Building Self-Reliance in Natural Resources

• Despite its rich geology, India imports nearly 50% of its natural resource needs, including oil, gold, copper, bauxite, and coal.

Key Policy Measures Suggested

• Exploration Focus: Encourage small, start-up style exploration companies to take high-risk bets, similar to global practice.
• Move beyond government-driven baseline exploration; open up exploration to private entrepreneurs.
• Faster Clearances: Replace lengthy multi-layered approval systems with self-certification, where entrepreneurs follow rulebook norms and the government audits compliance later.
• Revive Dormant Assets: Existing resources such as Kolar Gold Fields, Hindustan Copper, Hutti Gold Mines, and underproducing oil fields should be revived with fresh private investment.
• Level Playing Field: End preferential treatment for public sector companies in allocation and fiscal support, which will give fair competition to private players, particularly new entrepreneurs.

Implications of the Measures

• None of these measures requires an extra burden on the government budget; instead, they will increase revenue through royalties and taxes.
• Increased domestic production will create millions of jobs and build strong supply chains, aligning with Viksit Bharat 2047’s vision.

Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari

• PM Modi recently launched the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative in Surat, Gujarat.

Key Features of the Initiative

• It is based on Gujarat’s earlier Jal Sanchay initiative, which is now scaled nationally through the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Construction of around 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures across Gujarat.
• Strong emphasis on community participation and local ownership in water resource management.

Government Initiatives for Water Conservation

• MGNREGS: Supports the construction of water conservation and harvesting structures.
• 15^th Finance Commission Grants: States receive tied grants, which can be used for rainwater harvesting.
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Currently running as Catch the Rain 2024, implemented in all districts by converging multiple central and state schemes.
• AMRUT 2.0: Focus on urban rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, and stormwater management.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana: Implemented in 8,213 Gram Panchayats across seven states to shift focus from groundwater development to groundwater management.
• PMKSY: Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana expands irrigation, promotes water-use efficiency, and includes components like Har Khet Ko Pani and Repair, Renovation, and restoration (RRR) of water bodies.
• Mission Amrit Sarovar: At least 75 water bodies per district developed or rejuvenated to store and conserve water.
• National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM): Completed over 25 lakh sq. km, providing state-level aquifer management plans.

Institutional & Policy Measures

• The Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) was established under the National Water Mission to promote efficient water use in irrigation, industry, and domestic supply.
• Model Building Bye Laws (2016) and Unified Building Bye Laws (Delhi, 2016) mandate rainwater harvesting in urban construction.

AI Adoption in Indian Healthcare

• According to Elsevier’s Clinician of the Future 2025 report, AI adoption among Indian clinicians has seen a threefold rise in one year, making India a global frontrunner in digital healthcare.

Key Findings in Report

• India’s adoption of AI in health (41%) exceeds the global average (38%).
• 52% of Indian clinicians expect patients to self-diagnose with AI soon.
• Around 66% of Indian clinicians report higher patient loads; 20% consider leaving healthcare.

South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC)

SSTC has become a key tool for promoting development, solidarity, and innovative solutions amid declining traditional aid and global inequalities.

• With the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development nearing its deadline, India is leveraging SSTC to strengthen development partnerships among Global South countries.
• South-South Cooperation is a framework for collaboration and exchange among developing countries in political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, and technical domains.
• Triangular Cooperation is a Southern-driven partnership between two or more developing countries, supported by a developed country or multilateral organisation.
• It is based on Principles of Mutual respect for sovereignty, equality, non-interference, mutual benefit, solidarity, and peaceful coexistence.

