GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

India’s evolving role in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has become a key pillar of its foreign policy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mauritius (March 11-12, 2025) and the announcement of the MAHASAGAR doctrine highlight India’s increasing maritime ambitions.

Why Indian Ocean Region (IOR)?

• IOR is the center of India’s maritime vision, balancing China’s BRI and expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific.
• Trade and Energy Security: Over 80% of global trade by volume passes through the Indian Ocean.
• Strategic Competition: The IOR is witnessing growing rivalry, especially between India and China.
• China’s Expansion: Through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has built infrastructure across the region, increasing its economic and military influence.
• India’s Response – “Necklace of Diamonds” Strategy: India is countering China’s influence by:
• Strengthening strategic partnerships with IOR nations.
• Investing in ports and naval diplomacy to maintain a strong presence.
• Enhancing defence and economic ties with key countries like Mauritius, Seychelles, and Maldives.

India’s strategic presence in the IOR & Indo-Pacific

• India aligns with QUAD principles (US, Japan, Australia, India) to ensure freedom of navigation and maritime security.
• Supports Diego Garcia base while recognizing Mauritius’s sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.
• Expanding regional outreach through port infrastructure, naval exercises, and crisis response (e.g., Cyclone Chido aid to Mauritius).

India’s Maritime Strategy (MAHASAGAR vs. SAGAR)

India-Mauritius Relations

• Strategic Partnership
  • Mauritius is key to India’s maritime security and influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
  • India has helped develop Agaléga Island for maritime surveillance and set up coastal radar stations. It also supports Mauritius’s claim over the Chagos Archipelago, while ensuring regional security.
  • Mauritius is part of the Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) and the Colombo Security Conclave, further strengthening security ties.
  • India provides coast guard ships, maritime patrol aircraft, and training to Mauritius.
  • Plans to establish a National Maritime Information Sharing Centre.
• Economic Cooperation
  • Bilateral trade grew from USD 206 million (2005-06) to USD 851 million (2023-24).
  • Mauritius is India’s 2nd largest source of FDI (USD 7.97 billion in 2023-24) thanks in part to the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
  • Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) signed in 2021 – India’s first trade deal with an African nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France from February 10 to 12, 2024, at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. This visit deepened India-France relations in multiple strategic areas, reinforcing their role as long-term partners in defence, technology, trade, and energy.

India-France Strategic Partnership

• India and France have been strategic partners since 1998 and have collaborated in defence, space, and nuclear energy.
• During PM Modi’s recent visit, both nations reviewed the "Horizon 2047" Roadmap, which outlines long-term cooperation goals.
• India and France have traditionally supported a multipolar world order, meaning they want a balanced global power structure, not dominated by one country like the USA or China.
• Defence Cooperation:

• France has been a key defence supplier to India, especially after the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests when other Western nations imposed sanctions on India.
• France is among the top three arms exporters globally (2019-2023) and has been crucial for India’s defence modernization.
• Key defence agreements during the visit:

• Scorpene Submarine Project – Ongoing collaboration for submarines to strengthen India’s Navy.
• Additional Rafale fighter jets & helicopters – France is already supplying 36 Rafale jets, and discussions continue for more.
• Defence Industrial Roadmap – Focus on co-developing military technology in India under ‘Make in India’.
• Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher – India offered this indigenous weapon system to France for joint collaboration.

Key-areas of Significance:

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

• The IMEC was first discussed at the G20 Summit (2023) in New Delhi and aims to create a new trade route connecting India, the Middle East, and Europe.
• France proposed Marseille (a port city) as a key hub for this corridor.
• The corridor will have:
  • Eastern section – Connecting India to the Gulf region (UAE, Saudi Arabia).
  • Northern section – Connecting the Gulf region to Europe.
• IMEC aims to reduce dependency on existing trade routes and provide India a faster, safer alternative to reach European markets.

Nuclear Energy Cooperation: Focus on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

• France is a global leader in nuclear energy, generating 70% of its electricity from nuclear power.
• India-France collaboration on nuclear power was a key agenda:
  • Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant (Maharashtra) – A proposed project for French-built nuclear reactors has faced delays due to high costs and legal issues.
  • New focus on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) & Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) –
    • These reactors require less land and lower investment.
    • In Budget 2024, India announced Rs 20,000 crore for SMR research, making this collaboration more relevant.
  • India and France signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to cooperate on SMRs and AMRs, signaling a shift in nuclear energy policy.

The Election Commission (EC) has invited political parties to discuss electoral reforms following allegations of voter roll manipulation and duplicate Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers across States.

Key Issues in the Electoral Process

• EVM and VVPAT Concerns: A PIL demanding a return to paper ballots and 100% VVPAT verification was dismissed by the Supreme Court in April 2024. However, the court allowed 5% of EVM memory units to be checked in case of suspected tampering.
• Electoral Roll Manipulation: Allegations arose during the Maharashtra and Delhi elections regarding fake voters being added to benefit the ruling party.
• Duplicate EPIC Numbers: Identical voter ID numbers have been found in different States (e.g., West Bengal, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab). The EC attributes this to past decentralization before shifting to the ERONET central database but assures that voters can only cast their vote at designated polling stations.

Issues in the Election Campaign Process

• Misuse of Star Campaigners: Political leaders frequently use abusive language, communal rhetoric, and unverified allegations.
• Election Spending Violations: Candidates exceed spending limits, while political parties have no spending cap. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw expenses of nearly Rs 1,00,000 crore, fueling corruption.
• Criminalization of Politics: 46% of elected MPs in 2024 (251 out of 543) have criminal cases, with 170 facing serious charges like rape, murder, and kidnapping.

Proposed Reforms

• EVM & VVPAT Verification: Increase sample size for VVPAT-EVM matching based on scientific methods. Even a single mismatch should trigger full manual counting in that region. Introduce ‘totaliser’ machines to aggregate votes from multiple booths for anonymity.
• Preventing Fake Voters: Consider linking Aadhaar with EPIC after stakeholder discussions. Remove duplicate EPIC numbers from electoral rolls.
• Regulating Election Campaigns:
  • EC should have the power to revoke ‘Star Campaigner’ status for MCC violations.
  • Enforce limits on political party election spending alongside individual candidate limits.
  • Strictly implement Supreme Court’s directive requiring criminal antecedents of candidates to be publicized three times before elections.

