Current Affairs – February 18, 2025

{GS2 – IR – Issues} Dealing with China’s Weaponisation of E-Supply Chains

Context (TH): China has restricted the movement of engineers in Foxconn’s Indian facilities and curbed exports of manufacturing equipment, challenging India’s manufacturing ambitions.

China’s Geopolitical Strategy and Supply Chain Domination

Strategic Control: China dominates advanced manufacturing and specialised equipment production, allowing it to exert control over supply chains.
Knowledge Transfer Restriction: By limiting Chinese engineers’ movement, China prevents tacit knowledge transfer to Indian workers, slowing India’s capability development.
Disruption in Production: The curbs on critical machinery exports delay India’s manufacturing timelines in smartphones, semiconductors, and high-tech industries.
Strategic Reminder to Global Firms: By restricting exports and expertise, China asserts its importance in the global electronics industry.
‘China Plus One’ Strategy: Global companies are diversifying production beyond China to reduce dependency, benefiting India, Vietnam, and Mexico.

China-Plus-One is a global business strategy in which companies avoid investing only in China and diversify their businesses to alternative destinations.

India’s Response to China’s Restrictions

Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Launched in 2020 to boost domestic manufacturing, it provides financial incentives to global and Indian firms.
Increased Allocations: The scheme’s budget was raised to ₹8,885 crore ($1.02 billion) in 2025, up from ₹6,125 crore ($0.70 billion) in 2024.
Support for Apple and Foxconn: India is prioritising investments from Apple, Foxconn, and Tata Electronics to strengthen its manufacturing base.
Duty Reductions: The 2025 budget removed import duties on critical mobile phone components, including printed circuit boards, camera modules, and lithium-ion battery machinery.

Challenges in Reducing Dependence on China

Heavy Reliance on Chinese Components: India still depends on China for key smartphone components such as sensors, circuit boards, and semiconductor chips.
Delayed Production: Chinese export restrictions on specialised machinery could disrupt Foxconn’s production in India, impacting Apple’s supply chain.
Limited Domestic Supply Chain: India remains largely an assembly hub rather than a full-fledged electronics manufacturing ecosystem.

Way Forward for India

Diversification of Supply Chains: India must reduce dependence on Chinese imports by encouraging local component manufacturing.
Investment in Semiconductor and Electronics Production: Strengthening domestic production of semiconductors, printed circuit boards, and batteries is critical.
Strategic Collaboration with Apple and Foxconn: India should work with Apple and Foxconn to negotiate better trade terms with China.
Development of Ancillary Industries: The National Manufacturing Mission must create technology-sharing clusters and incentivise local suppliers.
Private Investment in Domestic Manufacturing: Encouraging Indian firms to build indigenous contract manufacturing capabilities will enhance self-reliance.

{GS2 – Polity – Bodies – Constitutional} Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner

Context (IE): PM, Home Minister & LoP met to appoint the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) as the existing CEC retires. This is the first time a selection panel has been established for this role.

Previous Appointment Process

Election Commission (EC) consists of the CEC and two Election Commissioners (ECs).
Traditionally, CEC appointments were made by the President based on the Prime Minister’s advice, with seniority as the determining factor.
The successor of CEC was usually the next senior-most EC, typically based on when they were appointed.

New Appointment Process Under the 2023 Law

CEC and ECs will now be appointed under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
The appointment process begins with a search committee, led by the Law Minister and comprising two senior bureaucrats.
This committee creates a shortlist of five candidates, which is then forwarded to a Selection Committee.
The Selection Committee is composed of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition (LoP), and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM.
President of India appoints the new CEC based on the committee’s recommendation.

Eligibility and Terms of Service

The new law specifies that CEC and ECs must hold or have held a post equivalent to the rank of Secretary to the Govt of India, and must possess knowledge and experience in election management.
Terms of service are clear: No re-appointments are allowed, and a CEC’s term cannot exceed six years in total, including their term as an Election Commissioner.

Reason for Change in Process

Petitions (2015-2022) raised concerns over the government’s exclusive power in appointing Election Commissioners, citing the risk of bias.
SC ruled that the Executive should not have exclusive control over these appointments, establishing a new process in March 2023.
Parliament passed the new law in December 2023, modifying the earlier process & replacing the Chief Justice of India (CJI) with a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by PM in the Selection Committee.

