Month: March 2025

1. Unleashing the Potential of Electronics Manufacturing in India About India aims to transform from a manufacturing hub to a key electronics design and manufacturing center. Key Points Global Share: China leads in global electronics manufacturing (28.4%), followed by the USA (16.6%), with India at 3.3%. Economic Impact: Electronics contributes 3.17% to India’s GDP, with the global market projected to reach USD 3.5 trillion by 2030. Export Growth: India's electronics production has significantly increased, from USD 48 billion in FY17 to USD 101 billion in FY23, and is expected to reach USD 120 billion by FY26. Global Value Chains: India's participation in the global electronics value chain is low (less than 1% of the global trade flow), significantly lower than Vietnam's. Challenges: The sector faces challenges including low global value chain integration, high import tariffs, a weak component ecosystem, limited R&D, skill deficits, and environmental concerns. Government Initiatives: Initiatives such as PLI Schemes, Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0), 100% FDI via the automatic route, and semiconductor manufacturing schemes are in place. Future Goals: India targets increasing its share in the global electronics GVC to 5-6% (USD 200-250 billion in exports) by 2030. Way Forward: Enhancing scalability and flexibility, strengthening industry-academia partnerships, and rationalizing import tariffs are crucial. Timeline FY17-FY23: Electronics production nearly doubled. FY26: Production expected to reach USD 120 billion. 2030: Global market projected to reach USD 3.5 trillion. 2030: Export target of USD 200-250 billion. 2. India's Unity in Diversity About India's "Unity in Diversity" celebrates integration without uniformity and diversity without fragmentation. Key Points Geographical Diversity: India features varied geographical landscapes with 8% of all recorded species. Religious Diversity: The religious landscape includes Hindus (82.41%), Muslims (11.6%), Christians (2.32%), Sikhs (1.99%), Buddhists (0.77%), and Jains (0.41%). Caste Diversity: India has a complex caste system with approximately 3,000 Jatis. Linguistic Diversity: Diverse language families including Austric, Dravidian, Sino-Tibetan, and Indo-European are present. Racial Diversity: The population comprises Indo-Aryans, Dravidians, and Mongoloids. Threats to Unity: Factors like geographical isolation, regionalism, inter-state conflicts, communalism, language issues, and forced assimilation threaten unity. Factors Promoting Unity: Unity is fostered by climatic integration via the monsoon, constitutional identity, a dual-language framework, pluralism, mutual respect, economic integration, and sports/cinema. 3. Indian Judicial Services About The concept of Indian Judicial Services is discussed amid concerns about judicial selection processes, highlighted by incidents like the discovery of burnt currency notes at a judge's residence. Key Points Concerns: Recent incidents involving judges have raised questions about accountability and the current selection system. Collegium System: The Collegium of Judges selection process faces criticism for its opacity and potential for nepotism. Need for Transparency: Calls for a transparent, merit-based selection process, similar to the UPSC civil service model, are growing. Potential Benefits of AIJS: An All India Judicial Service could create a more inclusive judiciary, allowing meritorious candidates from all backgrounds to compete. Proposed Recruitment: Entrusting recruitment to the UPSC could ensure a transparent selection process. Constitutional Basis: Article 312(1) allows for AIJS creation, requiring a two-thirds majority resolution in the Rajya Sabha. Legislative Process: Parliament can amend Article 233 by a simple majority to establish the AIJS. Service Scope: AIJS would include positions at or above the level of a district judge. Parliamentary Regulation: Parliament can regulate the recruitment and service conditions for AIJS appointees. 4. Impacts of Deep-Sea Mining About A recent study highlights the long-term environmental impacts of deep-sea mining, showing the seabed's failure to recover from mining activities over 40 years ago. Key Points Long-Term Impact: Deep-sea mining causes long-term sediment changes and reduces organism populations. Call for Moratorium: There are increasing demands for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. International Authority: The UN's International Seabed Authority discusses regulating deep-sea mining. Definition: Deep-sea mining involves removing mineral deposits and metals from the ocean floor. Types of Mining: It includes extracting polymetallic nodules, mining seafloor sulfide deposits, and stripping cobalt crusts. Extracted Resources: These sources contain valuable materials like nickel, rare earths, and cobalt. Resource Use: These materials are used in batteries, renewable energy tech, and everyday technology. Mining Technology: Deep-sea mining technologies are evolving, including pumps, AI robots, and advanced underwater machines. Environmental Concerns: Deep-sea mining can cause noise, vibration, sediment plumes, and light pollution, harming marine life. Authority's Role: The International Seabed Authority regulates deep seabed mineral exploration and exploitation. 5. Green Credit Programme About The Green Credit Programme is a market-based approach to incentivize voluntary environmental actions. Key Points Objective: It aims to advance 'LiFE' by incentivizing environment-positive actions from individuals, communities, and the private sector. Administration: The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) administers the program. Credit Trading: Green credits can be traded on a domestic platform, including for compensatory afforestation obligations. Registry and Platform: ICFRE is developing a Green Credit Registry and trading platform. Concerns: Concerns include potential "Green Deserts" and issues related to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Law Ministry's Caution: The Law Ministry noted that the EPA, 1986, did not support the green credit exchange model for compensatory afforestation. EPR vs. GCP: The Law Ministry distinguished between obligatory EPR and voluntary GCP. Need for EPA Amendment: Amending the EPA, similar to the Energy Conservation Act amendment in 2023, was suggested. 6. Bodh Gaya Temple About The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is a significant Buddhist site, notably marking Buddha's Enlightenment. Key Points Significance: It's a key Buddhist site, with others being Lumbini (Birth), Sarnath (First Sermon), and Kushinagar (Death). Historical Construction: The first temple was built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C., with the current temple dating to the 5th or 6th centuries. Architectural Importance: It’s an early brick Buddhist temple from the late Gupta period, influencing brick architecture. Buddha's Vajrasana: Ashoka’s stone slab marks Buddha's enlightenment spot. UNESCO Recognition: It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. Protests: Buddhist monks are currently protesting for the repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949. Historical Timeline: 3rd Century B.C.: Ashoka built the first temple. 629 A.D.: Hiuen Tsang visited during Harshavardhana's reign. 13th Century: Bakhtiyar Khilji's invasion ended Pala rule. 1590: A Hindu monk established the "Bodh Gaya mutt" during Akbar’s reign. 1949: The Bodh Gaya Temple Act transferred control to a committee with equal Buddhist and Hindu representation. 2013: Amendments to the BTA were made. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/ 1391

Month: March 2025

🚀 “31 March 2025 Current Affairs: The Hindu & Indian Express”

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