GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, stands as one of the most devastating assaults on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. This incident not only highlights the persistent security challenges in the region but also has significant implications for India's internal stability and its international relations. An outfit linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) known as The Resistance Front, has taken responsibility for the attack.

What does the attack show?

• Pattern of ‘Diplomatic Disruption’: The attack mirrors a longstanding pattern where high-profile terror strikes coincide with significant diplomatic events.
  • Clinton's visit in 2000 (Chittisinghpura massacre), or now with VP Vance in India and PM Modi abroad.
  • The objective is to internationalize the Kashmir dispute and embarrass Indian diplomacy.
• Pakistan’s Doctrinal Continuity on Kashmir: Statements like those of General Asim Munir labeling Kashmir as Pakistan’s "jugular vein" reflect a consistent ideological position that fuels cross-border terrorism. Even without direct attribution, such rhetoric reinforces militant narratives and undercuts any peace prospects.
• Challenge to Counterterrorism Diplomacy: India's strategic outreach to West Asia, including enhanced security cooperation with Saudi Arabia and Gulf nations, is indirectly undermined by such incidents. These attacks seek to project India as an unstable partner in a region otherwise focused on economic and security cooperation frameworks.

Security Challenges in Post-370 Jammu & Kashmir

In 2019, the Indian government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special autonomy under Article 370 and split the region into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

• Tourism as a Soft Target and Symbol of Normalcy: The surge in tourism post-2019 (after Article 370 revocation) became a key indicator of peace and socio-economic revival. Attacks targeting tourists are intended to erode this perception of normalcy and deter civilian confidence, particularly from non-local visitors.
• Revival of Civilian-Targeting Strategy: Militant groups are reverting to high-visibility attacks on civilians rather than security forces, aiming to maximize public fear and media traction. This is part of a broader asymmetric warfare strategy intended to destabilize economic confidence and local livelihood networks.
• Security Apparatus Overstretch and Terrain Complexity: The dispersed influx of civilians and the region's rugged topography present logistical challenges. While military infrastructure is well-established, civil tourist zones (like Baisaran valley) remain vulnerable due to limited real-time surveillance, inadequate manpower, and gaps in last-mile intelligence.

The global economy is currently facing significant challenges, including trade tensions, slowing growth, and geopolitical uncertainties. These factors have created headwinds for many countries. Despite these global challenges, India’s domestic growth engines — consumption and investment — remain relatively resilient, which has allowed India to maintain a positive economic outlook. This is the central argument presented in an article titled "State of the Economy" published in the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) April 2025 bulletin.

India’s Domestic Growth Drivers: Consumption and Investment

India’s domestic economy is powered by two key drivers: consumption and investment.

• Consumption: India's large and growing consumer base provides a strong foundation for domestic growth. The demand for goods and services within the country continues to rise, fueled by increasing income levels, urbanization, and a youthful population.
• Investment: Investments, both domestic and foreign, have remained steady. India's attractiveness as an investment destination is enhanced by its rapidly growing economy, a stable financial sector, and a diversified economy that includes services, manufacturing, and agriculture.

The RBI’s article highlighted that while global demand for exports may weaken due to trade tensions and the economic slowdown in advanced economies, these two domestic drivers will help shield India from the worst effects of these global headwinds.

India’s Macroeconomic Strengths

Several factors contribute to India’s resilience in the face of global economic uncertainty:

• Low External Vulnerability: India’s external vulnerability is relatively low. The country has a modest external debt-to-GDP ratio of 19%, which is considered manageable. Additionally, India’s foreign exchange reserves are substantial, covering about 11 months of import needs. This gives India a buffer against external shocks such as sudden changes in oil prices or global capital flow disruptions.
• Macroeconomic Stability: India’s macroeconomic framework has been strong, with a focus on maintaining fiscal discipline, low inflation, and sound monetary policies. The country’s inflation rate moderated to 3% in March 2025, a 67-month low, mainly due to a slowdown in food prices. However, the RBI article noted that risks from heatwaves and abnormal temperature rises, which could impact food production, should be monitored.
• Resilient Financial Sector: India’s financial sector, which includes both public and private banks as well as non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), has shown resilience to global shocks. The sector has become more robust and diversified over the years, which has helped it weather macroeconomic challenges.

Despite the global slowdown, India is poised to turn this volatility into an opportunity. The RBI article mentions several reasons why India’s economy is in a strong position to benefit from global changes:

• Supply Chain Realignment: The shifting of global supply chains, especially following disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions (such as trade conflicts between the U.S. and China), offers India an opportunity to strengthen its position as a global manufacturing hub. India can attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) as companies seek alternatives to China and other supply chain hubs.
• Diversified Sources of FDI: India’s growing appeal to international investors is linked to its large market size, young workforce, and improving infrastructure. The article suggests that India’s trade linkages and favorable investment climate make it an attractive destination for global investors seeking resilience and growth potential.
• Services Exports and Remittances: India has consistently performed well in services exports, particularly in IT and software services, which remain strong even in uncertain global markets. Additionally, remittance inflows from the Indian diaspora provide a stable source of foreign exchange, helping to buffer the current account.
• Agricultural Sector: India’s agricultural sector is also showing positive trends.
  • The country is expecting bumper kharif and rabi harvests (the major crop seasons), which, combined with favorable reservoir conditions for irrigation, could support sustained agricultural growth. This can help maintain food security and contribute to the rural economy.

