GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

In a landmark development, the United States (US) is set to remove long-standing regulations that have hindered civil nuclear cooperation between Indian nuclear entities and US companies. This incremental step, marks a significant stride in operationalising the Indo-US nuclear deal envisioned nearly two decades ago.

Key-highlights

• The Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, initiated in 2008 has remained largely unrealised. 
• The deal allowed India to engage in nuclear trade despite not being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). 
• The agreement granted India access to nuclear fuel, reactors, and technology for civilian purposes while committing to the separation of its civilian and military nuclear programs under IAEA safeguards.
• Now, the US is finalising steps to remove Indian government entities such as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre (IGCAR), and Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) from the US Entity List.
  • The US Entity List, maintained by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the US Department of Commerce, restricts foreign individuals, businesses, and organizations deemed a potential threat to US national security or foreign policy interests. 

Key Legal Barriers to India-US Nuclear Civil Deal:

• US Legal Barrier – ‘10CFR810’ Authorization: Under Part 810 of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (10CFR810), the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954 regulates the export of nuclear technology and materials. This regulation allows US nuclear vendors to export equipment to countries like India, provided strict safeguards are followed. However, it restricts the manufacturing of nuclear equipment or involvement in nuclear design work in the recipient country (India in this case).
  • Implication for India: India aims to co-produce nuclear components and participate in the manufacturing value chain for atomic power projects. The 10CFR810 authorization limits this potential by not allowing Indian manufacturers to play a direct role in building and designing nuclear infrastructure. This is seen as a major impediment from India's perspective, as they seek to advance domestic manufacturing capabilities in nuclear technology.
• Indian Legal Barrier – Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (2010): The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 was introduced by India to establish a legal framework for compensating victims of nuclear accidents, outlining procedures for liability and compensation. This act was intended to create a compensation mechanism for nuclear accidents, promoting safety and trust in nuclear energy.
  • Foreign Vendor Concerns: However, foreign nuclear suppliers (such as GE-Hitachi, Westinghouse, and Areva/Orano) have raised concerns that the act places liability for accidents on equipment suppliers, even if they are not directly responsible for the incident. This has led to hesitation among these companies to invest in India’s nuclear sector due to fears of incurring substantial future liability in case of accidents, potentially deterring investment in the country's nuclear energy projects.

Strategic Importance and the China Angle:

• The US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) focuses on deepening cooperation on advanced technologies, including nuclear technology. This framework is seen as a possible pathway to resolving the legal barriers that currently exist between India and the US. A breakthrough agreement on iCET could pave the way for both countries to co-manufacture nuclear components and even jointly produce nuclear reactors in India, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs).
• India’s SMR Ambition: India is positioning itself as a manufacturing hub for SMRs, which are smaller, more cost-effective reactors with capacities ranging from 30MWe to 300MWe. These reactors are seen as an opportunity to address the growing global demand for nuclear power, especially in the Global South.
• China’s Position: China has also recognized the strategic importance of SMRs and is actively investing in the technology, positioning itself as a global leader in the small reactor space. Unlike larger reactors, where China has been a late entrant, SMRs offer a chance for China to compete in the emerging nuclear energy market. This competitive scenario places pressure on both India and the US to collaborate to maintain their technological edge and secure a strong foothold in the SMR market.

Technological Challenges for India:

• While India has a strong background in heavy water reactors (PHWRs), these reactors use natural uranium and are becoming increasingly outdated in comparison to the globally dominant light water reactors (LWRs). The challenge for India is to upgrade its reactor technology to align with international standards, primarily driven by the US, Russia, and France.
• LWR Technology: The US, Russia, and France are global leaders in LWR technology, which has become the preferred choice for modern nuclear power plants due to its efficiency and scalability. India’s push to enter the SMR market requires overcoming these technological constraints, and collaboration with the US could provide a pathway to overcome these hurdles.

The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) data released by the Ministry of Education (MoE) for 2022-23 and 2023-24 has revealed a significant decline in the total student enrolment in schools across India, particularly between 2022-23 and 2023-24. The figures indicate a drop of over 1 crore students (approximately 6% decline), from 25.18 crore students in 2022-23 to 24.8 crore students in 2023-24. This represents a significant decline when compared to the previous years, where enrolment was consistently around 26 crore students.

