- AS WILDFIRES SCORCH THE EARTH, THE ARCTIC BIOME REJECTS MORE CARBON
SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY
- Wildfires in 2025released800,000 tonnes of carbon in January alone, 4x the amount from a decade ago.
- U.S. (Texas, Oklahoma, California), and Japan faced severe fires, causing mass evacuations and ecosystem damage.
- Arctic Turning into Carbon Source
- The Arctic Boreal Zone (ABZ), once a carbon sink, is now emitting more carbon than it absorbs.
- ABZ includes vast coniferous forests and permafrost, which are losing carbon storage capacity due to global warming and wildfires.
- Study Findings & Regional Trends
- Study in Nature Climate Change shows: Alaska accounts for 40% of Arctic fire emissions,
- Northern Europe and Siberia ~25–33%.
- Seasonal shift:Most Arctic wildfires now occur in warmer months (June to September).
- Warming Trends & Climate Feedback Loop
- Rising average surface temperature in India: 0.3–0.5°C per decade in northern areas
- 0.2–0.4°C per decade in peninsular India
2. RBI PLANS MARKET BASED ROUTE TO SECURITSE BAD BANK ASSETS
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- Securitisation of stressed assets (NPAs) via market-based mechanisms. ○ Lenders can bundle NPAs into tradeable securities to share risk.
- Mechanism: Follows ARC(Asset Reconstruction Company) route under SARFAESI Act, 2002.
- Securities sold to a Special Purpose Entity (SPE) for management.
- Static:
- SARFAESI Act, 2002:Allows banks to recover NPAs without court intervention by seizing and selling assets.
- Takeaway:RBI aims to reduce banking sector stress through market-driven NPA management.
3. COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM MUST GUIDE CONDUCT OF GOVERNORS
SUBJECT: POLITY
- Supreme Court ruling on Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi’s conduct in delaying bills
- Issue:Governor R.N. Ravi delayed 10 bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, impacting Centre-State relations. Court’s Ruling: Governors must act within constitutional responsibilities and not delay bills indefinitely.
- R.N. Ravi sent bills to President Droupadi Murmu after re-adoption by the Assembly, but the Court deemed this action”not bona fide” (arbitrary, non-established in law).
- Governors cannot delay bills whimsically or with impunity.
- Federal Principle: Raj Bhavan (Governor) must act with transparency and accountability. ○ Governor’s role is to assist the elected state government, not obstruct it.
- Political Context: Delays often occur in states ruled by parties opposing the central ruling party (BJP in this case).
- Governor R.N. Ravi, appointed by the BJP-led Centre, was seen as politically motivated against the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government.
- Governor’s role in India: Appointed by the President, acts as a link between Centre and State (Article 153-162of the Constitution).
- Governor’s powers include giving assent to bills, but discretion must align with constitutional norms (Article 200).
4. INDIA ENDS TRANSSHIPMENT FACILITY FOR BANGLADESH EXPORTS, CITES CONGESTION
SUBJECT: BILATERAL
- India withdrew the transshipment facility for Bangladesh (via Indian ports) citing“significant congestion”in Indian ports and airports.
- The move impacts ready-made garment exports from Bangladesh to Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar routed through India.
- Government Justification & Timeline
- Facility withdrawn effective April 8, 2025.
- MEA clarified the move is not intended to affect Bangladesh-Nepal-Bhutan trade.
- MEA cited logistical delays, cost hikes, and congestion at Indian customs points.
- Contextual Significance Comes after remarks by Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, on India-China trade routes in Northeast.
- No official confirmation that withdrawal is linked to these remarks.
5. CENTRE APPROVES RS.63,000 CRORE DEAL FOR PROCURING 26 RAFALE M JETS FROM FRANCE
SUBJECT: DEFENSE
- CCS approved a ₹63,000-crore deal to procure26 Rafale-M fighter jets for Indian Navy from France.
- Includes22 single-seater carrier-based jets and 4 trainer jets.
- Operational Impact Jets will operate from INS Vikrant, enhancing naval aviation capability.
- Delivery to begin3.5 years post-contract signing; to be completed in 6.5 years.
- Associated Developments DAC already approved deal in July 2023.
- Part of broader India-France defence ties; includes another mega deal for Scorpene-class submarines.
- Strategic Context
- France demonstrated Rafale-M capabilities during Varuna Naval Exercise aboard Charles de Gaulle.
- Strengthens India’s Indo-Pacific presence amid maritime security challenges.
