Current Affairs – June 26, 2025

{GS1 – Geo – PG – Climatology} Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

• Context (DTE): The study warns that the collapse of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could plunge winter temperatures across northern Europe to unprecedented lows.

• Human-induced climate change, particularly the melting of Greenland’s ice sheet, has been adding enormous amounts of freshwater to the North Atlantic. This influx reduced the salinity and density of seawater, disrupting the sinking process that drove the AMOC.

What is AMOC?

• The AMOC is part of a system of currents that transport water throughout the world’s oceans. It is driven by differences in the density of water, which determines their temperature.
• It acts as a conveyor belt, redistributing heat throughout the Earth’s climate system by bringing it from the tropics in the Southern Hemisphere to Greenland and carrying cold water back south.
• It is a potential climate tipping point; its collapse could trigger rapid & irreversible climate changes.
• A 2021 study found that the AMOC is already at its weakest in over 1,600 years.

Importance of AMOC

• Regulates Global Climate: It regulates global climate by transporting heat from the tropics to the North Atlantic, keeping regions like Europe warmer.
• Carbon regulation: It helps absorb and store atmospheric CO₂, playing a vital role in the global carbon cycle.
• Nutrient Circulation: It circulates nutrients in the ocean, supporting marine ecosystems and fisheries.
• Influences Weather: It influences weather patterns, including rainfall in West Africa and South America, as well as hurricane activity in the Atlantic.

Credits: The Economist

Impact of Weakening of AMOC

• Severe Winter in Europe: North-Western Europe could experience significant cooling and more intense winter extremes.
• Sea Ice Expansion: Cooling from the reduced heat transfer from ocean currents would be amplified by “extensive” sea ice expansion to the coasts of northwest Europe.
• Weakening of Monsoon: A shutdown of the AMOC could shift the Intertropical Convergence Zone southward, weakening monsoon systems across India, West Africa, and the Amazon and altering rainfall patterns in the tropics.
• Ice Melt: Greenland and Arctic ice melt may accelerate, increasing freshwater input into the ocean and further amplifying AMOC weakening.
• Droughts: The Sahel region in Africa is at risk of severe droughts, which could disrupt agriculture and livelihoods.
• Impact on Marine Ecosystems: Marine ecosystems may be altered due to disruptions in nutrient and heat distribution.
• Sea Level Rise: Sea levels may rise significantly along the U.S. East Coast because of changes in ocean currents and pressure systems.
• Global Warming: The ocean’s ability to absorb CO₂ could decline, worsening global warming.

{GS1 – MIH – Personalities} 100 years of Dialogue between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi

• Context (PIB): Prime Minister addresses the centenary celebration of the historic conversation between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi.

• The historic conversation between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi took place at Sivagiri Mutt on March 12, 1925, during Mahatma Gandhi’s visit.
• Their conversation centred around Vaikom Satyagraha, religious conversions, non-violence, the abolition of untouchability, the attainment of salvation, and the uplift of the downtrodden, among others.

About Shree Narayana Guru (1855–1928)

• He was born on August 20, 1856, into the Ezhava Community, in the village of Chempazhanthi near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• He was a renowned Indian spiritual leader, social reformer, and philosopher from the state of Kerala. He was one of the most successful social reformers to revolt against the caste system in India.
• His message of “One Caste, One Religion, One God for Mankind” (Oru Jathi, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam – Manushyanu) symbolises his vision of universal brotherhood, equality, and spiritual unity.

Key contributions

• He championed social equality and stressed the need for spiritual growth and social upliftment of the downtrodden by the establishment.
• Consecration of Siva Idol at Aruvippuram (1888): In 1888, Sree Narayana Guru performed a revolutionary act by consecrating a Siva idol at Aruvippuram, a village in Kerala.
• Opened Temples for All: He established temples, open to all castes, thereby challenging the caste-based restrictions on temple entry.
• SNDP Yogam: He founded the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam in 1903 to uplift the socially backward classes.
• Advaita Ashram: In 1913, he founded the Advaita Ashram at Aluva. This Ashram was dedicated to a great principle –Om Sahodaryam Sarvatra (all men are equal in the eyes of God).

