Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile and its Simonyi Survey Telescope, which is equipped with the world’s largest camera and promises to revolutionize astronomy.

Key Highlights

Telescope Features:

• World’s largest digital camera and a wide field of view equivalent to 40 full moons aligned in a row.
• Utilizes a unique three-mirror system for exceptional image depth and clarity.
• Will capture 20 terabytes of data every night for 10 years.

Major Scientific Objectives:

1. Milky Way Structure – Map and understand the detailed structure of our galaxy.
2. Dark Matter & Dark Energy – Help unravel the nature of unseen forces/substances.
3. Solar System Census – Discover millions of new asteroids and comets.
4. The Changing Sky – Provide a time-lapse view of the dynamic cosmos.

Observational Method:

• Unlike traditional telescopes, Rubin will scan the sky continuously, without pre-selecting targets.
• Its software can compare new images with old ones to automatically detect changes.

Significance

• Expected to catalogue 17 billion stars, 20 billion galaxies, and around 100,000 near-Earth objects.
• Has already identified 2,140 new asteroids within 10 hours of engineering data.
• Named after Vera Rubin, who confirmed the existence of dark matter.

Learning Corner:

India has established several important space observatories to advance astronomical research and space science. Here are the major ones:

Astrosat – India’s First Dedicated Space Observatory

• Launched by: ISRO (September 28, 2015)
• Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (~650 km)
• Purpose: Multi-wavelength space telescope — observes cosmic sources in UV, visible, and X-ray bands simultaneously.
• Significance:
  • India’s counterpart to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope
  • Used for studying black holes, neutron stars, supernovae, and galaxy evolution

Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), Hanle – Ground-Based

• Location: Hanle, Ladakh (4,500 m above sea level)
• Operated by: Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)
• Features:
  • One of the highest altitude observatories in the world
  • Home to the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) – optical and near-infrared telescope
• Importance: Ideal location for astronomical observations due to clear skies and low humidity.

GROWTH-India Telescope

• Location: Hanle, Ladakh
• Joint Project: IIA and IIT Bombay under a global collaboration
• Purpose: Time-domain astronomy — rapid follow-up of transient events like gamma-ray bursts and gravitational wave sources

Vainu Bappu Observatory (VBO)

• Location: Kavalur, Tamil Nadu
• Managed by: Indian Institute of Astrophysics
• Features: Houses the Vainu Bappu Telescope (VBT) — 2.3 m optical telescope
• Significance: One of Asia’s largest optical telescopes for visible light astronomy

Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO)

• Location: Fatehsagar Lake, Udaipur, Rajasthan
• Managed by: Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad
• Focus: Dedicated to solar observations
• Unique Feature: Located on an island, minimizing air turbulence for better image quality

Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Category: POLITY

Context: Two recent Delhi and Madras High Court rulings and the legal framework governing phone-tapping

Legal Framework for Phone Tapping

Government’s power to intercept communications is defined under three laws:

1. Indian Post Office Act, 1898 – interception of postal communication
2. Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 – tapping of voice calls
3. Information Technology Act, 2000 – interception of electronic communication (emails, messages)

• Section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act permits interception during:
  • Public emergency
  • In the interest of public safety

High Court Rulings

Delhi High Court:

• Upheld interception in a bribery case where corruption was deemed a threat to public safety.
• Cited the economic scale of the offence (₹2,149.93 crore) as justification.
• Emphasized the broad impact of corruption on public trust and national security.

Madras High Court:

• Quashed a 2011 MHA interception order due to lack of justification under “public emergency.”
• Stressed that tax evasion, in that case, did not qualify as a public emergency.
• Criticized outdated standards and lack of oversight in the interception process.

Supreme Court Precedent

• In 1997, SC upheld Section 5(2) but laid down safeguards:
  • Orders must come from the Home Secretary.
  • Must record “reasonable satisfaction” and the need to use phone-tapping as last resort.
  • Review Committee to examine each order within 2 months.
  • Rule 419-A of Telegraph Rules formalizes these safeguards.

Learning Corner:

Phone Surveillance and Violation of Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution – A Brief Note

In India, the Constitution guarantees several fundamental rights that can be impacted or violated by unauthorized phone surveillance, tapping, or hacking.

Fundamental Rights Involved:

Right to Privacy (Part of Article 21 – Right to Life and Personal Liberty)

• Recognized as a fundamental right by the Supreme Court in the landmark Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (2017) judgment.
• Phone tapping, surveillance, or unauthorized access to personal communication without legal sanction is a violation of this right.

