Current Affairs – February 26-27, 2025

{GS1 – MIH – Movements} Savarkar’s Book and 1857 Revolt

• Context (IE): Savarkar’s book The Indian War of Independence 1857 (1909) reinterpreted the revolt as a national struggle against British rule, shaping its perception in later decades.

Key Arguments in the Book

• 1857 as National Uprising: Indians across regions & classes fought with a shared goal of overthrowing British rule.
• Planned Revolt, Not Sepoy Mutiny: Argued that the uprising was premeditated and not just a reaction by discontented soldiers.
• Rejection of Colonial Narratives: Criticized British historians for dismissing nationalist motives and highlighted Hindu-Muslim unity.
• Foundation for Future Struggles: Saw 1857 as a strategic lesson and inspiration for future nationalist movements.

Influences on Savarkar’s Interpretation

• Chiplunkar’s Nationalist Vision: Inspired by V.K. Chiplunkar’s use of history to justify political change and shape nationalist goals.
• Marathi Bakhar Tradition: A historical Marathi prose chronicle style known for its dramatic, sequential storytelling. It often presented history with a mix of facts, legend, and interpretation, framing past events as cyclical to inspire future action.
• Giuseppe Mazzini’s Nationalism: Influenced by Mazzini’s emphasis on historical consciousness in nation-building.
• Savarkar’s Purpose: To instill national consciousness, counter British narratives, and lay the groundwork for future nationalist movements.

Impact of the Book

• Banned for Revolutionary Ideas: The British banned it, but copies were smuggled and influenced nationalist leaders.
• Redefined 1857 as a National War: Shifted the perception from a regional mutiny to a united fight for independence.
• Inspired Future Freedom Movements: Strengthened nationalist sentiment and resistance against colonial rule.
• Promoted Communal Unity: Advocated Hindu-Muslim solidarity against British divide-and-rule tactics.
• Shaped Nationalist Historiography: Established 1857 as India’s first collective struggle for freedom.

Also refer to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

{GS2 – MoRD – Schemes} NAKSHA Initiative **

• Context (IE): The Union Ministry of Rural Development launched the ‘National geospatial Knowledge-based land Survey of urban Habitations’ (NAKSHA) initiative.

What is NAKSHA?

• NAKSHA is a city survey initiative launched as a pilot under existing Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).
  • It integrates aerial and field surveys with GIS technology to improve efficiency and accuracy in land mapping.
• Aim: To create and update land records in urban areas to ensure accurate and reliable documentation of land ownership. It will be completed in a year.
• Coverage: 152 urban local bodies in 26 states.
• Technical Partner: The Survey of India. The end-to-end web-GIS platform will be developed by the Madhya Pradesh State Electronic Development Corporation.
  • Storage facilities will be provided by the National Informatics Centre Services Inc.
• Funding: It is 100% centrally funded, with an estimated cost of ₹194 crore.

Significance

• Reducing Land Disputes: Digital records will help resolve property disputes, enhancing legal clarity.
• Facilitating Urban Planning: Unlike rural areas, many Indian cities lack structured land records. Reliable land data aids in better infrastructure development and efficient land use planning.
• Enhancing Revenue Collection: Digital property records will streamline tax collection and improve the financial health of urban local bodies.
• Improving Access to Credit: Clearly documented property ownership will facilitate bank loans.
• Boosting Transparency and Ease of Living: The IT-based system will enhance governance, simplify property transactions, and promote sustainable urban development.

Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP)

• About: Erstwhile National Land Record Modernization Programme was revamped as DILRMP in 2016 as a central Sector Scheme with 100% funding by the Centre.
• Tenure: Extended for a period of five years i.e 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• Objective: To develop a modern, comprehensive and transparent land record management system.
• Aim: To develop an Integrated Land Information Management System.
• Achievement: Computerized 95.08% Record of Rights (RoR).

