GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

The Government of India has introduced new reservation, domicile, language, and women’s representation policies in Ladakh to address demands for constitutional safeguards following its 2019 Union Territory status. These reforms aim to protect indigenous rights, culture, and employment in this strategically sensitive region.

Ladakh’s New Reservation, Domicile & Language Policy: Constitutional Safeguards and Regional Stability

Background & Legal Framework

• Post-Article 370 Abrogation
  • Ladakh became a Union Territory on October 31, 2019, bifurcated from the former state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
  • As a UT without a legislature, Ladakh is directly governed by the Central Government through the Lieutenant Governor and Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Amendment to Reservation Law
  • The Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation, 2025 replaces the earlier 50% reservation cap (from J&K Reservation Act, 2004) with an 85% cap, excluding Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
  • This potentially raises total reservation up to 95% in Ladakh, placing it among the highest reservation regimes in India alongside Meghalaya (85%) and Arunachal Pradesh (80%).

Domicile Criteria and Its Implications

• New Domicile Rules
  • Residency eligibility for government jobs and other benefits requires 15 years of continuous residence starting from the UT's foundation day (October 31, 2019).
  • This includes children of central government employees stationed in Ladakh.
  • The domicile rule aims to prevent “outsiders” from obtaining undue advantage in employment and resources.
• Impact on Demography and Employment
  • Ladakh’s population is approx. 74 lakh (2011 Census), with around 80% tribal (mainly Buddhist tribal groups).
  • The domicile policy is seen as a mechanism to protect indigenous identity and livelihoods, crucial in a region witnessing strategic geopolitical challenges due to proximity to China and Pakistan.

Reservation & Social Justice

• Reservation Sub-quotas
  • The detailed sub-categorization as shared by civil society groups indicates:
    • 80% for Scheduled Tribes (ST)
    • 4% for residents along Line of Actual Control (LAC)/Line of Control (LoC)
    • 1% for Scheduled Castes (SC)
    • 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)
• Women’s Political Empowerment
  • A third of the seats in Ladakh’s hill councils are reserved for women on a rotational basis — a progressive step promoting gender inclusiveness in governance.
  • This measure could serve as a template for other tribal and border regions.

Language Policy & Cultural Preservation

• Recognition of Languages
  • The official languages declared for Ladakh are English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti, and Purgi.
  • Inclusion of Bhoti and Purgi—regional tribal languages—indicates the government's attempt to preserve Ladakh’s cultural heritage and identity amidst wider political changes.

Civil Society Demands and Regional Aspirations

• Statehood & Constitutional Safeguards
• Despite these reforms, bodies like the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) continue to demand full statehood and/or Sixth Schedule protections.
• These groups fear that without legislative powers or autonomous governance structures, Ladakh’s indigenous communities remain vulnerable to demographic and economic displacement.
• Security Concerns
• Ladakh’s geopolitical significance, bordering China and Pakistan, heightens the stakes of local discontent.
• Stability and ensuring local support are vital for national security in this sensitive frontier region.

Challenges and Implementation Gaps

• Delay in Notification of Rules
  • While the amendment has been notified, the Rules specifying categories covered under reservation are yet to be finalized. This delay can cause administrative uncertainty.
• Absence of Legislative Autonomy
  • Without an elected legislature, governance largely depends on bureaucratic mechanisms, limiting local political participation.
• Balancing Development & Protection
  • There is a delicate balance between encouraging development and protecting tribal land and resources from external exploitation.

Way Forward: Recommendations

• Immediate Actions
  • Expedite notification of detailed rules to ensure clarity and prevent ambiguity in implementation.
  • Enhance consultation with local stakeholders for smoother policy adoption.
• Long-Term Governance Solutions
  • Consider extending Sixth Schedule status to Ladakh to provide constitutional autonomy over land, forests, and local governance.
  • Explore the creation of a hybrid governance model blending UT administrative control with regional autonomy mechanisms.
• Empowerment & Inclusiveness
  • Expand capacity-building programs to empower Ladakhi youth and women in governance and administration.
  • Strengthen infrastructure and livelihood programs focusing on tribal welfare and sustainable development.

