InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions ina your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically
Table of Contents:
GS Paper 3:
- Vijay Raghavan committee and DRDO functioning
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
- National Girl Child Day (NGCD)
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
- ‘Sapinda’ marriages
- Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs)
- Pandemic Treaty and Disease X
- Alpine ibexes
- Military Exercises in News
Vijay Raghavan committee and DRDO functioning
GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Science and Technology/ Internal Security
Source: HT
Context: The Prime Minister has urged the armed forces, military-civilian bureaucracy, and the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to eliminate cost overruns and project delays in defence manufacturing to make “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) successful.
Previously, a committee led by Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan was formed by the Ministry of Defence to review and restructure the functioning of the DRDO and the defence R&D ecosystem in the country.
What is DRDO?
DRDO (est. 1958; HQ: New Delhi) is the R&D wing of the Ministry of Defence, which aims to equip India with advanced defence technologies, fostering self-reliance. DRDO comprises over 50 laboratories focusing on diverse defence disciplines such as aeronautics, electronics, and engineering systems. Motto- “Balasya Mulam Vigyanam” – “The source of strength is science”
Important programmes of DRDO:
| Programs | Description |
| Integrated Guided-Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) | Initiated by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in missile technology. Developed missiles: Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash, Nag |
| Mobile Autonomous Robot System (MARS) | Smart robot for handling landmines and IEDs. Assists Indian Armed Forces in disarming explosive devices from a safe distance. Can be equipped for ground digging and IED defused. |
| Highest Terrestrial Centre in Ladakh | Located at 17,600 feet near Pangong Lake. Functions as a natural cold storage unit for preserving natural and medicinal plants. |
| Recent projects | Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) (designed to protect military personnel in harsh cold environments); ‘Pralay’ missiles; Controlled Aerial Delivery System; Pinaka Extended Range (Pinaka-ER) Multiple Launch Rocket System; Supersonic Missile Assisted Torpedo System (SMART); Akash-NG and MPATGM projects (guided missile technology); Drone, Detect, Deter and Destroy (D4 System) |
| 2016: It successfully tested its first indigenously developed heavy-duty drone Rustom 2 | |
| 2018: DRDO co-developed INS Arihant, India’s first nuclear ballistic missile submarine | |
| 2019: DRDO developed India’s first anti-satellite system (Mission Shakti) |
Issues with DRDO:
| Issues | Description |
| Inadequate Budgetary Support | The Standing Committee on Defence highlighted concerns about insufficient budgetary support for ongoing DRDO projects. |
| Inadequate Manpower | DRDO faces challenges due to inadequate manpower, particularly in critical areas, and a lack of proper synergy with the armed forces. |
| Cost Escalation and Delays | E.g., the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas project, initiated in the 1980s with the aim of creating an indigenous supersonic fighter aircraft, faced significant delays and cost overruns. |
| Big on Promise, Small on Delivery | DRDO has been criticized for making significant promises but delivering less. Lack of accountability and repercussions for overruns have been pointed out by entities like the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). |
| Obsolete Equipment | Instead of focusing on cutting-edge technology, DRDO has been accused of tinkering with World War II-era equipment, leading to concerns about the relevance and effectiveness of its projects. |
| Long-Term Trials | The organization has faced criticism for prolonged testing phases without clear assurances of achieving the desired end state. |
| Comparison with ISRO | DRDO is focused on too many technologies (defence, underwater, space, equipment, etc.) whereas ISRO’s success is attributed to its sharp focus on space. |
| While ISRO serves as the developer, launcher, and controller, ensuring cohesiveness and persistence, DRDO, being only the developer, faces challenges in maintaining a seamless transition from design to realization, necessitating a revamp. |
Key recommendations made by Vijay Raghavan’s committee for DRDO:
| Category | Key Recommendations |
| Structural Changes | Formation of the Defence Technology Council (DTC) headed by the Prime Minister, with the Defense Minister and National Security Advisor as Vice Presidents. |
| DTC to determine the country’s defence technology roadmap, decide on major projects and their execution | |
| Creation of a separate department under the Defence Ministry, i.e., Department of Defence Science, Technology, and Innovation (DDSTI), to promote defence R&D in the academic and start-up ecosystem, serving as the secretariat for DTC. | |
| Research Focus | Concentrate on Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance technologies. |
| Emphasize areas in life sciences. | |
| Human Resources | Hire 100 graduates from campuses on a contract every year. |
| Strengthen DRDO’s lateral entry program. | |
| Reduce the median age of DRDO to 35. | |
| Laboratories | Restructure 41 DRDO labs into 10 national labs, distributed in Delhi, Bengaluru (2), Hyderabad (2), Pune, Dehradun, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Chandigarh. |
Other suggestions for improving the functioning of DRDO:
DRDO’s restructuring, proposed by the 2007 committee led by P. Rama Rao, advocates a leaner organization with a commercial arm for profitability and project completion efficiency. Former DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat suggests the establishment of a Defence Technology Commission and a more significant role for DRDO in selecting production partners. The organization’s 2021 HR policy focuses on knowledge sharing, open-book management, and participative management, marking a positive step forward.
Insta Links:
Mains Links:
What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (UPSC 2020)
National Girl Child Day (NGCD)
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Source: TH
Context: It is observed annually on January 24, and sheds light on challenges faced by girls in Indian society.
Established in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, NGCD advocates for equal opportunities in education, healthcare, and nutrition. It commemorates the inaugural anniversary of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme launched on January 22, 2015, aiming to improve the child sex ratio and empower girls and women. The day also holds significance as it marks the anniversary of Smt. Indira Gandhi took the oath as the first woman Prime Minister of India on January 24, 1966. NGCD promotes equal opportunities for the girl child while raising awareness about the injustices they face.
Activities this year:
The government urged states and union territories to conduct a five-day campaign at the grassroots level to raise awareness about the importance of the girl child. The campaign includes various activities, such as Gram Sabha or Mahila Sabha, oath-taking ceremonies, workshops on menstrual hygiene, and celebrating local champions in education, sports, social welfare, and community mobilization.
Quotes on Girl Child:
- “Empower a girl, empower a nation. The strength of our future lies in the hands of every girl child.”
- “Girls are not just a part of the story; they are the storytellers, shaping the narrative of a better tomorrow.”
- “Girls are not liabilities; they are assets that enrich the fabric of society with their intelligence and compassion.”
Usage: The examples can be used in Essays/ Ethics (value of gender equality)/ Case studies etc.
‘Sapinda’ marriages
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: HT
Context: The Delhi High Court has affirmed the constitutional validity of a provision in the Hindu Marriage Act that prohibits ‘sapinda’ marriages, those between individuals related through ancestors unless their custom permits.
What is ‘Sapinda’ marriage?
‘Sapinda’ marriages refer to unions between individuals who are closely related through their common lineal ancestors. According to the Hindu Marriage Act, individuals are considered ‘sapindas’ if one is a direct ancestor of the other within specified limits or if they share a common lineal ascendant within the ‘sapinda’ relationship boundaries. The Act aims to regulate such unions to prevent potential issues and ensure adherence to recognized customs.
Sapinda’ relationship extends up to the third generation through the mother’s line and the fifth generation through the father’s line.
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs)
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has extended the deadline for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to disclose granular details of entities holding ownership, economic interest, or control in the FPI.
What are FPIs and how are they different from FDIs?
FPIs (Foreign Portfolio Investors) and FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments) are both types of investments made by foreign entities, but they differ in their nature and purpose.
| Aspect | FPIs (Foreign Portfolio Investors) | FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments) |
| Definition | Foreign entities (e.g., mutual funds, hedge funds, pension funds) invest in financial assets like stocks, bonds, and securities in a country. | Foreign entities making a long-term investment in a business or physical assets in another country, often acquire a substantial ownership stake. |
| Investment Horizon | Typically short to medium-term. | Long-term. |
| Investment Focus | Financial assets, such as stocks and bonds. | Business or physical assets of a company. |
| Returns | Seek returns through capital appreciation and dividends. | Aim for lasting interest, influence, and control over the company’s operations. |
| Control and Management Involvement | Do not seek to actively control or manage the companies in which they invest. | Actively involved in the management and decision-making processes of the invested entity. |
Why does SEBI want FPIs to disclose their details?