Key Initiatives under DILRMP

• Unique Land Parcel Identification Number or Bhu-Aadhar: It is a 14-digit identification number accorded to a land parcel based on the longitude and latitude coordinates of the land parcel.
• National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) or E-Registration: One Nation One Registration Software for uniform process for registration for deeds/documents.
• BHOOMI SAMMAN: Awards are given to top-performing states/UTs, and districts based on their progress in digitizing and integrating land records.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Reservation} Telangana’s Backward Classes Quota

• Context (IE): Telangana is set to introduce legislation increasing reservations for Backward Classes from 25% to 42%, raising the overall quota to 62%, challenging the Supreme Court’s 50% reservation ceiling.

Constitutional Basis of Reservation Limits

• Article 16(1): Guarantees equality of opportunity in public employment.
• Article 16(4): Permits reservations for backward classes inadequately represented in public services.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Stance: Advocated for social justice but insisted that reservations should not exceed a “minority of seats,” forming the basis for the 50% limit.

Key Supreme Court Judgements on the 50% Ceiling

M.R. Balaji v. State of Mysore (1962)

• Struck down a 68% reservation in medical and engineering colleges in Mysore.
• Held that reservations should be within “reasonable limits,” generally less than 50%.
• Acknowledged flexibility based on prevailing circumstances.

State of Kerala v. N.M. Thomas (1976)

• Upheld a temporary exemption for SC/ST employees from passing a departmental test for promotions.
• Justice Fazl Ali questioned the rigidity of the 50% ceiling, calling it a “rule of caution.”
• Suggested that exceeding limit may be justified if a state’s demographic composition warranted it.

Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992)

• Upheld the 27% OBC quota based on the Mandal Commission’s recommendations.
• Reiterated the 50% ceiling but allowed exceptions under “extraordinary circumstances.”
• Introduced key reforms: Exclusion of the creamy layer, prohibition of reservation in promotions.

Attempts to Breach the 50% Ceiling

• Maharashtra (2021): SC struck down the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018 which granted quotas to Marathas, citing lack of “exceptional circumstances.”
• Tamil Nadu (1993): Increased reservations to 69%; protected under the Ninth Schedule, making it immune from judicial review.
• Bihar (2024): Patna High Court struck down an attempt to exceed 50% reservations.

Telangana’s Proposal

• Kamareddy Declaration: Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s election promise to increase BC reservations.
• Legal Hurdle: SC’s 50% ceiling remains a binding precedent. Therefore, if challenged, the Telangana law may face judicial scrutiny.

Way Forward

• Judicial Review: Telangana may need to justify “exceptional circumstances” for exceeding 50% ceiling.
• Legislative Route: The state can explore placing the law under Ninth Schedule.
• Policy Alternatives: Enhancing economic and educational support for backward classes beyond reservations.
• National Debate: Growing calls for revisiting 50% limit considering evolving socio-economic conditions.

{GS2 – Polity – Laws} The Boilers Bill, 2024

• Context (TH): Boilers Bill, 2024, replaces the 1923 Act to regulate industrial boilers but retains most colonial-era provisions despite modernisation.

Background of the Boilers Act, 1923

• Regulation of Boilers: Governs manufacturing, installation, operation and safety to prevent steam boiler explosions.
• Amendments: 2007 amendment introduced third-party inspections, requiring further modernisation.

Key Features of Boilers Bill, 2024

• Central Boilers Board (CBB): Regulates design, manufacturing, erection, and usage of boilers.
• State Government Role: Appoints inspectors with authority over inspections and certifications.
• Third-Party Inspections: Recognized institutions authorised for inspections to reduce bureaucratic delays.
• Exemptions: Boilers below 25 liters or operating under 1 kg/cm² pressure exempted; states can exempt boilers in emergencies.
• Decriminalization: Retains only 4 serious offences from 1923 Act; fines replaced with executive penalties.
• New Clauses: Introduces Clause 35 for adjudication and Clause 36 for appeal mechanisms.
• Registration & Renewal: Mandatory boiler registration before operation with annual renewal.
• Safety Provisions & Penalties: Defines accidents, mandates 24-hour reporting, and imposes penalties up to 2 years imprisonment and ₹1 lakh fine for violations.

