Content Artificial Intelligence for Culture and Languages Swavalambini Scheme Artificial Intelligence for Culture and Languages Concept & Rationale Meaning and Scope Artificial Intelligence for culture and languages uses computational tools for preservation, translation, and dissemination of heritage, enabling inclusive access to knowledge systems, governance, and public services in multilingual societies. India’s Linguistic Context As per Census 2011, India has 22 Scheduled languages, 99 Non-Scheduled languages, and thousands of mother tongues, necessitating technology-driven preservation and access frameworks for linguistic diversity and cultural continuity. Relevance GS I (Indian Society & Culture) Language preservation, cultural heritage digitisation, and protection of intangible heritage strengthen India’s pluralism, identity diversity, and intergenerational knowledge transmission. GS III (S&T, Economy) AI, NLP, OCR, speech tech applications in language ecosystems promote digital economy, creative industries, GI-based markets, and technology-driven livelihood generation. Practice Question “Artificial Intelligence can become a tool of cultural preservation as well as cultural homogenisation.” Critically examine. (250 Words) Constitutional–Legal Foundations Constitutional Support Articles 29–30, Eighth Schedule, and Directive Principles protect linguistic and cultural rights, legitimising state-led digitisation, language promotion, and technological preservation as instruments of constitutional morality. Democratic Pluralism Linguistic diversity strengthens unity in diversity, safeguards minority identities, and deepens participatory democracy, making language technologies tools for substantive equality and inclusive citizenship. Governance & Administrative Dimensions Language as Digital Public Infrastructure Under Digital India and National Language Translation Mission, language is treated as Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), embedding multilingual AI into e-governance, judiciary, and citizen service platforms for accessibility. Administrative Efficiency Multilingual AI improves last-mile delivery, reduces interface complexity, standardises multilingual records, and enables vernacular governance, supporting cooperative federalism and citizen-centric administration. Key National Platforms BHASHINI (NLTM, 2022) BHASHINI builds multilingual AI addressing language, digital, and literacy barriers through translation, speech-to-text, text-to-speech, transliteration, and document understanding, functioning as foundational language DPI. BHASHINI – Scale & Data Supports voice in 22 languages, text in 36 languages, hosts 350+ AI models/datasets, and has crossed 4+ billion language inferences, indicating large-scale multilingual digital adoption. BHASHINI – Use Cases Enabled real-time Hindi–Tamil translation at Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2.0 and powered Kumbh Sah’AI’yak chatbot at Maha Kumbh 2025 providing multilingual assistance in 11 languages. TDIL (Technology Development for Indian Languages) TDIL developed foundational Indian language computing tools like machine translation, OCR, speech systems, and transliteration, creating datasets and standards enabling scalable multilingual digital ecosystems. Anuvadini (AICTE) Anuvadini provides AI-based multilingual translation for textbooks and technical materials, integrates with e-KUMBH, and expands regional-language access to higher education and skilling ecosystems. Gyan Bharatam Mission National mission for survey, digitisation, and dissemination of manuscripts using HTR, OCR, and metadata extraction, enhancing discoverability and long-term preservation of traditional knowledge. Gyan Bharatam – Data 44 lakh+ manuscripts documented in Kriti Sampada; mission outlay ₹482.85 crore (2024–31) supports scaling digitisation, digital repositories, and public cultural access. Gyan-Setu National AI Innovation Challenge promoting solutions for cataloguing, script deciphering, and archival restoration, creating deployable prototypes and linking AI innovators with heritage institutions. Adi Vaani AI platform for tribal language preservation enabling real-time translation, speech transcription, and learning modules, covering languages like Santali, Bhili, Mundari, and Gondi to enhance inclusion. Economic Dimensions Creative Economy Multilingual AI boosts handicrafts, tourism, publishing, and GI products through better market visibility, storytelling, branding, and price discovery, integrating artisans into digital value chains. Livelihoods Voice-first vernacular interfaces reduce digital exclusion, enable e-commerce onboarding and skilling, and monetise traditional knowledge, strengthening sustainable livelihoods and dignity of labour. Social & Ethical Dimensions Inclusion Language AI supports mother-tongue education under NEP 2020, reduces the digital divide, and preserves intangible heritage, but requires safeguards against algorithmic bias and exclusion. Cultural Identity AI documentation of oral traditions, folklore, and indigenous knowledge strengthens intergenerational transmission, identity preservation, and cultural resilience amid globalisation and linguistic