UPSC Key: Sub-categorisation among SCs, Sunita Williams and Offshore Mining

Competition Commission raids ad majors, broadcasters’ body

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Main Examination: General Studies II: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

What’s the ongoing story: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Tuesday raided the offices of media agencies, including GroupM, Dentsu and IPG Mediabrands, as well as the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), an apex body of broadcasters, over alleged fixing of ad rates and discounts, industry sources told FE.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Why the Competition Commission of India (CCI) raided the offices of media agencies?

• What is the concept of ‘cartelization’ and ‘price collusion’ in the context of competition law?

• What is the role of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in India?

• Competition Commission of India (CCI)-Statutory Body or Constitutional Body?

• Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) and Competition Act, 2002-Compare and Contrast

• Composition of Competition Commission of India (CCI)-Members and their Appointment

Key Takeaways:

• The action comes ahead of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which begins on March 22. The raids were carried out in Mumbai, Delhi and Gurugram.

• The development has come as a surprise to industry watchers, who describe the raids as “unprecedented”. While the CCI is believed to have first initiated a case against the media agencies and broadcasters’ body before conducting the raids, sources in the know have hinted at industry rivalry for the action.

• According to legal experts, price collusion here refers to the practice of manipulating advertising rates, discounts, or inventory which distorts fair market competition. This practice could favour certain players, inflate prices and reduce choice for consumers. The CCI is said to be probing these angles and the raids were conducted as part of its ongoing investigation into price collusion by stakeholders.

• The CCI action also comes at a time when the Indian media and broadcasting market has been rapidly consolidating, with players Star India and the Reliance-backed Viacom18 merging their operations in an $8.5-billion joint venture (JV) called JioStar last year. The combined viewership share of the JV is around 35-40% in TV. The merged entity also dominates digital viewership and sports broadcasting in particular.

Do You Know:

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is the chief national competition regulator in India. It is a statutory body within the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and is responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002 to promote competition and prevent activities that have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India. The CCI looks into cases and investigates them if the same has a negative impact on competition.

• It is the duty of the Commission to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India.The Commission is also required to give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a statutory authority established under any law and to undertake competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart training on competition issues.

• According to Investopedia, Collusion is a non-competitive, secret, and sometimes illegal agreement between rivals that attempts to disrupt the market’s equilibrium. The act of collusion involves people or companies that would typically compete against each other but who conspire to work together to gain an unfair market advantage.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍AI being used for collusion, says CCI chairperson

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering Similar Theme:
📍Discuss the role of the Competition Commission of India in containing the abuse of dominant position by the Multinational Corporations in India. Refer to the recent decisions. (GS2, 2023)

FRONT PAGE

Trump and Putin agree on 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine war against energy and infra sites

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

What’s the ongoing story: In a significant step toward de-escalation, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a limited ceasefire, halting attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following a high-stakes phone call with US President Donald Trump. However, the Russian leader stopped short of committing to a broader ceasefire, tempering hopes for a swift end to hostilities.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the geopolitical significance of energy infrastructure in modern warfare.

• How has the Russia-Ukraine conflict affected global energy security?

• How effective are temporary ceasefires in ensuring long-term peace?

• Assess the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on global trade and energy markets.

• What measures can countries take to reduce their dependence on energy imports from conflict-prone regions?

• Evaluate the effectiveness of diplomatic dialogues, like the Trump-Putin call, in de-escalating international tensions.

Key Takeaways:

• The phone call resulted in a preliminary agreement between Putin and Trump to cease targeting Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure. Trump, who described the conversation as “very good and productive” on his Truth Social platform, expressed optimism about further progress toward a full ceasefire and an end to the war.

• Despite this announcement, the situation on the ground in Ukraine remained precarious. Hours after the call, air raid sirens blared across Kyiv as Russian drones targeted the capital. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Russia had launched more than 40 drones at civilian infrastructure, including a hospital in the northeastern city of Sumy. “In many regions, we can exactly hear what it is that Russia wants,” Zelenskyy said, hinting at continued aggression despite the partial ceasefire agreement.

• Zelenskyy, who had previously signalled openness to a ceasefire focused on infrastructure protection, responded cautiously to the developments. He expressed a willingness to further explore the agreement but underscored the need for additional details before committing fully.

Do You Know:

• While a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure would mark a notable breakthrough —representing the first partial ceasefire since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022 — the scope of the agreement remains narrow.

