Current Affairs – August 14, 2025

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Reservation} Extending the Creamy Layer to SC/STs

Context (TH): The Supreme Court is hearing a plea to extend creamy layer rules to SC/ST reservations to ensure equitable benefit distribution among subgroups.

About the Creamy Layer

The creamy layer excludes socially and economically advanced members from reservation benefits.
Policy Purpose: It prevents dominant subgroups from monopolising affirmative action advantages.
Current Scope: No creamy layer provision applies to SC/ST reservations; only to OBCs.
Legal Basis: Indra Sawhney case (1992) established the principle for efficient affirmative actions.
State Authority: States can frame the OBC creamy layer criteria within their respective jurisdictions.

Need for Extending the Creamy Layer to SC/STs

Economic prioritisation within caste groups fosters equity without eroding caste-based justice.

Prevent Concentration: Exclusion stops affluent SC/ST families from monopolising quota benefits.
Substantive Equality: Prioritising the poorest households enables genuine socio-economic upliftment.
Reduce Inequality: Redistribution addresses internal economic disparities within SC/ST categories.
Improve Efficiency: Targeting genuine need ensures optimal use of limited policy resources.
Build Legitimacy: Transparent allocation increases public trust in reservation policies.

Key Challenges for Extending the Creamy Layer

Designing exclusion in affirmative action risks unsettling hard-earned constitutional balances.

Persistent Barriers: Caste-based discrimination remains prevalent despite economic mobility.
Legal Risk: Lacking a constitutional mandate could weaken affirmative action’s protective framework.
Design Challenge: Creating creamy layer criteria for uniform nationwide application remains challenging.
Social Division: Exclusion risks fuelling resentment and fragmentation within SC/ST communities.
Political Backlash: Dominant subgroups may resist reforms, threatening policy stability.

Judicial Landmarks on Creamy Layer and Sub-Classification

Evolving jurisprudence reflects a shift from homogeneity to intra-group equity in reservations.
Indra Sawhney (1992): Introduced the creamy layer principle for OBC reservations only.
E.V. Chinnaiah (2005): Held SCs homogeneous, disallowing internal sub-classification for reservations.
Jarnail Singh (2018): Extended the creamy layer principle to SC/ST promotion-related reservations.
Davinder Singh (2024): Upheld sub-classification within SC/STs to ensure equitable benefit.
Ramashankar Prajapati (2025): Issued notice to Centre on proposed SC/ST creamy layer mechanism.

Way Forward

Sustainable reservation reform demands data, consensus, and constitutional foresight.
Expert Panel: Constitute a committee to design SC/ST-specific creamy layer criteria.
Data Framework: Create a socio-economic database to inform equitable reservation distribution.
Legal Backing: Amend the Constitution permitting economic screening within SC/ST reservations.
Stakeholder Dialogue: Engage communities to build consensus and avoid policy resistance.
Review Mechanism: Periodically reassess criteria to maintain fairness and policy effectiveness.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Judiciary} Parliamentary Proceedings for Removal of Judge

Context (TH): Lok Sabha Speaker admitted a motion signed by 146 MPs for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court over corruption allegations.

Inquiry Committee: Justice Aravind Kumar, Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, & B.V. Acharya will investigate & report to the Speaker under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.

Removal of Judges in India

The Judges Enquiry Act (1968) regulates the procedure for removing an SC judge & an HC judge.
A motion signed by at least 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha or 50 MPs in the Rajya Sabha is submitted, and the Speaker or Chairman may admit or reject it.
If admitted, a three-member committee comprising the CJI or an SC judge, a HC Chief Justice, and a distinguished jurist investigates charges, examines evidence, and reports findings.
The motion must be passed in both Houses with a two-thirds majority of members present and voting and over 50% of total membership.
If approved, the President issues the removal order.

Read More About> Removal of Judges in India

Context (PIB): India has crossed 79.91 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) registrations under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), marking progress in digital health integration.

Present Coverage of ABHA

79.91 crore ABHA IDs issued, providing standardised digital health identities.
4,18,964 facilities on Health Facility Registry (HFR) and 6,79,692 verified professionals on Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR).
67.19 crore linked health records ensuring treatment continuity and interoperability in services.

The Health Facility Registry (HFR) lists verified public & private healthcare establishments nationwide.
The Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR) records credentialed practitioners, ensuring regulated and accountable clinical service delivery.

About Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA)

14-digit unique ID enabling secure, portable digital health records under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
Implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and managed by the National Health Authority.
Allows authorised access to patient history, ensuring seamless treatment and data privacy.
Open to all Indian residents with an opt-out option for data autonomy.

Read More> Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts

Context (PIB): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the SHRESTH (State Health Regulatory Excellence) Index to benchmark and improve state and UT drug regulatory systems.