The RBI's recent circular on the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) aims to improve banks' liquidity resilience while providing them with more resources for lending. By reducing run-off rates on certain deposits, the circular enhances credit growth potential and aligns with global standards, effective from April 2026.

About Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR):

• The Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) is a measure designed to ensure that banks have enough liquidity to meet short-term obligations in times of financial stress.
• It requires banks to hold an adequate amount of high-quality liquid assets (HQLAs) that can easily be converted into cash if needed.
• In simpler terms, LCR is about ensuring that banks can survive a period of financial turmoil lasting for 30 days, without running out of cash or selling off assets at a loss.
  • HQLA are assets that are easily liquidated without losing value. These include assets like government bonds, Treasury bills, and state development loans.
  • Under the Basel III standards, the global banking community was required to maintain an LCR of at least 100%. This means banks should have HQLAs worth at least as much as their expected cash outflows during a 30-day stress scenario.

Madhya Pradesh, home to a significant tiger population, is focusing on strengthening its tiger conservation efforts. With the increasing tiger population in the buffer zones of its nine tiger reserves, the state government has approved the development of buffer zones to further protect tigers and their habitats.

Key Highlights:

• Tiger Population Increase: The tiger population in buffer zones of the State’s nine tiger reserves has increased from 526 to 785 over four years.
• Cabinet Approval: The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet approved the “Development of Buffer Zones in Tiger Reserves” scheme with a Rs 145 crore budget for 2025-26 to 2027-28.
• Key Activities Under the Scheme:
  • Chain-link Fencing in ecologically sensitive buffer areas.
  • Development of grasslands and water resources to support wildlife.
  • Wildlife protection and fire safety
  • Health monitoring and treatment for wild animals.
  • Skill development programs for local communities.
• Overall Goal: To protect tiger habitats, reduce human-wildlife conflict, and involve local communities in sustainable conservation practices.
• Madhya Pradesh’s Role in Tiger Conservation: Madhya Pradesh, often referred to as the "Tiger State" of India, has consistently been a leader in tiger conservation.
  • The state is home to several well-known tiger reserves, including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, and Satpura, which are crucial to India’s tiger population.
  • In March 2025, Madhav National Park was added as the ninth tiger reserve in the state, further reinforcing Madhya Pradesh’s commitment to protecting this majestic species.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is preparing to launch a groundbreaking mission to test a new quantum gravity sensor from space. This mission, called the Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder (QGGPf), is designed to test how quantum sensing technologies can be used to detect gravitational anomalies with much higher precision than traditional methods.

About Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder (QGGPf)

• The Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder (QGGPf) will use ultra-cold rubidium atoms cooled to near absolute zero to measure tiny variations in gravity from space.
• It will be able to detect gravitational anomalies, which are variations in gravity caused by mass redistributions beneath the Earth's surface, such as changes in water reservoirs, underground geology, or even tectonic shifts.
• How the Technology Works:

• The mission uses a technique called atom interferometry, which relies on ultra-cold atoms behaving as matter waves.
• The technology compares the acceleration of two clouds of rubidium atoms in free-fall to measure gravity's effect. These measurements help detect gravity gradients, or differences in how fast objects fall over short distances.
• Atom interferometry is highly sensitive and more stable over time than traditional mechanical sensors, which can drift or be affected by environmental noise.

• Technological Advantages:

• The QGGPf is much smaller and lighter than traditional gravity sensing instruments, occupying only 0.25 cubic meters and weighing around 125 kg.
• Despite its small size, the quantum system is expected to achieve up to ten times greater sensitivity than current classical gravity sensors.
• The ultra-cold atom-based sensors are less prone to external disturbances like thermal noise, making them ideal for space-based measurements.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has renewed efforts to link Aadhaar with Voter ID, raising constitutional concerns related to disenfranchisement, data misuse, and democratic integrity.

Constitutional and Legal Concerns

• Voluntariness Undermined: Form 6B offers no real opt-out; voters must either submit their Aadhaar or declare non-possession, coercing consent and violating individual autonomy.
• Right to Vote and Privacy: Linkage risks mass disenfranchisement and infringes upon the fundamental right to privacy, violating the Puttaswamy judgment (2018) and principles laid out in Lal Babu Hussein (1995).
• Aadhaar ? Citizenship: Section 9 of Aadhaar Act, 2016, confirms Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship; UIDAI permits Aadhaar to non-citizens residing 182+ days, making it constitutionally unfit for electoral authentication.

