Content
Govt. to Streamline Its Public Communications Framework
Judges Are Conscious, Won’t Let AI Overpower Judicial Process: Supreme Court
Health Security → National Security Cess Bill, 2025 Passed
Right to Disconnect Bill Introduced in Lok Sabha
India–Russia Reiterate $100-Billion Trade Target by 2030
DRDO Successfully Conducts Indigenous Dynamic Ejection Test
Govt. to streamline its public communications framework
Why is this in News?
Centre has initiated a system-wide overhaul of India’s public communication architecture.
Reforms span human resources restructuring, technology upgrades, and real-time media response mechanisms.
A major proposal in advanced stages: Cadre restructuring of the Indian Information Service (IIS) to increase intake and reorganise roles.
Rising number of ministries, digital platforms, and citizen-facing schemes require a unified, data-driven communication system.
Last restructuring of IIS occurred in 2016; expansion of government communication needs has outpaced current cadre strength.
Relevance
GS-II: Governance, Polity
Government communication reforms.
Accountability, transparency, citizen–state interface.
Rights: privacy, information, media freedom.
Ethical public communication.
GS-III: Internal Security
Combatting misinformation/disinformation.
Crisis communication readiness.
What is the Indian Information Service (IIS)?
A Central Group ‘A’ service under Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
Functions:
Government communication & public information dissemination.
Media management across print, TV, digital.
Press Information Bureau (PIB), Bureau of Outreach and Communication (BOC), DD News, AIR News roles.
Crisis communication, fact-checking, public campaigns.
Recruitment: UPSC CSE.
What is Cadre Restructuring?
Change in sanctioned strength, hierarchy, and distribution of posts.
Objectives:
Modernise workforce.
Improve promotion avenues.
Add new roles, abolish outdated ones.
Align cadre with contemporary needs (digital, analytics, multilingual outreach).
What Exactly Is Being Revamped?
1. Human Resource Overhaul
Increase intake of IIS officers to cover growing ministries and communication responsibilities.
Reorganising functions:
Creation of posts in digital media, strategic communication, data analytics, behavioural insights.
Phasing out traditional press-centric roles.
Improving career progression to attract and retain talent.
2. Technological Infrastructure Upgradation
Real-time media monitoring systems.
Rapid misinformation tracking and counter-response architecture.
AI and analytics for campaign design, sentiment mapping, impact evaluation.
3. Unified Public Communication System
Integration of all departmental communication wings under a single coordinated framework.
Standardisation of messaging, tone, factual accuracy, and crisis protocols.
Why the Revamp Now?
Information ecosystem transformation:
800+ million internet users; explosive growth of social media.
Decline of print-first communication model.
Government expansion:
New ministries, schemes, and regulatory bodies → each requires specialised communication specialists.
Misinformation and national security concerns.
Global trend:
UK Government Communication Service (GCS), US Public Affairs Model rely heavily on data-led messaging.
Key Objectives
Real-time public communication.
Data-driven policy messaging.
Crisis communication readiness.
Unified narrative building across ministries.
Higher professionalisation of government communication.
Expected Implications
Faster misinformation response, aiding national security and public order.
Improved scheme awareness and behavioural change outcomes.
Professional, evidence-based policy communication.
Enhanced transparency if executed with accountability.
Better citizen engagement through multilingual, digital-first outreach.
Challenges / Criticisms
Risk of state propaganda if transparency safeguards are weak.
Centralisation may reduce autonomy of departmental communication teams.
Increased intake requires high-quality training in digital analytics, communication ethics, behavioural science.
Need to balance proactive messaging with citizens’ Right to Information (RTI) and privacy.
Constitutional & Governance Lens
Article 19(1)(a): Citizens’ right to information.
Supreme Court: “Right to know is essential for democracy.”
Public communication reforms must balance freedom of press, privacy, and state accountability.
Aligns with SMART Governance, Good Governance Indicators, and Participatory Democracy.
