17 February 2025

• Polity: Marital rape exception under Section 63 of the BNS reviewed by the Chhattisgarh High Court. Constitutional tensions with Articles 14 and 21.
• Agriculture: PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana implementation through NABARD clarified.
• Defence: Aero India 2025 opens in Bengaluru. Asia's largest biennial airshow.
• Exercise: India-Japan Exercise Dharma Guardian (sixth edition) concluded at Mount Fuji.

GS area: Polity, Social Justice

The Chhattisgarh High Court ruled on whether the marital rape exception applies to prosecutions under Section 377 of the old IPC. The core legal framework:

• Section 375 IPC (now Section 63 BNS): Defines rape. Exception 2 states that sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife does not constitute rape if the wife is not under 15 years of age.
• Chhattisgarh HC ruling: Exception 2 applies to Section 377 IPC prosecutions as well, further narrowing the legal recourse available to married women.
• Constitutional challenge: The exception arguably violates Article 14 (equality before law) and Article 21 (right to life and dignity including bodily autonomy).
• Global position: Over 100 countries including the UK, USA, France and Nepal have criminalised marital rape. The Verma Committee (2013) after the Delhi gang rape had recommended criminalisation in India.
• NFHS-5 data: One-third of married women in India report experiencing physical or sexual violence from their husbands.

The Supreme Court is considering petitions challenging the exception. The matter turns on whether the institution of marriage can limit fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21.

Static linkage: Polity (fundamental rights), social justice.

GS area: Science and Technology (defence)

Aero India 2025 opened at Air Force Station Yelahanka, Bengaluru:

• Theme: "The Runway to a Billion Opportunities."
• Nature: Asia's largest biennial airshow.
• History: First held in 1993 as Avia India; rebranded as Aero India in 1996.
• Frequency: Biennial (every two years).
• Organiser: Ministry of Defence, HAL, DRDO and the Indian Air Force.

Aero India showcases indigenous defence platforms including the Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas), advanced helicopters (ALH-Dhruv, LCH), unmanned systems and guided munitions. It is a key venue for signing defence manufacturing agreements.

Static linkage: Defence technology (science and technology).

GS area: Economy (agriculture), Government schemes

Implementation details clarified:

• Implementing route: Through NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development).
• Coverage: 100 low-productivity agricultural districts.
• Targets: Irrigation expansion, crop diversification, post-harvest storage and agricultural credit.
• Farmer beneficiaries: 1.7 crore farmers across the covered districts.
• Specific allocations: Pulses (1,000 crore rupees), fruits and vegetables (500 crore rupees), hybrid seeds (100 crore rupees).

NABARD was established in 1982 under the NABARD Act. It is the apex development finance institution for agriculture and rural development in India. It refinances commercial banks, cooperative banks and regional rural banks for agricultural lending.

Static linkage: Agriculture, rural development (Indian economy).

GS area: International Relations (defence)

The sixth edition of the India-Japan joint military exercise:

• Location: Mount Fuji, Japan.
• Focus: Urban warfare, counter-terrorism operations and joint interoperability.
• Frequency: Biennial.
• Significance: Part of India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership defence engagement.

India conducts similar exercises with other key partners: Yudh Abhyas (US), Shakti (France), Indra (Russia), Vayu Shakti (Air Force exercise), Garuda Shakti (Indonesia), Tasman Saber (Australia, US).

Static linkage: International relations (defence diplomacy).

GS area: Economy (finance, environment)

The government issued Sovereign Green Bonds to fund environmentally beneficial projects:

• Definition: Government debt instruments whose proceeds are exclusively used for green projects.
• Eligible projects: Electric locomotives, metro rail, renewable energy installations and afforestation.
• Issuing authority: Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance.
• Greenium: The lower yield (interest rate) a green bond commands compared to a conventional bond of the same credit quality. India's SGrBs have shown weak greenium, meaning investors are not accepting significantly lower returns for the green label.
• Challenge: Thin domestic institutional investor base for green finance. Lack of standardised green project taxonomy until the SEBI framework.

Static linkage: Economy (green finance, environment).

GS area: History (ancient India), Art and Culture

Key archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu confirm a very early Iron Age:

The Iron Age in Tamil Nadu is now dated to the first quarter of the 4th millennium BCE. Keeladi near Madurai is significant because it suggests a prosperous urban culture in Tamil Nadu contemporaneous with the late Indus Valley Civilisation.

Static linkage: Ancient Indian history, art and culture.

GS area: Geography (world geography)

The Gulf of Eilat (also called the Gulf of Aqaba) is a disputed body of water in the context of Middle East tensions:

• Location: Northern extension of the Red Sea, east of the Sinai Peninsula.
• Coastline nations: Egypt (Taba), Israel (Eilat), Jordan (Aqaba) and Saudi Arabia.
• Maximum depth: 1,850 metres.
• Notable feature: Home to the world's northernmost coral reefs.
• Strategic relevance: Israel's only direct access to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Disruption of this route would isolate Israel from non-Suez shipping.

Static linkage: World geography (Middle East, water bodies).

• Delhi air pollution sources: Transport accounts for 30 per cent of Delhi's air pollution. Local biomass burning contributes 23 per cent. Stubble burning from Punjab and Haryana contributes 14 per cent. Construction and road dust contribute 10 per cent. The data challenges the common assumption that stubble burning is the primary cause.
• mRNA cancer vaccine: Russia announced a personalised mRNA-based cancer treatment vaccine available free of charge from early 2025. Unlike preventive vaccines, it targets tumour-specific antigens in existing cancer patients.
• Panchayati Raj functional devolution: Despite overall devolution rising, functional devolution (actual administrative powers transferred) declined from 35.34 per cent to 29.18 per cent. States are transferring funds but retaining administrative control.