• According to a Kremlin statement released after the call, Putin outlined a series of “significant issues” that he believed needed to be addressed before a broader ceasefire could be implemented. Chief among them was the cessation of all Western military aid to Ukraine, a demand that has long been a sticking point in any negotiations involving Russia’s war effort.

• “It was emphasized that a key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict and working toward its resolution through political and diplomatic means must be the complete cessation of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence to Kyiv,” the Kremlin said.
Putin also reportedly called for Ukraine to halt the mobilization of new troops, raising concerns that Russia’s position in any future peace talks would involve significant demands aimed at weakening Ukraine’s military capabilities.

• The initial response from international leaders has been one of cautious optimism, tempered by the recognition that any ceasefire must be sustainable and fair to Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, praised the limited ceasefire as a “good start” but warned that a complete ceasefire and long-term peace could not be achieved without Ukraine’s full involvement.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Ukraine agrees to 30-day ceasefire with Russia, conclude mineral deal with US

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering Similar Theme:
1. Which of the following best describes the role of energy infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine war?
a) Russia uses attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid as a military strategy.
b) Ukraine has a self-sufficient energy supply that remains unaffected.
c) The war has had no impact on global energy markets.
d) The United Nations has imposed sanctions specifically targeting Russia’s energy sector.

Voter, Aadhaar databases will link, opt-out option to stay

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Main Examination: General Studies II: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

What’s the ongoing story: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will work with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to link its voter records with the Aadhaar database, while the Law Ministry will amend Form 6B to clarify that providing Aadhaar details remains voluntary, though voters declining to share this information must explain their reasons, The Indian Express has learned.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the rationale behind the Election Commission’s initiative to link Voter ID with Aadhaar.

• What are the potential benefits and risks associated linking Voter ID with Aadhaar?

• Examine the legal and constitutional validity of Aadhaar-Voter ID linking.

• Does linking Voter ID with Aadhaar violate the right to privacy as upheld in the Puttaswamy judgment?

• What can be the short term and long term impact of Aadhaar-Voter ID linking on electoral integrity and voter participation in India?

• With the Election Commission’s initiative to link Voter ID with Aadhaar, suggest measures to address concerns related to privacy, exclusion, and data security.

Key Takeaways:

• These decisions were made at a high-level meeting held on Tuesday between senior officers of the ECI and the Home Ministry, Law Ministry, IT Ministry and UIDAI.

• The meeting, the first one between the Commission and the Union Government this year, was attended by Home Secretary Govind Mohan; MEiTY Secretary S Krishnan; Legislative Department Secretary Rajiv Mani and UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar.

• It was held against the backdrop of the Opposition INDIA bloc parties alleging irregularities in electoral rolls in different parts of the country.

• In an hour-long discussion, the ECI and government officials are learned to have discussed the pros and cons as well as the legalities associated with linking the voter database with that of Aadhaar.

• While the Commission’s press statement on Tuesday’s meeting did not categorically state this, it said linking will be done in accordance with Sections 23(4), 23(5) and 23(6) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and that “technical consultations between UIDAI and the technical experts of ECI are to begin soon”.

Do You Know:

• Sections 23(4), 23(5) and 23(6) of the RP Act 1950 deal with the Electoral Registration Officer’s authority to request Aadhaar for voter identity verification, the process for existing voters to voluntarily submit Aadhaar numbers, and protections ensuring that no one can be denied voter registration or removed from electoral rolls for failing to provide Aadhaar information.

• Form 6B lacks options for electors to abstain from providing Aadhaar, offering only two choices: either provide Aadhaar or declare, “I am not able to furnish my Aadhaar because I don’t have Aadhaar number.” This will be amended but voter will have to offer an explanation why she is not providing her Aadhaar.

• The change will be in line with ECI’s commitment before the top court (in G Niranjan Vs Election Commission of India) in September 2023 that it is looking into issuing “appropriate clarificatory changes in the forms introduced for that purpose” to ensure that voters understand the exercise is voluntary.

• In response, the Election Commission acknowledged the problem, explaining that some state Chief Electoral Officers had incorrectly utilised alphanumeric sequences when generating EPIC numbers. The Commission clarified that identical card numbers don’t necessarily indicate fraudulent voters, as other identifying information —such as demographic details, constituency assignment, and polling station — remain distinct for each individual.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Amid voter list row, on table at key EC huddle next week: Aadhaar-EPIC linking

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering Similar Theme:
2. Consider the following statements: (2018)
1. Aadhaar card can be used as a proof of citizenship or domicile.
2. Once issued, Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated or omitted by the Issuing Authority.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

EXPRESS NETWORK

59 sub-castes divided into 3 groups: Telangana Assembly passes SC Bill

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

What’s the ongoing story: The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed the Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservation) Bill, 2025, paving the way for SC sub-categorisation in reservation.

