India Accelerates Launch of 52 Military Satellites to Strengthen Border Surveillance

In response to insights gained during Operation Sindoor, the Indian government has initiated the rapid deployment of 52 dedicated surveillance satellites aimed at bolstering continuous monitoring along its borders and coastline. This move signals a significant advancement in integrating space-based intelligence into India’s defence architecture.

Operation Sindoor: Catalyst for Space-Driven Defence

Operation Sindoor underscored the critical role of satellite intelligence, enabling swift military action by providing real-time data on drone and missile movements. It also revealed how adversaries, notably China, may have supported Pakistan using satellite-based systems. These revelations have reinforced the urgency of enhancing India''s domestic surveillance capabilities.

SBS-III: India’s Strategic Space Defence Programme

To spearhead this initiative, the SBS-III (Space-Based Surveillance - III) programme was launched, backed by a $3.2 billion investment approved in October 2024. Key elements of the programme include:

• 52 total satellites to be launched over the next decade.
• ISRO will handle the design and launch of the initial 21 satellites.
• The remaining 31 satellites will be built and launched by private Indian space firms.
• The Defence Space Agency (DSA) will oversee the operational command of the satellite network.

Cutting-Edge Surveillance and AI Integration

The satellites will be equipped with advanced radar imaging technology, enabling round-the-clock, all-weather monitoring. Additionally, the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will:

• Automate threat identification.
• Improve data analysis speed and precision.
• Enable predictive capabilities using machine learning.

These features aim to significantly enhance surveillance effectiveness, particularly in difficult terrains and high-risk border zones.

Strategic Focus Areas

The surveillance satellite constellation will concentrate on three main regions:

• India-China border, with emphasis on Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
• India-Pakistan border, focusing on infiltration routes and missile activities.
• Indian Ocean Region, monitoring naval operations and maritime threats.

This strategic deployment will reduce India''s reliance on external satellite data, reinforcing self-sufficiency in space-based defence systems.

Timeline and Outlook

The first batch of satellites is slated for launch by 2026, laying the groundwork for a secure and scalable satellite surveillance network that will support India''s defence strategy well into the future.

Safeguarding Culture: The Role of Geographical Indication (GI) Tags in Preventing Cultural Misappropriation in India

Prada’s Kolhapuri Controversy: A Wake-Up Call

In June 2025, Italian luxury label Prada showcased a footwear line at its Spring/Summer 2026 menswear show in Milan that bore striking similarities to Kolhapuri chappals, a traditional Indian product protected by a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The move sparked backlash in India, reviving concerns over cultural appropriation and questioning the efficacy of GI protection on the global stage.

This incident is emblematic of a larger trend where Indian cultural symbols and traditional knowledge are adopted by international brands without recognition or benefit-sharing, reigniting conversations about the limits of intellectual property protections in preserving cultural heritage.

What Are Geographical Indications (GI)?

A Geographical Indication (GI) is a type of intellectual property right that identifies a product as originating from a specific place, where its quality, reputation, or other characteristics are essentially linked to its geographic origin.

India currently boasts 658 registered GI products, spanning:

• Textiles (e.g., Kancheepuram silk)
• Agricultural goods (e.g., Basmati rice)
• Handicrafts (e.g., Madhubani paintings)
• Food items (e.g., Darjeeling tea)

Unlike trademarks, which are owned by individuals or companies, GIs are collectively held by communities of producers or artisans. They cannot be sold or transferred, preserving the collective identity and legacy of traditional crafts and practices.

Legal Framework: National Strength, International Weakness

India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which came into force in 2003. Key provisions include:

• Registration of GI goods
• Legal recourse against unauthorized use
• Enforcement rights for registered users
• Infringement penalties

Internationally, GI protection is addressed under:

• TRIPS Agreement (1995) – under the WTO
• Paris Convention (1883) – for industrial property

However, GI rights are territorial. India''s protection for Kolhapuri chappals does not extend to countries like Italy unless specific bilateral or multilateral agreements are in place. This creates a legal vacuum, allowing global brands to commercially exploit culturally significant products without facing legal consequences abroad.

