Current Affairs – May 06, 2025

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} India’s Efforts to Counter Terror Financing via FATF *

Context (IE): India intensified its push to re-list Pakistan on the FATF grey list following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack to curb cross-border terror financing.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

Formation: Established in 1989 by the G7 for anti-money laundering (AML) and later expanded (2001) to counter terrorist financing (CTF).
Function: FATF monitors countries to ensure compliance with its 40 Recommendations.
- The FATF’s framework is designed to help countries tackle illicit financial flows, with recommendations covering policies, money laundering, terrorist financing, preventive measures, transparency, and international cooperation.
Key Areas: AML/CTF policies, terrorist financing, preventive measures, transparency, powers of competent authorities, and international cooperation.
Jurisdictions: Includes 40 members, comprising 38 jurisdictions and two regional organisations (Gulf Cooperation Council, European Commission). India became a member of FATF in 2010.
Headquarters located at the OECD in Paris.

Terrorist financing refers to the process of funding terrorist groups to support their operations. It differs from money laundering in that funds are directly allocated to support terrorism.

Types of lists maintained by FATF

Grey List

Countries under increased monitoring due to strategic deficiencies in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
These countries work with FATF to resolve deficiencies. Countries that are considered a safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put on the FATF grey list.
This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.

Impact of FATF’s Grey List

Financial Consequences: Countries on the grey list face heightened scrutiny, leading to increased due diligence by international businesses and financial institutions. This impedes foreign investments and restricts financial flows into such countries.
Enhanced Monitoring: Countries on the grey list are subject to rigorous monitoring by FATF to ensure compliance with the 40 Recommendations.

Black List

Jurisdictions with serious strategic deficiencies, where countries are urged to apply counter-measures.
Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories are put on the blacklist.
These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities.
As of February 2025, North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar are on the black list.

Consequences of being on the FATF blacklist

No financial aid is given to them by the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) etc.
They also face a number of international economic and financial restrictions and sanctions.

FATF Mutual Evaluations and Reports

FATF conducts in-depth evaluations to assess a country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing systems.
India’s Evaluation: After the September 2024 evaluation, India was placed in the “regular follow-up” category, indicating good progress but highlighting areas for improvement, such as strengthening prosecutions in money laundering and terrorism financing cases.

FATF’s Assessment and Pakistan’s Compliance

Risk Areas: FATF identifies risks related to terrorist groups such as those linked to Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, particularly in regions like Jammu and Kashmir.
Actions Post 2018: While Pakistan made efforts to comply with FATF’s recommendations, India believes these measures are insufficient, especially considering the continuation of cross-border terrorism.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Elections} Voter ID Rules and Citizenship Concerns

Context (IE): A Pakistani national claimed to have voted in Indian elections despite being a non-citizen, raising questions over voter ID issuance procedures.

Constitutional and Legal Framework

Article 326: Grants voting rights to Indian citizens aged 18 or above for Lok Sabha and State/UT Assembly elections.
Section 16, Representation of the People Act, 1950: Disqualifies a person from the electoral roll if they are not an Indian citizen, are of unsound mind as declared by a court, or are disqualified due to corrupt electoral practices.
Section 31, RP Act, 1950: Punishment upto 1 yr or fine/both for false declaration in voter registration.

Voter ID Registration Process

Form 6 (ECI Registration Form): Requires self-attested age and address proof but not citizenship proof; includes a signed declaration of Indian citizenship.
Electoral Registration Officer (ERO): Responsible for verifying the authenticity of applications, especially regarding citizenship, before approving inclusion in electoral rolls.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) act as field-level agents to collect & verify claims & objections for the ERO.

Citizenship Verification Norms

Initial Onus on Applicant: Applicant must provide evidence of Indian citizenship when applying for first-time registration.
ERO Inquiry Protocol: ERO must evaluate all submitted evidence independently and ensure no ineligible person is added.
If objections are filed, the onus shifts to the objector to furnish proof that the applicant is not a citizen.
Provision exists for appeal against ERO’s decision on voter inclusion or deletion.