homogenisation. Challenges Structural Gaps Low-resource languages, dataset scarcity, limited digitisation capacity, connectivity gaps, and archival sustainability issues constrain the scalability of inclusive multilingual AI ecosystems. Ethical Concerns Risks of data extraction without consent, misappropriation of community knowledge, and cultural misrepresentation demand benefit-sharing, community ownership, and ethical AI governance frameworks. Way Forward Policy Measures Promote open interoperable datasets, community-led corpus creation, and archival capacity-building, aligning language AI with education, tourism, and creative economy policies for convergence. Inclusive AI Model Develop public-funded, open-source multilingual AI aligned with SDGs, preventing monopolisation of linguistic data and treating language infrastructure as a digital public good. Swavalambini Scheme Concept & Rationale Purpose and Vision Swavalambini Scheme is a women-focused entrepreneurship programme promoting entrepreneurial mindset, self-reliance, and enterprise creation among female students by combining training, mentoring, funding support, and institutional ecosystem linkages. Policy Context Aligns with Skill India, Startup India, and Women-Led Development vision, recognising female entrepreneurship as driver of inclusive growth, employment generation, and demographic dividend utilisation in emerging knowledge economy. Relevance GS I (Society) Promotes women empowerment, changing gender roles, and entrepreneurship culture among young women, aiding social transformation and reducing gender-based occupational gaps. GS II (Governance) Example of targeted policy intervention for women-led development, inter-institutional collaboration (MSDE–NITI Aayog), and outcome-based governance models. Practice Question Women entrepreneurship is key to achieving women-led development in India. Evaluate in the context of recent government initiatives. (250 Words) Institutional Framework Nodal Ministry & Partners Implemented by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) with NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform as knowledge partner, ensuring policy convergence, mentoring support, and innovation-driven ecosystem development. Implementing Agencies Executed through NIESBUD (Noida) and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE, Guwahati), leveraging their expertise in entrepreneurship training, incubation support, and capacity-building for scalable programme delivery. Coverage & Target Group Beneficiary Base Targets female students in HEIs and Universities, aiming to convert youth potential into entrepreneurial ventures, with structured exposure to schemes, credit access, compliance norms, and market ecosystems. Geographic Spread Pilot launched across Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana, reflecting focus on regional inclusion, North-East empowerment, and balanced spatial entrepreneurship development. Programme Design Multi-Stage Model Structured pipeline moves from Entrepreneurship Awareness (EAP) to Entrepreneurship Development (EDP) and finally 21-week mentorship, ensuring progression from ideation to sustainable enterprise formation with institutional support. Training Components Covers skilling, access to finance, legal compliance, market linkages, networking, and business services, addressing major entry barriers faced by first-generation women entrepreneurs in formal and semi-formal sectors. Capacity Building Faculty Development Faculty Development Programme (FDP) trains educators through five-day modules, creating in-campus mentors who institutionalise entrepreneurship culture and provide continuous guidance to aspiring women entrepreneurs. Mentorship Ecosystem Industry leaders and successful entrepreneurs provide practical mentoring, sharing real-world insights on risk management, resilience, market adaptation, and scaling strategies, strengthening experiential learning. Data & Performance Training Targets vs Achievement Out of 1,200 EAP target, 1,110 trained; from 600 EDP target, 302 trained; 75 FDP target fully achieved, showing strong awareness outreach but moderate conversion to advanced training. State-wise Overview Uttar Pradesh leads with 491 EAP and 254 EDP trainees, while North-Eastern states show high awareness participation but EDP still under implementation, indicating phased programme maturity. Financial Dimensions Budgetary Support ₹40.46 lakh allocated for training; ₹10.11 lakh released, indicating cautious pilot-stage financing with scope for scale-up based on outcome evaluation and demonstrated success. Governance & Monitoring Oversight Mechanism MSDE and NITI Aayog maintain monitoring and evaluation frameworks tracking progress, outcomes, and impact, ensuring accountability, data-driven policy refinement, and evidence-based scaling decisions. Socio-Economic Significance Women Empowerment Promotes financial independence, leadership roles, and decision-making capacity among women, directly contributing to SDG-5 (Gender Equality) and enhancing female labour-force participation. Economic Multiplier Women-led enterprises generate local employment, diversified incomes, and community-level growth, strengthening