Literary Contribution

• He is the author of Atmopadesa Śatakam (poetry) and Daiva Daśakam (prayer).
• He also translated three primary texts, Thirukural of Valluvar, Ishavasya Upanishad and Ozhivil Odukkam of Kannudaiya Vallalaar.

{GS2 – Governance – Civil Services} Gender Equity in Urban Bureaucracy

• Context (TH): Despite growing political representation, bureaucratic apparatus (city managers, planners, engineers, police) remains male-dominated, limiting cities’ ability to respond equitably to all citizens.

Women in Politics vs Women in Bureaucracy Constitutional reforms such as the 73rd and 74th Amendments have empowered women in local governance. Over 46% of elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are women (Ministry of Panchayati Raj, 2024), with 17 states and one UT mandating 50% reservation for women. However, this political presence has not translated into bureaucratic leadership. As of 2022: Only 20% of IAS officers are women. Less than 12% of police personnel are women. Representation in urban planning, engineering, and transport is even lower. This gender gap weakens the impact of elected women leaders, as implementation is often in the hands of male-dominated bureaucracies that may lack sensitivity to gendered urban experiences.

Why Gender in Bureaucracy Matters?

Gendered Urban Realities

• Mobility Patterns: 84% of women in Delhi and Mumbai rely on public/shared transport, compared to 63% of men.
• Daily Routines: Women typically make multi-stop journeys for caregiving, shopping, and domestic responsibilities needs often ignored in standard transport or infrastructure planning.
• Infrastructure Dependence: They are more dependent on neighbourhood-level infrastructure for safety, mobility, and daily needs.

Mismatch in Urban Priorities

• Focus on Big Projects: Urban planning tends to focus on mega-projects over inclusive, accessible public spaces.
• Neglect of Basic Amenities: A 2019 Safetipin audit of 50 Indian cities found that over 60% of public spaces were poorly lit, a basic gap that disproportionately affects women’s safety.

The Positives of Women in Bureaucracy

Studies by UN Women and ICRIER demonstrate the positive impact of women in decision-making roles:

• Service Prioritisation: Women officials tend to focus more on healthcare, water supply, and community safety areas often overlooked in male-dominated planning.
• Empathetic Enforcement: Women in policing and municipal roles often adopt a more empathetic approach, improving responsiveness to gender-specific issues.
• Institutional Trust: Female leadership contributes to greater public trust in institutions and enhances the quality and inclusiveness of service delivery.

Gap in Gender Budgeting

India’s GRB Journey: Introduced in 2005–06, Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) aimed to integrate gender considerations into public finance. Early Adopters: Delhi: Launched women-only buses and improved street lighting. Tamil Nadu: Integrated GRB across 64 departments (2022–23). Kerala: Promoted participatory planning through gender goals in the People’s Plan Campaign.

• Limited Scope: GRB remains confined to select departments and schemes, often focusing on women-centric benefits without addressing deeper structural inequalities.
• Tokenism by ULGs: Many Urban Local Governments implement GRB superficially, ignoring key services like:
  • Pedestrian safety
  • Public toilets
  • Childcare facilities
• Weak Monitoring & Capacity: Smaller cities lack trained staff, data systems, and technical expertise, resulting in poor implementation, weak outcome tracking, and low accountability.

Policy Recommendations

To build cities with and for women, the following reforms are essential:

• Systemic Bureaucratic Reform: Introduce affirmative action (quotas, scholarships) in urban planning, engineering, and public service. Ensure gender-sensitive recruitment, retention, and promotion policies.
• Institutionalise GRB in ULGs: Make gender audits, outcome evaluation, and participatory budgeting mandatory.
• Establish Gender Equity Councils: Modelled on successful initiatives like Kudumbashree in Kerala. Enable bottom-up feedback loops and women-led urban innovation.
• Strengthen Urban Safety Architecture: Increase women in policing, community safety committees, and ward-level grievance redressal. Design cities with lighting, surveillance, walkability, and gender-specific transit needs in mind.