Implications

Against the recent SC judgement: This selection process runs counter to a recent SC judgment in Anup Baranwal vs union of India case that envisaged an independent selection committee that included CJI.
Diluting Independence: Replacing the CJI with a Cabinet Minister in its appointment process risks diluting its autonomy.
The executive majority in the selection process amounts to disregarding the spirit of the Court’s recommendations.

{GS3 – Agri – Horticulture} Replicating Amul’s Success for Fruits & Vegetables Sector

Context (IE): India’s fruits and vegetables (F&V) sector is growing rapidly but lacks the institutional support and organized value chains that could boost its potential, similar to the dairy sector’s transformation.

Challenges in the F&V Sector

Lack of Policy Support: Despite contributing 30% to crop agriculture, F&V receives less policy focus compared to cereals.
Post-Harvest Losses: Around 8.1% of fruits and 7.3% of vegetables are lost annually, equating to Rs 1.53 trillion.
Farmer Earnings: Farmers receive only 30% of the consumer price for F&V.
Seasonal and Regional Challenges: F&V are highly seasonal and region-specific, causing price volatility and supply issues.

Learning from the Milk Revolution

Milk Sector Transformation: Led by Verghese Kurien, the milk industry evolved through cooperatives like AMUL, making India the world’s largest milk producer.
AMUL’s Impact: AMUL ensures farmers receive 75-80% of the consumer price for milk.
F&V vs. Dairy: Unlike dairy, F&V involves multiple commodities, requiring specialized infrastructure for aggregation, sorting, processing, and packaging.

Scaling Up the F&V Sector

Government Steps Taken

FPO Development: As of August 2024, 8,875 FPOs have been registered under the central sector scheme, aiming for 10,000 FPOs.
Operation Greens (2018): Aimed at stabilizing prices but faced challenges due to lack of clear leadership and accountability.

Key Interventions Needed

Need for a National Fruit and Vegetable Board: A central body, like the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), is needed to streamline market linkages, promote efficient value chains, and integrate retail networks like SAFAL, so as to ensure farmers receive 55-60% of the consumer price.
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) as a Solution: Integrating farmers into organized value chains through FPOs can help stabilize prices, reduce losses, and improve income. Strengthening FPOs by providing working capital, infrastructure, and digital integration.
Market Access: Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) & blockchain for transparency.
Reviving Schemes: Expand Operation Greens and the National Horticulture Mission.
Commodity-Specific Value Chains: Prioritize processing 10-20% of F&V produce to prevent distress sales and stabilize prices.

Way Forward

Scaling SFPCL Model: Sahyadri Farms serves as a potential model to scale FPOs and boost India’s F&V sector.
Leadership & Vision: Verghese Kurien in dairy is essential for replicating success in F&V.

Also refer to White Revolution in India

{GS3 – Agri – Sustainability} Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

Context (IE): PMDKY, announced in the Union Budget of 2025, is designed to support agricultural districts facing challenges in productivity and credit access.

Key Features

Inspired by Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP): PMDKY mirrors the ADP’s success, which focused on improving socio-economic conditions in the most under-developed districts.
Focuses on 100 underperforming districts identified based on low agricultural productivity, moderate cropping intensity, below-average credit access.
Aims to improve storage infrastructure and expand irrigation at the panchayat/block level.
Joint Execution: PMDKY will be executed in collaboration with both the central & state governments.
Funding Sources: Funds will be drawn from existing agriculture and rural development schemes, with future allocation post-Cabinet approval.
Data Collection: Data on cropping intensity and farm credit is being collected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, with input from NABARD and the Department of Financial Services.
Use of Data: District rankings and data-driven governance will guide implementation.
District Ranking System: Progress in PMDKY will be monitored via a ranking system, similar to ADP, assessing improvements across key areas like health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Objectives

Enhance Agricultural Productivity: Focus on improving crop yields through various interventions.
Crop Diversification: Encourage adopting a variety of crops to ensure sustainability.
Storage Infrastructure: Develop post-harvest storage facilities at the panchayat and block levels.
Irrigation Facilities: Expand and improve irrigation coverage for better water management.
Credit Access: Facilitate affordable short-term and long-term loans for farmers.

