GAPS IN REGULATING DIGITAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS
TOPIC: (GS2) INDIAN POLITY: THE HINDU
An analysis of digital advertisements during the Bihar Assembly elections revealed that third-party actors spent more and gained greater online visibility than official political parties.
Changing Nature of Election Campaigns
- Indian election laws were designed for traditional campaigns led by political parties and candidates.
- However, modern elections are increasingly shaped by digital platforms, influencers, consulting firms, and interest groups.
- Social media advertising has become a major tool for political persuasion, often operating outside formal regulatory control.
Existing Regulatory Framework
- The Election Commission (EC) mandates pre-certification of political advertisements through the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC).
- Section 77(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 requires parties and candidates to disclose election expenditure, including on social media.
- Recent EC advisories expanded restrictions slightly but remain limited in scope, time period, and media coverage.
Bihar Assembly Election Data
- Digital ad data from Meta platforms showed that third-party actors outnumbered official parties among major spenders.
- Out of 55 advertisers spending more than ₹1 lakh, a majority were not political parties or candidates.
- Despite similar spending levels, third-party campaigns generated significantly higher impressions, indicating greater efficiency.
- Youth aged 13–34 formed the largest audience, but third-party ads reached older age groups more effectively.
Role of Third-Party Campaigners
- These actors include campaign agencies, influencers, and proxy organisations.
- They often operate without clear disclosure norms or spending limits.
- In some cases, third-party entities directly funded advertisements on official party pages, blurring financial accountability.
Accountability and Transparency Gaps
- Election laws require parties to disclose what they spend, not what others spend on their behalf.
- Digital expenses are often vaguely reported under platform names rather than real sponsors.
- This creates space for unaccounted money, indirect funding, and hidden influence.
- Supreme Court rulings prohibit unauthorised political advertisements, but enforcement remains weak online.
Limitations of Current Regulation
- Rules activate mainly just before polling, while digital influence builds over months.
- Regulations focus on print media and parties, not digital ecosystems.
- There is no clear legal framework to govern platform algorithms, intermediaries, or surrogate advertisers.
Why This Is a Democratic Concern
- Unequal visibility distorts the level playing field in elections.
- Opaque funding weakens electoral transparency and fairness.
- Continued regulatory delay risks erosion of public trust in digital democracy.
Way Forward
- Expand election regulations to explicitly cover third-party digital campaigners.
- Mandate disclosure of all political advertising sponsors, including indirect funding.
- Regulate digital campaigning throughout the election cycle, not only near polling.
- Strengthen EC’s capacity to audit platform-based political spending.
Conclusion
India’s election framework is struggling to keep pace with the digital transformation of political campaigning. Without updating laws to reflect new actors, timelines, and funding flows, digital elections will remain vulnerable to invisible influence and weakened accountability.
A GRAND VISION AND INDIA’S RESEARCH DEFICIT
TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE HINDU
India’s weak research and development (R&D) ecosystem has come under focus. Despite its ambition of becoming a global technology power, the country continues to face challenges such as low R&D spending, poor private sector participation, and limited innovation output.
India’s R&D scenario:
- India has 17.5% of the world’s population, but contributes only 3% of global research output, showing a mismatch between talent and output.
- Patent filings in 2023: 64,480 applications, ranking India 6th globally, but only 1.8% of the world total, reflecting limited global share.
- Resident patents per million population: India ranks 47th, which highlights weak innovation intensity at the domestic level.
- R&D expenditure: 0.6–0.7% of GDP, far below China (2.4%), USA (3.5%), and Israel (5.4%), showing underinvestment.
- Example: Huawei alone spent $23.4 billion on R&D in 2023, more than India’s entire national R&D spend, underscoring the gap.
Structural Challenges
- Dominance of Government Funding: Government contributes ~63.6% of R&D funds, while private sector share is only ~36.4%. In developed nations, industry leads R&D spending, but in India the government remains the main driver.
- Academia–Industry Disconnect: Universities focus on theoretical research, often isolated from industry needs. Mechanisms for technology transfer and commercialization are weak.
- Brain Drain: Many skilled PhDs and engineers migrate abroad for better facilities, salaries, and opportunities.
- Bureaucratic Delays: Slow approval processes and irregular release of funds hinder longterm projects. This prevents ambitious research programmes from being executed smoothly.
