Content:
- Buddhist monks protest against 75-year-old law that administers sacred site of Bodh Gaya
- Urban consumers are worried about their income levels
- Will Trump’s tariffs bring in a recession?
- India, Africa maritime engagement exercise begins off Tanzania coast
- DRDO tests laser weapon system that can disable missiles and drones
Buddhist monks protest against 75-year-old law that administers sacred site of Bodh Gaya
Historical & Religious Significance
- Mahabodhi Temple: Located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Recognized since 2002; attracts global Buddhist pilgrims.
- Religious Layers: Hindus view Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu; temple also houses Hindu elements like Shaivite mutt.
Relevance : GS 1(Society , Heritage , Culture)
Legal & Administrative Background
- Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949: Enacted to resolve Hindu-Buddhist disputes over temple control.
- BTMC Composition: Includes 4 Buddhists, 4 Hindus, with the Gaya District Magistrate as ex-officio chairperson (post religion-neutral since 2013).
- Historical Precedents:
- 1990s: Attempt by Lalu Yadav govt. to replace BT Act with a Buddhist-majority control bill — failed to pass.
Current Protests
- Started: February 12, 2025.
- Organisers: All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF), backed by Bhim Army and other Dalit-Buddhist groups.
- Demands:
- Repeal of the BT Act.
- Full control of temple by Buddhists alone.
- Removal of non-Buddhist members from temple management.
Financial Concerns
- Accusations: Disputes allegedly driven by control over temple donations and funds.
- FCRA Violation: In 2023, BTMC fined ₹80 lakh for FCRA violations.
- Transparency Issue: Annual report link on BTMC website is non-functional.
- Donations in Protest: Protestors circulating multiple bank accounts for contributions—raising concerns.
Political & Legal Landscape
- Supreme Court Case: 2012 petition to repeal the BT Act still pending.
- Recent Political Debate: Parliament discussed the issue during Waqf Amendment Bill (2025) debates.
Identity, History & Symbolism
- Historical Conflict: As far back as 1895, Sri Lankan monk Anagarika Dharmapala challenged Hindu control.
- Dr. Ambedkar’s Legacy: Protestors draw ideological inspiration from Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism.
- Cultural Erosion Claim: AIBF alleges Buddhist identity, culture, and rights are being diluted under the BT Act.
Way Forward
- Legal Resolution Awaited: District Magistrate and BTMC officials advise awaiting SC verdict.
- Government Inaction: No significant policy shift despite decades of Buddhist demands.
- Need for Dialogue: Deep-rooted religious, legal, and political tensions require multi-stakeholder engagement and mutual respect.
Urban consumers are worried about their income levels
Context : Divergence Between Employment Optimism and Income Pessimism
- 35.5% of urban respondents in March 2025 reported an improvement in employment opportunities over the past year.
- However, only 23.8% said their income levels had increased, reflecting a gap of nearly 12 percentage points.
- Indicates jobs are available, but they are not translating into higher earnings.
Relevance : GS 1(Urbanization), GS 3(Economy)
Reversal of Income Optimism Since March 2024
- Following recovery post-pandemic, optimism about income began declining from March 2024.
- This downward trend continued into March 2025, suggesting persistent income stagnation.
- Less than 1 in 4 urban respondents reported any rise in income.
Rural Income Pessimism More Pronounced
- 29.9% of rural respondents reported an income decline, compared to 23.3% in urban areas.
- This underscores the economic vulnerability in rural and semi-urban areas, even as job optimism was more urban-centric.
- The newly introduced RBI rural survey captures this emerging divergence in sentiment.
Rising Commodity Prices Pressuring Households
- Over 90% of urban consumers perceived a rise in commodity prices compared to a year ago.
- This perception aligns with broader inflationary trends, affecting basic consumption baskets.
Spending Has Increased, But Not Due to Higher Incomes
- Over 80% of urban respondents said their spending had increased over the past year.
- Since incomes are stagnant, increased spending is likely due to price inflation rather than lifestyle upgrades.
- Implies a strain on household budgets, possibly eroding savings or increasing credit dependency.