Freedom of Speech and Expression – Article 19(1)(a)

• Constant surveillance can create a chilling effect on free speech, especially for journalists, activists, and opposition leaders.
• Fear of surveillance may deter individuals from expressing critical or dissenting views.

Protection Against Arbitrary Action – Article 14

• Any discriminatory or selective surveillance can violate the right to equality before law and equal protection of the laws.

Judicial View:

• In PUCL v. Union of India (1997), the Supreme Court ruled that telephone tapping infringes Article 21, and laid down procedural safeguards.
• Surveillance must be authorized, proportionate, necessary, and time-bound, or else it will be unconstitutional.

Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Category:SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context : The Golden Dome is a U.S. missile defence initiative announced by President Trump in 2025.

What is the Golden Dome?

It proposes deploying thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit, equipped with sensors and interceptors, to detect and neutralize threats like ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles across all phases of their trajectory—even from space.

Challenges to Space Law

1. Militarization vs. Weaponization

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans nuclear weapons in orbit but doesn’t explicitly prohibit conventional arms. The Golden Dome’s deployment of space-based interceptors blurs the line between peaceful use and militarization, raising legal and ethical concerns.

2. Space Arms Race

Countries like China warn that the project may provoke a global arms race in space. Since the Cold War, powers have avoided placing weapons in orbit. Golden Dome would break this precedent, potentially triggering copycat programs worldwide.

3. Legal Ambiguities

The treaty’s silence on conventional weapons creates ambiguity. Additionally, many of the Dome’s components are dual-use technologies, complicating oversight and raising suspicion about their true intent.

Technical and Strategic Hurdles

• High Cost: Estimated between $175 to $500 billion, the project faces skepticism over feasibility and sustainability.
• Satellite Constellation: Requires thousands of satellites, increasing the risk of space debris and vulnerability to countermeasures.
• Integration: Meant to complement existing ground-based defenses, but technical integration is complex.

Learning Corner:

Outer Space Treaty (OST), 1967

What is the Outer Space Treaty?

The Outer Space Treaty, officially known as the “Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies”, is the foundational international legal framework for space activities.

It was adopted in 1967 under the auspices of the United Nations and remains the cornerstone of global space law.

Key Features:

1. Peaceful Use of Outer Space:
   • Outer space shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes.
   • No placement of nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies.
2. No National Sovereignty in Space:
   • Outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, use, occupation, or any other means.
3. Freedom of Exploration:
   • All countries are free to explore and use outer space without discrimination.
4. Responsibility of States:
   • Nations are responsible for national space activities, whether carried out by government or private entities.
   • States must authorize and continually supervise non-governmental space activities.
5. Liability for Damage:
   • Countries are liable for any damage caused by their space objects to other countries or their property on Earth or in space.
6. Avoidance of Harmful Contamination:
   • States must avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies and must respect the environment of outer space.

Signatories and Legal Standing:

• As of 2025, the OST has been signed by 110+ countries, including major space powers like the USA, Russia, China, and India.
• It is legally binding, though interpretations vary, especially on issues like militarization vs. weaponization of space.

Source :  THE HINDU

Category: INTERNATIONAL

Context: In April 2025, China imposed strict export controls on seven key rare earth elements used in magnets, batteries, and high-tech industries.

Exporters must obtain licenses, undergo long approval processes, and disclose detailed end-user information. Quotas are now enforced on monthly exports.

Why It Benefits Beijing

• Geopolitical Leverage: China dominates rare earth mining and refining globally. The controls act as a strategic tool in trade negotiations, especially against the U.S.
• National Security: Restricting exports weakens rival countries’ defense and technology sectors.
• Diplomatic Pressure: The controls forced urgent engagement from major economies like the U.S., EU, Japan, and India.
• Influence over Supply Chains: The new licensing regime incentivizes cooperation with China, reinforcing its global dominance.

Why It Hurts Chinese Business

• Plunging Revenues: Chinese exporters suffered massive losses—magnet exports dropped 75% and U.S. shipments fell over 90% year-on-year.
• Global Disruptions: Auto and electronics industries in the U.S., EU, and India faced production halts.
• Domestic Strain: Weak EV demand and inventory build-ups forced Chinese producers to cut output by up to 15%.
• Strategic Risk: Other countries are accelerating efforts to diversify rare earth sources, threatening China’s long-term monopoly.
• Regulatory Burden: The new process adds red tape, uncertainty, and commercial disclosure risks for both exporters and importers.

