Content:

1. India, France to finalise ₹63,000-cr. deal for 26 Rafale-M jets on April 28
2. DRDO makes headway in hypersonic technology
3. Over a dozen annual reports of SC, ST and OBC panels yet to be made public
4. Kasturirangan took space to people, and beyond
5. Over 60% of world may have seen rapid temperature ‘flips’ between extreme heat and cold since 1961

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India, France to finalise ₹63,000-cr. deal for 26 Rafale-M jets on April 28

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Context :India and France are set to finalize a ₹63,000-crore deal for 26 Rafale-M fighter jets, scheduled for formal announcement on April 28, 2025.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance), GS 3(Defence)

Agreement Process: The deal, signed through a government-to-government (G-to-G) agreement, will be executed remotely. The French Defence Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, will sign on behalf of France, and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will sign for India.

Contract Details:

• The deal includes 22 single-seat Rafale-M jets capable of operating off aircraft carriers.
• 4 twin-seat trainer jets that are not carrier-compatible.
• Delivery of the jets will begin in 3.5 years and conclude within 6.5 years.

Previous Rafale Deal: This deal follows the earlier ₹60,000-crore agreement in 2016 for 36 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force.

Aircraft Compatibility:

• The Indian Navy currently operates two aircraft carriers: INS Vikramaditya (procured from Russia) and INS Vikrant (indigenously built).
• Indian carriers use a ski-jump for takeoff and arrester cables to recover aircraft with a tail hook.
• Modifications Required: Minor adjustments will be needed to accommodate Rafale-M jets on the lifts, designed for the MiG-29K jets.

Value Addition :Rafale Jets to India’s Defence Capabilities

• Advanced Combat Capabilities:
  • Rafale jets are equipped with multirole capabilities, allowing them to conduct air-to-air, air-to-ground, and anti-ship missions.
  • The aircraft’s high maneuverability and state-of-the-art avionics make it ideal for combat situations across diverse environments.
• Cutting-Edge Technology:
  • The Rafale is powered by the M88 engine, offering excellent thrust-to-weight ratio, enhancing its agility and speed.
  • Equipped with RBE2-AA AESA radar, allowing for long-range detection and tracking of enemy aircraft and missiles.
  • The SPECTRA Electronic Warfare (EW) suite provides enhanced protection by detecting and jamming enemy radar and missile systems.

• Carrier Compatibility:
  • The Rafale-M variant is specifically designed for carrier-based operations, offering India’s Navy enhanced capabilities for air superiority and precision strikes from its aircraft carriers, particularly on INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
  • This will significantly boost India’s naval strike power, allowing for enhanced flexibility and range of operations.

• Enhanced Operational Flexibility:
  • The Rafale is capable of carrying a wide variety of smart weapons, such as the SCALP cruise missile and Meteor air-to-air missile, giving the Indian Air Force and Navy a significant edge in terms of offensive strike and defensive air superiority.

• Interoperability with Existing Fleet:
  • The integration of the Rafale-M with the Indian Navy’s existing fleet of MiG-29K jets will enhance interoperability during joint operations, ensuring greater flexibility in mission planning and execution.

• Strategic Deterrence:
  • Rafales equipped with nuclear strike capabilities add a strategic deterrent element to India’s defense architecture, ensuring that it can counter nuclear threats with precision strikes.

• Indigenous Manufacturing Boost:
  • The Rafale deal contributes to India’s growing defense manufacturing capabilities. It strengthens the Make in India initiative by encouraging technology transfer, skill development, and setting the stage for future domestic production of advanced fighter aircraft.

• Operational Synergy:
  • Rafale jets will complement the Su-30MKI fleet and Tejas fighters in the IAF, enhancing force multipliers and providing synergistic effectiveness in multi-layered combat strategies.

• Pilot Training & Expertise:
  • The acquisition and operational deployment of Rafales will not only enhance the combat effectiveness of Indian forces but also upgrade training and technical expertise for Indian Air Force and Navy personnel, ensuring they remain at the cutting edge of air combat capabilities.

