viewed as furthering judicial supremacy, which Dr. Ambedkar had warned against.
  • Legislative Backlash: The judgment may invite legislative intervention to regulate judicial procedures, citing Article 145(1), which empowers Parliament to frame laws on Supreme Court procedure.

Also Read: SC sets time limits for Governors to act on Bills

Also Read: SC sets timeline for President on Referred Bills 

Grounds for Review

The Central Government is likely to file a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a review of the apex court's ruling in the Tamil Nadu case. The judgment is ripe for review on at least three strong constitutional grounds:

  • Lack of hearing for affected states, despite national applicability.
  • Inadequate bench strength for deciding a substantial constitutional issue.
  • Judicial insertion of time limits in Article 200, which constitutionally requires amendment via Article 368.

Critics argue the judgement represents a shift from a living Constitution to a shape-shifting one, where the judiciary increasingly centralises authority in its hands — raising concerns about long-term institutional balance and constitutional integrity.

ESA’s Biomass Mission

Context: The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch its ambitious Biomass Mission on April 29 from the ESA’s Korou spaceport in French Guiana. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about ESA’s Biomass Mission; Carbon Cycle. 

ESA’s Biomass Mission

  • The satellite will be placed in the sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of ~666 km. (it will always appear in the same position relative to the Sun).
  • Objective: Map the world’s forests to provide the very first comprehensive measurements of forest biomass at a global scale. Create 3D images of forests — from the top of the forest canopy to the roots of its trees.
  • Beyond forest monitoring, the mission will also observe the movement of ice sheets in Antarctica, and generate digital models of terrains covered by dense vegetation.

Working

  • The mission will use a SAR (synthetic aperture radar) to map the Earth’s surface. The satellite is fitted with a massive 12-m antenna, and will be the first satellite in space to use a long-wave P-band SAR.
  • This will help it penetrate dense forest canopies to assess how much carbon is stored on the floor and in the branches of the trees, and to assess how these levels are changing over time. Longer wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation penetrate matter more than shorter wavelengths. 
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Significance:  Enhance understanding about the role of forest in the carbon cycle. Allow scientists to more accurately measure how the distribution of carbon in the planet is changing, as humans continue to cut down trees, and increase CO2 levels in the atmosphere.

Carbon Cycle:

  • Carbon cycle is the process that moves carbon between plants, animals, and microbes; minerals in the earth; and the atmosphere. All lifeforms on Earth, including the smallest microbes, are carbon-based. Earth does not gain or lose carbon. The element only moves between the atmosphere, living organisms, Earth’s crust and soil, and the oceans.
  • Forests are an essential part of the carbon cycle. Forests store massive amounts of carbon (absorb around ~16 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year), and hold 861 gigatonnes of carbon in their soils and vegetation.
  • Data on forest biomass (mass of organic matter in forests) is severely lacking on a global scale. This fundamentally limits our understanding of the state of the forests, and their impact on the carbon cycle (and climate). The Biomass mission aims to bridge this knowledge gap. 
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Note: According to a report by the World Resources Institute, in 2023, Earth lost 3.7 million hectares of tropical forests, equivalent to losing around ten football fields worth of forest land every minute. This forest loss produced roughly 6% of estimated global CO2 emissions in 2023.

India as a Global Talent Hub

Context: Amid global labour crisis, the government should focus on setting up an institutional framework to drive overseas employment. 

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: India’s Migration Strategy: Migrants and Diaspora Welfare. 

India’s Demographic Advantage

  • India has a young population and high human capital, placing it at a strategic advantage to supply global labour needs. 
  • India’s migrants generate $125 billion in remittances annually, about 3% of GDP—higher than any merchandise export sector. However, migrants form only 1.3% of India's population, compared to Mexico (8%), Philippines (5%), and Bangladesh, showing an untapped potential.
  • High-income countries are projected to face a labour gap of 40-50 million by 2030, rising to 120-160 million by 2040, across sectors like healthcare, engineering, teaching, and construction. E.g., Europe: 73% in truck drivers, 50%+ in engineers, nurses, cleaners, and construction workers.

