In News:

With Delhi’s air quality plunging to severe levels each winter, the state government has renewed its call for cloud seeding as a potential intervention to reduce pollution. However, scientific assessments and governance experts warn that this approach offers limited, temporary relief and risks diverting attention from structural reforms required to address air pollution sustainably.

Why Delhi’s Air Quality Deteriorates in Winter

Delhi’s winter pollution is driven by a combination of meteorological and anthropogenic factors:

• Temperature Inversion: During winter, colder air remains trapped near the surface while warmer air lies above. This temperature inversion acts as a lid, preventing pollutants from rising and dispersing vertically.
• Low Wind Speeds: Weak winds limit horizontal movement of pollutants, causing particulate matter to accumulate in the lower atmosphere.
• Crop Residue Burning: Post-harvest stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh releases large quantities of smoke and suspended particles, which are carried to Delhi via prevailing winds.
• Dust and Urban Emissions: Vehicular emissions, construction dust, industrial exhaust, and waste burning remain trapped within the low boundary layer height, intensifying pollution.
• Post-Monsoon Stagnation: Stable high-pressure systems reduce atmospheric mixing, compounding North India’s chronic winter air quality problem.

What is Cloud Seeding?

Cloud seeding is a form of weather modification intended to enhance rainfall using chemical agents.

• Origin: First demonstrated in 1946 by Vincent J. Schaefer.
• Seeding Agents: Silver iodide, potassium iodide, sodium chloride, and dry ice are commonly used.
• Mechanism: The agents act as nuclei for condensation or ice-crystal formation, encouraging droplet growth. Once droplets become heavy, they fall as precipitation.
• Delivery Methods: Aircraft, rockets, or ground-based generators disperse particles into suitable moisture-laden clouds.

However, cloud seeding requires the presence of natural clouds with adequate moisture and cannot generate clouds on its own.

Scientific and Environmental Limitations

• Reliance on Existing Clouds: Delhi often lacks suitable cloud systems during peak pollution periods. Cloud seeding has no impact in the absence of adequate moisture.
• Weak Evidence of Effectiveness: Global scientific studies show inconsistent results. Even when rainfall occurs after seeding, establishing causality is difficult.
• Only Temporary Pollution Relief: Rain may wash away PM2.5 and PM10 temporarily, but pollution typically rebounds within 1–2 days. Secondary pollutants like ozone and sulphur dioxide remain unaffected.
• Environmental and Health Concerns: The use of silver iodide raises concerns regarding long-term ecological and health impacts due to chemical deposition. Evidence on safety is limited and inconclusive.
• Governance and Accountability Issues
  • Unpredictable outcomes may lead to public criticism.
  • Accountability becomes unclear if cloud seeding coincides with flooding or adverse weather events.

Ethical and Policy Concerns

• Misallocation of Resources: Investing in cloud seeding may divert funds from proven interventions.
• Distracting Public Attention: Temporary fixes risk undermining public trust and shifting focus away from systemic issues.
• Potential Misuse: Short-term optics may overshadow long-term environmental governance.

Real Solutions for Air Pollution Control

Experts emphasise that lasting improvement requires sustained structural action:

• Cleaner Transportation
  • Strengthening public transport
  • Transition to electric mobility
  • Enforcing emission norms
• Sustainable Energy Transition
  • Phasing down coal-based power
  • Scaling up renewables
  • Promoting clean industrial technologies
• Improved Waste Management
  • Curbing open waste burning
  • Efficient municipal systems
• Construction and Dust Control
  • Enforcement of dust mitigation norms
  • Use of green barriers and mechanised sweeping
• Agricultural Reforms
  • Subsidising sustainable stubble management
  • Promoting crop diversification in Punjab and Haryana
• Urban Planning Reforms
  • Increasing green cover
  • Reducing congestion through better mobility planning

In News:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the establishment of the National Makhana Board as a transformative step and a “revolution” for the makhana sector.
• The initiative aims to unlock the commercial potential of Makhana (foxnut)—the dried edible seed of Euryale ferox, a prickly water lily that grows in freshwater ponds across South and East Asia—and address long-standing structural gaps in India’s leading production region, Bihar.

Makhana: Botanical, Nutritional and Cultural Features

• Makhana is derived from the seeds of the gorgon plant, recognised by its large prickly leaves and violet-white flowers. Traditionally used in ritual offerings, it has gained global traction as a nutrient-dense, low-fat “superfood”, expanding its market appeal among health-conscious consumers.
• The global makhana market, valued at USD 43.56 million in 2023, is projected to surpass USD 100 million by 2033, signalling strong export potential for India.

Production Profile: Bihar’s Dominance

• Bihar accounts for 90% of India’s makhana production, with cultivation concentrated in nine districts of the Mithilanchal region—particularly Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnea, and Katihar, which together contribute 80% of the state’s output. Roughly 15,000 hectares under cultivation yield around 10,000 tonnes of popped makhana annually.
• Over 10 lakh families, mainly from the Mallah (fishermen) community, are involved in its cultivation, harvesting, and processing—making the crop socio-economically significant for Bihar’s rural economy.

Challenges: Low Productivity, Labour-Intensive Processes and Market Limitations

Despite being the largest producer, Bihar faces multiple structural constraints:

1. Weak Food Processing and Export Infrastructure

• Punjab and Assam dominate makhana exports despite minimal or no production.
• Bihar sells raw foxnuts cheaply to external food processing units (FPUs), which add value through flavouring, packaging, and branding—capturing higher profits.

2. Poor Market Organisation

• A long chain of intermediaries suppresses farmer earnings.
• Limited organised market systems hinder transparent pricing and revenue growth.

3. Labour-Intensive and Low-Productivity Cultivation

• Harvesting requires diving into water bodies and manually collecting seeds.
• Cleaning, sun drying, roasting, and popping are entirely manual processes.
• Adoption of high-yield varieties (HYVs) like Swarna Vaidehi and Sabour Makhana-1 remains low, keeping output at 1.7–1.9 tonnes/hectare, far below the HYV potential of 3–3.5 tonnes/hectare.
• Mechanisation attempts have been unsuccessful due to technological inefficiencies.

4. Institutional Weakness

• The ICAR National Research Centre for Makhana, established in 2002, has suffered understaffing, lack of administrative support, and underutilisation.

Government Efforts: Policy Push and Institutional Strengthening

The government is working to commercialise makhana through:

• Creation of the National Makhana Board with an initial budget of ?100 crore to address production, processing, value addition, and marketing.
• Promotion of makhana as a commercial crop with improved processing linkages.
• Expansion of industrial infrastructure, including cargo facilities at airports in Patna, Darbhanga, and Purnea, aimed at facilitating exports.
• Training, capacity-building, and linkage of farmers to government schemes.
• Awarding the GI tag to Mithila Makhana in 2022, recognising its unique geographical identity and boosting brand value.

Political Significance: Makhananomics in an Election Year

The push for makhana development carries strong electoral implications:

• With elections approaching, makhana has emerged as a key narrative in Bihar’s economic agenda.
• The sector directly impacts the Mallah community, which constitutes just 2.6% of the state population but commands significant influence in North Bihar owing to their 6% regional vote share.
• Success of “makhananomics” could bolster the ruling coalition’s political appeal by promising employment generation, economic upliftment, and rural prosperity.

In News:

• In a major breakthrough for India’s dairy and livestock sector, scientists at the ICAR–National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology (NIANP), Bengaluru, have developed CRYODIL, the country’s first egg yolk-free, ready-to-use semen preservation solution for buffalo breeding.
• Designed to revolutionise artificial insemination practices, CRYODIL enables long-term storage and improved semen quality during cryopreservation, offering significant benefits to dairy productivity and livestock management.

What is CRYODIL?

CRYODIL is an innovative semen extender developed specifically for buffaloes. Unlike conventional extenders that rely on egg yolk for preservation, CRYODIL employs a purified whey-protein–based formulation to maintain semen motility and fertility. This eliminates the variability and contamination risk associated with egg-yolk-based solutions.

Key Features and Advantages

• Egg Yolk-Free Composition: Eliminates microbial contamination risks often linked to raw biological materials like egg yolk.
• Extended Shelf Life: Can preserve buffalo semen for up to 18 months, making long-distance transport and storage more efficient.
• Stable and Consistent Quality: Whey proteins ensure chemical uniformity, improving post-thaw sperm survival and movement.
• Field-Tested Innovation: Demonstrated successful results in trials conducted on 24 buffalo bulls, showing superior post-thaw semen motility and higher fertility potential.
• Cost-Effective Alternative: Indigenous development reduces reliance on imported commercial extenders, making it affordable for rural breeding programmes.
• Ready-to-Use Formulation: Simplifies the insemination process and enhances field applicability without requiring complex lab preparations.

Significance for India’s Dairy and Livestock Sector

• Boosts Buffalo Breeding Efficiency: India is home to the world’s largest population of buffaloes and relies heavily on them for dairy output. CRYODIL strengthens artificial insemination efforts by enhancing semen viability and improving conception rates.
• Advances Atmanirbhar Bharat: The indigenous formulation supports self-reliance, reducing dependence on imported extenders and promoting innovation under ICAR research initiatives.
• Improves Dairy Sector Economics: Higher fertility rates and improved breeding efficiency translate to increased milk yield, benefiting farmers and strengthening India’s dairy economy.
• Enhances Biosecurity and Hygiene: Removal of egg yolk minimises microbial load and contamination risks, making the solution safer for large-scale use in breeding centres.

In News:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his October 2025 Mann Ki Baat address, called upon citizens to mark the 150th anniversary of VandeMataram.

Historical Origins and Evolution

• VandeMataram—meaning “I bow to thee, Mother”—was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s in Sanskritised Bengali.
• It was later published in his novel Anandamath (1882), where the motherland was depicted symbolically as a divine, nurturing force.
• The song gained prominence during the freedom struggle. Its first public rendition was by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Indian National Congress session, marking its transition from literary creation to a nationalistic anthem.
• Despite British censorship, it echoed across protest marches, swadeshi gatherings, and revolutionary movements, becoming an enduring symbol of defiance.