Key Points to Ponder:

• The Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservation) Bill, 2025-know the key highlights

• What is sub Categorisation within castes?

• What is subcategory of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (STs)?

• Compare and Contrast creamy layer and sub Categorisation within castes

• If all SCs are treated as one group, what are the grounds for sub-categorisation?

• What are the arguments for and against sub-categorisation?

• What is E V Chinnaiah vs State of Andhra Pradesh case?

• How the legal debate over sub-categorisation among SCs has evolved over the years?

• What is creamy layer?

• Compare the sub-categorization of SCs in Telangana with similar initiatives in other states.

• Discuss the role of empirical data and socio-economic studies in shaping reservation policies.

Key Takeaways:

• As per the Bill, tabled by minister Damodar Rajanarasimh, the Scheduled Castes will be divided into three categories – Group I will get 1% reservation within the 15% quota for SCs; Group II will get 9% reservation; and Group III will get 5% reservation.

• Calling it a historic day, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said, “Many activists have sacrificed their lives during the struggle for SC sub-categorisation”. He was referring to the protests by the Madiga Reservation Poratta Samithi (MRPS). Madigas form the SC subcaste that will get 9% reservation.

• The Chief Minister said families of those who lost their lives in the “struggle for SC subcategorisation” will be compensated. “Fifty-nine sub-castes have been divided into three groups and distributed with 15% reservations among them. The government will also support the families of those who lost their lives during the struggle for SC classification. Those families will be given priority in the allotment of Indiramma houses and Rajiv Yuva Vikasam schemes,” he said.

• The Chief Minister also said that SC quota would be enhanced as per the 2026 census. “Will take the responsibility of increasing reservations and implementing the same,” he said.

Do You Know:

• In 1975, the Punjab government issued a notification dividing its 25% SC reservation at that time into two categories. In the first category, seats were reserved solely for the Balmiki and Mazhbi Sikh communities, which were and continue to be considered two of the most economically and educationally backward communities in the state. As a result, they were to be given first preference for any reservations in education and public employment.

• The second category consisted of the rest of the SC communities, which didn’t get this preferential treatment.
It was one of the first instances of existing reservations being ‘sub-classified’ by a state to provide benefits to certain communities beyond what was already being offered to scheduled caste communities as a whole.
While the notification remained in force for nearly 30 years, it ran into legal hurdles when in 2004, a five-judge constitution bench struck down a similar law introduced by Andhra Pradesh in 2000. In ‘E.V. Chinnaiah v State of Andhra Pradesh’, the Supreme Court struck down the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Act, 2000 for being violative of the right to equality. The law contained an expansive list of scheduled caste communities identified in the state and the quota of reservation benefits provided to each of them.

• On August 1, 2024, In a landmark 6-1 majority ruling, a seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that Scheduled Castes do not constitute a socially homogeneous class and can be sub-classified by States for the purpose of providing reservation to the less privileged among them.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Milestone after Mandal: Supreme Court allows new quotas within SC/ST quota

📍How the legal debate over sub-categorisation among SCs has evolved over the years

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering Similar Theme:
3. Consider the following organizations/bodies in India: (2023)
1. The National Commission for Backward Classes
2. The National Human Rights Commission
3. The National Law Commission
4. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
How many of the above constitutional bodies?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

THE IDEAS PAGE

The ocean front

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story: Arun Prakash Writes: Apart from its “soft power” and humanitarian aspects, maritime diplomacy can help contain, resolve and prevent conflict

Key Points to Ponder:

• India’s strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)—Know in detail

• What is the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)?

• What is maritime diplomacy?

• How can India act as a unifier in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) amidst rising geopolitical tensions?

• Discuss the significance of the Indian Ocean Region for global trade and security.

• What are the major challenges India faces in securing its interests in this region?

• Examine the role of regional groupings such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Colombo Security Conclave in promoting
India’s vision for the Indian Ocean Region.

Key Takeaways:
Arun Prakash Writes:

• K M Panikkar, eminent Indian diplomat, historian, and strategic thinker, said in a 1945 essay: “While to other countries, the Indian Ocean is only one of the important oceanic areas, to India it is the vital sea…” In contemporary India, apart from the Navy, most others have paid scant attention to Panikkar’s writings, and to his emphasis on the creation of an Indian Ocean identity.