The Supreme Court dismissed a contempt plea challenging the Chhattisgarh government’s legislation that regularized vigilante groups, ruling that passing a law does not amount to contempt of court. The plea alleged violation of earlier Court directives to disband such groups.

Contempt of Court

• Contempt of Court refers to any act that defies or disrespects the authority, justice, and dignity of the court.

Types of Contempt

• Civil Contempt: Wilful disobedience of any judgment, decree, direction, or order of a court.
• Criminal Contempt: Publication or acts that scandalize or lower the authority of the court or obstruct judicial proceedings.

Constitutional & Legal Provisions

• Article 129: Supreme Court has the power to punish for its own contempt.
• Article 215: High Courts have similar powers.
• Contempt of Courts Act, 1971: Defines and limits the powers of courts in punishing contempt.

Salwa Judum Case & Supreme Court Ruling on contempt of court:

• Salwa Judum Case & 2011 Verdict
  • Salwa Judum, a state-backed anti-Maoist militia, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2011.
  • The Court ordered disbanding Salwa Judum and SPOs, halting tribal civilian armament, vacating occupied public buildings, and ensuring victim rehabilitation.
• Contempt Petition (2012)
  • Filed by Nandini Sundar and others alleging that the 2011 Chhattisgarh Auxiliary Armed Police Force Act reinstated SPOs under a different name.
  • Accused the State of non-compliance due to continued occupation of buildings and failure to compensate victims.
• Supreme Court Observations (2025)
  • Laws passed post-court judgment do not constitute contempt of court merely by their enactment.
  • Only constitutional courts can invalidate laws if found ultra vires, infringing fundamental rights, or unconstitutional.
  • Courts must respect legislative autonomy and judicial review is the proper channel for challenging laws.

Key Constitutional Interpretation

• Doctrine of Separation of Powers: Legislature is free to legislate; judiciary has the power to review.
• Plenary Powers: State legislatures have full authority to pass laws unless explicitly restricted by the Constitution.
• Balance of Power: Emphasis on maintaining the delicate constitutional balance between organs of the State.

Call for Peace and Rehabilitation

• The Court acknowledged long-standing conflict and violence in Chhattisgarh.
• It stressed:
• The joint responsibility of the State and Centre under Article 315 to ensure peace.
• The need for rehabilitation of displaced and victimized communities.
• Specific steps must be taken to address trauma, displacement, and societal unrest.

Significance of the Judgment

• Protects Legislative Autonomy: Prevents misuse of contempt jurisdiction to stifle legislative processes.
• Clarifies Limits of Contempt Law: Promotes judicial restraint in assessing legislative intent unless constitutionality is challenged.
• Reinforces Rule of Law: Judicial review remains the proper mechanism for evaluating validity—not contempt proceedings.

Challenges:

• Ambiguity in Implementation: Whether legislative action truly complies with earlier court orders remains a subjective matter.
• Potential for Misuse: States may use legislative tools to bypass court directions under the guise of reform.

Way Forward

• Judicial Clarity: Future SC guidelines may specify limits to legislative “response” to judgments to prevent circumvention.
• Constitutional Review Mechanism: Strengthen timely review of laws that seek to overturn judicial pronouncements.
• Policy Reorientation: Shift from militarized responses to developmental and rehabilitative approaches in conflict regions.
• Human Rights Oversight: Institutions like NHRC should monitor compliance with court directions, especially in conflict zones.

There is a renewed academic and administrative focus on the structural evolution of the Civil Services Examination (CSE), particularly its preliminary stage. The transformation of the examination—from the colonial Macaulay model to the post-independence Kothari recommendations and further reforms through committees like S.K. Khanna (2010) and Arun Nigvekar (2012)—continues to evoke debates around transparency, equity, and meritocracy.

Civil Services Examination in India: Evolution, Reforms, and Challenges

Historical Evolution of the CSE Structure

• Macaulay Report (1854)
  • Recommended a merit-based selection process for the Indian Civil Services.
  • Emphasized testing literary and academic talent over patronage and aristocratic privilege.
  • Introduced written examinations initially held only in London.
• Kothari Committee Recommendations (1975)
  • Suggested the modern three-stage process:
    • Preliminary Examination (Objective-type)
    • Mains Examination (Descriptive-type)
    • Personality Test (Interview)
  • The goal was to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of candidates’ intellectual, analytical, and personality traits.

Reform through RTI and Judicial Scrutiny

• After the Right to Information Act, 2005, aspirants demanded greater transparency in marking and selection.
• The UPSC was compelled to disclose methodologies, triggering judicial scrutiny.
• In response, the K. Khanna Committee (2010) was formed to review the examination structure.

Structural Transformation: The 2011 Reforms

• Optional paper in prelims was abolished.
• Two compulsory papers introduced:
  • Paper I (General Studies): Covered Indian Polity, History, Economy, Geography, etc.
  • Paper II (CSAT): Focused on quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, and comprehension.

CSAT Controversy and Corrective Measures

• Civil society groups and aspirants from rural and non-English backgrounds protested.
• In 2015, the government declared CSAT (Paper II) as qualifying only, requiring 33% marks.
• This reform restored greater weight to General Studies, viewed as more equitable.

Further Rationalization: Arun Nigvekar Committee (2012)

• Aimed to simplify and standardize the exam further.
• Recommended broadening of General Studies syllabus.
• Led to the current structure of four GS papers in Mains,

Continuing Challenges and Structural Distortions

• Linguistic Inequality: Despite reforms, translation issues and comprehension challenges persist for vernacular candidates.
• Urban Bias: English-medium candidates retain an edge in Paper II and interview phases.
• Opaque Evaluation: No re-evaluation or disclosure of Mains answer sheets despite RTI pressures.
• High Dependence on Coaching: Rising syllabus complexity increases coaching dependency, deepening socio-economic inequality.

Way Forward

• Equity in Language Access: Improve translation quality and accessibility for regional languages.
• Transparent Evaluation: Introduce optional rechecking and publish model answers post-evaluation.
• Dynamic Curriculum Updates: Periodically revise syllabus to reflect real-time governance, technology, and international affairs.
• Ethical and Inclusive Assessment: Include more scenario-based and ethical reasoning in both Prelims and Mains.

Global financial markets are witnessing a fundamental reshaping of traditional "safe-haven" assets. The U.S. dollar and Treasury bonds, long regarded as default safety assets, are under scrutiny due to rising debt concerns and political instability, while the Euro and cryptocurrencies are gaining traction as alternative stores of value.

Global Realignment of Safe-Haven Assets: Dollar, Euro, and Crypto

• Traditional Safe-Haven: The Declining Confidence in Dollar Assets
  • Historic Strength of the Dollar: Traditionally backed by the U.S.'s stable political system and deep financial markets.
  • Recent Volatility:
    • Dollar dropped 9% between Jan–May 2025.
    • S. Treasury yields breached 5% post tax cuts under the “Big, Beautiful Bill”.
• Debt and Policy Risks:
  • Moody’s downgraded U.S. debt from AAA to AA1.
  • Rising Credit Default Swap (CDS) spreads indicate increasing default risk.
  • Growing investor scepticism about fiscal sustainability.
• Euro’s Evolution: Building a Global Currency Ecosystem
  • Structural Limitations: Limited supply of German bunds (1.9 trillion euros vs $28.6 trillion US Treasuries).
  • Policy Shifts: €1 trillion spending on infrastructure and defence.
  • Strategic Initiatives: Promotion of digital euro to enhance international payment usage and push for new trade alliances to expand euro-denominated trade.
• Cryptocurrency: From Fringe to Mainstream
  • Policy Support:
    • GENIUS Act for stablecoin regulation.
    • Executive order for strategic Bitcoin reserve.
    • Retirement funds allowed crypto investments.
• Institutional Adoption:
  • Spot crypto ETFs by BlackRock and Fidelity.
  • Surging fund inflows as a hedge against fiat risks.
• Advantages:
  • Non-sovereign and decentralized.
  • Hedge against quantitative easing and sanctions.
  • Viewed as a store of value amid political and financial uncertainty.

