Polity 

The issue with delimitation's population-based process - The Hindu 

Delimitation, enshrined in Articles 82 and 170 of the Constitution of India, has stirred unprecedented passions that have taken shape in both serious and ludicrous ways. The serious ones stem from what the Constitution provides and its possible implications if implemented as provided. The ludicrous ones include calls by some who are asking people to ‘multiply’ rapidly to deal with the fear of being outnumbered.

Multifaceted Challenges of Delimitation

• Foundation: The Constitution mandates delimitation after every census, but 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) delayed it till 2026 census.
• Postponement: Critics are advocating further postponement, raising questions about selective constitutional interpretation.
• Issue: Delimitation based solely on population could benefit states with high population growth (mostly in the north) while disadvantaging southern states with better population control policies.
• Regional Disparities: The debate centers on whether representation should purely reflect population.

Way Forward

• Improving democratic accountability: Strengthening local self-governance; devolving power to municipal & panchayati raj institutions.
• Structural Reforms: The focus should shift from increasing representatives to addressing structural reforms for effective governance.

• Moderating Population as the Sole Criterion: Population control should be accounted for.
• Using a deflator: Aimed to neutralize the advantage of states with higher population growth.
• Using a model based on Total Fertility Rate (TFR): Could result in a more equitable distribution, reducing the Lok Sabha size from a projected 1,440 seats to around 680, balancing representation and federal equity.
   

World Affairs 

Why some in US want to end popular work program for foreign students - Indian Express 

A Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025 was recently introduced in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of the country’s legislature, to end the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program that authorises international students to work temporarily in the US.

OPT (Optional Practical Training) Program

• Definition: Allows international students on F1 visas to work in the US for up to 12 months in a field related to their study area.
• Types:
  • Pre-completion OPT: Before completing studies.
  • Post-completion OPT: After graduation.
• Condition: Students must be enrolled in full-time courses for at least one academic year for pre-completion OPT.
• Condition for STEM students: They can extend OPT by 24 months, allowing up to 36 months of work in the US after graduation.
• Popularity: In 2023-24, 2.43 lakh international students (22% of total international students) were on OPT, a rise from 1.99 lakh in 2022-23. 

• Indian students: 29% (97,556 students) were on OPT in 2023-24.
• STEM OPT: Make up majority of OPT participants, with 25% of international students in math and computer science, 2.10 lakh in engineering.
• Indians in STEM: In 2023-24, 42.9% of Indian students were enrolled in mathematics and computer science.

Bill to Eliminate OPT

• Change: Seeks to eliminate post-completion OPT for F1 students no longer engaged in full-time study:
• Rationale: 
  • OPT creates unfair competition for US workers by allowing foreign students to remain in the US for up to three years post-graduation.
  • Undercuts US workers, providing employers with tax incentives to hire cheaper foreign labor instead of US workers.
• Criticism: 
  • Circumvents the H-1B visa cap and enabling businesses to avoid paying payroll taxes like FICA and Medicare.
  • Businesses will oppose the elimination of OPT, given the reliance on foreign labor for certain skills at lower salary levels.
  • Expected public and private sector backlash if the Bill passes.

Environment  

Blue washing - Indian Express 

Recently, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has carved a new category of industries called the ‘blue category’ industries based on the Essential Environmental Services (EES) for managing the pollution due to anthropogenic activities. 

Blue Washing: Overview

• Definition: The practice of portraying highly polluting industries as environmentally friendly by reclassifying them under cleaner industry labels.
• Significance: Refers to the reclassification of Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration industries from the 'Red Category' to the 'Blue Category'.

Blue Category

• Introduction: A part of a subset of environmentally sound activities, including composting, biogas plants, sewage treatment, & material recovery facilities.
• Change: WTE incineration, previously classified as a 'Red Category' industry with a Pollution Index (PI) of 6, is now reclassified under the 'Blue Category'.

WTE Incineration

• Process: Involves burning mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) to produce heat and electricity.
• Role: Generates energy through turbine-driven steam, similar to coal plants, but emits more CO₂.

Pollution Index (PI)

• Introduction: Introduced by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to categorize industries based on their pollution levels.
• Basis: Calculated based on emissions, effluents, hazardous waste, and resource consumption.

• Categories:

• White Category (0–20): Least polluting
• Green Category (21–40)
• Orange Category (41–59)
• Red Category (60–100): Most polluting
   

Sci and Tech 

Sunbird, a nuclear fusion powered rocket could help reach Pluto in just 4 years: Report - Indian Express 

Elon Musk’s SpaceX wants to push the boundaries of space exploration, but a British startup named Pulsar Fusion is working on an ambitious nuclear fusion powered rocket called Sunbird.

Sunbird

• Speed: Could potentially reach speeds up to 805,000 km/h, making it the fastest human-made object if successful.
• Impact on Space Travel: Could shorten mission times, enabling a trip to Pluto in just 4 years and reducing travel time to Mars by nearly half.
• Aim: To revolutionize space travel by drastically reducing travel time to distant planets like Mars and Pluto.
• Upcoming project: An orbital demonstration of Sunbird technology is scheduled for 2027, marking a significant milestone in space propulsion.

Main Concepts in Nuclear Propulsion

Defence 

BM-04 Missile - The Hindu 

Recently, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) unveiled a next-generation short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) at a defense exhibition in Hyderabad dubbed as the BM-04.

BM-04 Missile

• Development: A short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Unveiling: Unveiled at the Vigyan Vaibhav 2025 defense exhibition in Hyderabad.

• Length: 10.2 meters
• Diameter: 1.2 meters
• Weight: 11,500 kg
• Propulsion: Two-stage solid-fuel propulsion system.
• Maximum range: 1,500 km
• Warhead: 500 kg conventional warhead
• Accuracy: 30-meter circular error probability (CEP)
• Deployment: Deployed using a six-wheel indigenous transport erector launcher (TEL).
• Canisterized design: For pre-mating of warheads with delivery systems, reducing launch time.
• Maneuverability: Incorporates a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) for in-flight maneuverability, allowing it to evade enemy missile defenses.
• Unpredictable flight paths: They enhance survivability against anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) systems.
• Upgradability: Can be regularly upgraded with new warheads, sensors, and propulsion systems as threats evolve.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

• Role: India's premier military research agency focused on developing advanced technologies for national defence and security.
• Establishment: 1958 with the motto “Balasya Mulam Vigyanam.”
• Function: Designs and develops indigenous technologies leading to the production of advanced weapon systems for the Indian armed forces.
• Technology Clusters:
  • Aeronautics
  • Armament
  • Combat Engineering
  • Electronics and Communication Systems
  • Microelectronic Devices and Computational Systems
  • Life Sciences
  • Naval Systems