Daily Current Affairs - 13th & 14th July 2026
- Kaushal
- Jul 15
- 29 min read
Comprehensive UPSC Current Affairs Summary.
Table of Content
INTERNATIONAL
SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
India–New Zealand Relations: Key Outcomes of the Indian Prime Minister's Visit
India and New Zealand have significantly upgraded their bilateral relationship by elevating it to a Strategic Partnership during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to New Zealand.
A Strategic Partnership refers to a long-term and structured relationship that extends beyond traditional diplomacy to include cooperation in areas such as trade, defence, security, technology, education, agriculture, and people-to-people ties.
To operationalise this enhanced relationship, both countries jointly launched the Roadmap to 2030, a comprehensive strategic framework that will guide the implementation of the India–New Zealand Strategic Partnership over the next four years through defined areas of cooperation and measurable outcomes.
Key Outcomes of the Prime Minister's Visit
1. Bilateral Trade: Expanding Economic Partnership
To strengthen economic engagement, India and New Zealand have set an ambitious target of doubling bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion (approximately ₹35,000 crore) by 2030. This objective aims to enhance market access, diversify trade, and encourage greater investment between the two countries.
Free Trade Agreement (FTA), 2026
An important milestone in this direction is the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed in 2026.
Free Trade Agreement (FTA): An agreement between two or more countries to reduce or eliminate tariffs (import duties) and other trade barriers, thereby facilitating easier movement of goods and services.
Key provisions include:
100% of Indian exports to New Zealand will enjoy duty-free access, significantly improving the competitiveness of Indian products.
India has provided market access on 70.03% of tariff lines, while 29.97% of tariff lines remain in the exclusion list, protecting sensitive domestic sectors.
These excluded tariff lines account for 95% of New Zealand's existing bilateral trade with India, reflecting India's calibrated and balanced approach to trade liberalisation.
2. Maritime Security Cooperation
Recognising the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific region, New Zealand has nominated Maritime Security as its priority pillar under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
Maritime Security: Measures undertaken to ensure the safety, stability, and freedom of navigation in the seas by addressing challenges such as piracy, illegal fishing, maritime terrorism, and disaster response.
Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI): A non-treaty-based voluntary initiative launched by India in 2019 to promote cooperation among like-minded countries for a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. It focuses on areas such as maritime security, disaster risk reduction, sustainable use of marine resources, and capacity building.
New Zealand's decision to lead the Maritime Security pillar reflects growing strategic convergence with India in ensuring regional stability.
3. Cooperation in Sustainable Biofuels
New Zealand has joined the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), further strengthening cooperation in the field of clean energy and climate action.
Biofuels: Fuels produced from biological materials such as agricultural residues, sugarcane, corn, or vegetable oils, offering a renewable alternative to fossil fuels.
Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA): Launched by India during the G20 Summit in 2023, the Alliance brings together major biofuel producers and consumers, including India, Brazil, and the United States, to accelerate global adoption of sustainable biofuels, promote technology sharing, and develop international standards.
New Zealand's membership expands international collaboration in promoting cleaner energy transitions.
4. Agriculture Partnership
Agriculture has emerged as another important pillar of bilateral cooperation under the Agricultural Productivity Partnership established through the Free Trade Agreement.
Key initiatives announced include:
Launch of a Kiwifruit Action Plan to enhance production, research, and value-chain development.
Establishment of two Centres of Excellence in Nagaland and Uttarakhand.
Centre of Excellence: A specialised institution established for advanced research, innovation, training, and dissemination of best practices in a particular sector.
These initiatives are expected to improve agricultural productivity, technology transfer, and farmer capacity building.
5. Sports Cooperation
Both countries launched the India–New Zealand Joint Action Plan on Sport, providing an institutional framework for long-term collaboration in sports.
The partnership will focus on:
High-performance sports
Sports science
Sports medicine
Athlete development
High-performance sports: Professional sports programmes designed to improve elite athletes through scientific training, advanced coaching, nutrition, psychology, and performance analytics.
India–New Zealand Relations
The recent Strategic Partnership builds upon decades of steadily expanding bilateral relations across multiple sectors.
1. Historical Background
Diplomatic relations between India and New Zealand were established in 1952.
Recognising India's growing global importance, New Zealand declared India a priority country under its "Opening Doors to India" Policy (2011).
Opening Doors to India Policy (2011): New Zealand's strategy aimed at strengthening engagement with India across trade, education, tourism, investment, and political cooperation.
2. Bilateral Trade
Economic relations have continued to strengthen over time.
In 2024–25, India's exports to New Zealand exceeded its imports, allowing India to maintain a positive trade balance.
Positive Trade Balance (Trade Surplus): A situation where the value of a country's exports is greater than the value of its imports.
The implementation of the FTA (2026) is expected to further accelerate bilateral trade and investment.
3. Education Cooperation
Education remains one of the strongest pillars of bilateral engagement.
India is the second-largest source of international students in New Zealand, reflecting growing educational exchanges, academic collaboration, and people-to-people connections.
4. Indian Diaspora
The Indian community forms an important bridge between the two countries.
Approximately 3 lakh people of Indian origin live in New Zealand, constituting nearly 5% of New Zealand's population.
The diaspora plays a significant role in strengthening:
Economic and business ties
Educational cooperation
Cultural exchanges
Tourism
People-to-people connectivity
Demand-side Constraints Become a More Important Barrier to Women's Employment in India
The Chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (EAC-PM) has stated that weak labour demand, rather than social norms, has emerged as the primary barrier to increasing Women's Labour Force Participation (LFP) in India. This marks an important shift in understanding the challenges to women's employment. While social and cultural barriers continue to exist, the limited availability of quality employment opportunities has increasingly become the dominant constraint.