About SHRESTH Index

SHRESTH is India’s first index benchmarking state drug regulators for quality compliance.
Objective: Strengthens regulatory capacity, ensuring nationwide access to safe, effective medicines.
Nodal Agency: Implemented and monitored by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.
Self-Assessment: States and UTs use an online tool to address regulatory gaps.
Categories & indicators: Manufacturing states regulate production (27 indicators), while distribution states regulate sales (23 indicators).

{GS3 – IE – Industry} Cabinet Approves Four New Semiconductor Plants

Context (IE): The Union Cabinet approved four new semiconductor assembly and testing plants under India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), boosting domestic manufacturing and import substitution.

About the Approved Units

Four new semiconductor plants, two in Odisha, one in Andhra Pradesh, and one in Punjab, will boost India’s semiconductor value chain.
Odisha units will produce silicon carbide diodes, Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFETs), & semiconductor packages; Andhra unit will assemble chip packages; Punjab unit will make high-power semiconductors for EVs & renewable energy.
With these approvals, ISM projects rise to ten, spanning six states, including four facilities in Gujarat.

About India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)

ISM is MeitY’s nodal programme to build a semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem.
Launch: Established in 2021 under the ₹76,000 crore Semicon India Programme framework.
Objectives: Reduce semiconductor import dependence & position India as a trusted global supplier.
Fiscal Support: Offers up to 50% capital assistance for eligible semiconductor projects.
Components: Supports compound fabrication, including assembly, testing, marking, & packaging.
Design Ecosystem: Design Linked Incentive funds, chip design, IP creation, and shared infrastructure.
Skilling: Runs talent development programmes to strengthen India’s workforce capabilities.

Read More> Semiconductor Industry

{GS3 – S&T – Tech} Satellite Internet Technology

Context (TH): With Starlink’s imminent launch in India, satellite internet promises reliable broadband connectivity across remote, disaster-affected, & mobile areas, overcoming terrestrial network limitations.

About Satellite Internet

It is a communication technology that delivers broadband connectivity using Earth-orbiting satellites.
Data Relay: Signals are transmitted between satellites and user terminals through space.
Orbit Diversity: Operates via low, medium, or geostationary Earth orbital positions.
Constellation: Uses multiple satellites working together to maintain continuous connectivity.
Terminals: Employs ground-based user equipment for sending and receiving satellite signals.
Coverage: Provides seamless coverage regardless of terrain or population density.
Application: Supports connectivity for ships, aircraft, remote expeditions, and polar stations.

How Does Satellite Internet Work?

Satellite internet moves data between ground terminals, satellites, and existing internet networks.

Terminal Alignment: User antennas point toward satellites covering their geographic location.
Data Uplink: Ground terminals send requests to the assigned satellite in space.
Signal Relay: Satellites forward data to other satellites or a gateway station.
Gateway Link: Gateway stations connect the satellite network to land-based internet cables.
Server Request: These cables carry the request to the destination server’s location.
Return Path: The server’s response travels back through cables to the gateway station.
Space Uplink: The gateway sends the response up to the satellite in orbit.
User Delivery: The satellite beams the response down to the requesting ground terminal.

Advantages of Satellite Internet

Remote Coverage: Reaches polar stations, deep-sea vessels, and isolated expeditions.
Disaster Continuity: Functions during disasters when ground networks are damaged or destroyed.
Security Autonomy: Bypasses reliance on foreign terrestrial infrastructure, enhancing sovereignty.
Rapid Scaling: Adds capacity quickly through satellite launches without ground infrastructure delays.
Direct Device: Allows smartphones to access satellites without specialised terminal equipment.

Limitations of Satellite Internet

Latency Issue: GEO and MEO orbits introduce delays, reducing real-time communication quality.
Capacity Limit: Limited bandwidth restricts high-volume activities such as video streaming.
Weather Disruption: Rain or snow weakens signals, lowering overall connection reliability.
Cost Barrier: High equipment and subscription costs hinder rural user adoption.
Signal Blockage: Terrain or buildings may obstruct the required line-of-sight satellite signal paths.
Debris Risk: Large constellations increase collision probability and generate hazardous space debris.

India’s Satellite Internet Policy & Landscape

Regulatory Control: DoT licenses satellite providers, ensuring lawful interception and compliance.
Spectrum: Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) Wing registers spectrum with ITU for allocation.
NavIC Mandate: By 2029, all satellite networks must integrate NavIC navigation capabilities.
Rural Focus: BharatNet Phase-III links satellite gateways to connect underserved rural communities.
Private Investment: IN-SPACe approves private investment in satellite broadband infrastructure.

Difference Between Satellites in Different Orbits

Satellite internet uses GEO, MEO, & LEO orbits, each with distinct benefits, limitations, and applications.