Special Cases in Citizenship Verification

Migrants: ERO must verify with the District Election Officer of the previous district to validate claims.
Married Women Without Documents: ERO may rely on prior voter registration or marriage proof from village headmen of both previous and current residences.

Loopholes in the Current System

No Citizenship Proof Required in Form 6: Allows the possibility of false declarations slipping through without documentary citizenship checks.
Lack of Objections Means No Scrutiny: If no one raises objections, citizenship check is often bypassed.
Dependence on Manual Inquiry: Puts excessive burden on EROs to independently assess citizenship without standardised verification systems.
Citizenship vs Documentation: Possession of Aadhaar or other identity documents is not proof of Indian citizenship and cannot replace actual verification in electoral processes.

Institutional Measures and Ongoing Reforms

Aadhaar-Voter ID Linkage: Election Commission of India is working on linking Aadhaar with Voter IDs to curb ineligible entries and improve citizen verification.
Past Incidents: ECI has found non-citizens in electoral rolls before; their names were deleted upon verification and action was taken.

Also refer to Right to Vote.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – FRs} Right to Change Name and Identity

Context (TP): Recent and past High Court rulings, particularly from Allahabad and Delhi HCs, underscore the fundamental right to identity and name change under Articles 19, 21 and 14 of the Constitution.

Constitutional Basis of Right to Name

Article 19(1)(a): Guarantees freedom of speech and expression, which includes expressing one’s identity through a chosen name.
Article 21: Ensures the right to life and personal liberty, which judicially extends to include the right to self-identity and name.
Article 14: Guarantees equality before the law, making arbitrary state actions against legitimate name changes unconstitutional.

High Court Precedents

Allahabad HC (Md. Sameer Rao vs State of UP)

Kerala HC 2020 Ruling Cited: Expressing one’s name is part of both Article 19(1)(a) and Article 21.
Name reflects personal identity, and document mismatches undermine autonomy and privacy.
Arbitrary denial of name changes breaches Articles 14, 19(1)(a) and 21, infringing dignity, identity and personal liberty.
Right to Name & Identity: Considered a component of the “right to live with dignity.”
Not Absolute, But Protected: The right to name is fundamental but not unqualified. It is subject to reasonable restrictions only under Article 19(2) in the interest of sovereignty, public order, etc.
Proportionality Principle: Citing the Puttaswamy v. Union of India case, the state must justify restrictions with proportional and lawful reasons.

Delhi HC (Sadanand & Anr. vs CBSE & Ors)

Right to Identity under Article 21: Refusal to update certificates violated the individual’s right to dignity and personal identity protected under Article 21.
Caste Stigma and Choice: Changing a surname to escape caste-based discrimination is a valid and constitutionally protected personal choice.
The state cannot withhold identity recognition due to historical social disadvantage linked to caste.

Issues with Name Change

Identity Inconsistency: Denial of name change leads to fragmented identities across documents.
Caste-Based Prejudice: Bureaucratic hesitation stems from fear of misuse in reservation/caste benefits.
Administrative Rigidity: Authorities like CBSE failed to acknowledge Gazette notifications and legal name change steps.

Significance of the Judgments

Right to Dignity: Name symbolises self-respect, especially for those escaping caste or gender stigma.
Strengthens Privacy Jurisprudence: Builds upon the Puttaswamy judgement to treat personal identity as private and inviolable.
Guides State Conduct: Sets clear standards on when and how restrictions can be justified.

{GS3 – Agri – Sustainability} Agrivoltaics

Context (TH): World Solar Day on 3^rd May spotlighted India’s push for agrivoltaics to harness solar energy while boosting agricultural output.