Significance of the Shift:

• The evolving global financial architecture challenges the long-standing hegemony of U.S. dollar-based assets.
• Europe’s deeper financial integration and fiscal flexibility may help the euro gain global currency status.
• Cryptocurrencies, though volatile, are gaining acceptance for hedging geopolitical and monetary risks.

Risks and Challenges:

• Crypto assets’ high volatility and lack of full regulatory frameworks pose risks for retail and institutional investors.
• Eurozone fiscal unity remains incomplete; southern European debt instruments still considered risky.
• Decline of the dollar as a safe haven may increase global financial instability if not balanced by a credible alternative.

Way Forward:

• For India:
  • Need to monitor global shifts for forex reserve strategy.
  • Assess feasibility of a digital rupee for cross-border payments.
• Globally:
  • Enhanced multilateral dialogue on stable digital currencies.
  • Strengthen international credit risk frameworks to accommodate non-traditional assets.

The Union Government plans to initiate an impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court, following a committee indictment over unaccounted cash found at his Delhi residence. The Chief Justice of India has formally recommended his removal after he refused to resign.

Constitutional Provisions:

• Article 217(1)(b) read with Article 124(4):
  • High Court judges can be removed only by impeachment, on the grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
  • Procedure is identical to that of Supreme Court judges.
• Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968:
  • Provides the detailed statutory framework for impeachment, including:
  • Formation of an inquiry committee.
  • Procedure for investigation.
  • Report submission before initiating impeachment.
• Initiation Process:
  • Requires 100 Lok Sabha MPs or 50 Rajya Sabha MPs to sign a notice.
  • After admission, an inquiry committee is set up.
  • If the committee finds the judge guilty, the motion is debated and voted upon in both Houses.
  • A special majority is required (majority of total membership and 2/3rd of members present and voting in both Houses).
• Article 124(5):
  • Allows Parliament to make laws to regulate the procedure for investigation and proof of misbehaviour or incapacity.

India’s cotton yield remains significantly lower than global averages, especially when compared to China. In response to falling yields and declining output, the Union Government has initiated steps to launch a National Cotton Productivity Mission aimed at doubling yield and revitalizing the cotton economy.

India’s Cotton Yield Crisis

• India’s average cotton yield: 465 kg/hectare (FY25 est.)
• In contrast, China’s average yield is over 2,170 kg/ha, the highest in the world.
• India is the second-largest producer of cotton after China but lags significantly in yield efficiency.

Declining Production Trends

• 2022-23: 33.7 million bales
• 2023-24: 32.5 million bales
• 2024-25 (est.): 30.7 million bales
  (1 bale = 170 kg)

National Cotton Productivity Mission

• Jointly driven by Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Agriculture.

Objectives of the Mission

• Doubling average yield to 1,000 kg/ha across 11 key cotton-growing states.
• Introduce new high-yielding seed varieties.
• Promote mechanisation in cotton farming.
• Encourage crop diversification to improve sustainability.

Key Structural Interventions Proposed

• Revamping seed supply chain
• Facilitating access to modern farm machinery
• Addressing regional constraints like pest resistance and irrigation gaps
• Enhancing farmer training and extension services

A government-appointed expert committee has recommended removing the mandatory requirement for installing Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) units in all coal-fired thermal power plants. The suggestion is based on studies indicating that SO? emissions are within permissible limits in most areas, especially outside densely populated zones.

Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) Units – Role and Background:

• FGDs are pollution control technologies used in coal-fired thermal power plants to reduce sulphur dioxide (SO?)
• Mandated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) since December 2015, as part of the revised emission norms for thermal power plants.

