In News:

During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force reportedly employed SCALP missiles launched from Rafale fighter jets to target high-value terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

What is the SCALP Missile?

• The SCALP (Système de CroisièreAutonome à Longue Portée) is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile designed for deep-strike missions.
• It is also known by its British designation, Storm Shadow.
• Developed jointly by France and the United Kingdom, it is built for precision attacks on strategic, fixed, and fortified targets.
• Global Operators: The missile is in operational use by the air forces of:India, France, United Kingdom, Egypt, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE.
• Indian Integration: The Indian Air Force has integrated the SCALP missile with its Rafale fleet, enhancing India's capacity to conduct long-range precision strikes with minimal collateral damage.

Key Features:

Feature                                              Description

Range                                                 Approximately 500 km

Warhead                                         450 kg high-explosive, designed to penetrate hardened structures

Weight                                              Around 1,300 kg

Dimensions                                   Length: ~5 metres; Wingspan: ~3 metres

Speed                                                Subsonic (around Mach 0.8)

Guidance Systems                  Combined GPS/INS navigation, terrain-following radar, and

                                                                infrared homing for terminal precision

Stealth Capability                   Optimized for low-altitude flight to evade radar detection

Accuracy                                        Uses image-based terminal guidance to match

                                                  preloaded target images

All-weather Capability       Can operate under diverse weather conditions

In News:

A 500-kg fragment of the Soviet-era Kosmos 482 spacecraft, launched in 1972 as part of the Venera programme, is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere around May 10, 2025, after over 53 years in orbit.

What was the Kosmos 482 Mission?

• Launched: March 31, 1972, by the Soviet Union.
• Objective: To land a probe on Venus and collect atmospheric and surface data.
• Programme: Part of the Venera series (1961–1984), which launched 28 probes to Venus.
  • 13 entered the Venusian atmosphere.
  • 10 successfully landed on the surface.
• Twin Mission:Venera 8, launched on March 27, 1972, successfully landed on Venus and transmitted data for 50 minutes.

Mission Failure and Orbit Status

• The mission failed due to a timer malfunction in the rocket's upper stage, which shut down prematurely, leaving the spacecraft stranded in low Earth orbit instead of heading to Venus.
• The main spacecraft eventually burned up in the atmosphere, but a lander module (approx. 500 kg) remained in orbit.

Expected Re-entry (May 2025)

• The lander module is currently being dragged down by atmospheric friction.
• No precise location or time of impact is known due to the uncontrolled nature of its descent.
• Expected re-entry corridor lies between 52° North and 52° South latitude, covering:
  • Africa, Australia
  • Most of the Americas
  • Much of southern and mid-latitude Europe and Asia

Is it a risk to Earth?

• The lander is made of titanium, with a melting point of ~1,700°C, higher than typical atmospheric re-entry temperatures (~1,600°C).
• This increases the likelihood of survival through re-entry.
• Possible outcomes as per space debris experts:
  • “A splash” (ocean impact) — least dangerous
  • “A thud” — impact on uninhabited land
  • “An ouch” — impact on populated area (least desired scenario)
• If intact, the object could impact Earth at a speed of ~242 km/h, similar to a high-speed train.

In News:

On May 8, 2025, as part of Operation Sindoor, India reportedly used Israeli-made HAROP loitering munitions to destroy a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore, in response to Pakistan’s attempted attacks on Indian military installations.

What is HAROP?

• HAROP is an advanced loitering munition, also known as a suicide drone or kamikaze drone.
• Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), it combines features of a UAV and a missile.
• It is designed to loiter over an area, search for high-value targets, and crash into the target with an explosive payload.

Key Characteristics and Capabilities

Feature                                           Description

Function                                       Combines surveillance and attack roles; can loiter, identify, and

                                                strike autonomously or manually

Targets                                          Designed to hit air defence systems, radars, command posts,

                                                             tanks, and moving military assets

Sensor                                            Equipped with an Electro-Optical (EO) sensor for real-time

                                                 target tracking and acquisition

Endurance                                  Up to 9 hours of loitering capability for deep-target missions

Launch Platforms                  Can be launched from truck-mounted canisters,

                                                             naval vessels, or ground stations

Navigation Resistance       GNSS (GPS)-jam resistant, effective in communication-

                                                 denied environments

Strike Profile                                Executes attacks from various angles using

                                                              steep or shallow dive maneuvers

Evolution and Operational Use

• HAROP is an evolution of the earlier HARPY system, which was radio-frequency (RF) guided.
• Unlike the HARPY, HAROP uses EO sensors for improved visual target identification.
• HAROPs are "fire-and-forget" weapons, meaning they do not require active control after launch.
• The system has been described by IAI as the “King of the Battlefield”, with a claimed mission success rate of 98%.
• Proven effective in multiple combat scenarios, including suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD).