Demand-side constraints: Factors that limit the availability of jobs in the economy. These arise from employers, industries, and overall economic conditions, rather than from the willingness or ability of workers to participate in the labour market.
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): The percentage of the working-age population (usually 15 years and above) that is either employed or actively seeking employment.
According to the latest data, the Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for persons aged 15 years and above stood at 32.8% in May 2026.
A clear rural-urban divide is visible:
Rural female LFPR: 36.7%
Urban female LFPR: 24.8%, remaining almost unchanged
This indicates that although women's participation has improved in rural areas, urban women's participation continues to remain relatively low.
Factors Responsible for Low Employment Among Women in India
Despite improvements in education, financial inclusion, and policy support, several structural barriers continue to restrict women's employment.
1. Limited Access to STEM Careers
Women in India have made significant progress in higher education, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
STEM: An umbrella term for the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, which are generally associated with high-skilled and high-paying employment opportunities.
Women constitute 43% of STEM graduates in India. However, only an estimated 27% participate in the STEM workforce, indicating a substantial gap between educational attainment and employment.
This reflects barriers such as limited hiring opportunities, workplace biases, career breaks, and inadequate retention mechanisms.
2. High Burden of Unpaid Labour
A major obstacle to women's employment is the disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic and care work.
Unpaid labour: Household and caregiving activities such as cooking, cleaning, childcare, and elder care that do not receive monetary compensation but are essential for the functioning of households and the economy.
On average:
Women spend 363 minutes per day on unpaid work.
Men spend only 123 minutes per day.
The heavy responsibility of unpaid care work reduces the time available for women to engage in paid employment, skill development, or entrepreneurship.
3. Limited Access to Productive Credit
Although women's financial inclusion has improved through increased ownership of bank accounts, their access to formal credit remains significantly lower than that of men.
The credit-to-deposit ratio is:
43% for women
93% for men
Credit-to-Deposit Ratio (CD Ratio): The proportion of deposits that are converted into loans. A higher ratio indicates greater access to productive credit.
This suggests that while women save in formal financial institutions, they receive comparatively fewer loans for entrepreneurship, business expansion, or income-generating activities.
4. Wage Inequality
Women continue to experience significant wage disparities in the labour market.
India's wage equality ratio stands at 0.5, compared to 0.8 in the Philippines.
Wage Equality Ratio: A measure of gender pay equality where 1 represents complete wage parity between men and women, while values below 1 indicate the existence of a gender wage gap.
Persistent wage inequality discourages women's labour force participation and limits economic empowerment.
Steps Taken to Increase Women's Participation in the Workforce
Recognising these challenges, the Government has introduced several legislative and institutional measures to promote women's employment, workplace safety, and gender equality.
1. Industrial Relations Code, 2020
The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 mandates adequate representation of women in the Grievance Redressal Committee established in industrial establishments.
Grievance Redressal Committee: A committee constituted within an organisation to receive, investigate, and resolve workplace-related complaints raised by employees.
This provision seeks to make workplace grievance mechanisms more inclusive and gender-sensitive.
2. Maternity Benefits
The Maternity Benefit Act provides one of the most generous maternity leave provisions globally.
Women are entitled to:
26 weeks of paid maternity leave, of which
Up to 8 weeks may be availed before the expected date of delivery.
The objective is to protect women's employment during pregnancy while supporting maternal and child health.
3. Ensuring Safety at the Workplace
To create safer working environments, the Government has introduced initiatives such as She-Box.
She-Box (Sexual Harassment Electronic Box): An online complaint management portal through which women employees, in both the public and private sectors, can file complaints related to sexual harassment at the workplace.
The initiative facilitates the implementation of the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, which aims to:
Prevent workplace sexual harassment,
Prohibit such behaviour, and
Ensure timely redressal of complaints.
Women's labour force participation in India is increasingly constrained by demand-side factors, particularly the limited creation of quality employment opportunities, alongside persistent structural challenges such as low participation in STEM careers, the burden of unpaid care work, restricted access to credit, and wage inequality. While initiatives such as the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, 26-week maternity benefits, and She-Box have strengthened the enabling environment, achieving higher female employment will require sustained job creation, gender-responsive labour market policies, improved access to productive finance, and greater workplace inclusivity.
Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS)
To improve the liquidity and timely payment of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Government has made the use of the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) mandatory for the settlement of all MSME invoices by Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). This measure is expected to ensure faster payments to MSMEs, reduce working capital constraints, and strengthen the overall MSME ecosystem.
Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs): Government-owned companies in which the Central Government holds a majority stake and exercises management control.
About Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS)
The Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) is an electronic platform regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that facilitates the online financing and discounting of trade receivables of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Trade Receivables: The amount of money that an MSME is entitled to receive from buyers for goods supplied or services rendered but has not yet been paid.
Discounting of Receivables: A financing mechanism in which an MSME sells its unpaid invoices to a financier (such as a bank or NBFC) at a discount and receives immediate payment instead of waiting for the buyer's credit period to end.
Through TReDS, MSMEs can convert their pending invoices into immediate cash, thereby improving working capital availability and reducing dependence on costly short-term borrowing.
Working Capital: The funds required by a business to meet its day-to-day operational expenses, such as purchasing raw materials, paying wages, and managing inventories.
Key Participants in TReDS
The TReDS ecosystem consists of three major participants:
1. Sellers
Only Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are eligible to participate as sellers on the platform.