Issues and Concerns

• Limited Judicial Recourse: Decisions by central or state inspectors cannot be challenged in regular courts; appeals only via High Court writ petitions.
• Entry Powers of Inspectors: No specific safeguards provided, unlike similar regulations.
• Lack of Timelines: No specified deadlines for inspections, approvals, or repairs may lead to delays.
• Need for Risk-Based Inspection: Bill does not emphasize risk analysis, crucial for long-term boiler safety.
• Potential Bureaucratic Hurdles: Despite third-party inspections, absence of clear procedural timelines could affect business efficiency.
• Simplified Compliance Gaps: Some states allow self-certification, but the Bill does not incorporate this.

Way Forward

• Stronger Safety Framework: Avoid excessive exemptions to maintain safety uniformity.
• Judicial Safeguards: Introduce appeal mechanisms beyond High Court writ petitions.
• Risk-Based Inspections: Establish a dedicated risk-measurement agency to improve safety standards.
• Time-Bound Compliance: Set timelines for approvals & inspections to enhance industrial efficiency.
• Standardization Across States: Ensure uniform rules nationwide to prevent regulatory loopholes.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – Women} Gender Disparity in Work

• Context (IE): TUS 2024 highlights gender disparities in time spent on employment, unpaid domestic work, caregiving and leisure activities.

TUS 2024

• Conducted by the National Statistical Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
• Second such nationwide survey, with the first conducted in 2019.
• Measures time spent by men and women on paid and unpaid activities across various sectors.

Key Findings from TUS 2024

• Rise in Women’s Workforce Participation: More women moved from unpaid domestic work to paid employment.
• Gender Disparity in Employment Time: Women still spend significantly less time on employment than men despite increased participation.
• Unpaid Domestic Work Burden: Women continue to do most household work, though their workload has slightly reduced.
• Low Male Participation in Caregiving: Women remain the primary caregivers, with men showing only a marginal increase in involvement.
• Decline in Study Time: Learning hours have reduced for both boys and girls, raising concerns about skill development.
• Leisure and Social Engagement: Women engage less in leisure activities, while men’s social participation has declined.
• Work-Life Balance Trends: Increased time spent on cultural and recreational activities suggests better work-life balance.
• Near-Equal Self-Care Time: Men and women now spend almost the same time on personal care and maintenance.
• Rural-Urban Employment Divide: Higher workforce participation in urban areas highlights economic disparities.

Suggestions & Recommendations

• Gender Equality in Domestic Work: Enforce policies & awareness programs for equal unpaid work distribution.
• Men in Caregiving: Provide financial & social incentives for men to take caregiving roles.
• Women’s Workforce Participation: Ensure flexible jobs, childcare support & targeted financial incentives.
• Skill Development: Expand digital learning & vocational training, especially for women & youth.
• Rural-Urban Disparities: Strengthen employment schemes, financial inclusion & digital literacy initiatives.

{GS3 – Envi – Species} Frozen Worm Revived After 46,000 Years **

• Context (Earth): In a recent breakthrough, Researchers revived a worm (Panagrolaimus kolymaensis) frozen in the Siberian permafrost for 46,000 years.

Credit: SciTechDaily

About Panagrolaimus kolymaensis

• This nematode was found in an ancient layer of ice and was able to resume movement and reproduction upon thawing.
• P. kolymaensis shares key genetic components of the cryptobiosis survival toolkit with Caenorhabditis elegans, a well-studied model organism.

Significance

• Understanding how organisms like P. kolymaensis can survive extreme environments may help scientists develop new strategies for cryopreservation, medicine, and long-term space travel.
• It offers a glimpse into the resilience of life and the possibilities of survival beyond our planet.

About Cryptobiosis

• Cryptobiosis is an extraordinary survival mechanism that allows certain organisms to enter a state of suspended animation, effectively halting their metabolism in extreme conditions.
• In extreme environmental conditions, these animals halt their usual body functions until they can return to an environment that can support growth and reproduction.