Agrivoltaics (APV)

It refers to the co-location of solar photovoltaic panels with crops on the same land to enable dual land use for clean energy and agriculture.
It aims to maximise land-use efficiency by integrating food and energy production, offering dual income streams for farmers. Solar modules are elevated to allow sufficient sunlight for crops while simultaneously harnessing solar power.
The concept was first proposed in 1981 by German scientists Adolf Goetzberger and Armin Zastrow.

India’s Solar Energy Growth

India’s solar capacity surged from 2.82 GW (2014) to 100.33 GW (2025), a 3450% growth in a decade.
In 2024, India added a record 24.5 GW of solar energy, more than double the capacity in 2023.
Utility-scale solar installations grew 2.8 times in 2024 alone, reaching 18.5 GW, laying a strong base for agrivoltaic expansion.

Benefits of APVs

Enhance land-use efficiency by enabling simultaneous food and energy production on the same land.
Improve crop resilience by reducing heat stress & water evaporation due to micro-climatic effects of solar panels.
Stable, supplementary income for farmers through land leasing/sale of excess solar power to the grid at a predetermined feed-in tariff.
Support cultivation of shade-tolerant crops eg- tomatoes, potatoes & turmeric under panel coverage.
Reduce vulnerability to climate conditions & diversify income streams for small and marginal farmers.

Successful Case Studies

Najafgarh (Delhi): A farmer earns ₹1 lakh/acre through solar leasing and can increase income to ₹1.5 lakh/acre with shade-friendly crops.
Sahyadri FPO in Maharashtra runs a 250-kW APV project growing grapes and citrus, demonstrating commercial viability for high-value crops.

Policy Gaps

India lacks a dedicated agrivoltaics policy despite its rising solar footprint.
Current policy frameworks don’t align agricultural productivity with clean energy expansion.
The PM-KUSUM scheme (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Centrally Sponsored Scheme) currently does not incorporate APVs under its solarisation components.
- Grid-connected components of PM-KUSUM can be restructured for dual land use (simultaneous crop cultivation and solar power generation).

Challenges in Adoption of APVs

High capital costs: Costs ~11% more than standard solar installations due to structural modifications.
Financial barriers: A 1-MW APV project (~₹2.7 crore) has a long payback period (~15 years) under current FiTs (e.g., ₹3.04/unit in Rajasthan).
Limited adoption: Mostly restricted to research or pilot projects with minimal mainstream deployment.
Smallholder constraints: Over 85% of Indian farmers own less than 2 hectares, limiting their financial capacity to invest in APVs.
Lack of awareness and training hampers technology adoption in rural farming communities.
Limited mechanisms to aggregate demand, reduce risks & facilitate large-scale participation.

Also refer to Govt Initiatives for Solar Power Generation.

{GS3 – IE – Industry} Orange Economy or Creative Economy

Context (IE): The PM inaugurated WAVES 2025 (World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit).

About Creative Economy

The orange economy includes industries that use creativity, knowledge, and intellectual property (IP) to create value, such as film, music, art, design, OTT platforms, architecture, and publishing.
It thrives on innovation, protecting IP rights, digital platforms like streaming services, and cultural exports like Bollywood, yoga, and Indian cuisine, which enhance global influence.

Global Efforts towards the Creative Economy

2021 was recognised as the UN International Year of Creative Economy for its role in jobs, trade, and sustainable development.
UNCTAD Creative Economy Programme champions creativity as a tool for inclusive growth and publishes the Creative Economy Outlook.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (2004) links cities that use creativity for sustainable development (e.g., Jaipur, crafts, Chennai, music).
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) protects intellectual property to help creators monetise their innovations globally.

India’s efforts towards the Creative Economy

Creative Economy Fund: A $1 billion fund to invest in India’s creative industries, such as film, music, animation, and digital content, boosting innovation and infrastructure.
National Mission on Cultural Mapping: Maps India’s cultural heritage to promote creative industries.
National Creators Award: Recognises digital content creators, fostering online creativity and innovation.
All India Initiative on Creative Economy (AIICE): This is a forum where India’s creative industries come together and collaborate on creative economy-related matters.
Increased participation of OTT platforms and private companies: Supports the growth of homegrown content and expanding India’s creative reach.
WAVES summit (already discussed).

