In News:

• The Government of India has announced the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2025, the nation’s premier recognition for exceptional achievements in science, technology, and innovation.
• The awards acknowledge landmark contributions by scientists, technologists, young researchers, and collaborative teams working across diverse domains that drive India’s S&T leadership and national development goals.

About the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar

Instituted by the Government of India, the RVP honours outstanding scientific excellence and impactful innovation. The awards are conferred in four categories:

• Vigyan Ratna (VR): Recogniseslifetime achievements in any field of science and technology.
• Vigyan Shri (VS): Honoursdistinguished contributions by individuals in any scientific discipline.
• Vigyan Yuva– Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB): Celebrates exceptional contributions by young scientists up to 45 years of age.
• Vigyan Team (VT): Awarded to a team of 3 or more researchers for exceptional collaborative work.

The awards span 13 scientific domains, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Atomic Energy, Space Science and Technology, Medicine, Mathematics & Computer Science, Technology & Innovation, and allied interdisciplinary fields.

Selection Process

• Nominations for the 2025 edition were accepted through the government portal (awards.gov.in) between October 4 and November 17, 2024.
• An expert committee comprising the Principal Scientific Advisor, secretaries of leading science departments, heads of national academies, and domain specialists rigorously evaluated the submissions.
• The final decisions were coordinated by the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Secretariat.

Significance of the Awards

The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar:

• Strengthens India’s scientific ecosystem
• Motivates emerging researchers and innovators
• Recognises pathbreaking discoveries and technological advancements
• Reinforces India’s strategic vision of becoming a global S&T leader
• Encourages collaborative, interdisciplinary research

The award ceremony will be organised separately, with formal notifications issued to the awardees.

In News:

India’s largest hydroelectric venture, the 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, has officially entered its commissioning phase after years of delays, protests, and structural overhauls. Located at Gerukamukh on the Arunachal Pradesh–Assam border, the project marks a crucial milestone in India’s renewable energy expansion, especially in the Northeast.

Overview of the Project

• Type: Run-of-the-river hydroelectric project
• Capacity: 2000 MW (8 × 250 MW units)
• River:Subansiri River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra
• Developer: National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)
• Location:Gerukamukh, in the foothills of the Himalayas
• Construction Timeline: Work began in 2005; commissioning initiated in 2025
• Financing Structure: 70% equity and 30% debt; Central government provided budgetary support as equity

When fully operational, it will be India’s single largest hydroelectric power plant, providing a major boost to national energy security and clean energy capacity.

Engineering Features

• Concrete Gravity Dam:
  • Height: 116 m from riverbed; 130 m from foundation
  • Length: 284 m
  • Reservoir Storage Capacity: 1.37 km³
• Power Generation System:
  • Eight Francis-type turbines, each generating 250 MW
  • Eight headrace tunnels, eight surge tunnels, and eight circular penstocks
  • A 35 m-long, 206 m-wide tailrace channel to release water back into the river

Recent Developments – Commissioning Phase

On the first mechanical run, Unit-I generated 250 MW, marking the start of wet commissioning and its synchronization with the national grid. NHPC described this achievement as a “landmark moment for India’s hydropower landscape,” signalling steady progress toward bringing the remaining units online.

• Three additional units are expected to be commissioned within the year, adding 1,000 MW of clean energy to the grid.
• Once all 8 × 250 MW units become operational, the project will light millions of households and reinforce India’s push toward sustainable, reliable, and carbon-free energy.

Historical Delays and Controversies

The project’s trajectory has been far from smooth:

• Original commissioning target: December 2012
• Sanctioned: 2003
• Work halted: 2011–2019 due to widespread protests

Concerns raised by local communities and civil society groups:

• High seismic vulnerability of the region
• Potential ecological disruption
• Fear of downstream flooding
• Impact on riverine ecosystems and local livelihoods

Organisations such as the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) demanded a complete reassessment of safety and environmental impacts.

Expert Review and Redesign

During the eight-year suspension:

• Expert committees from IIT Guwahati and the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) evaluated structural integrity and proposed design modifications.
• Recommended changes led to:
  • Enhanced seismic reinforcements
  • Additional grouting
  • Redesign of spillways
  • Strengthened safety protocols

The redesign ensured compliance with updated safety, hydrological, and structural norms before work resumed in October 2019.

Cost Escalation

The prolonged delays and modifications caused a substantial budget escalation:

• Initial Estimate: ?6,285 crore
• Revised Estimate: ?26,075 crore
• Cost Increase Drivers:
  • Inflation
  • Monsoon-induced damage
  • Prolonged suspension of civil works
  • Safety overhaul and redesign

Strategic Importance

• A cornerstone of India’s renewable energy strategy in the Northeast
• Strengthens national energy security with clean, baseload hydro capacity
• Supports grid stability and contributes to India’s climate goals
• Symbol of engineering resilience and India’s capability in executing large-scale infrastructure projects

NHPC leadership hailed the achievement as an emblem of “India’s unstoppable march towards a cleaner and self-reliant energy future.”

In News:

East Timor (Timor-Leste) was formally admitted as the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, marking the organisation’s first expansion since the late 1990s.