These MSMEs upload their invoices raised against buyers to obtain early payment through financing.
2. Buyers
The following entities can participate as buyers:
Corporates
Government Departments
Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)
Any other eligible entities
After verifying the invoice, buyers enable financiers to bid for financing the receivable.
3. Financiers
The entities that provide financing on the platform include:
Banks
NBFC-Factors
Other financial institutions permitted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
NBFC-Factor: A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) registered to undertake factoring business, i.e., purchasing receivables from businesses and providing immediate liquidity.
Factoring: A financial service in which a financial institution purchases a business's receivables at a discount and assumes responsibility for collecting payment from the buyer on the due date.
These financiers compete to offer the most competitive discount rate, helping MSMEs access finance at lower costs.
Operational Platforms
The RBI has authorised multiple electronic platforms to o perate the TReDS system, promoting competition and wider access.
The operational platforms are:
Receivables Exchange of India Ltd. (RXIL)
M1xchange
Invoicemart
C2treds
DTX
These platforms facilitate the complete digital process of invoice uploading, buyer acceptance, financier bidding, and settlement, making receivables financing faster, transparent, and efficient.
Indian Lab Designs Quantum Computing Algorithm to Beat Classical Computers
In a significant breakthrough for India's quantum technology ecosystem, scientists from BITS Pilani, in collaboration with IBM Quantum, have successfully simulated the behaviour of subatomic particles on 120 qubits of an IBM quantum processor. The achievement demonstrates Quantum Advantage, showcasing the ability of quantum computers to outperform even the most powerful classical supercomputers in specific computational tasks.
IBM Quantum: IBM's quantum computing platform that provides access to quantum processors and software for research, experimentation, and application development.
Quantum Advantage
The BITS Pilani–IBM collaboration highlights the achievement of Quantum Advantage.
Quantum Advantage: A stage at which a quantum computer performs a specific computational task faster, more accurately, or at a lower cost than the most powerful classical supercomputers. It does not mean quantum computers are superior for all tasks, but rather for certain highly complex problems.
The successful simulation of subatomic particle behaviour on 120 qubits demonstrates the growing capability of quantum computers in solving problems that are computationally intensive for classical systems.
What is Quantum Computing?
Quantum Computing is an advanced field of computing that exploits the principles of quantum mechanics to process information and solve problems that are beyond the capabilities of even the most powerful classical computers.
Quantum Mechanics: The branch of physics that studies the behaviour of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic levels, where particles exhibit unique properties that differ from classical physics.
Unlike classical computers, which process information using bits, quantum computers use qubits.
Bit: The basic unit of information in a classical computer, which can exist in only one of two states—0 or 1.
Qubit (Quantum Bit): The fundamental unit of information in a quantum computer. Unlike a classical bit, a qubit can exist as 0, 1, or a combination of both simultaneously (superposition), enabling quantum computers to perform many calculations in parallel.
Quantum computing derives its computational power from key principles of quantum mechanics:
Superposition: The ability of a qubit to exist in multiple states simultaneously, allowing parallel computation.
Entanglement: A phenomenon in which two or more qubits become intrinsically linked, so that the state of one qubit is instantly correlated with the state of another, regardless of the distance separating them.
Quantum Interference: The process by which probability amplitudes combine to reinforce correct computational outcomes while cancelling incorrect ones, thereby improving the likelihood of obtaining the right answer.
Together, these properties allow quantum computers to solve certain optimisation, simulation, cryptography, and material science problems much more efficiently than classical computers.
Challenges with Quantum Computing
Despite its immense potential, quantum computing faces several technological and engineering challenges.
1. Decoherence and Noise
One of the biggest challenges is decoherence, where qubits rapidly lose their quantum properties due to interactions with the surrounding environment.
Decoherence: The loss of a qubit's quantum state because of external disturbances such as heat, electromagnetic radiation, or vibrations, leading to computational errors.
In addition, quantum noise introduces random errors, reducing the accuracy and reliability of quantum computations.
2. Error Correction
Quantum systems are highly susceptible to errors, making quantum error correction essential.
However, creating one reliable logical qubit requires a large number of physical qubits.
Physical Qubit: The actual hardware-based qubit present in a quantum processor.
Logical Qubit: A highly reliable qubit created by combining multiple physical qubits through quantum error correction techniques, enabling fault-tolerant quantum computation.
As a result, today's quantum computers require significantly more physical qubits than the number of logical qubits they can effectively use.
3. Hardware Dependence
India's domestic capability in manufacturing critical quantum hardware is still developing.
The indigenous fabrication of:
Qubit-grade materials, and
Cryogenic systems
remains at a nascent stage.
Cryogenic Systems: Specialised cooling systems capable of maintaining extremely low temperatures (often close to absolute zero), which are essential for the stable operation of many quantum processors.
Dependence on imported hardware poses challenges for large-scale deployment and technological self-reliance.
National Quantum Mission (NQM)
Recognising the transformative potential of quantum technologies, the Government of India launched the National Quantum Mission (NQM).
The Mission is being implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) with a total budget of ₹6,003.65 crore for the period 2023–2031.
Objectives of the National Quantum Mission
The Mission seeks to establish India as a global leader in quantum technologies through the following objectives:
1. Development of Quantum Computers
Develop indigenous quantum computers with 50–1,000 physical qubits, enabling advanced research and practical applications.
2. Secure Quantum Communication Infrastructure
Develop a secure, high-bandwidth quantum communication network covering more than 2,000 km.
