Context India began supplying diesel to Bangladesh through the India–Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, strengthening regional energy cooperation. India–Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline Strategic Significance
Essential Commodities Act Invoked for Natural Gas Allocation in India
Context Due to shortages of commercial natural gas, the Government of India invoked provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to ensure supply to priority sectors. Essential Commodities Act Objective Section 3 of the Act Application in Current Situation Vulnerabilities and Impact
SEBI to Use AI Surveillance to Crack Down on Market Manipulation
Context SEBI said it will strengthen surveillance using technology and AI to curb market manipulation and improve investor protection. SEBI as Regulator • Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) — capital market regulator.• Established: 1988 (statutory under SEBI Act, 1992).• Mandate: protect investors, regulate stock exchanges and intermediaries, ensure fair markets, curb insider trading and fraud.• Powers: issue regulations, inspect entities, impose penalties, suspend trading and order investigations. Key Points • SEBI using AI-driven surveillance to detect manipulation and cyber fraud.• Introduced SEBI Check tool (UPI-linked interface) to verify registered intermediaries before investing.• AI awareness campaign (with SARVAM AI) reached ~3.85 lakh people via multilingual calls.• Chairman warned against “finfluencers” promising unrealistic returns.• SEBI reported strong enforcement record (around 80–90% success rate in tribunal cases).• Focus areas ahead: curb derivatives speculation, revive agri-commodities market, deepen corporate bond market.
Supreme Leader of Iran: Mojtaba Khamenei Appointed After Death of Ali Khamenei
Context Iran’s Assembly of Experts appointed Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.–Israeli strikes. Important Points • The Supreme Leader is Iran’s most powerful authority — head of state and commander-in-chief of armed forces, above the elected President.• Mojtaba Khamenei (57), son of Ali Khamenei, becomes the third Supreme Leader after Ruhollah Khomeini and Ali Khamenei.• Chosen by the 88-member clerical Assembly of Experts, constitutionally empowered to appoint or remove the Supreme Leader.• Known for close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and clerical establishment; linked with Iran’s “Axis of Resistance.” • Russia and China backed the selection; the U.S. signalled conditional acceptance amid tensions.
Petrol Prices in India: Government Signals No Immediate Hike Despite $100 Crude
Context The government indicated petrol prices will not rise immediately despite crude crossing $100 per barrel, as oil companies and tax adjustments can absorb shocks. 1. How Petrol & Diesel Prices Are Decided • Linked to global crude price + rupee–dollar rate + refining and transport cost.• Revised daily by oil marketing companies (Indian Oil, BPCL, HPCL). 2. Role of Taxes Central Excise Duty (Centre) • Fixed per litre (specific tax).• Government reduces or increases it to manage inflation. State VAT (States) • Charged as percentage of base price plus excise.• Petrol ~20–35%, Diesel ~15–25% (varies by state). 3. GST Status • Petrol, diesel, crude oil, ATF and natural gas are outside GST.• Taxed under excise plus VAT system; GST shift needs Council approval. 4. Current Situation • Brent crude rose above $100 (peaked near $119).• Government signalled no immediate retail hike.• LPG refill booking gap raised to 25 days to prevent hoarding
India–Canada Uranium Deal: How the Agreement Strengthens India’s Nuclear Energy Security
Context India signed a $2.6-billion uranium supply agreement with Canada to secure long-term fuel for its civilian nuclear power programme (2027–2035) under the 2010 India–Canada Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. Importance • Strengthens energy security by ensuring steady uranium supply for nuclear expansion.• Diversifies imports; India also sources uranium from Kazakhstan (Kazatomprom), Uzbekistan and Russia.• Imported uranium supports civilian reactors, helping conserve domestic uranium for strategic use.• Canadian ore is richer than India’s low-grade ore, improving efficiency. Key Facts • India’s domestic uranium reserves (~4.2–4.3 lakh tonnes ore) lie mainly at Jaduguda, Turamdih (Jharkhand) and Tummalapalle (Andhra Pradesh).• Imports meet nearly three-fourths of civilian uranium demand.• India operates 24 nuclear reactors (~9 GW); most are Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) which primarily use natural uranium. Supports India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Programme
Open Market Operations (OMO): RBI Buys ₹50,000 Crore G-Secs to Inject Liquidity
Context RBI conducted open market operations (OMO) to buy ₹50,000 crore of government securities to ease liquidity pressures amid global uncertainty. Open Market Operations (OMO) • RBI buys/sells government securities to manage liquidity and interest rates.• Purchase → injects liquidity; sale → absorbs liquidity.• Used to offset tight liquidity (e.g., advance tax outflows) and support credit flow. Government Securities (G-Secs) • Borrowing instruments issued by Government of India. Two main types: • Treasury Bills (T-Bills) Short-term; issued for 91, 182 and 364 days; sold at discount and redeemed at face value. • Dated Securities (G-Secs) Long-term; maturity from 5 to 40 years; carry fixed/float interest (coupon). • Considered sovereign-backed, low-risk assets; widely held by banks and used in RBI operations. Key Points • RBI planned OMOs of ₹1 lakh crore in two tranches (₹50,000 crore each).• Aim: inject liquidity and stabilise financial conditions.• Earlier OMOs: ₹2 lakh crore (Dec 2025–Jan 2026); ₹1.25 lakh crore (May 2025).• Rupee briefly hit 92.36 per US$ due to West Asia tensions and rising crude; later steadied near 92.21 per US$ after intervention.
Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the average number of children a woman is expected to give birth to during her reproductive years (usually ages 15–49), assuming current age-specific fertility rates remain constant. TFR is one of the most important indicators used by demographers to understand population growth, stability, or decline. Replacement Level Fertility The replacement level is the fertility rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, without migration. • The global replacement level is roughly 2.1 children per woman.• The extra 0.1 accounts for child mortality and people who do not reproduce. Interpretation of TFR • TFR above 2.1 → Population tends to grow.• TFR around 2.1 → Population remains stable.• TFR below 2.1 → Population may age and eventually decline. India’s Fertility Trend According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), India’s overall TFR has declined to around 2.0, meaning the country has reached below replacement level fertility. However, there is strong regional variation: • Southern states (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka) – very low fertility rates, often 1.4–1.7.• Northern states (Bihar, Uttar Pradesh) – relatively higher fertility rates, often above 2.5 in some regions. Policy Significance TFR is used by governments to design population policies, healthcare planning, education infrastructure, and labour force projections. When TFR falls too low, countries may face ageing populations, labour shortages, and rising pension burdens, which is why some governments are now adopting pro-natalist policies that encourage childbirth.
Earthquake Zoning in India: Draft IS 1893 Changes and Government Withdrawal Explained
Context: The Centre withdrew the revised earthquake zoning under draft IS 1893:2025 after objections over its scientific basis and cost implications for infrastructure. 1. Earlier Zoning (IS 1893:2016) Zone II (Low) • Central & Peninsular interiors — e.g., Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, parts of Karnataka, Telangana. Zone III (Moderate) • e.g., Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra (parts). Zone IV (High) • e.g., Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, West Bengal (parts). Zone V (Very High) • e.g., Jammu & Kashmir/Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Northeast, Rann of Kutch. 2. Proposed Change (IS 1893:2025 draft — exact shift) • Based on probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA), new ground-motion data, tectonic mapping and historical earthquake records. • Proposed six-zone gradation (II–VI): Zone II: Low — peninsular interiors.Zone III: Moderate — southern & central belts.Zone IV: High — Indo-Gangetic plains (Delhi–Bihar belt).Zone V: Very high — Himalayan belt & Northeast.Zone VI (new): Extremely high — parts of Kashmir, Northeast and Kutch. 3. Basis for Introducing Zone VI • Areas with highest peak ground acceleration (PGA) levels.• Active faults and plate-boundary interactions (Himalayan collision zone).• Past major earthquakes (Kashmir, Assam, Bhuj region).• Required stricter building norms, deeper foundations and higher safety margins. 4. Why Questioned • Agencies (MoHUA, NDMA/NDSA, Metro Rail bodies) flagged methodology concerns.• Reclassification → higher construction costs for large infrastructure.• Risks of delays and stranded projects cited. 5. Agency Responsible • Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) prepares seismic zoning and building codes.• BIS is a statutory body under the BIS Act, 2016.• Works under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
Project Cheetah: Cheetahs Moving from Kuno to Rajasthan Explained for UPSC
1. Context • NTCA noted cheetahs moving from Kuno National Park (Madhya Pradesh) to Baran district (Rajasthan) show natural territorial dispersal.• Two cheetahs (KP2, KP3), among first cubs born in India to African cheetahs (since 2022 translocation), travelled ~60–70 km.• Movement aligns with the proposed Kuno–Gandhi Sagar landscape corridor (~17,000 sq km) across MP–Rajasthan. 2. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) • Statutory body under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended 2006).• Under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Functions: • Implement Project Tiger.• Approve tiger reserves.• Monitor conservation plans.• Coordinate Centre–State action.• Now overseeing Project Cheetah. • Chaired by Union Environment Minister; includes officials, experts and MPs. 3. Project Cheetah • Aims to reintroduce cheetahs in India after extinction in 1952.• Began September 2022 with African cheetahs. • So far:– ~29 adults translocated– Several deaths reported– ~28 cubs born– ~12 cub deaths noted • Ongoing monitoring via satellite collars; inter-State dispersal expected in open savanna landscapes. 4. Source Countries (Africa) — Key Points Namibia • First batch (2022).• Strong free-ranging cheetah population; semi-arid savanna habitat. South Africa • Managed metapopulation model.• Fenced reserves aid breeding and genetic management. Botswana • Third African country sending cheetahs.• Hosts one of Africa’s largest wild cheetah populations in the Kalahari ecosystem. 5. African vs Asiatic Cheetah African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) • Larger population.• Found across eastern & southern Africa.• Adapted to open grasslands.• Source for India’s reintroduction. Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) • Critically endangered.• Now confined mainly to Iran.• Smaller population, lighter coat, more fragmented habitat.