Learning Corner:

Light Rare Earth Elements (LREEs)

(Atomic numbers 57–64)

1. Lanthanum (La)
2. Cerium (Ce)
3. Praseodymium (Pr)
4. Neodymium (Nd)
5. Promethium (Pm) (radioactive and rare in nature)
6. Samarium (Sm)
7. Europium (Eu)
8. Gadolinium (Gd)

Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs)

(Atomic numbers 65–71)

1. Terbium (Tb)
2. Dysprosium (Dy)
3. Holmium (Ho)
4. Erbium (Er)
5. Thulium (Tm)
6. Ytterbium (Yb)
7. Lutetium (Lu)

Associated Rare Earth Elements (often grouped with REEs):

1. Scandium (Sc)
2. Yttrium (Y)

Though not part of the lanthanide series, scandium and yttrium are included in rare earths because they occur in the same ore deposits and have similar chemical properties.

Uses of Rare Earth Elements:

• Magnets (Nd, Dy, Tb)
• Batteries (La, Ce)
• Catalysts (Ce, La)
• Lasers and Optics (Er, Ho, Tm)
• Nuclear Reactors (Gd, Sm)
• Green tech & electronics (all)

Source: THE HINDU

Category: INTERNATIONAL

Context: Refugee crisis in Mizoram due to Myanmar’s Chin conflict

Violent clashes between rival Chin armed groups—the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and the Chinland Defence Force (CDF)—have forced over 4,000 people to flee into Mizoram from Myanmar in the past four days. The displaced, mainly from border villages like Khawmawi and Rihkhawdar, are taking shelter in Mizoram’s Champhai district.

Zokhawthar, a key border village, has registered more than 4,000 adult refugees, with total numbers, including children, likely exceeding 5,500. Many are being accommodated by local families or in community and church halls, while civil society groups and the Mizoram government provide aid.

The crisis escalated after a June 5 shootout, during which CNDF reportedly captured eight CDF camps, triggering mass civilian displacement. Mizoram’s home minister reaffirmed support for the refugees, citing both ethnic solidarity and humanitarian duty.

This latest influx adds to the strain on Mizoram, which is already hosting over 30,000 refugees from Myanmar due to the ongoing civil conflict since the 2021 coup. With continued violence in Myanmar’s Chin State, there is no sign of an early return for the displaced, and the situation remains tense.

Learning Corner:

Myanmar’s Chin Conflict

Background:

The Chin conflict is part of Myanmar’s broader civil war that escalated after the military coup in February 2021. The Chin State, located in western Myanmar bordering India’s Mizoram, has seen intense fighting between ethnic armed groups and the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw), as well as internal rivalries between Chin resistance groups.

Key Actors:

1. Chin National Defence Force (CNDF)
2. Chinland Defence Force (CDF)
3. Myanmar military (Tatmadaw)

Both CNDF and CDF are armed groups primarily composed of fighters from the Zo ethnic community, which shares cultural and ethnic ties with Mizo people in India.

Geographical Context:

• Chin State borders India’s Mizoram and Manipur, making it a frequent refuge route during conflicts.
• The village of Zokhawthar in Mizoram has been a key entry point for displaced people.

Humanitarian Impact:

• Mizoram is already hosting 30,000+ refugees from Myanmar since 2021.
• The recent influx has strained local resources and relief mechanisms.
• Mizoram’s government has extended humanitarian support citing ethnic kinship and moral responsibility.

Significance:

• Highlights the fragile nature of ethnic resistance alliances in Myanmar.
• Poses security, humanitarian, and diplomatic challenges for India, especially in border management.
• Raises concerns about a long-term refugee situation with no political resolution in sight.

Source: THE HINDU

Introduction (Context)

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is a key health indicator reflecting the quality of maternal healthcare in a country.

As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) 2019-21, India’s MMR stands at 93 deaths per 1,00,000 live births, marking progress from 103 (2017-19). Despite national improvement, regional disparities remain high especially in Empowered Action Group (EAG) States.

What is MMR?

• The maternal mortality rate (MMR) represents the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births during a specific time period. 
• It’s a crucial indicator of maternal health and the quality of healthcare services during pregnancy and childbirth. 
• A high MMR indicates poor access to quality healthcare, inadequate management of pregnancy complications, and broader social and economic inequalities. 
• Whereas, Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes

Major Medical Causes of Maternal Deaths

• Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH): Excessive bleeding after delivery due to failure of the uterus to contract quickly.
• Obstructed Labour: Caused by a narrow pelvis in malnourished young mothers
• Hypertensive Disorders: Conditions like preeclampsia, if undiagnosed, can cause convulsions, coma, and death due to sudden spikes in blood pressure.
• Sepsis: Deliveries conducted by untrained attendants often lead to infections; lack of timely antibiotics can result in fatal sepsis.
• Anaemia: Common underlying condition that led to complications
• Associated Illnesses in EAG States: Diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and chronic urinary tract infections add to pregnancy complications, increasing the risk of maternal mortality.