Historical Milestone for East Timor

• Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão declared the moment “historic,” noting that ASEAN membership reflects both the aspirations and resilience of the Timorese people. President José Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Gusmão—both icons of the independence movement—lead the nation as it navigates socio-economic challenges such as high unemployment, persistent malnutrition, and widespread poverty (with 42% of the population living below the national poverty line).
• East Timor’s journey to statehood has been arduous. A former Portuguese colony for over four centuries, it declared independence in 1975, only to face a 24-year occupation by Indonesia that claimed tens of thousands of lives. AUN-supervised referendum in 1999 paved the way to sovereignty, which was finally restored in 2002, making it one of the world’s youngest nations.

Why East Timor’s ASEAN Membership Matters

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chairing the summit, emphasised that East Timor’s entry “completes the ASEAN family,” reflecting shared regional identity and a commitment to equitable growth. Analysts view the expansion as a declaration of ASEAN’s inclusivity and adaptability, especially amid global geopolitical volatility and rising protectionism.

Membership grants East Timor greater access to:

• ASEAN’s free trade arrangements
• Regional investment opportunities
• Broader markets and labour mobility
• Platforms for cooperation in education, technology, and digital economy

For a small, resource-dependent nation with a youthful demographic—nearly two-thirds of its people are under 30—ASEAN integration offers new possibilities for job creation, capacity building, and economic diversification. With oil and gas reserves declining, the government seeks fresh pathways for economic resilience.

East Timor: Key Facts

• Official Name: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
• Location: Eastern half of Timor Island in the Malay Archipelago; bordered by Indonesia and the Timor Sea
• Capital: Dili
• Geography: Mountainous terrain; highest peak Mount Tatamailau (2,963 m); tropical climate; rich biodiversity
• Population: ~1.4 million
• Economy: Predominantly dependent on hydrocarbons

East Timor applied for ASEAN membership in 2011 and was granted observer status in 2022, culminating in full accession in 2025.

About ASEAN and Its Relevance

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organisation established in 1967 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Its headquarters is located in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Current Membership (11 Countries):Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and East Timor.
• Core Goals:

• Promote political stability through dialogue and diplomacy
• Advance economic integration via AFTA and RCEP
• Strengthen cooperation on climate change, disaster response, and transnational threats
• Foster socio-cultural exchange and people-to-people connectivity
• Engage global powers through mechanisms like ASEAN+3 and East Asia Summit (EAS)

Significance for Regional Dynamics

East Timor’s accession:

• Reinforces ASEAN’s commitment to regionalism and openness, countering trends of protectionism
• Expands the bloc’s political influence and strengthens its collective strategic posture
• Enhances ASEAN’s identity as a community representing diverse political and economic systems
• Encourages equitable development within the region’s smallest and youngest member state

In News:

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), under the Ministry of Finance, continues its nationwide anti-smuggling campaign titled “Operation Fire Trail”, aimed at curbing the illegal import of hazardous foreign-origin firecrackers into India. The operation focuses on intercepting smuggling networks that violate India’s trade regulations, safety norms, and environmental standards.

About Operation Fire Trail

• Nature of Operation:Operation Fire Trail is an intelligence-driven enforcement initiative designed to detect and prevent the illegal entry of non-compliant Chinese firecrackers into India. These pyrotechnic materials often contain harmful chemicals, posing severe risks to public health, safety, and the environment.
• Implementing Agency:The operation is carried out by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)—India’s apex anti-smuggling agency.
• Objectives:

• To dismantle organised smuggling syndicates involved in routing foreign firecrackers into India using false declarations.
• To enforce compliance with licensing norms mandated by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) under the Explosives Rules, 2008.
• To strengthen India’s customs surveillance and safeguard national security.

Recent Seizure at Nhava Sheva Port

In one of the largest seizures during the ongoing operation, DRI intercepted a 40-foot container at Nhava Sheva port that had originated from China. The consignment, falsely declared as containing "leggings," was destined for ICD Ankleshwar.

A detailed examination revealed:

• 46,640 pieces of smuggled Chinese-origin firecrackers.
• Total estimated value: ?4.82 crore.
• Firecrackers were concealed behind a thin layer of garments to evade detection.

Subsequent raids led to the confiscation of incriminating documents exposing the smuggling syndicate’s modus operandi. A key suspect from Veraval, Gujarat, was arrested, marking a major breakthrough in the case.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

• Import of firecrackers into India is classified as “Restricted” under the ITC (HS) classification of the Foreign Trade Policy.
• Legitimate imports require:
  • Valid DGFT licence, and
  • Approval from PESO under the Explosives Rules, 2008.
• Smuggling of non-compliant fireworks bypasses these safeguards and introduces hazardous substances into the domestic market.