Role in National Movement and Political Debates

• During the early 20th century, the song became deeply embedded in anti-colonial resistance, especially during the Swadeshi Movement (1905) and later the Quit India Movement (1942). However, its later stanzas, portraying the motherland as a Hindu goddess, drew objections from the All-India Muslim League and some Muslim leaders.
• To maintain inclusivity, the Indian National Congress in 1937 officially adopted only the first two stanzas, which do not include religious imagery. This selective adoption reflected efforts to preserve unity in a diverse society.
• On 24 January 1950, the Constituent Assembly accorded equal honour to VandeMataram and Jana Gana Mana, defining the former as the national song and the latter as the national anthem.

Cultural, Symbolic and Constitutional Status

Today, VandeMataram holds a unique constitutional and cultural position:

• National Song Status: It enjoys the same respect as the national anthem as per Constituent Assembly resolutions.
• Parliamentary Tradition: An instrumental version is played at the end of every Parliament session.
• Cultural Identity: It continues to symbolise unity, patriotism, and emotional attachment to the motherland.
• Secular Projection: Emphasis remains on the first two stanzas to ensure inclusivity across religious communities.
• Judicial Affirmation: In 2022, the Delhi High Court reaffirmed that citizens should show equal respect to both the national anthem and national song.

In News:

• Cyclone Montha, a tropical cyclonic system that formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal in late October 2025, has emerged as one of the most significant weather events of the year for India’s eastern coastal states.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued high-level warnings for Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and coastal Telangana as the system intensifies and advances toward landfall.

Formation and Meteorological Characteristics

• Cyclone Montha originated from a well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal around 24 October 2025.
• Under favourable atmospheric and oceanic conditions—warm sea surface temperatures above 28°C, high moisture availability, and low vertical wind shear—the system progressed from a depression to a deep depression by 26 October and further strengthened into a cyclonic storm. The IMD projected that it could intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) before landfall.
• As of 27 October 2025, the storm was positioned approximately 350 km southeast of Kakinada, moving in a north-northwest direction at nearly 14 km/h.
• The IMD forecast predicted landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, on the evening or night of 28 October. Wind speed estimates indicated gusts reaching 110 km/h, accompanied by “very rough to high” sea conditions and potential storm surge up to 1 metre.

Naming Mechanism and Regional Cyclone Governance

• “Montha” is a name contributed by Thailand to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones.
• Cyclone naming in the North Indian Ocean is overseen by a 13-member regional committee comprising India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Maldives, Oman, Yemen, Qatar, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand.
• Each country submits suggested names, which are then assigned sequentially to future cyclones. This system enhances communication, public awareness, and clarity during simultaneous storm events.

Geographical Spread and Affected Regions

• While Andhra Pradesh remains the primary zone of impact—especially districts such as Kakinada, Konaseema, West Godavari, Krishna, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore—its effects range wider. Odisha has alerted 30 districts, Tamil Nadu has issued orange and yellow alerts for coastal belts, and Telangana is preparing for secondary rainfall impacts.
• Rayalaseema is also vulnerable due to the forecast of extremely heavy rainfall (>210 mm in 24 hours), increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides. Fisherfolk in all three major maritime states—Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha—have been advised against venturing into the sea due to high waves and strong winds.

Expected Impacts

• Heavy to Extremely Heavy Rainfall: Isolated areas in coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha may witness rainfall ≥21 cm in 24 hours, leading to flooding of rivers, drains, and agricultural fields.
• Strong Winds: Sustained winds of 90–100 km/h and gusts up to 110 km/h can uproot trees, damage kutcha houses, and disrupt electricity and telecom infrastructure.
• Storm Surge: Low-lying coastal pockets face inundation risks due to a possible storm surge of around 1 metre above the astronomical tide.
• Marine Hazards: Fishing vessels have been anchored, with over 900 boats already guided ashore. High swell waves and turbulent sea conditions threaten coastal ecosystems and livelihoods.
• Extended Weather Effects: Secondary effects may be felt in Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and even parts of West Bengal through rainfall, thunderstorms, and transportation disruptions.

Government Response and Preparedness Measures

State and central agencies have activated a coordinated disaster-response framework. Key measures include:

• Activation of emergency control rooms and pre-deployment of NDRF, SDRF, Coast Guard, and Army teams.
• Closure of schools in high-risk districts until 31 October.
• Stockpiling of essential commodities and readying PDS distribution systems.
• Evacuation of vulnerable populations including pregnant women and residents of low-lying areas.
• Temporary shelters being prepared with sanitation and food facilities.
• Suspension of fishing activities along the entire east coast stretch under threat.
• Continuous IMD bulletins issued for public safety instructions.

Inter-state cooperation has been emphasised, particularly between Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, to strengthen response logistics.