Orbit Type	Orbital Height	Advantage	Disadvantage	Application
Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO)	35,786 km, constant view over one ground area	Broad coverage reduces satellites for large-scale provision	High latency is unsuitable for real-time applications	Rural education, disaster alerts, broadcasting
Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)	2,000-35,786 km, a balance between latency and coverage	Lower latency than GEO enables smoother streaming	Multiple satellites are needed, raising deployment costs	Maritime internet, in-flight, navigation broadband
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)	Below 2,000 km, minimal latency for rapid communication	High-speed access even in remote rural locations	Small coverage needs thousands of satellites	Telemedicine, defence, IoT agriculture

Read More> Satellite Internet

{GS3 – S&T – BioTech} Blood Banks for Animals

Context (IE): Recently, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, has drafted Guidelines for Blood Bank & Blood Transfusion for Animals.

Key Provisions of the Draft Guidelines

Donor Criteria: Animals must be healthy, vaccinated, non-pregnant, & meet specified age–weight limits.
Bank Locations: Veterinary colleges, referral hospitals, diagnostic centres, and government multi-speciality hospitals; operational 24×7.
Operating Mandate: Mandatory screening, traceability, and maintaining quality records for five years.
National Network: Establish a National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (N-VBBN) to unify registries, inventories, helplines, and standardise practices.
Non-Commercial: Monetary incentives prohibited; encourages voluntary animal blood donation.

Rationale for the Draft Guidelines

Objective: Ensure safe, efficient, and accessible blood transfusion services for India’s livestock and pet population.
Need: India’s large and diverse animal population requires a unified veterinary blood transfusion system to safeguard animal health.
Demographic Scale: 536.76 million livestock and ~125 million pet animals.
Global Standing: Leads in cattle and buffalo populations; second in goats.
Economic Significance: The Livestock sector contributes ~30% of agricultural GVA and 5.5% of GDP.

{GS3 – S&T – BioTech} India’s Unique Genetic Legacy

Context (TH): Recent large-scale genomic studies reveal that India’s over 5,000 endogamous ethnic groups provide unique insights into human evolution, health, and disease.

Key Insights from Studies

Evolutionary Roots: Modern Indians descend from a single out-of-Africa migration (~50,000 years ago).
- Interbreeding with Neanderthals (1-2% DNA) and Denisovans enriched genetic diversity.
Ancestral Mixture: Genetic heritage shaped by Ancestral North Indians (ANI), Ancestral South Indians (ASI), Ancient South Asian hunter-gatherers (AHG), Early Iranian farmers, & Steppe pastoralists.
Global Underrepresentation: Indian populations remain underrepresented in global genomic projects like the 1000 Genomes Project and UK Biobank.
- Most global data comes from expatriate Indians, overlooking India’s internal diversity.

Impact of Endogamy

Long-standing marriage within communities preserved ancient genetic variation but also led to population-specific recessive disorders; e.g., certain communities show higher rates of enzyme deficiencies.
Over 1.6 lakh new genetic variants identified in recent studies, many linked to rare congenital disorders.
On average, each Indian may have at least one fourth-degree relative, reflecting high genetic relatedness.

Healthcare Implications

Personalised Medicine: Mapping genetic variants allows targeted diagnosis, drug response prediction, and community-specific health interventions.
Rare Disease Identification: Enables early screening in high-risk endogamous groups.
Public Health: Population-wide genomic databases can guide policy and preventive strategies.

Way Forward

The Genome India Project has sequenced 10,000 genomes, marking a crucial beginning.
The next step should include large-scale sequencing of millions of genomes, setting up a national biobank and longitudinal studies linking genetics with health records.

{Prelims – In News} India Hosts 18^thInternational Astronomy & Astrophysics Olympiad

Context (TH): India hosted the 18^th edition of the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), bringing together over 300 young astronomers from 64 countries.

Organised by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.
The IOAA, launched in 2007 in Thailand, aims to inspire global interest in astronomy and astrophysics among high school students.

{Prelims – In News} Partition Horrors Remembrance Day

Context (PIB): India observes Partition Horrors Remembrance Day annually on 14^th August to honour victims and survivors of the 1947 Partition’s unprecedented violence and displacement.

The day reinforces collective memory and strengthens commitment to national harmony.
Partition unleashed genocidal violence, mass sexual assaults, and forced migration of millions.
Its legacy continues to shape migration patterns, communal sensitivities, and shared historical identity.

Read More> Partition Horrors Remembrance Day

{Prelims – In News} Dhirio

Context (TOI): Despite a 1997 ban, illegal dhirio bullfights continue in Goa due to the absence of clear SOPs for permissible traditional sports.

Linked to church festivals; now staged post-harvest in paddy fields or on football grounds.
Two bulls deliberately provoked to engage in direct head-to-head combat; no human entry in the arena.
Prohibited by the Goa Bench of Bombay HC (1997) for violating the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
Similar traditions include Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, Kambala in Karnataka, and Maramadi in Kerala.