Significance of the Crackdown

• Protection of Public Safety: Smuggled firecrackers are often made using unsafe chemical compositions. Their uncontrolled entry poses serious risks of fire, explosions, and injury.
• Safeguarding Port and Supply Chain Infrastructure: Hazardous consignments threaten critical port infrastructure, warehouse safety, and logistics operations.
• Strengthening Enforcement Capacity: Operation Fire Trail enhances India’s intelligence-led enforcement, boosts customs vigilance, and disrupts transnational smuggling networks.
• Environmental Protection: Many imported Chinese firecrackers release toxic pollutants, violating environmental norms. Curtailing their inflow supports India’s pollution-control efforts.
• Supporting Domestic Manufacturing: The operation discourages cheap illegal imports and promotes domestic, compliant firecracker production aligned with safety and environmental regulations.

In News:

• The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) released the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2025 Report, titled “Overlapping Hardships: Poverty and Climate Hazards”.
• The report provides an evidence-based assessment of poverty that goes beyond income measures, highlighting how climate vulnerability and multidimensional deprivation reinforce each other.

About the Global MPI

• Nature of Index: The MPI is a global composite measure of acute poverty, capturing simultaneous deprivations in health, education, and standard of living through 10 indicators.
• Introduced: First featured in the 2010 Human Development Report.
• Published by: Jointly by UNDP Human Development Report Office and OPHI, annually since 2010.
• Objective: To assess:
  • Who is poor
  • How they are poor
  • How deprivations overlap across households
  • Enabling policymakers to align development strategies with SDG-1 (No Poverty).
• Methodology Highlights:
  • 3 Dimensions: Health, Education, Living Standards.
  • 10 Indicators: Nutrition, child mortality, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, assets.

Global Trends in the MPI 2025

Poverty Headcount & Severity

• Out of 6.3 billion people assessed across 109 countries, 1.1 billion (18.3%) live in acute multidimensional poverty.
• 43.6% of the poor (≈501 million) experience severe poverty—being deprived in half or more indicators.

Regional Distribution of Poverty

• Sub-Saharan Africa (565 million) and South Asia (390 million) account for 83% of global poverty.
• Sub-Saharan Africa alone contains 49.2% of the world’s multidimensionally poor.

Children Disproportionately Affected

• Children form 33.6% of the global population but 51% of those living in multidimensional poverty.
• Malnutrition and disruption in schooling are primary drivers of child deprivation.

Middle-Income Countries as Core Contributors

• Nearly 740 million of the global poor live in middle-income countries, highlighting inadequacies of income-based poverty classifications.

Rural Concentration

• 83.5% of all multidimensionally poor live in rural areas, despite these areas comprising only 55% of total population.

Climate Hazard Exposure

• Nearly 80% of poor populations live in climate-vulnerable areas.
• Climate hazards include droughts, floods, extreme heat, and erratic precipitation patterns.
• South Asia has the highest number of poor people living in climate hazard zones.

Poverty & Climate Vulnerability in SIDS

• 22 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) show a combined poverty rate of 23.5%, higher than the developing world average.
• Rising sea levels (projected up to 70 cm by 2080–2099) threaten livelihoods in nations such as Belize, Comoros, and Samoa.

Post-Pandemic Stagnation

• Poverty reduction has slowed, with many countries witnessing stagnation or reversal due to:
  • Inflation
  • Conflict
  • Climate shocks
  • Post-pandemic economic disruptions

India in Global MPI 2025

Significant Poverty Reduction

• India reduced multidimensional poverty from 55.1% (2005–06) to 16.4% (2019–21).
• Over 414 million people moved out of multidimensional poverty.
• India's progress is among the fastest globally.

Persistent Child Poverty

• Children continue to face high deprivation, particularly in:
  • Nutrition
  • Sanitation
  • Housing
  • Cooking fuel

Climate Vulnerability and Poverty Link

• Nearly 99% of India’s poor live in climate-exposed regions.
• Heatwaves, floods, droughts, and air pollution intensify hardship and threaten livelihood security.

Drivers of MPI Improvement

India’s poverty reduction correlates with large-scale welfare and infrastructure missions:

• Swachh Bharat Mission – sanitation improvement
• PM Ujjwala Yojana – access to clean cooking fuel
• PM-Awas Yojana – housing for rural and urban poor
• Jal Jeevan Mission – access to clean drinking water
• Universal electrification initiatives

Key Challenges

• Rural–Urban Divide: 83% of the multidimensionally poor live in rural regions.
• Climate shocks: Frequent floods and droughts reverse development gains.
• Data Gaps: Lack of updated household-level data limits monitoring and policy targeting.
• Gender disparities: Women face inequalities in nutrition, education, healthcare, and asset ownership.
• Financial constraints: Several states struggle with fiscal capacity, affecting social protection and climate adaptation.

Policy Recommendations

• Integrate Climate & Poverty Policy: Adopt climate-resilient strategies combining:
  • Green infrastructure
  • Social protection
  • Disaster risk reduction
• Localised Poverty Tracking: Develop district-level MPI dashboards for real-time, granular monitoring.
• Promote Green Livelihoods: Expand employment in:
  • Renewable energy
  • Organic farming
  • Circular economy sectors
• Enhance Global Support: Strengthen access to:
  • Climate finance 
• • Concessional aid
  • Technology transfers
• Gender and Child-Focused Interventions: Reinforce programs for:
  • Nutrition
  • Maternal health
  • Education
  • Clean cooking energy