Society 

Is academic freedom a made-up concept? - The Hindu 

When then President Pranab Mukherjee spoke at the “International Buddhist Conference” in Nalanda in 2017, he invoked Nalanda and Taxila, the ancient universities, to pitch for an atmosphere free from prejudice, anger, violence, and doctrines. “It must be conducive to free flow intellectual persuasions,” he stated.

Historical Background

• Medieval Europe: Dissent against Church theology often led to persecution.
• Wilhelm von Humboldt: Institutionalised academic freedom in early 19th-century Berlin, linking teaching with research.
• Humboldtian model importance: Influenced global higher education systems.

Academic Freedom

• Overview: Encompasses freedom to research, teach, publish, and express ideas without external interference.
• Explanation: Defined globally by forums like the 1950 UNESCO Conference and 2005 Columbia University Colloquium.
• Importance: Necessary for truth-seeking and knowledge dissemination.

Present-Day Constraints

• Academic careers tied to publications: Affect promotions, funding, and honours.
• Flawed methodology: Institutional rankings driven by research output fuel the “publish or perish” pressure.
• Changing priorities: Funding agencies’ priorities often steer research directions.

Limitations of Academic Freedom

• Narrower than free speech: Subject only to scholarly standards.
• Specialisation: Only experts can critique scientific consensus within the academic domain.
• Limited curriculums: Leave little room for flexibility or dissenting views.

Other influences 

• Political climate: Soviet banned certain sciences in the 1930s.
• Patronage: Even ancient centres like Nalanda thrived under supportive rulers.

• Academic freedom is crucial but conditional—shaped by sociopolitical dynamics and institutional structures, and never absolute.
   

India’s latest Maternal Mortality Ratio shows a declining trend - The Hindu 

The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India declined to 93 per lakh live births in 2019-21 from 97 in 2018-20, and 103 in 2017-2019, according to the latest data released by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.

Maternal Mortality Ratio 

• Definition: Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in a specific period.
• Defined by WHO: Death during pregnancy or within 42 days of termination due to pregnancy-related causes.
• SDG Goal: Reduce global MMR to <70 by 2030.

• High MMR states (2023):
  • Madhya Pradesh (175)
  • Assam (167)
  • Uttar Pradesh (151)
  • Odisha (135)
  • Chhattisgarh (132)
  • West Bengal (109)
  • Haryana (106)
• Deaths: Most deaths occur in 20–29 years age group.
• Role: Indicates a need to focus on women’s health during peak reproductive years.
• Major Causes of Maternal Deaths:
  • Global toll: 700+ deaths/day; 1 every 2 minutes (2023).
  • Key causes in India:
    • Pregnancy/childbirth complications
    • Unsafe abortions
    • Lack of timely medical care
    • Inadequate skilled health personnel
• Occurence: Over 90% of global maternal deaths occur in low and lower-middle-income countries.
• Government Interventions:
  • PMSMA: Fixed-day quality antenatal care.
  • JSY: Encourages institutional deliveries.
  • Ayushman Bharat HWCs: Comprehensive primary maternal healthcare.
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan: Nutritional support to pregnant women and children.
• Remaining Challenges:
  • Persistently high MMR in poor states due to weak infrastructure.
  • Limited emergency obstetric care in rural areas.
  • Low awareness of schemes among marginalized groups.

Environment 

Finance Ministry Unveils Draft Climate Taxonomy Document - The Hindu 

To direct investment towards clean-energy projects and infrastructure better adapted to weather threats from climate change, the Finance Ministry has made public a draft document, ‘Framework of India’s Climate Finance Taxonomy.’

India’s Draft Climate Finance Taxonomy Framework 

• Issued by: Ministry of Finance
• Aim: Guide climate-aligned investments in clean energy and resilient infrastructure
• Goals:
  • Classify activities as sustainable or transitional
  • Promote climate-friendly technologies
  • Prevent greenwashing (misleading environmental claims)
  • Align with Net Zero by 2070 and Viksit Bharat by 2047
• Classification of Climate Activities:
  • Climate Supportive: Directly reduce emissions or enhance resilience
  • Climate Transition: Enable emission reduction in hard-to-abate sectors (e.g., steel, cement)
• Key Sectors Covered:
  • Power generation
  • Buildings & infrastructure
  • Transport & mobility
  • Agriculture & food systems
  • Water & resource management
• Power Sector Expansion:

• Target: Raise power capacity from 470.4 GW (2025) to 777.14 GW (2029–49)
• Technology: Emphasis on Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) thermal plants
  • AUSC Efficiency: 46%
  • Compared to:
    • Subcritical: ~38%
    • Supercritical: ~41–42%

• Climate Adaptation Investment Needs:
  • Total Investment: ₹56.68 trillion (~USD 648.5 billion) by 2030
  • As per: India’s Initial Adaptation Communication to UNFCCC (Dec 2023)
  • Focus Areas:
    • Agriculture, forestry, fisheries
    • Infrastructure, water resources, ecosystems
  • Goal: Minimize climate change impacts through adaptation measures

Sci and Tech ‘

How Air Defence Systems work - Indian Express

Controlling the skies is of paramount importance in modern warfare. As such, air defence systems are a vital cog in any nation’s defensive infrastructure. A capable and operational air defence system protects against enemy air strikes, as was evident from the fact that Pakistan failed to inflict damage on India.