grassroots economies and reducing gender gaps in entrepreneurship and asset ownership. Challenges Structural Constraints Barriers include credit access limitations, socio-cultural norms, risk aversion, limited networks, and market uncertainties, often discouraging women from transitioning from training to actual enterprise creation. Implementation Gaps Lower EDP conversion rates, limited scale, and pilot-restricted geography suggest need for stronger handholding, credit linkages, and post-training incubation support for sustainability. Way Forward Policy Measures Expand programme nationally, integrate with MUDRA, Stand-Up India, and Digital India platforms, and strengthen credit guarantees, incubation hubs, and market access support for women-led startups. Ecosystem Approach Encourage public-private partnerships, alumni networks, and digital mentorship platforms, ensuring continuous support beyond training and building resilient women entrepreneurship ecosystems.

Content Back on track Neither Surrender nor Triumph, Trade Pacts Mark India’s Growth as Negotiator Back on track Historical & Civilisational Context Diaspora and Cultural Linkages India–Malaysia ties originate from Chola maritime contacts (11th century) and British-era migration; today ~2.9 million Persons of Indian Origin (≈7–8% of Malaysia’s population) anchor cultural diplomacy, remittances, and business networks. Policy Continuity Malaysia has been a consistent partner since Look East Policy (1991) and Act East Policy (2014), supporting India’s sustained integration with ASEAN-led regional architecture and Southeast Asian supply chains. Relevance GS II (International Relations) Covers Act East Policy, ASEAN centrality, Indo-Pacific strategy, counter-terrorism cooperation, and maritime diplomacy in Strait of Malacca — core IR syllabus areas. Practice Question “Diaspora diplomacy has become a strategic asset in India’s foreign policy.” Examine in context of India–Malaysia relations. (250 Words) Geostrategic Importance Strait of Malacca Significance Malaysia borders the Strait of Malacca, a chokepoint carrying ~25% of global trade and majority of East Asia-bound energy shipments, making bilateral cooperation vital for SLOC security and anti-piracy coordination. Indo-Pacific Convergence Both countries endorse a Free, Open, Inclusive Indo-Pacific, ASEAN centrality, and UNCLOS-based maritime order, aligning with India’s SAGAR doctrine (2015) and Malaysia’s interest in stable sea-lane governance. Political–Diplomatic Dimension Diplomatic Reset PM Modi’s 24-hour Kuala Lumpur visit after postponing a 2025 trip signals political intent to stabilise ties despite friction over Malaysia’s calls for “dialogue and de-escalation” on India–Pakistan issues. Counter-Terrorism Alignment Joint statement condemning “terrorism including cross-border terrorism” marks convergence; cooperation spans intelligence sharing, UN coordination, and FATF frameworks to curb terror financing and safe havens. Economic & Trade Relations Bilateral Trade Profile Bilateral trade ~USD 19–20 billion annually; India imports palm oil, LNG, electronics, while exporting petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, machinery, positioning Malaysia among India’s top ASEAN trade partners. AITIGA Review Stakes Review of ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (2010) focuses on rules of origin, non-tariff barriers, and trade deficits, as India seeks to prevent rerouting of Chinese goods via ASEAN. Technology & Emerging Sectors Semiconductor Cooperation MoU linking IIT Madras Global and Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia supports India’s USD 10 billion Semicon India Programme, aiming at design collaboration, skill development, and supply-chain diversification. Digital & Energy Collaboration Cooperation in digital economy, fintech, and energy transition leverages India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (UPI, Aadhaar stack) and Malaysia’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem for mutually beneficial innovation. Multilateral & Regional Diplomacy ASEAN Signalling Visit reassures ASEAN after India skipped a summit; Malaysia matters as a founding ASEAN member (1967) and voice in consensus-based regional diplomacy affecting Indo-Pacific stability. BRICS Interface India “noting” Malaysia’s BRICS membership aspirations reflects cautious diplomacy; Malaysia is a BRICS partner country, while Indonesia’s entry increases ASEAN presence in BRICS. Challenges & Frictions Political Sensitivities Malaysia’s past remarks on Kashmir, Pakistan mediation offers, and hosting Pakistan PM (2025) created trust deficits, showing domestic politics can influence bilateral atmospherics. Irritants in Legal–Security Domain Continued presence of Zakir Naik, wanted under UAPA in India, remains a sensitive issue, though both sides avoided public confrontation to protect broader strategic ties. Way Forward Strategic Deepening Institutionalising cooperation in maritime security, counter-terrorism, semiconductors, and cyber security can shift ties from personality-driven diplomacy to stable, sectoral partnerships. Economic Consolidation Fast-tracking AITIGA review, supply-chain integration, and MSME partnerships can reduce trade imbalances and anchor ties in long-term economic interdependence within Indo-Pacific value chains. Neither Surrender nor Triumph, Trade Pacts Mark India’s Growth as Negotiator Structural Shift in India’s Trade Strategy From Protectionism to Calibrated Liberalisation India moved from pre-1991 import substitution and 150%+ peak tariffs to calibrated FTAs, using trade agreements to secure market access, technology inflows, and value-chain integration while retaining policy space. Trade as Geoeconomic Statecraft Trade policy now serves strategic objectives where tariffs, standards, and supply chains influence power equations; economic agreements increasingly complement diplomacy, security partnerships, and technology alliances. Relevance GS II (International Relations) FTAs, WTO negotiations, and geoeconomic diplomacy show how trade policy intersects with foreign policy and strategic autonomy. GS III (Economy) Direct relevance to FTAs, tariff policy, non-tariff barriers (SPS, TBT, CBAM), export competitiveness, and supply-chain integration. Practice Question “India’s trade policy has shifted from protectionism to pragmatic liberalisation.” Critically examine. (250 Words) Core Drivers of India’s Negotiating Behaviour Strategic Autonomy India’s FTA stance reflects strategic autonomy, seen in continued discounted Russian oil imports post-2022, prioritising energy security, inflation control, and fiscal stability over geopolitical pressure. Domestic Growth Imperative Aspiration to reach USD 5 trillion GDP pushes India to secure FTAs for FDI, export markets, and technology transfer, while shielding agriculture, dairy, and MSMEs from import shocks. India’s Negotiation Leverage Market Power With 1.4+ billion population and a rapidly expanding middle class, India offers one of the world’s largest demand markets, strengthening bargaining capacity in tariff schedules and services negotiations. Reciprocity Over Concessions Earlier vulnerabilities during U.S. GSP withdrawal (2019) and tariff disputes shaped learning; current negotiations emphasise reciprocity, safeguards, and phased liberalisation instead of unilateral concessions. Logic of Recent Trade Pacts Diversified FTA Portfolio India signed UAE CEPA (2022), Australia ECTA (2022), and concluded India–EU FTA (2026) ,reducing overdependence and building multi-market export resilience. Beyond Tariffs New-age FTAs cover digital trade, IP rights, clean energy, and services mobility, integrating India into high-value technology and knowledge supply chains beyond traditional goods trade. Developmental Trade-offs Sectoral Sensitivities India protects dairy, agriculture, and MSMEs due to livelihood concerns; sudden liberalisation risks import surges, rural distress, and deindustrialisation without competitiveness buffers. Standards as Barriers Rising non-tariff measures—SPS, TBT, and carbon standards like EU CBAM—increasingly determine trade outcomes, making regulatory alignment and domestic capacity crucial. Geopolitical Dimensions Multi-Alignment India simultaneously advances FTAs with EU, UK, Gulf, and Indo-Pacific partners, aligning trade with strategic groupings like Quad and IPEF without entering rigid blocs. Global South Positioning India champions policy space for developing nations in WTO debates on agricultural subsidies and public stockholding, projecting itself as a voice of the Global South. Way Forward Data-Driven Negotiations Stronger trade analytics, sectoral modelling, and stakeholder consultations can align FTAs with industrial policy, PLI schemes, and export competitiveness goals. Domestic Competitiveness First FTAs yield gains only with logistics reforms, skilling, infrastructure upgrades, and regulatory predictability, ensuring Indian firms compete globally rather than depend on tariff protection.

Content On Gravity’s Role in the Earth’s Journey Through Space India and Greece Agree to Strengthen Defence Industrial Cooperation in Five-Year Road Map Remembering Leo D’Souza, Who Transformed the Cashew Industry Bonded Labour Continues Despite 50 Years of Its Abolition From Maritime to Digital: India–Seychelles Give Ties a Shot in the Arm Rs 54,000 Crore Lost in Digital Arrests, This is Dacoity: Supreme Court On Gravity’s Role in the Earth’s Journey Through Space Source : The Hindu Gravity — The Fundamental Force Newtonian Gravity Isaac Newton (1687, Principia) formulated universal gravitation: every mass attracts another with force F = Gm₁m₂/r², explaining falling bodies, planetary motion, and tides under one framework. Why We Stay on Earth ? Earth’s mass ≈ 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg produces surface gravity g ≈ 9.8 m/s², strong enough to hold oceans, atmosphere, and living beings against thermal motion and escape. Relevance GS I (Geography – Physical Geography) Earth–Sun dynamics, revolution, seasons, tides, and planetary motion basics. GS III (Science & Tech – Space Science) Gravity, inertia, vacuum, relativity, satellite orbits, escape velocity concepts. Practice Question Explain how gravity governs planetary motion and tides.