• We need to note that unlike most other parts of the world, the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has historically lacked forums and institutions that could facilitate dialogue or help create a cooperative response to developments affecting the whole region. There has never been a security architecture in the IOR, because diversity, combined with chauvinistic self-interest, has prevented the formation of functional, effective regional institutions.

• Past attempts to give substance to the idea of the Indian Ocean as a unified geopolitical space have thrown up organisations whose acronyms constitute a veritable “alphabet soup” (IORA, SAARC, BIMSTEC, IPOI, CSC and IONS). For a number of reasons, including lassitude on the part of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, most of these endeavours, bar the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) have failed to gather substantial momentum. The emergence of the US-origin “Indo-Pacific” paradigm, in the last decade, has also served to divert attention from such endeavours.

• Against this backdrop, the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC), a “consultative forum for countries in the Indian Ocean Region” organised annually since 2016 by the Ministry of External Affairs in association with the BJP think-tank, India Foundation, appears to have attained considerable traction and participation. The forum focuses on the ways and means of implementing SAGAR, or “Security and Growth for All in the Region”, the watchword created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 for IOR maritime cooperation/diplomacy.

Do You Know:
Arun Prakash Writes:

• India’s maritime diplomacy had actually made its mark in December 2004, when the Great Asian Tsunami hit the region. Within hours, the IN reached out with alacrity, not just to India’s stricken citizens but also to its Sri Lankan, Maldivian and Indonesian neighbours in dire need. The humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) rendered by India and the IN left a deep impression on our neighbourhood. This image was strongly reinforced by subsequent sea-lift operations mounted by the IN as a “first responder” to evacuate refugees fleeing from disaster-stricken or conflict zones.

• In order to realise its true potential as a “preferred security partner” and “first responder” in the IOR, New Delhi needs to develop a fully funded programme for security and HADR assistance, including amphibious heavy-lift capability and a hospital ship. To ensure timely delivery of assistance, the impediments and delays arising from lack of MoD-MEA coordination need to be eliminated.

• An important component of India’s evolving maritime diplomacy has been the creation of a strong Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) capability. This enables the IN to share, in real time, a multidimensional maritime traffic picture with the neighbouring Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. The IN has also been helping island nations safeguard their vast exclusive economic zones against poachers and smugglers by means of aerial and ship patrols.

• Maritime diplomacy is a flexible instrument that can be used to convey messages and influence events by offering a choice of naval actions, ranging from peaceful cooperation at one end to compellence and deterrence at the other. Even though they are not designed for this role, warships have many attributes that make them useful diplomatic instruments.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍China has become a maritime power. It’s time India caught up

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering Similar Theme:
4. Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (INOS): (2017)
1. Inaugural INOS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region,
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

EXPRESS NETWORK

National Wildlife Health Policy takes shape, five years after Covid outbreak

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Main Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

What’s the ongoing story: Five years after Covid-19 was declared a pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that likely jumped from bats to humans possibly through an intermediary animal host, the Centre is reviewing an interim draft of a National Wildlife Health Policy (NWHP) that has proposed integrated wildlife disease surveillance, research and setting up of new diagnostic labs, The Indian Express has learnt.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the significance of the National Wildlife Health Policy in the context of India’s biodiversity conservation efforts.

• How National Wildlife Health Policy integrate with the One Health approach?

• Examine the impact of zoonotic diseases on public health and biodiversity.

• How can India’s National Wildlife Health Policy help in preventing future pandemics?

• Evaluate the challenges in implementing the National Wildlife Health Policy

• Analyse India’s preparedness for emerging zoonotic diseases in light of the National Wildlife Health Policy.

• Compare India’s wildlife health policies with those of other countries.

Key Takeaways:

• Following a ministerial review and revisions, inter-ministerial consultations are likely, it has been gathered.

• With over 60 per cent of emerging infectious diseases impacting humans getting transmitted from animals to humans as per the government, the concept of One Health – which focuses on approaching human, animal and environmental health together – has assumed importance.

• The NWHP will align with the Centre’s National One Health Mission, which coordinates cross-sectoral efforts for pandemic preparedness, integrated disease control and disease outbreak responses.

Do You Know:

• Wildlife acts as a reservoir of pathogens and thus monitoring their health, in the wild and in captivity, has become an imperative. As per government data, India has a network of 1,014 protected areas which includes 106 national parks, 573 wildlife sanctuaries, 115 conservation reserves and 220 community reserves spread over 5.32 per cent of its geographical area. These areas harbour terrestrial, avian and marine species.