New Recommendation:

• The expert committee has recommended that only Category A TPPs (located within a 10-km radius of the NCR and cities with population >1 million) must install FGDs.
• Out of 600 TPP units, only 66 fall under Category A, and currently, only 14 of these have installed FGD units.
• The remaining ~534 TPPs (approx. 80%) may be exempted from FGD compliance.

Scientific Basis of the Recommendation:

• Ambient SO? levels in most Indian regions range between 10–20 µg/m³, which is significantly below the permissible limit of 80 µg/m³ under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• Indian coal has low sulphur content, reducing the necessity for SO?-specific pollution control mechanisms.
• Studies found no significant difference in ambient SO? levels between areas with and without operational FGDs.

Key Policy Implication:

• Relaxation of SO? stack emission norms will not compromise public health, as long as NAAQS are met.
• Focus remains on compliance with particulate matter (PM) standards and freshwater use regulations, which remain unchanged.

Reasoning Cited for Non-Compliance So Far:

• Limited number of FGD vendors, high costs, COVID-19-induced disruptions, and the risk of increased electricity tariffs have delayed compliance.

Timeline and Future Compliance:

• Category A TPPs are still required to comply by 2027.
• This recommendation, if accepted by the Power Ministry and MoEFCC, could redefine India’s strategy towards SO? emission management in the power sector.

India’s urban solar adoption is growing, but limited rooftop space in densely populated areas restricts the expansion of traditional rooftop solar systems (RTS). Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is emerging as a land-neutral alternative, supported by recent installations and inclusion in schemes like the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

BIPV: Towards Land-Neutral Solar Solutions in Urban India

The Growing Role of Urban Solar Energy

• Rooftop Solar (RTS) has surpassed 17 GW installed capacity in India (as of April 2025).
• Urban scalability is hindered due to limited shadow-free rooftop space, prompting exploration of BIPV as a complementary approach.

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)

Definition and Purpose:

• BIPV integrates solar modules directly into architectural components such as façades, windows, roofs, and railings.
• Serves dual functions: energy generation and structural utility (e.g., cladding, glass, shading devices).

Key Features:

• Replaces conventional materials (tiles, glass, etc.) with energy-generating alternatives.
• Maintains aesthetic and functional integration, customisable in colour, size, and shape.
• Facilitates natural lighting and insulation, reducing building energy consumption.

Applications and Benefits of BIPV in Urban Infrastructure

Architectural Integration:

• Façades: Semi-transparent panels as curtain walls, reducing heat entry.
• Roofs: Replacement of conventional tiles.
• Windows/Skylights: Transparent panels that allow daylight + solar power.
• Balconies and Canopies: Small-scale installations in space-limited homes.

Examples of BIPV in India

• Notable Installations:
  • CtrlS Datacenters, Navi Mumbai – 863 kWp across four façades.
  • Renewable Energy Museum, Kolkata – 2,000+ panel solar dome.
  • Jindal Steel & Power, Odisha – large-scale industrial BIPV system.
  • Railway stations in Vijayawada and Sahibabad have incorporated BIPV.

Challenges to Scaling BIPV

• High capital costs, limited domestic manufacturing.
• Policy gaps, absence of dedicated incentives.
• Lack of standardisation and integration in building regulations.
• Awareness deficit among architects and developers.

Policy Initiatives and International Best Practices

• India’s Efforts:
  • PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (2024): Allows BIPV installations with RTS subsidies (up to ?78,000 for 3 kW systems).
  • Included BIPV for residential segment subsidy support.
• Global Best Practices:
  • Seoul: Up to 80% subsidy for BIPV installations.
  • EU Directive (Energy Performance of Buildings): Mandates solar tech integration in new buildings; promotes BIPV through clear standards and incentives.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, have developed an artificial metal-based nanozyme using vanadium pentoxide (V?O?) that mimics natural antioxidant enzymes to control reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus preventing abnormal platelet aggregation and blood clotting in conditions like pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and ischemic stroke.

