GS Paper 1

Greenland’s Hidden Treasure: Critical Minerals, Energy Wealth and Arctic Geopolitics

Context: Greenland is emerging as a key geopolitical and economic hotspot due to its vast reserves of critical raw materials, strategic minerals, and hydrocarbon potential—resources that are increasingly valuable in the global clean-energy transition and intensifying Arctic competition. As climate change accelerates ice melt, access to these deposits is increasing, creating both opportunity and risk.

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Why Greenland Matters

Greenland is the world’s largest non-continental island, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, functioning as a strategic bridge between North America and Europe. Nearly 80% of Greenland is covered by the world’s second-largest ice sheet (after Antarctica).

While geographically part of North America, it is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with internal self-government but Danish control over foreign policy, defence, and currency.

Importantly:

  • Greenland is under NATO Article 5 protection
  • It is not part of the European Union
  • Hosts the Pituffik Space Base, crucial for US and NATO Arctic security

Greenland’s Resource Wealth

1) Hydrocarbon Potential

According to the USGS, Greenland may hold about 31 billion barrels of oil-equivalent hydrocarbons in onshore northeast areas, including ice-covered regions. Sedimentary basins, particularly the Jameson Land Basin, are viewed as among the most promising oil–gas zones, often compared to Norway’s hydrocarbon-rich shelf.

2) Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements (REEs)

Greenland is predicted to contain around 40 million tonnes of dysprosium and neodymium, potentially meeting over 25% of projected future global demand. These are essential for:

  • Wind turbines
  • EV motors
  • defence electronics
  • advanced communication systems

3) Special Minerals and Metals

Greenland also hosts:

  • diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes
  • native iron lumps
  • lead, copper, zinc and iron (often in ice-free basins)

Why is Greenland So Resource-Rich? (Geological Explanation)

Greenland’s geology spans nearly 4 billion years, containing some of the oldest rocks on Earth. This long geological history enabled repeated mineral-forming events.

Uniquely, Greenland experienced all three major resource-generating geological pathways:

  1. Mountain Building (Orogeny):
    Compression created fractures and fault zones that allowed formation of deposits like gold, graphite, and gemstones.
  2. Rifting:
    Repeated rifting (including during the Atlantic opening ~200 million years ago) formed sedimentary basins, ideal for hydrocarbons and metals.
  3. Volcanism and Hydrothermal Activity:
    Igneous intrusions and hydrothermal fluids concentrated REEs like niobium, tantalum, ytterbium and terbium.

Climate Change Link: Opportunity vs Emissions Trap

Climate change is unlocking Greenland’s deposits at an unprecedented pace.

  • Since 1995, Greenland has lost ice over an area roughly the size of Albania
  • Exposed terrain is expanding mining feasibility

However, there is a major contradiction:

  • Ice melt enables extraction
  • but large-scale extraction—especially oil and gas—could worsen emissions, accelerating warming

Greenland is warming about four times faster than the global average, and its ice melt contributes significantly to global sea-level rise. The melting ice also affects the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), impacting weather patterns worldwide.

Geopolitical Significance: The Arctic Chessboard

Pituffik Space Base (Thule Air Base)

  • Northernmost US military base
  • Located ~1,200 km north of the Arctic Circle
  • Operational year-round despite harsh conditions
  • Critical for:
    • ballistic missile early warning
    • satellite tracking
    • space monitoring for US/NATO
  • Renamed from Thule Air Base in 2023, reflecting Greenlandic heritage
  • Established under a 1951 US–Denmark defence agreement

Strategic Competition

Resource access and new shipping lanes are increasing interest from major powers:

  • the US and NATO (security + supply chain resilience)
  • China (critical minerals and polar routes)
  • Russia (Arctic militarisation and dominance)

Thus, Greenland has become central to:

  • critical mineral diplomacy
  • Arctic security strategy
  • climate governance debates

Economic Dimension

Greenland’s economy is still highly dependent on:

  • fishing (≈90% of exports)
  • Denmark’s annual subsidy (≈20% of GDP)

Mining and energy extraction could provide revenue and autonomy, but risks damaging Arctic ecosystems and indigenous livelihoods if poorly regulated.

Conclusion

Greenland’s rising importance reflects the intersection of geology, climate change, and geopolitics. Its mineral reserves could strengthen global clean-energy supply chains, but extraction in the Arctic must be balanced with climate responsibilities.

