River Dolphins, Geological risk assessments and Article 14 of the Constitution

5 yrs before tunnel collapse, report red-flagged ‘fault zone’, weak rocks

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Disaster and disaster management

What’s the ongoing story: Five years before a part of the SLBC Tunnel in Telangana collapsed, trapping eight men on February 22 this year, a report commissioned by Jaiprakash Associates Ltd warned of a possible “fault zone” in the tunnel — stretches where the possibility of collapse is high

Key Points to Ponder:

• Which organization or institution is in charge of authorizing all tunnel construction projects in India?

• The Telangana tunnel collapse incident highlights certain key concerns in India’s infrastructure sector—What are they?

• Geological risk assessments in India is done by whom?

• What role does the Geological Survey of India play in tunnel construction projects?

• What are the critical components of tunnel construction?

• What is the role of pre-construction geological assessments and disaster preparedness in mitigating tunnel collapse risks?

• Suggest policy measures to improve safety protocols and accountability in large-scale tunnel projects.

Key Takeaways:

• Jaiprakash Associates Ltd is the Noida-based company that was awarded the tunnelling contract in 2005.

• The report, Tunnel Seismic Prediction (TSP) – 303 Plus, was prepared in January 2020 by Amberg Tech AG, a company that surveys tunnelling.

• According to the report, the fault zone existed between 13.88 km (13,882 m) and 13.91 km (13,914 m) from the mouth of the tunnel. The report also found a decrease in rock strength in this stretch and highlighted that the stretch was a water-bearing zone.

• When contacted, Jaiprakash Associates Ltd confirmed the report but refused to elaborate, saying, “We have no comments on this.” Amberg also declined to comment, stating that the report and its data are confidential.

• The company calculated the risk by transmitting seismic waves into the rock mass and recording and evaluating the portions with anomalies. The remarks in the report read, “Decrease in rock stiffness”, “possible jointed sheared rock mass”, and “possible water bearing zone”.

• The rescue operations have had to be intermittently stopped because the tunnel keeps flooding, and search and rescue operations are going on after 13.5 km into the tunnel, a rescuer said. Here, the tunnel boring machine is stuck at a dead-end, and the workers are nowhere in sight, the official said.

Do You Know:

• The report was submitted to Jaiprakash Associates Ltd in 2020, it is learnt. “It is not known whether this report was shared with the Irrigation Department of the state government,” a source said.

• Asked whether the conditions on the ground could change in four years, a geologist said, “In four years, the ground condition would remain the same — that is, the rocks would remain the same. But there could be more chances of water seepage.”

• Meanwhile, another study on the tunnel had revealed a different anomaly, again in 2020. As per a research paper by former Director General of Geological Survey of India Mandapalli Raju and Jaiprakash Associate’s geologist Rituraj Deshmukh, the tunnelling started with poor subsurface exploration.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Telangana tunnel collapse: Lack of oxygen, extreme humidity and broken conveyor belt hinder final stages of rescue operation

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
1. The Telangana tunnel collapse incident highlights which of the following key concerns in India’s infrastructure sector?
1. Lack of stringent implementation of safety assessments in large infrastructure projects.
2. The impact of climate change on rock formations and underground water retention.
3. The absence of a regulatory framework for geological surveys in India.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Trump: High tariffs by India and others unfair, reciprocal tariffs from April 2

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story: CRITICISING THE high tariffs imposed by India and other countries as “not fair”, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced reciprocal tariffs from April 2.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What best defines reciprocal tariffs?

• What is the primary purpose of the United States imposing reciprocal tariffs?

• “High tariffs and reciprocal trade measures are becoming a major feature of global trade relations.”—Comment

• Discuss the implications of U.S. reciprocal tariffs on India’s export-driven industries.

• “While India seeks to deepen trade ties with the United States, economic nationalism and protectionist policies pose hurdles.” Discuss the implications of the US’s unpredictable trade policies on India’s economy.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump’s remarks, in an address to the Joint Session of the US Congress, signalled that negotiations for a trade deal may not yield concessions for New Delhi on sweeping duties. He singled out the auto sector, where, he said, India charges tariffs of over 100 per cent.

• “India charges us 100 per cent tariffs; the system is not fair to the US, it never was. On April 2, reciprocal tariffs kick in. Whatever they tax us, we will tax them. If they use non-monetary tariffs to keep us out of their market, then we will use non-monetary barriers to keep them out of our market,” Trump said.