Path Forward
- Raise R&D Spending: Target to reach 2% of GDP in 5–7 years and Encourage private sector to contribute at least 50% of total R&D.
- National Missions in Frontier Technologies: Focus areas are semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, advanced materials, green energy.
- Higher Education Reform: Universities must evolve into research hubs alongside teaching institutions. Boost PhD funding, create competitive faculty positions, and build worldclass labs.
- Strengthen Intellectual Property Culture: Simplify patent filing, improve enforcement, and incentivize commercialization. Encourage inventors by linking patents to financial rewards and recognition.
Conclusion
India has the talent and ambition to become a global innovation leader. But without structural reforms, higher R&D spending, and stronger academiaindustry collaboration, the dream of Viksit Bharat 2047 will remain distant.
INDIA–IRAN RELATIONS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
India and Iran are marking 75 years of diplomatic relations, prompting renewed discussion on deep civilisational ties and future strategic cooperation. Recent focus on Chabahar Port, INSTC, and regional security has brought India–Iran relations back into policy debate.
Civilisational and Cultural Foundations
- India and Iran share roots that go back to ancient Indo-Iranian civilisation.
- Early Aryan groups later settled separately in the Iranian plateau and the Indian subcontinent, but retained linguistic and cultural similarities.
- The Avesta (Iran) and Rigveda (India) reflect shared myths, rituals, and worldview.
- Persian language flourished in India for centuries as a medium of administration, art, diplomacy, and poetry.
- India contributed to Persian literature through the “Indian Style” (Sabk-e-Hindi), enriching Persian thought.
- Poets like Bedil Dehlavi symbolise this deep Indo-Persian intellectual exchange.
Modern Strategic Drivers of Relations
Energy Cooperation
- India’s fast-growing economy needs reliable oil and gas supplies.
- Iran, with vast hydrocarbon reserves, is a natural energy partner for India.
- Energy ties form a key pillar of economic cooperation, despite global constraints.
Connectivity and Trade
- Chabahar Port in Iran provides India direct access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
- Iran is central to the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connecting India to Russia and Europe.
- INSTC is shorter, cheaper, and faster than the Suez Canal route, improving trade efficiency.
Security and Strategic Cooperation
- Both countries face threats from terrorism and extremism in West and South Asia.
- Quiet cooperation in intelligence sharing and regional stability supports mutual security interests.
- India and Iran share concerns over instability in Afghanistan.
Challenges in the Relationship
- Third-party pressures and sanctions have affected economic engagement.
- Banking and payment difficulties limit trade potential.
- Geopolitical shifts demand careful diplomatic balancing by India.
Future Areas of Cooperation
- Use of local currency trade mechanisms to reduce external vulnerabilities.
- Diversification beyond oil into IT, knowledge industries, healthcare, nanotechnology, and pharmaceuticals.
- Joint research and innovation-driven partnerships to make ties future-oriented.
Conclusion
India–Iran relations are built on ancient civilisational bonds and strengthened by modern strategic interests. By converting historical trust into economic and technological collaboration, India and Iran can build a resilient partnership that contributes to regional stability and multipolar global order.
VENEZUELA’S RESOURCE CURSE
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
The U.S. has intensified economic pressure on Venezuela by announcing a naval “quarantine” on Venezuelan oil exports.
Venezuela and Oil Wealth
- Venezuela is a classic petrostate, where the economy depends heavily on oil exports.
- It holds the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, estimated at about 303 billion barrels (2023).
- Venezuela was a founding member of OPEC and once one of the richest countries in Latin America.
- However, over time, heavy dependence on oil created structural weaknesses, leading to a resource curse.
What is the Resource Curse?
- The resource curse refers to a situation where countries rich in natural resources experience slow growth, weak institutions, and economic instability.
- Over-reliance on a single resource discourages diversification and makes the economy vulnerable to shocks.
Nature of Venezuela’s Oil Reserves
- Most Venezuelan oil is extra-heavy crude, which is difficult and costly to extract.
- It requires advanced technology, skilled manpower, and specialised refineries.
- Due to sanctions and internal problems, Venezuela lacks the capital and expertise needed.
Problems in the Oil Sector (PDVSA)
- Venezuela’s state-owned company PDVSA controls oil production and refining.
- Years of underinvestment, mismanagement, and political interference weakened the company.
- After the failed coup attempt (2002) and oil strike, the government replaced experienced staff, leading to loss of technical capacity.
- As a result, oil production in 2024 fell to about 9.2 lakh barrels per day, far below past levels.
Impact of Global Shocks and Sanctions
- In the 1970s, high oil prices boosted Venezuela’s income, but benefits were unevenly distributed.
- After 2014, falling oil prices and rising sanctions worsened the economy. Restrictions on importing diluents further reduced production.
- U.S. sanctions (2017 onwards) restricted access to finance, froze assets, and blocked oil trade payments.
Lack of Economic Diversification
- Unlike other OPEC members, Venezuela failed to develop manufacturing, agriculture, or services.
- Oil continues to dominate exports, making the economy highly vulnerable.
- Venezuela’s share in global oil exports fell from over 4% in the 1990s to about 0.35% in 2023.
Macroeconomic Consequences
- GDP per capita has fallen to levels seen three decades ago, a rare global decline.
- Government debt is the highest among OPEC countries.
- Inflation, unemployment, and poverty have sharply increased.
Conclusion
Venezuela’s crisis is not caused by oil prices alone but by mismanagement, sanctions, lack of diversification, and weak institutions. The country illustrates how resource abundance can become a liability if governance and economic planning are poor. Addressing the resource curse requires diversification, institutional reform, and stable external engagement.
ALAKNANDA: DISCOVERY OF AN ANCIENT SPIRAL GALAXY
TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE HINDU
Indian astronomers have discovered a rare spiral galaxy named Alaknanda using James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) data. Its early formation challenges existing theories of galaxy evolution.
Discovery and Naming
- Found by researchers at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Pune. Detected while analysing JWST’s UNCOVER survey data.
- Named Alaknanda after a river in Uttarakhand, chosen to complement the Milky Way’s Hindi name Mandakini.
What Makes Alaknanda Unique
- It is the second farthest spiral galaxy ever observed. Formed just 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang, much earlier than expected.
- Shows two symmetrical spiral arms, a central bulge, and a disk—features of a mature spiral galaxy. Star formation rate: ~60 solar masses per year.
Challenge to Existing Galaxy Formation Models
- Spiral galaxies usually require billions of years to form stable, rotating disks that support spiral arms.
- The discovery of Alaknanda, a mature spiral galaxy formed just 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang, contradicts these established timelines.
- Its early development suggests that unknown factors or faster-than-expected processes may be influencing galaxy evolution in the early universe.
Possible Formation Theories
- Cold gas accretion: Galaxy steadily drew in cold gas, forming a rotating disk.
- Galaxy interaction: Merged or interacted with a smaller galaxy, triggering spiral arms.
- Neither theory is confirmed due to limited data.
Significance for Indian Astronomy
- Marks a major achievement for Indian researchers in global space science.
- Reflects growing capabilities in data analysis and astrophysics.
- India aims to strengthen its astronomy base through:
- Building domestic facilities like the 10-metre telescope in Hanle.
- Joining global collaborations like SKA and LIGO.
- Expanding training and funding for young scientists.
JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE
- Launch Date: 25 December 2021, using an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana.
- Agencies Involved: A joint project of NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).
- Location: Operates at the Sun–Earth L2 orbit, about 1.5 million km from Earth.
- Size: Largest telescope ever launched into space, with a 6.5metre primary mirror.
- Technology: Uses infrared sensitivity to look back over 13.5 billion years, observing the first galaxies after the Big Bang.
- Mission Goals:
- Study the formation of stars and galaxies.
- Explore exoplanets and their atmospheres for signs of habitability.
- Investigate the origins of cosmic structures and dark matter.
Conclusion
The discovery of Alaknanda is a milestone in Indian space research. It not only showcases the power of JWST data but also opens new questions about how galaxies formed in the early universe. Continued
GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD CONSERVATION
TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU
The Supreme Court of India recently issued a landmark judgment to protect the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB). The ruling focuses on reducing bird deaths caused by collisions with overhead power lines in Rajasthan and Gujarat, while balancing renewable energy expansion.
Background
- Petition filed highlighting frequent GIB deaths due to transmission lines in desert habitats.
- GIBs are highly vulnerable because of poor frontal vision and heavy body.