Bridging Nanotechnology and Cardiovascular Therapy:

• Nanozyme: Definition and Functionality
  • Nanozymes are engineered nanomaterials that exhibit enzyme-like properties, especially mimicking natural antioxidant enzymes like catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase.
  • These nanozymes can catalytically neutralize Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which are harmful oxygen-containing free radicals responsible for oxidative stress.
• Medical Context and Application:
  • Under physiological conditions, blood clotting is regulated by the haemostasis cascade, involving activation of platelets and clotting factors.
  • However, in pathological states like Pulmonary Thromboembolism (PTE) or COVID-19, elevated ROS levels over-activate platelets, leading to uncontrolled thrombosis (clot formation inside blood vessels), increasing the risk of cardiovascular mortality.
• Role of Vanadium Pentoxide (V?O?) Nanozyme:
  • The IISc team synthesized spherical-shaped vanadium pentoxide nanozymes, which demonstrated the highest efficacy in inhibiting abnormal platelet aggregation during lab tests.
  • The nanozyme acts by scavenging ROS and maintaining redox balance, thus reducing the over-activation of platelets.
• Significance for India:
  • This innovation adds to India’s growing nanobiotechnology and therapeutic research portfolio and addresses a leading non-communicable disease (NCD) challenge.
  • It has implications for public health preparedness against both chronic and pandemic-induced vascular complications.

Two significant decisions—the FSSAI’s 2021 ban on blended mustard oil and the Supreme Court’s 2024 halt on GM mustard DMH-11—have sparked debate over consumer health, food safety, and the high erucic acid content in Indian mustard oil. These actions reflect contrasting regulatory approaches to the same public health objective., leading to renewed scrutiny of erucic acid content and edible oil safety in India.

Policy and Health Implications of Mustard Oil Regulation in India

• Regulatory Actions and Food Safety
  • FSSAI Ban (2021): Prohibited sale of blended mustard oil, even though blending up to 20% is legally allowed under food safety laws.
  • Aimed to curb adulteration, which remains a critical issue; FSSAI’s 2020 survey found that 21% of edible oil samples were non-compliant, with mustard oil showing highest contamination.
• Health Concerns: Erucic Acid
  • Indian mustard oil contains 40–54% erucic acid, whereas the international safe limit is <5%.
  • High erucic acid is associated with cardiotoxicity and organ damage in animal models.
  • Canola oil (developed in Canada) contains <2% erucic acid and is globally accepted for safe consumption.
• GM Mustard (DMH-11): Health and Economic Considerations
  • Developed by Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP), Delhi University.
• DMH-11 has lower erucic acid content (30–35%) and offers higher yield.
  • Can reduce dependence on edible oil imports; India is the world’s largest edible oil importer, with a $20.56 billion import bill (NITI Aayog).
• Blending as a Practical Alternative
  • Blending mustard oil with other oils lowers erucic acid and improves lipid profile (increased HDL, reduced LDL).
  • However, risks of adulteration require packaged/branded sale and strong state-level food safety enforcement.
• Legal and Environmental Considerations
  • Supreme Court (2024) halted GM mustard release citing lack of proper biosafety data and insufficient environmental and health risk assessments.

A recalibration of U.S. global security commitments has created uncertainty in traditional alliances like NATO and affected Indo-Pacific dynamics. This shifting landscape offers India and Australia a strategic opportunity to strengthen their defence partnership amid growing regional challenges, particularly China’s assertiveness.