Maternal Heath Data

• MMR in India has declined over the years — it was 103 in 2017-19, then 97 in 2018-20 and now 93 in 2019-21.
• Further, to understand the maternal mortality situation better, States have been categorised into three:

1.“Empowered Action Group” (EAG) States that comprise Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Assam; 

• EAG States:
  • Madhya Pradesh: 175
  • Assam: 167
  • Others: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand – range between 100-151

2. “Southern” States which include Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu 

• Southern States:
  • Kerala: Lowest MMR – 20
  • Karnataka: Highest among south – 63
  • Others: Tamil Nadu (49), Telangana (45), Andhra Pradesh (46)

3.“Other” States that cover the remaining States/Union Territories.

• Other States:
• • Maharashtra: 38
  • Gujarat: 53
  • West Bengal: 109
  • Haryana: 106
  • Punjab: 98

Causes: The “Three Delays” Model

1.Delay in Recognising Danger and Seeking Help

• The husband and other family members often experience inertia, thinking that all deliveries are a natural process and so the mother-to-be can wait. 
• Also they may not have enough money or other issues at the family level that prevent them from going to a hospital. 
• Solutions: 
  • Empowered, neighbourhood mothers and women’s self-help-groups have resulted in a remarkable change
  • Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) began networking with Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM) since 2005 (when the National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) was launched), institutional over home deliveries have become the better option. 
  • Government is also providing financial incentives for the mother and ASHA, which proved to be beneficial for mother.

2. Delay in Reaching Healthcare Facilities

• Due to geographic remoteness, poor transport infrastructure or an overnight journey for a mother-to-be to reach a health facility. Many women die on the way. 
• Solutions:
• • 108 ambulance service, free referral transport under NHM

3.Delay in Receiving Adequate Care at the Facility

• Shortage of specialists (66% vacancies in CHCs)
• Poor infrastructure such as lack of blood banks, functional OTs
• Solutions:
• • The concept of the operationalisation of a ‘minimum four FRUs [first referral units] per district of two million population, is crucial. The “first level referral unit” with specialists such as an obstetrician, anaesthetist, paediatrician, blood bank and operation theatre was aimed at preventing maternal death at the doorstep of a hospital.
  • Audit and accountability for care quality

Steps needed

• Focus on basic Antenatal care, institutional delivery, staff recruitment
• Strengthen FRUs, blood banks, emergency transport
• Fine-tune emergency obstetric care, invest in training
• Implement maternal death surveillance and response (MDSR) effectively
• Fill human resource gaps (especially specialists)
• Expand infrastructure with accountability
• Enhance community education and women empowerment

Case study: Kerala

• The Kerala has model of a Confidential Review of Maternal deaths, initiated by Dr. V.P. Paily.
• Kerala MMR is 20.
• Steps taken

• • The use of uterine artery clamps on the lower segment
  • Application of suction canula to overcome atonicity of the uterus
  • Sharp lookout for and energetic management of amniotic fluid embolism, diffused intravascular coagulation, hepatic failure secondary to fatty liver cirrhosis , etc. 
  • They even address antenatal depression and post-partum psychosis as there were a few cases of pregnant mothers ending their life.

Value addition: Government Schemes

• National Health Mission (NHM): Strengthening infrastructure and service delivery
• Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): Financial incentives for institutional births
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): Free antenatal care on fixed days
• LaQshya Initiative: Improving quality of maternity care in labour rooms
• Poshan Abhiyan: Tackling anaemia and malnutrition
• Ayushman Bharat: Health insurance coverage and Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs)

Conclusion

Preventable maternal deaths are not just a health issue, but a human rights concern. With political will, community involvement, and robust public health systems, India can move closer to zero preventable maternal deaths and ensure safe motherhood as a right, not a privilege.

Mains Practice Question

Q “Despite a declining national Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), regional disparities in maternal health outcomes persist in India. Analyse the systemic and structural barriers contributing to maternal deaths. (250 words, 15 marks)

Introduction (Context)

Phone tapping or communication interception involves surveillance by the state, raising critical concerns on individual privacy, due process, and state overreach. Recent rulings by Madras and Delhi High Courts have brought to the fore divergent judicial views on when and how such surveillance can be justified.