{GS2 – MoSDE – Initiatives} NAVYA Initiative

• Context (PIB): The Central Government launched the Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls (NAVYA) aimed at empowering adolescent girls.

Key Features

• Nodal Ministry: Navya is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Aim: To empower adolescent girls aged 16 to 18 years who have completed at least Class 10 by providing them with vocational training, particularly in non-traditional and emerging job roles.
• Vocational Training: Girls will be trained through PMKVY 4.0 in roles such as Graphic Designer, Smartphone Technician, Drone Assembly Expert, and CCTV Installation Technician, among others.
  • By offering training in these diverse sectors, the Government aims to connect girls with employment and entrepreneurship opportunities that transcend conventional boundaries.
• Implementation: Training under NAVYA will be provided utilizing existing resources from flagship schemes of MSDE like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and PM Vishwakarma Yojana.
• Coverage: In its pilot phase, NAVYA is being rolled out across 27 Northeastern and Aspirational districts in 19 states.

{GS3 – Envi – CC} Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)

• Context (TH): The technique known as Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), which involves spreading crushed rock over farmland to combat climate change, is gaining global attention.

• ERW seeks to accelerate the natural process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (carbon sequestration) by enhancing the geological process of weathering.
• The weathering process begins when carbon dioxide from the air or soil dissolves in rainwater, forming carbonic acid. This acid then reacts with rocks, gradually breaking down minerals and storing carbon over the long term as bicarbonate, which can eventually turn into limestone (carbon cycle).
• ERW accelerates this process by spreading finely ground, fast-weathering rocks, such as basalt, over farmland, thereby increasing the surface area for chemical reactions and enhancing carbon removal.
• ERW is a relatively new technology, and its effectiveness depends on variables such as rock type and size, the level of moisture and heat in the climate, soil type, and land management practices.

Its Benefits

• Improved Fertility: Crushed rock increases alkalinity, enhancing nutrient availability & crop growth.
• Cost-effectiveness: Basalt is abundant and often a byproduct of quarrying, making it relatively inexpensive to deploy.
• Prevention of Indirect Emissions: Even if the rock doesn’t capture CO₂ directly, it can neutralise acidic runoff that would otherwise lead to ocean acidification and the release of CO₂.

Challenges

• Heavy Metals: Some quick-weathering rocks contain harmful elements, such as nickel or chromium.
• Safety: Spreading fine rock dust without proper protective equipment can cause respiratory hazards.
• Carbon Accounting Issues: If carbon capture is overestimated and used for offsetting emissions, companies may inadvertently contribute to higher net emissions.

Global Adoption

• Brazil delivered the world’s first verified ERW carbon removal credits earlier this year.
• India’s ERW startup Mati Carbon won the $50 million grand prize in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition.

{GS3 – Envi – CC} Thirstwaves

• Context (TH): A recent study found that thirstwaves are becoming more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting, especially during the crop-growing season.

• Thirstwaves reflect the atmosphere’s growing “thirst” for moisture, drawing more water from soil, plants, and crops. Thirstwaves pose serious risks to agriculture, water resources, and food security.

How Thirstwaves are Different from Heatwaves?

• While heatwaves are driven mainly by high temperatures and specific wind patterns, thirstwaves result from a combination of temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed.
• As temperatures rise, the exchange of water between the land and atmosphere changes. It affects humidity, wind, and solar radiation factors that together increase the atmosphere’s ability to pull moisture from the land.

About Evaporative Demand

• Evaporative demand is a scientific term for how “thirsty” the atmosphere is. It refers to the amount of water the atmosphere can draw from land and plant surfaces through evaporation and transpiration (collectively known as evapotranspiration), provided sufficient moisture is available.
• Evaporative demand is the atmosphere’s capacity to absorb water, and evapotranspiration is the actual supply of water from land to the atmosphere.
• When soils are moist, and plants are healthy, evapotranspiration often matches the demand. However, during droughts or periods of water stress, there isn’t enough moisture to meet the atmosphere’s needs, causing a moisture imbalance.