Economic Contribution of India’s Creative Economy

M&E sector value (2024): ₹2.5 lakh crore (~$29.4B); projected to reach $50B by 2029.
Growth rate: Estimated 7.2% in 2025.
Digital media share: Contributes 32% of total M&E revenue.
Employment: Generates millions of jobs in film, music, design, gaming, crafts, and digital content.
YouTube payouts: ₹21,000 crore to Indian creators in the last 3 years.

However, challenges include intellectual property issues, inadequate infrastructure, skill gaps, limited funding, regulatory barriers or censorship, global competition, fragmented market access, evolving consumer preferences, cultural and gender stereotypes, and sustainability concerns.

{GS3 – IE – Industry} WAVES Summit 2025

Context (IE|TOI): The PM inaugurated India’s first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.

A govt-led global platform to promote the Media & Entertainment (M&E) and Creative Economy.
Theme: Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries.
Participants: Over 100 top global companies, including Netflix, Amazon, Meta, Sony, and Google.

Key Objectives

Boost India’s M&E sector to achieve a $50 billion industry by 2029.
Promote global collaboration, digital innovation, and cultural exports.
Support the Orange Economy (content, culture, creativity) as a GDP and soft power driver.

Major Launches and Initiatives

Indian Institute of Creative Technology: Skilling youth in media, gaming, animation & content creation.
WAVES Bazaar: A global platform for creators to pitch and connect.
WAVEX Accelerator: Helps startups in AVGC-XR (Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics, Extended Reality).
FAU-G: Domination: Made-in-India multiplayer game.
MP Film Tourism Policy 2025: To attract filmmakers and boost the regional economy.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence} Stratospheric Airship Platform *

Context (PIB): The DRDO successfully carried out the maiden flight trials of the Stratospheric Airship Platform from the Sheopur Trial site in Madhya Pradesh.

Developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, Agra, the airship was launched carrying an instrumental payload to an altitude of around 17 kilometres.
The test validated critical systems, including envelope pressure control and emergency deflation mechanisms, with sensor data collected to refine high-fidelity simulation models for future missions.
It will enhance India’s earth observation and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, making it one of the few countries with such indigenous capabilities in the world.

What are Stratospheric Airships?

Stratospheric airships are large, unmanned, lighter-than-air platforms operating in the stratosphere, typically at 20 to 30 kilometres (65,000 to 100,000 feet).
They are also called High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) and are designed to stay airborne for days, weeks, or even months.
The concept of stratospheric airships, pioneered in the 1960s with Raven Aerostar’s High Platform II reaching 70,000 ft in 1969, gained traction in the 1990s as materials and solar technology advanced.
They are usually solar-powered or supported by fuel cells.

Credit: PIB

Applications

Telecommunications: Airships can provide broadband connectivity to remote or underserved regions, acting as “pseudo-satellites (somewhat like Starlink).”
- For instance, Mira Aerospace’s ApusDuo HAPS delivered 5G connectivity in Rwanda in 2023, demonstrating the potential to bridge the digital divide.
Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR): Airships’ ability to loiter over specific areas for extended periods makes them ideal for ISR.
Environmental Monitoring: Airships with sensors can monitor greenhouse gases, climate patterns, or natural disasters, supporting global sustainability efforts.
Scientific Research: High-altitude platforms enable ground-breaking scientific research, such as atmospheric studies, astronomy, and other research requiring stable, high-altitude vantage points.
Military Applications: Beyond ISR, airships could support GPS jamming, missile defence, wartime communications, electronic warfare, and the potential for stealth detection.