Despite being the backbone of India’s rural healthcare system, ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) are protesting nationwide, demanding fair wages and better working conditions. The protests highlight long-standing issues in their employment status and compensation structure.

Who are ASHAs?

• Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) were introduced in 2005 under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to act as a bridge between rural communities and the public healthcare system.
• The name ‘ASHA’ means ‘hope’ in Hindi, symbolizing their role in improving healthcare access.
• Today, India has over a million ASHAs working in villages across the country.
• Key-functions of ASHA Workers: ASHAs play a crucial role in rural healthcare, covering a wide range of responsibilities, including:
  • Promoting maternal and child health (ensuring safe pregnancies, deliveries, and immunization).
  • Identifying and managing communicable & non-communicable diseases.
  • Monitoring sanitation and hygiene in communities.
  • Implementing health programs for neglected diseases.
  • Collecting birth and death data.
  • Assisting in COVID-19 response, including vaccination drives and awareness campaigns.
• ASHAs have gained international recognition for their contributions, receiving the WHO Director-General’s Global Health Leaders Award (2022). Studies show that women connected with ASHAs are 1.6 times more likely to have safer, institutional deliveries.

What is the problem?

• The core problem lies in their designation as ‘volunteers’, which prevents them from receiving the benefits of full-time government employees. As a result:
  • ASHAs are not recognized as permanent employees, despite their essential role.
  • Their income is largely incentive-based, with no fixed salary.
  • They earn as little as Rs 5,000 – Rs 15,000 per month, far below the scale of their work.
  • While the government introduced a benefit package in 2018 (covering accidents, disability, and death), ASHAs still lack job security, pensions, and regular salaries.
• With growing pressure from ASHAs and labor unions, the demand for better pay, job regularization, and social security benefits has intensified, making this a critical policy issue.

Required Measures

• Fixed salaries in line with government health workers.
• Better working conditions (reasonable working hours, travel allowances).
• Access to healthcare for ASHAs themselves.
• Pension and other benefits to ensure financial security.

The Economic Survey 2024-25 has emphasized the need to accelerate deregulation to foster business growth, urging the government to "get out of the way" to allow industries to thrive. One sector where deregulation is critical is online gaming, which is currently burdened by high taxes and unclear regulations.

A 2025 Supreme Court stay order on the Rs 1.12 lakh crore retrospective GST demand on online gaming has renewed discussions on the sector’s regulatory challenges.

Current Potential of India’s Online Gaming Industry

• India’s online gaming industry is a fast-growing sector, projected to reach Rs 66,000 crore by 2028 (PwC report).
• Gaming already contributes 1% of India’s total GST collection. The sector creates 2-3 lakh jobs, in addition to the existing 2 lakh jobs.
• India has 650 million smartphone users and a young population, providing a huge user base.
• The sector can boost animation, cybersecurity, data analytics, and VFX industries.
• Key-drivers of India’s gaming industry
• India’s gaming industry is booming, driven by widespread smartphone adoption, affordable internet, and improved hardware.
• With over 2 million smartphone users and rising penetration, gaming-friendly devices with better processors and RAM have made gaming more immersive.
• The availability of cheap mobile data has further fueled online gaming adoption, making India a key player in the global gaming market.

Challenges for the Sector

• Illegal Offshore Gambling Websites: Many foreign gambling sites target Indian users without paying taxes or following regulations. India loses at least $3 billion annually in unpaid GST due to these sites. They also increase risks like fraud, money laundering, and addiction.
• High & Uncertain Taxes: The recent 400% increase in GST on gaming has hurt the industry. Many startups have shut down, and jobs have been lost. The government levies 28% GST on online gaming, equating it with gambling, tobacco, and liquor.
• No Uniform Regulation: Every state has different gaming laws—some allow gaming, others ban it. There is confusion between online gaming and gambling, leading to unnecessary legal battles.

What Needs to Be Done?

• Centralized Regulation: There is need of a single national law (like an Online Gaming Act). This will ensure clear rules on compliance, taxation, and consumer protection. It can be part of the Digital India Bill for better governance.
• Blacklist Illegal Gambling, Whitelist Legal Platforms: The government should ban offshore gambling sites and create a list of legal platforms.
• Support Responsible Innovation: Regulating gaming responsibly will encourage investment and growth.
• Predictable and stable policies: There is need to implement the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. A balanced regulatory framework can unleash India’s online gaming potential, helping the country achieve its USD 1 trillion digital economy goal by 2025-26.

Quick commerce (Q-commerce) is a faster version of e-commerce, delivering products in 10-20 minutes using dark stores (warehouses for online orders) and distribution hubs. Instead of customers visiting a store, these platforms bring essentials straight to their doorstep, especially in urban areas.

Why is Quick Commerce Popular?

• Speed & Convenience: It meets urgent needs, like ordering snacks, groceries, or medicines late at night.
• Smart Inventory: Platforms use customer data to predict demand and stock the right products at the right time.
• Brand Benefits: Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands see faster sales and better market reach, with Q-commerce now making up 35% of online sales for large companies.
• Market Growth & Competition
• The Indian quick commerce industry is valued at USD 3.34 billion and is set to reach USD 9.95 billion by 2029, growing 76% year-on-year.
• Major players include: Blinkit (46%) – Market leader, owned by Zomato; Zepto (29%) – Fast-growing startup; Swiggy Instamart (25%) – Backed by Swiggy

Concerns around Quick Commerce

• Predatory Pricing: Platforms sell products below cost to eliminate competition and later increase prices (price gouging).
• Data Privacy Risks: AI-driven pricing can lead to differential pricing based on location, device type, and shopping history.
• Small Retailers at Risk: Traditional kirana shops struggle to compete, leading to job losses and market imbalance.
• Environmental Impact: More plastic waste and pollution from delivery vehicles.
• Gig Worker Exploitation: Riders face low wages, job insecurity, and high-pressure delivery targets.
• Limited to Big Cities: Q-commerce is mainly urban-centric, with limited expansion into smaller towns.