India’s History of Fighting Cultural and Biological Appropriation

India has previously fought—and won—battles against international misuse of its traditional knowledge:

• Basmati Rice Patent (1997): A patent granted to U.S. firm Ricetec was overturned after India challenged the claim.
• Turmeric Patent (1995): India successfully revoked a patent granted in the U.S. for turmeric’s medicinal use, long practiced in Ayurveda.
• Neem Patent (2000): A neem-based patent was annulled in Europe after Indian traditional knowledge was used as evidence.

These cases highlight India’s vulnerability and the necessity for proactive cultural and legal defence mechanisms.

Strengthening Protection Beyond Borders

Although GI tags offer robust domestic protection, they lack international enforceability. To address this, India is pursuing multiple strategies:

1. Bilateral and multilateral GI agreements for mutual recognition.
2. Foreign GI registration in key markets such as the EU, U.S., and Japan.
3. Including GI clauses in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to ensure recognition and enforcement.

Expanding the Scope: From GI to Digital Safeguards

Experts recommend extending initiatives like the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)—which documents Indian medicinal knowledge—to include:

• Handicrafts
• Performing arts
• Textile traditions
• Grassroots cultural expressions

By creating a searchable global database, India can facilitate due diligence for foreign designers and prevent unintentional misappropriation. This database could serve as a preemptive cultural safeguard, encouraging respectful and informed collaboration rather than exploitation.

Conclusion: A Call for Cultural Vigilance

·       The Prada incident underscores the urgent need to globalize cultural protections and rethink the current limitations of GI laws. While India has made significant strides in registering and protecting its diverse heritage, international legal frameworks must evolve to match the pace of global commerce.

·       To preserve its cultural identity and artisanal legacy, India must not only reinforce GI protections at home but also assertively engage in global forums, leveraging trade, diplomacy, and digital infrastructure to uphold the rights of its communities and creators.

Seven-Point Strategy to Mobilise Private Capital for Sustainable Development proposed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Context

• Event: 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4)
• Organised by: United Nations
• Location: Seville, Spain
• Purpose: To promote sustainable development financing, especially in emerging and developing economies.

Seven-Point Strategy to Mobilise Private Capital

1. Strengthen Domestic Financial Markets
• Enhance the capacity of banks and capital markets.
• Focus on financing infrastructure, industry, and climate-aligned projects.
2. Address Perceived Risk through Institutional Reforms
• Establish independent regulators.
• Ensure transparent bidding and regulatory processes.
• Improve the ease of doing business to attract private capital.
3. Create Scale in Investment Opportunities
• Develop a pipeline of well-prepared, de-risked, and investment-ready projects.
• Ensure consistency and scalability in sectors like clean energy, transport, and urban infrastructure.
4. Scale Up Blended Finance
• Combine public and concessional finance with private capital to reduce risk.
• Use innovative instruments such as:
• Sovereign green bonds
• Impact investment funds
• Risk-sharing guarantees
5. Leverage Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)
• Mobilize capital and provide risk mitigation.
• Strengthen technical support for project preparation and financing.
6. Reform International Credit Rating Methodologies
• Push for credit rating systems that accurately reflect long-term resilience and economic fundamentals of Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs).
7. Unlock Capital at the Grassroots Level
• Increase access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• Promote inclusive finance for women-led businesses and rural entrepreneurs.

Significance of Private Capital in Sustainable Development

• Catalytic Role:
• Drives productivity, innovation, and economic demand.
• Unlocks resources for sectors that require large-scale investment.
• Bridging the Finance Gap:
• According to UNCTAD, there is a US$2.5 trillion annual investment gap in key areas like:
• Education
• Healthcare
• Climate action
• Promoting Inclusion:
• Expands access to finance for underserved segments.
• Supports gender equality, MSME growth, and rural development.

Conclusion

The Seven-Point Strategy lays out a comprehensive roadmap for attracting private capital into sustainable development sectors. By addressing structural bottlenecks and leveraging innovative financing tools, India aims to play a leadership role in shaping global sustainable finance solutions—while ensuring equitable, inclusive growth at home.

UNCTAD – A World of Debt Report 2025

Released by: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Focus: Alarming rise in global public debt and its disproportionate impact on developing countries

Key Highlights: Global Public Debt (GPD) Trends

• Record Global Debt:
  Global Public Debt reached $102 trillion in 2024 — the highest ever recorded.
• Debt-to-GDP Concern:
  If current trends continue, global debt could reach 100% of GDP by the end of the decade.
• Disproportionate Growth in Developing Countries:
• Developing countries hold less than one-third ($31 trillion) of global public debt.
• Yet their debt has grown twice as fast as that of developed countries since 2010.
• Regional Distribution Among Developing Countries:
• Asia and Oceania: 24% of global public debt
• Latin America & Caribbean: 5%
• Africa: 2%
• High Borrowing Costs:
• Developing countries face interest rates 2–4 times higher than those for the U.S.
• 61 developing countries spend 10% or more of government revenues on interest payments alone.

Impact of Rising Debt

• Financing Constraints:
• Shrinking fiscal space limits investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and climate action.
• Aid flows are declining, worsening development challenges.
• Widening Development Financing Gap:
• Public debt vulnerabilities are undermining long-term growth and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Recommendations by the UN Secretary-General’s Expert Group on Public Debt

1. Multilateral Reforms

• Crisis Response:
• Institutionalise debt service pauses during global shocks.
• G20 Common Framework:
• Reform and make more inclusive and accessible.
• SDR Re-channelling:
• Channel Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) through IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST).

2. International Cooperation

• Create a shared information and technical assistance hub.
• Support adoption of innovative financial instruments (e.g., debt-for-climate swaps, sustainability-linked bonds).

3. National-Level Reforms

• Build institutional capacity to:
• Manage liquidity and currency mismatches
• Improve quality of public investment pipelines
• Strengthen the effectiveness of debt-for-development swaps

Conclusion

The report serves as a global warning: the current debt trajectory is unsustainable, particularly for developing economies. Without urgent reforms, high debt and borrowing costs will further widen inequality and undermine global development goals. UNCTAD calls for coordinated multilateral action, structural reforms, and innovative financing mechanisms to build a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable global financial system.

INS Tabar: Swift Naval Response in Gulf of Oman

• Recent Operation:
  The Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Tabar responded promptly to an emergency in the Gulf of Oman, rescuing crew members after a fire broke out on an oil vessel.
• About INS Tabar (F44):
• Type: Talwar-class guided missile frigate
• Commissioned: 2004 (built in Russia)
• Base: Western Naval Command, Mumbai
• Notable Roles:
• First Indian naval ship to take deterrent action against piracy
• Conducts anti-piracy, rescue, environmental, and humanitarian missions
• Key Features:
• Advanced missile systems, radar, electronic warfare suites
• Carries helicopters for air-sea coordination
• State-of-the-art firefighting and damage control systems
• Crew strength: 280 personnel, specially trained for emergency operations

Altermagnets

• Scientists have discovered a unique electrical and thermal transport phenomenon in a high-quality single-crystalline altermagnet called Chromium Antimonide (CrSb).

About Altermagnets:

• Altermagnets are a newly identified class of magnetic materials combining traits of ferromagnets and antiferromagnets.
• They do not exhibit net external magnetism, but their internal electron behavior is highly useful, especially for advanced technologies like spintronics (which manipulates electron spin rather than charge).

Properties of Altermagnets:

• They display a dual nature: no net magnetization like antiferromagnets, but also exhibit spin splitting similar to ferromagnets.
• This arises from the complex atomic interactions within their crystal structure.
• They show unique spin polarization, meaning electron spins align preferentially in certain directions both in real space (physical arrangement) and momentum space (distribution of electron spins).
• Altermagnets could play a key role in spin caloritronics, studying the interaction between spin and heat flow—something not possible with ferromagnets or antiferromagnets.
• This research area holds promise for new information processing and storage technologies.

