WHY TOXICITY MATTERS IN MEASURING AIR POLLUTION
TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU
A recent study highlights the importance of considering toxicity — the actual potential of pollutants to harm human health, rather than just concentration. Conducted by Prof. Abhijit Chatterjee and his team at the Bose Institute, this study shifts the focus to how the chemical makeup of pollutants increases their ability to damage human cells.
Findings of the Study
Toxicity Threshold Identified
- In Kolkata, PM2.5 becomes significantly more toxic once levels exceed 70 µg/m³.
- Toxicity rises sharply until it reaches 130 µg/m³, after which the rise in harm stabilizes.
Concentration vs. Toxicity
- Lower PM2.5 levels (<70 µg/m³) still harm health but are comparatively less toxic.
- After the threshold, pollution becomes much more damaging to human cells.
Why Toxicity Increases
Role of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
- When pollutants enter the body, immune cells produce ROS to fight them.
- In high pollution, excess ROS is generated, which harms body cells.
Antioxidant Defence Breakdown
- The body uses antioxidants to neutralize ROS.
- At high pollution levels, antioxidants are overwhelmed, leading to oxidative stress — a harmful condition for cells.
City-wise Variation in Toxicity
Different Pollution Sources
- In Kolkata, biomass and waste burning contribute heavily to toxicity.
- In other cities, vehicular emissions may be the main source.
- Hence, toxicity thresholds may vary by location depending on pollutant composition.
Policy Implications
- Current Standards Focus on Concentration
- India’s safe PM2.5 level:
- Annual average: 40 µg/m³
- Daily average: 60 µg/m³
- India’s safe PM2.5 level:
- Need for Toxicity-Based Standards
- Health risks depend not just on quantity, but chemical nature of pollutants.
- Toxicity-based alerts can help trigger timely health warnings and emergency actions.
Conclusion
This study urges policymakers to look beyond just concentration numbers and adopt toxicity-aware air quality standards. It highlights that different pollutants have varying health impacts, and simply measuring how much is in the air doesn’t reflect how harmful it is. Adopting toxicity thresholds can make pollution control more effective and people-centric.
DECLINE IN INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT AND WEAK RURAL DEMAND
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
India’s recent industrial output and consumption figures show worrying signs. Despite falling inflation, both factory output and rural consumption have weakened, signaling broader economic challenges.
Industrial Growth Trends
- Industrial performance is tracked using the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
- IIP data for April shows a slowdown to 2.7% growth, which is an eight-month low and the slowest pace since FY 2020-21.
- This also reflects a sharp drop from 6.5% in April 2023.
- Core sectors, making up 40% of IIP, grew just 0.5% in April, showing broader sectoral stress.
Decline in Mining and Manufacturing
- Mining output contracted by 0.2%, the weakest in over a year.
- Steel production, a major component, dropped significantly.
- Exports of engineering goods, textiles, and chemicals—key drivers of manufacturing—have been hit by weak global demand and trade uncertainty.
Rural Consumption Remains Weak
- Demand for non-durable goods like food and essentials has remained low.
- Consumer durables (TVs, refrigerators, etc.), which are linked to rural incomes, have also seen limited recovery.
- April’s retail inflation fell to 4.83%, but rural inflation dropped further to 4.24%, reflecting muted price pressure—but also low purchasing power.
Impact on FMCG and Low-Income Households
- Companies selling consumer goods are facing sluggish rural sales despite lower prices.
- Poor rural demand is linked to:
- Fewer jobs in agriculture and informal sectors.
- Weak wage growth in rural areas.
- Limited impact of welfare schemes like MSP hikes or fertilizer subsidies.
Export Pressures Continue
- Exporters face challenges due to:
- Geopolitical uncertainty.
- Slow growth in Europe and the US.
- Currency volatility affecting price competitiveness.
Conclusion
India’s economic recovery is being held back by slowing industrial activity and weak rural demand, even though inflation has eased. Policymakers must focus on boosting rural incomes, supporting MSMEs, and diversifying exports beyond traditional markets to ensure inclusive growth.
AIRCRAFT CARRIER
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
An aircraft carrier is a large warship that functions as a mobile airbase at sea. It enables the takeoff and landing of fighter aircraft, helicopters, and surveillance planes, allowing a country to project air power far from its own shores.
What is an Aircraft Carrier?
- It is a warship designed to carry, launch, and recover aircraft.
- Equipped with a flat flight deck and a hangar for storing aircraft.
- Functions as a floating airport, enabling aerial operations without needing land bases.
Strategic Importance
- Played a major role in World War II; proved more powerful than traditional battleships.
- Enhances a nation’s capability for offensive and defensive operations across oceans.
- Essential for a blue-water navy — one that operates globally.
- Only a few countries have the capacity to build and operate them.