In the coming decades, Greenland is likely to remain a focal point of resource competition, strategic security planning, and environmental debate.

Counting Ahead: How Census 2027 Redefines India’s Population Mapping

Context: India will begin the first phase of the Population Census 2027—the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLHC)—from April 2026. This preparatory phase lays the administrative and digital foundation for the full population enumeration scheduled later, marking a significant transformation in how India counts and understands itself.

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What is the Houselisting and Housing Census?

The Houselisting and Housing Census is not a headcount of people. Instead, it focuses on mapping the physical and housing infrastructure of the country to prepare an accurate sampling frame for population enumeration.

Key elements include:

  • Structure Listing: Enumeration of every building, house, and household—residential and non-residential.
  • No Personal Data: Unlike the Population Enumeration phase, it excludes individual demographic details.
  • Housing Conditions: Data on construction material, number of rooms, ownership status, access to electricity, toilets, drinking water, and household assets.
  • Digital Geotagging: Each structure will receive a unique latitude–longitude coordinate using Digital Layout Mapping, improving spatial accuracy.

This phase ensures that no household is missed during the actual population count.

What Makes Census 2027 Different?

Census 2027 represents a structural break from earlier censuses, both technologically and substantively.

Major innovations include:

  • Fully Digital Census: India’s first census conducted entirely through mobile applications with real-time data upload.
  • Self-Enumeration: Citizens can voluntarily fill census details online before enumerator visits, reducing errors and costs.
  • Expanded Indicators: New questions on digital access, gender identity, climate-induced migration, and cooking fuel.
  • Comprehensive Caste Enumeration: The first full caste count since 1931, providing crucial data for social policy.
  • Central Monitoring: A Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) will track progress, flag inconsistencies, and ensure quality control.
  • Faster Data Release: Digital workflows aim to publish final population figures within 6–9 months, compared to several years earlier.
  • Policy Integration: Machine-readable datasets will be shared with ministries via APIs, strengthening evidence-based governance.

Why the Houselisting Phase Matters

Accurate housing data is essential for:

  • Urban planning and housing policy
  • Targeted delivery of welfare schemes
  • Infrastructure planning (water, sanitation, electricity)
  • Disaster preparedness and climate resilience mapping

Errors at this stage can cascade into systemic undercounting in the population phase.

What Comes Next?

The second phase—Population Enumeration (PE)—will record detailed demographic, social, economic, and educational data for every individual residing in India.

Together, the two phases will produce the most granular and policy-relevant census dataset in India’s history.

Conclusion

Census 2027 is not merely a counting exercise—it is a digital governance reform. By beginning with a robust, geotagged housing census, India is repositioning its population data architecture to meet the demands of a complex, mobile, and climate-affected society.

UNESCO Recognises Deepavali as Intangible Cultural Heritage

Context: During the 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, hosted at the Red Fort, New Delhi, UNESCO inscribed Deepavali (Diwali) on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity. With this, Deepavali becomes India’s 16th ICH element, joining earlier inscriptions such as Kumbh Mela (2017), Kolkata Durga Puja (2021), and Garba of Gujarat (2023).

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About Deepavali

Deepavali is a 2,500-year-old festival rooted in ancient agrarian and seasonal traditions, later assimilated into diverse religious and regional practices across South Asia.

  • Hindu traditions:
    It commemorates events such as Rama’s return to Ayodhya, Goddess Lakshmi’s emergence, Krishna’s victory over Narakasura, and the return of the Pandavas, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness and dharma over adharma.
  • Other religious traditions:
    • Jainism: Marks Mahavira’s Nirvana.
    • Sikhism: Celebrated as Bandi Chhor Divas, recalling Guru Hargobind’s release from imprisonment.
    • Buddhist and regional practices: Observed as Tihar and by Newar Buddhist communities in Nepal.
  • Cultural practices:
    Celebrated over five days (Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj), Deepavali involves lighting diyas, ritual worship, home decoration, exchange of gifts, community gatherings, and region-specific customs across India and Nepal.
  • Socio-economic dimension:
    The festival generates significant economic activity in textiles, gold, handicrafts, traditional lamps, firecrackers, and e-commerce, and is increasingly celebrated globally with official recognition in several countries.

