Energy: India added 18.48 GW of renewable energy capacity in FY 2023-24,
its highest annual addition, but fell short of the 50 GW target.
Defence: SIPRI's 2023 military expenditure report: global spending reached
$2,443 billion. India ranked 4th globally.
Science: Researchers confirm sodium-ion batteries can match lithium-ion
in energy density under certain conditions, offering a lithium-free path for
energy storage.
Military Exercise: Indian Navy's Exercise Poorvi Lehar conducted in the
Eastern Naval Command.
Geology: Mount Erebus in Antarctica emits 80 grams of gold vapour daily,
valued at approximately $6,000 per day.
1. India's renewable energy addition: FY 2023-24
GS area: Economy (energy), Environment
India added 18.48 GW of renewable energy in FY 2023-24, the highest annual
addition ever. However, the target for the year was 50 GW.
Key facts:
Solar dominance: Solar power accounts for the bulk of new capacity. India's
cumulative solar capacity crossed 80 GW by March 2024.
Wind: Cumulative wind capacity stands at approximately 44 GW. Offshore wind
development is still nascent.
Overall renewable mix (March 2024): India's total installed electricity
generation capacity: approximately 442 GW. Renewable energy (excluding large
hydro): approximately 190 GW. Including large hydro: approximately 210 GW.
National Solar Mission: One of eight missions under the National Action Plan
on Climate Change (NAPCC). Target: 100 GW solar by 2022 (achieved 2022).
Revised target: 280 GW solar by 2030.
COP26 commitments (Glasgow, 2021): India committed to 500 GW renewable
capacity by 2030, 50 per cent electricity from renewables by 2030, and net zero
emissions by 2070.
Bottlenecks: Grid infrastructure, land acquisition, financing, and module
supply constraints limit faster rollout.
GS area: International Relations, Defence, Economy
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its annual
military expenditure data for 2023. Global defence spending reached a record
$2,443 billion.
Key facts:
Top 5 military spenders (2023):
United States: $916 billion (37.5% of global total)
China: $296 billion (estimated)
Russia: $109 billion
India: $83.6 billion
Saudi Arabia: $75.8 billion
India's growth: India's military spending increased 4.2 per cent in real
terms in 2023. India became the 4th largest military spender globally.
India's defence budget trend: Rising steadily. However, as a share of GDP,
India's defence spending is around 2.4 per cent, lower than China's (around 1.7
per cent of a larger GDP) and the US (about 3.4 per cent of GDP).
SIPRI: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Founded in 1966.
Headquartered in Sweden. Provides research, information, and recommendations
on armaments, disarmament, and international security.
Global drivers: Russia-Ukraine war, rising China-Taiwan tensions, and growing
security concerns in the Middle East drove the global record.
Static linkage: defence, international relations, economy.
3. Sodium-ion batteries: the next energy storage option
GS area: Science and Technology
Researchers confirmed that sodium-ion batteries can approach the energy density
of lithium-ion batteries, offering a supply-chain alternative.
Key facts:
Why sodium-ion: Lithium is a relatively scarce material. Lithium mining
carries significant water and land impacts (South American brine lakes, hard-rock
mining). Sodium is abundant (seawater) and geographically distributed.
Energy density gap: Sodium-ion batteries have historically had lower energy
density (energy per kg) than lithium-ion. Recent advances have narrowed this gap.
Use case: Best suited for stationary storage (grid batteries), light electric
vehicles, and two-wheelers. Less suited for long-range EVs where weight matters.
Critical mineral strategy: India's Critical Mineral Mission (announced 2024)
identifies lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite as critical for EV
and battery manufacturing. Reducing dependence on lithium is a strategic goal.
India's mining context: Lithium reserves discovered in Jammu and Kashmir
(Reasi district, reported 2023): 5.9 million tonnes, one of the world's largest
deposits. Commercial viability under assessment.
Static linkage: science and technology, energy, economy.
GS area: Economy (defence), International Relations
India's position as the 4th largest military spender is accompanied by growing
defence exports. India's defence export target for 2024-25 is Rs 35,000 crore.
Key facts:
Historical shift: India was among the world's largest arms importers for
decades. The Atmanirbhar Bharat push and Make in India in Defence aim to reverse this.
Defence exports (FY 2022-23): India's defence exports reached Rs 16,000 crore,
a record. Exports go to over 80 countries.
Key export items: Brahmos missiles, Dornier aircraft, helicopters, artillery
guns, armoured vehicles, and small arms.
DRDO role: Develops technologies that are then licensed to public and private
sector manufacturers.
DPSUs: Defence Public Sector Undertakings (HAL, BEL, Bharat Forge, Mazagon
Dock Shipbuilders) contribute to both domestic supply and exports.
Policy reform: Positive Indigenisation List: over 500 items reserved for
domestic production. Private sector participation has increased through the
Strategic Partnership Model.
Static linkage: defence, economy, international relations.
5. Mount Erebus: Antarctica's gold-emitting volcano
GS area: Physical Geography
Mount Erebus, an active volcano in Antarctica, emits approximately 80 grams of
gold vapour daily (worth about $6,000 at 2024 prices).
Key facts:
Location: Ross Island, Antarctica. The southernmost active volcano on Earth.
Named after the HMS Erebus, a Royal Navy ship from James Clark Ross's Antarctic
expeditions.
Eruption type: Lava lake volcano. Erebus has a persistent open lava lake,
one of only five in the world.
Gold in volcanic emissions: The gold is carried in volcanic gas (mostly
sulphur dioxide) as minute metalite particles detectable up to 1,000 km away.
At concentrations of 0.8 parts per billion.
Scientific value: Erebus helps scientists study volcanic processes, gas
emissions, and subglacial environments.
Antarctic Treaty System: Antarctica is governed by the Antarctic Treaty
(1959). Mining is prohibited under the Protocol on Environmental Protection
to the Antarctic Treaty (Madrid Protocol, 1998), which also bans mineral
resource extraction until 2048.
Exercise Poorvi Lehar: An Indian Navy exercise held in the Eastern Naval
Command to validate combat readiness and operational coordination. "Poorvi"
means eastern in Sanskrit.
Exercise Dustlik (5th edition): India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise.
The fifth edition was held in April 2024. Focused on counter-terrorism operations
in mountainous terrain. Conducted under the UN charter.
National Panchayati Raj Day (24 April): The 73rd Constitutional Amendment
Act (1992) came into force on 24 April 1993, giving constitutional status to
Panchayati Raj Institutions. National Panchayati Raj Day is observed on this
date. The 73rd Amendment added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule (29 subjects).
Practice MCQs
Check yourself
According to SIPRI's 2023 report, which was the correct order of the top military spenders?
Check yourself
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, which granted constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions, came into force in:
Check yourself
Sodium-ion batteries, compared to lithium-ion batteries, have the advantage of:
Check yourself
Mount Erebus is significant because it:
Check yourself
India's COP26 commitment for renewable energy by 2030 is: