Art and Culture 

Education comes home to bed-ridden tribal girl in Kerala - The Hindu 

In a novel attempt to provide education to a bed-ridden girl belonging to the Cholanaikkan tribe in Malappuram district, the Samagra Shiksha Kerala programme of the general education department has prepared 30 audio-visual texts in the tribe’s own distinct language.

Cholanaikkan Tribe

• About: One of India's most isolated and diminishing tribes with less than 400 members.
• Status: Classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
• Location: Karulai and Chungathara forest ranges of the Western Ghats; Nilambur, Malappuram district, Kerala.
• Lifestyle: Prefer isolation, avoiding agrarian and urban lifestyles.
• Sustenance: Depend mainly on forest produce for survival.
• Other name: “Cavemen of Kerala”, still use natural caves for shelter.
• Language: Speak a distinct Dravidian language called Cholanaikkan.

 

Geography 

Ethiopian Volcano Unleashes Massive Methane Plumes in Rare Event - Indian Express  

An extraordinary phenomenon has been recorded at a volcano in Ethiopia, which has emitted vast amounts of methane into the atmosphere.

Mount Fentale

• Type: Stratovolcano in Awash National Park, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.
• Elevation: Rises 600 m from the Rift Valley floor.
• Extent: Lava covers 100 sq km, with a 6 km wide elliptical caldera.
• Recent Earthquake: A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck on 14 February 2025, the strongest in Ethiopia since 1989.

Stratovolcano

• Shape: Tall, steep, cone-shaped volcano.
• Structure: Formed by alternating layers of lava, ash, and tephra.
• Crater: Usually has a small crater at the peak.
• Formation: Lava and ash solidify, creating a narrow cone.
• Occurrence: Constitutes ~60% of Earth's volcanoes.
• Other Name: Also called a composite volcano due to layered composition.

 

Polity 

In SC staying Lokpal order on HC judge, question of complaints procedure - Indian Express

The Supreme Court recently stayed a Lokpal order that took cognizance of a corruption complaint against an unnamed High Court judge. Earlier, the Lokpal bench held that it had the power to hear corruption complaints against former judges under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (Lokpal Act).

Complaint Against Judges

• Legal Immunity: Section 77 of IPC (1860) & Section 15 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (2023) protect judges from prosecution for actions within official duties.
• K Veeraswami Case (1991): Judges are public servants and can be investigated under the Prevention of Corruption Act but with safeguards.
• Presidential Sanction: Any criminal case against a judge requires President’s approval after consultation with the CJI.
• Impeachment vs. Criminal Cases: Filing a case against a sitting judge follows a different process than impeachment, which requires Parliamentary approval.

Case Before Lokpal

• Complaint: Allegations against an HC judge for influencing judicial proceedings in cases involving a former client.

Lokpal's Jurisdiction:

• Lokayukta Act applies to public servants, but judges are not explicitly included.
• SC judges are excluded as SC is established under Article 124 of the Constitution.
• HC judges are considered under "Act of Parliament", as many HCs were formed under the High Courts Act, 1861, and Government of India Act, 1935.

• Final Decision: Lokpal, citing the K Veeraswami case, decided to refer the complaint to the CJI for guidance before proceeding.

 

World Affairs 

The SEC and Hague Service Convention - The Hindu

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) informed a New York court that it has sought assistance from the Indian government under the Hague Service Convention/ Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, 1965 to serve summons on billionaire Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani in a securities and wire fraud case.

SEC’s Statement

• Invoked Article 5(a) of the Hague Convention to request India’s Ministry of Law and Justice for summons service.
• Exploring alternative methods under Rule 4(f) of the U.S. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Impact of FCPA Enforcement Pause:
  • The Trump administration paused FCPA enforcement for 180 days.
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prohibits bribery by U.S. entities to foreign governments, parties, or officials.
  • Attorney General directed to review all FCPA cases and redefine enforcement scope.
  • SEC’s filing indicates non-retroactive application, so the Adani investigation may continue unless the law is amended.

Hague Service Convention

• Adoption: In 1965 at the Hague Conference on Private International Law for cross-border judicial document service.
• Role: Ensures timely notice to defendants in foreign jurisdictions and facilitates proof of service.
• Signatories: 84 states, including India and the U.S
• Application: Applies only when both countries involved are members.
• Operation: Each state designates a central authority to handle service requests.
• Modes of Service:
  • Primary method: Through designated central authorities.
  • Alternative methods: Postal service, diplomatic/consular channels, direct judicial or government communication.