About the 20th UNESCO ICH Committee Session

India is hosting the 20th session from 8–13 December 2025 at the Red Fort, New Delhi.

  • Agenda:
    Review new nominations, assess safeguarding reports, examine existing ICH elements, approve international assistance, and share best practices for protecting living heritage.
  • Participation:
    Over 800 delegates from 180+ countries, including committee members, UNESCO officials, experts, NGOs, and cultural practitioners.

Significance for India

The inscription of Deepavali strengthens India’s cultural diplomacy and soft power, highlights the country’s pluralistic traditions, and reinforces its leadership role in global heritage governance. Hosting the ICH session further positions India as a key voice in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage worldwide.

Sirpur Archaeological Site Proposed for UNESCO Nomination

Context: The Government of India is preparing the Sirpur Archaeological Site in Chhattisgarh for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognising its cultural, historical and architectural significance.

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About Sirpur Site

Sirpur, historically known as Shripura or Sripura ("City of Auspiciousness"), is situated along the Mahanadi River in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district.

The site flourished between the 5th and 12th centuries CE, emerging as a major administrative and cultural centre.

The settlement served as the capital of the Dakshina Kosala kingdom, ruled by the Panduvanshi and Somavamshi dynasties.

The site was first documented by Alexander Cunningham (first DG, ASI) in 1882, and later gained scholarly attention after the visit of the Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang in the 7th century CE, who described Sirpur as a thriving Buddhist learning hub.

Cultural Significance

Sirpur evolved as a unique multi-religious urban centre, where Buddhism, Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Jainism coexisted. Numerous monasteries, temples, sculptures, inscriptions and civic structures highlight its cosmopolitan and pluralistic character.

Key Architectural Highlights

  • Lakshmana Temple
    A 7th-century brick temple dedicated to Vishnu, notable for its early brick shikhara, ornate stone doorway carvings, and Gupta-influenced architectural style.
  • Surang Tila Complex
    A Panchayatana-style temple built on a high terrace featuring five shrines—four Shiva shrines and one dedicated to Ganesha.
    Notably, the Shiva lingams in the complex appear in four distinct colours, symbolising ritual diversity.
  • Ananda Prabhu Kuti Vihara
    A prominent Buddhist monastery (Vihara) containing a monolithic seated Buddha and representations blending Buddhist and Hindu motifs.
    An inscription mentions the Hindu king Shivagupta Balarjuna, indicating royal patronage to Buddhism.
  • Urban Structures
    Remains of markets, residential blocks, stepped tanks, drainage systems, granaries and bathhouses point to planned urbanisation, trade, and administrative sophistication.

UNESCO Nomination Significance

The site aligns with multiple UNESCO criteria, including:

  • Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) in early medieval architecture
  • Example of religious syncretism and cultural interconnectedness
  • Evidence of planned city development and artistic innovation

Nomination may boost heritage conservation, international research collaboration, and global tourism for Chhattisgarh.

China’s Rare Earth Export Restrictions

Context: In November 2025, China imposed export controls on seven rare earth elements (REEs), citing national security, supply-chain protection, and non-proliferation concerns. This move has revived global anxieties about Beijing’s near-monopoly over the rare earth supply chain and triggered fresh debates on critical mineral security, strategic vulnerabilities, and the reshaping of global technological competition.

China’s decision comes at a time when countries worldwide are accelerating transitions to clean energy, electric mobility, and advanced defence manufacturing, all of which depend heavily on REEs. The restrictions will significantly influence geopolitics, global markets, and India’s quest for supply chain resilience.

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Understanding Rare Earth Elements

Rare earth elements comprise 17 metallic elements, including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium. Although not geologically rare, they are difficult to extract and refine, making supply chains complex and environmentally taxing.

Key Uses

  • Defence: Missile guidance systems, lasers, radar components, jet engines.
  • Electronics: Smartphones, fibre optics, computer chips, displays.
  • Clean Energy: Strong permanent magnets for wind turbines, solar inverters, EV batteries.
  • Healthcare: MRI equipment and diagnostic devices.

China’s Dominance

According to USGS 2024:

  • China accounts for 70% of global mining
  • 85–95% of global refining and processing capacity
  • Controls most magnet manufacturing, the most value-added stage.

China’s control over midstream and downstream processing creates a structural dependency that few countries have been able to bypass.