Comparison with Global Models
UK GCS: Highly centralised, analytics-heavy communication; rapid response unit.
US Federal Public Affairs Officers: Decentralised but coordinated; emphasis on transparency laws.
India’s model is moving closer to UK’s centralised GCS.
Judges are conscious, won’t let AI overpower judicial process: SC
Why is this in News?
Supreme Court observed that judges are “very conscious, even overconscious” about risks of generative AI (GenAI) in judicial work.
SC emphasised that AI will not be allowed to overpower judicial administration.
Comments were made while hearing a petition seeking guidelines or a policy regulating GenAI use in courts, tribunals, and quasi-judicial bodies.
Petitioner highlighted dangers such as:
AI hallucinations (inventing fictitious case law)
Bias propagation
Opaque data systems
Fake rulings generated by AI tools
Court allowed the plea to be withdrawn but permitted the petitioner to take the matter to the administrative side of the SC.
Issue arises amidst global debate over AI use in justice delivery systems.
Relevance
GS-II: Judiciary
Judicial independence & oversight
Regulation of AI in judicial administration
Natural justice and due process
GS-II: Polity
Article 14 (equality), Article 21 (fair procedure), Article 19(1)(a) (legal clarity)
Administrative vs. judicial domain governance
GS-III: Science & Technology
Ethical AI, algorithmic bias
AI hallucinations and explainability concerns
What is Generative AI in the judicial context?
AI tools capable of producing text, summaries, legal research, and even draft judgments.
Uses:
Case summarisation
Research referencing
Transcription (already used via SUVAAS, Vidhik Anuvaad)
Predictive analytics (risk of misuse)
What is AI Hallucination?
AI generating non-existent judgments, false precedents, or invented statutes—a major legal risk.
3. Judicial Administration
Includes research, drafting, decision-making, case management, court records, and adjudication.
Core Concerns Raised (As per petition)
1. Fake Judgments & Fictitious Case Law
GenAI can create fabricated citations, leading to wrong legal conclusions.
2. Bias Amplification
AI trained on biased data may perpetuate caste, gender, religious or socio-economic biases.
3. Lack of Transparency
Proprietary AI systems lack explainability → violates principles of natural justice and reasoned decision-making.
4. Data Ownership & Accountability
Judicial data must be:
free of bias
stored transparently
accountable to stakeholders.
5. Risk to Fundamental Rights
Arbitrary use of opaque AI tools may compromise:
Article 14 (equality)
Article 21 (due process, privacy)
Article 19(1)(a) (access to information, legal clarity)
What the Supreme Court said ?
Judges are “overconscious” of risks.
AI cannot replace judicial reasoning or adjudication.
Judges and judicial officers must verify all AI outputs, especially research.
Training camps are being conducted to familiarise judicial officers with risks and proper use of AI tools.
Instances of subordinate courts citing non-existent SC judgments were flagged as cautionary lessons.
Judicial Philosophy behind the Position
1. Human oversight is non-negotiable
Judicial discretion, empathy, context, and reasoning cannot be automated.
2. Rule of law requires interpretative judgment, not algorithmic output
AI cannot exercise conscience, proportionality analysis, or balancing of rights.
3. Protecting constitutional morality
Courts must prevent technological systems from undermining constitutional values.
Present State of AI in Judiciary
Already deployed:
SUVAS: Judicial translation system
SUPACE (SC): AI-assisted research (suspended over ethical concerns earlier)
National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG): Data analytics for pendency
Not deployed:
AI-driven decision-making systems (explicitly rejected by SC)
Governance and Policy
1. Need for Uniform National Guidelines
No statutory framework exists for AI use in:
subordinate courts
tribunals
quasi-judicial authorities.
2. Administrative vs Judicial Domain
SC suggested this issue is better handled on the administrative side than through litigation.