Concerns for India

• Indian and international researchers have identified a rise in actual evapotranspiration in several regions of India, particularly in the Himalayas and northern plains.
• Many other studies also suggest that future warming is likely to increase potential evapotranspiration nationwide, with regional and seasonal variations.

{GS3 – Envi – PA} Sariska Tiger Reserve

• Context (IE): Rajasthan has proposed redrawing Sariska’s Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH), potentially excluding degraded areas and benefiting over 50 nearby mines.

About Critical Tiger Habitat

• CTH is the core area of a tiger reserve, kept free of human disturbance for tiger conservation. It ensures an inviolate space for the long-term survival of tigers and their prey.
• CTH is defined under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, amended in 2006.
• CTH is inviolate—no mining, grazing, or tourism is permitted.
  • Buffer zones surround CTH and allow limited human activity to ease pressure on the core area.
• CTHs are monitored by both the NTCA and the State Forest Departments.

NTCA: National Tiger Conservation Authority, headed by the Environment Minister, is a statutory body under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, that implements Project Tiger and monitors tiger reserves.

Identification and Notification

• Identification: CTH is identified by the State Forest Department with NTCA and expert input.
• Notification: The State Government notifies it via a Gazette after the expert committee’s review.
• Consultation: Gram Sabha consultation is mandatory under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Boundary Alteration

• Boundary changes are proposed by the State Government and reviewed by the State Wildlife Board.
  • SC-NBWL gives final approval to boundary changes.

SC-NBWL: Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife, chaired by the Union Environment Minister, approves activities and boundary changes in protected areas.

Key Difference with CWLH

• CTH applies only to tiger reserves under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, while CWLH applies to all protected areas under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

CWLH: Critical Wildlife Habitat is a core area in any protected region, notified under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, after settling forest dwellers’ rights.

Sariska Tiger Reserve

• Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in Rajasthan, within the Aravalli Hills.
• It features rocky hills, scrub forests, grasslands, and dry-deciduous forests, with a semi-arid climate.
• The Ruparel River flows through the reserve.
• It is a Critical Tiger Habitat under Project Tiger
• The reserve is dominated by dhok trees (about 90%).
• Wildlife includes tigers, leopards, sambar, four-horned antelopes, etc.
• The Kankarwadi Fort, located at the centre of the reserve, is where Aurangzeb imprisoned Dara Shikoh.
• Sariska is part of the Northern Aravalli wildlife corridor, important for leopard and prey movement.
• The region has deposits of marble, dolomite, limestone, and masonry stone around the reserve.
• Sariska was the first reserve in the world to reintroduce tigers after local extinction, starting in 2008 with tigers from Ranthambore.

{GS3 – Envi – RE} Energy Transition Index 2025

• Context (ET): The Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2025 was released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

About Energy Transition Index

• Released by: The World Economic Forum (WEF) in collaboration with Accenture.
• Ranks 118 countries using 43 indicators scored on a 0–100 scale.
• It tracks countries’ progress in shifting from fossil fuels to clean energy.
• ETI 2025 is part of WEF’s ‘Fostering Effective Energy Transition’ report.

Score Structure

• Weight split: ETI score = System Performance (60%) + Transition Readiness (40%).
• System Performance: Assesses energy equity, energy security, and environmental sustainability.
• Transition Readiness: Covers regulation, finance, innovation, infrastructure, and human capital.

Key Findings

• Top performers: Sweden, followed by Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland.
  • China – 12^th; USA – 17^th; Pakistan – 101^st; Congo – lowest.
• Improvement leaders: India and China showed the most progress among large economies in energy access and transition readiness.
• Limited full progress: Only 28% of countries improved across all three pillars — equity, security, and sustainability.
• Partial gains: 77 countries improved, but most still lack long-term readiness.
• Demand imbalance: 80% of future energy demand growth is expected to occur in emerging economies.
• Investment skew: 90% of clean energy investment flows to developed economies and China.