Forms of Cryptobiosis

1. Anhydrobiosis (Survival in extreme dehydration): Organisms lose almost all body water and enter a dormant state. E.g., Tardigrades.
2. Cryobiosis (Survival in freezing temperatures): Metabolism stops when water inside the organism freezes. E.g., Panagrolaimus kolymaensis.
3. Osmobiosis (Survival in extreme salinity): Occurs when an organism is exposed to high salt concentrations. . E.g., Some brine shrimp.
4. Anoxybiosis (Survival in low or no oxygen): Organisms enter dormancy when oxygen levels drop too low. E.g., Nematodes.

About Tardigrades **

• Also known as “water bear,’ are micro animals living in water. They are small invertebrates.
• Diet: They are bacteriophages, carnivorous or phytophagous (insects feeding on green plants).
  • Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses that infect and replicate only in bacterial cells.
• Habitat: Tardigrades can dwell anywhere, but they prefer living in moist or wet environments.

Credit: The Guardian

• Physical Description: Small (0.2–1.2 mm), symmetrical animals, mostly clear or whitish, with some land species orange, red, yellow, green, or black. They lack distinct body segments.

Survival in Extreme Conditions

• Tardigrades can survive extreme dehydration, radiation, and even the vacuum of space.
• When faced with harsh conditions, tardigrades enter a cryptobiotic state by losing nearly all their body water and forming a protective structure called a tun.
• In this state, they can endure for decades and then rehydrate, resuming normal functions.

{GS3 – Envi – Species} Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus)

• Context (IE): Madhya Pradesh Chief released 10 gharials into the Chambal river at the National Chambal gharials Sanctuary to bolster the population of gharials.

National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary Protected area along Chambal River, spanning Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Other Major Species: Mugger crocodiles (Vulnerable), Gangetic dolphins (endangered), Indian skimmers (rare bird species) etc.

About Gharials

• Also known as Indian Gavial, Fish Eating Crocodile, and Long Nosed Crocodile, the gharial is one of the largest of all crocodilian species.
• The name “gharial” comes from Hindi word ‘ghara’ (pot), referring to bulbous snout tip of adult males.
• In Indian mythology, gharials are sacred and depicted as the divine mount of the goddess Ganga.

Credit: IUCN

• Distribution: Today, their major population occurs in 3 tributaries of Ganga River: Chambal, Girwa Rivers in India and the Rapti-Naryani River in Nepal.
  • They were once widely distributed in large rivers that flow in northern part of Indian subcontinent.
• Habitat: Reside exclusively in river habitats with deep, clear, fast-flowing waters and steep, sandy banks. The gharial shares riverine habitat with mugger crocodile in parts of its range.
• Physical Description: Immense in size; long, slender snout; numerous sharp, interlocking teeth etc. Males grow from 3-6 meters, and females 2.6–4.5 meters.
  • Gharials show sexual dimorphism (physical differences between males and females of the same species) with males being larger and developing a distinctive “ghara” on their snout.
• Diet: Adult gharials primarily eat fish, while juveniles also feed on insects, crustaceans and frogs.
  • In contrast with the popular beliefs, Gharials are not man-eaters.
• Threats: Historical threats included overhunting for skins, eggs, and medicine. Modern threats include dams, canals, siltation, river changes, embankments, sand mining, pollution, and fishing.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Critically Endangered | CITES: Appendix I | WPA: Schedule I.
• Conservation Efforts:
  • India started ‘Project Crocodile’ in 1975. Established 16 captive breeding from 1975 to 1982.
  • Established Gharial Sanctuaries i.e. Katerniaghat Sanctuary, Chitwan National Park, Son River Sanctuary, and Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary.
  • Madhya Pradesh’s decades-long conservation efforts have earned it the title of a “gharial state,” hosting over 80 % (2,456) of India’s gharials.

{GS3 – IE – Employment} Servicification of Manufacturing & Wage Stagnation

• Context (TH): Economic Survey 2024-25 flagged slowing wage growth despite rising corporate profits, while CII president cited servicification as a key factor complicating wage comparisons.

Servicification of Manufacturing

• It is the increasing integration of services within traditional manufacturing processes, where firms offer value-added services such as maintenance, consulting, customisation & digital solutions alongside physical products.