Vision for India as a global talent hub:

  • India for the World Approach: Complement Make in India with a strategy that sees India as a global talent provider.
  • Developmental impact: Remittances are more impactful than goods exports. A 10% rise in remittances can reduce poverty by 3.5% in low-income nations.
  • Curbing illegal migration: Legal structured migration pathways can reduce reliance on unsafe and exploitative channels. It also enhances India’s global image and addresses developed countries’ concerns about permanent immigration.

Steps to Build India’s Migration Strategy

  • Institutional Framework for Overseas Employment: Strengthen Ministry of External Affairs' migration department. Create state-level migration bodies to verify recruiters, ensure worker welfare, and assist with reintegration. Set up migration support desks in embassies. 
  • Skilling and accreditation aligned to Global standards: Integrate foreign languages and international job skills into curricula. Work towards mutual recognition agreements with major economies. Promote joint certifications with global institutions.
  • Affordable financing mechanisms for migrants: Presently, migration costs are Rs 1-2 lakh for GCC, Rs 5-10 lakh for Europe. India can implement models like the Philippines’ Employer Staffing Agency-Pay model where employers/recruiters bear pre-departure expenses.
  • Government-to-Government (G2G) agreements: Remove visa barriers, enhance integration, and ensure qualification recognition (Philippines’ example of securing G2G deals with 65+ countries).
  • Mobility industry body: Establish an industry body to represent India’s overseas recruitment sector, address fragmentation and lack of regulation and set standards for ethical recruitment.
  • Robust Migrant welfare framework: Based on ILO guidelines to ensure minimum wages and contract standards, timely salary, safe housing, healthcare, legal aid and grievance redressal mechanisms for migrants. 
  • Support for returning migrants: Facilitate reintegration into the domestic economy and tap into skills and global exposure to spur local development.
Steps to Build India’s Migration Strategy

Conclusion:  By nurturing talent mobility, India can convert its youth bulge into a global economic and diplomatic strength, boost remittances and enhance India’s international influence and reputation. 

India and Italy seek to Deepen Ties

Context: Recently, India’s External Affairs Minister met Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister in New Delhi. They reviewed bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, including defence, trade and investment and energy. A collective resolve was taken to implement the Joint Strategic Action plan 2025-29 launched by the Indian Prime Minister and Italian Prime Minister in 2024.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: India-Italy: Bilateral relations. 

India-Italy Joint Strategic Plan of Action (2025-29)

  • Unveiled during the G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024. It outlines a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors. 
  • The plan reflects the shared vision to deepen strategic partnership and achieve tangible outcomes benefiting both nations.

Highlights of the Joint Strategic Action Plan

  • Political Dialogue: Regular high-level meetings and reciprocal visits between Heads of Government. Annual bilateral consultations between foreign ministries to discuss mutual interests and deepen cooperation.
  • Economic Cooperation: Strengthening trade and investment in sectors- green technologies, pharmaceuticals, food processing, agriculture, advanced manufacturing etc. Promoting industrial partnerships and mutual investments through platforms like the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation.
  • Connectivity: Collaboration on sustainable transport initiatives and maritime infrastructure development. Active participation in India-Middle East- Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) to enhance connectivity and trade.
  • Science Tech and IT: Expanding cooperation in emerging technologies- Artificial Intelligence (AI), telecommunications, digital services, Industry 4.0, clean energy, and critical minerals. Launching initiatives like Indo-Italian Innovation and Incubation Exchange Program to foster academic and industrial collaboration.
  • Space Sector: Strengthening collaboration between ISRO and Italian Space Agency (ASI) in areas like Earth observation, heliophysics, lunar exploration, and commercial space partnerships.
  • Energy Transition: Joint efforts to promote renewable energy solutions, such as green hydrogen and biofuels. Supporting global initiatives like International Solar Alliance and Global Biofuels Alliance.
  • Defence Cooperation: Co-production of military equipment and enhanced security collaboration to address regional challenges.
image 40

India-Italy Relations

  • Trade between India and Italy has doubled in FY24 (from 2020) to 15 billion Euros. 
  • There are over 2 Lakh Indians living, working and studying in Italy (The highest in the EU).
  • Italy has joined multilateral initiatives promoted by India like the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Coalition for Disaster Relief Infrastructure (CDRI), International Solar Alliance (ISA) etc.
  • Italy is part of the Coffee Club and can support India’s candidature for the UNSC in future. 