(150 Words) Gravity and Orbital Motion Gravity as Centripetal Force For orbits, gravity supplies centripetal force (mv²/r), continuously bending motion into a curve; objects move forward by inertia while gravity pulls inward, creating stable revolutions. Earth–Sun System Average Earth–Sun distance ≈ 149.6 million km (1 AU); Earth’s orbital speed ≈ 29.8 km/s (~1,07,000 km/h) keeps it bound without spiralling into or escaping the Sun. Scale of Earth’s Space Journey Annual Distance Traveled Earth’s orbital path length ≈ 2πr ≈ 940–1,000 million km/year, meaning our planet travels ~1 billion km annually, far exceeding everyday terrestrial travel scales. Human Perspective At 100 km/h, covering 1 billion km would take ~1 million hours (~114 years) of non-stop driving; Earth completes it in 365.25 days due to vacuum and inertia. Motion Without Fuel Inertia in Vacuum In near-vacuum space, negligible drag allows uniform motion without continuous energy input; per Newton’s first law, velocity persists unless acted upon by external forces. Why Cars Need Fuel ? On Earth, friction and air drag dissipate kinetic energy, requiring fuel to maintain speed; planets face minimal resistance, so no “fuel” is needed to keep moving. The Aether Hypothesis and Its Demise Aether Idea 19th-century physics proposed luminiferous aether as a medium for light and planetary motion, assuming space wasn’t empty but filled with an invisible substance. Michelson–Morley Experiment (1887) Precision interferometry found no directional change in light speed, delivering a null result that undermined aether and paved the way for Einstein’s relativity. Beyond Newton — Modern View General Relativity Einstein (1915) described gravity as spacetime curvature caused by mass–energy; orbits follow geodesics, explaining perihelion precession and gravitational lensing. Tides and Stability Solar–lunar gravity drives tides, redistributing oceans and affecting Earth’s rotation slightly; long-term orbital stability arises from conserved angular momentum and energy. Astrophysics and Indian Contributions Jayant Narlikar Prof. Jayant Narlikar, cosmologist and IUCAA founding director, advanced theoretical cosmology and public science; honoured with Padma Vibhushan (2004) for contributions. Scientific Temper Public outreach combating superstition aligns with Article 51A(h) duty to develop scientific temper, linking astrophysics education with constitutional values. India and Greece Agree to Strengthen Defence Industrial Cooperation in Five-Year Road Map Source : The Hindu Strategic Context of India–Greece Relations Civilisational and Maritime Legacy India and Greece are ancient seafaring civilisations with historical maritime trade links across the Mediterranean–Indian Ocean continuum, shaping long-standing cultural familiarity and strategic maritime consciousness. Strategic Partnership Framework Bilateral ties elevated to a Strategic Partnership (2023), reflecting convergence in defence, shipping, energy, and connectivity, and Greece’s support for India’s stronger engagement with Europe and the Mediterranean. Relevance GS II (International Relations) Strategic partnerships, defence diplomacy, Indo-Pacific–Mediterranean linkages. GS III (Security & Defence) Defence indigenisation, military cooperation, maritime security. Practice Question Analyse the role of defence diplomacy in strengthening India’s strategic autonomy. (150 Words) Defence & Security Cooperation Defence Industrial Collaboration Signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent launches a five-year defence industrial roadmap, aligning India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat with Greece’s Agenda 2030 defence reforms to co-develop capabilities. Military-to-Military Engagement A Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan (2026) institutionalises joint exercises, training, and staff talks, promoting interoperability and professional exchanges between armed forces. Maritime Dimension Convergence on Maritime Security Both nations share interest in secure Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs), freedom of navigation, and rule-based maritime order, vital for energy and trade flows. IFC-IOR Cooperation Greece deploying a Liaison Officer at IFC-IOR (Gurugram) strengthens information-sharing on piracy, trafficking, and maritime incidents across the Indian Ocean Region. Geopolitical Significance Mediterranean–Indo-Pacific Link Greece offers India a strategic gateway to the Eastern Mediterranean and EU defence markets, while India provides reach into the Indo-Pacific security architecture. Balancing Regional Dynamics Cooperation reflects shared interest in stable multipolar order, maritime security, and diversified defence partnerships amid shifting global power balances. Defence Industrial Relevance Make in India in Defence Collaboration supports India’s push to raise defence manufacturing and exports (target USD 5 billion annually) through technology partnerships and co-production. Niche Technology Scope Potential areas include naval systems, aerospace components, shipbuilding, and electronics, where Greece has specialised maritime-industrial expertise. Challenges Scale Constraints Greece’s relatively small defence market and fiscal limits may restrict scale, requiring focused niche collaboration rather