Society 

Is the APAAR ID for students mandatory? - The Hindu

Activists and parents are worried about the rapid push by schools to generate an APAAR ID. APAAR is part of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020’s record-keeping reforms, and while it is voluntary, States and school authorities have pushed students to enrol in it.

APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) ID

• About: Enables what the government describes as the ‘One Nation, One Student ID’.
• Aim: To “accumulate and store [students’] academic accomplishments, facilitating seamless transitions between institutions for the pursuit of further education”. 
• Storage: Linked to Aadhaar and stored in the DigiLocker. 
• Role: Provides students with standardised data on their marksheets and institutional affiliation. 
• Significance: A way for different educational institutes to rapidly process and verify any given student’s academic transcripts. 
• Generation: Generated through the Unified District Information System For Education Plus (UDISE+) portal.
• Nature: Not mandatory but the government has described its benefits. 
• Concerns: 
  • Lack of clarity over the genesis of the APAAR programme. 
  • Large-scale collection of data of minors without a law to back it up is unconstitutional. 
  • Teachers questioned its need, arguing that data is already collated by teachers for the UDISE+, thus duplicating administrative work in schools.

World Affairs 

In fresh attacks on Yemen's Houthis, what is US seeking? - Indian Express 

The US this week conducted over 40 strikes across Yemeni territories — including the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, the northern Sadaa governorate, and the Hodeidah Port — in what it called “precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets”.

US Actions Against Houthis

• Biden Administration (Jan 2024): Listed Houthis as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (but not as an FTO).
• Operation Prosperity Guardian (Dec 2023): US Navy-led coalition to counter Houthi attacks on shipping.
• Trump Administration (2021, 2025): Originally designated Houthis as an FTO in 2021, re-designated in early 2025.
• Primary US interest: Protect global shipping lanes and maintain freedom of navigation.

Evolution of Military Strategy of Houthis 

• Methodology: Initially relied on conventional warfare, only using missiles from 2015 onwards.
• Advanced tactics: Since then, developed drone, missile, and rocket capabilities despite continuous bombardment.
• Houthi missile arsenal: Derivatives of Chinese C-802 Saccade missiles.

Iran’s Role

• A key financier: However, it does not exercise full control over the Houthis.
• Russia and China: Provide diplomatic and political support.
• China: Indirectly funds Houthis by purchasing 90% of Iranian oil exports (2024).
• Russia: Provides targeting intelligence, small arms, and possibly new anti-ship missiles.

PM Modi and New Zealand’s Luxon commit to strengthen ties and promote regional stability - PIB 

Indian Prime Minister and New Zealand Prime Minister recently pledged to bolster their bilateral relationship, focusing on trade, defence, and cooperation for regional peace in the Indo-Pacific. 

Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)

• Launched: November 2019 at the East Asia Summit (EAS), Bangkok.
• Builds upon: Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative (2015).

Objective:

• Promote cooperation for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
• Strengthen safety, stability, and development in the maritime domain.

Nature:

• Non-treaty-based, voluntary arrangement.
• No new institutional framework; relies on EAS mechanism (ASEAN + 8 dialogue partners).

Seven Pillars of IPOI & Lead Countries:

• Maritime Security: India & UK
• Maritime Ecology: Australia & Thailand
• Maritime Resources: France & Indonesia
• Capacity Building & Resource Sharing: Germany
• Disaster Risk Reduction & Management: India & Bangladesh
• Science, Technology & Academic Cooperation: Italy & Singapore
• Trade, Connectivity & Maritime Transport: Japan & US

Economy 

What are the different risks and rewards of using UAVs? - The Hindu

The sight of two Chinese Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) over waters near Okinawa recently had Japan scrambling to pursue them. Yet, the level of alarm was considerably lower than what it would have been if the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s piloted aircraft had been sighted near Japanese airspace. Arguably, in most cases, UAVs are seen as less of a threat than a fighter jet in the same context.

Why UAVs Are Perceived as Less Threatening

• Lower combat capability than fighter jets: Many UAVs are used only for surveillance and reconnaissance.
• No human presence: Reduces risk and political costs in case of loss.
• Lower financial burden: Losing a UAV is cheaper than losing a manned aircraft.
• Less escalation risk: Their downing rarely provokes major military retaliation.

Recent Examples of UAV Incidents

• 2019: Iran shot down a U.S. surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz; U.S. planned but later aborted a retaliatory strike.
• 2023: Russia brought down an American MQ-9 Reaper UAV with no significant U.S. response.
• Encouraging Risk-Taking: Countries use UAVs more freely in foreign airspace due to lower consequences of their loss.

Implications for India

• Pakistan: Small UAVs frequently used for arms and drug smuggling, with no accountability from Pakistan.
• Bangladesh: Recently deployed Turkish Bayraktar TB-2 UAVs near the Indian border for surveillance.

Way forward

• India must prepare strategies to deal with larger UAV incursions without escalation.
• India must develop cost-effective countermeasures and adapt military responses to UAV threats.