Quantum Communication: Communication that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to ensure highly secure transmission of information.
3. Inter-city Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)
Establish Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over a distance of 2,000 km.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): A secure communication technique that uses quantum mechanics to exchange cryptographic keys. Any attempt to intercept the key changes its quantum state, immediately revealing the presence of an eavesdropper.
4. Development of Quantum Networks and Precision Technologies
The Mission also aims to develop:
Multi-node quantum networks
Quantum magnetometers
Atomic clocks
Quantum Network: A network that connects quantum devices using quantum communication channels to exchange quantum information securely.
Magnetometer: An instrument used to measure the strength and direction of magnetic fields with high precision.
Atomic Clock: The world's most accurate type of clock, which measures time using the natural frequency of atoms and is widely used in GPS, telecommunications, and scientific research.
5. Development of Quantum Materials
The Mission seeks to develop quantum materials required for next-generation device fabrication.
Quantum Materials: Advanced materials that exhibit unique quantum properties, making them suitable for manufacturing quantum processors, sensors, and communication devices.
Implementation Mechanism
The National Quantum Mission is being implemented through four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) located across premier research institutions in India.
The four T-Hubs focus on:
Quantum Computing
Quantum Communication
Quantum Sensing & Metrology
Quantum Materials & Devices
Quantum Sensing: The use of quantum phenomena to develop extremely sensitive instruments capable of measuring physical quantities such as magnetic fields, gravity, and temperature with unprecedented precision.
Metrology: The science of measurement that establishes standards for accurate and reliable measurements.
These hubs follow the Hub–Spoke–Spike model.
Hub–Spoke–Spike Model: A collaborative research framework in which a central Hub coordinates research with multiple Spokes (partner institutions) and specialised Spikes (focused research groups), enabling efficient resource sharing, interdisciplinary collaboration, and technology development.
Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)
To address challenges such as groundwater depletion, rising labour costs, and environmental concerns, states like Chhattisgarh and Punjab have actively urged farmers to adopt the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) method.
DSR is emerging as a sustainable alternative to the conventional method of rice cultivation by reducing water consumption, labour requirements, and greenhouse gas emissions while improving crop management efficiency.
About Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)
Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) is a method of rice cultivation in which rice seeds are sown directly into the main field, instead of first raising seedlings in a nursery and then transplanting them into puddled fields.
Main Field: The field where the crop is grown until harvest.
Unlike the traditional transplanted rice system, DSR eliminates the need for:
Nursery preparation
Puddling
Manual transplantation
Nursery Preparation: The practice of raising young rice seedlings in a separate seedbed before transplanting them into the main field.
Puddling: The process of repeatedly ploughing and harrowing soil under standing water to create a soft, muddy layer for transplanting rice seedlings. While puddling reduces water percolation and suppresses weeds, it also degrades soil structure and requires large quantities of water.
Manual Transplantation: The labour-intensive practice of uprooting seedlings from the nursery and manually planting them in puddled fields.
By directly sowing seeds, DSR simplifies the cultivation process and reduces the time and resources required for rice production.
Key Advantages of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)
1. Resource Efficiency
One of the most significant advantages of DSR is its efficient use of natural and human resources.
The method:
Saves 20–30% of groundwater compared to conventional transplanted rice cultivation.
Substantially reduces dependence on manual labour, thereby lowering cultivation costs and addressing labour shortages during the peak transplanting season.
These benefits make DSR particularly suitable for regions facing groundwater depletion and rising agricultural wages.
2. Reduced Environmental Impact
DSR contributes to environmentally sustainable agriculture by significantly reducing methane emissions.
Methane (CH₄): A potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential much higher than carbon dioxide over the short term. In rice cultivation, methane is generated under anaerobic (oxygen-deficient) conditions created by continuously flooded fields.
Since DSR does not require prolonged flooding like conventional paddy cultivation, it substantially lowers methane emissions, thereby helping mitigate climate change.
3. Agronomic Benefits
DSR also offers several agronomic advantages that improve overall farm productivity.
Agronomic Benefits: Advantages related to crop growth, soil health, and agricultural productivity.
These include:
Early crop maturity by about 7–10 days, enabling timely harvesting.
Improved soil physical conditions for the cultivation of subsequent winter (Rabi) crops, as the absence of puddling helps preserve soil structure.
Soil Physical Conditions: Characteristics such as soil structure, porosity, aeration, and water infiltration that influence root growth and crop productivity.
Improved soil conditions facilitate better establishment and growth of the following crop in the cropping cycle.
Major Challenges of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)
Despite its numerous advantages, DSR also presents certain challenges that limit its widespread adoption.
1. High Weed Infestation
The most significant challenge is the increased weed infestation.
Weeds: Unwanted plants that compete with crops for water, nutrients, sunlight, and space, thereby reducing crop yield.
Unlike flooded transplanted rice fields, where standing water naturally suppresses many weeds, DSR fields are more prone to weed growth because seeds are sown directly into relatively dry soil.
2. Dependence on Chemical Herbicides
To control weeds effectively, DSR relies heavily on the use of chemical herbicides.
Herbicides: Chemicals used to control or eliminate weeds without damaging the crop.
Excessive dependence on herbicides may:
Increase the cost of cultivation,
Lead to the development of herbicide-resistant weeds, and
Raise environmental and ecological concerns if not used judiciously.
Governing Body of National CAMPA approved new wildlife and forestry conservation projects
The Governing Body approved Conservation and Recovery Action Plan for River Dolphins, Project Snow Leopard Phase-II, Conservation Action Plan for the Indian Rhinoceros and a pan-India conservation approach for the wild Water Buffalo.