than broad-spectrum projects. Regulatory Complexities Defence deals must navigate export controls, technology transfer norms, and EU regulatory frameworks, affecting speed of implementation. Way Forward Institutionalisation Regular defence dialogues, industry-to-industry linkages, and joint R&D platforms can convert declarations into tangible outcomes. Maritime & Tech Focus Prioritising maritime domain awareness, shipbuilding, and defence electronics can yield quick, mutually beneficial results. Remembering Leo D’Souza, Who Transformed the Cashew Industry Source : The Hindu Cashew in India — Agronomic & Historical Context Origin and Agro-Ecology Cashew (Anacardium occidentale), native to Brazil, was introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century to stabilise lateritic coastal soils, later evolving into a high-value plantation crop. Geographic Spread Cultivated mainly in Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, suited to tropical climate, 600–3500 mm rainfall, and poor lateritic soils. Relevance GS III (Agriculture & S&T) Plantation crops, biotechnology, tissue culture, value chains. GS I (Society) Women in agro-processing, rural livelihoods. Practice Question Discuss the role of biotechnology in improving plantation crop productivity. (150 Words) Economic Significance of Cashew Area and Production India has historically had ~5 lakh hectares under cashew (1980s baseline); today India remains among the top global producers and processors, though yield per hectare remains below potential. Export and Value Chain India is a major exporter of cashew kernels and cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) used in paints and lubricants; sector supports processing, packaging, and export-oriented MSMEs. Constraints in Cashew Productivity Biological Limitations Conventional propagation via seeds and grafting leads to genetic variability, uneven yield, and long gestation periods, limiting uniform orchard productivity. Structural Issues Challenges include ageing plantations, pest attacks (tea mosquito bug), climate variability, and smallholder dominance, reducing economies of scale. Role of Tissue Culture in Cashew Scientific Principle Tissue culture (micropropagation) produces genetically identical, disease-free plants under sterile conditions, enabling rapid multiplication of elite varieties and uniform orchard management. Why Cashew is Difficult ? Cashew is recalcitrant to tissue culture due to phenolic compound release that damages cells, making lab-to-soil transfer technically challenging compared to crops like banana or sugarcane. Leo D’Souza’s Contribution   Early Biotech Pioneer Established a tissue culture lab in 1975 (pre-DBT era), showing how individual scientific leadership can overcome institutional scarcity and build frontier research in developing countries. Landmark Breakthrough Achieved world’s first successful lab-to-soil transfer of tissue-cultured cashew in 1990, published in Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (1992) — a global scientific milestone. Socio-Economic Sensitivity Women-Centric Industry Cashew processing historically employed 80%+ women workers, often informal and underpaid; productivity gains can directly affect women’s incomes and rural welfare. Farmer Livelihoods Higher-yielding, uniform plants can stabilise farmer incomes, reduce risk, and improve raw nut supply for processors, strengthening the entire value chain. Static Policy Linkages Agricultural R&D Importance Case underlines role of ICAR, State Agricultural Universities, and DBT in crop improvement, biotechnology diffusion, and plantation crop research. Blue Economy & Coastal Development Cashew fits into coastal livelihood systems, agro-forestry, and soil conservation, linking with sustainable coastal development policies. Bonded Labour Continues Despite 50 Years of Its Abolition Source : The Hindu Concept & Legal Framework What is Bonded Labour ? Bonded labour refers to forced labour arising from debt, advance payments, or social obligations, where workers lose freedom of employment, mobility, and wages until debts—often inflated—are “repaid”. Legal Abolition The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, abolished bonded labour, extinguished bonded debts, criminalised enforcement, and mandated rehabilitation, release certificates, and legal protection for victims. Relevance GS II (Polity & Social Justice) Article 23, Bonded Labour Abolition Act, welfare state obligations. GS I (Society) Poverty, migration, caste-based vulnerability. Practice Question Why does bonded labour persist despite legal abolition? Suggest reforms. (250 Words) Constitutional & Human Rights Dimension Constitutional Violations Bonded labour violates Article 23 (prohibition of forced labour), Article 21 (right to life with dignity), and Directive Principles on humane working conditions and social justice. International Commitments India is signatory to ILO Conventions 29 and 105, obligating elimination of forced labour, making continued prevalence a breach of international labour and human rights norms. Scale & Data Evidence Sectoral Spread Bonded labour persists in brick kilns, construction, agriculture, mining, domestic