Road to a Sustainable Q-Commerce Model (Required Measures)

To ensure fair competition and sustainable growth, regulatory oversight is crucial. Key solutions include:

• Fair Market Practices: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) should regulate pricing and prevent monopolistic practices.
• Partnerships with Kirana Stores: Hybrid models like “kirana-powered dark stores” can create a win-win scenario for small retailers and Q-commerce platforms.
• ONDC Integration: The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) can allow small retailers to join digital platforms and compete fairly.
• Worker Protection: Enforce fair wages, insurance, and safety norms for gig workers.
• Eco-Friendly Logistics: Promote electric vehicle deliveries and biodegradable packaging under the FAME Scheme.
• Data Privacy Regulation: The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 should prevent consumer data misuse.

India’s power sector, the sixth-largest globally, is undergoing a major transformation as it moves toward sustainability and clean energy. Traditionally reliant on coal, India has shifted its focus in the last two decades to meet rising energy demand while fulfilling its climate commitments. This transition is driven by regulatory reforms, new business models, and global agreements. As India works towards its 2030 goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity and a net-zero emissions target by 2070, power sector regulations play a crucial role.

Key Policy Reforms

• Electricity Act, 2003: The Act allowed private sector participation, introduced competition, and mandated Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs).
• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) & Energy Conservation Amendment Act (2022): It laid the foundation for a national carbon market.
• Incentives & Investments: Programs like Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), Viability Gap Funding (VGF), and Production-Linked Incentives (PLIs) have boosted solar, wind, battery storage, and green hydrogen.

India’s Power Sector Overview

• India’s power sector is among the largest and most diverse in the world, playing a crucial role in economic development.

• According to the S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), as of 2023, India ranked sixth in total energy production with 126.567 quadrillion British thermal units (BTU).
• Operating under a mix of central and state government policies and private sector involvement, the sector continues to evolve rapidly.
• Energy Mix: India’s energy mix is shifting significantly, with an increasing contribution from renewable energy sources. As of January 2025, the total installed power capacity stands at 26 GW, with coal remaining the dominant source. However, renewable energy, particularly solar, has witnessed significant growth.

Power Capacity Expansion Trends

• Coal-based power continues to be crucial for India’s energy security, increasing from 86 GW in 2022-23 to 220.49 GW in 2024-25.
• Renewable energy sources, especially solar power, have grown from 78 GW in 2022-23 to 100.33 GW in 2024-25. Wind energy has seen moderate growth, contributing 10.37% to the total capacity.
  • Challenges in Renewable Energy Expansion:
• Grid integration
• Storage solutions
• Financial investments
• Environmental and project delays in hydropower
• Nuclear Energy in India: India is focusing on nuclear power as a low-carbon, stable energy source. Policy amendments, including relaxed liability laws, aim to attract private and foreign investments. India plans to expand its nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047, with 14.3 GW targeted by 2032 and small modular reactors (SMRs) by 2033.

India’s National Electricity Plan (2022-32):

• The National Electricity Plan (NEP) outlines India’s power expansion strategy:
  • Peak demand forecast:2 GW by 2026-27, 366.4 GW by 2031-32
  • Installed capacity target: 609 GW by 2031-32
  • Renewable energy goal: 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030
  • Investment requirement: INR 33.6 trillion (US$384.5 billion)
• Power Transmission and Distribution: India’s power distribution includes central, state, and private entities:
  • Central Entities: Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL), NTPC, NHPC, NPCIL, Damodar Valley Corporation
  • State Electricity Boards (SEBs): Responsible for regional distribution
  • Private Companies: Tata Power, Adani Electricity, BSES Rajdhani, and BSES Yamuna

Tamil Nadu’s mangrove forest cover has nearly doubled in just a few years, growing from 4,500 hectares in 2021 to 9,039 hectares in 2024. This increase is due to both new plantations and conservation efforts aimed at protecting existing mangroves. A recent report by Anna University’s Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management highlights this expansion and its impact on carbon storage, climate resilience, and biodiversity.

What are Mangroves?

• Mangroves are tropical treesthat thrive in conditions most timber could never tolerate — salty, coastal waters, and the interminable ebb and flow of the tide.
• Mangrove forests only grow at tropical and subtropical latitudes near the equator because they cannot withstand freezing temperatures.
• Over 50% of India’s mangrove ecosystems are classified as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered, with South India’s mangroves now labeled “critically endangered” by the IUCN
  • Major threats include aquaculture expansion, urbanization, and reduced freshwater flow due to upstream activities like dam construction and water diversion.
• India has lost approximately 7.43 sq km of mangrove cover since 2021, with states like Gujarat and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands experiencing significant declines.
• Significance of Mangroves:
  • Mangrove forests stabilize the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides.
  • They have the ability to store vast amounts of carbon, thus, they are key weapons in the fight against climate change. 
  • The intricate root system of mangrovesalso makes these forests attractive to fish and other organisms seeking food and shelter from predators.

India has introduced the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, replacing the previous Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme. This initiative aligns with India’s climate goals under the Paris Agreement and aims to establish a structured Indian Carbon Market (ICM).

What is the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme?

• The CCTS is a market-based mechanism designed to regulate and trade carbon credits.
• It seeks to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by pricing carbon and facilitating carbon trading.
• Unlike the PAT scheme, which focused on improving energy efficiency, CCTS directly targets emission reduction by monitoring emissions per tonne of GHG equivalent.
• Working Mechanism: The scheme operates through two mechanisms:
  • Compliance Mechanism: Industries in sectors such as aluminium, cement, fertilizers, iron & steel, and petroleum refineries must meet sector-specific GHG reduction targets. Those exceeding targets earn Carbon Credit Certificates (CCC), while those failing must purchase credits to compensate.
  • Offset Mechanism: Entities outside the compliance framework can voluntarily participate and earn carbon credits by adopting cleaner technologies or reducing emissions.
• Initially, the scheme covers energy-intensive industries, which contribute about 16% of India’s total emissions. The power sector, which accounts for 40% of emissions, may be included later.
• Regulatory Oversight: The scheme is overseen by key government bodies such as the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the National Steering Committee for Indian Carbon Market (NSCICM).
• Importance of CCTS in India’s Climate Goals: India aims to cut its emission intensity by 45% by 2030. The CCTS will encourage private sector participation in adopting clean technologies, renewable energy, and carbon capture solutions, driving India toward its net-zero emissions target.