US classifies Coal as a Critical Mineral

Context: The United States has classified coal, especially coking coal, as a critical mineral. This marks a stark departure from previous energy policies and could have far-reaching implications for climate targets and global coal markets.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to Critical Minerals. 

US classifies Coal as a Critical Mineral: 

  • The US has classified coal as a critical mineral. This classification aims to:
    • Revive the declining US coal industry, which peaked in 2008.
    • Support domestic manufacturing, especially the steel industry.
    • Power AI data centres that require consistent electricity supply, unlike variable renewables.
  • The US became among the first countries in the world to do so.
    • The European Union also includes coal in its list of “critical raw materials,” alongside high-demand minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. 
    • Recently, a NITI Aayog report titled ‘Enhanced Domestic Coking Coal Availability to Reduce the import of Coking Coal’ also advocated coking coal to be included in the list of critical minerals.  
  • Concerns: Doubling down on coal without parallel investments in carbon capture or emissions abatement could derail national and global net zero targets.

What are Critical Minerals?

Critical minerals are metallic or non-metallic elements that are: 

  • Essential for modern technologies, economy and national security, such as electronics, renewable energy, and defense.
  • Subject to disruption of supply chain, often due to limited reserves, geopolitical issues, or complex processing.

Utility of Critical Minerals:

  • Renewable Energy sector: Graphite, Lithium, Cobalt, and Nickel are key components of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).
  • Defence and Aerospace: Tungsten, molybdenum, and REEs are used in advanced weaponry, fighter jets, satellites, and aircraft. E.g., India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission (2023) and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission underscore the strategic significance of beryllium, tungsten, and rare earth elements.
  • High-Tech Manufacturing: REEs, Indium, and Gallium are used in electronics, semiconductors, and renewable technologies.
  • Agriculture: Fertiliser minerals like potash and phosphate. 

Global Distribution of Critical Minerals: 

  • According to the 2019 USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries report, China is the world’s largest producer of 16 critical minerals. China is responsible for 60% of global production of rare earth elements.

Critical Minerals in India: 

  • Different countries create their own lists of critical minerals based on their individual needs and strategic considerations. In 2023, the Ministry of Mines, India classified 30 minerals as critical minerals. 
  • These are: Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE,Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium,Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium. 
  • India is heavily dependent on imports for critical minerals, making its key strategic sectors vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions. 

Also Read: China tops list of Critical Mineral suppliers to India
 

Section 44(3) of Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023

Context: Activists, researchers, journalists, and experts have shown concerns regarding changes made to the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) by the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023. The changes will adversely impact the ability of people to access information.

Relevance of the Topic:Mains: Balancing right to privacy of individuals vs. right to information.

Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023: 

  • DPDP Act, 2023 was enacted to regulate the collection, storage, and processing of personal data while ensuring to balance:
    • The right to privacy of individuals.
    • The need for lawful data processing by the government and private entities.
  • It received Presidential assent in August 2023, but is yet to be fully implemented as the Rules under the Act are pending notification.

Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act, 2023 and its Impact on the RTI Act, 2005: Key concerns:

  • The DPDP Act introduces changes to the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, particularly through Section 44(3). The major change affects Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, which deals with exemptions for personal information. 

Changes made by Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act in the RTI Act

Concerns raised by Activists and Experts:

  • Impact on Transparency and Public Accountability: 
    • RTI activists argue that the amendment could be misused to deny critical information about government officials and public servants. E.g., Information like Assets and liabilities of public servants could be withheld using the new clause. 
    • Under the original RTI Act, information on assets declared by politicians, judges, and bureaucrats was made public. Under the new amendment, such information could now be denied outright. 
  • Details of government contracts and public expenditure: RTI applications have previously revealed instances of corruption and financial irregularities in government projects. E.g., Commonwealth Games scam (2010), where RTI disclosures exposed corruption in infrastructure projects. If Section 44(3) is enforced strictly, such disclosures could be blocked on grounds of personal information.
  • Recruitment, promotions, and qualifications of Public Servants: RTI has helped uncover instances of fraudulent degrees and irregular appointments. The revised provision could be used to deny such information, citing privacy concerns.