• Trade experts said the US has long been pushing other countries to lower tariffs during multilateral negotiations and that reciprocal tariffs represent a more aggressive attempt to achieve a longstanding US goal.

• Trump’s remarks on high tariffs on automobiles are particularly significant, as India exports nearly 30 per cent of its total auto parts and accessories to the US, its largest export market in this category.

• Notably, India’s auto component exports have been on the rise, primarily driven by the US market, due to the US-China trade war that Trump initiated during his first term.

Do You Know:

• A Goldman Sachs report suggested that India could be affected by Trump’s tariffs at the country level, the product level, or through non-tariff barriers, all of which could complicate trade relations between the two nations.

• While several sectors could be hit by reciprocal tariffs, agriculture is the most vulnerable for India, given the wide tariff gap between the two countries. Agricultural trade is also sensitive, with farmers unions leading sustained protests demanding a legally guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Source: GTRI

• A report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) released last month says India imposes tariffs at a simple average rate of 17%, compared to 3.3% by the US. Trade-weighted tariffs highlight this difference further, standing at 12% for India and only 2.2% for the US.

• The US 2025 Trade Policy Agenda released on 3 March argues that the “viability and durability of the WTO is increasingly in question”, and “in fundamental respects, the organization…has lost its way”.

• The document also criticises the concessions and carve-outs sought by developing countries such as India under the WTO’s special and differential treatment (SDT) provisions.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Defying US reciprocal tariff threats, markets rebound with 1% gain

📍Trump’s tariffs challenge

Previous Year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍‘What introduces friction into the ties between India and the United States is that Washington is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy, which would satisfy India’s National self-esteem and ambitions’. Explain with suitable examples. (2019)

EXPRESS NETWORK

When SC defined equality in union worker’s case

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

What’s the ongoing story: Who was Anwar Ali Sarkar? A freedom fighter? A member of a mob? A union worker? While there are few references to him in court records or history books, it’s a name that is immortalised as the respondent in Appeal No. 297 in a landmark Supreme Court ruling of 1952 on the right to equality.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is the Article 14 of the Constitution?

• There is fine line between equality before law and equal protection of law—Can you tell that difference?

• Explain the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Right to Equality under Article 14 with reference to landmark judgments.

• How does Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Right to Equality under Article 14 balance reasonable classification with the prohibition of arbitrariness?

• The concept of ‘equality before law’ does not mean that all individuals must be treated the same, but rather that equals should be treated equally and unequal unequally—Comment

• Discuss the significance of the Supreme Court’s role in interpreting Article 14 in relation to labor rights and trade unions.

• How has judicial activism shaped the right to equality in labour disputes?

Key Takeaways:

• While striking down a law which fast-tracked his case and tried him in a special court, the apex court said that the move fell foul of the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution. The court also for the first time spelt out the nature of the right and how it works.

• On February 26, 1949, Sarkar was part of a mob of 50 young men who attacked the Jessop factory, an engineering company in Dum Dum, killing three European supervisory staff. Court records show that the victims were “battered to death and their corpses were thrown into blazing furnaces.”

• Acting swiftly to mitigate international tensions, the West Bengal government on August 17, 1949, promulgated the Special Courts Ordinance, a law that called for swift trials in special cases.

• Special courts set up under this law could conduct the trial without the presence of the accused and even refuse to summon key witnesses. Sarkar was arrested on October 11.

Do You Know:

• On January 25, 1950, just a day before the new Constitution came into force, it was notified that King v Anwar Ali Sarkar would be heard under the Special Courts law.

• Court records show that the prosecution alleged that Sarkar was a member of the Executive Committee of the Union of workers of Jessop & Co., and took a leading part in the workers’ agitation against retrenchment and for Puja bonus. The defence, however, argued that he wasn’t present at the spot.

• On March 31, 1950, S N Guha Roy, then Sessions Judge of Alipore, awarded Ali and 49 others a sentence of “transportation for life”, a punishment that involved sending a convict to exile or banishment. Under colonial laws, dissidents of the State were routinely given punishments that included sending them to ‘Kala Pani’ in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

• In an appeal filed in the Calcutta High Court, Anwar Ali Sarkar invoked Article 14 of the Constitution that guaranteed his right to equality before the law and equal protection of the law and sought to be treated like an ordinary criminal and thus tried in an ordinary court and not a special one only because he had killed white men.