What is Carbon Pricing?

• Carbon pricing is an economic approach that assigns a cost to carbon emissions, ensuring that polluters bear the financial burden of their emissions.
• This strategy incentivizes industries to either reduce emissions, pay for pollution, or invest in cleaner alternatives.
• Globally, carbon pricing covers about 25% of emissions across 89 countries. There are three main approaches:
  • Emissions Trading System (ETS): Allows industries to trade carbon credits. It operates under two models:
    • Cap-and-Trade: A cap is set on emissions, and industries can trade allowances within this limit.
    • Baseline-and-Credit: Industries that cut emissions below a set baseline earn credits, which they can sell to others.
  • Carbon Tax: Instead of setting a cap, a direct tax is imposed on each ton of CO? emitted, encouraging industries to reduce emissions voluntarily.
  • Crediting Mechanism: Projects that reduce GHG emissions generate carbon credits, which can be traded domestically or internationally.

Challenges in Implementing CCTS

• Target Setting and Carbon Pricing: If reduction targets are too lenient, excess carbon credits will lower prices, reducing their impact. If too strict, compliance costs may rise, affecting industries and inflation.
• Compliance and Enforcement Issues: Under the previous PAT scheme, half of the required energy-saving certificates (ESCerts) remained unpurchased due to weak enforcement. CCTS may face similar challenges.
• Delays in Credit Issuance: The slow issuance of ESCerts since 2021 undermined market confidence. Similar delays in CCTS could discourage investment.
• Transparency Concerns: A lack of publicly available data on industry emissions and compliance can weaken market trust.

How Can India Strengthen CCTS?

• Adopt International Best Practices: India can learn from the European Union’s ETS and implement gradual emission caps, ensure price stability, and strengthen compliance.
• Improve Monitoring and Reporting: A robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system can enhance credibility and prevent double counting of carbon credits.
• Develop a Strong Trading Platform: A digital registry for tracking carbon credits can improve transparency and prevent fraud. Aligning the system with global markets will ensure smooth trade and avoid restrictions like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
• Encourage Industry Participation: Incentives such as tax benefits for early adopters and support for investments in green technology will drive industry engagement.

A recent report by the Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir has ranked Delhi as the world's most polluted national capital for the sixth consecutive year. The 2024 World Air Quality Report highlights that 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in India.

India’s Air Pollution Crisis

• Most Polluted City in the World: Byrnihat, located on the Assam-Meghalaya border, recorded the highest PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 µg/m³.
• Delhi’s Pollution Levels: The capital recorded an annual PM2.5 average of 91.6 µg/m³, nearly unchanged from 2023 (92.7 µg/m³).
• India’s Rank: India was the fifth most polluted country in the world, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 50.6 µg/m³.
• Global Pollution Trends
  • The world's most polluted countries in 2024 were Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Congo, and India.
  • Only 12 countries met the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended PM2.5 limit of 5 µg/m³, most of them   in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania.
  • 17% of the 8,954 cities worldwide reported air quality within safe limits.

What is PM2.5 and Why is it Dangerous?

• 5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns) is one of the most hazardous air pollutants. It originates from fossil fuel combustion, vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and crop burning. These fine particles can:
  • Cause respiratory diseases, chronic kidney issues, cancer, stroke, and heart attacks.
  • Penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing long-term health damage.
• Major Pollution Sources in India
  • Crop Burning: Responsible for 60% of pollution during peak seasons in Delhi and surrounding northern states.
  • Vehicular Emissions: A major contributor, especially in metro cities.
  • Industrial Discharges: Power plants, factories, and refineries release pollutants into the air.
  • Construction Dust: Large-scale urban expansion leads to increased dust pollution.
• Seasonal Air Pollution Trends
  • January 2024: Delhi and Himachal Pradesh witnessed extremely poor air quality.
  • November 2024: Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh experienced extreme pollution levels due to stubble burning.

What Can Be Done?

• Strengthen Air Quality Policies: Implement stricter emission norms for industries and vehicles.
• Promote Clean Energy: Encourage renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
• Public Transport & Green Mobility: Expand metro networks, improve bus services, and promote electric vehicles.
• Crop Management Solutions: Incentivize farmers to adopt alternative methods to crop burning.
• Public Awareness: Educate citizens on pollution sources and preventive measures.

A report titled “Waste to Worth: Managing India’s Urban Water Crisis Through Wastewater Reuse”, published by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), highlights the urgent need to reuse treated wastewater as a solution to India’s increasing water scarcity and environmental pollution.

India’s Growing Water Scarcity

• Water Stress: India ranks 132nd in global per capita water availability and is already a water-stressed nation (below 1,700 cubic meters per capita per year).
• Declining Freshwater Resources: Per capita surface water availability has dropped 73% since 1950 (from 5,200 m³ in 1951 to 1,486 m³ in 2021).
• Projected Crisis: If no action is taken, India could soon become “water scarce” (below 1,000 m³ per capita).
• High Demand, Limited Resources: India has 2% of the Earth’s landmass but only 4% of global freshwater resources, yet it supports 18% of the world’s population and 15% of its livestock.

The Wastewater Crisis in Urban India

• Sewage Generation: In 2020-21, urban India generated 72,368 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage.
• Insufficient Treatment Capacity: Only 44% (31,841 MLD) of sewage had treatment capacity, and only 28% (20,236 MLD) was actually treated.
• Future Projections: Wastewater generation is expected to increase by 75-80% in the next 25 years, reaching 48 billion cubic meters annually by 2050, 5 times the existing treatment capacity.
• Environmental Impact: 72% of sewage remains untreated, polluting water bodies and land.