India’s Aircraft Carriers
- INS Vikrant: First indigenous carrier, commissioned in 2022. Built with 76% Indian components.
- INS Vikramaditya: Modified from a Russian design (Kiev-class).
- India aims to induct a third carrier in the coming years.
Features of INS Vikrant
- Displacement: 45,000 tonnes — India’s biggest warship.
- Can carry 34 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets.
- Operated by a crew of around 1,600 personnel.
- Self-sufficient with onboard hospital, kitchens, and mechanical workshop.
- Symbolizes India’s Make in India initiative in defense production.
Conclusion
Aircraft carriers are not just war machines but powerful tools of national security and global presence. With indigenous carriers like INS Vikrant, India strengthens its maritime power and technological self-reliance.
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: INDIAN EXPRESS
India’s higher education sector has seen a surge in enrolments across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. However, this growth in numbers has not translated into better job opportunities, revealing a serious mismatch between academic qualifications and employable skills.
The Problem: Education-Employment Disconnect
- Rising graduate unemployment reflects a widening gap between degrees and jobs.
- Data shows that unemployment increases with higher education, especially among youth.
- Many colleges, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, offer degrees like BA, BCom, and BSc but fail to equip students with practical knowledge.
- Curriculum in such institutions is largely theory-based, with minimal focus on real-world applications.
Examples of Disconnect
- An English literature graduate may know Shakespeare but not how to write professionally.
- Economics graduates may learn theories but struggle with tools like Excel.
- The system promotes degrees as achievements, but job readiness is overlooked.
Efforts by the Government
- Various government programs have tried to address this issue:
- Skill India
- Start-Up India
- National Education Policy (NEP)
- These initiatives promote vocational training, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy, but deeper integration is needed.
Needed Reforms: Practical Skills in Education
- Skill-based modules like communication, digital tools, budgeting, tailoring, hospitality, and healthcare should be added to regular degree courses.
- Even doctoral education must include pathways for industry roles, not just academics.
- Courses on emerging sectors (e.g. AI, data analysis) need depth and real-world integration.
Societal Perception Challenges
- Vocational training is often seen as a “second-class” option in India.
- In contrast, countries like China and Japan have linked education with national workforce needs through technical training.
Conclusion
India must move from just enrolling students to equipping them with market-ready skills. Viewing education as a tool for livelihood and empowerment, not just knowledge, is key to solving youth unemployment. A stronger focus on skills, innovation, and industry collaboration can help India harness its demographic dividend.
GOVERNMENT ACHIEVES FISCAL DEFICIT TARGET FOR FY25
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
The Indian government has successfully met its fiscal deficit target for the financial year 2024–25. Despite lower-than-expected revenue, the gap between expenditure and earnings was kept within the planned limit, highlighting the Centre’s commitment to fiscal discipline.
What is Fiscal Deficit?
- Fiscal deficit is the difference between the government’s total expenditure and its total income (excluding borrowings).
- It shows how much the government needs to borrow to meet its spending requirements.
- For FY25, the deficit was set at 4.8% of GDP and has been achieved as per revised estimates.
Highlights of FY25 Fiscal Numbers
- Total expenditure: ₹46.55 lakh crore (97.8% of revised estimate)
- Total revenue (including tax and non-tax): ₹30.78 lakh crore (97.8% of revised estimate)
- Fiscal deficit: ₹15.77 lakh crore, exactly 4.8% of GDP based on provisional GDP figures
Shortfall in Revenue Receipts
- Revenue collections were slightly below expectations:
- Income tax collections: ₹11.83 lakh crore — around 6% less than the projected estimate
- Corporate tax collections: ₹9.87 lakh crore — 0.7% higher than estimates
- Miscellaneous capital receipts (mainly from disinvestment): Only 52.1% of target met
- The government earned just ₹17,202 crore from this segment
- Divestment proceeds: ₹10,131.32 crore — much lower than expected
Government’s Fiscal Strategy Ahead
- The government aims to further reduce fiscal deficit to 4.4% of GDP in FY26, as announced in the Union Budget.
- Fiscal consolidation continues to be a priority to maintain macroeconomic stability and reduce debt levels.
FRBM ACT
- Enacted in 2003 to institutionalize financial discipline in India.
- Aims to reduce fiscal deficit, revenue deficit, and manage public debt.
- Promotes transparency and accountability in fiscal operations.
Objectives
- Ensure macroeconomic stability.
- Reduce India’s fiscal deficit and bring it to manageable levels.
- Limit revenue deficit, which affects long-term investment.
- Improve fiscal discipline and budget management.
Targets under the Act
- Originally aimed to reduce fiscal deficit to 3% of GDP by 2008.
- Revenue deficit was to be reduced to zero.
- These targets have been revised over time due to economic changes and crises (like the 2008 recession, COVID-19, etc.).