Potential Causes of the Drop:

• Elimination of Duplicate Enrolments: One of the reasons could be the identification and removal of duplicate enrolments, where students who transferred between schools were mistakenly counted multiple times in previous years.
• Inflated Enrolment Figures: Previous enrolment numbers may have been overestimated due to reporting discrepancies, which is now being corrected by the new methodology.
• Underreporting or Misreporting: The drop in enrolment may also reflect the underreporting or misreporting of actual student numbers by some schools.
• School Closures and Mergers: There has been a noticeable decrease in the number of schools covered under UDISE+, with 87,012 fewer schools reported in 2023-24 compared to previous years. Most of these schools are government-run, and a large portion of this decline is due to school closures or mergers, particularly in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh.

Impact of School Closures:

• The closures of schools, particularly in rural and remote areas, may have forced students to either drop out or seek re-admission in nearby schools. The process of seeking re-admission often involves challenges such as longer travel distances, which can be a deterrent for parents, especially in areas where infrastructure is lacking.
• This re-admission process may have led to an increase in dropout rates, as some parents may not be willing to send their children to distant schools, resulting in students dropping out instead.
• Regional Impact: The decline in the number of schools and enrolment has been more prominent in certain states:

• Jammu and Kashmir experienced the largest decline, with 4,509 fewer schools.
• Assam saw a reduction of 4,229 schools, and Uttar Pradesh reported a decrease of 2,967 schools.
• Other states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra also experienced a decrease in the number of schools.

Implications for Education and Policy:

The decline in school enrolment and the number of schools has serious implications for India's education system:

• Access to Education: School closures and mergers could affect the accessibility of education for students, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The Right to Education (RTE) Act mandates the availability of primary schools within one kilometer, but these norms may not always be followed during school closures.
• Quality of Education: The decrease in the number of schools could also impact the quality of education, especially if students are forced to travel longer distances to access better schools.
• Government Funding and Schemes: The reduction in student numbers may also raise questions about the allocation of funds for schemes like Samagra Shiksha, which provides financial assistance for various educational purposes. If enrolment figures were inflated previously, the effectiveness of the funding distribution could be questioned.

India's projected economic growth for 2024-25 has been revised downward to 6.4%, a significant deceleration compared to the 8.2% growth achieved in 2023-24. This marks the lowest growth forecast since the pandemic-induced contraction of 5.8% in 2020-21.

Key Points:

• GDP Growth Estimate: The National Statistical Office (NSO) released the first advanced estimates for 2024-25, projecting a 4% GDP growth, down from 7% in 2023-24 and 8.2% in 2022-23. The initial forecasts by the RBI and the government had expected growth rates closer to 7%, but the recent estimates indicate lower-than-expected momentum.
• Expenditure Side: The slowdown in growth is largely attributed to a decrease in investment rather than consumption. Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) and Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE) are expected to show an increase in growth, from 4% to 7.3% and 5% to 4.1%, respectively. However, Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), a key indicator of investment, is expected to slow from 9% to 6.4%.
• Sectoral Growth: Growth in the manufacturing sector is anticipated to decelerate significantly, with a projected 3% growth in 2024-25 compared to 9.9% in 2023-24. In contrast, sectors like agriculture and public administration, defense, and other services are expected to show better growth rates.

Impact on fiscal and monetary policy decisions

• Impact of Monetary Policy: Given the slowdown in investment, many economists expect the RBI to adopt a more accommodative stance on monetary policy, potentially cutting interest rates to support economic activity.
• Fiscal Policy: The Union Budget will play a crucial role in shaping India's fiscal strategy. While there is a commitment to fiscal consolidation, economists expect the government to balance its fiscal targets, including a 9% fiscal deficit for 2024-25, with the need to stimulate growth amid softer tax revenues and global volatility.

Challenges:

• Investment Slowdown: A slowdown in investment could signal subdued expectations for future demand, creating a vicious cycle that may further dampen growth prospects.
• Manufacturing Weakness: The manufacturing sector, a key engine of economic growth, is facing significant headwinds. If this slowdown persists, it could have long-term effects on India's industrial capabilities.
• Revenue Shortfall: Nominal GDP growth for 2024-25 is expected to be 7%, lower than the 10.5% assumed in the 2024 Union Budget. This reduction could lead to a shortfall in revenue collections, further complicating fiscal policy.