India’s specific findings

• India ranked 71^st in 2025, down from 63^rd in 2024.
• India scored 53.3 overall, 60.4 in system performance, and 42.7 in transition readiness.
• India’s Strengths:
  • Efficiency gains: Lower energy intensity and methane (CH₄) emissions.
  • Improved access: Expanded clean fuel use, especially in rural areas.
  • Investment environment: Enhanced regulations and a rise in investments in clean energy.

{GS3 – IE – Industry} Food Processing Industry

• Context (IE): India’s food processing sector is rapidly transforming boosting rural development & small businesses through key schemes like PMFME.

What is Food Processing?

• It involves converting raw plant & animal materials into edible food through techniques like cleaning, grading, milling, preservation, etc.
• Objectives: It aims to preserve food, ensure safety, enhance quality, offer convenience & add value to farm produce.
• Levels of Processing:
  • Primary: Basic treatment like cleaning, grading, packaging (e.g., rice milling).
  • Secondary: Converting ingredients (e.g., wheat into flour).
  • Tertiary: Creating ready-to-eat/heat foods (e.g., frozen meals).

Food Processing Industry: Statistics

• Reached a value of US$336.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$735.5 billion, at a CAGR of 8.8% during 2023-2032.
• From 2013-14 to 2023-24, the sector maintained average growth rate of 3.9%.
• India’s Food Processing Industry is the 6^th largest in the world. India is the 2^nd largest producer of fruits & vegetables globally; it stands 1^st in dairy production.
• Contributes ~ 9% to Gross value added (GVA) in the Agriculture sector & ~23% to country’s exports.
• The sector supports over 7 million jobs across the value chain, directly or indirectly.

Growth Enablers

• Lifestyle Shifts: With 65% of Indians under 35, rising incomes, urbanization & busy lifestyles have boosted demand for ready-to-eat & processed foods.
• Availability of Raw Material: India ranks 1^st in milk, banana, mango, ginger production & 2^nd in rice, wheat, fruits, vegetables ensuring year-round supply of raw materials.
• Technological Advancements: Digitalization of supply chain & Agri-tech adoption (AI & satellite monitoring) are improving efficiency, reducing intermediaries & ensuring quality farm-to-fork integration.
• Easy delivery: Growing online delivery platforms & organized retail are expanding domestic consumption. Exports of processed foods rose at 11.74% CAGR reaching $16.2 billion.
• Cost & Labour Advantage: India offers 40% lower production costs & a vast low-cost workforce, making it an ideal hub for both domestic production & global food processing supply chains.
• Investments: Government schemes like the PLI Scheme and 100% FDI under the automatic route have attracted major players like Nestlé to invest.

Role in grassroots transformation

• Empowering Micro-Entrepreneurs: Through schemes like PMFME, over 1.41 lakh loans have been sanctioned, supporting over 3.3 lakh SHG members & encouraging local food ventures.
  • Over 1 lakh individuals have received training and 75 incubation centres were approved to nurture food startups & regional food brands.
• Rural Livelihoods: Through the Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, over 1,600 projects have created employment for more than 7.6 lakh people & supported around 53 lakh farmers.
  • PLI Scheme has drawn investments of ₹8,900 crore, generated over 3.3 lakh jobs & expanded processing capacity by 67 lakh metric tonnes.

Challenges

• Fragmented Supply Chain: 86% of farmers are small/marginal, limiting aggregation.
  • Farmers receive only 30–35% of value compared to 65–70% in developed countries.
• Infrastructure Gaps: ₹92,651 crore lost annually due to inadequate cold chains; 25–30% of fruits & vegetables are wasted post-harvest.
• Regulatory Complexity: Multiple agencies & lack of single-window clearance increase compliance burden, especially for MSMEs.
• Skilled Workforce Deficit: Only 3% of the food processing workforce is formally trained, affecting quality, innovation & safety.
• Finance Constraints: MSMEs face limited access to capital due to high perceived risks, curbing tech adoption & growth.
• Quality & Export Issues: Indian food exports often face rejection due to inconsistent quality. E.g. 527 products were flagged by the EU between 2020–24, damaging India’s global reputation.