Impact

Credit Facilitation: Ensures better access to short- and long-term loans.
Rural Development: PMDKY aims to improve opportunities in rural areas, reducing need for migration.
Targeted Transformation: Focus on transforming agricultural practices and supporting farmers in the most underdeveloped districts.

{GS3 – Envi – CC} Global Climate Risk Index 2025

Context (IE): The Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025 ranks India sixth among the worst-hit nations (1993-2022), stressing rising extreme weather impacts and the need for stronger climate resilience.

Climate Risk Index (CRI)

CRI measures Long-term (1993-2022) and short-term (2022 alone) human and economic losses due to climate-induced disasters by ranking countries based on their vulnerability to extreme weather events.
Released annually by Germanwatch, an environmental think tank.
Data spans the past 30 years, with assessments since 2006.
Objectives: Provide comparative analysis of climate impact across nations; Guide climate policies and risk mitigation strategies; Highlight the urgency of climate adaptation and resilience.

Ranking Factors

Fatalities: Direct and indirect deaths from extreme weather.
Affected Population: People injured, displaced, or impacted.
Economic Losses: Damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and GDP.
Extreme Weather Events: Frequency & intensity of floods, storms, heatwaves, droughts & wildfires.

Key Findings from CRI 2025

Most Affected Countries (1993-2022)

Top-ranked nations: Dominica, China, Honduras.
Other significantly affected nations: India, Myanmar, Italy, Vanuatu.

Most Affected Countries in 2022

Top three: Pakistan, Belize, Italy.
Primary disasters: Heatwaves, storms, and floods.

Top Disasters by Impact (1993-2022)

Storms (35%) caused the highest economic losses (~$2.33 trillion).
Heatwaves (30%) led to significant fatalities.
Floods (27%) affected the largest number of people.

India’s Performance in CRI 2025

Long-term Ranking (1993-2022)

India ranked 6th globally among the worst-affected nations.
Recorded 400+ extreme weather events in 30 years.
Over 80,000 deaths and $180 billion in economic losses due to climate disasters.

Short-term Ranking (2022)

Improved to 49th place in 2022 (from 7th in 2019).
Major threats: Severe floods, cyclones, and heatwaves.

Challenges in Climate Adaptation

Insufficient Global Climate Resilience Efforts

Deficit in climate adaptation financing, particularly for vulnerable nations.
Lack of adequate technology transfers from developed to developing countries.
Climate adaptation is often restricted to UNFCCC negotiations without broader engagement.

Need for Regional and Global Cooperation

Engagement at G20 and other multilateral platforms.
Enhanced climate cooperation between neighboring countries.

Climate Adaptation Initiatives and Best Practices

Notable Climate Adaptation Strategies

Ahmedabad’s Heat Action Plan: Recognized as a model adaptation strategy against heatwaves.
Early Warning Systems: Expanded use of AI and satellite-based forecasting for disaster preparedness.
Nature-Based Solutions: Implementation of afforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable agriculture practices.

Key Institutional Efforts

National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC): Supports adaptation projects in climate-vulnerable areas.
State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs): Tailored approaches for state-level climate resilience.
International Solar Alliance (ISA): Promotes renewable energy adoption as a climate mitigation strategy.

{GS3 – Envi – Degradation} Lightening Pollution Burden for Power-Producing States

Context (TH): India’s 45% emission reduction goal by 2030 pressures thermal power, yet it remains dominant despite a shift to clean energy.

Thermal Power

Thermal power plants are a major source of electricity in India, with coal remaining the primary fuel.
India has 378.21 billion tonnes of coal reserves, with Odisha holding a significant share.
In 2022-23, 59.12% of India’s energy came from coal, contributing to high carbon emissions (20,794.36 kg from electricity generation).

Electricity Generation vs Consumption

Top Power Producers: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat have high non-renewable electricity generation capacities, but these States do not always consume the electricity they produce.
Electricity Exports: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh export significant amounts of electricity.
Electricity Imports: Gujarat, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu are major importers.
Tripura & Bihar have high shares of thermal power in their generation capacity but sell significant portions of electricity to other States.

Disparity and Pollution Burden

Power-producing States bear disproportionate pollution while consuming States reap the benefits without facing the same environmental costs.
The absence of taxation on electricity production means power-producing States receive no compensation for the environmental damage they endure.
Coal-rich States like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, despite generating the most electricity, have lower per capita electricity consumption than economically better-off States.