Deterioration in Overall Economic Sentiment
- Only 34.7% of urban consumers felt the overall economic situation improved compared to the previous year.
- This is the lowest percentage in over a year, showing a disconnect between employment gains and quality of life.
- Suggests that macroeconomic recovery is not being felt at the household level.
Key Takeaways
- Urban employment scenario shows signs of recovery, but quality of employment (in terms of wages) is questionable.
- Rising cost of living amid stagnant wages is causing consumer stress and economic pessimism.
- Rural India is facing deeper income-related challenges, possibly due to agricultural distress or lack of diversified rural employment.
- The mismatch between employment optimism and economic pessimism suggests a K-shaped recovery, with uneven benefits across sectors and regions.
Will Trump’s tariffs bring in a recession?
Backdrop: Shift from Globalisation to Protectionism
- The U.S., historically the strongest proponent of free trade, has reversed roles under Trump, imposing blanket tariffs of at least 10% on all imports from April 2, 2025.
- This aggressive stance threatens the global trade architecture crafted post-WWII and nurtured by the U.S. itself.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)
Trump’s Tariff Offensive
- New U.S. tariff regime:
- Baseline: 10% tariff on all imports.
- Higher “reciprocal” tariffs:
- EU – 20%
- India – 27%
- Vietnam – 46%
- China – 145%
- Already imposed:
- Mexico and Canada – 25%
- Markets reacted negatively: Sharp stock market declines due to fears of a prolonged trade war.
- April 9 rollback: A 90-day pause on tariffs (except China), signalling economic distress and uncertainty.
Economic Impact on the U.S.
- Import cost surge: Example – A product from Vietnam now costs $146 vs. $103 earlier (due to tariff rise from 3% to 46%).
- Domestic inflation threat:
- Higher consumer prices due to costlier imports.
- Burden on ordinary Americans, especially low-income households.
- Domestic manufacturers may not be ready to fill the supply gap quickly – supply shocks and shortages possible.
- The move may trigger a recession through:
- Reduced consumption due to high inflation.
- Retaliatory tariffs from major trading partners.
- Global demand contraction.
Global Retaliation and Recession Risks
- China’s counterattack:
- 125% tariffs on U.S. goods.
- Vows to “fight till the end”.
- Global trade contraction risk:
- As the world’s two largest economies lock horns, global supply chains may disintegrate.
- Other countries, dependent on export-led growth, especially vulnerable.
China’s Strategic Response
- Long-term decoupling strategy:
- Share of exports in GDP down: 35% (2012) ➝ 19.7% (2023).
- Exports to the U.S. as % of total exports down: 21% (2006) ➝ 16.2% (2022).
- Focused investments in:
- AI, EVs, R&D, and tech self-sufficiency.
- Production relocation strategy:
- Built deep East Asian supply chains (e.g., in Vietnam) to bypass U.S. tariffs.
India’s Dilemma
- Major U.S. trade partner:
- India exports $91 billion worth to the U.S. (2022).
- A tariff hike of 27% could hurt critical export sectors like textiles, engineering goods.
- Muted direct impact:
- Exports form only ~21.8% of India’s GDP → impact manageable.
- No increase in tariffs on India’s pharma and services exports – a relief.
- Challenges remain:
- India’s manufacturing sector is still weak.
- Tariff protection + PLI scheme not enough to spur robust industrial revival.
- Lack of coherent industrial policy and low private investment hurt competitiveness.
Broader Implications
- Dollar dominance and trade deficit:
- U.S. trade deficit: $1.31 trillion (2022), or 5% of GDP.
- Sustained by global demand for the dollar (especially China buying U.S. Treasury bonds).
- Political motivation:
- Tariffs as a political tool to win working-class support, especially from traditional industries like steel and autos.
- Trump leveraging anti-globalisation sentiments for electoral gains.
Conclusion
- Trump’s tariffs = high-stakes gamble:
- Aimed at reviving domestic manufacturing but risking inflation, retaliation, and recession.
- Potentially triggers global economic slowdown, especially if China and U.S. decouple further.
- Countries like India must reassess industrial strategies, diversify export baskets, and enhance competitiveness to withstand global shocks.
