Geography 

Jan 2025 was warmest ever: Why La Niña did not bring down temperatures - Indian Express

Last month was the hottest January on record, with the global average surface air temperature being 1.75 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level (1850-1900 average). The temperatures reached record-breaking levels despite the development of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific and their temporary cooling effect on global temperatures.

La Niña

• About: A phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) causing cooler sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean.
• Nature: Opposite of El Niño, which brings warming.
• Global Climate Effects:
  • India: Above-normal monsoon rainfall, boosting agriculture.
  • Africa: Increased drought-like conditions in some regions.
  • Atlantic Ocean: Stronger hurricanes.
  • United States: Increased rainfall in southern states.

Impact on India’s Climate

• Winter Effects
  • Colder nights, slightly warmer daytime temperatures.
  • Higher wind speeds help disperse pollution.
  • Lower Planetary Boundary Layer Height (PBLH) can trap pollutants, worsening air quality.
• Monsoons and Summers
  • Enhanced monsoons, ensuring normal to above-normal rainfall (e.g., 2020-2022).
  • Reduced summer intensity, offering relief from heatwaves.
  • El Niño contrast: Hotter summers, disrupted monsoons, and droughts (e.g., 2023).

Why Did La Niña Not Cool Temperatures in January 2025?

• Weak La Niña: Delayed onset in December 2024 instead of September.
• Limited Time to Strengthen: ENSO peaks in Northern Hemisphere winter, leaving little time for impact.
• High Atmospheric Carbon Levels: Greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations remained elevated.
• Reduced Aerosols: Clean air policies reduced particles that usually scatter solar radiation, lessening cooling effects.

Significance

• Weakening Natural Cooling Effects: La Niña’s ability to lower temperatures is declining.
• Urgency for Emission Reduction: Drastic GHG cuts are essential to mitigate rising global temperatures.

 

Centre reviews progress of PM-AJAY scheme - The Hindu 

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar on Saturday chaired a meeting of the central advisory committee for PM-AJAY scheme, reviewing its progress and discussing strategies for the socio-economic upliftment of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities across India.

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)

• About: 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme to reduce poverty among SC communities.
• Focus: Employment generation, skill development, and socio-economic improvement in SC-dominated villages.
• Merged scheme of:
  • Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
  • Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP)
  • Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)
• Objectives:
  • Increase income through income-generating schemes, skill training, and infrastructure development.
  • Reduce poverty and uplift SC communities above the poverty line.
• Eligibility:
  • SC individuals living below the poverty line.
  • Villages with 50% or more SC population eligible for infrastructure grants.
• Implementation (Since 2021-22):
  • Development of SC-dominated villages into ‘Adarsh Gram’.
  • Grants-in-aid for District/State-level Projects for socio-economic betterment of SCs.
  • Construction of Hostels in Higher Educational Institutions.

Society 

DEI (DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION) - Indian Express

In his second term as President of the United States, Donald Trump has moved to dismantle the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) policies initiated by his predecessor Joe Biden.

DEI

• Meaning: Workplace policies promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Diversity: Inclusion of various communities, identities, and backgrounds.
• Equity: Fair and impartial treatment of all individuals.
• Inclusion: Recognition and utilization of employees’ talents from diverse backgrounds.
• Accessibility: Ensuring facilities and services are usable by all, including persons with disabilities.

History of DEI

• World War II: US President Franklin D. Roosevelt banned racial discrimination in defense hiring.
• 1964: Civil Rights Act outlawed employment discrimination.
• 2020: Black Lives Matter protests fueled DEI momentum.

DEI Policies Under Trump Administration

• EO 14151: Ended DEI programs in federal agencies and required reporting of DEI-related employees.
• EO 141713: Weakened the 1965 Equal Employment Opportunity Act, discouraging contracts with DEI-focused companies.
• Corporate Response: Mixed reactions; companies like Apple, Cisco, and Goldman Sachs reinforced DEI, while others like Meta and Amazon rolled back initiatives.

DEI in India

• Framework: No formal DEI framework like the US, but affirmative action exists.
• 1950: Reservations for SCs and STs mandated by the Constitution.
• 1990: Mandal Commission introduced OBC reservations.
• Article 16: Prohibits discrimination in public employment.

 

World Affairs 

India, France, and AI - Indian Express

As chair of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris on February 11, France has invited Indian PM to co-chair the Summit, offering India an important part in the effort to make and shape the rules for technologies on the next frontier.