Lack of Compensation for Pollution

Current Structure: India’s regulatory framework does not impose taxes on electricity production. States can only tax electricity consumption.
CSR Contributions: Thermal power-producing companies contribute minimally through CSR schemes, but it doesn’t compensate for the environmental damage.
Electricity Duty Exemption: The electricity sector is exempt from GST, further depriving power-producing States of tax revenue from electricity generation.

Proposed Compensation Mechanisms

Tax on Thermal Power Generation: States where central sector plants are located should be allowed to levy taxes on thermal power generation.
Redistribution of Tax Revenue: Alternatively, the Union government could collect and transfer generated tax revenue to the power-producing States.
Finance Commission Approach: Finance Commission of India could provide compensation through environmental grants, considering India’s climate commitments in its fiscal roadmap.
Incorporating Environmental Concerns: The Sixteenth Finance Commission should prioritize environmental damage caused by power generation when allocating funds to States.

{GS3 – Envi – Degradation} Urbanization Impact on Dragonfly Species in Pune

Context (DTE): Eight dragonfly species have vanished from Pune, while 27 new species were found, bringing the total to 98 known odonate species in the region and reflecting urbanization, water pollution, and climate change effects on biodiversity.
Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot, is home to 203 odonate species, including 84 endemics.

About Odonata Species

Odonates: Insects comprising dragonflies (Anisoptera), damselflies (Zygoptera eg. Small Micmac IUCN:LC), and a small group, Anisozygoptera.
Global Presence: Nearly 6,000 species worldwide, found across tropical areas and cold regions like Siberia and North America.
Indian Diversity: Over 500 species in India, with Pune’s diverse habitats supporting a rich variety.

Species Richness in Pune District

Diverse Habitats: Pune’s varied ecosystems, including rivers, ponds, and grasslands, support a rich odonate diversity, with 98 species recorded.
High Regional Significance: The district accounts for 67% of the odonate species in Pune and nearly 45% of Maharashtra’s species.
Past Losses: Species such as Aciagrion pallidum (IUCN:LC) and Hydrobasileus croceus (IUCN: LC) were last recorded in the late 20th century, indicating long-term ecological changes.

Significance of Dragonflies

Ecological Role: Dragonflies are key predators of mosquitoes & pests, contributing to ecosystem health.
Ecosystem Indicators: The health of dragonfly populations is a strong indicator of environmental quality.

*Banded Jewel* IUCN: EN
*Pale Pincertail* IUCN: LC
*Ischnura evansi* IUCN: LC
*Desert Darter* IUCN: LC

Impact of Environmental Changes

Land-Use Changes: Urbanization and agricultural expansion have altered natural habitats, disrupting ecosystems critical for dragonflies’ breeding and feeding.
Water Pollution: Polluted water-bodies degrade dragonfly habitats, affecting their life cycle & population.
Climate Change: Shifting weather patterns influence water availability and disrupt breeding cycles, leading to population decline.

Conservation Efforts

Role of Citizen Science: Citizen Scientists on platforms like iNaturalist and the India Biodiversity Portal aided in identifying 28 new species.
Pollution Control for Habitat Protection: Protecting water bodies & natural habitats by reducing water pollution & improving environmental quality are critical to supporting these insect populations.
Ongoing Research: Continued monitoring and research into the causes of population decline will inform future conservation strategies.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Survival Strategies of Antarctic Midge

Context (TH): Recent studies have uncovered the survival mechanisms of the Antarctic midge (Belgica antarctica), the only native insect species in Antarctica, enabling it to thrive in the extreme environment.

Source: Sci.news

Life Cycle and Dormancy Mechanisms

The midge’s life cycle spans two years, with distinct phases of dormancy and activity.
Quiescence (First Year): A temporary dormancy triggered by immediate environmental stress, allowing larvae to pause development and resume growth when conditions improve.
Obligate Diapause (Second Year): A predetermined dormancy phase preparing larvae for winter, ensuring energy accumulation, safe overwintering, and synchronized summer emergence.

Adaptations to Freezing Temperatures

The larvae can tolerate freezing temperatures by losing up to 70% of their body fluids, preventing ice crystal formation that could damage tissues.

Impact of Climate Change

Rising winter temperatures threaten the midge’s survival by reducing energy reserves in larvae.
Lower energy stores may affect reproductive success, leading to population decline.