Provisions
- Government must present Medium-Term Fiscal Policy Statement, Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement, and Macroeconomic Framework Statement in Parliament.
- Quarterly review of fiscal situation to be submitted.
- Escape clause allows deviation from targets in case of:
- Natural disasters
- National security concerns
- Structural reforms
Amendments and Recommendations
- N.K. Singh Committee (2016) suggested:
- Shift focus from fiscal deficit to debt-to-GDP ratio.
- Target central debt-to-GDP at 40% by 2023.
- Create a Fiscal Council for independent fiscal oversight.
- In 2018, FRBM Act was amended to include a debt anchor and extend timelines for deficit reduction.
Challenges
- Often breached due to unforeseen events (like global slowdown, pandemic).
- Lower tax revenues and high subsidies make compliance difficult.
- Lack of strong enforcement mechanism.
Conclusion
Despite falling short in some revenue streams such as income tax and disinvestment, the government managed to control spending and adhere to its fiscal deficit target of 4.8% for FY25. This reflects responsible budget management and sets a firm direction towards fiscal consolidation in the upcoming year.
AHILYABAI HOLKAR
TOPIC: (GS1) HISTORY: THE HINDU
On May 30, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Ahilyabai Holkar Samadhi Sthal in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh.
Ahilyabai Holkar
Background
- Born: 1725, in Chondi village, Maharashtra.
- Belonged to a Dhangar (pastoralist) community.
- Married to Khanderao Holkar, prince of the Holkar dynasty of Indore.
- Became queen regent after the death of her husband and son.
Reign and Achievements
- Ruled the Malwa region (1767–1795) as a capable administrator under the Maratha Empire.
- Known for efficient governance, judicial reforms, and welfare-oriented administration.
- Promoted trade, agriculture, and infrastructure.
- Abolished capital punishment in her kingdom.
- Set up Dharma-shalas, stepwells, ghats, and temples across India.
- Rebuilt and renovated major temples like:
- Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi)
- Somnath temple (Gujarat)
- Gaya Vishnupad Temple (Bihar)
Legacy
- Revered as a symbol of benevolent monarchy and women’s leadership.
- Her reign is often seen as an ideal example of just and spiritual governance.
- She is one of the few female rulers in Indian history remembered for her peaceful and prosperous rule.
KALANAMAK RICE
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: PIB
On May 30, 2025, the Uttar Pradesh government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, proposed promoting the export of Kalanamak rice to countries with significant Buddhist populations, highlighting its historical link with Lord Buddha.
What is Kalanamak Rice?
- A traditional, aromatic rice variety with a distinct black husk and strong fragrance.
- Grown mainly in eastern Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Siddharthnagar, where it is listed under the ODOP (One District One Product) scheme.
Historical Significance
- Local belief holds that Lord Buddha gifted this rice to the people of Sravasti during his visit after enlightenment.
- Thus, the rice is linked to Buddhist heritage and regional culture, enhancing its global appeal in Buddhist-majority countries.
Cultivation and Area
- Mainly grown in the Terai region of north-eastern Uttar Pradesh, especially across 11 districts.
- Also cultivated in parts of Nepal.
- The traditional crop suffers from a problem called lodging, where the plant top becomes heavy and falls due to weak stems, leading to low yields.
Nutritional Benefits
- High in iron and antioxidants.
- Low glycemic index – helpful for diabetics.
- Naturally gluten-free, making it suitable for people with gluten intolerance.
Special Status
- Protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, helping in preservation and branding.
- Being promoted under export enhancement initiatives due to its unique fragrance, heritage value, and health benefits.
YASHODA AI: PROMOTING WOMEN’S DIGITAL LITERACY
TOPIC: (GS2) POLITY: PIB
Yashoda AI is an initiative by the National Commission for Women (NCW) and Future Shift Labs aimed at enhancing women’s knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital safety. It focuses on empowering women, especially from rural and semi-urban areas, to participate in India’s technological growth
Features of Yashoda AI
- Provides training on AI, cybersecurity, and digital privacy.
- Raises awareness about AI-driven crimes and digital safety.
- Engages students, educators, and women in law enforcement.
- Encourages community-based learning where women become leaders in digital education.
Importance
- Bridges the gender gap in technology.
- Enables women to use technology safely and confidently.
- Supports India’s vision of inclusive, tech-driven development.
National Commission for Women (NCW)
- Established in 1992 as a statutory body to protect women’s rights.
- Comprises a Chairperson, five members, and a Member-Secretary appointed by the Central Government.
- Members serve for three years.
- Has powers similar to a civil court: summoning witnesses, examining on oath, requiring documents, and accessing public records.
Conclusion
Yashoda AI combined with NCW’s authority helps promote women’s empowerment through digital literacy and protection, contributing to a safer and more inclusive digital India.