Defence: India commissioned INS Tushil, a stealth guided-missile frigate, at Kaliningrad, Russia. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended.
Economy: The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 was introduced to expand the definition of hydrocarbons and decriminalise violations.
Digital India: India's digital public infrastructure statistics (Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker) were compiled in a single comparison document, underscoring the scale of the stack.
Internal Security: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence annual smuggling report highlighted drug trafficking routes.
1. INS Tushil: India's Stealth Frigate Commissioned in Russia
GS area: Defence, International Relations
INS Tushil was commissioned at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia, on 9 December 2024.
Class: Project 1135.6, an upgraded Krivak III class stealth guided-missile frigate.
Capabilities: Anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare. Equipped for helicopter operations.
Indian content: About 26 per cent Indian-origin components, reflecting the Make in India objective in defence procurement.
Strategic context: INS Tushil expands the Indian Navy's surface combatant fleet in a period when Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean has grown. It operates alongside INS Tabar (commissioned 2004) and INS Trikand (2013), the other Krivak III frigates.
India-Russia defence ties: The Russia-India relationship in defence covers frigates, submarines (Chakra lease), T-90 tanks and Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft. The Krivak programme is a cornerstone of this partnership.
2. Oilfields Amendment Bill 2024: Expanding Hydrocarbon Scope
GS area: Economy, Governance
The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 was introduced in Parliament.
Parent legislation: The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, one of India's oldest petroleum laws.
Key change in definition: The Amendment expands the definition of "mineral oils" to include all hydrocarbons: natural gas, crude oil, shale gas, coal-bed methane, tight gas, gas hydrates and oil from oil sands. Coal, lignite and helium are excluded.
"Mining lease" becomes "petroleum lease": Clearer terminology aligned with international practice.
Decriminalisation: Imprisonment clauses for violations are replaced with fines. Maximum: 25 lakh rupees for a violation and 10 lakh rupees per day for continued violations.
Environmental standards: The Bill introduces emission reduction requirements for petroleum operations.
Strategic goal: Reducing India's import dependence on crude oil (currently about 85 per cent of domestic consumption is imported) by encouraging domestic exploration.
eSanjeevani (telemedicine): 12.4 crore consultations since launch.
The India Stack advantage: India's DPI is cited as a model by the World Bank, G20 and UNDP for scalability and low-cost inclusivity.
Static linkage: Science and technology (DPI, Aadhaar, UPI, digital governance).
4. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence: Drug Trafficking Report
GS area: Internal Security
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) released its annual smuggling report for 2023-24.
DRI background: Established in 1957. Headquarters in New Delhi. Operates under the Ministry of Finance.
Death Crescent: Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan are the primary opium and heroin production and transit zone for Europe and India.
Death Triangle (Golden Triangle): Myanmar, Laos and Thailand remain the global hub for synthetic drugs (methamphetamine, MDMA).
Seizure data: 123 kg of methamphetamine was seized in Assam and Mizoram between April and September 2023, reflecting the Indo-Myanmar route's growing volume.
Trafficking routes: Maritime (shipping containers and fishing vessels), land (porous borders, especially Indo-Myanmar), and air (luggage and couriers).
India's narcotics law: The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 governs all drug-related offences in India.
The Supreme Court constituted a three-judge bench to hear challenges to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
Act's core: Freezes the religious character of all places of worship as of 15 August 1947. Any conversion is prohibited. All pending suits are abated.
Exception: The Ram Janmabhoomi site. The Act explicitly exempts this dispute.
Petitioners' argument: The Act prevents Hindus from filing suits to reclaim temples. Restricts access to courts, violating Article 32 (right to move the Supreme Court) and Article 226 (High Court writs).
State's argument: The Act protects communal harmony and secular governance. Removing it would open thousands of disputed sites to litigation.
Constitutional basis for the Act: Parliament enacted it under Entry 1 of the Concurrent List (criminal law), Entry 5 (marriage and divorce by extension of personal law logic) and residual powers. Critics contest the classification.
Static linkage: Polity (judicial review, fundamental rights, secularism, Places of Worship Act).
6. UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs: India Chairs 68th Session
GS area: International Relations, Governance
India's Ambassador Shambhu S. Kumaran was elected to chair the 68th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).
CND background: Established in 1946 by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Expanded to 53-member-state composition in 1991.
Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
Functions: The principal policy-making body on international drug control. Monitors the implementation of international drug control conventions. Oversees the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
India's chairmanship: The first time India has chaired this body.
International drug conventions supervised by CND: Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs (1988).
Static linkage: International relations (UNODC, UN governance, Vienna conventions).
7. Briefly noted
Manama Dialogue: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended the 20th Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The forum brings together Middle East, North American, European and Asian leaders annually.
Indian Star Tortoise: A new genetic study revealed two distinct populations. The northwestern group (near Pakistan border) has lower genetic diversity. The southern group is more diverse. IUCN status: Vulnerable. CITES Appendix II. Known for its star-patterned shell. Major threats: illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss.
Practice MCQs
Check yourself
INS Tushil, commissioned in December 2024, belongs to which class and has what displacement?
Check yourself
With reference to the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill 2024, consider the following statements: 1. It includes coal and lignite in the new definition of mineral oils. 2. It replaces criminal imprisonment for violations with financial penalties. 3. It introduces the term "petroleum lease" in place of "mining lease". Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Check yourself
Which of the following is the correct description of India's "Death Triangle" and "Death Crescent" in the context of drug trafficking?
Check yourself
The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is headquartered in:
Check yourself
Consider the following Digital Public Infrastructure statistics for India (mid-2024): 1. Aadhaar has 138.34 crore enrolments. 2. eSanjeevani has completed 12.4 crore telemedicine consultations. 3. DigiLocker has over 50 crore users. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?