Water Governance and Policy Gaps

• Urban Dependence on Distant Water Sources: Cities like Bengaluru (Cauvery) and Hyderabad (Krishna, Godavari) rely on distant rivers, increasing costs and causing shortages in peripheral areas.
• Poor Water Management Scores: The NITI Aayog Composite Water Management Index shows that 16 states score below 50/100, indicating poor performance.
• Unstructured Wastewater Reuse: Though wastewater is informally reused in agriculture and industry, structured policies are lacking.
• Rural-Urban Water Shift: Large irrigation projects, such as the Narmada Project (Gujarat) and Bisalpur Project (Rajasthan), are being repurposed for urban water supply, reducing water availability for agriculture.
• Government Targets: The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti mandates cities to reuse at least 20% of treated wastewater, but compliance remains low.

What is Water Circularity?

• Water circularity refers to recycling, reusing, and recovering water within the treatment cycle to maximize its value while minimizing waste and pollution.
• ·         Benefits of Water Circularity in India
  • Industrial Water Savings: Using treated wastewater can reduce costs for power plants and data centers, replacing freshwater for cooling.
  • Irrigation Boost: India generates 317 km³ of municipal wastewater annually, which could irrigate 40 million hectares (10% of all irrigated land).
  • Economic Benefits: Recycling wastewater in thermal power plants could save 10 million cubic meters of water annually, generating $300 million per year.
  • Nutrient Recovery: India’s Class I and II cities generate 2,500 tonnes of nutrients daily from 6,400 MLD sewage water, valued at ?19.5 million. Recovering nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus can enhance soil health and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
  • Artificial Groundwater Recharge: Treated sewage can replenish depleted aquifers, improving long-term water security.
  • Renewable Energy Generation: Extracting biogas from wastewater can power treatment plants, while algal biofuel production (3G ethanol) can support India’s climate goals.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally returned to Earth after spending over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their extended stay was due to technical failures in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was originally supposed to bring them back after just an eight-day mission.

Key-highlights

• Crew-9 was the first crewed test flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
• Starliner faced multiple failures, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, making it unsafe for return.
• As a backup, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon was sent to retrieve Williams and Wilmore.
• NASA eventually grounded Starliner indefinitely, forcing an unplanned extension of the astronauts’ mission.
• Crew-9 finally returned safely splashing down off the Florida coast.
  • The Crew-9 team included NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
  • The mission lasted 286 days for Williams & Wilmore and 171 days for Hague & Gorbunov, during which they traveled millions of miles in orbit.
  • Method: The Crew-9 astronauts will return using the splashdown method, a technique where the spacecraft lands in the ocean instead of on solid ground.
    • A splashdown is a landing method where a spacecraft returns to Earth and lands in water, usually an ocean or sea.
    • This technique has been used in human spaceflight programs like NASA's Mercury, Gemini, Apollo missions, and SpaceXCrew Dragon missions.
  • The crew carried out over 150 scientific experiments, including studies on plant growth, stem cell research for treating diseases, and microorganism survival in space.
  • The Dragon spacecraft Freedom, which transported the crew, has completed its fourth spaceflight and will now undergo inspections for future missions.

Crew-9 Mission

• Crew-9 was part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which ensures safe and reliable astronaut transport to and from the ISS.
• The mission contributed to deep-space exploration goals, including preparations for human missions to the Moon and Mars.
• The Crew-9 mission was the fourth flight of the Dragon spacecraft named Freedom. It also previously supported NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4, Axiom Mission 2, and Axiom Mission 3. 

A catastrophic collision occurred in the North Sea between the anchored U.S.-flagged oil tanker Stena Immaculate and the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong.

About North Sea

• The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean between Great Britain, Jutland, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Hauts-de-France.
• The North Sea is bordered by the United Kingdom (including Scotland and England), Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. 
• The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is the shortest shipping route for freight transportation between Europe and countries of the Asia-Pacific region.
• It straddles four seas of the Arctic Ocean.
• Running to 5,600 km, the Route begins at the boundary between the Barents and the Kara seas (Kara Strait) and ends in the Bering Strait.

For the first time, a collection of Acheulean tools—hand axes, thin-edged axes, and large stone knives—has been discovered in China’s Central Plains region at the Wenquan Paleolithic site (Ruzhou, Henan Province). This fills a major gap in our understanding of the Paleolithic cultural development in this region.

What is Acheulean Technology?

• Acheulean technology refers to a stone tool-making tradition used by early humans between 7 million and 150,000 years ago.
• It marked a major improvement over earlier, simpler tools from the Oldowan culture.
• Acheulean Sites
  • Africa: Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania), Konso (Ethiopia)
  • India: Didwana (Rajasthan), Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh), Hunsgi (Karnataka)
  • Europe & Asia: Boxgrove (UK), Zhoukoudian (China)
• Key Features of Acheulean Tools:
  • Handaxes: Large, almond-shaped, and often pointed tools used for cutting, chopping, and digging.
  • More Advanced Techniques: Unlike Oldowan tools (which were simple sharp flakes), Acheulean tools required precise shaping and symmetry.
  • Used by Homo Erectus & Early Homo Sapiens: Acheulean tools were made by more advanced human ancestors, showing their improving cognitive skills.

Stone Tools in India’s Human History

The Jalanatheswarar Temple, currently in deteriorating state, is not just a place of worship but a historical archive that needs urgent conservation to preserve Tamil Nadu’s rich heritage.

About the Temple

• The Jalanatheswarar Temple is an ancient Shiva temple located in Thakkolam, Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu, situated on the banks of the Kosasthalai River.
• It is a historically significant site with deep connections to the Pallava and Chola dynasties.
• It was built by the Pallavas (6th century CE), the temple is one of the oldest in Tamil Nadu.
• Over 51 inscriptions from the Pallava, Chola, and Vijayanagara periods provide crucial information on land grants, donations, and temple activities.
• The original name of Thakkolam was Thiruvural, as mentioned in hymns by Saivite minstrels.
• Under Chola rule, the temple became more prominent. Aditya I, the first great Chola king, captured Thakkolam from the Pallavas, marking the region’s shift into the Chola kingdom.
• The Battle of Thakkolam (949 CE) was a key event in Chola history, where Chola prince Rajaditya was killed in battle against the Rashtrakutas.
• The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped as Jalanatheswarar. It is mentioned in Shaivite hymns, highlighting its religious importance.