3. Regulatory Vacuum
India lacks:
Standards on AI explainability
Accountability frameworks
Data protection enforcement (DPDP Act partially applicable).
4. Comparative Global Context
EU AI Act: classifies justice-related AI as “high-risk”.
US Federal Courts: require disclosure if AI-assisted.
Canada: strict transparency mandates.
India has no comparable regulatory architecture yet.
Risks of Unregulated AI
1. Miscarriage of Justice
Fake case law may lead to wrongful convictions, incorrect civil rulings.
2. Data Bias
Sentencing or bail recommendations generated from biased data harm marginalised groups.
3. Accountability Failure
If a judgment uses AI reasoning, who is responsible for error?
4. Erosion of Public Trust
Justice system credibility depends on human deliberation, not probabilistic output.
5. Confidentiality Breach
AI tools may process sensitive case data without adequate safeguards.
Why the debate matters?
Article 21 – Fair Procedure
Automated, opaque decision-making violates due process.
Article 14 – Right to Equality
Algorithmic discrimination breaches equal protection guarantees.
Natural Justice
Right to reasoned decision → algorithms cannot provide judicial justification.
Benefits of regulated AI
Faster case summarisation.
Reducing pendency in procedural stages.
Improved access to legal information.
Assistance for judges, not replacement.
Real Policy Question
How to use AI as a tool without compromising judicial independence, fairness, and constitutional rights?
What should be the guidelines?
1. Mandatory human oversight
AI cannot draft judgments; must only assist research.
2. Verification requirement
Every AI output must be independently checked.
3. Transparency norms
Mandatory disclosure when AI tools are used in submissions or drafting.
4. Data governance
Only vetted, bias-audited datasets allowed.
5. Ethical and legal accountability
A responsibility matrix for errors arising from AI-assisted work.
6. Clear prohibition zones
No AI use in:
bail decisions
sentencing
adjudication of rights
constitutional interpretation
7. Regular training for judges
Handling AI tools safely, understanding limitations.
Implications for the Indian Justice System
Positive (with safeguards)
Efficiency gains in drafting/non-adjudicatory tasks.
Reduction in backlog.
Better multilingual access.
Negative (if unsupervised)
Threat to judicial independence.
Risk of fabricated precedents.
Erosion of citizens’ trust in the justice delivery system.
Health Security → National Security Cess Bill, 2025
Why is this in News?
Lok Sabha passed the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025 by voice vote.
The Bill levies a new cess on manufacturing units of paan masala and gutkha, with revenue earmarked for:
Strengthening national security, and
Improving public health.
Finance Minister clarified that defence modernisation is capital-intensive, and India must find additional internal resources.
Debate triggered due to:
Rising defence costs (precision weapons, autonomous systems, space assets, cyber warfare).
Public health hazards from paan masala/gutkha.
Ethical questions on funding defence via “sin goods.”
Relevance
GS-III: Economy
Taxation structure (cess), fiscal federalism
Resource mobilisation for defence expenditure
Pigouvian taxes and sin goods
GS-III: Security
Defence modernisation & capital-intensive warfare
National security financing models
GS-II: Governance
Public health policy (tobacco regulation)
Parliament’s role in budgetary decisions
BASICS
1. What is a Cess?
A cess is a tax levied for a specific purpose, over and above existing taxes.
Not part of divisible pool → not shared with states (goes to Consolidated Fund but is earmarked).
Used earlier for: Swachh Bharat Cess, Krishi Kalyan Cess, Health & Education Cess.
2. What is “Health Security se National Security” Cess?
Conceptually links public health risk mitigation with resource mobilisation for defence.
Levy on “harmful, addictive products” → paan masala & gutkha manufacturing.
KEY FEATURES
1. Target of the Cess
Manufacturing units of paan masala & gutkha.
2. Intended Use of Funds
National security preparedness, including:
Modern weapons
Surveillance systems
Cyber defence
Space assets
Upgradation & modernisation of armed forces
Public health improvement, addressing hazards of tobacco-based products.
3. Fiscal Rationale
Defence is capital-heavy → “precision weapons are not cheap.”
Defence allocation needs predictable, insulated revenue sources to avoid budget shocks.
WHY GOVERNMENT SAYS THIS IS NECESSARY ?
1. Modern Warfare = High Cost
Precision missiles, drones, autonomous systems, AI-driven warfare, space-based ISR are extremely capital-intensive.
India’s military modernisation is lagging relative to technological shifts.
2. National Security is Public Good
Cannot be compromised by cyclical budget pressures.
FM cited Operation Shakti, Kargil experience and the 1990s budget crisis, when only “70–80% of authorised weapons/equipment” could be procured.
3. Defence Sovereignty
Long-term self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta in Defence) requires sustained funding.
4. Public Health Justification
Paan masala & gutkha are linked to oral cancers, addiction, and large public health costs.
Higher taxation reduces consumption and funds treatment/prevention.
PUBLIC HEALTH DIMENSION
India has one of the highest global burdens of oral cancer, heavily linked to smokeless tobacco & gutkha.
A targeted cess aligns with WHO-recommended strategy: tax harmful goods + invest revenue in healthcare.
Addresses dual problems:
Reduce harmful consumption
Generate revenue for public goods (health + security)
NATIONAL SECURITY DIMENSION
1. Precision Warfare Era
Conflicts today require:
Hypersonics
Long-range precision strikes
Electronic warfare
Cyber resilience
Space-based surveillance
These drastically increase defence costs.
2. Need for Predictable Funding
Capital acquisitions must be multi-year; cess creates a dedicated non-shareable revenue pool.
ECONOMIC & GOVERNANCE ANALYSIS
Advantages
Pigouvian taxation: Taxing socially harmful goods to fund national goods.
Reduces public health burden.
Earmarks revenue for sectors often under fiscal strain (health + defence).
Politically more acceptable than broad-based tax increases.
Concerns
Regressivity: Cess may disproportionately affect lower-income consumers.
Narrow tax base: Revenue potential is limited; cannot substitute mainstream defence budgeting.
Centre–State tension: Cess is not shareable → States may lose potential revenue streams.
Moral argument: Linking defence funding to addictive substances may attract ethical criticisms.
Industry impact: Paan masala/gutkha units (many in MSME sector) may face higher compliance costs.
POLITICAL CONTEXT
Some MPs urged withdrawal of national awards from celebrities endorsing gutkha.
Widening debate on:
Tobacco advertising ethics
Public health priorities
“Sin tax” governance
Bill passed despite objections, signalling strong government push for defence-capex financing.
STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE FOR INDIA
1. Defence Modernisation Push
Aligns with India’s shift from manpower-heavy forces to technology-centric forces.
2. Health–Security Linkage
Recognises that national security is not only defence, but includes public health resilience (post-COVID learning).
3. Fiscal Innovation
Part of a global trend: countries using targeted levies for security preparedness.
POTENTIAL IMPACT
ON HEALTH
Higher prices → reduced consumption → lower disease burden.
More resources for cancer screening, awareness, PHC strengthening.
ON DEFENCE
Dedicated revenue stream for:
procurement
research
ammunition stocks
modernisation pipeline
ON INDUSTRY
Market contraction for paan masala & gutkha; may encourage diversification.
CRITICISMS & CHALLENGES
Cess proliferation creates non-shareable pools, weakening federal fiscal balance.
Should defence be funded via a stable tax base rather than “sin goods revenue”?
Risk of creating dependency on consumption of harmful products to fund essential sectors.
Implementing cess effectively requires tight monitoring to prevent tax evasion and illicit manufacturing.
Right to Disconnect Bill
WHY IS THIS IN NEWS?
NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule introduced a Private Member’s Bill in Lok Sabha proposing an employees’ Right to Disconnect — i.e., the legal right to ignore work-related calls, emails, and messages outside official working hours.