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DRDO makes headway in hypersonic technology

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Context : Significant Milestone in Hypersonic Weapon Development:

• DRDO achieved a key milestone by demonstrating the long-duration Active Cooled Scramjet Subscale Combustor ground testing for over 1,000 seconds.
• This advancement marks a significant leap in hypersonic technology, which involves speeds greater than Mach 5 (5 times the speed of sound), making it crucial for the development of next-generation weapon systems.

Relevance : GS 3(Science and Technology)

Progress from Previous Test:

• This test is a continuation of the earlier 120-second test conducted in January 2025, showcasing consistent improvements in the scramjet combustor’s performance and durability.
• The extended duration (1,000 seconds) further proves the system’s ability to maintain high performance under extreme conditions, a crucial aspect for the reliability of hypersonic weapons.

Technology Validation:

• The successful ground test validates the design of the scramjet combustor, an essential component for hypersonic engines, ensuring the system can withstand high heat and aerodynamic pressures during sustained high-speed flight.
• The test also validates the active cooling system used to protect the combustor from extreme temperatures, making it suitable for long-duration hypersonic flight.

Pathway to Full-Scale Flight Testing:

• With the successful ground test, DRDO has cleared a major hurdle in the development of flight-worthy scramjet systems.
• The next step involves the full-scale flight-worthy combustor testing, which will be a critical phase in advancing from laboratory demonstrations to actual operational systems.

Strategic and Tactical Importance:

• Hypersonic technology is a game-changer in defense capabilities due to its speed, maneuverability, and ability to bypass traditional missile defense systems.
• DRDO’s progress in hypersonic weapons will enhance India’s strategic deterrence, allowing it to develop weapons capable of reaching targets quickly, with the potential to evade interception.

Implications for National Security:

• A successful hypersonic weapon program will greatly enhance India’s ability to project power and secure its borders, particularly in the context of evolving geopolitical tensions and regional security challenges.
• The technology also aligns with India’s goals to advance self-reliance in defense, reducing dependence on foreign military systems and ensuring the development of cutting-edge indigenous defense technologies.

Global Competition in Hypersonic Technology:

• India joins a select group of countries such as the US, Russia, and China, who are already working on advanced hypersonic systems.
• As a result, India’s progress in this field is critical for maintaining its competitive edge in the global defense landscape and ensuring its military readiness in the face of emerging technological threats.

Future Prospects and Challenges:

• The successful testing lays the foundation for potential future defense applications, such as hypersonic missiles, boost-glide vehicles, and even space exploration technologies.
• However, challenges remain, including operationalizing the technology, ensuring scalability, and overcoming technical hurdles related to heat dissipation and materials engineering.

Make in India and Technological Advancements:

• This achievement supports the Make in India initiative, showcasing domestic technological capabilities and positioning DRDO as a key player in the global defense sector.
• The development of hypersonic technology highlights India’s growing expertise in advanced defense technologies, aligning with the government’s focus on enhancing indigenous defense R&D.

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Over a dozen annual reports of SC, ST and OBC panels yet to be made public

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Context : Delay in Transparency of Crucial Reports:

• Over a dozen annual reports from the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), Scheduled Tribes (NCST), and Other Backward Classes (NCBC) have not been made public for up to seven years.
• The NCSC and NCST have failed to submit their reports to the President for the past two years, while the NCBC has been unable to submit reports for the past three years.
• The delay hampers transparency and accountability regarding the implementation of policies aimed at the welfare of these marginalized communities.

Relevance : GS 2(Polity,Governance)

Constitutional Mandate for Annual Reports:

• Under the Constitution of India, these commissions are mandated to submit annual reports to the President on the implementation of safeguards for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
• These reports play a crucial role in assessing and recommending actions for the protection, welfare, and socio-economic development of these communities, as they provide the foundation for policy recommendations at the national and state levels.