work, garment units, and small manufacturing, largely within informal and subcontracted production chains. Regional Data West Bengal alone has ~11,000 brick kilns employing ~8 lakh workers (2020 estimate); between 2019–2024, 143 bonded labourers were rescued in multiple operations. Socio-Economic Drivers Poverty and Migration Seasonal distress migration from Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh fuels bondage, as migrants accept advances due to poverty, landlessness, and lack of social security. Wage and Work Conditions Low wages, long hours, restricted movement, workplace confinement, and denial of maternity and health benefits trap families into intergenerational bonded labour cycles. Intergenerational & Child Bondage Second-Generation Bondage Children inherit debt obligations, leading to second-generation bonded labour, violating Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and Right to Education (Article 21A). Recent Cases In March 2025, 28 children were rescued from brick kilns in South 24 Parganas, underscoring persistence of child bondage despite statutory safeguards. Governance & Implementation Gaps Weak Enforcement Poor inspections, delayed FIRs, low conviction rates, and local employer–official nexus weaken deterrence under the 1976 Act and IPC provisions. Rehabilitation Failures Delays in release certificates, inadequate compensation, poor livelihood support, and weak inter-state coordination lead to re-bondage after rescue. Federal & Administrative Challenges Source–Destination Disconnect Bonded labour involves inter-state migration, but weak coordination between source states (Bihar, Jharkhand) and destination states (West Bengal, Tamil Nadu) hampers monitoring and rehabilitation. Informal Economy Blind Spots Informality, subcontracting, and cash payments allow employers to evade labour laws, inspections, and digital wage tracking mechanisms. Ethical & Social Justice Dimensions Dignity of Labour Persistence of bondage reflects failure to uphold human dignity, equality, and freedom, reducing citizens to instruments of production rather than rights-bearing individuals. Structural Inequality Caste hierarchies, tribal marginalisation, illiteracy, and gender vulnerability deepen exploitation, making bonded labour a structural injustice, not an isolated crime. Way Forward  Legal & Institutional Strengthen district vigilance committees, mandate time-bound release certificates, enhance convictions, and impose strict liability on principal employers and supply-chain beneficiaries. Rehabilitation & Prevention Ensure ₹20,000–₹3 lakh rehabilitation packages, link victims to MGNREGA, PDS, housing, skilling, and create migration support systems in source regions. From Maritime to Digital: India–Seychelles Give Ties a Shot in the Arm Source : The Indian Express Strategic Context of India–Seychelles Relations Indian Ocean Geopolitics Seychelles’ location in the Western Indian Ocean near key Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) makes it strategically vital for monitoring maritime traffic between Africa–Middle East–Asia corridors. SAGAR Framework Engagement aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region, 2015) vision, emphasising maritime security, capacity building, and cooperative regional order in the Indian Ocean. Relevance GS II (IR) SAGAR, Indian Ocean diplomacy, small island partnerships. GS III (Security) Maritime security, MDA, anti-piracy. Practice Question Evaluate the significance of island nations in India’s Indian Ocean strategy. (150 Words) Maritime & Security Cooperation Colombo Security Conclave Seychelles joining the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)—with India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Bangladesh—strengthens regional architecture on maritime safety, counter-terrorism, cyber security, and HADR. Defence Collaboration India supports Seychelles via coastal surveillance radars, patrol vessels, hydrographic surveys, and training, enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) against piracy, trafficking, and illegal fishing. Digital & Development Partnership Digital Public Infrastructure Cooperation in digital governance, data-sharing, and digital transformation leverages India’s DPI model (Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker) to strengthen Seychelles’ public service delivery systems. Capacity Building Agreements on training, technical cooperation, and institutional capacity-building help Seychelles improve governance capability, maritime research, and disaster preparedness. Economic & Development Dimension Special Economic Assistance India announced a USD 15 million assistance package, including a USD 12 million Line of Credit and USD 3 million grant, targeting infrastructure, mobility, and maritime development. Blue Economy Linkages Cooperation supports blue economy sectors like fisheries, marine resources, and eco-tourism, aligning with Seychelles’ ocean-based economy and India’s Indo-Pacific outreach. Political & Diplomatic Significance High-Level Engagement Seychelles President’s visit within 100 days of assuming office signals priority to India ties; reflects mutual trust and continuity in diplomatic