SEBI’s move aims to prevent possible round-tripping and misuse of the FPI route. SEBI is seeking additional information from FPIs holding more than 50% of their Indian equity assets under management (AUM) in a single corporate group or with over Rs 25,000 crore in Indian equity markets. The requirement is part of efforts to address concerns that certain FPIs may be used to circumvent regulatory requirements. Sovereign wealth funds, listed companies on certain global exchanges, public retail funds, and other regulated pooled investment vehicles are exempted from enhanced disclosures.
What is round-tripping?
Round tripping refers to a process where funds are sent out of a country and then brought back into the same country through a circuitous route. This can involve complex financial transactions and may be done for various reasons, such as disguising the origin of funds, taking advantage of tax loopholes, or circumventing regulatory restrictions.
Pandemic Treaty and Disease X
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: DTE
Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, emphasizes the need for a pandemic treaty to prepare for potential future outbreaks, particularly ‘Disease X,’ representing an unknown disease with pandemic potential.
What is the Pandemic Treaty?
The Draft Pandemic Treaty, proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and member states, is an international agreement aimed at preventing, preparing for, and responding to pandemics and global health emergencies. It focuses on strengthening global cooperation and solidarity, covering aspects such as surveillance, detection, notification, access to health technologies, collaboration, and accountability. The deadline for this agreement is set for the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024.
The treaty, based on principles of human rights and equity, responds to lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Its principal components include calls for:
- Increased global cooperation
- Strengthening of health systems
- Investment in research and development
- Transparency in information sharing
- Establishment of a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS) under the WHO
- Address gender disparities in the healthcare workforce, with emphasis on equal pay and promoting the representation and empowerment of health and care workers.
What is Disease X?
Disease X is a hypothetical pathogen or threat that could trigger a major future pandemic. Coined by scientists and the World Health Organization (WHO), it refers to a new agent, virus, bacterium, or fungus with no known treatment, belonging to any of the 25 families of viruses capable of causing illness in people. Added to the WHO’s Blueprint list of diseases in 2018, scientists believe Disease X could be 20 times more deadly than the recent SARS-Covid virus, emphasizing its potential as a serious microbial threat to humans in the future.
The WHO is undertaking initiatives, including the Financial Intermediary Fund for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, the mRNA technology transfer hub, and the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, to enhance global preparedness and collaboration in the face of potential future outbreaks.
Alpine ibexes
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: DTE
Context: Climate change is impacting Alpine ibexes (IUCN: Least Concern), a species of mountain goats in the European Alps. Warmer temperatures are forcing these goats to shift from diurnal to nocturnal (from daytime to nighttime) habits to escape excess heat, making them vulnerable to predators like wolves.
This shift may have negative consequences on foraging efficiency, antipredator behaviours, and overall reproduction and survival rates. It also presents challenges for conservation planning and population estimates, as animals become less detectable during nocturnal hours.
About Ibexes:
An ibex is any of several species of wild goat, distinguished by the male’s large recurved horns, which are transversely ridged in front. Ibex are found in Europe (Alpine Ibexes), Russia (Siberian Ibexes), India (Himalayan Ibexes), North Africa and East Africa.
Across Asia, Ibex inhabits elevations from 500 m to 6,700 m in countries like India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Southern Siberia, and China, with the least concern about IUCN status. The Himalayan Ibex (a distinct species and NOT part of Siberian Ibex) is primarily found in the trans-Himalayan ranges of the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Himachal Pradesh.
Military Exercises in News
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: Multiple
Recent Military Operations/Exercises:
| Exercises | Details |
| Operation Sarvashakti | Purpose: Counter Pakistan’s attempts to increase terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Target: Terrorists operating on both sides of the Pir Panjal mountain ranges. Previous Operation: Operation Sarpvinash (2003-2017/18) aimed at flushing out terrorists who had infiltrated from across the border. |
| Exercise Desert Knight | Conducted by: the Indian Air Force, along with the French Air and Space Force and UAE Air Force. Purpose: Conduct joint military exercises. |
| NATO’s Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises | Description: NATO’s largest exercise since the Cold War involving around 90,000 troops. Objective: Rehearse how US troops could aid European allies in countries bordering Russia and on NATO’s eastern flank in a conflict situation. |
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