The Tamil Nadu government has announced a reward of USD 1 million (Rs 8.5 crore) to anyone who can successfully decipher the script of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC).

About Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC)

• The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) was a Bronze Age civilizationin the northwestern regions of South Asia.
• It lasted from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, and in its mature form from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE.
• Together with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, it was one of three early civilizations of the Near East and South Asia.
• Its sites spanning an area stretching from northeast Afghanistan, through much of Pakistan, and into western and northwestern India.
• It flourished in the basins of the Indus River. Its major cities were Harappa and Mohenjodaro, which housed thousands of inhabitants.
• The Indus civilization is also known as the Harappan Civilisation, after its type site, Harappa, the first of its sites to be excavated early in the 20th century. 
• The civilisation was officially discovered in 1921 by John Marshall, director of the Indian Archaeological Survey.
• Despite its vast size and importance, much about the IVC remains a mystery, including the undeciphered script.
• The Indus Script: The IVC script appears on various artefacts like seal stones, terracotta tablets, and metal objects. These inscriptions feature pictograms, often accompanied by motifs of animals or humans.

• Decoding Efforts: Over the past century, more than 100 attempts have been made by linguists, archaeologists, and scientists to decode this script. However, no breakthrough has been made, leaving the language of the Indus Valley as one of the most enduring mysteries of ancient civilisations.

The Dravidian Connection:

• Politicians in Tamil Nadu, particularly those from the Dravidian movement, have long claimed that the people of the IVC could be the ancestors of Tamils. The Indus script might represent an early form of Dravidian language, though evidence for this is limited.
• Dravidian Symbols: The presence of bulls in the Indus Valley seems to point out that bulls are a key symbol in Dravidian culture, especially in Tamil Nadu. There might be a connection between the symbolism of bulls in the IVC and the cultural practices in Tamil Nadu, such as the traditional practice of jallikattu (bull taming).
• The Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology’s recent findings suggest that many of the signs and motifs unearthed in Tamil Nadu resemble those found in the IVC. According to their study, 60% of signs and 90% of drawings found in Tamil Nadu bear similarities to the IVC symbols, suggesting a possible cultural link.
• The origin of the IVC and its relationship to later civilisations, especially the Aryan migration theory, is a highly contentious issue.

A powerful earthquake struck Tibet near Mount Everest, causing significant damage. The earthquake, measuring 6.8 in magnitude according to Chinese occurred in Tingri County, which is about 80 km north of Mount Everest.

What factors are responsible behind the seismic activity in Tibet?

• Tibet lies at the convergence of two major tectonic plates—the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
• This convergence is a fundamental factor behind the seismic activity in the region.
• The Indian Plate is moving northwards and colliding with the Eurasian Plate, which is pushing the land upwards and creating the Himalayas.
• The ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates began around 50-60 million years ago and continues to this day.
• Impact of the collision
  • This collision has created the Himalayan mountain range, which is one of the most geologically active regions in the world.
  • Tibet Plateau Formation: This collision also resulted in the rise of the Tibet Plateau, often referred to as the "Roof of the World." This plateau is the highest and one of the most tectonically active regions on Earth.
  • The collision results not only in the formation of the Himalayas but also in complex processes like subduction (where one plate slides beneath the other) and slab tear (where the Indian Plate is slowly peeling apart beneath Tibet). The slab tear phenomenon is a particularly critical area of study, as it leads to deep earthquakes in the region, which are harder to predict and more destructive.
• The continuous tectonic forces at work in Tibet generate significant stress within the Earth's crust. This stress often leads to the rupture of geological faults, resulting in earthquakes. The region is crisscrossed with major fault lines, where the earth's crust is more prone to breaking and slipping.
• Due to the ongoing tectonic activity, Tibet falls within one of the most seismically active zones on Earth. In fact, the Himalayas and the surrounding region are often classified as a high seismic hazard zone. This includes areas not only in Tibet but also parts of Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Pakistan.

The newly constructed 2.35-kilometer Banihal bypass, part of the Jammu-Srinagar highway’s four-laning project, is set to be operational soon.