India-Australia Defence Cooperation: Strategic Imperatives in a Changing Global Security Order

• Strategic Complementarities and Institutional Foundations
  • Geostrategic Synergy: Australia’s location straddling the Indian and Pacific Oceans, coupled with military reach into Southeast Asia, aligns with India’s maritime outreach goals and provides a strategic buffer against regional threats.
  • Shared Security Concerns: Both nations confront common regional risks, particularly China’s maritime assertiveness, and support a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific—laying the groundwork for deepening strategic convergence.
  • Robust Institutional Architecture: Key frameworks such as the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2020), 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue (2021), and Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) provide a mature foundation for operational-level cooperation, complemented by exercises like AUSINDEX, AUSTRAHIND, and Pitch Black.
• Operational and Personnel-Level Enhancements Needed
  • Tri-Service Engagement Expansion: Current cooperation is Navy-centric. Future joint military exercises must break service silos, emulate real-time combat scenarios, and incorporate all three services through a unified joint-staff mechanism.
  • Diplomatic-Military Representation Reforms: India should elevate its Defence Adviser in Canberra to one-star rank and appoint dedicated Army and Air Force officials to enhance institutional presence and engagement across service domains, including Pacific Island outreach.
  • Ground-Level Strategic Inputs: Defence cooperation should move beyond top-level diplomacy. Operational personnel should be integrated into strategic dialogues through fellowships, classified war-gaming, and structured working-group level interactions for actionable insights.
• Technology, Industry and Forward Pathways
  • Naval MRO and Maritime Capacity-Building: India should partner with Australia in Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services for naval assets and co-develop patrol boats for Indian Ocean and Pacific Island nations, enhancing interoperability and technology exposure.
  • Defence Industry and MSME Linkages: There is untapped potential for defence MSME collaboration. Aligning Australian and Indian startups in dual-use technologies and establishing a bilateral innovation corridor akin to INDUS-X could unlock mutual industrial strengths.
  • Mutual Indigenisation Goals: With both nations advancing domestic defence manufacturing strategies, structured cooperation in components, electronics, and aerospace tech can strengthen indigenous capacities while reducing external dependencies.

Practice Question:

In the context of evolving global security alignments, critically examine the strategic rationale for enhanced India-Australia defence cooperation. Discuss the institutional, operational, and industrial dimensions that must be strengthened to realise their shared Indo-Pacific vision.

India recently surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, with a GDP of $4.3 trillion in 2025 which is driven by significant structural reforms in the energy sector. These efforts have prioritized energy security, green transition, and global competitiveness, especially during the latest phase of governance.

India’s Energy Transition: A Decade of Reform, Self-Reliance, and Strategic Depth

• Securing India’s Energy Base: Upstream Reforms and Discoveries
  • Expansion of Exploration Acreage: India’s oil and gas exploration acreage has doubled from 8% in 2021 to 16% in 2025, aiming to reach one million sq. km. by 2030. This is part of a strategy to unlock 42 billion tonnes of hydrocarbon resources using Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) and reduction of ‘No-Go’ areas by 99%.
  • Technological & Policy Synergy: Initiatives like the National Seismic Programme, Mission Anveshan, and AGG surveys have expanded geophysical datasets, improving exploration confidence. These are complemented by new gas pricing policies (linked to 10% of Indian crude basket), 20% premium for new wells, and infrastructure sharing under revenue-sharing contracts.
  • Notable Hydrocarbon Discoveries: Over 25 new hydrocarbon discoveries by ONGC and Oil India in four years—such as Suryamani and Vajramani (west coast), and Utkal and Konark (east coast)—have added 75 MMtoe of oil and 2,700 MMSCM of gas to India's reserves.
• Strengthening Infrastructure and Access: Midstream and Downstream Progress
  • Pipeline and Retail Expansion: India now operates 24,000 km of product pipelines and nearly 96,000 retail fuel outlets. The city gas network has grown from 55 GAs in 2014 to 307 in 2025, with PNG connections up six-fold and over 7,500 CNG stations operational.
  • Gas Distribution and Tariff Reforms: The natural gas grid has expanded to 25,000 km (target: 33,000 km by 2030), with unified tariffs ensuring equitable access across distant states. Natural gas production rose from 28.7 BCM (2020–21) to 36.4 BCM (2023–24).
  • Digital Integration via PM Gati Shakti: Over 1 lakh petroleum assets and pipelines have been digitally mapped under the National Master Plan, enabling real-time visibility and inter-ministerial synergy. Route optimisation in key projects saved over ?169 crore.
• The Green Turnaround: Biofuels, Hydrogen, and Consumer-Centric Reforms
  • Ethanol and Bio-CNG Push: Ethanol blending rose from 1.5% (2013) to 19.7% (2025), saving ?1.26 lakh crore in forex and reducing 643 lakh MT of CO?. SATAT has commissioned 100+ CBG plants, targeting 5% blending by 2028, with strong support for biomass logistics.
  • Green Hydrogen Deployment:62 lakh tonnes of green hydrogen production and 3,000 MW of electrolyser tenders have been awarded. Major PSUs (IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, NRL) are leading projects, including a 10 KTPA tender awarded to L&T at Panipat.
  • Affordability and Legislative Reforms: Despite a 58% surge in global LPG prices, PMUY beneficiaries pay just ?553/cylinder via targeted subsidies. The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act, 2024 enables hybrid leases for hydrocarbons and renewables, easing compliance in DSF fields.

