NEWS:What is the Significance of the Census

GS2 – Governance, Polity and Constitution

• The next Census is scheduled in two phases with March 1, 2027 as the reference date.
• India’s first synchronous Census was conducted in 1881; the last one was in 2011.
• The two phases of Census: House listing (housing-related data) and Population enumeration (individual demographic data).
• Census data to inform delimitation of constituencies and implementation of women’s reservation in legislatures.
• The Census is governed by The Census Act, 1948 and managed by the Central government with State cooperation

Delimitation

• About:
  • Delimitation means the process of fixing the number of seats and boundaries of territorial constituencies in each State for the Lok Sabha and Legislative assemblies.
    • It also includes determining the seats to be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in these houses.
  • This ‘delimitation process’ is performed by the ‘Delimitation Commission’ that is set up under an act of Parliament.
    • Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
      • The first delimitation exercise was carried out by the President (with the help of the Election Commission) in 1950-51.

Constitutional Provisions:

• Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.

Under Article 170, States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census

NEWS:India and Mongolia Hold Joint Military Exercise to enhance interoperability,

GS2 – International Relations

• The 17th edition of the bilateral military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ is being held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from May 31 to June 13.
• Focus areas include counter-terrorism operations, precision sniping, and UN-mandated operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain.
• The exercise aims to improve interoperability, coordination, and operational capabilities of both armies.
• It is an annual event conducted alternately in India and Mongolia; the previous edition took place in Umroi, Meghalaya (July 2024).
• Simulated UN peacekeeping operations are a core component, mirroring real-world multinational scenarios.
• Cultural exchange and military camaraderie are also emphasised as part of the broader cooperation.

Detailed Insights:

• Enhances India’s defence diplomacy and strategic outreach under its Act East Policy.
• Helps both nations build capacity for multinational peacekeeping roles under the UN framework.
• Facilitates adaptation to diverse operational environments, especially mountainous and semi-urban terrains.
• Reinforces India’s position as a reliable regional security partner in the Indo-Pacific.
• Contributes to confidence-building measures and strategic convergence in defence cooperation.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Interoperability: Ability of armed forces to operate together effectively through shared procedures and communication systems.
• Precision Sniping: Military skill involving long-range, highly accurate targeting—often critical in special operations.

NEWS:New study makes controversial weather-tweaking idea more realistic

GS3 – Environment, Science and Technology;

• Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) is a proposed geoengineering method to cool the planet by injecting aerosols into the stratosphere.
• A new study shows SAI could be implemented at lower altitudes (13 km) using modified existing aircraft, reducing cost and deployment time.
• Researchers simulated spraying sulphur dioxide using UKESM1 model; 12 million tonnes/year at 13 km could cool Earth by ~0.6°C.
• Higher altitudes (20 km) require specially designed aircraft and less sulphur dioxide, but involve greater technical and financial hurdles.
• The method is inspired by volcanic eruptions like Mount Pinatubo (1991), which had measurable cooling effects.
• Significant risks include acid rain, ozone layer delays, regional climatic imbalances, and global geopolitical disputes.

Detailed Insights:

• Geoengineering Strategy: SAI is one of several solar radiation modification methods aimed at reducing incoming solar energy to mitigate global warming.
• Volcanic Analogy: Mimics natural cooling observed after volcanic eruptions, providing a natural precedent for large-scale deployment.
• Technical Innovation: New approach targets lower altitudes (esp. polar and extratropical regions) where aircraft can reach the stratosphere without extreme modifications.
• Cost and Accessibility: Using modified commercial aircraft like the Boeing 777F could make the technology viable within a few years, avoiding billion-dollar aircraft development.
• Effectiveness vs. Risk Trade-off: More aerosols at lower altitude may compensate for shorter particle residence time but raise environmental and health risks.
• Global Governance Challenge: The technology affects the entire planet; unilateral deployment may provoke international tension or unintended cross-border impacts.
• Masking Effect: Could reduce perceived urgency of emission cuts, making countries less likely to take long-term mitigation steps.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI): Solar geoengineering method involving high-altitude injection of reflective aerosols to reduce solar radiation.
• Tropopause: The boundary between troposphere and stratosphere; varies by latitude and determines feasible altitudes for aerosol injection.
• UKESM1 (UK Earth System Model): Climate simulation tool used to model aerosol effects and global temperature changes.

NEWS:How is India planning to localise EV manufacturing

GS Paper 3: Infrastructure (Mobility & Energy), Industrial Policy, Technology Transfer

• The Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (2024–2029) aims to attract global EV manufacturers while promoting domestic production.

Key features of the scheme:

• Customs duty cut: Reduction from 70–100% to 15% on completely built electric cars (CBUs) priced at $35,000 or more.
• Time-bound imports: Benefit valid for five years and limited to 8,000 vehicles per year.
• Investment requirement: Minimum of ₹4,150 crore (~$500 million) within three years.
• Localisation targets:
  • 25% of manufacturing to be done in India within 3 years.
  • 50% within 5 years.
• Cap on duty foregone: ₹6,484 crore.

Does This Help India’s EV Ecosystem?

• The policy may encourage foreign players like Tesla to enter the Indian market and localise production. It is positioned as a means to accelerate India’s transition to clean mobility while boosting manufacturing and job creation.
• Electric vehicles are a type of vehicle that use one or more electric motors for propulsion, instead of a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) that burns gasoline or diesel.
  • Though the concept of electric vehicles has been around for a long time, it has drawn a considerable amount of interest in the past decade amid a rising carbon footprint and other environmental impacts of fuel-based vehicles.
• Types of Electric Vehicles:
  • Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs): Solely rely on battery power for propulsion and produce zero tailpipe emissions.
  • Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs): Combine an electric motor with a gasoline engine. They can be charged externally and run on battery power for a limited range, then switch to the gasoline engine for longer journeys.
  • Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs): Use both an electric motor and a gasoline engine, but the battery cannot be charged directly by plugging in.
    • The battery is charged by the gasoline engine or through regenerative braking.

Mains Mock Question:
Q. Discuss the prospects and challenges of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) as a climate mitigation tool. Should India support international geoengineering research and regulation efforts?