Body approved Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana for conservation and restoration of nearly 15,000 sacred groves (Aastha Vans).
It approved three-year extension of MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes) programme.
Wildlife Institute of India Releases Report on the Status and Trend of the GIB in the Thar Landscape
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has released the report titled "Status and Trend of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) in the Thar", highlighting the current status, threats, and conservation needs of one of India's most endangered bird species. The report identifies the Thar landscape in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, as the last remaining stronghold of the Critically Endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB).
Wildlife Institute of India (WII): An autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) dedicated to wildlife research, conservation, training, and management in India.
The Thar Landscape: The Last Stronghold of the Great Indian Bustard
The Thar Desert forms part of India's Desert Biogeographic Zone and is recognised as one of the country's most ecologically distinct and biologically rich arid ecosystems.
Biogeographic Zone: A large geographical region characterised by distinct climatic conditions, vegetation, wildlife, and ecological processes. India is divided into 10 biogeographic zones for biodiversity planning and conservation.
Arid Ecosystem: An ecosystem characterised by low rainfall, high temperatures, sparse vegetation, and specialised plants and animals adapted to dry conditions.
Despite its harsh climate, the Thar supports remarkable biodiversity and provides critical habitat for several threatened species.
Biodiversity
The Thar landscape supports a diverse range of wildlife, including:
Great Indian Bustard (GIB)
Chinkara (Indian Gazelle)
Desert Fox
Indian Fox
Desert Cat
Spiny-tailed Lizard
This diversity highlights the ecological significance of the Thar as a unique desert ecosystem.
Climate
The region experiences an extreme desert climate.
Key characteristics include:
Summer temperatures reaching up to 50°C
Winter temperatures falling to around 0°C
High diurnal variation, i.e., large differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures.
Diurnal Variation: The fluctuation in temperature between the day and the night within a 24-hour period.
Landscape
The Thar landscape comprises a diverse mosaic of habitats, including:
Grasslands
Croplands
Gravel plains
Rocky hillocks
Sand-soil cover
Sand dunes
This heterogeneous landscape provides suitable habitat for the Great Indian Bustard and several other desert-adapted species.
Key Highlights of the WII Report
1. Stable Population
The report estimates the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) population at approximately 130 ± 21 individuals, indicating that the population has remained broadly stable since 2017–18.
Although the population has not shown a significant decline in recent years, the extremely small population size continues to make the species highly vulnerable to extinction.
2. Increasing Threats
Despite the stable population estimate, the report highlights the rapid expansion of human infrastructure within the Thar landscape, leading to increasing habitat degradation and mortality risks.
Major threats include:
Power transmission lines
Agricultural fencing
Road networks
Expansion of water sources
Solar power plants
These developments have substantially increased:
Habitat fragmentation, and
Mortality risks, particularly due to collisions with overhead power lines.
Habitat Fragmentation: The process by which a large, continuous habitat is divided into smaller, isolated patches, reducing the movement, breeding success, and long-term survival of wildlife populations.
About the Great Indian Bustard (GIB)
The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world and is among India's most threatened bird species.
Conservation Status
The species receives the highest level of legal protection under both national and international conservation frameworks.
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered (CR): The highest category of extinction risk before extinction in the wild, indicating an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future.
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
Schedule I: Provides the highest level of legal protection in India, with stringent penalties for hunting or harming the species.
CITES: Appendix I
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora): An international treaty that regulates trade in endangered wildlife.
Appendix I: Includes species threatened with extinction and prohibits international commercial trade in them except under exceptional circumstances.
Habitat
The Great Indian Bustard is an agro-grassland bird, meaning it depends on a combination of natural grasslands and agricultural landscapes.
It thrives in:
Short grasslands
Open scrublands
Rain-fed agricultural lands
Agro-grassland: A landscape comprising natural grasslands interspersed with low-intensity agricultural fields that together support wildlife.
Distribution (Range)
The Great Indian Bustard is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent.
Endemic: A species that is naturally found only within a specific geographical region.
Its present distribution is restricted mainly to:
Rajasthan
Gujarat
Maharashtra
Andhra Pradesh
The Great Indian Bustard is also the State Bird of Rajasthan.
Diet
The Great Indian Bustard is omnivorous, feeding on both plant and animal matter.
Its diet includes:
Seeds
Grasses
Insects
Small reptiles
Other small animals
Omnivorous: Feeding on both plant-based and animal-based food.
Major Threats
The report identifies multiple factors contributing to the decline of the Great Indian Bustard.
1. Infrastructure Expansion
The expansion of:
Power lines,
Roads,
Renewable energy projects,
Agricultural fencing, and
Other developmental infrastructure
has resulted in habitat fragmentation and increased collision-related mortality.
2. Invasive Predators
The species is increasingly threatened by predators such as:
Free-ranging dogs
Feral dogs
Nilgai
Feral Dogs: Domestic dogs that have reverted to living and reproducing in the wild.
These predators destroy eggs, prey on chicks, and disturb nesting habitats.
3. Vegetation Changes
Changes in natural vegetation due to invasive plant species, altered land use, and habitat degradation have reduced the availability of suitable nesting and foraging habitats.
Conservation Efforts
Several conservation initiatives are being undertaken to secure the future of the Great Indian Bustard.
These include:
1. Conservation Breeding
Captive breeding programmes are being implemented to increase the population and facilitate future reintroduction into the wild.
Conservation Breeding: The scientific breeding of threatened species under controlled conditions to prevent extinction and support population recovery.