About Banihal Bypass and Jammu-Srinagar Highway Project:

• The 35 km Banihal Bypass is part of the four-laning project for the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44).
• The bypass bypasses Banihal town (a major bottleneck), starting from Kharpora and ending near the Navayuga Tunnel.
• The design features four viaducts (1,513 meters in total) and three culverts to ensure smooth traffic flow.
• Impact on Traffic: The bypass is expected to reduce congestion, cut down travel time between key locations like Kharpora, Banihal, and the Navayuga Tunnel to just 7 minutes.
  • It will benefit tourists and defense vehicles, which are vital for the region's security, facilitating their faster movement.

The Bharatpol portal, launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is an innovative tool designed to streamline and accelerate international law enforcement collaboration, particularly in the context of transnational crimes like cybercrime, human trafficking, and organized crime.

What is Bharatpol?

• Developed by: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
• Bharatpol is a platform to strengthen the country's police departments by providing real-time communication with Interpol and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
• Key Features of Bharatpol:
• Real-Time Interface: The real-time interface of Bharatpol is crucial for speeding up responses to domestic and international requests. This feature facilitates faster data sharing, critical for investigations involving cross-border criminals and fugitive criminals.
• Modules of Bharatpol: The platform incorporates five key modules that provide a comprehensive technological framework for law enforcement agencies:
  • Connect: This module enables Indian law enforcement agencies to function as an extension of Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB-New Delhi), strengthening international cooperation.
  • Interpol Notices: Simplifies the process of seeking and offering international assistance in investigations, ensuring coordination across 195 countries.
  • Broadcast: This ensures immediate availability of assistance requests, streamlining international communication.
  • References: Facilitates sharing critical references related to criminals and crimes across borders.
  • Resources: Aids in managing and exchanging documents and facilitating capacity-building initiatives for law enforcement agencies.
• Support for Criminal Investigation: Bharatpol has access to 19 Interpol databases, providing crucial data that helps Indian agencies analyse crimes, prevent them, and apprehend criminals more effectively. The portal also simplifies international criminal investigation through Interpol liaison officers (ILOs) and police officers from central and state agencies.
• Faster Criminal Extradition: The portal is expected to significantly expedite cases involving criminals located abroad. Since 2021, nearly 100 criminals have been extradited to India, and 26 fugitives were successfully brought back in 2024 alone. Bharatpol aims to further streamline this process.
• Focus on Crime Prevention: Bharatpol would not only assist in tracking Indian criminals abroad but also help locate international criminals within India. By enabling access to global crime databases, it will allow Indian authorities to analyze global crime trends and develop frameworks for preventive actions before crimes can occur in India.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated annually on January 9th to honor the significant contribution of the Overseas Indian community in the development of India.

About the day

• The day marks the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India from South Africa on January 9, 1915, which was a pivotal moment in India’s freedom struggle.
• Gandhi's return is seen as the beginning of the movement that transformed India, and celebrating this day recognizes the role of the Indian diaspora in shaping the country’s present and future.
• Role of the Diaspora: The date also highlights the role of the Indian diaspora in India’s freedom struggle and their ongoing contribution to the nation’s development in the post-independence era. The diaspora has played an integral part in sectors such as business, technology, and policy-making, contributing to India’s global stature.
• To mark this day, the tradition of celebrating Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) started in 2003. 1st PBD Convention was organised on 9 January 2003 to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India.
• Since 2015, under a revised format, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated once in every two years. 
• 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention – 2025:

• Dates: 08-10 January 2025
• Location: Bhubaneswar, Odisha
• Theme: "The Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat" (A Developed India). The theme emphasizes the critical role of the Indian diaspora in shaping a prosperous and developed India, highlighting their contributions in various domains like technology, economy, and culture.

V Narayanan has been appointed as the new head of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He will take over from S Somanath, who served as the ISRO chairman from 2022.

Important Contributions

• Joined ISRO in 1984: With nearly four decades of experience in space technology, Narayanan began his career at ISRO in 1984.
• His early contributions were in the Solid Propulsion area, specifically with Sounding Rockets, Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicles (ASLV), and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• Shift to Cryogenic Propulsion: In 1989, Narayanan transitioned to the Cryogenic Propulsion area at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). This was a pivotal shift in his career, leading to crucial advancements in the propulsion systems used in space launches.
• Leadership at LPSC:
  • Director of LPSC (2018): Under his leadership, LPSC developed 164 liquid propulsion systems for 41 launch vehicles and supported 31 spacecraft missions.
  • GSLV Mk III & C25 Cryogenic Project: Narayanan was the Project Director for the C25 Cryogenic Project, which developed the C25 Stage — a critical component for the GSLV Mk III vehicle, a significant achievement for ISRO’s rocket capabilities.
• Expertise: Narayanan is widely recognized for his expertise in rocket propulsion and spacecraft propulsion systems, both of which are critical for ISRO's mission success.

