Geography 

Magnitude 6.7 quake shakes New Zealand's South Island - The Hindu 

A strong 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck off New Zealand's South Island recently, as the country's disaster agency assessed if there were any tsunami threats.

 South Island – New Zealand

• Location: Southernmost and larger of New Zealand’s two main islands; lies in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
• Separation: Divided from North Island by Cook Strait and from Stewart Island by Foveaux Strait.

• Geography:
  • Dominated by Southern Alps (SW to NE), highest peak: Mount Cook (3,754 m).

• Westland Plain (narrow, west) and Canterbury Plains (broad, east).

• Fiordland National Park:
  • Located in the southwest with fjords and high lakes.
  • Part of Te Wāhipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990.
• Major Lakes: Lake Tekapo, Lake Wakatipu, Lake Pukaki.
• Urban Centres: Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill.

Polity 

Panel seeks comprehensive review of GST framework - The Hindu

Batting for a simplified goods and services tax (GST) regime, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended that the Finance Ministry undertake a comprehensive review of the GST framework to identify and eliminate unnecessary procedures and requirements that complicate compliance.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

• Establishment: In 1921 (oldest parliamentary committee in India).
• Purpose: Audits the revenue and expenditure of the Government of India to ensure public funds are spent efficiently and legally.
• Membership: 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha) (Ministers cannot be members of the PAC).
• Chairperson: A Lok Sabha MP, traditionally from the Opposition.
• Term: One year.

NJAC and the veto question - Indian Express

The row over the discovery of wads of currency notes at the residence of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma last week has given the debate on judicial appointments a new lease of life.

Judicial Appointments in India

• Initial Phase (1950):
  • Federal Court judges transferred to the new Supreme Court.
  • Justice Harilal Kania became the first Chief Justice of India (CJI).
• Executive-Controlled Appointments (1950–1977):
  • Executive held power over judicial appointments.
  • Judiciary often struck down laws; Parliament responded with constitutional amendments.
• Political Interference in 1970s:
  • Indira government altered the seniority norm for CJI appointment.
  • Justice A N Ray (1973) and Justice M H Beg (1977) superseded senior judges.
• Aftermath – Collegium System:
  • Judicial response to executive interference led to the evolution of the collegium system for appointments.

Collegium System

• Origin: Evolved through three landmark SC judgments – First, Second, and Third Judges Cases.
• Interpretation: Interpreted Articles 124(2) & 217(1) (appointment of SC & HC judges).
• Structure:
• SC Collegium: CJI + 4 senior-most SC judges.
• Recommendation: Appointment for SC judges, HC Chief Justices, and HC judge transfers
• HC Collegium: CJI + 2 senior-most SC judges recommend HC judge appointments.
• Not Mentioned in Constitution: Entirely court-evolved mechanism, in practice since 1993.

Law to Create NJAC

• Background: Collegium criticized for being opaque and unaccountable.
• Legislation: Constitution (99th Amendment) Act, 2014 and NJAC Act, 2014.
• Aim: To establish the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).
• NJAC Composition:
  • CJI (Chairperson)
  • Two senior-most SC judges
  • Union Law Minister
  • Two eminent persons (nominated by CJI, PM, and LoP; one from SC/ST/OBC/minority/women)
• Key Features:
  • Replaced collegium for SC and HC appointments.
  • Any two NJAC members could veto a recommendation.
  • Appointment criteria included seniority and regional representation.
• Challenge to the NJAC Act:
  • Key Issue: Veto power given to two NJAC members could override the opinion of the CJI and two senior SC judges.
  • Supreme Court’s View: Judicial primacy in appointments is part of the basic structure.

World Affairs 

Whittling down sources of U.S. soft power - The Hindu

Since assuming office for the second time in January 2025, U.S. President’s directives, especially on foreign policy, have been projected as power moves as part of the plan to put “America First” and to “Make America Great Again”. However, these actions are also cutting at the roots of U.S.’s influence in the world that make up its ‘soft power’.