Service of Judicial Documents in India

• Accession to Convention: India joined on November 23, 2006, with reservations under Article 10, opposing alternative service methods.
• Prohibition on Diplomatic Channels: Judicial documents cannot be served through diplomatic or consular channels, except for nationals of the requesting country.
• Language: Service requests must be in English or accompanied by an English translation.

Process of Service

• Ministry of Law and Justice: India’s designated central authority for executing service requests.
• Grounds for Rejection: Requests can be denied under Article 13 if they compromise sovereignty or security, but not based on exclusive jurisdiction or lack of domestic legal recognition (Article 29).
• Legal Status: Once approved, service is treated as a summons under Section 29(c) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
• Timeline: The process typically takes six to eight months.

Default Judgment under the Hague Service Convention

• Conditions under Article 15: A default judgment can be issued if:
  • The document was transmitted via Convention-approved methods.
  • At least six months have passed since transmission.
  • No certificate of service was received despite efforts.

India’s Stand:

• India allows default judgments even without a service certificate, provided Article 15 conditions are met.

Judicial Precedent:

• In Duong v. DDG BIM Services LLC (2023), U.S. plaintiffs sought email service for Indian defendants.
• Upheld Article 15 as a safeguard, permitting default judgments if India’s central authority fails to comply.

 

The India-EU partnership - Indian Express 

At a time when ties between Europe and the United States are facing great pressure, a large delegation of European Commission College of Commissioners is in New Delhi for a two-day visit.

India-EU Relations

• Early Diplomatic Ties: India established relations with the European Economic Community in 1962.
• Other agreements: 1993 Joint Political Statement and 1994 Cooperation Agreement strengthened cooperation.
• Institutional Framework: 15 India-EU Summits held so far. Strategic Partnership established at 5th Summit (2004, The Hague).
• First Summit: Lisbon (2000).
• Premier meeting: PM Modi and EC President Ursula von der Leyen met at least seven times.
• April 2022: President von der Leyen visited India, attended Raisina Dialogue as Chief Guest.
• November 2024: Brief meeting at G20 Rio Summit.
• January 2025: PM spoke with European Council President Antonio Costa.

Meetings and Initiatives

• Strategic Roadmap: India-EU Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2025 adopted in July 2020.
• Key Agreements (2021):
  • Resumed negotiations for Free Trade & Investment Agreement.
  • Agreement on Geographical Indications.
  • Launched Connectivity Partnership.
• Technology and Trade Cooperation (2022):
  • India-EU TTC (Trade & Technology Council) established.
  • Focus areas: Digital & Strategic Tech, Clean & Green Tech, Trade & Supply Chains.
• Global Cooperation Issues:
  • Ukraine War and geopolitical concerns expected in discussions.

Trade and Investments

• Free Trade Agreement:
  • Negotiations ongoing for 15+ years.

• Trade Growth:

• EU is India’s largest trading partner in goods.
• 90% increase in bilateral trade over the past decade.

• Bilateral Trade (FY 2023-24):

• Goods: $135 billion (Exports: $76B, Imports: $59B).
• Services: $53 billion (Exports: $30B, Imports: $23B).

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI):

• EU to India (Apr 2000 - Sep 2024): $117.4B (16.6% of total FDI).
• India to EU (Apr 2000 - Mar 2024): $40.04B.

Technology Cooperation

• Strategic Importance:
  • Gaining urgency due to China’s advancements in technology.

• Key Agreements:

• Science & Technology Cooperation Agreement (2007).
• Intent of Cooperation in High-Performance Computing (Nov 2022).
• MoU on Semiconductor R&D (Nov 2023).

• Global AI Collaboration:

• EU participated in the Global Partnership on AI Summit (Dec 2023, New Delhi).

Green Energy Cooperation

• Green Hydrogen Collaboration:
  • India was the exclusive partner at European Hydrogen Week (Brussels, Nov 2024).
  • EU participated in the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (Delhi, Sep 2024).
• Financial & Industrial Support:
  • European Investment Bank pledged €1 billion for Indian hydrogen projects.
  • Indian & European companies collaborating to develop a green hydrogen ecosystem by 2030.

People-to-People Ties

• Indian Diaspora in EU:
  • Includes students, researchers, and skilled professionals.
  • Indian professionals received 20% of EU Blue Cards (2023-24).

• Education & Research:

• 6,000+ Erasmus scholarships awarded to Indian students in 20 years.
• 2,700+ Indian researchers funded under Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (since 2014)—highest globally.