Operational and Technological Deficiencies

• Database Unreliability: CAG Audit Report No. 24 of 2021 highlighted cancellation of 4.75 lakh Aadhaar numbers for duplication/biometric faults, undermining trust in Aadhaar-based deduplication.
• Lack of Appellate Mechanism: Citizens who opt out face in-person justifications without an accessible appeal process, disproportionately affecting the elderly, disabled, and migrants.
• Surveillance Risks: Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 enables state surveillance; Aadhaar seeding with voter ID may allow profiling and electoral manipulation via demographic targeting.

Democratic and Institutional Implications

• Erosion of Universal Suffrage: Linking Aadhaar imposes discriminatory burdens and undermines electoral inclusivity, violating the core of Article 326 of the Constitution.
• Threat to Institutional Independence: UIDAI, a statutory body under executive control, being involved in electoral data management dilutes the constitutional independence of the ECI.
• Alternative Verification Models Ignored: Proven mechanisms like booth-level officer verification, social audits, and public grievance redressal are more effective and constitutionally sound alternatives.

Practice Question:

Q. Critically examine the constitutional, legal, and democratic implications of linking Aadhaar with Voter ID. In your answer, evaluate its impact on electoral integrity, privacy, and institutional independence.

The upcoming Arctic Circle India Forum 2025 is set to deepen India’s engagement in Arctic geopolitics and climate discourse. This is significant as the Arctic sea ice is shrinking by 12.2% per decade (NASA), opening the Northern Sea Route (NSR)—a new global trade corridor. The development coincides with warnings that global temperatures breached the 1.5°C threshold in 2024 (Nature Climate Change), underlining the region’s urgency.

Shrinking Ice and Trade Realignment

• Emergence of NSR: The Northern Sea Route, linking the Atlantic and Pacific, is now navigable due to rapid Arctic melt, offering the shortest route between Europe and Asia, thereby reducing shipping time and cost.
• Cargo Surge: Cargo through the NSR increased from 41,000 tonnes in 2010 to 37.9 million tonnes in 2024, showing its growing strategic importance for global trade.
• India’s Maritime Calculus: India views the NSR through both economic and geopolitical lenses, aligning its port development strategy with this evolving trade reality.

India’s Scientific and Diplomatic Footprint

• Early Engagement: India signed the Svalbard Treaty in 1920 and established the Himadri research station in the Arctic, making it the only developing country besides China with a permanent base.
• Climate Linkages: Indian agencies have modeled how Arctic ice loss could impact Indian monsoons and agricultural yields, underlining domestic climate vulnerability.
• Arctic Policy of 2022: India’s Arctic policy outlines five pillars but needs clearer timelines and institutional mechanisms to transition from policy to execution.

Geopolitical and Diplomatic Dimensions

• Russia Partnership: India and Russia formed a working group on the NSR, and the Chennai–Vladivostok corridor may enhance India’s Arctic access.
• China and Polar Silk Road: India’s Arctic role must be cautious, as aligning too closely with Russia may support China’s Polar Silk Road
• Governance Reform Push: By hosting the forum, India can advocate greater Global South participation and reforms in Arctic Council

Practice Question

Earth Day 2025, celebrated on April 22, underscores the global environmental crisis — including pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. It serves as a reminder to shift from resource exploitation to sustainable stewardship, with India emerging as a key actor through major climate commitments and domestic green initiatives.

Environmental Crisis and Planetary Overdraw

• Nature as a One-Way Bank: Human society continues to extract clean air, water, and food from Earth without restoring resources, creating an ecological “overdraft” system.
• Depleting Ecosystems: India and the world face shrinking forests, polluted oceans, erratic weather, and declining soil fertility due to unsustainable consumption and pollution.
• Climate Instability Intensifies: Frequent wildfires, floods, and heatwaves signal that the planet is reeling under pressure, with no buffer left for unchecked exploitation.

India’s Sustainable Policy Shifts

• COP26 and Panchamrit Goals: India announced a five-point climate agenda at COP26, including net-zero emissions by 2070 and 50% renewable energy by 2030.
• Solar and Electric Push: With the International Solar Alliance and missions like PM-KUSUM, India is leading solar growth. FAME and Indian Railways’ net-zero target by 2030 support clean mobility.
• Conservation and Legal Progress: Wildlife conservation efforts like Project Tiger, NCAP for air quality, and legal frameworks for e-waste and plastic management have strengthened ecological governance.

Gaps and Future Priorities

• Implementation Disparities: State-wise inconsistency, lack of coordination, and insufficient climate finance hinder uniform policy outcomes.
• Public Engagement Needed: Campaigns like LIFE urge citizens to reduce consumption, segregate waste, and adopt green habits for systemic impact.
• Balancing Development and Ecology: Urban planning and infrastructure projects still often treat conservation as a secondary concern, demanding deeper integration into policymaking.

Practice Question