The fourth annual conference of global intelligence and security chiefs was held recently, focusing on key global security challenges and intelligence-sharing mechanisms.

About the Conference

• The conference is India’s version of the Munich Security Conference and Shangri-La Dialogue.
• It was first held in 2022 and is organized by India’s external intelligence agency, R&AW, and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
• India is leveraging intelligence-sharing to strengthen global alliances, enhance Indo-Pacific security, and counter transnational threats.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have finalized a peace agreement, ending nearly four decades of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed region in the South Caucasus.

About the Peace Agreement

• The newly finalized peace agreement aims to:
  • Officially end hostilities and establish diplomatic relations.
  • Confirm Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh.
  • Resolve border disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
  • Address demands for territorial access, such as Azerbaijan’s request for a corridor to Nakhchivan (Azerbaijani enclave).
• Relevancy for India

• Strategic trade route: Armenia and Azerbaijan are part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a key Indian trade route.
• Diplomatic balance: India has avoided taking sides but supports a peaceful resolution via the OSCE Minsk Group.
• Geopolitical stability: A stable South Caucasus benefits global trade and security

India’s Prime Minister has been conferred the ‘Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados’, the nation’s highest civilian award, recognizing his strategic leadership and support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About ‘Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados’

• It is Barbados’ highest civilian honor, awarded for exceptional service to the country.
• It recognizes global leaders who contribute to Barbados' development, democracy, and diplomatic relations.
• India’s PM & International Recognitions: With this award, India’s PM now holds 19 prestigious international honors, including:
• ???????? Order of St. Andrew the Apostle (Russia)
• ???????? Legion of Merit (USA)

The India-Bangladesh Naval Exercise Bongosagar 2025, along with a Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT), was conducted this week in the Bay of Bengal. This exercise, a key milestone in India-Bangladesh defense cooperation, strengthens maritime security and regional stability under India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative.

What is Bongosagar 2025?

• Bongosagar is an annual bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy (INS Ranvir) and the Bangladesh Navy (BNS Abu Ubaidah).
• ·         Objectives of the Exercise
  • Enhance interoperability between the two navies.
  • Strengthen maritime security
  • Improve coordination in tactical planning and information sharing.
  • Boost operational readiness for responding to security threats at sea.
• It supports India's SAGAR & MAHASAGAR Initiatives
• • SAGAR (2015) aims to enhance maritime security, economic cooperation, and regional trust in the Indian Ocean region.
  • MAHASAGAR (2025) expands India’s maritime engagement to the Global South, boosting security, trade, and development.

The 6th edition of India- Japan Joint Military Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN has been conducted in East Fuji Manoeuvre Training area of Japan.

About

• Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN is an annual event conducted alternatively in India and Japan.
• Last edition of the same exercise was conducted in Rajasthan in February- March 2024.
• Aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability between the two forces while undertaking joint urban warfare and counter-terrorism operations under UN mandate. The exercise will focus on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills.
• The Indian contingent comprised 120 personnel, represented mainly by troops from a battalion of the MADRAS Regiment along with troops from others arms and services. 
• The Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) contingent, was represented by 34th Infantry Regiment.

The 12th edition of Exercise Khanjar is currently taking place in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan, from March 10 to 23. This annual military exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan focuses on counter-terrorism and special operations, enhancing cooperation between the two nations' armed forces.

About Exercise Khanjar

• Exercise Khanjar is a joint military training initiative between India’s Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and Kyrgyzstan’s Scorpion Brigade.
• It was first conducted in 2011 and has since become a key platform for strengthening defense ties between the two countries.
• The exercise aims to enhance interoperability, tactical coordination, and combat readiness for operations in mountainous and urban environments.
• Key Focus Areas of Khanjar-XII (2025)
  • Counter-terrorism operations in high-altitude terrain
  • Special operations training, including sniping and building intervention
  • Mountain warfare techniques
  • Urban warfare drills under a United Nations mandate
  • Cultural exchanges, including the celebration of Nowruz, to foster deeper military and diplomatic ties

China, Iran, and Russia recently conducted the Maritime Security Belt 2025 naval exercise in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz.

About the Maritime Security Belt Exercise

• First conducted in 2018, it has since become an annual naval exercise in the Gulf of Oman.
• The exercise focuses on maritime security operations, counter-piracy, and safeguarding critical sea lanes.
• Participants:
  • Russia: Warships Rezky, Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov, and support vessel Pechenga.
  • China: Destroyer Baotou and supply ship Gaoyou Lake.
  • Iran: Warships and IRGC naval forces.
• Observers from Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and South Africa attended the exercise, reflecting its growing international scope.

Activists and parents have raised concerns over the rapid push by schools to generate APAAR IDs for students, despite its voluntary nature.

What is the APAAR ID?

• APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) is a key initiative under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for maintaining academic records digitally.
• APAAR is part of the "One Nation, One Student ID" initiative, designed to digitally store students’ academic records for seamless transition between schools and higher education institutions.
• It is linked to Aadhaar and stored in DigiLocker, making it easier for institutions to verify academic credentials.
• The Education Ministry has directed CBSE-affiliated schools and some state boards to achieve 100% enrolment of students in APAAR.
• Is APAAR Mandatory? Officially, APAAR is voluntary. However, CBSE circulars and state directives do not clearly inform parents of this.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) and National Book Trust (NBT) of India launched the third edition of the Prime Minister’s Young Authors Mentorship Scheme, YUVA 3.0. The initiative continues the government’s efforts to nurture young writers, providing mentorship and exposure to develop their creative writing skills.