• Sir Arthur Trevor Harries, an Englishman who was then Chief Justice of the High Court, agreed with the petition. The HC held that while “classes of offences” or “classes of cases” could be referred to the special courts, only referring “cases” is violative of Article 14.

• The ruling became the foundation for the “reasonable classification” test under Article 14 that is now applied almost as second nature. The test dictates when a law can provide an exception to the right to equality and apply to a specific class of people. However, the classification must be based on “intelligible differentia” (clear reasons for singling out that class of people) and must have a “rational relation” to the object of the law.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Why India’s Constitution still thrives after 75 years of scrutiny

Previous Year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
2. A legislation which confers on the executive or administrative authority an unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power in the matter of application of law violates which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India? (2021)
(a) Article 14
(b) Article 28
(c) Article 32
(d) Article 44

THE IDEAS PAGE

The delimitation promise

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains Examination: 

• General Studies I: population and associated issues

• General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

What’s the ongoing story: Ashwani Kumar, Khushboo Srivastava Writes: While delimitation raises concerns about gerrymandering, and fears of establishing permanent political or electoral majorities, it also brings promises to devolve power to the margins, especially women, SCs and STs

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is delimitation and how is it done?

• The history of delimitation—Know about the same

• “Debate over the persistent paradox of the imbalance between demography and democracy”—Comment

• According to the authors of this article, the delimitation process could produce a Red Queen effect—Discuss

• Women’s representation through women reservation in parliament and delimitation—Connect the dots

• ‘Delimitation also affects Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), migrants, and other socio-religious minorities’—How?

• What is Southern States concerns regarding delimitation?

Key Takeaways:
Ashwani Kumar, Khushboo Srivastava Writes:

• As India stands on the brink of the “Second Republic”, the proposed delimitation has reignited the debate over the persistent paradox of the imbalance between demography and democracy.

• Delimitation in India aims to ensure fair representation in Parliament by adjusting constituency boundaries in line with population changes. However, since 1976, the process has been frozen to avoid penalising states that have successfully controlled population growth, particularly in the south.
—As a result, states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with much larger populations, remain underrepresented compared to southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, which have smaller populations but more parliamentary seats.
—This imbalance, referred to as malapportionment, has fuelled political tensions, with concerns that the upcoming delimitation exercise in 2029 will shift power toward the politically hegemonic North.

• Notably, a purely population-based seat allocation could drastically shift power toward the Hindi heartland, diminishing representation for southern states. Political scientist Alistair McMillan proposes expanding the Lok Sabha to accommodate demographic shifts without reducing representation for any state.

• Another proposal, by political scientist Milan Vaishnav, suggests reforming the Rajya Sabha to provide a counterbalance to northern dominance in the Lok Sabha.

Do You Know:
Ashwani Kumar, Khushboo Srivastava Writes:

• The Indian Constitution mandates delimitation under Article 82, with an independent Delimitation Commission implementing it.

• Delimitation was conducted in 1952, 1962, and 1972, but was frozen in 1976 through the 42nd constitutional amendment and further postponed in 2001, extending the freeze until 2026. This delay has created a peculiar situation where states that have successfully controlled population growth may lose seats, while states with higher birth rates will gain more representation.

• Globally, different countries handle delimitation in various ways. For example, New Zealand and South Africa have clear constitutional provisions, while countries like India and Japan manage the process through ordinary legislation.

• The role of the courts in reviewing delimitation decisions has been an ongoing debate. In the landmark Meghraj Kothari v Delimitation Commission (1966) ruling, the Supreme Court upheld the finality of delimitation orders, arguing that judicial intervention could lead to indefinite election delays. More recently, the Court dismissed a petition challenging the Jammu & Kashmir delimitation, despite claims that it marginalised minority communities.

• According to Article 330(2) of the Constitution, reserved seats for SCs and STs should be proportional to their population in each state. However, since the seat allocation still relies on the 2001 Census, communities that have grown significantly since then remain underrepresented. For example, the Bihar Caste-Based Survey (2023) found that the SC population increased from 15.9 per cent to 19.65 per cent and the ST population from 1.2 per cent to 1.68 per cent. Yet, the seat allocation does not reflect these demographic shifts, leaving many SC/ST communities underrepresented.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍TN parties oppose delimitation: Freeze 1971 Census as basis for 30 more yrs