Bill seeks to address the modern crisis of overwork, blurred boundaries between home and workplace, and mental-health deterioration in an always-connected digital economy.
India currently has no statutory right to disconnect, despite rising cases of burnout, information overload, and 24×7 digital surveillance tools used by employers.
The Bill aligns with global moves (France, Portugal, Ireland) recognising disconnecting as a fundamental labour right necessary for work-life balance.
Relevance
GS-II: Social Justice
Labour rights, workplace dignity
Mental health and well-being as part of Article 21
GS-II: Governance
Regulation of digital-era work culture
Rights of gig workers and remote workers
GS-III: Economy & Technology
Digital tools, algorithmic management
Productivity vs. overwork dynamics
BASICS
1. What is the Right to Disconnect?
A labour right allowing employees to refuse work communications after official hours without penalty.
Protects personal time, rest, leisure, health, and family life.
Based on the principle:
“Work must end when working hours end.”
2. Why is this needed today?
Remote work, hybrid models, smartphones, and collaboration tools (WhatsApp, Teams, Slack) make employees perpetually reachable.
Overwork →
Sleep deprivation
Burnout
Anxiety & depression
Reduced productivity
Health disorders (cardiac risk, obesity, cognitive overload)
Especially severe in IT, finance, e-commerce, gig work, and start-up ecosystems.
3. Why a legal right?
Voluntary corporate guidelines lack enforceability; without law, employees cannot refuse after-hours work pressures.
KEY FEATURES OF SULE’S RIGHT TO DISCONNECT BILL, 2025
1. Right to ignore after-hour work communications
Employees cannot be penalised for not responding to:
Calls
Emails
Messages
Official digital monitoring tools
Outside notified working hours.
2. Employer obligations
Cannot force employee availability beyond hours unless mutually agreed.
Failure → penalties up to 1% of the company’s total remuneration bill.
3. Employees’ Welfare Authority (new regulatory body)
To frame rules for:
Work-hour boundaries
Digital communication limits
Monitoring compliance
To mediate disputes between employer and employee on work-after-hours issues.
4. Mandatory counselling services
Large workplaces must offer mental-health support for overworked employees.
5. Data collection & audit
Authority to set baseline metrics for continuous assessment of work-related stress and time-use patterns.
6. Negotiation committees
When Parliament is in session, employers must discuss and finalise disconnection norms with workers’ unions or representatives.
THE PROBLEM: WHY SUCH A BILL IS EMERGING NOW
1. Digital capitalism has erased boundaries
Employees remain “on-call” 24×7.
Increased notifications → cognitive overload (“info-obesity”).
2. Gig and remote work expansion
India has ~8–10 million gig workers; they face unregulated, unpredictable hours.
3. Mental health crisis
Burnout is classified as an occupational phenomenon (WHO).
Work-from-home during COVID accelerated the trend.
4. Feminisation of stress
Women face “double burden”: paid work + domestic labour.
5. India’s labour codes silent on digital after-hours work
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code doesn’t address digital-era work overload.
GLOBAL CONTEXT
France (2017)
First country to legally recognise the right to disconnect.
Companies with >50 employees must negotiate digital boundaries.
Portugal (2021)
Employers banned from contacting workers after hours except in emergencies.
Ireland, Italy, Spain, Belgium
National guidelines + statutory protections for workers’ digital disengagement.
Learning for India:
Legal frameworks help institutionalise mental-health protections and enforce predictable working hours.
GOVERNANCE & POLICY ANALYSIS
1. Labour Rights Perspective
Reinforces constitutional values under Article 21 (right to live with dignity, mental well-being).
Supports ILO principles on decent work.
2. Public Health Governance
Sleep deprivation & burnout are public health concerns → increase NCD risks and reduce national productivity.
3. Economic Impact
Balanced work regimes → higher productivity, innovation, employee retention.