Government Initiatives

• PM Kisan SAMPADA Scheme: To establish modern infrastructure and efficient supply chain management, reduce farm wastage, & enhance export of processed products.
• PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme: ₹10,000 crore scheme under Atmanirbhar Bharat to formalize micro-enterprises & SHGs in food processing.
• Special Food Processing Fund: ₹2,000 crore fund set up under NABARD to finance infrastructure & supply chain projects.
• Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry: Food & cold chain infrastructure classified under PSL to ease credit access for entrepreneurs.
• Mega Food Park Scheme: Create integrated infrastructure for storing and processing requirements of the food processing industry.
• Budget 2024-25: Provisions for 50 irradiation units and 100 NABL food labs to improve shelf life and safety for export readiness.
• National Makhana Board: Set up to globally position Indian superfoods like makhana.

Way Forward

• Cluster-Based Development: Promote integrated food clusters near farm zones with shared cold chains, labs & logistics to reduce costs by 25–30%.
• Tech-Enabled Supply Chains: Use blockchain, IoT & AI for traceability, crop forecasting & quality assurance. Leverage Drone Didi Scheme for crop mapping.
• Regulatory Simplification: Create a single-window clearance system to cut approval time from 6–8 months to 2–3 months to maintain compliance across FSSAI, APEDA, BIS.
• Sustainable Processing: Promote biodegradable packaging, green certification & renewable energy use in processing units.
• Invest in R&D: Launch Food Innovation Labs, offer tax deductions on R&D & digitize traditional techniques for scalable food-tech innovation.
• Export Ecosystem: Develop export-oriented zones with plug & play infra, market intelligence systems & customized packaging for global markets.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence} India’s Propulsion Need

• Context (TH) : India’s heavy reliance on imported propulsion systems, particularly jet engines, poses a serious challenge to its military readiness and technological sovereignty.

Challenges in Developing Indigenous Jet Engines

• Legacy of Dependence: India’s first indigenous fighter jet, the HF-24 Marut, failed to realise it’s full potential due to lack of a powerful indigenous engine.
  • Despite robust design, it was crippled by imported and underpowered engines, a pattern that continues today.
• The Kaveri Setback: Initiated in the 1980s, the Kaveri engine project by DRDO’s GTRE failed to meet performance standards even after 35 years and over ₹2,000 crore spent.
  • Despite numerous prototypes and tests, it could not power the LCA Tejas, which now runs on GE’s F404 engines.

Implications

• Delayed Defence Deliveries: In 2025, General Electric (GE) delayed delivery of 99 engines for LCA Mk1A by over a year, causing further delays in IAF’s fighter induction amid falling squadron strength.
• Limited Export Capability: Reliance on foreign engines hampers India’s ability to export its indigenously developed aircraft, as third-party approvals become mandatory.
• Technology Denial: Foreign engine manufacturers, like GE, are reluctant to share core technologies such as single-crystal blades and thermal coatings critical for indigenous capability.

GE: It refers to General Electric Aviation, a division of the American multinational conglomerate General Electric, which manufactures aircraft engines used in platforms like India’s LCA Tejas.

Impact Across Armed Forces

• Air Force: AMCA, India’s next-gen stealth fighter, currently plans to rely on GE F414 engines. Talks for technology transfer remain stalled over cost and IP issues.
• Army: Tanks like Arjun and Zorawar rely on German and U.S. engines respectively, with no indigenous alternatives.
• Navy: Despite indigenously designed ships, all major vessels from destroyers to corvettes use foreign propulsion systems from Russia, Ukraine, France, or the U.S.

Way Forward

• Strategic Investment: Engine development must be treated as a national mission, with long-term funding, cross-sector collaboration, and institutional backing.
• Public-Private Synergy: The DRDO must collaborate with Indian private firms, global partners, and academia to promote innovation and reduce development timelines.
• Institutional Inertia: Political will and bureaucratic support are essential. Refusals to engage foreign firms due to institutional ego, as seen in past Safran and GE offers, must be avoided.