- Earlier (2021), the Court banned new overhead lines in ~99,000 sq km of habitat and ordered undergrounding of highvoltage lines.
- In March 2024, the blanket ban was modified after concerns from power ministries about feasibility.
Supreme Court’s Latest Directions
- Priority Areas: Special conservation zones have been marked in Rajasthan (14,013 sq km) and Gujarat (740 sq km) to protect the Great Indian Bustard.
- Safe Corridors: Dedicated routes for power lines are created — up to 5 km wide in Rajasthan and 1–2 km in Gujarat — to reduce bird collisions.
- Project Limits: No new overhead lines (except very low voltage), wind turbines, or large solar parks are allowed inside these priority zones.
- Underground Lines: Rajasthan will bury 80 km of 33 kV lines by 2028, while Gujarat will underground nearly 145 km of lines and 250 km of critical lines within 2 years.
- Bird Diverters: Their use is not made compulsory yet; experts will first study how effective they are in preventing bird deaths.
Conservation Measures
- Rajasthan: Grassland restoration, predator control, food and water management, community participation.
- Gujarat: “Jumpstart” breeding by transferring fertile eggs, GPS tagging for monitoring.
Significance
- Balances India’s climate goals with species conservation.
- Strengthens Project GIB and sets a precedent for integrating biodiversity safeguards into renewable energy planning.
Conclusion:
Three important government initiatives to protect the Great Indian Bustard are Project Great Indian Bustard, establishment of sanctuaries, and Supreme Courtmandated safeguards against power lines.
REVAMPED DISTRIBUTION SECTOR SCHEME (RDSS)
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
Rajasthan is fasttracking the installation of rooftop solar plants under the RDSS to cut transmission losses and improve the quality of electricity supply.
About the Scheme
- Launch: July 2021 by the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
- Objective: Transform India’s electricity distribution sector into a financially sustainable and efficient system.
- Outlay: ₹3,03,758 crore for five years (FY 202122 to FY 202526).
- Nature: Reformsbased and resultslinked scheme.
Key Goals
- Reduce Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses to 12–15% nationwide.
- Eliminate the gap between Average Cost of Supply (ACS) and Average Revenue Realised (ARR) by 202425.
- Modernise distribution networks through smart metering and infrastructure upgrades.
Major Components
- Part A – Infrastructure & Metering: Financial support for prepaid smart consumer meters and system metering. Upgradation of distribution infrastructure.
- Part B – Capacity Building: Training programmes for staff. Supporting activities to strengthen reforms.
Implementation
- Financial aid to DISCOMs is conditional on meeting reform benchmarks.
- Focus on smart metering, network strengthening, and reducing losses.
- Encourages renewable integration like rooftop solar to improve efficiency.
Significance
- Aims to create operationally efficient DISCOMs.
- Supports India’s clean energy transition.
- Enhances consumer satisfaction with reliable and affordable power supply.
SHIPBUILDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME (SBFAS)
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has issued operational guidelines for two major initiatives — the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) and the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS) — to boost India’s shipbuilding industry.
About the Scheme
- Launch & Validity: Applicable till 31 March 2036.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
- Objective: Strengthen India’s domestic shipbuilding capacity and enhance global competitiveness.
Key Features of SBFAS
- Financial Aid: Support of 15%–25% per vessel, depending on category.
- Graded Support: Stagewise disbursement linked to milestones, backed by security instruments.
- Shipbreaking Credit Note: Ship owners scrapping vessels in Indian yards get 40% of scrap value as credit.
- National Shipbuilding Mission: Ensures coordinated planning and execution of shipbuilding initiatives.
Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS)
- Focus: Longterm capacity creation and modernisation.
- Infrastructure Development:
- Greenfield clusters: 100% capital support for common infrastructure via a 50:50 Centre–State SPV.
- Brownfield yards: 25% capital aid for upgrades like dry docks and shiplifts.
- India Ship Technology Centre: To be set up under Indian Maritime University for research, design, innovation, and skill development.
- Credit Risk Coverage: Governmentbacked insurance for preshipment, postshipment, and vendordefault risks.
Significance
- Strengthens India’s shipbuilding ecosystem.
- Encourages domestic manufacturing and reduces reliance on imports.
- Supports employment, innovation, and maritime infrastructure growth.