ED conducts searches against George Soros' OSF, linked entities - The Hindu 

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) recently searched eight Bengaluru premises of entities allegedly related to American billionaire George Soros, in connection with suspected violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) involving at least ₹25 crore.

Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999

• Came into force: June 1, 2000, replacing the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA), 1973.
• Introduced: To facilitate external trade, payments, and develop a stable foreign exchange market after economic liberalization.
• Objectives
  • Regulation & Management of Foreign Exchange: Covers:
    • Acquisition & Holding of foreign exchange.
    • Payment & Settlement of forex transactions.
    • Export & Import of currency.
  • Liberalization of Foreign Exchange Policies:
    • More transparent than FERA, which was restrictive.
    • Focuses on globalization and economic integration.
  • Empowers RBI:
    • RBI regulates forex transactions, issues guidelines, and frames rules.
  • Civil Nature of Offences:
    • Unlike FERA, violations under FEMA are civil offences.
    • Penalties imposed for non-compliance instead of criminal prosecution.
• Applies to:
  • Individuals, firms, and companies in India.
  • Indian offices & agencies abroad.

Covers:

• Foreign Exchange & Securities.
• Export & Import of Goods & Services.
• Banking, Financial & Insurance services.
• NRIs owning 60%+ in overseas companies.
• Indian citizens residing in & outside India.

Penalties:

• Monetary Fine: Up to 3x the amount involved or ₹2 lakh (whichever is higher).
• Further Penalty: ₹5,000 per day for continued violations.
• Seizure of Assets: In extreme cases, property linked to violations can be confiscated.

Sci and Tech 

SONIC WEAPON - Indian Express 

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has denied that his police forces used a banned ‘sonic weapon’ to disperse protesters in Belgrade.

Acoustic/ Sonic weapon

• About: Devices that deliver very loud sounds over long distances. 
• Development: Designed to emit painful audible or inaudible sound waves. 
• Usage: Used to act like voice amplifiers to deliver voice messages or other sounds.
• Working: Such weapons usually comprise hundreds of modern transducers (an electronic device that converts energy from one form to another) to create highly concentrated and amplified sound.
• Types:
  • Long-range acoustic device (LRAD): Range of 8,900 metres for intelligible speech, and produces a highly directional “beam” of extremely loud sound which can go to up to 160 decibels (dB).
  • Mosquito: Produces very high-pitched sounds that are audible and painful to only younger people & does not affect older people.
  • Infrasonic weapon: Could deliver very low-frequency sounds that would be inaudible but could cause pain and disorientation. 
• Hearing Damage: Can cause ear injuries and hearing loss.
• Factors Affecting Impact: Distance from the source, exposure duration, and preexisting health conditions.
• Short-term Effects: Tinnitus (ringing in ears), headaches, nausea, sweating, vertigo, and loss of balance.
• Severe Injuries: Vomiting, mucus or bleeding from ears.
• Indiscriminate Impact: Affects protesters, bystanders, and law enforcement, despite targeted sound beams.

What are audible enclaves? - The Hindu 

Definition: Small sound pockets where only specific individuals can hear the transmitted sound, undisturbed by surrounding noise.

• Technology: Uses sound wave manipulation to ensure private listening in crowded spaces.
• Nature of Sound: Waves moving through a medium, causing particle vibrations.
• Frequency & Pitch:
  • Higher frequency → Higher pitch.
  • Lower frequency → Lower pitch.
• Diffraction: Sound waves spread out as they travel, with higher frequencies diverging more than lower ones.

Creation:

• Traditional Method: Uses parametric array loudspeakers to generate focused sound beams with high-frequency waves.

• New Method: Uses 2 high-frequency waves of different frequencies:
  • Individually inaudible but generate sound at the intersection.
  • Creates a localized sound zone where only intended listeners can hear the audio.
• Scientific Basis: Reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences as a precise sound delivery mechanism.

Defence 

Varuna 2025 - PIB 

The Indian and French Navies are gearing up for the 23rd edition of their bilateral naval exercise, VARUNA 2025, scheduled to take place from March 19 to 22.

Exercise Varuna

• Type: Bilateral Naval Exercise between India and France.
• Initiated: 1993, named Varuna in 2001.
• Significance: Strengthens the India-France strategic partnership.
• 23rd Edition Location: Arabian Sea.

Participants:

• INS Vikrant (India) & Charles de Gaulle (France) aircraft carriers.
• Fighter jets: Indian MiG-29K & French Rafale-M.
• Warships & Submarines: Destroyers, frigates, and an Indian Scorpene-class submarine.

Key Drills:

• Advanced Air Defence & Air Combat between MiG-29K & Rafale-M.
• Anti-Submarine Warfare to enhance underwater domain awareness.
• Surface Warfare Operations for synchronized naval engagements.

• Objective: Strengthen joint operations, tactical coordination, and combat readiness.