India’s Position

India has the fifth-largest REE reserves, mainly in coastal monazite sands in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
However, India contributes less than 2% of global rare earth output due to:

  • Limited processing technology
  • Environmental restrictions
  • Low value-addition capability
  • Monopoly of public sector mining agencies

Impacts of China’s Export Restrictions

1. Global Supply Shock

Markets reacted sharply:

  • Dysprosium prices projected to reach $300/kg
  • Neodymium magnet prices already up 12–18% in spot trading
  • High-tech manufacturing firms triggered emergency procurement

This resembles the 2010 episode when China cut exports to Japan, causing global prices to skyrocket.

2. Strategic Vulnerability for Defence and High-Tech Sectors

REEs are central to military capabilities. The export curbs may:

  • Disrupt Western missile and radar supply chains
  • Delay F-35 production and similar aerospace programmes
  • Create bottlenecks in EV and renewable energy expansion

The US and EU have labelled the situation a national security challenge.

3. Acceleration of Global Diversification Efforts

China’s move is accelerating rare earth diversification globally:

  • Japan reduced its dependence on China from 90% (2010) to 60% (2023) through investments in Australian projects.
  • United States revived domestic production under the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP).
  • Australia, Canada, and Vietnam are exploring joint refining and magnet-making clusters.

4. Implications for India

India has joined global efforts to diversify critical minerals supply through:

  • KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd.), securing five lithium blocks in Argentina
  • New rare earth exploration in Odisha and Kerala
  • Potential refining tie-ups with Japan, Australia, and the US

However, India must improve both processing capacity and regulatory efficiency to avoid remaining a raw material exporter.

Way Forward for India

1. Global Collaboration

India should deepen cooperation through:

  • India–Australia Critical Minerals Alliance
  • QUAD Rare Earth Working Group
  • MSP-led international supply chain partnerships

This offers access to refining technology, investment, and secure long-term supplies.

2. Sustainable and Responsible Mining

India must adopt ESG-focused mining standards through the UNEP Global Mineral Governance Framework.
Key reforms include:

  • Transparent mining leases
  • Stringent waste and radiation safety norms
  • Rehabilitation plans for mined-out areas

This will ensure community support and global investor confidence.

3. Recycling and Substitution

Urban mining and recycling can meet a significant share of REE demand:

  • Recovery from e-waste
  • Substitution using ferrite magnets where feasible
  • Incentives for recycling startups

Japan recovers >50% of rare earth magnets from end-of-life electronics — a model India can replicate.

4. Strategic Stockpiling

India requires a National Critical Minerals Reserve, similar to Japan’s JOGMEC model, which:

  • Stockpiles critical minerals
  • Invests in mining abroad
  • Supports recycling industries

This helps protect domestic industries during global supply shocks.

Conclusion

China’s rare earth export restrictions demonstrate how minerals have become tools of global geopolitics. For India, the episode is a wake-up call to accelerate critical mineral diversification, develop domestic processing ecosystems, and strengthen technological capabilities.

With global demand set to quadruple by 2040, India’s strategy today will determine its industrial competitiveness, defence readiness, and clean-energy leadership in the decades ahead.

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh: The Mahanayak of Sonakhan

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial-cum-Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum in Chhattisgarh to honour the state’s first martyr and a legendary leader of tribal resistance during India’s First War of Independence (1857).

About Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh

  • Born: 1795, in Sonakhan (present-day Balodabazar-Bhatapara district), Chhattisgarh
  • Community: Belonged to the Binjhwar tribal community, known for valor and integrity.
  • Legacy: Revered as the “Mahanayak of Sonakhan” for his leadership, compassion, and defiance of British exploitation.
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Key Events of His Life and Revolt

  1. Humanitarian Defiance (1856):
    During a severe famine, Singh seized grain hoarded by a British-backed trader in Kashadol and distributed it among starving villagers — a direct act of defiance against colonial economic oppression.
  2. Imprisonment and Escape:
    The British authorities arrested and jailed him in Raipur, but he escaped in 1857, coinciding with the outbreak of the Indian Rebellion.
  3. Armed Uprising:
    Returning to Sonakhan, he mobilized over 500 tribal and peasant fighters, initiating one of the earliest organized uprisings in central India. His movement reflected both the anti-colonial sentiment and tribal assertion against feudal and foreign exploitation.
  4. Martyrdom:
    Veer Narayan Singh was captured deceitfully and executed publicly on 10 December 1857 in Raipur — becoming the first martyr of Chhattisgarh. His bravery inspired subsequent regional resistance movements.

