6 May 2025

• Environment: The Forest Rights Act is emerging as a global model at CBD COP-16, but implementation gaps persist at home.
• Agriculture: Maize diverted to ethanol surged from 0.8 MT to 12.7 MT in two years, triggering a food security crisis.
• Economy: WAVES 2025 promoted India's orange economy. India's media sector is valued at ₹28 billion and targeted at ₹100 billion.
• Defence: India is set to induct INS Tamal, a Krivak-III class stealth frigate built at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad.
• Governance: Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project faces serious structural damage. NDSA recommended urgent repairs.

GS area: Governance, Environment, Tribal Rights

The Forest Rights Act gained international attention at CBD COP-16 as a model for inclusive biodiversity conservation.

• Full name: Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
• Scope: Recognises 13 categories of forest rights, including individual cultivation rights, community rights and rights to protect forest resources.
• Empowerment mechanism: Gram sabhas are empowered for community-led conservation under the FRA.
• Constitutional backing: Articles 244 and 244A relate to administration of scheduled and tribal areas. The Act also complements PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996) and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
• Global recognition: CBD COP-16 (2025) established a permanent subsidiary body for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). India's FRA model was cited as a reference.
• Implementation gap: Only a fraction of the 1.4 crore filed claims have been approved. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans still prioritise forest departments over gram sabhas in practice.

Static linkage: Tribal rights, scheduled areas, forest governance, biodiversity conservation.

GS area: Economy, Agriculture, Food Security, Biofuel Policy

India's rapid ethanol expansion is cannibalising maize supplies needed for food and animal feed.

• Scale of diversion: Maize used for ethanol rose from 0.8 million tonnes in 2022-23 to 12.7 million tonnes in 2024-25.
• Conversion rate: One tonne of maize yields approximately 380 litres of ethanol.
• Policy target: The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme seeks 10 per cent blending moving towards 20 per cent by 2025.
• Market impact: Maize prices surged from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per tonne. India became a net importer of maize.
• Feed crisis: Over 20 million tonnes of maize are needed annually for poultry and dairy feed. Price spikes directly raise the cost of eggs, chicken and dairy products.
• By-product effect: DDGS (Distillers' Dried Grains with Solubles) flooded the market and undercut soybean prices from ₹32,000 to ₹22,000 per tonne.
• Global parallel: The US Renewable Fuel Standard diverted over 40 per cent of corn to ethanol, triggering food price crises in 2007-08 and 2010-11.

Static linkage: Biofuel policy, food security, ethanol blending programme.

GS area: Defence Technology, International Relations (India-Russia)

India's advanced stealth frigate INS Tamal is set to be inducted from the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.

• Class: Krivak-III class stealth frigate.
• Displacement: 3,900 tonnes.
• Sister ship: INS Tushil, commissioned December 2024.
• Armament: BrahMos missiles with 450 km range, Shtil surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine torpedoes.
• Speed: Over 30 knots.
• Helicopter capability: Carries Kamov-28 and Kamov-31 helicopters.
• Contract structure: A four-frigate deal. Two are Russian-built; two more are under construction at Goa Shipyard under Make in India.
• Significance: Enhances India's blue-water capability and demonstrates integration of Russian design with domestic manufacture.

Static linkage: Indian Navy, India-Russia defence cooperation, Make in India in defence.

GS area: Infrastructure, Water Management, Governance

The world's largest lift irrigation project faces serious structural damage and urgent repair needs.

• Location: Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, Telangana, at the Godavari-Pranahita confluence.
• Scale: Covers 500 km across 13 districts. Total capacity: 240 TMC of water.
• Infrastructure: 1,800 km canal network. Four major pump stations. The Ramadugu pump station uses seven 140 MW pumps made by BHEL, making it Asia's largest pump station.
• Water allocation: Agriculture (169 TMC), Hyderabad city (30 TMC), industry (16 TMC) and rural drinking water (10 TMC).
• NDSA finding: The National Dam Safety Authority identified serious structural damage and recommended urgent repairs.
• NDSA's legal basis: The NDSA is a statutory body established under the National Dam Safety Act, 2021. It formulates dam safety policies and conducts inspections.

Static linkage: Irrigation infrastructure, dam safety, Telangana water policy.

GS area: Culture, Environment, Livelihoods

Two distinct items with prelims significance.

• Nabakalebara: A Jain ritual associated with Lord Jagannath. Meaning "new body," it involves replacement of wooden idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana. It occurs every 12 or 19 years when the lunar calendar produces two Ashadha months. The sacred material is four specific neem trees selected based on divine signs. A controversy arose in 2025 over alleged use of leftover wood from the 2015 ceremony for the Digha Temple in West Bengal.
• Tendu leaves: Non-timber forest produce (NTFP) from the tree Diospyros melanoxylon. Known as "Green Gold" and the primary wrapping material for beedis. The highest procurement rate is in Chhattisgarh at ₹5,500 per bag (1 bag = 1,000 bundles of 50 leaves). The sector generates over 100 million person-days of employment and supports tribal communities. Smuggling is a concern due to price variations across states.

Static linkage: Odisha culture (Jagannath temple), tribal livelihoods, NTFPs.

• Vikramaditya I of Badami Chalukyas: An inscription at Madapura Lake, Davangere, Karnataka confirms administrative practices of Vikramaditya I (644-681 CE). He reclaimed Vatapi (Badami) from the Pallavas and held the titles Rajamalla and Yuddhamalla.
• UIDAI Aadhaar face authentication: Piloted during NEET-UG 2025 by UIDAI, NIC and NTA as a proof of concept to reduce impersonation. UIDAI is a statutory body under the Aadhaar Act, 2016, operating under the Ministry of Electronics and IT.