U.S. Soft Power and Impact of Trump Administration

• Alliances: Traditional alliances like NATO and Five Eyes have long boosted U.S. soft power.
• Trump's statements: Remarks on Greenland, Canada, Ukraine, Japan, praise for North Korea, and criticism of AUKUS weaken trust.
• U.S. support for Israeli actions in Gaza: It too affects its image in the Global South.
• 83% of USAID programmes slashed: Reduces U.S. global developmental role & recipient nations now view U.S. aid with suspicion.
• Cuts to think tanks and media: Limit global outreach.
• Reciprocal tariffs: Undermine U.S. image as a free trade promoter.
• Moving away from WTO-led liberalisation: Bilateral talks with India need caution in light of U.S. actions towards FTA partners.
• Threat to U.S. diversity: Damaged by deportations, migration curbs, and DEI policy rollback.
• Birthright citizenship ban under review
• H-1B scrutiny intensified.
• Education: U.S. universities affected by crackdown on student activism.
• Deterrents: Protest-related arrests, deportations, and funding threats.

Economy 

Status of India's bioeconomy, how to sustain further growth - Indian Express 

The India BioEconomy Report, released by the Department of Biotechnology, says there is ample opportunity for this sector to grow to about $300 billion by 2030, and to $1 trillion by 2047.

Utilising Bioresources

• Bioeconomy: Industrial use of biological resources (plants, animals, microbes) and natural processes for producing goods/services.
• Nature: Bioresources are renewable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly.
• Expansion =: Earlier limited to healthcare, pharma, and agriculture; now used in fuels, plastics, clothing, construction, and chemicals.
• Example: Ethanol from crops like sugarcane/corn is a sustainable fuel alternative.
• Biotechnology Role: Involves manipulation of biological systems for products like biomedicines and synthetic organisms.

Growing Footprint of India’s Bioeconomy

• Rapid Growth: Valued at $86 billion in 2020, India's bioeconomy rose to $165 billion in 2024.

• Expansion of Firms: Companies in the sector increased from 5,365 (2021) to 10,075 (2024); projected to double by 2030 with 35 million employed.
• Sector-wise Contribution:

• Industrial bioeconomy (biofuels, bioplastics): $78 billion (≈47%)
• Pharma (mainly vaccines): ≈35%
• Fastest growing: Research & IT (biotech software, clinical trials, bioinformatics)

• Regional Disparity: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh generate over two-thirds of bioeconomy value; east and northeast contribute <6%.

BioE3 Policy (2024)

• Aim: Position India as a global hub for bio-manufacturing and R&D.
• Focus Areas: Bio-based chemicals, enzymes, precision therapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, marine & space biotech.
• Challenges:
  • Regulatory uncertainty on GM crops.
  • Need for innovation, infrastructure, and addressing regional imbalance.

• Recommendations:

• Establish National BioEconomy Mission.
• Introduce single-window regulatory system.

Why activists are worried about Section 44(3) of new data protection law - Indian Express

A group of activists, researchers, journalists, and experts recently discussed a change made to the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) by the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. The delegation said the change will adversely impact the ability of people to access information.

Section 44(3) of DPDP Act 

• Overview: Brought in to balance individual data privacy rights with the lawful need to process personal data.
• Status: Act will be enforced after notification of rules. Draft rules (2025) were opened for public feedback till February 18.
• Impact on RTI: Section 44(3) proposes an amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005.
• Concerns: Amendment could restrict public access to personal information held by public authorities, weakening transparency under RTI.
• Section 8(1)(j) of RTI Act: Bars disclosure of personal information if:
  • it has no link to public activity or interest, or
  • it causes unwarranted invasion of privacy,
  • unless larger public interest justifies disclosure.
• Impact of Section 44(3): Exempts all personal information from disclosure under RTI.

Why the Change Matters

• Section 8(1)(j) Usage: Widely cited in Information Commission rulings to allow or deny disclosure based on public interest.
• Original Safeguard: RTI Act included a clause stating that any information shareable with Parliament should not be denied to citizens.
• Activist Concerns:
  • Personal data of public servants (e.g., assets) is often disclosed in public interest.
  • New DPDP clause may allow blanket denial of such data, undermining transparency and accountability.
• Implication: Removes public interest test, potentially curtailing transparency and access to information.