2. Habitat Restoration
Efforts are being made to restore degraded grasslands and improve habitat quality.
3. Predator Translocation
Problematic predators are relocated from critical breeding habitats to reduce predation pressure.
Predator Translocation: The relocation of predators from sensitive wildlife habitats to minimise threats to endangered species.
4. Removal of Prosopis juliflora
The invasive plant species Prosopis juliflora is being removed from grassland habitats.
Prosopis juliflora: An invasive alien shrub/tree introduced into India that aggressively spreads in arid regions, replacing native grasslands and reducing habitat suitability for grassland species such as the Great Indian Bustard.
5. Scientific Monitoring
Regular monitoring of the bird's population, breeding success, habitat condition, and threats is being carried out to guide evidence-based conservation planning.
Parrot Bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4)
Scientists have identified Parrot Bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4) in India for the first time among captive birds. The detection is significant because the virus is a highly contagious pathogen that primarily affects parrots and other related bird species. Its high rate of asymptomatic infection makes it particularly challenging to detect and control, posing a serious threat to avian health and the conservation of vulnerable bird species.
Captive Birds: Birds that are kept under human care in places such as zoos, aviaries, breeding centres, rescue facilities, or as pets, rather than living freely in the wild.
About Parrot Bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4)
Parrot Bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4) is a highly contagious, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the species Orthobornavirus alphapsittaciforme under the family Bornaviridae.
Virus: A microscopic infectious agent that can reproduce only inside the living cells of a host organism.
Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) Virus: A virus whose genetic material consists of a single strand of ribonucleic acid (RNA), which carries the genetic instructions required for viral replication.
Bornaviridae: A family of RNA viruses known to infect birds and mammals, primarily affecting the nervous system and causing neurological disorders.
Target Species
PaBV-4 primarily infects psittacine birds.
Psittacine Birds: Birds belonging to the order Psittaciformes, which includes parrots and their close relatives.
The virus commonly affects species such as:
Parrots
Macaws
Cockatiels
Cockatoos
Other members of the parrot family
These birds are highly susceptible to infection, particularly in captive environments where close contact facilitates disease transmission.
Transmission
Parrot Bornavirus 4 is highly transmissible and spreads through multiple routes.
Major modes of transmission include:
Contaminated food
Fecal matter (bird droppings)
Aerosols
Aerosols: Tiny droplets or particles suspended in the air that can carry infectious agents and spread disease when inhaled.
The ease of transmission makes the virus particularly difficult to control in aviaries, breeding facilities, and other settings where birds are housed together.
Treatment and Public Health Significance
At present:
No vaccine is available to prevent PaBV-4 infection.
No specific cure or antiviral treatment exists for infected birds.
Consequently, disease management relies mainly on:
Early detection,
Biosecurity measures,
Isolation of infected birds, and
Good hygiene practices in captive bird facilities.
Importantly, PaBV-4 is not considered a zoonotic disease.
Zoonotic Disease: A disease that can be naturally transmitted from animals to humans.
Since PaBV-4 is not zoonotic, it currently remains an avian health concern and is not known to infect humans.
Major Threat
One of the most significant challenges associated with PaBV-4 is its high rate of asymptomatic carriage.
Asymptomatic Carrier: An infected individual that does not exhibit visible signs or symptoms of disease but can still transmit the pathogen to others.
Because infected birds may appear healthy while continuing to spread the virus, PaBV-4 poses a serious threat to:
Captive breeding programmes,
Aviaries,
Zoos,
Wildlife rescue centres, and
Conservation efforts for endangered psittacine species.
Undetected infections can facilitate rapid disease spread, jeopardising the survival of already vulnerable bird populations.
Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has recently withdrawn the Schedule K licensing exemption for medicinal products containing high concentrations of ethyl alcohol. This decision aims to curb the misuse of alcohol-containing medicinal formulations for intoxication, while ensuring stricter regulatory oversight over their manufacture, sale, and distribution.
Under the revised provisions:
Medicinal formulations containing more than 12% v/v (volume/volume) ethyl alcohol, and
Packed in containers exceeding 30 mL,
will no longer enjoy exemption under Schedule K. Instead, these products will now require appropriate licenses and have been brought under Schedule H1, making them prescription-only medicines.
Schedule H1 Drugs: A category of medicines that can be sold only on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner. Pharmacies are required to maintain detailed records of their sale to prevent misuse and over-the-counter availability.
Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol)
The regulatory change specifically targets medicinal formulations containing high concentrations of ethyl alcohol (ethanol).
Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol): A psychoactive, volatile organic compound commonly used in pharmaceutical preparations as a solvent and preservative, particularly in medicinal tinctures.
Psychoactive Substance: A substance that acts on the central nervous system, altering mood, behaviour, perception, or consciousness.
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC): An organic chemical that readily evaporates at room temperature due to its high vapour pressure.
Solvent: A substance used to dissolve other ingredients in pharmaceutical formulations.
Preservative: A substance added to medicines to prevent microbial growth and increase shelf life.
Medicinal Tincture: A liquid pharmaceutical preparation in which active medicinal ingredients are dissolved or extracted using alcohol.
Because ethanol possesses intoxicating properties, formulations with high alcohol content may be diverted for non-medicinal consumption if not adequately regulated.
About Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945
Schedule K is a part of the Drugs Rules, 1945, which were framed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940: India's principal legislation regulating the import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs and cosmetics, with the objective of ensuring their safety, efficacy, and quality.
Regulatory Exemption
Schedule K lists certain categories of drugs that are exempt from specified licensing requirements prescribed under the Drugs Rules.