Impact of Delays on Policy and Governance:

• The recommendations made in the reports often influence policy decisions on critical issues such as:
  • Reservation policies (for jobs, education, etc.)
  • Criteria for creamy-layer exclusion in OBC communities
  • Categorization of communities
  • Health and infrastructure interventions for marginalized communities.
• The delay in public disclosure and tabling of these reports in Parliament creates an accountability gap, limiting the ability of lawmakers and the public to assess the effectiveness of government policies aimed at the upliftment of SC, ST, and OBC communities.

Constitutional Oversight Mechanism:

• Regular tabling of these reports in Parliament is essential for parliamentary scrutiny and ensures that appropriate action-taken reports are discussed.
• The absence of these reports affects the oversight mechanism, preventing transparency in how well the government has acted on the recommendations provided by the commissions.

Reasons for Delays:

• Preparation of Action-Taken Reports: A major reason for delays is the time-consuming process of preparing action-taken reports that assess how the recommendations have been implemented by both Union and State governments.
• Wide Range of Issues: The reports cover a broad spectrum of issues, many of which require inputs from various State governments, further prolonging the process.
• Resource Constraints: Reports also face delays due to the limited resources available to the commissions for preparing the reports, as well as the priority given by nodal Ministries to the tabling of these reports.

Current Status of Reports:

• As of now, the NCSC’s 2022-23 report was submitted to the President in February 2024, but has not yet been tabled in Parliament.
• The NCST has five annual reports pending, ranging from 2018-19 to 2022-23, which have been submitted to the President but are still waiting to be tabled.
• NCBC reports for 2022-23 and 2023-24 are in the process of being printed and will be submitted to the President soon.

Challenges in Efficient Report Preparation:

• A former official from the NCST highlighted that resource constraints and prioritization issues within the nodal ministries contribute to delays in finalizing and tabling the reports.
• The lack of adequate resources in the commissions can affect their ability to draft, review, and submit the annual reports in a timely manner.

Consequences of Non-Disclosure:

• The failure to make these reports public undermines the accountability of the government and the commissions themselves, as they play a critical role in shaping policies that directly impact marginalized communities.
• Non-disclosure creates a lack of public awareness about the government’s actions in these sectors and deprives marginalized communities of the visibility they need for their issues to be addressed.

Way Forward:

• There is a need to streamline the report preparation process by allocating more resources to the commissions and ensuring that action-taken reports are prepared in a timely manner.
• The government should prioritize accelerating the tabling of pending reports in Parliament to enable proper scrutiny and policy adjustments based on their recommendations.
• Additionally, the regularity of report submissions and their timely presentation in Parliament should be considered critical to the proper functioning of the commissions and their constitutional mandate.

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Kasturirangan took space to people, and beyond

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Early Career and Growth:

• Dr. K. Kasturirangan began his career as an X-ray astronomer and quickly rose through the ranks, ultimately becoming the Chairman of ISRO from 1994 to 2003.
• His journey reflected both his scholarly services and his ability to shape the future of science, technology, and education in India.

Relevance : GS 4(Ethics and Personalities)

India’s National Space Program Under Kasturirangan:

• India’s space program began modestly in the late 1960s, amidst the dominance of U.S. and Russia in space exploration.
• Under Dr. Kasturirangan’s leadership, ISRO transitioned from an experimental phase to a fully operational phase, advancing significantly in earth observation satellites, communication satellites, and launch services.

Commercializing Space:

• One of Dr. Kasturirangan’s key initiatives was to venture into commercial space, marking a significant milestone by leasing 10 transponders of the INSAT-2E satellite to INTELSAT in 1999 for $10 million.
• This deal not only helped generate revenue but also made cable TV programming accessible to Indian households in regional languages, and enabled Indian TV programs to reach 47 countries.

Thematic Space Missions:

• Dr. Kasturirangan’s vision of “Space for Society” led to the introduction of thematic missions designed to serve real-world needs:
  • EDUSAT: Tele-education
  • INSATs/GSATs: Telemedicine and communication
  • RESOURCESAT: Earth resources management
  • METSAT: Meteorology
  • OCEANSAT: Oceanography
  • CARTOSAT: Cartography
  • Meghatropique: Earth science
  • ASTROSAT: Space science
  • Chandrayaan-1: Lunar science

National Natural Resource Management System (NNRMS):

• Dr. Kasturirangan championed the development of the National Natural Resource Management System (NNRMS), a system that enabled various government departments (agriculture, forestry, town planning, etc.) to leverage remote sensing data for effective resource management.
• This system helped the government agencies utilize space technology for on-the-ground applications, impacting sectors like health, education, and fisheries.