About YUVA 3.0

• Objective: To mentor young writers under 30 years of age, encouraging them to document India’s rich cultural heritage and modern contributions.
• Themes:

1. Contribution of Indian Diaspora in Nation Building
2. Indian Knowledge System
3. Makers of Modern India (1950-2025)

• Mentorship & Benefits:

• Six-month mentorship program with workshops, expert interactions, and exposure to India’s literary ecosystem.
• Financial assistance of ?50,000 per month for six months.
• Publishing support by NBT in multiple languages.
• Participation in literary festivals and international forums.
• A National Camp for YUVA 3.0 authors will be held at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026.

Background of the YUVA Scheme

• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes the need to empower young minds and promote a reading and writing culture.
• The YUVA scheme was launched to groom young authors as ambassadors of Indian literature, contributing to nation-building through their writings.
  • YUVA 1.0 (2021-2023): Launched as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, focusing on India’s freedom movement.
    • Theme: National Movement of India (Unsung Heroes, Freedom Struggle, Cultural & Scientific Contributions).
    • Selection: 75 young authors, representing diverse linguistic backgrounds.
    • Mentorship: Writing and publishing training with eminent historians, journalists, and literary figures.
    • Impact:
      • Books translated into multiple languages, reaching a broader audience.
      • 10% royalty paid to authors on book sales.
      • Many authors gained recognition, contributing to mainstream literature and academic research.
    • YUVA 2.0 (2022-2025): Focused on Democracy, encouraging young writers to explore India’s democratic journey.
  • Theme: Democracy (Institutions, Events, People, and Constitutional Values).
  • Selection: 75 authors shortlisted, required to submit a 10,000-word proposal.
  • Mentorship: Training with constitutional experts, historians, and authors.
  • Impact:
    • 41 books launched at New Delhi World Book Fair 2025.
    • Works translated into multiple Indian languages.
    • Selected authors participated in national and international literary forums.
    • Books included in academic and government libraries.

The Indian Railways has been enlisted to contribute to the Union government’s Mission Amrit Sarovar, focusing on digging ponds to tackle water scarcity. The initiative aligns with Phase 2 of the mission, which emphasizes community participation (Jan Bhagidaari) and aims to rejuvenate or construct new water bodies near railway sites.

About Mission Amrit Sarovar

• Launched in: 2022
• The scheme was launched as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, with the aim of rejuvenating 75 water bodies per district across India.
• The mission focuses on enhancing surface and groundwater availability, mitigating water scarcity, and boosting climate resilience.

The National Ganga Plan (CS) has been allocated a financial outlay of Rs 3,400 crore for the year 2025-26. This investment aims to enhance sewage treatment capacity, improve water quality, and regulate industrial waste discharge to rejuvenate the Ganga River and achieve prescribed bathing standards by 2025.

About Namami Gange Programme

• The Programme was launched in 2014 as a flagship initiative for Ganga conservation and rejuvenation.
• Vision: The programme focuses on achieving:
  • Aviral Dhara (Continuous Flow)
  • Nirmal Dhara (Unpolluted Flow)
  • Ecological and geological integrity of the Ganga River.
• Key Interventions
  • Pollution Abatement (Nirmal Ganga) – Setting up sewage treatment plants (STPs) and industrial waste management.
  • Improving River Flow (Aviral Ganga) – Ensuring sustainable water flow and conservation.
  • Public Engagement (Jan Ganga) – Encouraging community participation.
• Scientific Research (Gyan Ganga) – Promoting research and policy for river management.

Poshan Abhiyaan represents a landmark initiative in India's fight against malnutrition. 

About

• Poshan Abhiyaan was launched in 2018 in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan.
• The focus of Abhiyaan is to lay emphasis on nutritional status of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers and children from 0-6 years age. 
• The programme, through use of technology, convergence and community involvement with a targeted approach strives to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia and low birth weight in children, as also focus on adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers, thus holistically addressing malnutrition.
• Objectives
  • Prevent and reduce stunting in children (0- 6 years)
  • Prevent and reduce under-nutrition (underweight prevalence) in children (0-6 years)
  • Reduce the prevalence of anaemia among young Children(6-59 months)
  • Reduce the prevalence of anaemia among Women and Adolescent Girls in the age group of 15-49 years
  • Reduce Low Birth Weight (LBW)
• Mission Poshan 2.0: The Government of India approved “Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0”(also referred to as Mission Poshan 2.0) which is a strategic shift in mission mode to develop practices that nurture health, wellness, and immunity from malnutrition.
  • With 14,00,117 Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) operating across 36 States/UTs and 781 districts,the mission aims to enhance the health, wellness, and immunity of children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. 

A pair of studies published in The Lancet have projected that by 2050, over half of all adults (380 crore people) and one-third of all children and adolescents (74.6 crore people) worldwide will be overweight or obese. These studies provide crucial insights into the rising prevalence of obesity and overweight individuals globally, including forecasts till 2050.

Current Global Scenario

• As of 2021, 211 crore people (45% of the global population) were overweight or obese.
• Half of these cases were concentrated in just eight countries: China (40.2 crore), India (18 crore), USA (17.2 crore), Brazil (8.8 crore), Russia (7.1 crore), Mexico (5.8 crore), Indonesia (5.2 crore), Egypt (4.1 crore)
• Obesity in India: Alarming Trends
  • Adults (25+ years): The number of overweight and obese adults has increased significantly since 1990. India is projected to have the second-largest obese and overweight adult population in 2050.
  • Older Adolescents (15-24 years): India overtook China in 2021 as the country with the highest number of overweight and obese adolescents. This number is expected to rise further.
  • Children (5-14 years): India is currently second only to China in terms of overweight and obese children. By 2050, India is expected to narrow the gap, with obesity levels in China stabilizing but continuing to rise in India.

The District Domestic Product (DDP) estimation has gained attention as the government pushes for district-centric economic planning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the role of districts in driving economic growth, but lack of accurate district-level GDP estimates has hindered effective policy-making.

