Topic 1: Supreme Court Ruling on “Right to be Forgotten”
Syllabus
- GS Paper 2: Indian Constitution; Judiciary; Fundamental Rights (Article 21).
Context
The Supreme Court established a framework for the “Right to be Forgotten” (RTBF), allowing individuals to request the removal of personal data from search engines under specific conditions.
Main Body: Multi-Dimensional Analysis
- Digital Dignity: RTBF is now recognized as a facet of the Right to Privacy.
- The “Balancing” Test: Courts must weigh the individual’s right to be forgotten against the public’s right to know and the importance of historical records.
- Non-Absoluteness: RTBF cannot be used to erase records of public officials or serious criminal convictions that remain a matter of public safety.
- Mechanism: Platforms must now provide a clear “take-down” request process for non-public, sensitive personal information.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Dimension | Details |
| Positives | Protects victims of social stigma; prevents “digital trial by media” for acquitted persons. |
| Negatives | Risk of “history scrubbing” by powerful individuals; impacts the transparency of public records. |
| Associated Laws | Article 21, Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023. |
Topic 2: “Sagar-Samvad” and Deep Ocean Mission Phase II
Syllabus
- GS Paper 3: Science and Technology; Blue Economy; Infrastructure.
Context
Launch of “Sagar-Samvad,” an indigenous underwater acoustic communication system, marking Phase II of India’s mission to explore the “Abyssal Zone.”
Main Body: Multi-Dimensional Analysis
- Mineral Wealth: Focuses on extracting Polymetallic Nodules (Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese) from the seabed.
- Strategic Autonomy: Indigenous sonar tech reduces reliance on foreign maritime hardware.
- Samudrayaan: Integration with the Matsya 6000 submersible for manned deep-sea exploration.
- Climate Data: Deep-sea sensors will now provide data on ocean warming, improving monsoon predictions.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Dimension | Details |
| Positives | Secures raw materials for the EV revolution; boosts marine engineering R&D. |
| Negatives | Potential destruction of undiscovered deep-sea biodiversity; high financial risk. |
| Associated Schemes | Deep Ocean Mission, Blue Economy Policy, O-SMART. |
Topic 3: India-EFTA Trade Agreement (TEPA) Implementation
Syllabus
- GS Paper 2: Bilateral & Global Groupings.
- GS Paper 3: Indian Economy; Mobilization of Resources.
Context
A review of the India-EFTA (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) pact showed a 15% increase in high-tech FDI into India.
Main Body: Multi-Dimensional Analysis
- Binding Investment: EFTA has committed to investing $100 billion in India over 15 years.
- Tech Transfer: Focus on precision engineering, medical devices, and renewable energy tech from Switzerland and Norway.
- Service Mobility: Easier visa access for Indian professionals in EFTA nations.
- IPR Issues: Ongoing debates regarding “Data Exclusivity” for pharmaceutical drugs.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Dimension | Details |
| Positives | Direct FDI commitment (unique in FTAs); boosts “Make in India” for high-tech goods. |
| Negatives | Pressure on Indian generic drug manufacturers; competition for domestic dairy/luxury sectors. |
| Associated Schemes | Invest India, PLI Schemes, National IPR Policy. |
Topic 4: “Harit-Yatra” Green Hydrogen Public Transport
Syllabus
- GS Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy; Environmental Conservation.
Context
The MNRE launched the “Harit-Yatra” pilot, mandating 20% of public bus fleets in Tier-1 cities to switch to Green Hydrogen fuel cells by 2028.
Main Body: Multi-Dimensional Analysis
- Zero Emissions: Hydrogen fuel cells emit only water vapor, tackling urban air pollution.
- Logistics: Creation of “Hydrogen Hubs” near major highways for refueling.
- Cost Factor: Scale is expected to bring down Green Hydrogen costs to $1/kg by 2030.
- Indigenous Stack: Encourages Indian auto-majors to develop fuel-cell stacks locally.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Dimension | Details |
| Positives | Deep decarbonization; reduces energy import dependency; long-range compared to EVs. |
| Negatives | High initial cost of fuel-cell buses; “Grey” vs “Green” hydrogen purity challenges. |
| Associated Schemes | National Green Hydrogen Mission, FAME-III, PM-eBus Sewa. |
Topic 5: Tamil Nadu’s Semiconductor Sub-Cluster Policy
Syllabus
- GS Paper 3: Industrial Policy; Effects of liberalization.
Context
Tamil Nadu announced a specialized policy for Semiconductor OSAT (Assembly and Testing) units in the Hosur-Krishnagiri-Dharmapuri (HKD) region.
Main Body: Multi-Dimensional Analysis
- Regional Corridor: Creating a “Silicon Triangle” connecting Chennai, Hosur, and Bengaluru.
- Fiscal Incentives: 50% top-up subsidy on Central government incentives for OSAT units.
- Skill Development: Setting up “Centre of Excellence” for VLSI design in state universities.
- Supply Chain: Moving from “Auto-capital” to “Electronics-capital” of South Asia.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Dimension | Details |
| Positives | High-value job creation; diversifies state GSDP; leverages existing proximity to Bengaluru. |
| Negatives | Heavy water and power requirements; stiff competition from Gujarat and Karnataka. |
| Associated Schemes | India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), TN Electronics Policy. |
Topic 6: Exercise “Paschim-Shakti” and Theatre Commands
Syllabus
- GS Paper 3: Security Forces and their Mandate; Internal Security.
Context
The Armed Forces conducted Ex-Paschim-Shakti, a tri-service exercise off the Konkan coast to test the efficiency of Integrated Theatre Commands.
Main Body: Multi-Dimensional Analysis
- Jointness: Focuses on seamless data sharing between Army drones and Navy warships.
- Cyber Warfare: Tested “Kill-chains” involving electronic jamming and physical strikes.
- Resource Optimization: Theatre commands aim to reduce duplication of assets between services.
- Atmanirbharta: 100% of the drones used in the exercise (Tapas-BH) were indigenous.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Dimension | Details |
| Positives | Faster response time in conflict; modernizes the command structure; saves defense budget. |
| Negatives | Inter-service rivalry regarding leadership; logistical complexity of moving to a single command. |
| Associated Reforms | CDS (Chief of Defence Staff), DMA (Department of Military Affairs). |
Topic 7: RBI’s “Climate Risk Transparency” Mandate
Syllabus
- GS Paper 3: Indian Economy; Banking; Environmental Impact.
Context
RBI has mandated banks to disclose their “Green-to-Brown” loan ratios, making environmental risk a core part of banking audits.
Main Body: Multi-Dimensional Analysis
- Financial Risk: Climate events (floods/droughts) lead to loan defaults; banks must assess “Stranded Assets” in fossil fuels.
- Greenwashing: Strict definitions of what constitutes a “Green Project” to prevent misleading claims.
- Capital Allocation: Banks with higher green ratios may get preferential regulatory treatment.
- SME Impact: Ensuring small businesses aren’t cut off from credit due to new environmental audits.
Positives, Negatives, & Government Schemes
| Dimension | Details |
| Positives | Directs private capital to sustainable goals; strengthens banking resilience against climate shocks. |
| Negatives | Increases compliance costs for banks; potential credit squeeze for carbon-intensive sectors. |
| Associated Concepts | ESG reporting, Sovereign Green Bonds, Green Taxonomy. |