Helps companies reduce burnout-driven attrition, especially in IT-BPM sector.
4. Technology Governance
Addresses ethical use of digital monitoring tools and employee surveillance.
Encourages transparency in algorithmically scheduled work.
CRITICISMS & CHALLENGES
1. Compliance cost for employers
SME/MSME sector may struggle to formalise strict digital boundaries.
2. Sectoral differences
Emergency services, healthcare, logistics, and 24×7 operations may require flexible norms.
3. Enforcement gap
Private Member’s Bills rarely become law (only ~14 passed since Independence).
Implementation may be difficult without strong trade unions.
4. Global competitiveness concerns
Some argue it may reduce responsiveness in highly competitive export sectors.
5. Cultural barrier
India’s corporate culture often normalises long hours → legal right alone may not fix mindset.
IMPLICATIONS IF THE BILL IS ADOPTED
Positive
Improved mental and physical health outcomes.
Clearer work-life boundaries.
Reduced information overload & burnout.
Better employee satisfaction and retention.
Progressive labour policy signalling globally.
Negative
Possibility of informal pressure continuing outside legal frameworks.
New compliance burden may deter startups.
India–Russia Trade Target of $100 Billion by 2030
WHY IS THIS IN NEWS?
India and Russia, during high-level meetings involving PM Modi and President Putin (BRICS & Annual Summit frame), reaffirmed their commitment to achieve USD 100 billion bilateral trade by 2030.
Russia emphasised it is a reliable supplier of fuel and will continue uninterrupted shipments to India.
Comes amid US-imposed tariffs and increasing Western scrutiny of India–Russia economic ties, especially following the Ukraine conflict.
India also pushed for rapid conclusion of the FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers.
Trade gap has sharply widened due to surging Russian oil imports and falling Indian exports.
Relevance
GS-II: International Relations
India–Russia strategic partnership
Energy security, defence cooperation
Multilateral linkages (EAEU, BRICS)
Navigating sanctions environment
GS-III: Economy
Bilateral trade imbalance
Currency settlement (rupee–rouble)
Oil imports and global supply chains
GS-III: Security
Defence logistics and spare parts dependency
Strategic autonomy
BASICS
1. What is the India–Russia trade relationship?
Traditionally driven by defence, energy, nuclear cooperation, fertilizers, and diamonds.
Post-2022, Russia became India’s largest crude oil supplier, radically altering the trade composition.
2. What is the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)?
A regional economic bloc led by Russia including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.
Negotiating an FTA with India since 2017.
3. Why are US tariffs mentioned?
The US introduced tariffs and sanctions related to geopolitical tensions, indirectly affecting global supply chains and trade flows with Russia.
India’s continued high-volume trade with Russia is closely watched by Western partners.
DATA: THE WIDENING TRADE GAP (Commerce Ministry)
Imports from Russia (largely crude oil):
2021–22: $6.9 bn
2022–23: $46.2 bn
2023–24: $61.15 bn
2024–25 (Apr–Aug): $63.81 bn (annualised trend)
Exports to Russia:
Remain under $4 billion, flat for years.
Result:
Massive trade imbalance, driven by discounted Russian crude flows.
CURRENT DRIVERS OF INDIA–RUSSIA TRADE
1. Crude Oil as the Dominant Component
India imported heavily discounted Russian oil after 2022.
Russia now accounts for 35–40% of Indian crude imports at times.
2. Use of National Currencies
About 96% of trade settlements in rupees and roubles, reducing dollar dependency.
Helps bypass sanctions-related transaction bottlenecks.
3. Russia’s role as a stable fuel supplier
Putin reassured India of continuous & uninterrupted shipments.
4. Defence & High-tech cooperation
Components, spares, joint ventures, and nuclear energy (Kudankulam) remain core areas.
WHY BOTH SIDES WANT THE $100-BILLION TARGET ?
India’s perspective
Secure long-term energy supplies.
