Content:
- 1.There is progress on GM food crops, says official
- 2.Do not publish NIRF ranking for 2025: HC to Education Ministry
- 3.AAIB to conduct in-depth probe into all tail strikes involving IndiGo aircraft
- 4.In push for made-in-India browser, a mandate to trust govt. encryption
- 5.As temperatures rise, water level in India’s major reservoirs drops to 45%
There is progress on GM food crops, says official
Context: Supreme Court to hear petitions on GM mustard approval from April 15.
Relevance: GS 3 ( Ecology)
Supreme Court Hearing on GM Mustard
- The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions against GM mustard approval from April 15, 2025.
- The case challenges the Environment Ministry’s 2022 decision permitting the commercial cultivation of GM mustard (Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 or DMH-11).
- A three-judge bench will oversee the case, and all parties must submit written arguments within a week.
- Earlier, in July 2024, a two-judge bench had delivered a split verdict and instructed the Centre to develop a national policy on GM crops.
Government’s Stance on GM Crops
- The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, confirmed “progress” on GM crops but stated that the issue remains sub judice.
- DBT Secretary Rajesh Gokhale reiterated that GM mustard discussions are being revived.
- Science Minister Jitendra Singh emphasized that biotechnology is evolving rapidly, suggesting that policies should not be based on outdated views.
Current Status of GM Crops in India
- Bt Cotton (approved in 2002) is the only GM crop legally cultivated in India.
- GM Mustard received conditional approval from the Environment Ministry in 2022, but legal and activist challenges halted its implementation.
- The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), granted this approval.
Concerns & Opposition to GM Mustard
- GM Mustard was developed using public funds and was the first transgenic food crop cleared for cultivation.
- Activist groups and environmentalists raised biosafety concerns, leading to court challenges.
- Critics argue that GM crops may harm biodiversity, impact pollinators, and increase dependence on herbicides.
The Government’s BioE3 Policy & Future of GM Crops
- The government is promoting biotechnology through the BioE3 policy, which focuses on:
- Genetic engineering in agriculture
- Pharmaceutical advancements
- Development of new enzymes and precision farming technologies
- Bio-agriculture contributes 8.1% to India’s $165.7 billion bio–economy, valued at $13.5 billion.
- The DBT report highlights that genetically modified crops like Bt Cotton improve agricultural productivity and resilience.
Do Not Publish NIRF Ranking for 2025: HC to Education Ministry
Context:
- Recently, the Madras High Court has barred the Education Ministry from publishing the NIRF report.
Relevance: GS 2 (Education)
Court Order
- The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has barred the Education Ministry and the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) from publishing the NIRF 2025 rankings.
Petitioner’s Arguments
- NIRF rankings are based on self-reported data from institutions without independent verification.
- The ranking process lacks credibility and misleads students.
- Unlike the NAAC accreditation process, which involves audits and expert reviews, NIRF relies solely on unaudited institutional data.
NIRF Ranking Process
- Launched by NBA under the Education Ministry to evaluate higher education institutions.
- Institutions are ranked based on five categories:
- Teaching, learning, and resources
- Research and professional practice
- Graduation outcomes
- Outreach and inclusivity
- Perception
- Institutions upload data on student and staff strength, salaries, placements, and research funds, but no external verification is conducted.
Comparison with NAAC Accreditation
- NAAC’s Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) undergoes auditing and expert review, making it more reliable.
- The petitioner demanded that NIRF rankings should be verified against government records before publication.
Court’s Decision & Next Steps
- A Division Bench of Justices J. Nisha Banu and S. Srimathy has restrained the authorities from releasing the rankings.
- The court has sought a counter affidavit from the authorities.
- The next hearing is scheduled for April 24, 2025.
AAIB to Conduct In-Depth Probe into All Tail Strikes Involving IndiGo Aircraft
Context:
- AAIB is conducting a thorough investigation into IndiGo’s repeated tail strike incidents to identify potential systemic issues.
Relevance: GS 3 (Aerospace, Technology)
Comprehensive Probe
- The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will conduct an in-depth investigation into all IndiGo tail strike incidents.
- The decision was taken due to the criticality and frequency of such incidents involving IndiGo aircraft.
Recent Tail Strike Incident
- On March 8, 2025, an IndiGo A321 Neo (VT-IBI) suffered a tail strike while landing in Chennai.