Historical and Regional Significance

  • Symbol of Tribal Resistance: His movement predates many mainstream revolts and highlights the role of Adivasi leadership in India’s early freedom struggle.
  • Socio-Economic Uprising: His actions were rooted not only in political rebellion but also in social justice — fighting hunger, inequality, and British-backed exploitation.
  • Cultural Legacy: The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur, one of India’s largest cricket stadiums, is named in his honour.

About Chhattisgarh

  • State Formation: Formed on 1 November 2000 after separation from Madhya Pradesh.
  • Capital: Raipur
  • Cultural Identity: Known as the “Rice Bowl of India”, Chhattisgarh has a vibrant tribal heritage, comprising over 30% of its population. The new museum aims to showcase the state’s rich tribal contributions to India’s freedom movement.

Conclusion

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh’s legacy represents the courage and resilience of India’s tribal communities, who fought for justice, dignity, and independence.

The newly inaugurated memorial stands as a national tribute — reaffirming India’s commitment to recognizing grassroots heroes who shaped its freedom struggle.

Taftan Volcano Reawakens After 700,000 Years

Context: According to reports from Live Science (LS), the Taftan Volcano in southeastern Iran appears to have shown renewed activity after nearly 700,000 years of dormancy. Scientists have detected increased geothermal emissions and seismic tremors in the region, suggesting reactivation within the long-dormant volcanic system.

Taftan Volcano

About Taftan Volcano:

  • Location: Situated in Sistan–Baluchestan Province of southeastern Iran, near the Pakistan border, Taftan is the highest volcano in Iran and one of the few active ones in the Makran volcanic arc.
  • Elevation: Approximately 3,940 meters (12,927 feet) above sea level.
  • Volcano Type: Stratovolcano (Composite Cone) — built up by successive eruptions of lava flows, ash, and pyroclastic material.
  • Tectonic Setting: Lies within the Alborz–Makran volcanic belt, where the Arabian Plate is being subducted beneath the Eurasian Plate.
    This subduction process generates magma that feeds volcanoes like Taftan.
  • Geological Features:
    • Active hydrothermal vents and fumaroles continuously emit sulphur gases.
    • Presence of sulphur deposits, hot springs, and altered rocks around the summit indicates ongoing geothermal activity.
    • The last confirmed eruption occurred around 710,000 years ago, during the Pleistocene epoch.

Understanding Stratovolcanoes (Composite Cones):

  • Structure: Tall, steep-sided cones composed of alternating layers of lava, ash, and tephra.
  • Magma Composition: Typically andesitic, sometimes basaltic to rhyolitic — rich in silica, causing viscous magma and explosive eruptions.
  • Eruption Style: Highly explosive, often producing pyroclastic flows and ash clouds that can travel large distances.
  • Tectonic Environment: Common in subduction zones — regions where an oceanic plate sinks beneath a continental plate.
  • Famous Examples:
    • Mount Fuji (Japan)
    • Mount Vesuvius (Italy)
    • Volcán de Fuego (Guatemala)
    • Mount St. Helens (USA)

Significance of Taftan’s Reactivation:

  • Geological Insight: Offers rare evidence of volcanic reawakening in the Makran arc, a region otherwise known for earthquakes and subduction-related hazards.
  • Regional Impact: Increased geothermal activity could pose risks to local settlements and infrastructure but also offers geothermal energy potential.
  • Scientific Relevance: Helps in studying the Arabian–Eurasian plate interaction, crucial for understanding seismic and volcanic hazards across Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Conclusion:

The potential reawakening of Taftan Volcano underscores the dynamic nature of the Earth’s lithosphere. While dormant for nearly a million years, its renewed activity reminds us that even ancient volcanic systems remain geologically alive — warranting close monitoring and regional preparedness.

Monument Conservation Opens to the Private Sector

Context: In a landmark move, the Government of India is opening the conservation of protected monuments to private participation for the first time, ending the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) exclusive control. The initiative will work through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework, inviting corporates, PSUs, and private organisations to contribute.