Diversify away from Gulf dependence.
Gain favourable pricing in oil & gas.
Expand exports: pharma, agricultural products, machinery, engineering goods.
Promote India’s presence in Russia’s Far East through connectivity initiatives (INSTC, Chennai–Vladivostok route).
Russia’s perspective
Pivot to Asian markets after Western sanctions.
Stable buyer for oil, coal, fertilizers.
Attract Indian investments in infrastructure, mining, and energy in the Far East.
Strengthen geopolitical partnership amid global realignment.
STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES
1. Huge Trade Imbalance
India imports far more from Russia → unsustainable gap.
Indian exporters face logistical, payment & certification hurdles.
2. Payment & Currency Issues
Rupee accumulation in Russian banks is large; Russia wants to use rupees to buy Indian goods, but supply is limited.
Exchange rate volatility & currency convertibility constraints.
3. Logistics Bottlenecks
INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) still not fully optimised.
Limited maritime connectivity.
4. Sanctions Environment
Western sanctions complicate shipping insurance, banking channels, and trade finance.
Indian entities must navigate compliance risks.
5. Limited Indian Market Penetration
Lack of market awareness, limited brand presence in Russia, certification & regulatory hurdles.
FTA WITH THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION (EAEU)
India wants a swift conclusion because:
Benefits
Reduced tariffs → boost Indian exports.
Address non-tariff barriers (phytosanitary, certification).
Improve predictability in bilateral trade.
Help in rupee-rouble settlement mechanisms.
Strategic foothold in the Eurasian region.
Hurdles
Complex negotiation environment due to sanctions.
Sensitive sectors (metals, fertilizers) require careful balancing.
Logistics & standards harmonisation needed.
GEOPOLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR INDIA
1. Balancing Act Between West and Russia
India seeks strategic autonomy:
Buys Russian oil
Cooperates with Russia in defence
Deepens Quad partnership with US
Maintaining diversified partnerships mitigates geopolitical risks.
2. Energy Security
Russian crude provides price stability, reducing India’s import bill.
3. Defence Readiness
Russia remains major supplier of critical defence spares & technologies.
4. Strategic Presence in Eurasia
Connectivity corridors with Russia strengthen India’s Eurasian footprint vis-à-vis China.
ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA
Positive
Lower energy costs due to discounted Russian oil.
Opportunity to expand export base in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, textiles, auto components.
Investment openings in the Far East → minerals, hydrocarbons, infrastructure.
Risks
Overdependence on Russian energy.
Exposure to secondary sanctions.
Trade imbalance if exports don’t rise substantially.
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Build strong export support mechanisms
Market intelligence cells for Russia
Certification/standards harmonisation
Export credit, logistics subsidies
2. Accelerate INSTC operationalisation
Reduce transit time and cost via Iran & Caspian Sea.
3. Diversify beyond crude
Promote IT services, engineering goods, medical devices.
4. Currency mechanism innovation
Expand rupee-rouble convertibility windows
Explore digital currency settlement channels
DRDO Successfully Conducts Indigenous Dynamic Ejection Test
WHY IS THIS IN NEWS?
DRDO announced the successful dynamic ejection test of a new indigenous fighter aircraft crew escape module (ejection system).
The test took place at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh.
This marks a technological milestone in India’s defence aviation ecosystem, enhancing safety for pilots during emergencies such as high-speed crashes, mid-air failures, or loss of control.
The development strengthens India’s move toward self-reliance in advanced aerospace safety technologies, previously dominated by foreign suppliers.
Relevance
GS-III: Security / Defence
Defence R&D, aerospace indigenisation
Pilot safety and combat readiness
Support for indigenous fighter programmes (Tejas, AMCA, etc.)