Defence and Space Cooperation

• Defence Cooperation:
  • Focus on maritime security and Indo-Pacific region under ESIWA+ security programme.
  • First joint naval exercises held in October 2023 (Gulf of Guinea).
  • Collaboration on global security, disaster response, piracy, and counter-terrorism.

• Space Cooperation:

• ISRO’s PSLV launched EU’s PROBA-3 mission (Dec 2024).
• ISRO-ESA cooperation on Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and Gaganyaan missions.

 

Economy 

Initiative launched to standardise and streamline operations of India’s major ports - The Hindu 

A “One Nation, One Port Process” initiative to standardise and streamline port operations across India’s major ports and improve efficiency was launched by the Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways recently.

Key Maritime Initiatives Launched

• One Nation-One Port Process (ONOP)
  • About: Standardizes port operations across major Indian ports.
  • Significance: Reduces inefficiencies, documentation inconsistencies, and operational delays.
  • Documentation: Cuts container operation documents by 33% (143 to 96) and bulk cargo documents by 29% (150 to 106).

Sagar Ankalan - Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI)

• About: Assesses port performance on metrics like cargo handling, turnaround time, and berth idle time.
• Role: Enhances efficiency and transparency, aligning with Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

Bharat Global Ports Consortium

• About: Integrates IPGL (operations), SDCL (finance), and IPRCL (infrastructure) to boost maritime trade.
• Role: Strengthens global trade connectivity and supports ‘Make in India’.

MAITRI (Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface)

• About: Uses AI and blockchain to streamline trade processes and reduce delays.
• Role: Key in operationalizing the Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC) with UAE and expanding to BIMSTEC & ASEAN.

National Centre of Excellence in Green Port and Shipping (NCoEGPS)

• About: Promotes carbon footprint reduction, cleaner fuels, and eco-friendly port management.
• Focus: Sustainability in maritime operations.

 

Environment 

Climate crisis revives Soviet-era hydro projects in Central Asia - The Hindu

Central Asian countries are setting rivalries aside to build a giant hydroelectric plant originally planned in Soviet times, a bid to strengthen energy and food security and mitigate the effects of climate change. The Kambar-Ata-1 project on the Naryn River in Kyrgyzstan is a rare example of collaboration in the region that does not involve the two neighbouring superpowers Russia and China.

Kambar-Ata-1 Hydroelectric Project

Electricity & Water Distribution:

• Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan provide water to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in exchange for electricity.
• Past disputes over failure to honor agreements.

Export Potential:

• Will aid Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in summer water needs.
• Expected to export electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan (CASA-1000 project).

Energy Production & Deficit:

• Kyrgyzstan uses only one-fifth of its hydropower potential.
• Project to generate 5.6 billion kWh, covering the current deficit of 3.9 billion kWh.
• Water shortages reducing hydroelectric output.

Climate & Infrastructure:

• New hydroelectric plants and renovations to mitigate climate change effects.
• Toktogul plant, which provides 40% of Kyrgyz electricity, is expected to benefit.

Economic Constraints:

• State subsidies keep electricity costs low, risking future supply shortages.
• Kyrgyzstan sees Kambar-Ata-1 as crucial for sustainable power production.

 

EU ready to address ‘specific concerns’ of India on carbon tax levy on imports - The Hindu 

The European Union has acknowledged India’s “specific concerns” about implementing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) — the bloc’s tool to levy taxes on imports of certain carbon-intensive goods from early next year — and is ready to address them.

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

• Definition: EU tariff on carbon-intensive imports to prevent carbon leakage.
• Purpose: Ensures fair carbon pricing for imported goods and promotes cleaner production in non-EU countries.

Mechanism:

• Importers must buy carbon certificates equivalent to EU’s carbon price.
• Price based on EU carbon credit market auction rates.
• Importers can deduct paid carbon costs if already taxed in the exporting country.
• WTO-compatible and exempts countries with equivalent carbon pricing.

Implementation:

• Transitional phase: October 2023 – 2025 (reporting only).
• Definitive regime: From 2026 (financial obligations begin).
• Coverage: Targets high carbon-intensive sectors: iron & steel, cement, fertilizers, aluminium, electricity, hydrogen.

 

Sci and Tech 

Rare and well preserved petrified fossil discovered in Pakur - The Hindu 

Geologists and forest officials have unearthed a rare and well preserved petrified fossil at Rajmahal Hills near Barmasia village in Pakur district.

Petrification

• Definition: Fossilization process where organic matter is replaced by minerals, turning it into stone.

Process:

• Minerals fill pores in tissue and replace organic matter.
• Occurs in both hard and soft tissues over long periods.
• Requires sediment burial and exposure to mineral-rich water.
• Example: Petrified wood.