Launch Vehicle Development and ISRO’s Evolution:

• During his tenure, the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) were made operational, positioning ISRO as a complete national space agency capable of conducting complex space missions.
• These developments mirrored the progress made by more advanced space agencies, making ISRO more self-reliant in satellite launches.

Chandrayaan-1: India’s First Lunar Mission:

• Dr. Kasturirangan’s National Technology Day lecture in 1999 set the foundation for the Chandrayaan-1 mission, where he highlighted the possibility of India placing a satellite around the moon using the PSLV.
• This visionary lecture evolved into the Chandrayaan-1 project, which was officially announced by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on August 15, 2003.
• Dr. Kasturirangan’s leadership in forming the national task team, which eventually led to the successful Chandrayaan-1 mission, solidified his legacy in space exploration.

National Education Policy 2020:

• Beyond his work in space, Dr. Kasturirangan made significant contributions to India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, demonstrating his continued influence in shaping the nation’s future.

Political and Advisory Roles:

• Dr. Kasturirangan’s tenure as a Rajya Sabha MP from 2003-2009 and his role as the Chairman of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission showcased his ongoing commitment to shaping the country’s educational and technological landscape.

ISRO’s Transformation into a Global Player:

• Under Dr. Kasturirangan’s leadership, ISRO transformed into a global space agency, not only advancing in space science but also contributing to telecommunication, education, and disaster management through its innovations.
• His efforts in commercializing ISRO’s assets and expanding its mission set established a global reputation for India’s space program.

Legacy and Vision:

• Dr. Kasturirangan’s visionary approach and contributions to ISRO’s operational success, space science, and national development have left an indelible impact.
• His foresight in connecting space technology to everyday societal needs and making India’s space program self-sufficient and internationally competitive will remain a hallmark of his career.

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Over 60% of world may have seen rapid temperature ‘flips’ between extreme heat and cold since 1961

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Context :

• Temperature Flips Defined: Sudden shifts between extreme heat and cold over short periods.
• Widespread Occurrence: Over 60% of the world has likely experienced such events since 1961.
• Global Risk Zones:
  • Most impacted: Mid-latitudes (East Asia, eastern North America, parts of South America, Africa, and Australia).
  • Lower frequency: Tropics and polar regions.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)

Scientific Insights

• Understudied Phenomenon: While heatwaves and cold spells are well-documented, temperature flips are not.
• Drivers Identified: Rossby (planetary) waves are key atmospheric patterns influencing flip variability.
• Historical Trend: Intense flips possibly began in the early 20th century and have accelerated recently.

Projections for 2071–2100 (vs. 1961–1990 baseline)

• Frequency: ↑ by 7–8%.
• Intensity: ↑ by ~7.2%.
• Transition Duration: ↓ by 2.5–3.2% (i.e., changes become quicker).

Human and Ecological Impacts

• Health & Ecosystem Stress: Sudden changes strain adaptation capacity of humans, plants, and animals.
• Recent Example: April 2021 – Europe experienced frost damage following an abrupt temperature drop.
• Energy Demands: Warm winters followed by cold snaps create erratic energy needs, risking shortages, especially in low-income regions.

Equity & Exposure

• Highest Exposure: Asia, particularly South and Southeast Asia.
• Inequity in Impact:
  • Low-income countries: 4–6.5× higher exposure than global average.
  • Lower-middle-income nations: ~1.3× higher than global average.

Policy Implications

• Urgent Mitigation Needed: To address rising intensity and frequency of flips under climate change.
• Planning Required:
  • Climate-resilient infrastructure.
  • Strengthening energy systems in vulnerable regions.
  • Health and disaster preparedness systems.