📍Delimitation of constituencies: a primer on the exercise and the process

📍Why southern states are nervous about delimitation

Previous Year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
3. How many Delimitation Commissions have been constituted by the Government of India till December 2023? (2024)
(a) One
(b) Two
(c) Three
(d) Four
4. With reference to the Delimitation Commission consider the following statements: (2012)
1. The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law.
2. When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modification in the orders.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Previous Year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍What changes has the Union Government recently introduced in the domain of Centre-State Relations? Suggest measures to be adopted to build the trust between the Centre and the States for strengthening federalism. (2024)

EXPRESS NETWORK

ISRO conducts crucial test for semi-cryogenic engines, key to future launches

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

What’s the ongoing story: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently successfully conducted the hot test on a semi-cryogenic engine (SE2000), going a step closer to finalising the crucial cryogenic stage where powering the booster stages of launch vehicles is realised.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Which launch vehicles are the main goal of ISRO’s development of semi-cryogenic engines?

• What is Power Head Test Article (PHTA)?

• What are the key advantages of semi-cryogenic engines over conventional liquid and solid-fuel engines?

• Explain the significance of ISRO’s development of semi-cryogenic engines for India’s space program.

• How ISRO’s development of semi-cryogenic engines for India’s space program will impact India’s heavy-lift space launch capabilities?

• Compare semi-cryogenic engines with fully cryogenic and solid-fuel engines in terms of efficiency, cost, and technological complexity.

• Discuss the strategic and economic benefits of achieving self-reliance in semi-cryogenic engine technology.

Key Takeaways:

• “The Power Head Test Article, without the thrust chamber, has been successfully realised. It is about 3 metres in height. This is one of the propulsion systems we have been developing and it may take about two years to succeed,” said ISRO chairman V Narayanan during the recently held Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)-organised Amrut Vykhayaan (PKAV).

• During his address, the ISRO chief elaborated on the overall ongoing research activities that were directed towards improving the performance of Launch Vehicle Mk III (LVM3). He said that the LVM3 will be equipped with the C32 cryogenic upper stage for many of its future space missions. The advantage of C32 over its predecessor, C25, is that the latter allows carrying additional quantities of propellant onboard, thereby adding more life to the space mission.

• With activities for the unmanned and manned Gaganyaan missions picking pace, Narayanan said that the development of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), which will be deployed for all the Gaganyaan missions, was on track.

• NGLV is a new generation, human-rated launch vehicle offering both high payload capability and reusability. With a reusable first stage, it offers a maximum payload capability of 30 tons to Low Earth Orbit.

• ISRO is developing technologies that will allow propulsion systems to recover and reuse the launch vehicles. Recently, the space agency tasted success in the experiments performed towards recovering the first stage NGLV, Narayanan said.

Do You Know:

• PHTA is a significant precursor test done to validate the integrated performance of some of the engine’s critical subsystems, such as the gas generator, turbo pumps, pre-burner and control components. The test involves performing a hot-firing for an extremely brief duration of not more than 4.5 seconds.

• Earlier, in July 2023, a similar test attempt at the space agency’s facility at Mahendragiri had to be aborted following a technical glitch. And since then, the ISRO team has continued working on developing this semi-cryogenic engine that offers an enhanced thrust of 2,000 kiloNewton (kN).

• A propulsion system, be it the earth-to-orbit or the in-space, is the one that gives a rocket muscle power to lift off from the Earth, across the dense atmosphere and later reach its destination. The selection of an appropriate propellant system is based on the thrust required, reusability, cost and core competency. ISRO has been using environment-friendly and green propellants like Liquid Oxygen (LOX), Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) and LOX-kerosene-based propulsion systems.

• The cryogenic engine uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. Handling liquid hydrogen is challenging, given that it needs to be stored at minus 253 degrees Celius and it is highly inflammable. Whereas a semi-cryogenic engine uses a liquid oxygen – kerosene combination, where kerosene is readily storable; this combination offers advantages like high-density impulse (with respect to cryogenic), less toxic (with respect to storage) and cost-effectiveness.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Meet Dr V Narayanan: The cryogenic pioneer taking ISRO’s helm after Chandrayaan success

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
5. With reference to semi-cryogenic engines, consider the following statements:
1. Semi-cryogenic engines use a combination of liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene as propellants.
2. Semi-cryogenic engines are more efficient than cryogenic engines because they require less cooling.
3. The development of semi-cryogenic engines is expected to enhance India’s capability for launching heavier payloads.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

ECONOMY

NITI Aayog flags national security risk with quantum technology

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

What’s the ongoing story: Countries that develop quantum capabilities will secure an “unprecedented strategic edge”, which can “jeopardize” national security and economic competitiveness, NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub said in a quarterly release Wednesday.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is Quantum Technology?