Licensing Requirement: A legal authorisation granted by the regulatory authority for the manufacture, sale, stocking, exhibition, or distribution of pharmaceutical products.
The exemptions are granted because these products are generally considered to pose relatively low risks when used appropriately.
Scope of Schedule K
The primary purpose of Schedule K is to remove standard licensing barriers for the manufacture, sale, and distribution of certain low-risk household remedies and similar medicinal products.
Examples include:
Certain medicinal tinctures, and
Other specified low-risk formulations covered under the Schedule.
These exemptions facilitate easier availability of commonly used medicines while reducing regulatory burdens for products considered relatively safe.
However, the recent amendment reflects the Government's view that formulations containing more than 12% v/v ethyl alcohol in packs exceeding 30 mL no longer qualify as low-risk products, owing to their potential for intoxicating misuse.
Significance of the Recent Amendment
The removal of the Schedule K exemption means that such high-alcohol medicinal formulations will now:
Require appropriate manufacturing and sale licenses,
Be regulated under Schedule H1,
Be sold only on a valid medical prescription, and
Be subject to stricter record-keeping and regulatory oversight.
These measures are intended to:
Prevent diversion of medicinal products for recreational alcohol consumption,
Promote responsible dispensing,
Strengthen pharmaceutical regulation, and
Ensure that alcohol-containing medicines are used only for legitimate therapeutic purposes.
Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945 provides licensing exemptions for specified low-risk medicinal products under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, thereby facilitating their manufacture and sale. However, recognising the potential misuse of medicines containing high concentrations of ethyl alcohol, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has withdrawn the Schedule K exemption for formulations containing more than 12% v/v ethanol in packs exceeding 30 mL. By shifting these products to Schedule H1, the Government has strengthened regulatory control to prevent intoxicating misuse while ensuring their safe and appropriate medical use.
India Set to Launch its First Hydrogen Train under the "Hydrogen for Heritage" Project
India is set to achieve a major milestone in its clean transportation journey with the launch of its first Green Hydrogen-powered train. The Prime Minister will flag off the country's first hydrogen train on 17 July 2026 from Jind, Haryana, marking a significant step towards green, zero-emission rail transport and reinforcing India's commitment to sustainable development.
The project has been launched under the "Hydrogen for Heritage" Project, an initiative of Indian Railways aimed at introducing hydrogen-powered trains on selected heritage and environmentally sensitive routes.
Green Hydrogen: Hydrogen produced by splitting water (H₂O) into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis, using electricity generated entirely from renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. Since no fossil fuels are used during production, it is considered a zero-emission fuel.
Hydrogen for Heritage Project: An initiative launched by Indian Railways in 2023 to deploy 35 hydrogen-powered trains on ecologically sensitive, scenic, and heritage railway routes. Each hydrogen train is estimated to cost around ₹80 crore, while the required hydrogen infrastructure for each route is estimated at ₹70 crore.
Significance of Hydrogen Trains for India
The launch of hydrogen-powered trains has multiple economic, environmental, and strategic benefits for India.
1. Promoting Green Transportation
Hydrogen trains provide a zero-emission alternative to conventional diesel-powered trains, especially on non-electrified railway routes where electrification is technically difficult or economically unviable.
Unlike diesel engines, hydrogen fuel cells emit only water vapour, making railway operations cleaner and environmentally sustainable.
2. Supporting Climate Action
The introduction of hydrogen trains aligns with India's long-term climate commitments.
It contributes towards:
India's Net Zero Emissions Target by 2070
Indian Railways' objective of achieving decarbonisation by 2030
Net Zero: A condition where the total greenhouse gases emitted are balanced by an equivalent amount removed from the atmosphere, resulting in no net increase in emissions.
Decarbonisation: The process of reducing or eliminating carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from economic activities by shifting towards cleaner energy sources.
3. Boosting the Hydrogen Economy
Hydrogen trains will accelerate the development of India's Hydrogen Economy by creating demand for green hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and fuel-cell technologies.
This directly supports the objectives of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023).
Hydrogen Economy: An economic system in which hydrogen serves as a major clean energy carrier for transportation, industries, and power generation, replacing fossil fuels.
National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023): A flagship Government of India initiative aimed at making India a global hub for the production, utilisation, and export of Green Hydrogen while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
4. Enhancing Energy Security
Hydrogen-powered trains reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, thereby strengthening India's energy security.
The project also promotes the development of indigenous hydrogen technologies, contributing towards India's vision of achieving Energy Independence by 2047.
Energy Security: The ability of a country to ensure reliable, affordable, and uninterrupted access to energy while reducing dependence on external sources.
Challenges of Hydrogen Fuel Technology
Despite its significant potential, hydrogen-powered transportation faces several technological and economic challenges.
1. High Technology Costs
The production of Green Hydrogen and the manufacturing of fuel cells remain expensive, making hydrogen trains costlier than conventional railway technologies.
Fuel Cell: An electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of hydrogen directly into electricity without combustion.
2. Hydrogen Storage Challenges
Hydrogen has a very low energy density by volume and therefore must be stored either:
under very high pressure, or
at cryogenic temperatures (extremely low temperatures in liquid form).
Both methods require specialised storage systems, increasing costs and safety requirements.
Cryogenic Temperature: Extremely low temperatures (below −150°C) used to liquefy gases such as hydrogen for storage and transportation.
3. Limited Infrastructure
India currently has limited infrastructure for:
Green hydrogen production,
Hydrogen transportation,
Storage facilities, and
Refuelling stations.