Building on Previous Summits

• Follows UK (Nov 2023) and South Korea (May 2024) AI Summits.
• Bletchley Park Declaration (AI Safety Summit) signed by 28 nations, emphasizing safe, human-centric, and responsible AI.
• Seoul Declaration (27 nations) reaffirmed global AI cooperation and proposed a network of AI Safety Institutes.

Key Themes 

• Public Interest AI
• Future of Work
• Innovation and Culture
• Trust in AI
• Global AI Governance

New Delhi’s Focus on AI

• IndiaAI Mission: ₹10,371 crore program under "Making AI in India and Making AI for India" to democratize AI innovation.
• GPAI Leadership: India, as founding member & 2024 lead chair, is making GPAI the nodal partnership for global AI cooperation.
• Bridging AI Divide: Advocating inclusive AI governance to prevent disparities between nations.
• Global South Priorities: Ensuring voices from developing nations are included in AI policymaking.

India-France Ties

• Defence:
  • Strong defence partnership with focus on Make in India & technology transfer.
  • Key projects: Rafale aircraft purchase, P-75 Scorpene submarine project.
  • Plans to acquire 26 Rafale-M jets for Indian Navy & 3 more Scorpene submarines.
• Expanding Bilateral Cooperation:
  • Areas: Tech, innovation, renewable energy, trade, supply-chain partnership, and people-to-people ties.
  • India-France Innovation Year 2026 logo to be unveiled.
  • New Indian Consulate in Marseille to enhance economic & diplomatic ties.
  • Marseille’s strategic role: A global communication hub for undersea data cables linking Europe, Africa, and Asia.
• Economic & Scientific Engagement
  • India-France CEOs' Forum in Paris to boost investment & innovation.
  • France’s role in Make in India: Renewable energy, defence, start-ups, manufacturing, critical minerals, and pharma.
  • India-France Triangular Development Cooperation: Climate & SDG-focused projects in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Visit to ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor): India’s role in fusion energy for meeting future demands.

Enduring India-France Partnership

• Built on "Strategic Autonomy" & Mutual Respect.
• France supported India post-Pokhran II nuclear tests (1998), refusing sanctions & condemnation.
• France’s historical pragmatism & foresight strengthened ties further.
• Partnership continues to deepen in key strategic sectors.

 

Economy 

What has the Budget offered scientists? - The Hindu 

The Union Budget for 2025-26 provided an overall and possibly unprecedented thrust on research and innovation, especially in the private sector. The Budget’s support for private sector research is expected to accelerate advancements in areas such as gene-editing, personalised medicine, and sustainable agriculture

Department of Science & Technology (DST)

• ₹20,000 crore allocated: To be used for research & innovation, including private sector R&D, corporates, and startups.
• Focus: Academia-industry collaboration for national missions.
• Role: Part of the ₹1 lakh crore corpus fund to boost deeptech & sunrise sectors.
• National Geospatial Mission: Allocated ₹100 crore for geospatial infrastructure & policy implementation.

Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

• Budget: ₹3,446.64 crore allocated, a 51.45% increase from last year.
• Bio-RIDE scheme: Launched to foster innovation & bio-entrepreneurship.
• Focus: Gene-editing, personalized medicine & sustainable agriculture.
• National Mission on High Yielding Seeds: To develop climate-resilient, pest-resistant crops.
• Characterization of Genetic Resources initiative: For sequencing germplasm resources.

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)

• Public-private collaboration: To boost manufacturing, healthcare & sustainability.
• Agri-Districts Initiative: Aligned with CSIR's Aroma & Floriculture Missions.
• Millets & Cotton Missions: To support self-reliance in farming & global textile positioning.
• Green Hydrogen Mission: For clean energy transition.
• Jigyasa Programme: To support STEM education & research exposure.
• Seaweed Mission & Learn & Earn Program: To empower women entrepreneurs.

Nuclear Energy & Private Sector Participation

• Target: 100 GWe nuclear power by 2047 with private sector involvement.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Key for India's energy transition.
• AERB’s safety measures: For Russian VVER & PHWR reactors.
• Collaboration with US & French regulatory bodies: For nuclear safety.