{Prelims – In News} Dual-Mode Black Mass Recovery Technology

• Context (PIB): The Technology Development Board (TDB) is supporting BatX Energies to scale its dual-mode black mass recovery technology for sustainable battery recycling.

• Black Mass is the residue from shredded lithium-ion batteries containing lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite.

Black Mass Recovery Technology

• It is designed to extract valuable materials like lithium, cobalt and nickel from used lithium-ion batteries.
• It uses dual-mode (wet and dry) black mass recovery technology for higher efficiency, flexibility, and easy scale-up.

Key Features

• High Recovery Rate: Recovers over 97% of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese.
• Graphite Extraction: Also recovers graphite and conductive carbon, unlike most alternatives.
• Low-Impact Design: Avoids high heat and reduces chemical intensity.

Advantages Over Alternatives

• Energy Efficient: Requires no high-temperature smelting, resulting in energy savings.
• Cleaner Process: Produces minimal emissions and no industrial slag.
• Battery Compatibility: Works across multiple battery types without modification.
• Decentralised Use: Ideal for small-scale recycling across different regions.

Technology Development Board It operates under Dept of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology. It promotes the commercialisation of indigenous technologies through equity, loans, and grants.

{Prelims – Reports} Critical and Emerging Technologies Index

• Context (TH): Critical and Emerging Technologies Index was released by Harvard Kenny School-Belfer centre.

• It ranks 25 countries in five tech sectors with weightage:
  1. Semiconductors (35%),
  2. AI (25%),
  3. Biotechnology (20%),
  4. Space (15%) and
  5. Quantum (5%)
• Purpose: To help policymakers understand the strengths and weakness of nations in critical tech areas.
• Significance:
  • Helps policymakers spot tech gaps, set investment priorities and learn from global best practices.
  • Supports global partnerships like India-EU in biotech and India-Japan in semiconductors.

Report Outcomes

• US (1^st), China (2^nd), Europe (3^rd), Japan (4^th) and India (10^th).
• U.S. leads across sectors due to massive investment, top research institutions & global partnerships.
• China is strong in biotech and quantum but lags in semiconductors and AI hardware.
• Europe excels in ethical AI and quantum research but is weak in chip fabrication and space defence.

India-specific findings

• India scored 15.2 in the Index, ranking below France but above Russia, Canada and Australia.
• Weakest Sector: Semiconductors suffer from low investment, poor chip design and manufacturing capacity.
• Fragmented Ecosystem: India lacks coordination between government, academia and industry.
• Sectoral Gaps: India’s quantum tech and space capabilities are nascent ranking 7^th in space primarily due to launch infrastructure.

Read also > Critical Minerals

{Species – Reptiles – VU} King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

• Context (IE): Madhya Pradesh CM proposed reintroducing King Cobras to reduce snakebite deaths.

• King Cobra is the largest venomous snake (grows up to 5.85 metres). It is the national reptile of India.
• It is the only snake that builds and guards leaf nests.
• Range: Found across South and Southeast Asia.
  • In India, found in Western Ghats, Northeast, Himalayan foothills, Eastern Ghats, Andamans, and East coast mangroves. Karnataka has the highest population.
• Habitat: Inhabit tropical forests, bamboo thickets and agricultural land mostly nearby rainforests.
• Physical description: Are dark olive or brown in color with black bands and white or yellow crossbands.

Credits: IUCN

• Behaviour: Diurnal and territorial; emits growl-like hiss; Highly secretive and rarely seen in the wild.
• Lifespan: Lives up to 20 years; sheds skin 4-6 times per year.
• Diet: Feeds on snakes (ophiophagy); also, cannibalistic.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable, CITES: Appendix II, WPA, 1972: Schedule II.
• Its venom is neurotoxic; used in pain-relief drugs like Cobroxin and Nyloxin.

Significance Of King Cobra

• Ecological role: Controls venomous snakes as an apex predator.
• Medical use: Venom is used in antivenom and painkiller research.
• Cultural value: Revered in Indian traditions and worshipped as Nag Devta.
• Indicator species: Reflects forest density and water availability.