27 December 2024

• Polity: A PIL raised concerns about social media access for teenagers. Data showed 43 per cent of under-18 users have social media accounts in India.
• History: The Belagavi (Belgaum) Congress Session of 1924 was commemorated. It was the only session Gandhi presided over as INC President.
• Fisheries: Matsya Seva Kendras (Mobile Fisheries Service Centres) were highlighted for supporting coastal fisherfolk under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
• Defence: DRDO's Kaveri engine inflight test on an IL-76 flying testbed moved to the next phase for evaluation.

GS area: Governance, Social Issues

A PIL in the Supreme Court raised concerns about social media addiction and access for Indian teenagers. Government data was cited in the hearing.

• Scale: Approximately 43 per cent of Indian internet users below age 18 have active social media accounts.
• IT Act provisions: Section 43A (data protection) and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) address children's data.
• DPDP Act, 2023: Requires verifiable parental consent before processing personal data of children (under 18). Social media platforms must age-verify users and secure parental consent before account creation.
• Government's Draft Social Media Regulation: An inter-ministerial committee was examining age restriction enforcement mechanisms, including mandatory Aadhaar-based age verification.
• Global context: Australia announced a ban on social media for children under 16 in November 2024. The UK's Online Safety Act mandates age verification and protection features.
• Mental health angle: NIMHANS data cited in the PIL showed a correlation between excessive social media use and anxiety, depression and sleep disorders in adolescents.

Static linkage: Governance (IT Act, DPDP, social media, data protection), society (child rights).

GS area: Modern Indian History

The 39th session of the Indian National Congress (INC) was held in Belgaum (now Belagavi), Karnataka, in December 1924. Mahatma Gandhi presided over it, the only time he served as INC President.

• Date: 26-27 December 1924.
• Significance: Gandhi became INC President in 1924 after his release from prison (he had been imprisoned in 1922 for the Chauri Chaura violence-related non-cooperation suspension).
• Issues discussed: Hindu-Muslim unity (following the 1924 Kohat riots), Khilafat cooperation, spinning and khadi, and boycott of foreign cloth.
• Khadi resolution: Gandhi pushed for a compulsory spinning requirement for INC membership (each member to spin 2,000 yards of thread per month). This was accepted.
• Background on Gandhi's sole presidency: Gandhi avoided INC presidential office in other years, preferring to guide from outside formal structures. His Belgaum presidency was a unique exception.
• Location significance: Belagavi was then in Bombay Presidency. It is now in Karnataka. The city has a large Marathi-speaking population and is the venue for Karnataka's winter legislature sessions.

Static linkage: Modern Indian history (INC sessions, Gandhi, non-cooperation, khadi).

GS area: Economy, Agriculture, Governance

The government highlighted the Matsya Seva Kendra (Mobile Fisheries Service Centre) programme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

• PMMSY: Launched in 2020-21 with a total outlay of 20,050 crore rupees over five years. Largest investment in fisheries in India.
• Matsya Seva Kendras: Mobile units that reach fishing villages and harbours to provide:
  • Veterinary and aquaculture advisory services.
  • Fishing regulation information (closed seasons, prohibited gear).
  • Icebox and cold chain guidance.
  • Linkage to insurance schemes.
• Sagar Mitra: A related programme deploying "Sagar Mitras" (youth volunteers, trained fisheries graduates) to liaise between fishermen and the government extension system.
• Fisheries data: India is the third-largest fish-producing country globally (after China and Indonesia). Marine fish production: about 4 million tonnes per year. Inland fisheries: about 10 million tonnes.
• Blue Economy: Fisheries contribute about 1.24 per cent to India's GVA and 6.72 per cent to agricultural GVA.

Static linkage: Economy (fisheries, Blue Economy, PMMSY, government schemes).

GS area: Governance

The selection process for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2025 was underway.

• Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Purpose: National award for exceptional achievement by children in seven categories: Innovation, Social Service, Scholastic achievement, Arts and Culture, Sports, Bravery and Environment.
• Age eligibility: Children between 5 and 18 years of age.
• Award: Medal, certificate and citation. Awardees are presented to the President of India.
• Bravery category separately: For bravery, a separate Geeta Chopra Award (girls) and Sanjay Chopra Award (boys) are given under the Indian Council for Child Welfare, not PMRBP.
• Earlier name: Previously called Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award and National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement. Renamed PMRBP in 2018.

Static linkage: Governance (awards, Ministry of WCD, child development).

GS area: Science and Technology, Defence

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the next phase of inflight testing of the Kaveri derivative engine on an IL-76 flying testbed.

• Kaveri engine: India's indigenous turbofan jet engine developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bengaluru, under DRDO.
• History: Development began in 1989. Was originally intended to power the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. Tejas eventually uses the American GE F404 engine due to Kaveri's limitations.
• Current application: A Kaveri derivative (Kaveri without afterburner, as a marine gas turbine or as a testbed for component technology) is being developed for naval applications and as a technology demonstrator.
• Inflight test method: A Kaveri engine pod is attached to the IL-76 (a Soviet-origin heavy transport aircraft). Testing in actual flight conditions validates performance at altitude and speed.
• AMCA and future: India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) requires a more powerful engine. DRDO and foreign partners are in talks for technology transfer.

Static linkage: Science and technology (defence R&D, DRDO, jet engine technology).

GS area: Economy

As the year-end approached, economists debated the growing divergence between RBI's monetary policy stance and the government's fiscal policy.

• Monetary policy: RBI maintained the repo rate at 6.5 per cent throughout 2024. It adopted a "withdrawal of accommodation" then shifted to a "neutral" stance. Real rates remained positive.
• Fiscal policy: The government maintained an ambitious capital expenditure target (11.11 lakh crore rupees in Union Budget 2024-25).
• Divergence: High real interest rates raised borrowing costs for businesses while fiscal stimulus was ongoing. Critics argued the two policies were working in opposing directions.
• RBI Governor transition: Shaktikanta Das completed his term in December 2024. Sanjay Malhotra was appointed the new RBI Governor.
• Arguments for rate cut: Inflation was easing (CPI at about 5.5 per cent by November). Growth had slowed to 5.4 per cent in Q2 FY25. Industry demanded rate cuts.
• RBI's caution: Food inflation volatility (onion, tomato, pulses) made the RBI reluctant to cut rates prematurely.

Static linkage: Economy (monetary policy, RBI, fiscal policy, repo rate).

• Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL): The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, the only shore-based integrated steel plant in India, was facing a financial crisis in late 2024. It depends entirely on imported coking coal (no captive mines), making costs sensitive to global commodity prices.
• Poverty statistics debate: An Oxford University study on India's Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) showed 415 million people exiting poverty between 2005 and 2021. Critics noted the MPI definition differs from monetary poverty measures; the debate continued.