Large-scale deployment will require substantial investments in supporting infrastructure.
4. Lower Energy Efficiency
Hydrogen-powered trains are less energy-efficient than directly electrified railways.
This is because electricity must first be converted into hydrogen through electrolysis and then reconverted into electricity inside the fuel cell, resulting in energy losses at each stage.
5. Safety Concerns
Hydrogen is highly flammable and requires specialised systems for:
Safe storage,
Leak detection,
Transportation,
Handling, and
Continuous monitoring.
Ensuring operational safety is therefore a critical requirement for hydrogen-based transport.
Working of a Hydrogen Train
Hydrogen trains operate using Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology, eliminating the need for diesel engines or overhead electric wires.
The working process can be understood in the following sequence:
Step 1: Hydrogen Storage
Hydrogen gas is stored onboard the train in specially designed high-pressure tanks.
Step 2: Electricity Generation through Fuel Cell
Inside the fuel cell, hydrogen reacts with oxygen from the surrounding air.
This electrochemical reaction produces:
Electricity (used to power the train), and
Water vapour (the only emission).
Thus, hydrogen trains are considered zero-emission trains.
Step 3: Continuous Power Supply
The fuel cell continuously generates electricity to operate the train during normal running conditions.
Step 4: Battery Energy Storage
The train is equipped with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries, which store surplus electricity generated by the fuel cell when the train's power requirement is low.
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄) Battery: A type of lithium-ion battery known for its high safety, long life, thermal stability, and fast charging capability, making it suitable for railway and electric vehicle applications.
Step 5: Additional Power During Acceleration
During acceleration or when higher power is required, the LiFePO₄ batteries supplement the electricity supplied by the fuel cell, ensuring smooth and efficient operation.
Step 6: Battery Recharging
When the train slows down or power demand decreases, the surplus electricity generated by the fuel cell is used to recharge the batteries, thereby improving overall energy efficiency.
China has imposed a temporary export ban on helium
About Helium
A colourless, odourless, non-toxic, non-flammable, inert noble gas and the second-lightest element in the periodic table.
Occurrence: Non-renewable; formed by radioactive decay of uranium and thorium and extracted mainly from natural gas.
Key Property: It has lowest boiling point among all elements.
Uses: MRI scanners, semiconductor fabrication, optical fibre manufacturing, quantum computing, leak detection, in rockets fuel system, etc.
Major producers: United States and Qatar
India is 100% import-dependent for helium, making supplies vulnerable to global disruptions.
Reusable Rocket
Japan's space agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has successfully conducted the first lift-off and landing test of its prototype Reusable Rocket, marking an important milestone in the development of reusable launch technologies.
Globally, SpaceX pioneered the operational use of reusable rocket technology through its Falcon 9 launch vehicle, demonstrating that rocket stages can be recovered, refurbished, and reused for multiple missions.
More recently, China also achieved its first successful reusable rocket landing, reflecting the growing global focus on reducing the cost of space access.
What is a Reusable Rocket?
A Rocket, also known as a Launch Vehicle, is a vehicle used to carry a spacecraft, satellite, or payload from the Earth's surface into space by generating thrust through the expulsion of high-speed gases.
Traditionally, rockets are expendable, meaning that after launch, their stages separate and fall into the ocean or burn up in the atmosphere, making them unusable for future missions.
A Reusable Rocket, in contrast, is designed to recover and reuse some or all of its components, particularly the first-stage booster, after completing a mission instead of discarding them.
First-stage Booster: The lower and most powerful section of a rocket that provides the initial thrust required to lift the rocket off the launch pad. After consuming its fuel, it separates from the upper stages and, in reusable rockets, returns safely to Earth for refurbishment and reuse.
The recovered booster typically lands either:
Vertically, using controlled rocket engines (as demonstrated by SpaceX's Falcon 9), or
Horizontally on a runway, depending on the vehicle's design.
After inspection, refurbishment, and refuelling, the recovered stage can be used again for future launches.
Benefits of Reusable Rockets
Reusable rocket technology offers several economic, operational, and environmental advantages.
1. Reduces Launch Costs
Since expensive rocket components are reused instead of being discarded after every launch, the overall cost of space missions is significantly reduced.
2. Increases Mission Frequency
The ability to rapidly recover, refurbish, and relaunch rocket stages allows space agencies and private companies to conduct more frequent launches, improving operational efficiency.
3. Promotes Sustainable Space Operations
By reducing the need to manufacture new rocket stages for every mission and minimising space launch waste, reusable rockets contribute to the long-term sustainability of space exploration.
4. Encourages Commercial Space Activities
Lower launch costs make satellite deployment, scientific missions, space tourism, and commercial space services more affordable, thereby supporting the growth of the space economy.
Space Economy: The full range of economic activities related to the exploration, research, development, manufacture, and utilisation of space technologies and space-based services.
India's Efforts in Reusable Rocket Technology
India is also developing reusable launch technology through the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
ISRO's Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Programme aims to develop a low-cost, reusable space transportation system capable of significantly reducing the cost of launching satellites into space.
A major milestone under this programme was the successful demonstration of the Reusable Launch Vehicle – Landing Experiment (RLV-LEX).
RLV-LEX (Reusable Launch Vehicle – Landing Experiment): A technology demonstration mission conducted by ISRO to validate the autonomous runway landing capability of a reusable launch vehicle.
During the experiment, the reusable vehicle successfully:
Navigated autonomously without human intervention,
Performed precise guidance and control,
Executed a safe landing on a runway, thereby validating critical technologies required for future reusable space transportation.
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