Advantages

Cost-effectiveness: Development, launch, and maintenance costs are far below the billions required for satellites. This affordability democratises access to high-altitude capabilities.
Flexibility: Unlike geostationary satellites, airships can be repositioned, serviced, or upgraded to meet evolving mission needs, enabling dynamic applications such as telecommunications or surveillance.
Accessibility: Operating below orbital altitudes improves accessibility, avoiding the complexities of space debris and stringent international space regulations.

Limitations

Technical Complexity: Lightweight materials, efficient energy storage, and precise control systems require further development to ensure reliability in the harsh stratospheric environment.
Environmental challenges: Stratospheric conditions – extreme cold, UV radiation, and ozone exposure—demand robust designs to prevent envelope degradation or thermal failures.
Regulatory Hurdles: Complicate deployment, as coordinating airspace usage and navigating international regulations, particularly for cross-border missions, remains a barrier.

Way Forward

Innovations in nanotechnology and composite fabrics will produce lighter, more durable envelopes, extending mission durations.
Next-generation regenerative fuel cells (RFCs) and high-efficiency solar cells will ensure reliable power, critical for continuous operation in the stratosphere.
Enhanced by machine learning and real-time wind modelling, autonomous control systems will improve station-keeping precision, minimising energy use.
By addressing technical challenges, stratospheric airships are poised to revolutionise telecommunications, surveillance, and environmental monitoring by 2030.

{Prelims – PIN World – Africa} Angola

Context (PIB): Prime Minister of India recently visited Angola.
Location: Angola, located in southwestern Africa, is the 7^th largest country in Africa.

Political Features

Capital: Its capital is Luanda, a large port city on the northern coast.
Independence: Angola was a Portuguese colony since the 16^th century. It became independent in 1975.
Civil War: It was plagued by the Civil War from 1975 to 2002.
Bordering Countries: Republic of the Congo (northwest), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (north and northeast), Zambia (southeast), and Namibia (south).
- The Atlantic Ocean borders it in the west.

Geography

Terrain: It has diverse terrain, including Coastal plains along the Atlantic, High inland plateaus, Rainforests in the north and Deserts in the south (like the Namib).
Climate: Angola has a tropical climate with a marked dry season.
- The climate is largely affected by the seasonal movements of the rain-bearing intertropical convergence zone, the northward flow of the cold Benguela Current off the coast, and elevation.
Vegetation: Tropical rainforests (North), savanna grasslands (Center), semi-desert shrubland (South).
Major Rivers: Cuanza River, Cunene River (Kunene), Kwango River, Kasai Rivers etc.
Mountain Ranges: Serra da Leba, the Serra da Chela, and the Huíla Plateau.
Highest Peak: Mount Moco (Morro do Moco) (8,600 ft).

Economy and Natural Resources

Oil-Based Economy: Oil accounts for over 90% of Angola’s exports and around 50% of GDP.
- Angola is the 2^nd largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa, following Nigeria.
Diamonds: Especially from the Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul provinces.

Culture

Religion: Angola’s population is overwhelmingly Christian.
Official Language: Portuguese
Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Bantu origin.

{Prelims – PIN World – Asia} Mount Makalu *

Context (TH): ITBP successfully summited Mt. Makalu, as part of its first twin-summit attempt with Mt. Annapurna as part of the ‘Clean Himalaya – Save Glacier’ initiative to collect non-biodegradable waste.
ITBP has now summited 6 of the world’s 14 “eight-thousanders”, including Everest, Kanchenjunga, Dhaulagiri, Lhotse, Manaslu, and Makalu.

About Mt. Makalu

Location and Features

Makalu I, or Mt. Makalu (the main summit), is the fifth-highest mountain in the world, rising to a height of 8,485 meters (27,838 feet) above sea level.
Located in the Mahalangur Himalaya range, on the border between Nepal and Tibet (China) and lies about 19 km southeast of Mount Everest.
The mountain is known for its distinct pyramid-shaped peak with four sharp ridges. It has two notable subsidiary peaks nearby: Makalu II or Kangchungtse (7,678 m) and Chomo Lonzo (7,804 m).