• What is Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) in the context of cybersecurity?

• Quantum technology is expected to revolutionize fields such as computing, communication, and cryptography. Discuss its potential impact on India’s national security and the concerns highlighted by NITI Aayog.

• Compare classical computing with quantum computing. What are the major challenges in developing scalable quantum computers, and how is India addressing them?

• With the rise of quantum technologies, existing cryptographic systems are at risk. Explain the concept of post-quantum cryptography and how India can prepare for a future where quantum computing poses a threat to data security.

Key Takeaways:

• “Advancements in quantum technology would expose the country to increased risk of technological surprise and strategic blind spots. Being caught off guard by quantum driven advancements would jeopardize national security, economic competitiveness, and technological leadership,” the release said.

• To mitigate risks to national security from quantum technologies, the release recommended developing a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) transition plan. PQC refers to cryptographic algorithms designed to withstand attacks from quantum computers, ensuring improved data security.

• “Countries are in a race to develop and implement PQC to safeguard their data. Those who master PQC first can protect their critical information while others remain vulnerable,” it said.

• Over 170 professors across leading academic institutions in India are actively working in quantum technology domains. Historically, India’s quantum efforts have had a “strong focus on fundamental science rather than technology development and commercialization,” the release said.

Do You Know:

• The NQM, with a budgetary outlay of Rs 6,003 crore, was set up to build quantum-related capabilities in key domains, namely, computing, communications, sensors, and materials. The estimated expenditure for the ongoing financial year under the mission was reduced from Rs 427 crore to Rs 86 crore in the latest Union Budget. For 2025-26, it is projected to rise to Rs 600 crore.

• Quantum technologies can crack modern encryption, destabilize financial markets, and transform military capabilities, hence India needs to assess vulnerabilities, adopt post-quantum cryptography, and forge bilateral partnerships for technology access, the release said.

• Unlike classical computers, which process information in binary (0s and 1s), quantum computing uses quantum bits (qubits) that can exist in multiple states at the same time, allowing it to perform certain tasks much faster.

• A sufficiently powerful quantum computer can also break public-key encryption algorithms, in turn making modern internet security, online banking, and secure communications obsolete.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍National Quantum Mission: How Quantum Technologies can benefit different sectors

Previous Year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
6. Which one of the following is the context in which the term “qubit” is mentioned? (2022)
(a) Cloud Services
(b) Quantum Computing
(c) Visible Light Communication Technologies
(d) Wireless Communication Technologies

EXPLAINED

The Egyptian alternative to Trump’s Gaza ‘Riviera’ plan

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

What’s the ongoing story: On March 4, an Emergency Summit of the Arab League adopted a $53-billion Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of Gaza as a “comprehensive Arab strategy”

Key Points to Ponder:

• What had Trump proposed?

• What is Cairo Declaration?

• What Egypt’s reconstruction plan for Gaza says?

• Discuss the role of Egypt in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

• How does the Egyptian alternative to Trump’s Gaza plan reflect its strategic interests?

• The Trump Administration’s Middle East Peace Plan was widely criticized for being biased towards Israel. Analyse the major provisions of the plan and compare them with Egypt’s proposed alternative.

• How do international peace proposals shape the Israel-Palestine conflict?

Key Takeaways:

• The Summit was held in Cairo a day after Israel cut off all humanitarian aid to the devastated Palestinian enclave at the end of the first phase of the Israel-Hamas Agreement.

• The Cairo Declaration is the first collective Arab proposal for Gaza’s “day after”, contingent on the “full implementation of the ceasefire agreement…especially by Israel”.

• It is also the first plan for the reconstruction of Gaza presented since United States President Donald Trump’s proposal last month that the Palestinians should be permanently evicted from the enclave, which America should then “own” and turn into a “Riviera”.

• The Cairo Declaration follows the Bahrain Declaration from the last Arab League Summit in Manama in May 2024.

• It calls for “a Gaza administration committee” comprising “qualified Gazans, for a transitional period”, pledges a “trust fund” for recovery-and-reconstruction projects, and commits financial, political, and material support for the Egypt-led reconstruction plan based on studies by the World Bank and the UN Development Fund.