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Implementation Framework

  • Funding Mechanism: All contributions will flow through the National Culture Fund (NCF), set up in 1996.
    • NCF offers 100% tax exemption for donations.
    • Till now, NCF has mobilised around ₹140 crore from corporates/PSUs.
  • Operational Model:
    • Donors may select empanelled conservation architects (shortlisted by the Ministry of Culture).
    • External implementing agencies can be hired for execution.
    • Each project must follow the National Policy for Conservation of Ancient Monuments (2014).
    • Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) require ASI’s approval.
  • Pilot Phase: A list of 250 monuments will be opened for donor participation.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) – At a Glance

  • Founded: 1861 by Alexander Cunningham.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi.
  • Parent Ministry: Ministry of Culture.
  • Mandate: Archaeological explorations, excavations, conservation, site museums, and epigraphical research.
  • Current Role: Manages conservation of ~3,700 protected monuments.

Significance of the Move

  • Resource Mobilisation: Expands conservation funding beyond limited government budgets.
  • Efficiency: Brings in professional expertise and corporate accountability.
  • Heritage Protection: Ensures faster preservation of monuments that face neglect due to resource crunch.
  • Public Engagement: Encourages wider participation in safeguarding cultural heritage.

Way Forward

Successful implementation will depend on robust regulatory oversight by ASI to maintain authenticity and prevent over-commercialisation of heritage sites.

150 Years of the National Song - Vande Mataram

Context: The Union Cabinet has announced a year-long celebration marking 150 years of India’s national song, Vande Mataram, to honour its historical and cultural significance in the nation’s freedom struggle.

About Vande Mataram

Composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji in 1875, Vande Mataram first appeared in his patriotic novel Anand Math (1882). The song became a rallying cry for freedom fighters, symbolizing devotion to the motherland and inspiring countless Indians during the national movement.

On January 24, 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, declared Vande Mataram as the National Song of India, granting it equal status with the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana.

Although the Constitution of India, under Article 51A(a), enjoins citizens to respect the Constitution, its ideals, institutions, the National Flag, and the National Anthem, it does not specifically mention the National Song.

Nevertheless, Vande Mataram remains deeply revered as a symbol of India’s unity, sacrifice, and spirit of independence.

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Significance:

The 150th anniversary celebration aims to rekindle the spirit of patriotism and pay tribute to Vande Mataram—a song that continues to evoke pride and remind citizens of India’s collective struggle for freedom.

Uranium Mining Exemption in Meghalaya

Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently issued an office memorandum exempting uranium mining from mandatory public consultations. This move has reignited debates around environmental risks, indigenous rights, and federalism in India.

About Uranium

  • Nature: Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal, primarily used as nuclear fuel.
  • Isotopes: Exists mainly as Uranium-238 (99.3%) and Uranium-235 (0.7%), the latter being fissile.
  • Reserves in India: Meghalaya holds nearly 16% of India’s uranium reserves, making it the third-largest source after Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand.

Concerns of Local Communities

  • Distrust in Process: Local communities view the exemption as an attempt to bypass consent after years of resistance and failed negotiations.
  • Health & Environmental Risks: Fear of radiation exposure and ecological damage, drawing on lessons from Jaduguda (Jharkhand), where mining has been linked to health issues.
Uranium Mining Exemption in Meghalaya

Constitutional & Legal Dimensions

  • Sixth Schedule: Grants Autonomous District Councils in tribal areas control over land and resources.
  • Federalism Question: Exemption undermines local authority and weakens environmental justice.
  • Global Norms: Contradicts the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Strategic Dimensions

  • Energy Security: Uranium is vital for India’s nuclear power generation and strategic deterrence.
  • Self-Reliance: Reducing imports strengthens India’s nuclear independence.
  • Centre–State Tensions: The policy highlights conflict between national energy priorities and regional autonomy.

Significance

This exemption raises critical debates for UPSC aspirants:

  • Balancing energy security with environmental justice.
  • Navigating centre–state relations in resource governance.
  • Addressing tribal rights within India’s development model.

The controversy underscores the challenge of pursuing strategic minerals without compromising constitutional safeguards and ecological sustainability.

Oju Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh

Context: The Union Environment Ministry has recommended environmental clearance for the Oju Hydroelectric Project on the Subansiri River in Arunachal Pradesh. Once operational, it will be the largest hydroelectric project in the Subansiri basin by installed capacity, significantly expanding India’s renewable energy portfolio. However, the project has sparked debates over environmental sustainability, regional biodiversity, and strategic security.

