Geography 

Uturuncu Volcano - The Hindu 

Deep in the Central Andes lies Uturuncu, Bolivia's "zombie" volcano—so-called because, despite being technically dead (last erupting 250 thousand years ago), it still shows signs of unrest, including earthquakes and plumes of gases.

Uturuncu Volcano

• Location: Situated in southwestern Bolivia, in the Andes Mountains.
• Type: A stratovolcano with dacitic lava domes and flows.
• Elevation: ~6,008 m (19,711 ft)
• Height: Tallest mountain in southern Bolivia.
• Eruption History: Last erupted around 250,000 years ago but still seismically active.
• Geological Significance: 
  • Lies at the centre of a 70 km uplifted region.
  • Located above the Altiplano-Puna Magma Body (APMB), a vast magma reservoir spanning Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.
• Current Status: 
  • Known as a "zombie" volcano — ongoing subterranean activity without eruption.
  • Unrest caused by movement of liquid and gas beneath the crater.
  • Low probability of immediate eruption.
     

Polity 

 The post of Deputy Speaker is not symbolic or optional - The Hindu 

The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is not merely a ceremonial seat but also a constitutional imperative.

Constitutional Mandate

• Article 93: Mandates early election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha.
• Article 94: Ensures continuity in the Deputy Speaker’s office until resignation, removal, or disqualification.

Historical Significance

• Origin: Originated during colonial times as Deputy President of Central Legislative Assembly.
• Beginning: This post began when Sachidanand Sinha was appointed in 1921.
• Post-independence: The office was retained by the Constituent Assembly.
• 1956:  M.A. Ayyangar took over as Acting Speaker, reflecting the office's importance.

Relevance

• Supports the Speaker: Helps Speaker in managing vast legislative responsibilities.
• Presidency: Presides over debates, committees, and ensures neutrality in discussions.
• Role: Expected to act impartially, like the Speaker.
• Traditionally offered to the Opposition: Aim to promote bipartisanship and trust, though not mandatory.

Current Constitutional Vacuum

• No deputy speaker: 17th Lok Sabha (2019–2024) and 18th Lok Sabha have had no Deputy Speaker.
• Concentrates authority with ruling party: Threatens institutional balance.
• Impact of absence during crises: May disrupt House proceedings.
• Denial of Opposition role: Weakens democratic consensus and conventions.

Way Forward

• Constitutional amendment: To mandate Deputy Speaker election within 60 days.
• Empower President: He may initiate election if Parliament delays.

World Affairs 

India and Bhutan hold 6th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) Meeting in Thimphu, Bhutan - PIB 

The 6th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) Meeting between India and Bhutan was held on 24th-25th April 2025 in Thimphu, Bhutan.

India–Bhutan Customs Cooperation 

• Trade: India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner, contributing to ~80% of Bhutan’s total trade.
• Role of Land Customs Stations (LCSs): Bhutan, being landlocked, depends on 10 LCSs with India (6 in West Bengal, 4 in Assam)
• Joint Group on Customs (JGC): An annual bilateral platform to:
  • Enhance customs cooperation
  • Facilitate cross-border trade
  • Align procedures with global best practices

Bhutan 

• Geography: Landlocked Himalayan nation, bordered by India (South, East, West) & China (Tibet) (North)
• Borders Indian states: Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh
• Capital & Largest City: Thimphu
• Major Trade Hub: Phuntsholing (on India-Bhutan border)
• Political System:
  • Parliamentary Monarchy
  • Transitioned to democracy in 2008
  • King remains Head of State
• Official Name: Kingdom of Bhutan
• Local Name: Druk Gyal Khap – "Land of the Thunder Dragon"
• Major River: Manas River (376 km) - a transboundary river vital for ecology and trade with India
   

Sci and Tech 

National Supercomputing Mission - PIB

Under NSM, as of March 2025, a total of 34 supercomputers with a combined compute capacity of 35 Petaflops, have been deployed across various academic institutions, research organizations, and R&D labs, including prominent institutions like IISc, IITs, C-DAC etc.

National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) 

• Overview: Launched in 2015 to boost High-Performance Computing (HPC) in India.
• Aim: Self-reliance in supercomputing for science, academia, research, and industry.
• Jointly managed by:  DST and MeitY.
• Execution: C-DAC, Pune and IISc, Bengaluru.
• Objectives
  • Build an indigenous HPC ecosystem.
  • Reduce import dependence.
  • Position India among global HPC leaders.
• Key Achievements:
  • 34 supercomputers deployed with 35 Petaflops capacity.
  • 85–95% utilisation across 200+ institutions.
  • Supported 10,000+ researchers and 1,700+ PhD scholars.
  • Over 1 crore computing jobs and 1,500+ research papers completed.
  • 22,000+ trained in HPC and AI via centres in Pune, Kharagpur, Chennai, Palakkad, and Goa.
• Indigenisation Milestones:
  • Rudra HPC servers – first Indian-made HPC-class servers.
  • PARAM Rudra series operational in Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata.
  • Trinetra Network enhances data speed (up to 200 Gbps).
• AI Supercomputing: AIRAWAT:
  • AI-dedicated HPC platform under NSM.
  • PoC system: 200 AI petaflops, scalable to 790 petaflops.
  • Ranked 75th globally (Top 500 list, ISC 2023, Germany).
• Institutional Supercomputers:
• PARAM Shivay (2019) – First NSM supercomputer at IIT-BHU.