Practice Question:

Q. "India’s energy transformation in the last decade has redefined its economic sovereignty and geopolitical agency. Critically examine how recent upstream and green energy reforms have aligned with the country’s developmental and strategic goals."

Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation to the Pahalgam massacre, was a tactical success but exposed India’s strategic vulnerabilities. It underscored the urgent need to recalibrate defence priorities amid unreliable global alliances, supply chain disruptions, and emerging asymmetric warfare trends.

Need for Strategic Recalibration:

• Geopolitical Realignment and Strategic Isolation
  • China-Pakistan Axis Deepens: China has escalated its military and economic support to Pakistan post-Operation Sindoor, including the likely supply of J-35A fifth-generation stealth fighters, reinforcing Pakistan’s offensive capabilities and narrowing India’s strategic advantage.
  • Decline of Traditional Allies: Traditional partners such as the U.S. and Russia have shown signs of unreliability: the U.S. is re-hyphenating India with Pakistan, while Russia is increasingly aligned with China due to the Ukraine war, reducing India’s diplomatic leverage.
  • Fragile Neighbourhood Dynamics: Bangladesh’s regime is turning less cooperative, and India's porous eastern borders pose fresh security challenges, compelling a reassessment of its two-front defence posture, both West (Pakistan) and East (Bangladesh-China corridor).
• Indigenous Defence vs. Foreign Dependence
  • Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence: Indigenous systems like the Akash missile, effective during Operation Sindoor, cost nearly $500,000 compared to Western equivalents costing 2–3 times more, underlining the cost-efficiency of India’s domestic R&D efforts.
  • Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Delays in critical imports like GE engines for Tejas Mk1A and the Russian S-400 systems exemplify India’s over-dependence on unreliable external vendors during times of crisis, especially amidst global arms shortages due to ongoing wars.
  • Drones and Low-Cost Missiles as Force Multipliers: A strategic shift is needed towards developing “intelligent” low-cost drone swarms and missile-based defences, which proved more effective than high-cost platforms, as seen in Ukraine’s “Spiderweb” drone tactics and India's own engagements.
• Strategic Partnerships and Future-Ready Capabilities
  • Building with Mid-Power Nations: India must pivot towards defence co-development with mid-power nations like France, Germany, Sweden, Japan, South Korea, and Brazil to ensure non-monopolistic and politically diversified supply chains in aircraft engines, ships, and submarines.
  • Reassessing High-Cost Acquisitions: Large warships and stealth aircraft offer diminishing returns against evolving threats like hypersonic missiles and loitering munitions. Cost-effective and agile platforms are now critical for modern warfare.
  • Private Sector as a Key Defence Player: India’s private defence sector is poised to play a central role in boosting indigenous defence production capabilities and innovation, aligned with national interests and strategic autonomy.

Practice Question:

Q. In light of Operation Sindoor and the emerging global defence dynamics, critically examine India’s defence procurement strategy. Should India prioritise indigenous low-cost platforms over high-tech imports? Substantiate your argument with recent examples.