Altermagnetism in Chromium Antimonide (CrSb):

• CrSb is a metallic altermagnet with magnetic order stable at over twice room temperature.
• It has the largest known altermagnetic spin-splitting—more than 30 times room temperature.
• CrSb uniquely exhibits direction-dependent conduction polarity, a rare property among materials and the first for an altermagnet.
• Its exceptional properties make CrSb a leading candidate for practical applications in electronics.
• Made from earth-abundant, non-toxic elements, CrSb is environmentally friendly and promising for future electronic devices.

Essential Tremors

• A patient recently underwent a successful Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment for essential tremors.

About Essential Tremors:

• A neurological disorder causing rhythmic shaking of hands, head, trunk, voice, or legs.
• Most common in people over 65 but can affect any age.
• Affects approximately 1% of the global population, making it one of the most prevalent neurological disorders.

Causes:

• Exact cause unknown; possibly due to communication issues between the cerebellum and other brain parts.
• Often hereditary, with a 50% chance of gene transmission from parent to child.
• Prevalence increases with age; about 5% of people over 60 are affected.

Treatment:

• No cure exists, but treatments include medications, assistive devices, botulinum toxin, deep brain stimulation, and focused ultrasound.

About MRgFUS:

• Non-surgical procedure using MRI-guided focused ultrasound waves to target brain tissue causing tremors.
• Approved for Essential Tremor and Tremor-Dominant Parkinson’s Disease.
• Targets the thalamus, a key relay center in the brain.
• Focused ultrasound thermally destroys this area, significantly reducing or nearly eliminating tremors, often in a single session.

WaveX Startup Challenge 2025 – BhashaSetu

• Launched by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MoI&B) under its WaveX startup accelerator program.
• The challenge is titled BhashaSetu – Real-Time Language Tech for Bharat.
• It is a national hackathon aimed at developing an AI-powered multilingual translation solution for at least 12 major Indian languages.

About WaveX:

• A dedicated startup accelerator platform launched under the MoI&B’s WAVES initiative.
• Focuses on nurturing innovation in media, entertainment, and language technology sectors.
• Supports ideas through hackathons, incubation, mentorship, and integration with national platforms.

Animal and Plant Discoveries 2024: Biodiversity Milestones

Released by:

Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in collaboration with:

• Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) – Animal Discoveries
• Botanical Survey of India (BSI) – Plant Discoveries

Animal Discoveries 2024 Highlights:

• Total Faunal Additions: 683 species
• 459 new species
• 224 new records
• Top States by Faunal Discoveries:
• Kerala: 101 species
• Karnataka: 82 species
• Arunachal Pradesh: 72 species
• Island Biodiversity:
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 43 faunal discoveries
• Noteworthy Finds:
• 2 new genera and 37 species of reptiles
• 5 new amphibian species
• Dravidoseps gouensis – new genus of skink
• Anguiculus dicaprioi – snake species named after Leonardo DiCaprio

Plant Discoveries 2024 Highlights:

• Total Floral Additions: 433 taxa
• 410 new species
• 23 infra-specific taxa
• Top States by Flora Discoveries:
• Kerala: 58
• Maharashtra: 45
• Uttarakhand: 40
• Biodiversity Hotspots:
• Western Ghats and North-Eastern India contributed 35% of total discoveries
• Significant Floral Discoveries:
• Wild relatives of begonia, balsams (Impatiens), orchids, legumes, and zingibers
• New orchid species:
• Bulbophyllum gopalianum
• Coelogyne tripurensis
• Gastrodia indica
• Gastrodia sikkimensis

Cell Broadcasting System for Disaster Management

• The Department of Telecommunications and NDMA are testing a new Cell Broadcast (CB) system to deliver real-time disaster alerts across India.
• What is Cell Broadcasting?
• A technology used by mobile operators to send text messages to all mobile users within a specific geographic area.
• Primarily used for sending emergency alerts.
• In India, this system is part of a larger government initiative to improve real-time delivery of critical warnings during disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning, and industrial hazards.
• The system is being developed indigenously by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
• Unlike SMS alerts, CB messages are broadcast to all phones in an area simultaneously, ensuring quick delivery even when networks are congested.
• The system enables almost instantaneous alerts, making it highly effective for urgent disaster situations.
• CB will complement the existing Integrated Alert System called SACHET, which has sent over 6,899 crore SMS alerts in 19+ Indian languages across all 36 States and Union Territories.
• SACHET uses the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• Once fully deployed, the CB system will broadcast alerts in multiple Indian languages to ensure wide and inclusive public coverage.