Do You Know:

• The Cairo Declaration does not mention Hamas or the need to remove it, arguably leaving some room for the group to continue in the interim. Both Israel and the US criticised the Summit’s outcomes — the lack of mention of Hamas is among the reasons why.

• The Declaration sees the proposed interim administration as a preparatory body until the Palestinian Authority (PA) can take over — to bring back unified governance of Gaza and the West Bank — and eventually hold legislative and presidential elections. Israel has consistently rejected such a role for the PA over the last 17 months.

• Hamas has welcomed the Declaration and the reconstruction plan, arguably because of the commitment to hold fresh elections. The last elections, held in 2006, returned a Hamas majority — and a rejection of the result by Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah led to its violent ejection from Gaza.

• The Cairo Declaration categorically rejects the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians and recognizes the “crucial role of Jordan and Egypt in confronting displacement and the liquidation of the Palestinian cause” — directly countering Trump’s demand that Egypt and Jordan should absorb 2.3 million displaced Gazans.

• It also doubles down on the Arab demand for Israel’s “complete withdrawal from the Strip, including the Philadelphi Corridor”. Such a withdrawal remains the litmus test for whether the ceasefire can hold and usher in the “day-after” in Gaza.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan endorsed by Arab League, rejected by Israel: What to know

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
7. Which of the following countries share a land border with both Israel and the Gaza Strip?
a) Jordan
b) Syria
c) Egypt
d) Lebanon

COULD EUROPE’S EU TELSAT HELP TO REPLACE STAR LINK IN UKRAINE?

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story: Suggestions that Ukraine could lose access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite Internet system, which has been vital in maintaining its military communications, have focused investor interest on Starlink’s smaller European rival Eutelsat.

Key Points to Ponder:

• How crucial is Starlink to Ukraine?

• How does Eutelsat compare with Starlink?

• Discuss the strategic significance of satellite-based internet services in modern warfare, with reference to Ukraine’s reliance on Starlink.

• Analyse the role of Eutelsat-OneWeb in providing an alternative to Starlink in Ukraine

• What challenges could Europe face in deploying an independent satellite internet system?

• In the context of global communication security, how can satellite internet services impact geopolitics?

Key Takeaways:

• The stock price of Eutelsat, a Franco-British company, has more than quadrupled since the February 28 public showdown between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.

• Starlink users access the Internet for data or voice communication by using a small satellite dish to bounce signals off a constellation of satellites overhead.

• Ukraine’s fixed-line and mobile networks have been badly damaged by bombing since Russia invaded in February 2022, and Starlink has helped Kyiv fill the void by sending tens of thousands of its dishes with terminals.

• Some are made available to civilians, often trying to contact relatives on smartphones. But most are used by Ukraine’s armed forces, which also have to contend with heavy signal jamming and interception of communications. Ukrainian units often talk to each other via Starlink, and its services have become virtually indispensable for battlefield command and control.

• Ukraine also used Starlink to guide attack drones until Musk’s rocket firm SpaceX curbed the practice two years ago.

• Initially, SpaceX helped to fund the provision of Starlink to Ukraine. The US government then took over, though last month Poland said it had been paying Ukraine’s Starlink subscription and would continue to do so.

Do You Know:

• Eutelsat already supports government and institutional communications in Ukraine, and can provide an alternative for certain government and defence applications, according to the company. Since its merger in 2023 with Britain’s OneWeb, Eutelsat controls the only operational global-coverage constellation, besides Starlink, of satellites in low earth orbit (LEO).

• Starlink’s more than 7,000 LEO satellites, suited to real-time communication, allow it to reach more users around the world and offer higher data speeds. But Eutelsat says that even with only 630 or so LEO satellites, backed up by 35 linked satellites in higher, geostationary orbit, it offers the same capabilities as Starlink in Europe.

• OneWeb terminals, however, cost as much as $10,000, plus a monthly subscription. Starlink charges Ukrainian users a one-time payment of $589 in addition to a monthly subscription of $95-$440, depending on the usage.

• Luxembourg-based SES delivers some satellite services to NATO via its medium earth orbit constellation of O3b mPOWER satellites. But it prioritises corporate customers, governments and militaries, offering no direct-to-consumer services.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍How Elon Musk’s Starlink is helping Ukraine in the fight against Russia

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
8. Which of the following countries has an operational satellite-based internet service apart from the USA?
a) Russia
b) China
c) United Kingdom
d) All of the above

What the first-ever comprehensive survey of India’s river dolphins found

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change

Main Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (March 3) released the results of the first-ever comprehensive population estimation of riverine dolphins – Gangetic and Indus dolphins – done in India.