• The Environment Ministry’s Central Zoo Authority (CZA) is anchoring the policy drafting, the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser has driven the consultations with subject experts, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay is supporting these agencies in the policy formulation. A core working group consisting of these three bodies and private consultancy firm Ernst and Young worked on the policy formulation.

• Seven working groups gave key recommendations on themes ranging from disease surveillance and wildlife health research to capacity building and regulatory framework, it has been gathered. These working groups held discussions for about four months last year and gave thematic recommendations. For instance, the disease surveillance-related group proposed a surveillance system with a focus on terrestrial, marine and avian ecosystems

• The National Referral Centre for Wildlife (NRC-W), whose foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Junagadh, Gujarat on March 3, will serve as a key hub of the new framework on wildlife health management. NRC-W will act as a referral centre to investigate wildlife mortalities, outbreak events and also facilitate disease diagnostics, treatments, and could be one of the nodal authorities for surveillance.

• A national wildlife health database and a wildlife health information system are two of the key policy recommendations. The former can act as a centralised repository of real-time or near-time surveillance data, historical data along with databases from animal husbandry and human health. The wildlife health information system, it is learnt, has been proposed to streamline disease surveillance, facility-level reporting and spatial-temporal data.

• The establishment of satellite diagnostic labs is another broad theme emerging in the policy. These labs, those aware of the matter said, will help enhance wildlife disease diagnostics and timely detection. These could be set up near important forest habitats, it is proposed.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Central Zoo Authority Organizes a Workshop on Development of the National Wildlife Health Policy

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering Similar Theme:
5. If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication? (2020)
(a) A licence is required to cultivate that plant.
(b) Such a plant cannot be cultivated under any circumstances.
(c) It is a Genetically Modified crop plant.
(d) Such a plant is invasive and harmful to the ecosystem.

6. Which of the following can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area? (2012)
1. Global warming
2. Fragmentation of habitat
3. Invasion of alien species
4. Promotion of vegetarianism
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

EXPLAINED

Astronauts to return: what delayed them, what we will learn

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space

What’s the ongoing story: NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have returned to Earth safely after their Crew 9 Dragon Spacecraft splashdown safely off the coast of Florida. Due to the intense loss of body mass and muscle density during their stay in space, both Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will have to undergo 45 days of rehabilitation to adjust to life on Earth.

Key Points to Ponder:

• How did Sunita Williams get stuck in space?

• How were Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore rescued from ISS?

• What difficulties do astronauts have when they return to Earth?

• Discuss the significance of long-duration space missions in advancing human space exploration.

• How can Sunita Williams’s extended stay contribute to future deep-space missions?

• Examine the physiological and psychological challenges faced by astronauts during prolonged space missions.

• What countermeasures are being developed to mitigate these challenges?

• As India gears up for its Gaganyaan mission, what lessons can ISRO learn from international experiences of long-duration space stays, such as Sunita Williams’s mission?

• Space agencies worldwide are focusing on human adaptability in space for future deep-space exploration. Evaluate the role of international collaboration in space research and its importance for human spaceflight.

Key Takeaways:

• Even though both NASA astronauts were stuck in space for nine months, the administration decided not to rush the mission but rather reassign the pair to SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, which arrived at the ISS last September. Crew-9’s mission was reduced from four astronauts to two to make room for Williams and Wilmore. On Sunday morning, Crew-9 bid a heartfelt farewell to their ISS colleagues after the arrival of their replacements, Crew-10.

• The astronauts had travelled to the International Space Station (ISS) in June last year and were supposed to return in a week. However, the space vehicle that had taken them there, a Boeing spacecraft called Starliner, developed problems after which it was considered unsafe for the astronauts’ return.

Do You Know:

• Sunita Williams, along with astronaut Butch Wilmore, were on a Boeing Starliner spacecraft to test its maiden crewed voyage in June 2024 and went on space expedition for a little over a week. But the Boeing Starliner suffered propulsion issues and was deemed unfit by the space administration to fly the duo astronauts back to Earth. Since then, Williams has been on the ISS, waiting for the replacement shuttle to land back on the Earth.

• Williams and Wilmore will come back after more than nine months — 286 days — in space. Their stay is not the longest — several astronauts, both from the US and Russia, have remained in space for longer. Soviet cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record — he spent 438 days at the Mir space station between January 1994 and March 1995. Mir predated the ISS, and had been operational for 15 years between 1986 and 2001 before it was brought down.