India and the U.S. have announced a significant collaboration aimed at enhancing Undersea Domain Awareness (UDA) for the Indian Navy through the co-production of U.S. sonobuoys. This collaboration is the latest in a series of defense technology partnerships between the two countries, responding to growing concerns over China's expanding naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Key Highlights:                                            

• Partnership Development: The Ultra Maritime (UM), a U.S.-based leader in undersea warfare capabilities, and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), an Indian state-owned defense company, will co-produce sonobuoys for the Indian Navy.
• The project is aligned with the S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET), launched in May 2022, and will adhere to "Make in India" principles by manufacturing these sonobuoys both in the U.S. and India.
• Technology Focus: The collaboration will focus on developing sonobuoy technologies tailored for the unique acoustic environment of the Indian Ocean. This will include solutions for wide-area search and multi-static active solutions, enhancing the ability to detect submarines and underwater threats.
• The sonobuoys produced under this partnership will be designed for interoperability, allowing them to be used seamlessly by the S. Navy, the Indian Navy, and other allied countries' naval assets, including P-8, MH-60R, and MQ-9B Sea Guardian aircraft.
• While India already operates the American sonobuoys from the P-8I maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, the fresh deal is for the MH-60 Romeo helicopters, also procured from the US.
• The sonobuoys are a mix of active and passive capabilities, and are expendable, meaning they are meant for use only once.
• Use of sonobuoys would make these aircraft more potent in carrying out anti-submarine warfare as they raise the probability of detection of enemy submarines.
• There are three types of sonobuoys the Indian Navy is procuring:
  • AN/SSQ-53G high-altitude anti-submarine warfare (HAASW) sonobuoys
  • AN/SSQ-62F HAASW
  • AN/SSQ-36

India has reported five cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), with two each in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and one in Ahmedabad. 

What is HMPV?

• HMPV, a respiratory virus first identified in 2001, is already in global circulation, including India.
• Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Pneumoviridae family and closely related to the Avian metapneumovirus (AMPV) subgroup C.
• It was first identified in 2001 in the Netherlands using RNA arbitrarily primed PCR (RAP-PCR).
• The virus primarily affects the respiratory system and tends to be more active during late winter and spring, overlapping with influenza and RSV seasons.
• Recently, HMPV has made headlines due to rising infections in Chinaand concerns over its potential to spread further.
• Symptoms: HMPV typically affects the respiratory system, with common symptoms including sore throat, fever, nasal congestion, cough, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis, requiring hospitalisation and oxygen therapy.
• Common similarities: While HMPV shares similarities with other respiratory viruses like the flu or RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), it can cause more severe symptoms in vulnerable populations, such as infants, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.

The visit of Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor, to India marks the last foreign trip of his tenure and highlights significant developments in the US-India bilateral relationship. A key focus of this visit is the deepening of technological cooperation, particularly in areas such as AI, semiconductors, space, and biotechnology, as part of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).

Strengthening India-US Strategic Partnership

• Biden Administration's Commitment: The visit underscores the Biden Administration’s dedication to enhancing India-US relations, aiming for a more robust partnership in global geopolitics and economics.
• Preventing Crises: A key feature of the bilateral approach is ensuring that unforeseen crises do not derail the progress of this growing strategic alliance.
• Legacy of the iCET: The iCET initiative, launched in 2023, has been a pivotal step toward fostering techno-industrial collaboration between both countries, focusing on sectors vital to future global economies.

Deepening Technological Collaboration

• Techno-Industrial Era: The Biden Administration has transitioned beyond government-to-government engagements, promoting collaboration across industries, start-ups, and research communities in both nations.
• Technological Sectors: Key areas of cooperation include AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, and space exploration, which are poised to shape the global economy in the coming decades.
• Derisking from China: The iCET is part of a broader US strategy to reduce dependence on China and build new technology partnerships, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s influence.