Impact of Servicification on Employment and Wages

• Outsourcing Trend: Companies increasingly delegate logistics, maintenance, and support functions to third-party service providers.
• Changing Employment Structures: More jobs are shifting from core manufacturing firms to service-based providers.
• Difficult Wage Comparisons: Variability in compensation across outsourced services complicates wage assessments.
• Wage Stagnation: Outsourced jobs often offer lower wage growth, reducing overall income progression.

Economic Implications of Wage Stagnation

• Impact on Demand: Low wage growth reduces consumer spending, slowing economic activity.
• Investment Concerns: Declining purchasing power can affect long-term investments in production.
• Need for Balance: Maintaining equilibrium between corporate profits and worker wages is crucial for sustained demand.

Challenges in Addressing Wage Stagnation

• Job Creation Deficit: Sluggish wage growth limits job opportunities, affecting economic mobility.
• Skill Mismatch: Workforce skill levels often fail to meet evolving industry demands.
• Wage-Inflation Gap: Wage growth does not keep pace with inflation and corporate earnings, reducing purchasing power.

Way Forward

• Balanced Growth Strategy: Align wage growth with inflation and corporate profitability to sustain demand.
• Corporate Responsibility: Businesses should ensure fair wages alongside profit maximisation.
• Policy Interventions: Government must drive skill development, wage reforms, and fair labour practices.
• Employment Expansion: Encouraging diverse job opportunities in emerging service sectors.

Also refer to Rising Servicification in Manufacturing.

{GS3 – S&T – Space} IN-SPACe’s Rs 500 Crore Technology Adoption Fund

• Context (DD | ToI | ET): IN-SPACe launched Technology Adoption Fund (TAF) to support India’s space startups in commercialising early-stage space technologies & reducing dependence on imports.

About Technology Adoption Fund (TAF)

• Purpose: To support the commercialisation of indigenous space technologies and strengthen India’s space ecosystem.
• Funding Support: Covers 60% of project costs for startups/MSMEs and 40% for larger industries, capped at Rs 25 crore per project.
• Eligibility: Non-Government Entities (NGEs) with commercially viable space innovations.
• Focus Areas: Supports launch vehicles, satellites, space-based services, and intellectual property creation to boost domestic R&D.
• Beyond Financial Aid: Provides technical guidance, mentoring, and access to infrastructure to refine technologies and scale production.

Significance

• Reduces reliance on imports, fosters indigenous innovation, and positions India as a global space leader.
• Promotes job creation, economic growth, self-sufficiency in critical space technologies, and national security in space.

About IN-SPACe

• Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) is an autonomous nodal agency under the Department of Space (DoS).
• Established in 2020 to facilitate private sector participation in India’s space industry.
• Headquarters: Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

Functions of IN-SPACe

• Acts as a single-window interface between ISRO & private sector entities for exchange of technologies, procedures & best practices between NGEs and govt companies.
• Permits and oversees private companies building launch vehicles, satellites & space-based services.
• Enables private entities to access ISRO’s infrastructure for technology development.
• Assesses industry needs and collaborates with academia, ISRO, and private players for sectoral growth.

{GS3 – S&T – Space} PUNCH Mission *

• Context (IE): NASA will launch the PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission.

• It is a small Explorer mission designed to make global, 3D observations of young solar wind, from outermost solar atmosphere (Corona) to the inner heliosphere.

Key Features

• Mission Design: PUNCH will be a constellation of four suitcase-sized satellites each weighing about 64 kg sent to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• Technology: PUNCH will have three Wide Field Imager (WFI) and one Narrow Field Imager onboard.
• Use of the polarisation of light: It is the first mission specifically designed to make use of the polarisation of light to measure the corona and solar wind in 3D.
  • When particles, such as electrons, scatter sunlight, the waves of light align in a particular way—this is known as polarised light.
• Lifespan: The expected mission life is two years.

Significance

• Understand Solar Winds and and Coronal Mass Ejections: Both of which influence space weather affecting satellites, astronauts, and communication systems.
• Improve Space Weather Forecasting: PUNCH’s observations will improve understanding of solar storms and their impact on Earth’s magnetosphere.
• Comprehensive Solar Study: Complements data from NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and ESA’s Solar Orbiter for a comprehensive solar study.