• PARAM Pravega (2022) – Large academic HPC at IISc Bengaluru (3 petaflops).
   

Defence 

Navy's 26 new Rafales - Indian Express 

India and France recently signed a $7.4 billion (approximately Rs 63,000 crore) government-to-government contract for 26 Rafale Marine (Rafale M) fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy. Thirty-six Rafale aircraft were earlier inducted into the Indian Air Force from 2021 onward.

Naval Aviation

• Meaning: Use of aircraft by naval forces for maritime military operations.
• Involves aircraft operating from:
  • Aircraft carriers
  • Helicopter-carrying ships
  • Coastal air bases

• Specialized aircraft adapted for:
  • Short takeoffs and arrested landings
  • Operations from small flight decks
• Types:
  • Carrier-borne fixed-wing squadrons
  • Land-based Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA)
  • Helicopters and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)

Key Roles of Naval Aviation

• Fleet Air Defence: Provides aerial protection for naval units beyond land-based coverage.
• Strategic Power Projection: Enables air operations far from national territory without land bases.
• Anti-Surface Warfare: Engages enemy vessels using air-launched missiles.
• Support to Amphibious Warfare: Assists in marine landings and inland missions.
• Mine Countermeasures: Detects and neutralizes naval mines via aerial assets.

Significance

• Enhances sea control and maritime domain awareness.
• Supports both naval and ground operations.
• Extends combat reach to distant coastal areas.

Aircraft Carrier 

• Definition: A warship functioning as a mobile seagoing airbase.
• Carrier Aviation in India: Indian naval aviation marks 72 years on May 11, 2025 & began with INS Vikrant in 1961.
• Features: Full-length flight deck and hangars for launching, recovering, and maintaining aircraft.
• Functionality:
  • Enables deployment of air power without dependence on land-based airfields.
  • Supports maritime operations at long distances from home territory.
• Strategic Importance:
  • Central to Carrier Battle Groups in modern naval warfare.
  • Key roles:
    • Air supremacy
    • Sea control
    • Power projection
    • Strategic deterrence
    • Cyber and electromagnetic domain operations
• Global Presence: Around 50 aircraft carriers are in active service worldwide.
• Leading operators:
  • USA – 11 large nuclear-powered carriers
  • Others – Brazil, China, France, India, Italy, Russia, Spain, Thailand, UK

Aircraft Carriers Operated by India

• INS Vikrant (1961–1997)
• INS Viraat (1987–2017)
• INS Vikramaditya (Commissioned in 2013, active)
• INS Vikrant (Indigenous) – Commissioned in 2022

Need for Aircraft Carriers

• Strategic Deterrence & Power Projection: 
  • Enables dominance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), critical for trade and energy routes.
• Protection of Maritime Interests:
  • Secures Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) and island territories.
  • Essential as 90%+ of India's trade by volume is seaborne.
• Blue Water Navy Capability:
  • Facilitates long-range operations and enhances India's global maritime reach.
• Continuous Operational Readiness:
  • Ensures at least one operational carrier per coast even during maintenance cycles.
• Non-Military Roles:
  • Supports Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), enhancing India's soft power in the region.
    Rafale M and Its Role in Indian Navy – UPSC Notes (Concise & Paraphrased)

Current and Future Carrier-Based Fighters

• India has operated various naval fighters: Sea Hawks, Alizes, Sea Harriers, and currently MiG-29K.
• TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter) : A 5th generation fighter under development; expected mid-next decade.

Advantages of Rafale M

• Interoperability with IAF Rafales – enables joint training and operations.
• Common Maintenance & Safety Protocols – simplifies logistics across services.
• Enhanced Combat Capability – boosts India’s overall maritime air power.
• Strategic Impact -
  • Strengthens India’s carrier-based aviation and overall military deterrence.
  • Ensures sustained aerial dominance in maritime zones.
     

As tensions escalate, India's military spend outpaces Pakistan's by nearly 9 times - The Hindu 

As tensions escalate in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack,  an international report released on Monday underscored the vast disparity in military capabilities between India and Pakistan. According to the 2024 edition of the “Trends in World Military Expenditure” report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India’s military spending was nearly nine times higher than Pakistan’s last year.

Trends in World Military Expenditure Report 2024

• Publisher: Released annually by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
• About: Provides global analysis of military spending
• Global Trends: Total global military expenditure: $2.46 trillion in 2024 (up from $2.24 trillion in 2023).
• Average defence spending: 2.3% of global GDP (up from 1.6% in 2022 and 1.8% in 2023).
• All world regions saw an increase: Europe and Middle East saw the fastest growth.
• Regional Highlights:
  • Europe (incl. Russia): $693 billion (↑17%) – major contributor to global rise.
  • Middle East: $243 billion (↑15%) – led by Israel and Lebanon.
  • USA: $997 billion (↑5.7%) – 66% of NATO, 37% of global military spending.
  • China: $314 billion (↑7%) – 30 years of continuous rise, 50% of Asia-Oceania defence spending.
• India's Defence Spending:
  • 5th largest military spender in 2024.
  • Total: $86.1 billion (↑1.6% from 2023; ↑42% from earlier years).
  • Nearly 9 times higher than Pakistan’s spending.
• Top 5 Military Spenders (2024) (account for 60% of global military expenditure)
• USA – 37%
• China – 12%
• Russia – 5.5%
• Germany – 3.3%
• India – 3.2%