Challenges and Opportunities in Tech Cooperation

• Nuclear and Space Cooperation: There have been restrictions on civilian space and nuclear cooperation, though efforts to lift these barriers are underway, offering new opportunities for collaboration.
• Nuclear Energy’s Role: India faces challenges in modifying laws to foster greater foreign investment in its nuclear energy sector, an area of increasing importance due to the demand for clean energy in sectors like AI.
• Future under Different US Leadership: The continuity of this collaboration under a potential Trump administration remains uncertain, though shared interests in technology and global competition with China provide a basis for optimism.

Practice Question:

Q. Evaluate the strategic significance of the iCET initiative in strengthening India-US relations. How can cooperation in emerging technologies contribute to both countries' geopolitical and economic objectives, and what challenges might arise in sustaining this collaboration under changing US leadership?

The draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, have been introduced to enforce the Digital Personal Data Protection Act passed over a year ago. This marks a significant step towards enforcing the fundamental right to informational privacy, affirmed by the Supreme Court in the landmark 2017 case of Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India. However, concerns persist about the secrecy surrounding the rule-making process.

Enabling Data Privacy Protections

• Data Collection Transparency: The proposed rules mandate online services to clearly communicate the purpose of data collection to users, ensuring transparency in digital interactions.
• Child Data Safeguarding: Special provisions are included to safeguard children’s personal data, addressing growing concerns about privacy in the digital realm.
• Data Fiduciary Obligations: The rules outline procedures to follow in case of personal data breaches, holding data fiduciaries accountable for securing user information.

Institutional Design and Government Exemptions

• Data Protection Board of India (DPBI): The draft rules propose the establishment of the DPBI, which will play a crucial role in addressing disputes and ensuring compliance with data protection laws.
• Government Exemptions: Guidelines are provided for government agencies to be exempt from some provisions of the Act, raising concerns over potential oversight issues.
• Institutional Challenges: Despite proposals for the DPBI, concerns about the institutional design remain unresolved, and it may not be realistic to address these through subordinate legislation alone.

Concerns Over Secrecy and the Consultation Process

• Lack of Transparency: The government’s continued secrecy in the rule-making process raises concerns, as it limits public participation and stakeholder involvement.
• Need for Open Deliberation: An open and transparent consultation process is crucial for balancing the interests of both industry and the general public, promoting better outcomes.
• Public Confidence at Risk: If the government does not improve transparency and act promptly, it risks losing the public's trust in its commitment to safeguarding privacy and user data.

Practice Question:

Q. Critically examine the proposed Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, in the context of their role in safeguarding informational privacy in India. Discuss the challenges in the institutional design of the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI) and the need for transparency in the rule-making process.

A recent attack by insurgents resulted in the death of eight security personnel and a civilian in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in a conflict zone. This has highlighted ongoing challenges in counter-insurgency operations, especially against a persistent and ideologically motivated insurgent group.

Ideologically Driven Insurgency

• Insurgency and Ideology: Insurgents with a strong ideological foundation, especially those who see violence as central to their existence, rarely seek peace, even when faced with significant military setbacks.
• Violence as a Tool: For such groups, violence is not just a method of rebellion but a core tenet that drives their continued engagement in conflict.
• Resistance to Surrender: The persistence of these groups makes it difficult to convince them to abandon violence or enter into peace negotiations, particularly after decades of armed struggle.

Impact of Security Operations

• Heavy Losses for Security Forces: The recent attack, which resulted in one of the heaviest losses for the security forces in recent years, is a setback for counter-insurgency operations.
• Casualty Statistics: The escalating death toll in 2024, both for insurgents and security forces, underscores the intensity and toll of the ongoing conflict.
• IED Tactics: The use of sophisticated IEDs suggests a continued capability for large-scale attacks, indicating that the insurgents are still operational despite significant setbacks.

Strategic Response to Insurgency

• Risk of Retaliatory Violence: A knee-jerk military response can lead to further targeting of civilians, which may strengthen insurgent propaganda against state repression.
• Need for Caution: A balanced approach, combining military operations with civil society efforts, is necessary to avoid worsening the conflict and to facilitate dialogue for a ceasefire.
• Long-term Peace Efforts: While military operations might seem like a quick fix, the enduring solution to insurgency often lies in negotiated settlements and engagement with civil society, not just military force.

Practice Question:

Q. Examine the challenges faced by security forces in counter-insurgency operations against ideologically motivated insurgent groups. Discuss the strategic balance between military retaliation and peace efforts in resolving such conflicts.