Polity: A study compared election expenditure between India (approximately 1 lakh crore rupees for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections) and the United States (approximately 16 billion dollars for the 2024 presidential election).
Defence: The TASL-Airbus C295 transport aircraft manufacturing plant at Vadodara was highlighted as India's first private sector aircraft manufacturing facility.
Economy: India's import dependency on fertilisers was highlighted: 20 per cent of urea, 50 to 60 per cent of DAP, and nearly 100 per cent of MOP (Muriate of Potash) is imported.
Health: The AB PM-JAY scheme was extended to all citizens aged 70 and above, providing 5 lakh rupees of health cover irrespective of income.
The 2024 general elections generated comparative data on India and US electoral expenditure.
India 2024 Lok Sabha elections: Estimated total expenditure of approximately 1 lakh crore rupees (over 12 billion dollars), making it the most expensive election in Indian history. This includes party spending, candidate spending, and government expenditure on election conduct.
Per-voter cost: India had over 96 crore registered voters. The per-voter expenditure significantly exceeds that of earlier elections.
US 2024 elections: Total expenditure on the presidential and congressional elections projected at approximately 16 billion dollars. This figure is mostly private donor and super-PAC spending.
Section 77, Representation of the People Act: Sets spending limits for individual candidates (not parties) in India. The limit for Lok Sabha candidates varies by state (1.75 to 0.95 crore rupees).
Model Code of Conduct: A non-statutory code enforced by the Election Commission of India. It restricts government announcements and partisan use of public resources from election announcement to result declaration.
The Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus C295 aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat, began assembling the first aircraft.
What C295 is: A medium tactical transport aircraft. India contracted to buy 56 C295 aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space in 2021. The deal: 16 fly-away from Spain immediately; the remaining 40 to be manufactured in India by TASL.
Significance: This is India's first private-sector aircraft manufacturing facility. Previously, military aircraft were manufactured only by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a public sector undertaking.
TASL: Tata Advanced Systems Limited, the defence and aerospace subsidiary of Tata Sons. It already manufactures aerostructures for Boeing and Airbus.
NAINI facility: The Vadodara plant at NAINI is the same facility where the C295 project is located.
Broader impact: The project required 60 to 70 per cent domestic content. It is expected to create a supply chain of over 120 Indian suppliers.
Static linkage: Make in India in defence, aerospace, HAL vs private sector (Economy and Defence).
India's dependence on fertiliser imports was highlighted as a food security and strategic vulnerability.
Urea: India imports approximately 20 per cent of its urea requirement. The government regulates the MRP of urea at a fixed price (266.5 rupees per 45-kg bag) and subsidises the rest. Major suppliers: Russia, Oman, Saudi Arabia.
DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate): 50 to 60 per cent imported. Major suppliers: Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Russia. India has no significant phosphate rock deposits.
MOP (Muriate of Potash): Nearly 100 per cent imported. India has no commercial potash deposits. Major suppliers: Belarus, Canada, Russia.
Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme: A flat subsidy per kg of nutrient for non-urea fertilisers (P and K fertilisers). Under the NBS, manufacturers and importers receive a fixed subsidy per unit of nutrient, not a market-price-linked support.
Strategic risk: If any major potash-supplying country imposes an export ban (as Belarus did during 2022 sanctions), India's agricultural output could be significantly disrupted.
4. AB PM-JAY extended to senior citizens aged 70 and above
GS area: Governance (Health Policy)
The Cabinet approved extending the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to all Indians aged 70 and above, regardless of income.
Original coverage: AB PM-JAY covers approximately 55 crore beneficiaries from economically vulnerable families (bottom 40 per cent of the population), providing 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation.
Extension: All citizens aged 70 and above are now eligible for 5 lakh rupees of health insurance per year, regardless of their income level. This adds approximately 6 crore senior citizens.
Why seniors: The healthcare burden for the 70-plus age group is disproportionately high. Older citizens face multiple chronic conditions requiring hospitalisation.
Implementation: Senior citizens who are already part of a PM-JAY family can get an additional 5 lakh top-up coverage for their age category.
Card: Beneficiaries receive an Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card specifically for this 70-plus programme.
Static linkage: Health schemes, universal health coverage, social protection (Governance and Society).
5. Fast Patrol Vessels: Indian Coast Guard
GS area: Defence (Coast Guard, Maritime Security)
The Indian Coast Guard received new Fast Patrol Vessels as part of its fleet modernisation plan.
Role: Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) are designed for coastal patrol, search and rescue, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, and interception of illegal migrants. They operate at speeds up to 40+ knots.
Construction: FPVs are built by shipyards under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, as part of the government's emphasis on indigenisation.
Indian Coast Guard mandate: Enforces the Maritime Zones of India Act and various laws governing India's territorial waters (12 nm), Contiguous Zone (12 nm additional), and Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nm). It is separate from the Indian Navy and operates under the Ministry of Defence.
Indian EEZ: India's EEZ covers approximately 2.37 million square kilometres, one of the world's largest.
Static linkage: Maritime security, Coast Guard, EEZ (Defence and International Relations).
GS area: International Relations (Nuclear Non-Proliferation)
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) and its monitoring network were highlighted in the context of global nuclear security.
Treaty: The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1996. It bans all nuclear explosions in any environment: underground, underwater, or in the atmosphere.
Entry into force: Not yet in force. Requires ratification by 44 Annex 2 countries (those with nuclear reactors in 1996). Eight have not ratified: USA, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, Iran, Egypt, and North Korea.
India's position: India has not signed the CTBT. India's argument: the CTBT does not address nuclear disarmament and its verification provisions are inadequate.
International Monitoring System (IMS): CTBTO operates 337 monitoring stations globally that detect nuclear explosions through seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound, and radionuclide methods.
India-specific: Although India has not signed the CTBT, ISRO and the Department of Atomic Energy cooperate with international scientific bodies on seismic monitoring.
Static linkage: Nuclear non-proliferation, CTBT, India's nuclear policy (International Relations).
Practice MCQs
Check yourself
Consider the following about India's election expenditure framework: 1. Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act sets spending limits for individual candidates, not parties. 2. The Model Code of Conduct is a statutory instrument enforceable through the Supreme Court. 3. India's 2024 Lok Sabha elections were the most expensive in Indian history. Which of the above is/are correct?
Check yourself
India's import dependency for fertilisers is highest for which nutrient/product?
Check yourself
The TASL-Airbus C295 manufacturing facility in Vadodara is significant primarily because:
Check yourself
The AB PM-JAY extension announced in October 2024 for senior citizens aged 70 and above differs from the original scheme in which respect?
Check yourself
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has not entered into force because eight "Annex 2" countries have not ratified it. Which of the following is correctly included in this list?