In News:

India has warned it will retaliate if the United Kingdom implements its proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from January 1, 2027, calling it a violation of the Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) principle of international climate agreements.

What is Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)?

• It is a carbon tax on imports based on their carbon intensity of production.
• Aim: Prevent carbon leakage by aligning the cost of carbon between domestic and foreign producers.
• Sectors likely to be initially targeted include steel, cement, aluminium, and energy-intensive products.
• The UK is expected to implement its version of CBAM in 2027, following a similar approach by the European Union.

India’s Concerns

• Violation of CBDR Principle
  • CBAM undermines the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, which recognize that developing countries require flexibility and support for decarbonization.
  • India’s per capita emissions are low, but its carbon intensity is higher due to developmental needs.
• Unfair Trade Practice
  • CBAM could nullify tariff concessions negotiated under the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal have labelled CBAM “unfair” and discriminatory.
• Double Taxation and Export Losses
  • Indian exporters may face double taxation—domestic environmental levies and UK’s border tax.
  • India proposed a ‘rebalancing mechanism’ and MSME carve-out, both of which the UK declined.
  • Export-heavy sectors like textiles, leather, ceramics, engineering goods, and steel may be hit hard due to sustainability compliance burdens.
• MSME Vulnerability
  • Labour-intensive MSMEs lack the capacity to meet expensive ESG norms and carbon tracking requirements.
  • India's request for exemption or compensation for MSMEs was not accepted.

India’s Response Strategy

• India reserves the right to retaliate if CBAM is imposed.
• Potential responses include:
  • Domestic carbon taxation to offset UK’s CBAM and use revenue for green transition.
  • Invoking a rebalancing clause under the FTA’s “general exceptions” (similar to GATT), allowing trade countermeasures for environmental or public interest.

Strategic Implications for India

• Non-tariff barriers like CBAM can undermine market access gained through FTAs.
• India must stay alert to evolving trade conditions involving environment, labour, IPR, and gender standards, which often require policy adjustments.
• Calls for India to strengthen its carbon tracking, ESG frameworks, and climate-compliant production systems to remain globally competitive.

In News:

An international team of scientists has successfully mapped the genome of the saola (Pseudoryxnghetinhensis), the world’s rarest large land mammal, providing critical insights for conservation through genetic rescue and captive breeding.

About Saola

• Common Name: Asian Unicorn
• Scientific Name: Pseudoryxnghetinhensis
• First Described: 1993 (based on a skull found in Vietnam in 1992)
• Classification: Bovine species, closely related to cattle but resembling an antelope
• Habitat: Endemic to the Annamite Mountains along the Laos–Vietnam border; prefers humid evergreen forests
• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
• Estimated Population (2015): 50–300 individuals
• Physical Traits:
  • Height: ~33 inches at shoulder
  • Both sexes possess straight, parallel horns (~20 inches)
  • Distinct white facial markings and muzzle scent glands

Major Threats

• Habitat loss, primarily due to agricultural expansion and forest degradation
• Poaching and indiscriminate snaring, including by-catch in traps set for other animals
• Lack of successful captive care: Over 20 captured saolas died in the 1990s due to inadequate professional care

Genome Mapping and Key Findings

• Sample Base: Genomes of 26 individuals sequenced using remains sourced from hunter households
• Population Divergence: Two genetically distinct populations emerged 5,000–20,000 years ago, likely due to:
  • Forest fragmentation during/after the Last Glacial Maximum
  • Expansion of human activities such as agriculture, burning, and hunting around 4,000 years ago
• Genetic Complementarity: Each population retains different genetic variants, offering potential for enhanced genetic diversity if combined
• Scientific Importance:
  • Confirms historical population isolation and genetic loss
  • Provides a genetic foundation for targeted conservation efforts

Conservation Implications

• Captive Breeding Program: Plans underway in Vietnam to establish a well-equipped breeding center
• Goal: Capture at least a dozen individuals from both genetic lineages to create a genetically resilient population
• Long-term Vision: Reintroduction into protected forest areas with strict anti-poaching measures