Project Details

The Oju Hydroelectric Project will be developed by Oju Subansiri Hydro Power Corporation Pvt. Ltd., located about 5 km downstream of Redi village in the Taksing block of Arunachal Pradesh.

  • Installed Capacity: 2,220 MW (2,100 MW from the main power plant and 120 MW from the dam-toe plant).
  • Scale: It is expected to be the largest project in the Subansiri basin, surpassing the capacity of other ongoing hydro projects.
  • Strategic Location: The project lies close to the India-China border, giving it geopolitical importance in addition to energy significance.

Concerns and Criticism

  1. Outdated Studies: Environmental groups, particularly from Assam, have pointed out that the Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) and carrying capacity studies for the Subansiri basin were last conducted in 2014. Considering climate change, seismic activity, and increasing hydro pressures, these studies require urgent revision to reflect current realities.
  2. Biodiversity and River Ecology: The Subansiri basin is ecologically sensitive, hosting diverse species of fish and supporting riparian communities in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Multiple hydroelectric projects on the same river may alter river flow, impact sediment transport, reduce fish populations, and threaten local livelihoods.
  3. Geopolitical Sensitivity: Located near the India-China border, the project has strategic value for India’s control over water resources and infrastructure development in frontier areas. However, the ecological fragility of the Himalayas and the seismic risks of dam construction in this region heighten concerns.

Subansiri River: An Overview

The Subansiri River is a trans-Himalayan river that originates in the Tibetan Himalayas and is known locally as the “Gold River” due to the presence of gold dust in its riverbed.

  • It enters India through a deep gorge near Gerukamukh in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • It is the largest right-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River, joining it in Assam’s Lakhimpur district.
  • Major tributaries include the Laro, Nye, Yume, Tsari, Kamla, Jiyadhol, Ranganadi, and Dikrong rivers.
  • The river basin supports agriculture, fishing, and hydropower projects, but faces risks from over-exploitation and frequent floods.

Significance

  • Energy Security: At 2,220 MW, the project will contribute substantially to India’s renewable energy targets under the National Electricity Plan.
  • Regional Development: It promises improved infrastructure, employment opportunities, and potential revenue for Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Strategic Leverage: Hydro projects in border areas strengthen India’s water resource management and presence in geopolitically sensitive zones.

Conclusion

The Oju Hydroelectric Project reflects India’s drive to expand clean energy while strengthening its presence in the Northeast. However, balancing energy needs with ecological sustainability and community welfare is crucial. Updated environmental studies, better disaster preparedness, and active consultation with downstream states like Assam will be essential to ensure that the project contributes to national development without undermining the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Context: Renowned Malayalam actor Mohanlal is set to receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2023. It will be presented during the 71th National Film Awards ceremony and he will be the 55th recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

About Dadasaheb Phalke Award

About Dadasaheb Phalke Award
  • The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was instituted in 1969 in honour of Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, the pioneer of Indian cinema, by the Government of India. 
  • It is India's highest award in the field of cinema.
  • It is presented annually at the National Film Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film Festivals, an organisation set up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
  • The Directorate of Film Festivals in India, established in 1973, is responsible for organizing major film events such as the International Film Festival of India, the National Film Awards, and the Indian Panorama.
  • Based in New Delhi, the organization operates under the works as part of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
  • The recipient is honoured for their ‘great and outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema’ and is selected by a committee consisting of eminent personalities from the Indian film industry.
  • The award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of Rs. 10 Lakh.  
  • The first recipient of the award was actress Devika Rani (widely acknowledged as the First Lady of Indian cinema), who was honoured at the 17th National Film Awards.

About Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (April 1870 – 16 February 1944): 

About Dhundiraj Govind Phalke
  • He was widely known as Dadasaheb Phalke and is referred to as ‘the Father of Indian cinema.’ 
  • He directed India's first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra, which was released in 1913, marking a significant milestone in the history of Indian cinema.
  • Over his 19-year career, from 1913 to 1937, Phalke produced and directed a total of 95 feature films and 27 short films.
  • Some of his most acclaimed works include Mohini Bhasmasur (1913), Satyavan Savitri (1914), Lanka Dahan (1917), Shri Krishna Janma (1918), and Kaliya Mardan (1919).

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