Current GDP Estimation in India

• India’s GDP is estimated based on three sectors:
  • Primary Sector (Agriculture, Forestry, Mining) – Bottom-up approach, aggregating district-level data.
  • Secondary Sector (Manufacturing, Construction, Utilities) – Top-down approach, distributing national estimates based on employment or infrastructure indicators.
  • Tertiary Sector (Services like Trade, Banking, Transport) – Also top-down, relying on proxy indicators.

• Issues with Current Methodology
  • Top-down estimation does not reflect actual district-level economic activity.
  • Lack of real-time economic data, especially in the unorganized sector.
  • State-level GDP (GSDP) estimations may misrepresent local realities, as seen in UP’s case during COVID-19.
  • One-size-fits-all policies ignore regional economic strengths and weaknesses.

March 14 is commonly referred to as Pi Day, a day that aims to celebrate the ratio of the circumference of a circle.

About

• The number is known as 14 or ? and can actually go on forever. 
• The most accurate value for Pi, according to Guinness World Records, is more than 62 trillion digits (62,831,853,071,796 to be precise), calculated in August 2021 by the University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland.

After 33 years of dispute, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have finally demarcated their entire border, ending one of post-Soviet Eurasia’s longest-running conflicts. The historic March 13 agreement resolves violent territorial disputes, reopens trade routes, and establishes water-sharing mechanisms—critical for regional stability.

Why Was the Border Disputed?

• Soviet-Era Border Problems
  • The Soviet Union’s mapmaking in Central Asia created artificial borders without considering ethnic, cultural, or water-resource realities.
  • Villages were split between nations, water sources crossed borders, and nomadic traditions were disrupted.
  • When the USSR collapsed in 1991, these administrative lines became national borders, leading to disputes.
• The Ferghana Valley – A Conflict Hotspot
  • Ferghana Valley, shared by Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, is densely populated and has a history of ethnic and resource tensions.
  • Over 150 border clashes occurred in the past decade, mostly over water access and land disputes.

Key Provisions of the Treaty

• Finalized Border Demarcation: The entire 1,006-km (625-mile) border is now officially recognized. 520 km was settled in 2011, and the remaining 486 km were negotiated over the last three years.
• Reopening Trade & Crossings: The Kyzyl-Bel and Kairaghach checkpoints, closed since 2021, have reopened. Cross-border trade, which fell from USD 12 million (2023) to USD 1.7 million (2024), is expected to rise to USD 500 million by 2030. New flight routes, like Dushanbe-Tamchi, will boost economic and cultural ties.
• Water-Sharing Agreement: A bilateral commission will jointly manage the Isfara River Basin, a previous source of conflict.
  • Climate change has shrunk glaciers feeding the Ak Suu/Isfara River by 17% since the 1950s, making water management crucial for both nations.

ISRO successfully undocked two satellites in space, nearly two months after its first docking mission (Spadex). This makes India the fourth country (after the US, Russia, and China) to achieve docking-undocking capabilities.

What is Space Docking?

• Docking is the process of bringing two fast-moving spacecraft into the same orbit, moving them closer, and finally joining them together.
• It is essential for missions involving heavy spacecraft, space stations, and sample return missions.
• Why is Docking-Undocking Important?
• It enables assembly of large spacecraft in orbit (reducing launch weight constraints).
• It is critical for space stations (India plans to have its own space station by 2035).
• It is essential for lunar missions (e.g., Chandrayaan-4’s sample return mission).
• It supports human spaceflight missions (India aims to send astronauts to the Moon by 2040
• Unique ISRO’s Docking System
• Androgynous design (both satellites have identical docking mechanisms).
• Uses only two motors, unlike the 24-motor system on the International Space Station (ISS).

Two smooth-coated otters, a species that was last seen in 2004 at the Delhi zoo, are among several animals that are set to arrive in Delhi in a slew of exchanges with zoological parks located across the country.

About Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)

• The Smooth-coated otter is an otter species found in most of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. 
• They are named for their sleek, smooth fur, which distinguishes them from other otter species.
• They have small eyes and ears, strong limbs, a flattened tail, and large, well-webbed paws that make them excellent swimmers.
• Habitat and Distribution: These otters are typically found in freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
  • In India, they are seen in regions like Corbett, Dudhwa, Katerniaghat, Kaziranga, Sunderbans, Bhitarkanika, Coringa, Periyar, and Nagarhole.
• These otters are social animals, often living in small family groups consisting of a mated pair and their offspring.
• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• Smooth-coated otters are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in India.

With rising concerns about climate change, the construction industry is exploring sustainable alternatives to reduce its carbon footprint. A significant focus is on mycelium bricks, an innovative bio-material derived from fungi, which could potentially replace conventional fired clay bricks.

About Mycelium Bricks:

• Mycelium is the vegetative part of fungi, composed of branching filaments.
• Mycelium bricks are made by combining sawdust, husk, and fungal spores, which solidify into a lightweight, fibrous network.
• Advantages of Mycelium Bricks
  • Sustainability: They are fully biodegradable and has a lower carbon footprint than traditional bricks.
    • Traditional brick production emits nearly 300 million tonnes of CO? annually.
  • Lightweight: They are easier to transport and handle.
  • Fire Resistance: They are naturally fire-resistant, reducing fire hazards.
  • Good Insulation: They offer better heat insulation than conventional bricks.
  • Versatile Uses: Potential applications in interior design, liquid filtration, circuit boards, and sports equipment.
• Challenges of Mycelium Bricks
  • Structural Strength: Lower load-bearing capacity compared to concrete and fired bricks.
  • Moisture Sensitivity: Highly absorbent and prone to fungal decay in humid environments.
  • Durability Issues: Biodegrades within a few years, requiring further treatment.
  • Production Constraints: Large-scale manufacturing is currently expensive due to limited infrastructure.
  • Market Acceptance: Consumer skepticism and lack of awareness about its long-term viability.
• India-Specific Concerns
  • Tropical Climate: High humidity and monsoons increase susceptibility to moisture damage.
  • Termite Vulnerability: Unlike synthetic materials, mycelium is prone to pest attacks.
  • Higher Costs: Limited production facilities make it a costly alternative for now.