Key Points to Ponder:

• First-ever comprehensive population estimation of riverine dolphins-Gangetic and Indus dolphins—What are its Key findings?

• Dolphins in India-Know key details like Ganga dolphin, Indus dolphins, IUCN status, issues and threats associated, conservation efforts by the GOI etc.

• What is the difference between Ganges river dolphin and Indus River dolphin?

• Dolphin ‘hotspots’ and ‘coldspots’-What do you understand by the same?

• Discuss the ecological significance of river dolphins in India.

• What are the major threats faced by riverine dolphins? Suggest measures for their conservation

• ‘The survival of river dolphins is an indicator of the overall health of river ecosystems’—Discuss this statement with reference to the findings of India’s first comprehensive dolphin survey.

• Compare the conservation efforts for river dolphins in India with those in other countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan.

• How are Indus River dolphin and the Gangetic dolphin are conserved in India?

• Project Dolphin-Know in detail

Key Takeaways:

• The survey was conducted across the Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins between 2021 and 2023. It estimated an average of 6,324 Gangetic dolphins, ranging from 5,977 to 6,688. The survey only found three Indus River dolphins in the Indus basin, all in the Beas River in Punjab.

• The first-of-its-kind exercise provides timely estimates of the endangered aquatic mammals, which face threats from pollution, riverbed mining, low water depth, habitat damage, prey decline and climate change. Gangetic dolphins and Indus dolphins are classified as endangered and accorded the highest protection under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

• The estimation survey was done by the Wildlife Institute of India under the Union Environment Ministry between 2021 and 2023. It covered the main channels and tributaries of the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers, as well as the Beas river in Punjab. 28 rivers were surveyed by boat, and 30 were mapped by road.

• The survey spanned 7,109 kilometres of the Ganga and its tributaries in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. A total of 1,297 kilometres of the Brahmaputra were surveyed, including its tributaries Subansiri, Kulsi, Beki, Kopili, and Barak. 101 kilometres of the Beas river were surveyed as well.

• It thus estimated an average of 3,275 dolphins on Ganga’s main stem, 2,414 in its tributaries, 584 in Brahmaputra’s main stem and 51 in its tributaries. In Beas, it only found 3 Indus River Dolphins, considered a separate species from the Gangetic dolphins.

• The highest number of Gangetic dolphins, 2,397, was found in Uttar Pradesh. This was followed by 2,220 in Bihar, 815 in West Bengal, 6235 in West Bengal, 162 in Jharkhand, 95 in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and three in Punjab.

Do You Know:

• River dolphins live in opaque, turbid waters and briefly appear on the surface, making any estimates of their population tricky.

• According to the population estimation report, dolphins surface only for 1.26 seconds and dive for 107 seconds. This generates the possibility of observer error, which prevents observers from sighting all surfacing dolphins, and availability error, meaning not all dolphins surface during the counting time.

• A combination of visual and acoustic surveys is used. The acoustic survey uses multiple underwater microphones or hydrophones to capture ‘dolphin clicks.’ Dolphins, being functionally blind, navigate by making clicking sounds that travel through water and bounce back after hitting objects. This process is called echolocation. Hydrophones record underwater dolphin clicks to counter observer error and reliably triangulate dolphin occurrence. Since multiple hydrophones are used, they can pick up clicking sounds made by different individuals.

• Different kinds of visual surveys are used, depending on the vessel available, water depth and channel width. For deep and wide channels, the double observer method is used, where two teams positioned on different decks cover different angles around the vessel on its left and right flank.

• A tandem method is used for channels less than 600 metres wide and 3 metres deep, while a single boat method is used for channels with a width smaller than 300 metres and a depth lower than 2 metres.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍India has 6,327 river dolphins, finds first population survey

Previous Year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
9. Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India? (2015)
(a) Saltwater crocodile
(b) Olive ridley turtle
(c) Gangetic dolphin
(d) Gharial

10. Other than poaching, what are the possible reasons for the decline in the population of Ganges River Dolphins? (2014)
1. Construction of dams and barrages on rivers
2. Increase in the population of crocodiles in rivers
3. Getting trapped in fishing nets accidentally
4. Use of synthetic fertilisers and other agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in the vicinity of rivers
Select the correct answer using the code given below
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1, 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

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