India, Africa maritime engagement exercise begins off Tanzania coast
Strategic & Diplomatic Significance
- Inaugural AIKEYME Exercise: Marks a new chapter in India-Africa naval collaboration, showcasing India’s proactive maritime diplomacy in the Western Indian Ocean Region.
- India-Tanzania as Co-hosts: Reflects deepening bilateral defence ties, especially in maritime security.
- Supports India’s MAHASAGAR Vision: Aligns with PM Modi’s initiative – Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions, aimed at regional stability and inclusive development in the Indo-Pacific and Africa.
Relevance : GS 2(Internal Relations)
Participating Nations
- 10 Nations in Total:
- India + Tanzania (Co-hosts)
- 8 African nations: Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa.
- Significance: Indicates shared concerns and willingness among Indian Ocean littoral African states to address maritime security challenges collectively.
Naval Assets & Deployment
- INS Chennai (Destroyer) and INS Kesari (Landing Ship Tank – Large):
- Showcase India’s blue-water navy capabilities and amphibious operational reach.
- INS Sunayna (Patrol Vessel) as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR:
- Embodies India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policy.
- Carries 44 naval personnel from 9 friendly foreign nations, promoting multilateral crew training and collaboration.
Objectives & Activities
- Key Objective: Develop collaborative solutions to regional maritime challenges—piracy, trafficking, IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, climate security, and disaster response.
- Enhance Interoperability: Train navies for combined maritime operations and promote interoperability via multilateral drills.
- Ceremonial Diplomacy: Joint guard of honour, national anthem renditions by both Tanzanian and Indian bands—strengthens military diplomacy.
Broader Geostrategic Context
- India’s Maritime Outreach to Africa:
- Counters increasing Chinese presence in African ports and waters.
- Promotes India as a reliable and benign security partner in the Indo-African maritime domain.
- Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Focus:
- Reasserts India’s central role in IOR security architecture.
- Reinforces maritime domain awareness, capacity building, and cooperative security.
Long-Term Implications
- Institutionalisation of AIKEYME: Could evolve into a regular platform for India-Africa maritime cooperation, akin to Milan or IBSAMAR.
- Boosts Defence Industrial Collaboration: May open avenues for naval hardware exports, maintenance, and training with African partners.
- Soft Power Projection: Strengthens India’s image as a security provider and development partner in Africa.
DRDO tests laser weapon system that can disable missiles and drones
Technological Milestone
- DRDO successfully tested Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
- It demonstrates India’s entry into the elite club of nations possessing high-power laser weapon technology.
- Part of India’s push for indigenous, futuristic, and asymmetric warfare capabilities.
Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security , Technology, Defence)
Capabilities of the DEW Mk-II(A)
- High-energy laser system designed to engage and destroy aerial targets, such as:
- Fixed-wing drones
- Incoming missiles
- Surveillance equipment (sensors, antennae)
- Exhibits full-spectrum capability, including:
- Multiple drone attack interception
- Precision destruction at long range
- Lethal response within seconds of target detection
Key Features
- Lightning-speed engagement due to laser traveling at speed of light.
- Targets are identified via:
- Radar detection
- Electro-Optic (EO) system
- Laser beam causes structural failure or destroys sensitive components, including warheads.
Cost Efficiency
- Operating cost is extremely low — equivalent to the price of a few litres of petrol.
- Offers a cost-effective, low-maintenance alternative to conventional ammunition-based defense.
Strategic Significance
- Strengthens India’s counter-drone and air defense architecture amid rising drone threats.
- Helps in reducing dependence on kinetic weapons and foreign arms imports.
- Can be deployed in border areas, naval ships, and for critical infrastructure protection.
Broader Implications
- Enhances India’s reputation as a technology leader in defense innovation.
- Promotes Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives in high-end defense R&D.
- Could revolutionize rules of engagement in future warfare by reducing collateral damage and ammunition logistics.
Location & Test Environment
- Test conducted at National Open Air Range, Kurnool, a dedicated testing facility for advanced defense systems.
- Demonstration in real-world conditions boosts combat readiness of the technology