GS-III: Science & Technology
High-speed aerodynamics
Rocket sled testing, flight safety systems
Indigenous engineering capabilities
GS-II: Governance
Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing
Reducing reliance on foreign suppliers
BASICS
1. What is an Ejection System?
A system designed to save a pilot’s life when the aircraft experiences catastrophic failure.
Includes:
Ejection seat
Explosive charges/rockets to propel the pilot out
Parachute deployment system
Survival kit
2. Dynamic Ejection Test
A high-speed test that simulates real-life aircraft escape conditions, including:
Aerodynamic loads
High-speed airflow
Changing acceleration forces
Seat–pilot interaction
Conducted on a “rocket sled track” to mimic aircraft speed.
3. Why dynamic tests matter?
Static tests cannot reproduce real conditions like:
High wind blast
Instability
G-forces
Canopy fragmentation
Pressure variations
Dynamic tests help validate crew survivability under extreme operational conditions.
THE TEST: KEY DETAILS
Conducted by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and TBRL.
Rocket sled propelled the ejection seat & dummy at simulated aircraft speeds.
System was tested for ensuring:
Pilot safe separation
Stable trajectory
Correct sequencing of explosive & rocket elements
Proper parachute deployment envelope
Involved:
Canopy fragmentation or breaking
Safe clearance from aircraft body
Avoiding seat tumbling
Ensuring steady descent
TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES
1. Simulating High-Speed Ejection
Faster aircraft (modern fighters reach >1.6 Mach) → greater aerodynamic forces.
2. Complex escape sequence
Canopy must shatter/jet away → seat rockets fire → seat stabilizes → parachute deploys.
Each step must occur within milliseconds.
3. Dummy behaviour
Human-like crash dummies mimic:
Body movements
Neck/torso response
Pressure effects
Ensures realistic data on spinal loads and shock absorption.
4. All-weather complexity
Ejections may occur:
At low altitude
High altitude
Low speed
Very high speed
System must handle flight-envelope extremes.
5. Safety margins
Preventing neck injuries, fractures, and uncontrolled spinning.
WHY THIS MATTERS: STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE ?
1. Critical for Indigenous Fighter Programmes
The ejection system is essential for:
LCA Tejas variants
AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft)
LCA Mk-2
Twin-engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF)
Future trainer and combat aircraft
2. Reduces Dependence on Foreign Suppliers
India historically relied on:
Martin-Baker (UK)
Russian K-36 systems
Indigenous system → cost reduction + strategic autonomy.
3. Enhances Pilot Safety
Pilot survivability affects:
National morale
Training costs
Military readiness
Losing pilots to avoidable ejection failures is unacceptable in modern Air Forces.
4. Boosts Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence
High-tech R&D ecosystem strengthened.
Spinoff benefits for space, missile, and aerospace sectors.
5. Supports High-Speed Future Platforms
AMCA, unmanned–manned teaming, and future air combat platforms will need advanced escape systems.
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT FROM THE ARTICLE
1. First-of-its-kind achievement
Rare capability globally; dynamic ejection tests require sophisticated rail-track rocket facilities.
2. Avoiding 1990s setbacks
Earlier generations of Indian aviation depended on foreign imports for survival equipment.
This test helps India avoid bottlenecks in supply chains due to geopolitical pressures.
3. Data gathered
Test generated critical data:
Oscillation dynamics
Parachute stability
Dummy kinematic response
Used to adjust seat design.
4. Actual dummy test
Test used a human-like dummy fitted with sensors that tracked:
Pressure
Acceleration
Impact loads
Flight dynamics
IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA’S DEFENCE CAPABILITY
1. Improves Aircraft Certification
Safe escape systems are mandatory for aircraft clearance.
2. Enhances Export Potential
Indigenous fighters with indigenous safety systems become more attractive for foreign buyers.
3. Strengthens R&D Infrastructure
RTRS facility’s success encourages more flight-safety and airframe-testing experiments.
4. Boosts confidence of IAF & Navy pilots
Reliable ejection systems improve operational confidence during risky missions.