Legal and Constitutional Implications: 

  • RTI vs. Right to Privacy: The Supreme Court in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) upheld the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right. However, the court also emphasised the need to balance privacy with transparency in public affairs. The amendment skews this balance in favour of privacy, restricting crucial disclosures for upholding transparency.
  • Contradiction with RTI’s Foundational Principle: Section 8(1) of the RTI Act includes a general clause stating that information which cannot be denied to Parliament, or a State Legislature should not be denied to citizens. The new amendment contradicts this principle by allowing broad exemptions under personal information.
  • Impact on Information Commission: Several past rulings by Central and State Information Commissions have been based on the original Section 8(1)(j), balancing privacy and public interest. E.g., In Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. CIC (2012), the Supreme Court ruled that public officials’ personal information could be disclosed if it served public interest. Under the new amendment, such discretionary power of the commission could be removed, allowing blanket denials to RTI applications.

Consequences of Amendment

  • Reduced transparency in governance.
  • Increased difficulty in accessing information about public servants and officials.
  • Weakened role of the RTI Act in holding the government accountable.

The Right to Information has been a powerful tool against corruption and abuse of power. If the amendment remains in the same form, many disclosures that previously exposed corruption and wrongdoing may no longer be possible.

RBI cuts Repo Rate by 25 bps

Context: RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee has decided to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6%. The decision comes amidst heightened global economic uncertainty in the face of reciprocal tariffs announced by the US.  

MPC has slashed the GDP growth to 6.5% in FY26 from 6.7% projected earlier. Retail inflation is expected to be 4% in FY26. 

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Repo Rate; Reverse Reo Rate. 

Repo Rate and Reverse Repo Rate

  • Repo Rate: The interest rate that the RBI charges when commercial banks borrow money from it. 
  • Reverse Repo Rate: The interest rate the RBI pays commercial banks when they park their excess cash.

Reduction of Repo Rate: Promotes Economic Activity

  • When the RBI wants to encourage economic activity in the economy, it reduces the repo rates. 
  • This enables commercial banks to bring down the interest rates they charge (on their loans) as well as the interest rate they pay on deposits. Interest rates on home, personal, vehicle loans and deposit loans come down. 
  • This incentivises people to spend money as keeping their savings in the bank pays back a little less interest.
  • Businesses are incentivised to take new loans for new investments as new loans now become cheaper. 

Increase in Repo Rate: Control Inflation:

  • When the RBI wants to control inflation, it increases the repo rate. 
  • Banks charge more interest to their borrowers, as they have to pay more interest to borrow from the RBI. 
  • At a macro level, this inhibits people from borrowing money as well as from spending, which in turn reduces the amount of money in the market, and thus negates inflation.

Repo and Reverse repo rates are often referred to as the “benchmark” interest rates in the economy. Using these rates, the RBI sets the tone for all other interest rates in the banking system, and in the broader economy.

UAE Deputy Prime Minister visits India

Context: The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had his first official visit to India in April 2025.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: India - UAE bilateral relationship.

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Key Highlights of the Meeting

  • Both countries discussed ways to further strengthen the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the areas of trade, investments, defence, energy, technology, education, sports and people-to-people ties.
  • Announcement made during the visit:
    • Setting up of the campuses in UAE (IIM in Dubai; Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in Dubai)
    • Grant of land for UAE-India Friendship Hospital in Dubai focussed on affordable healthcare to the blue-collar Indian diaspora.
    • Development of ship-repair clusters at Kochi and Vadinar. 
    • Increase defence industry collaboration, and explore opportunities for enhancing partnership in defence manufacturing. 

India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement:

  • India-UAE CEPA was signed in 2022. Since the signing of CEPA, bilateral merchandise trade has nearly doubled to USD 83 billion in FY24. 
  • CEPA has been successful in diversifying the trade basket and it will help achieve the non-oil trade target of US$ 100 billion by 2030.

Also Read: India-UAE Bilateral Relations 

Facial Recognition Technology 

Context: Delhi Police is planning a city-wide rollout of facial recognition technology (FRT) later this year in 2025. Experts warn that the increasing integration of such technology across platforms may come at a cost.  

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Facial recognition technology.

Facial Recognition Technology: 

  • Facial recognition is a cutting-edge biometric technology that identifies or verifies an individual by analysing their facial features. 
  • The algorithm-based technology creates a unique digital map of a person’s face by detecting and analysing facial features such as the distance between the eyes, shape of the jaw etc. This faceprint is then compared to a database of stored images for identity verification or identification. 

Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS)

  • AFRS uses a large database containing millions of facial images including those from CCTV footage, social media, and official records. 
  • When an unidentified image is captured (E.g., from a surveillance camera), AFRS uses artificial intelligence to find a matching pattern in the database and identify the person.
Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS)

There are two types of Matching:

  • 1:1 Verification: Confirms if the face matches a single image (e.g., unlocking your phone).
  • 1:N Identification: Compares the face to an entire database to identify an unknown individual (E.g., identifying suspects in law enforcement). Delhi Police usually use FRT for 1:N identification.

Limitations of FRT

  • Accuracy Issue: The system may wrongly identify someone (false positive) or fail to recognise the correct person (false negative). Accuracy drops with poor angles, low light, or occlusions like masks or sunglasses.
  • Limited Datasets: Studies have shown higher error rates for women, children, and people with darker skin tones, especially, when systems are trained on datasets lacking diversity. Delhi Police treat matches above 80% similarity as positive results, while matches below 80% as false positive results which require additional corroborative evidence. 

Facial Recognition System in Delhi: 

  • Since 2018, the Delhi Police has been using the Facial Recognition System (an Israeli software) to monitor high-security events in the Capital. 
  • FRS vans are armed with cameras, computers, and automatic number plate readers (configured to scan faces instead of license plates) and stationed in different parts of the two districts every day, scanning faces and alerting them of potential hits.
  • Apart from fixed cameras, Prakhar vans with mobile cameras scan crowds and crime-prone areas. 

Safe City Project

  • Delhi Police plans to expand FRS under the Safe City Project with 10,000 high-resolution CCTV cameras across the capital, whose LIVE feed will be beamed directly to a command centre at the police headquarters. 
  • Implementation: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. 
  • CDAC will be responsible for setting up C41 (Integrated Command, Control, Communication & Computer Centre) where integrated video feeds will be beamed. These feeds will be analysed in real time, with AI models capable of identifying over 20 faces in a crowd, even under partial visibility or disguised appearances.

However, its use raises serious concerns about privacy and misuse. Without a clear legal framework, it has a chilling effect on civil liberties, there is a risk of misidentifying individuals, profiling, and violating fundamental rights. 

De Extinction of Dire Wolf

Context: Colossal Biosciences, a US-based bioscience company, claimed that it had revived dire wolves as the world’s first successfully de-extinct animal.

Relevance of the Topic:  Prelims: Key facts related to Dire wolf and gene editing. 

De-Extinction of Dire Wolf

  • Scientists extracted and sequenced DNA from two ancient dire wolf specimens — a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old ear bone. This analysis identified 20 key genetic differences between dire wolves and their closest living species, grey wolves.
  • Using CRISPR technology, researchers edited the 14 genes in grey wolf DNA to incorporate 20 key genetic variants associated with dire wolf traits, such as larger size, broader heads and thicker fur. ​
  • The genetic material was inserted into an egg cell from a domestic dog. Once the embryos were developed, they were implanted into surrogate dogs. Consequently, the genetically engineered pups were born (named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi). 
  • Controversy: While Colossal Biosciences referred to these animals as “de-extincted” dire wolves, experts argue that they are genetically modified grey wolves rather than true representations of the extinct species.
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Dire Wolf

  • Dire wolves were large canines that dominated southern Canada and the US before their extinction about 13,000 years ago. 
  • Dire wolves resemble the grey wolves sharing 99.5% of their DNA. However, dire wolves are not the ancestors of grey wolves. The two species diverged millions of years ago and evolved separately.
  • Physical Appearance: Dire wolves are larger with white coats, more heavily built, thicker legs, broader heads and shoulders, and more pronounced snout. Dire wolves could be 3.5 feet tall, >6 feet in length, and weigh up to 68 kg.
  • Dire wolves hunted horses, bison, and possibly mammoths. One of the possible reasons behind their extinction is the extinction of its prey species.
image 32

Gene Editing

  • Gene editing is a scientific method where scientists modify DNA — the genetic code that determines how an organism looks, grows, and behaves. Think of DNA like a biological instruction manual made up of letters (A, T, C, G). With gene editing, scientists can add, delete, or replace parts of that manual to change how an organism develops.
  • CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is the most popular gene-editing technology that allows precise modification of DNA sequences.  

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