engagement. Shared Democratic Values Both nations emphasise rule-based order, sovereignty, and democratic governance, strengthening normative alignment in regional diplomacy. Regional & Global Implications Countering Extra-Regional Influence Strong India–Seychelles ties balance extra-regional naval presence in the Indian Ocean, ensuring smaller island states retain strategic autonomy and diversified partnerships. Western Indian Ocean Stability Cooperation contributes to stability in a region prone to piracy, trafficking, and climate vulnerabilities, reinforcing India’s role as a net security provider. Challenges Capacity Constraints Seychelles’ small population (~1 lakh) and limited fiscal capacity require sustained external support, making project execution and maintenance long-term challenges. Strategic Sensitivities Island states often balance multiple partners; India must ensure cooperation is transparent, demand-driven, and sovereignty-respecting to avoid perception of strategic overreach. Way Forward Institutionalised Cooperation Regular CSC exercises, joint patrols, and intelligence-sharing can institutionalise gains beyond leadership-level diplomacy. Sustainable Development Focus Integrating climate resilience, renewable energy, and coastal management into cooperation can align ties with SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and island sustainability needs. Rs 54,000 Crore Lost in Digital Arrests, This is Dacoity: Supreme Court Source : Then Indian Express Understanding Digital Arrest Frauds Modus Operandi Digital arrest scams involve fraudsters impersonating police, CBI, ED, or RBI officials, using video calls, fake notices, and psychological pressure to coerce victims into transferring funds to “safe accounts”. Scale and Trend Reported losses of ₹54,000+ crore indicate cyber fraud’s systemic scale; NCRB data shows cybercrime cases rising annually, with financial fraud forming the largest category of complaints. Relevance GS III (Internal Security/Cyber Security) Cyber fraud, digital economy risks, financial security. GS II (Governance) RBI regulation, institutional coordination. Practice Question Examine the rise of cyber financial frauds and regulatory challenges in India. (250 Words) Constitutional & Legal Dimensions Property and Due Process Coerced fund transfers violate Article 300A (right to property) and principles of natural justice, since deprivation occurs without lawful authority, consent, or judicial procedure. Statutory Provisions Offences fall under IPC cheating, extortion, criminal intimidation, and IT Act Sections 66C/66D; yet low conviction rates reflect jurisdictional and evidentiary challenges in cybercrime. Banking Regulation & RBI Oversight Fiduciary Duty of Banks Supreme Court termed banks “trustees of public money”, implying higher duty of care in monitoring abnormal transactions, beyond profit-driven facilitation of high-volume digital transfers. KYC–AML Framework Under PMLA and RBI Master Directions on KYC (2016, updated periodically), banks must detect unusual patterns, but real-time interdiction remains uneven across institutions. Governance & Institutional Gaps Fragmented Response Cyber fraud control spans RBI, commercial banks, state police, I4C (MHA), CERT-In, but fragmented databases and delayed coordination weaken rapid fund-freezing within critical time windows. Recovery vs Prevention Bias Court criticism that banks act as loan recovery agents highlights asymmetry: robust systems to recover bank dues versus limited urgency in safeguarding depositors’ funds. Technology Dimension AI-Based Detection AI and machine learning can flag velocity anomalies, mule accounts, and behavioural red flags, enabling automated pauses, step-up authentication, and alerts before high-risk transfers. Adoption Constraints Uneven deployment of RBI-backed analytics tools and fear of customer inconvenience reduce proactive blocking, allowing fraudsters to rapidly layer and disperse stolen funds. Economic & Social Impact Trust in Digital Economy Large-scale fraud undermines confidence in UPI and digital payments, potentially slowing India’s fintech growth and financial inclusion drive in a country processing billions of UPI transactions monthly. Household Vulnerability Victims often include elderly, retirees, and first-generation digital users, meaning losses hit life savings, affecting consumption, health security, and social stability. Ethical Dimensions Profit vs Protection Ethical dilemma arises if banks prioritise ease and transaction volume over safeguards; fiduciary institutions must balance innovation with depositor protection. State Responsibility As per welfare-state principles, regulators must ensure safe digital financial architecture, since individual citizens cannot counter sophisticated, transnational cyber networks alone. Way Forward Regulatory Reforms Mandate real-time risk scoring, cooling-off periods for large transfers, and compulsory alerts for first-time high-value payments to new beneficiaries across banks. Institutional Strengthening Create time-bound fund-freezing protocols, statutory liability norms for negligence, and unified cyber-fraud command centres linking banks, telecoms, and law enforcement.