- A tail strike occurs when the tail of an aircraft touches or scrapes the runway during takeoff or landing, usually due to excessive nose-up pitch.
- The same aircraft had a previous tail strike on September 9, 2024, leading to a five-month grounding before returning to service in February 2025.
- 190 flights were completed before the latest tail strike.
Pilot Experience & Flight Details
- The incident occurred during an annual proficiency check flight for a captain, supervised by a trainer.
- At the time of landing, the trainer was in command of the aircraft.
Investigation by DGCA & AAIB
- DGCA initially conducted the preliminary investigation.
- Due to significant internal damage, the incident was classified as “serious”, and the probe was transferred to AAIB.
- The investigation includes:
- Training procedures
- Aircrew profiling
- Potential procedural lapses
Ongoing Investigations & Airbus Inputs
- The September 9, 2024, tail strike investigation is still ongoing.
- Airbus has submitted its inputs to the probe agency.
- AAIB is analyzing all past tail strike cases to identify patterns or systemic issues in IndiGo’s operations.
In Push for Made-in-India Browser, a Mandate to Trust Govt. Encryption
Context:
- The Indian government awarded a ₹1 crore prize to Zoho Corporation (Tenkasi-based) as part of a web browser development challenge.
Relevance: GS 3 (Technology)
Purpose of the Browser
- Ensure a fully operational web browser within India, independent of global Internet access.
- Strengthen cybersecurity and establish an indigenous authentication mechanism.
Award Ceremony
- Zoho Corporation received the first prize from Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
- The prize, initially announced in 2023, incentivized the creation of a browser compatible with India’s latest root certificate.
Root Certifying Authority Context
- Definition: Root certifying authorities are 100+ global organizations that validate firms issuing Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates (seen as “https” with a green lock icon).
- India’s Authority:
- The Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, has developed an Indian root certificate.
- Historical Challenge (2014):
- A security breach at the National Informatics Centre (NIC) led to fake SSL certificates for sites like Google and Yahoo.
- In response, major browsers excluded CCA certificates from their trusted repositories.
- Current Status:
- Only one Indian entity, eMudhra’s emSign, is globally recognized as a trusted root certifying authority by mainstream browsers.
Strategic Motivation
- Contingency Planning:
- Ensures browser functionality even if India faces a global Internet cutoff due to security scenarios.
- Digital Sovereignty:
- By mandating trust in India’s root certificate, the government aims to reduce reliance on foreign tech and bolster national control over Internet security protocols.
Implications
- Technological Self-Reliance: The development of Ulaa marks a major step toward India’s digital autonomy.
- Security Enhancement: Addresses past vulnerabilities in the CCA certification system.
- Global Influence: Positions India to assert greater influence in Internet governance discussions.
As temperatures rise, water level in India’s major reservoirs drops to 45%
Current Status of Reservoir Storage
- Overall Water Storage: India’s 155 major reservoirs have 45% of their total capacity (80.7 BCM out of 180.8 BCM).
- IMD Prediction: Above-normal heatwave days expected between March-May, worsening the situation before the monsoon in June.
Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)
Regional Water Storage Status
- Northern Region (11 reservoirs in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan)
- Water level at 25% of capacity (lowest among all regions).
- Himachal Pradesh & Punjab saw 36% and 45% below normal storage respectively.
- Southern Region (43 reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala)
- Second lowest storage at 41% of total capacity.
- Western, Central, and Eastern Regions
- Western: 55% storage
- Central: 49% storage
- Eastern: 44% storage
State-wise Reservoir Deficit Compared to Last Year
- Lower than last year: Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand, Odisha, Nagaland, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand.
River Basin Water Storage Levels
- 20 river basins recorded, 14 had below 50% storage.
- Ganga Basin: 50% storage.
- Other Major Basins:
- Godavari: 48%
- Narmada: 47%
- Krishna: 34%
Implications of Low Water Levels
- Agriculture Impact: Low water availability may reduce summer crop yields before Kharif sowing.
- Heatwave Impact: Rising temperatures could further deplete reservoirs and increase water demand.
- Socio-Economic Impact: Affects irrigation, drinking water, power generation, and overall livelihoods.
- Hydropower Generation: Reservoir-dependent power plants may face reduced generation capacity.
Conclusion
- Immediate water conservation measures needed to manage supply until monsoon.
- Potential impact on food security due to reduced irrigation and crop production.
- Government intervention required for efficient water management and distribution.