Criticism & Concerns

• Basic science research neglected in favor of mission-mode programs.
• Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR) received minimal allocation.
• UGC funding saw drastic cuts in 2024 and remains below pre-2024 levels despite some increase.
• Emphasis on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) received a five-fold increase, indicating a shift in education policy.
• Central universities' budget increase (4.3%) is lower than IITs (8.4%), despite larger student base.
• PM Research Fellowship (PMRF) benefits well-funded labs, while non-NET fellowships remain at ₹8,000.
• AI Centers of Excellence established, but concerns over meaningful AI adoption beyond buzzwords.
• Curiosity-driven science taking a backseat due to increasing corporatization of research.
• Bureaucratic hurdles in research funding persist, affecting scientific progress.
• India spends only 2.54% of the budget on education, far below the NEP-2020 target of 6% of GDP.

Conclusion

• Budget emphasizes mission-driven research over fundamental science.
• Major boost for nuclear energy, AI, biotech & private sector R&D.
• Concerns over neglect of basic science, rigid bureaucracy, & underfunding of higher education.
• Shifting policy focus on technology-driven innovation, with lesser priority on core scientific research.

 

Defence 

LCA-Mk2 prototype likely to be rolled out by 2025-end, AMCA by early 2027: officials - The Hindu

The first prototype of the country’s fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft or AMCA, is expected to be rolled out by the end of 2026 or early 2027, while the first prototype of the Light Combat Aircraft-Mk2, which is a bigger and more capable version of the LCA, is expected by the end of this year, officials of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) said.

LCA-Mk2

• Larger Airframe: 1350 mm longer than LCA-Mk1A, with canards for better maneuverability.
• Increased Range & Endurance: Enhanced fuel capacity & flight duration.
• Onboard Oxygen Generation System: First-time integration for sustained high-altitude operations.
• Heavy Stand-off Weapons: Compatible with Scalp, Crystal Maze, and Spice-2000 missiles.
• Higher Payload Capacity: 6,500 kg vs. 3,500 kg in LCA-Mk1.
• Engine & Performance:
  • Powered by GE-414 Engine (98kN thrust), also designated for Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
  • Improved Thrust: GE-414 (98kN) vs. GE-404 (84kN in LCA-Mk1/Mk1A).

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)

• Overview: India’s fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter jet.
• Significance: Larger than existing IAF fighters and places India among elite nations with indigenous fifth-gen aircraft.
• Designed by: Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under DRDO.
• Manufactured by: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Key Features:

• Stealth Technology: Advanced low-radar signature for enemy radar evasion.
• Fuel & Weapons: 6.5-tonne internal fuel tank, concealed internal weapons bay.

Engine:

• AMCA Mk1 – GE414 (90kN thrust, US-built).
• AMCA Mk2 – 110kN thrust engine (indigenous, DRDO-GTRE & foreign collaboration).
• India’s First Fifth-Gen Fighter: Higher capabilities than LCA Tejas (4.5-gen).

• Stealth: Low electro-magnetic signature for stealth & powerful sensors & new weapons for enemy tracking & elimination.

• Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM): Real-time aircraft monitoring, reducing maintenance downtime.

Strategic role:

• IAF’s Dwindling Fighter Squadrons:
  • Current strength: 30 squadrons vs. sanctioned 42 squadrons.
  • MiG-21s, MiG-29s, Jaguars, Mirage 2000s retiring by mid-2030s.
  • IAF plans for seven AMCA squadrons initially.
• Countering China:
  • China has deployed J-20 FGFA near Tibet border.
  • AMCA enhances India’s air combat capabilities.

 

India, U.K. sign several agreements to strengthen defence cooperation - The Hindu

The United Kingdom recently announced the formal launch of the “Defence Partnership-India”, or DP-I, a dedicated cell within the U.K. Ministry of Defence for deepening cooperation with India.

Key Defence Agreements at Aero India

Production & Collaboration:

• Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS).
• Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM).
• Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) assembly & test facility in India.
• Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) system for Indian Navy ships (Statement of Intent signed).

Contract Between Thales U.K. & Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL):

• Laser Beam-Riding MANPADS (LBRMs) to be supplied.
• Initial delivery of STARStreak high-velocity missiles & launchers in 2025.
• Future collaboration on LMM production, integrating Indian industry into Thales’ global supply chain.

MBDA U.K. & BDL Collaboration:

• ASRAAM assembly & test facility in Hyderabad.
• ASRAAM missiles for Jaguar & LCA-Mk1A.

Strategic Impact

• Enhances India-U.K. security cooperation & interoperability.
• Boosts defence manufacturing & job creation in both nations.
• Strengthens India’s role in global defence supply chains.