What is Phone Tapping?

• Phone tapping is the process of secretly listening to or recording conversations conducted over telephone or digital communication channels.
• It is a form of surveillance employed by law enforcement or intelligence agencies.

Purpose:

• To prevent crimes such as terrorism, corruption, organised crime, espionage, and cybercrimes.
• To gather evidence during investigations against suspects.
• To ensure national security, public order, or sovereignty of the country.
• Used in exceptional circumstances where other means of information gathering are inadequate or impossible.

Legal Framework for Phone Tapping in India

The government’s powers to intercept communication are laid down in three pieces of legislation.

1. Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
   • Section 5(2) allows central and state governments to intercept messages “on the occurrence of public emergency or in the interest of public safety”.
   • Given that the right to free speech and the right to privacy are fundamental rights, any encroachment on these rights through surveillance is only permissible on narrow constitutional grounds.
   • Grounds must align with reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2):
     • Sovereignty & integrity of India
     • Security of the State
     • Public order
     • Friendly relations with foreign states
     • Preventing incitement to an offence
2. Information Technology Act, 2000
   • Governs interception of emails, WhatsApp, and digital communication.
3. Indian Post Office Act, 1898
   • Permits interception of postal correspondence.

Recent Judicial Interpretations

• Both the Madras High Court and the Delhi High Court dealt with cases where the government had tapped someone’s phone to stop them from encouraging or planning a crime. Preventing someone from committing a crime is one of the legal and valid reasons allowed under the law for phone tapping.
• Hence the judgments are:

Delhi High Court (June 2024)

• • Upheld phone-tapping order by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a corruption case.
  • CBI tapped phones of an accused trying to secure a ₹2,149 crore contract through bribery.

• Court’s Rationale:

• • Economic offences of such scale pose a threat to public safety.
  • Corruption undermines governance, public trust, and economic stability.

Madras High Court (July 2024)

• Quashed MHA’s phone-tapping order in a bribery case (₹50 lakh).
• Court’s Rationale:
  • Tax evasion or bribery does not amount to “public emergency”.
  • Surveillance was procedurally flawed and unlawful.
  • Referred to a 2011 PIB notification: Tax evasion alone doesn’t justify tapping.
  • Violated SC’s 1997 PUCL safeguards; hence, evidence inadmissible

Procedural Safeguards: PUCL vs Union of India (1997)

• In its landmark 1997 ruling in People’s Union Of Civil Liberties vs Union Of India, the Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act. While it upheld the law, the court laid down procedural safeguards for its application.
• SC upheld Section 5(2) but imposed strict procedural controls:

• • Only Home Secretary (Centre or State) can approve interception.
  • Must be reviewed by a three-member committee (Cabinet Secy, Law Secy, Telecom Secy).
  • Valid for 2 months, subject to renewal.
  • Tapping must be a last resort if the objective can’t be achieved by other means.
  • Incorporated into Rule 419A of Telegraph Rules.

Key Constitutional Issues Involved 

1. Right to Privacy (Article 21)
   • Recognized as a fundamental right by the Supreme Court in the Puttaswamy judgment (2017).
   • Any surveillance, including phone tapping, must meet the tests of legality, necessity, and proportionality.
2. Freedom of Speech (Article 19(1)(a))
   • Phone tapping can hinder free expression, especially among journalists, whistle-blowers, and dissenters.
   • The state can restrict this right only on reasonable grounds listed under Article 19(2) (e.g., public order, sovereignty, security of the state).
3. Due Process and Rule of Law
   • The Supreme Court in PUCL vs Union of India (1997) laid down procedural safeguards for lawful interception.
   • Violations of these safeguards make phone-tapping unconstitutional and the evidence inadmissible.

Way Forward

• Enact a dedicated Surveillance Regulation Law with clear definitions and safeguards.
• Introduce judicial oversight mechanism for approving interception orders.
• Implement data minimisation, necessity, and proportionality principles.
• Strengthen institutional accountability for misuse or procedural violations.
• Public transparency through periodic disclosures and independent audits.

Conclusion

Phone tapping serves national interest and public security if done lawfully. Hence, balancing national interest and individual liberty remains the cornerstone of a democratic surveillance regime.

Mains Practice Question

Q What is phone tapping, and under what circumstances is it legally permitted in India? Discuss the constitutional concerns it raises and suggest measures to ensure accountability and protection of individual rights. (250 words, 15 marks)