• Between September 2022 and September 2023, US astronaut Frank Rubio completed 371 days at the ISS.

• SpaceX was the first company to be certified to carry astronauts to the ISS under this program. Boeing came next. The flight that took Williams and Wilmore to the space station was Starliner’s first attempt to carry humans in space.
The spacecraft developed problems even before the launch — there was a helium leak in its propulsion system. It was not a serious enough problem for NASA to abandon the journey, but on its way to the ISS, the spacecraft developed more problems. However, it was able to reach its destination safely.

• The ISS, which is used primarily by the US and Russia, has never been without an astronaut since November 2000. Astronauts usually spend a few weeks to a few months carrying out experiments and studies before being replaced by another set.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Sunita Williams, Barry Wilmore’s return to Earth delayed: Here’s why NASA-SpaceX postponed Falcon 9 mission

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering Similar Theme:
7. In the context of human spaceflight, which of the following challenges are associated with long-term stays in space?
1. Increased risk of vision problems due to fluid shifts
2. Weakening of the immune system
3. Reduced exposure to cosmic radiation
4. Difficulty in maintaining mental well-being
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1, 2, and 4 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Livelihoods and ecology: behind Kerala protests over offshore mining plan

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

Main Examination: 

• General Studies I: Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors
responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).

• General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

What’s the ongoing story: Kerala has been witnessing protests over proposed mining off its coast. Last week, MPs and legislators staged a protest in Delhi against the move. Earlier this month, the state Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to drop the offshore mining plan.

Key Points to Ponder:

• The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, (OAMDR Act)—Know its key features

• How does the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, (OAMDR Act) defines offshore?

• Discuss the reasons behind the protests in Kerala against the Centre’s offshore mining plan.

• Examine the significance of offshore mining for India’s economic and strategic interests.

• How can the government balance economic development with environmental and social concerns?

• How does offshore mining impact marine biodiversity and coastal communities? Suggest sustainable strategies to mitigate these concerns.

• Analyse the legal and regulatory framework governing offshore mining in India. How does it compare with international best practices?

Key Takeaways:

• The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, (OAMDR Act), which deals with the development of mineral resources in the country’s maritime zones, was amended in 2023.

• In the past, offshore excavation was under the aegis of central government bodies such as GSI, Indian Bureau of Mining, Atomic Minerals Directorate, etc. But this amendment opened up offshore mining to the private sector. The amended Act unveiled a competitive auction process to encourage private sector participation in the exploration of offshore resources such as polymetallic nodules, lime-mud, and construction sand.

• The Centre launched the country’s first tranche of e-auction of 13 offshore blocks in November last year. Of the 13 blocks, three are off the Kerala coast, three off Gujarat, and 7 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The proposed lease is for 50 years.

• A study conducted by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) along the Kerala coast has found that the state’s offshore has a huge deposit of construction-grade sand, around 745 million tonnes. At present, mining is under consideration at three blocks off the Kollam coast in southern Kerala. The study has found that these blocks have a deposit of 300 million tonnes of sand. The depth of the sea in that coast is from 48 meters to 62 meters.

Do You Know:

• As per the OMDR Act, ‘offshore area’ means the territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone and other maritime zones of India. Section two of the Act arms the Centre with the right to control mines and minerals in offshore areas. At the same time, fishing and related developmental activities up to 12 nautical miles in the sea is a State subject, as per the seventh schedule of the Constitution.
The Union mining ministry has told the state that the three blocks off the Kollam coast are beyond 12 nautical miles, and thus are not under the Kerala government.

• Kerala wants the Centre to drop the mining plan as it will lead to irreparable damage to the fisheries sector, the livelihood for around 11 lakh fishermen spread across 222 fishing villages.

• On March 16, Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy told the Rajya Sabha that the offshore mining blocks have been carved after excluding 130 marine protected areas across the coastal states. He said 106 coastal sites have been identified as Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs) to take care of marine conservation.

• The Centre also said the Offshore Areas Mineral Trust was formed with coastal states as members, and the funds accruing to the Trust could be used for mitigation of adverse ecological impacts and to help the affected people.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Offshore mining: Kerala MPs demand impact study

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering Similar Theme:
📍Despite India being one of the countries of Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in percentage. Discuss. (2021)

 

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (a) 2.(d) 3.(a) 4.(b) 5.(a) 6.(a) 7.(a)

  

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