Environment and Biodiversity

It is part of eastern Nepal’s Makalu Barun National Park and Conservation Area. The park is home to over 3,000 species of flowering plants, 440 species of birds, and 75 species of mammals.
The region includes deep river gorges, steep granite cliffs, glacial valleys, and high waterfalls.
The Barun Valley, at its base, is known for rich biodiversity and stunning natural beauty.
Rare and endangered wildlife includes snow leopards, red pandas, musk deer, and Himalayan tahr.
It is also culturally significant, inhabited by the Sherpa and Kirati communities.

About Mount Annapurna

It is the 10^th highest mountain in the world, standing at 8,091 meters (26,545 feet) and located in central Nepal in the Himalayas, part of the Annapurna Massif.
The mountain lies within the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal’s largest protected region known for forests, meadows, and glaciers, and is home to species like the snow leopard and red panda.
The glaciers of Annapurna feed important rivers in Nepal, including the Kali Gandaki, Marsyangdi (which flows into the Trishuli), and Seti rivers, the latter being a major tributary of the Karnali River.

Also Read,> Major Mountain Ranges of the World, Highest Mountain Peaks, Himalayan Ranges: Shiwaliks, Middle Himalayas, Greater Himalayas, Trans-Himalayas & Purvanchal

{Species – Plants – EN} Teak (Tectona grandis) *

Context (DTE): Tissue-cultured teak is gaining attention in India as a high-yield, fast-growing alternative to meet rising timber demand.

Why Tissue Culture?

Tissue culture is a biotechnological technique for propagating plants from small tissue samples (cells or tissues) in a controlled, sterile environment. It ensures rapid multiplication & genetic uniformity.

Key Benefits

Rapid Propagation: Enables large-scale, fast multiplication of plants from small tissue samples.
Disease-Free Plants: Ensures the propagated plants are free from diseases, pests, and pathogens.
Genetic Uniformity: Produces genetically identical plants with consistent quality, size, and growth.
Increased Yield: Helps produce more productive plants with better growth traits.
Conservation: Facilitates the conservation of rare or endangered plant species.
Reduced Time: Shortens breeding cycles and speeds up the production of new cultivars.

Characteristics of Teak

Scientific Name: Tectona grandis | Family: Lamiaceae.
Common names: Sagon, sagwan, and teca.
Tree Size: Large deciduous tree, 30-40 meters high, with a cylindrical trunk (1-1.5 meters in diameter).
Wood: Golden-brown to dark brown, highly durable, water-resistant, and pest-resistant.
Light Requirement: A light-demanding species, requiring open sunlight for optimal growth.
Conservation Status: IUCN: Endangered | CITES: Not listed in any appendix | WPA: Not listed.

African teak is listed as an Endangered species on the IUCN Red List (2004). It is included in Appendix II of CITES, meaning its international trade is regulated to ensure its survival.

Native: Native to South and Southeast Asia, particularly India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia.
Distribution in India: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam & Northeast.

Soil and Climate: Prefers well-drained, alluvial or loamy soils with a pH of 6.5-7.5.
- Needs 1000-2500 mm of annual rainfall and a distinct dry season for leaf shedding and flowering.
- Not frost-tolerant, thriving in tropical to subtropical climates.

Credit: Organicos, IUCN

Significance for India

Used in shipbuilding, construction, furniture, and musical instruments due to its strong, durable wood.
Asia holds over 95% of global teak resources, with India having 35% of planted teak forests.
Contributes to rural economies through agroforestry, providing employment and boosting rural incomes.

Also Read > Biotechnology | Genetic Engineering – Processes and Applications, Natural Vegetation of India: Moist Tropical, Dry Tropical, Montane Sub-tropical, Montane Temperate & Alpine Forests.