Air Defence Systems

• Purpose: Neutralise aerial threats (aircraft, drones, missiles).
• Components: Radar, control centres, fighter aircraft, SAMs, artillery, and EW systems.
• Operation: Operates via integrated Detection, Tracking, and Interception stages.

• Primary tool: Radar (emits EM waves, detects objects via reflection).
• Satellites: Used for detecting high-altitude threats (e.g., ICBMs).
• Role of these tools: Determines target’s range, speed, and nature.
• Tracking:
  • Uses radar, IR sensors, and laser rangefinders.
  • Differentiates multiple targets in complex environments.
  • Accurate tracking ensures efficient targeting.
• Interception:
  • Threat neutralisation depends on type, speed, and range.
  • Relies on “C3” – Command, Control, and Communication integration.
  • Effective interception requires precise coordination among all components.
• Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD):
  • Aims to disable enemy air defence systems.
  • Methods: Missiles, EW, UAVs, bombs, ground raids.
  • Essential for achieving air superiority and enabling deeper ground offensives.
     

Weapons Used in Air Defence

• Fighter Aircraft (Interceptors):
  • Fast-response jets equipped with air-to-air missiles, guns, EW systems.
  • India’s fleet: MiG-21, Su-35, MiG-29, Tejas, Rafale.
  • Engage enemy aircraft before weapon deployment.
• Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs):
  • Guided missiles (radar/infrared/laser) targeting aircraft/missiles.
  • Types:
    • Long-range (e.g., S-400) – counter enemy missiles at 100s of km.
    • Medium-range (e.g., Barak, Akash) – mobile systems for 50–100 km.
    • MANPADS – portable systems for drones/helicopters.
  • India’s arsenal: Akash, Barak, S-400.
• Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA):
  • Fires high-rate shells that explode mid-air dispersing shrapnel.
  • Effective for UAVs, low-altitude defence, and as a last line of defence.
  • Enhanced by automated fire-control systems.
• Electronic Warfare (EW):
  • Disrupts enemy radar, guidance systems via EM spectrum.
  • Can jam, deceive or disable enemy targeting systems.
  • Platforms: Ground-based, aerial (e.g., EA-18G Growler).

Soviet-era spacecraft, launched 50 years ago, to crash back to Earth - Indian Express 

A piece of a Soviet spacecraft launched more than 50 years ago is expected to crash back to Earth later this week. The part, which is from the Kosmos 482 mission, was supposed to land on Venus but could not as something went wrong with the spacecraft, and it failed to finish its mission.

Kosmos 482 

• Overview: Soviet Venus lander launched on March 31, 1972 under the Venera programme.
• Goal: Intended to land on Venus, but remained trapped in Earth orbit due to a rocket malfunction.
• 500-kg lander module: Expected to make uncontrolled re-entry around May 10, 2025, after over 50 years.
• Issues:
  • Timer malfunction caused premature shutdown of the rocket’s upper stage.
  • The spacecraft failed to reach escape velocity, remaining in low Earth orbit.
  • Main craft burned up; lander module continued to orbit Earth.

Venera Programme

• Operation: Operated from 1961 to 1984; aimed at Venus exploration.
• 28 missions launched: 13 entered Venus’s atmosphere; 10 landed.
• Venera 8: Twin of Kosmos 482, successfully landed on Venus and sent data for 50 minutes.

• Venera landers were built with:
  • Titanium spherical hulls
  • Heat-resistant insulation
  • Pressure barriers
  • Active cooling systems

Defence 

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME DEFENCE EXHIBITION (IMDEX) - 2025 - PIB 

Indian Naval Ship INS Kiltan arrived in Singapore to participate in IMDEX Asia 2025 at the Changi Exhibition Centre.

IMDEX (International Maritime Defence Exhibition) 

• IMDEX Asia: Leading maritime and defence exhibition in Asia-Pacific, held biennially in Singapore since 1997.
• Functions as a global forum for:
  • Navies and coast guards
  • Maritime defence industries
• Objectives:
  • Showcase naval platforms and defence systems
  • Introduce cutting-edge maritime technologies
  • Facilitate high-level policy and strategic dialogues

International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC)

• Establishment: 2009 as a key component of IMDEX.
• Organisers: Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).
• Participants: Navy chiefs, coast guard heads, policymakers, analysts, and maritime stakeholders.
• Focus Areas:
  • Mutual security enhancement
  • Maritime domain awareness
  • Cooperative solutions for global maritime challenges