Wandan Mud Volcano Eruption, Taiwan

• The Wandan mud volcano recently erupted in Taiwan.
• The eruption sent bubbling mud shooting into the air.
• Locals ignite gases released from the volcano using burning rags.

About Mud Volcanoes:

• A mud volcano is a small cone-shaped formation made of mud and clay, usually less than a few meters high.
• Formed by a mixture of hot water and fine sediment that either flows gently from a vent or is explosively ejected by volcanic gas and boiling water.
• Their craters are shallow and may erupt mud intermittently.
• Eruptions build and rebuild the mud cones, which are easily eroded over time.
• The term "mud dome" is similar and refers to landforms created by cooler geologically excreted liquids and gases.
• Mud volcanoes, also called "sedimentary volcanoes" or "gas-oil volcanoes," are related to magmatic volcanoes.
• Like magmatic volcanoes, they can erupt violently and send flames hundreds of meters high.
• Known locations in Europe and Asia include southeastern Ukraine, Italy, Romania, Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, and China.
• In the Americas, mud volcanoes have been recorded in Alaska, California, Trinidad, Venezuela, and Colombia.

Santhal Rebellion (Hul Diwas) – 170th Anniversary

• The 170th anniversary of the Santhal Rebellion is commemorated as Hul (Revolution) Diwas.
• About the Rebellion (1855-56):
• One of the earliest tribal uprisings against British colonial rule.
• Considered an inspiration for the 1857 Indian Rebellion.
• Region:
• Took place in the Damin-i-Koh area of the Rajmahal Hills, Jharkhand.
• Leadership:
• Led primarily by four brothers: Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand-Bhairav, and Phulo & Jhano Murmu.
• The rebellion was against British rule and exploitation by landlords (zamindars) and police.
• Cause:
• Triggered by the Permanent Settlement Act of 1793, which displaced the Santhals from Birbhum and Manbhum (present-day Bengal).
• Resulted in severe exploitation by zamindars, police, and British authorities.

Mahabodhi Temple – Supreme Court Update

• The Supreme Court declined to hear a petition challenging the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, which regulates management of the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bihar.

Historical Background:

• Original temple constructed by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE.
• Present structure dates back to the 5th–6th century CE, during the late Gupta period.

Architectural Features:

• Has a curvilinear shikhara topped with an amalaka and kalasha.
• Design is unique — neither purely Dravidian nor Nagara style.
• Temple is narrow like Nagara temples but rises without curving like Dravidian temples.

Key Components:

• Main temple building.
• Vajrasana (Diamond Throne) — site of Buddha’s enlightenment.
• Sacred Bodhi Tree.
• Surrounded by votive stupas and three protective enclosures (inner, middle, outer).

Global Recognition:

• Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Reservation Policy in Supreme Court Administration

• For the first time, the Supreme Court has implemented a formal reservation policy for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) employees in its internal administration.
• The policy applies to direct appointments and promotions for posts such as registrars, senior personal assistants, assistant librarians, junior court assistants, and chamber attendants.
• Judges are not covered by this reservation policy.
• Reservation quotas are:
• 15% for SC employees.
• 7.5% for ST employees.
• The policy aligns with the central government’s reservation norms.

National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report 2025

• Purpose:
  Reflects India’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and serves as the core tool for monitoring SDG progress at the national level.
• Key Issues Highlighted:
• Rising adolescent birth rate in girls
• Increase in road accident fatalities
• Decline in issuance of soil health cards
• Reduction in primary government expenditures as a proportion of the original approved budget

Digital India Mission Marks 10 Years

Launch: 2015
Goal: Transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy
Coordinating Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
Coverage: Multiple government ministries and departments

Three Vision Areas

Major Achievements