Evolution of South-South and Triangular Cooperation

• The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) was created on 1974 to promote economic cooperation among developing countries.
• Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA) 1978, adopted by 138 UN member states, establishing the first framework for SSC and emphasising solidarity, mutual respect, and shared learning.
• Nairobi Outcome Document (2009) expanded SSC beyond technical cooperation to political, institutional, and infrastructural collaboration.
• India-UN Development Partnership Fund (2017) was established to finance demand-driven SSTC projects across developing countries.
• The United Nations declared “New Opportunities and Innovation through SSTC” as the theme for the 2025 UN Day for South-South and Triangular Cooperation

Contemporary Relevance of South-South and Triangular Cooperation

• Empowerment and Solidarity: Strengthens self-reliance, mutual respect, and shared learning while avoiding the conditionalities often linked to North-South aid
• Tackling Global Challenges: Provides collective solutions to poverty, rising inequalities, climate change, and shrinking traditional aid.
• Driver of SDGs: Acts as a major force for achieving the 2030 Agenda, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), through affordable, locally driven innovations.
• Multi-Sectoral Role: Supports progress in agriculture, health, education, digital economy, climate resilience, social protection, and urban development.

India’s Role in South-South and Triangular Cooperation

• Philosophy: Aligned with India’s philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“The world is one family”).
• Institutional Mechanisms:
• Development Partnership Administration: Key agency within the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Central body for planning and implementing SSTC projects.
• Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC): Capacity-building program in 160+ countries.
• India-UN Development Partnership Fund: Supports 75+ demand-driven projects in 56 countries, focusing on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• Technological Leadership: Shares digital public infrastructure like Aadhaar and UPI for cost-effective, replicable solutions globally.
• Regional Advocacy: Hosted Voice of the Global South Summits to amplify Southern priorities and advocated for permanent African Union membership in G20.
• World Food Programme (WFP): Piloted Annapurti (Grain ATMs), women-led Take-Home Ration, and rice fortification for improving food security in other developing countries.

Challenges in South-South and Triangular Cooperation

• Fragmentation: Diverse political systems, economic priorities, and historical contexts often lead to scattered efforts, diluting impact and hindering cohesive collaboration.
• Funding Gaps: SSTC largely depends on trust funds and voluntary contributions (e.g. IBSA Fund), which are often unpredictable and insufficient.
• Political Will: Inconsistent commitment and delayed initiatives weaken trust among partners.
• Triangular Cooperation Complexities: Involvement of developed countries or multilateral organisations introduces bureaucracy and power asymmetries, which may compromise Southern leadership.
• Monitoring Gaps: Absence of a common framework results in weak evaluation, limited transparency, and difficulty in scaling successful projects.

Way Forward

• Foster Innovation: Building on the 2025 UN Day theme, countries should promote creative, locally relevant solutions and support pilot projects with strong institutional frameworks.
• Enhance Financing: Increase funding for demand-driven initiatives and embed monitoring to strengthen transparency, effectiveness, and replication.
• Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to include civil society, private sector, academia, and grassroots communities, ensuring cooperation remains people-centred and contextually relevant.
• High-Impact Sectors: Prioritise food security, nutrition, climate resilience, health systems, and education, where Southern innovations can be scaled and replicated across similar contexts.
• Knowledge Sharing: Strengthen regional and global knowledge platforms, facilitate training programs, and share best practices to enhance learning across countries.
• Align with SDGs: Design projects with measurable development outcomes, linking SSTC initiatives to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for maximum impact.

Odonate Census in Delhi

• The 2025 post-monsoon census across seven Delhi biodiversity parks recorded a 54% increase in dragonfly and damselfly populations.

• The census identified 51 odonate species, with Kalindi and Kamla Nehru Ridge parks accounting for over half the total sightings.

Key Findings from the Survey

• Population Surge: The number of odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) increased to 13,253, a rise from 8,630 the previous year.
• Kamla Nehru Ridge Park recorded the highest count with 3,935 individuals across 26 species.
• New Species: The Yellow-tailed Ashy Skimmer (Potamarcha congener) was noted for the first time in the Yamuna Biodiversity Park.
• Monsoon Breeding: This year’s heavy monsoon rains created temporary water bodies that provided ideal breeding conditions for the increase in odonate populations.

Significance of Odonates

• Vector Control: Both adult and larval odonates feed on mosquitoes, which naturally lowers the chances of dengue and other vector-borne diseases.
• Bioindicators: Odonate larvae need clean, well-oxygenated water. Their presence is a reliable indicator of the health of wetlands.
• Nutrient Transfer: Their life cycle transfers nutrients from aquatic habitats to land, connecting water ecosystems with the terrestrial food webs.
• Climate Sensitivity: Odonate species are highly responsive to temperature changes, making them valuable for tracking the impacts of climate change.

Increasing Tree Size in the Amazon Rainforest

A new study, ‘Increasing Tree Size Across Amazonia,’ shows that the average size of trees in the Amazon rainforest is increasing due to rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere.

• Key Finding: Scientists observed trees over large areas for up to 30 years and found that, on average, their diameter increased by about 3.3% each decade.
• Comparison: Usually, in a forest, tree diameters stay the same, but Amazon trees grew because atmospheric CO₂ levels increased by nearly 20% in the last 30 years.
• Underlying Reason: Rising CO₂ levels trigger the carbon fertilisation effect, which enhances photosynthesis, resulting in increased growth in some plants.
• Significance: Larger trees can absorb and store more carbon, enhancing the Amazon rainforest’s role as a significant carbon sink.

Amazon Rainforest

• The Amazon rainforest is the world’s largest rainforest, in the Amazon River basin in South America.
• It is also called the Earth’s lungs because it absorbs about 150–200 billion tonnes of carbon.
• The Amazon rainforest spans nine countries, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, covering about 40% of Brazil’s land area.
• Natural Boundaries: Guiana Highlands in the north, the Andes Mountains in the west, the Brazilian Plateau in the south, and the Atlantic Ocean in the east.
• Biodiversity: It is the most biodiverse region in the world, covering only 1% of Earth’s surface but hosting nearly 10% of all known species, including jaguars and Amazon River dolphins.

Polar Geoengineering Projects

• A recent study has raised serious concerns over five polar geoengineering concepts aimed at mitigating climate change.

Proposed Polar Geoengineering Methods

• Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI): Releasing reflective aerosols like sulphur dioxide to cool the atmosphere.
• Sea Curtains/Walls: Large buoyant structures blocking warm water inflows to ice sheets.
• Sea Ice Management: Using glass microbeads to increase ice reflectivity.
• Basal Water Removal: Extracting subglacial water to slow glacier flow.
• Ocean Fertilisation: Adding nutrients (iron) to stimulate phytoplankton and absorb CO₂.

Major Concerns Identified in these Methods

• Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI): Ineffective in polar winters when no sunlight is available. If suddenly stopped, there is a risk of “termination shock,” which could lead to a rapid global temperature rise within 10-20 years.
• Sea Curtains: Involve technical difficulties in anchoring structures in remote hostile seas, and the costs exceed $1 billion per kilometre.
• Sea Ice Management: Microbeads could dissolve quickly or even absorb heat, worsening warming. Also, 360 million tonnes of beads are required annually, equal to global plastic production.
• Ocean Fertilisation: It risks disrupting marine food chains and nutrient cycles.

Alternative Solutions to Geoengineering

• Decarbonisation: Immediate decarbonisation remains the proven, effective way to protect polar regions and stabilise the global climate.
• Challenges include upfront costs, supply chain constraints for critical minerals, and political resistance.
• Natural Defences: Better management of protected areas and ecosystem-based adaptation (e.g., mangrove restoration).
• Avoid fortress-style conservation that excludes local communities; instead, integrate traditional knowledge and livelihoods.

Agnikul Cosmos Unveils Fully Reusable Rockets

• Chennai-based spacetech startup Agnikul Cosmos announced that its upcoming rockets will be fully reusable, with no part discarded.

• Aligns with International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2025 theme; “Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth”.

Key Highlights

• Agnikul plans to offer globally competitive small-satellite launch services.
• Successfully tested 3D-printed sub-orbital rocket Agnibaan SOrTeD in 2024; orbital launch planned.
• It is supported by IN-SPACe, providing both policy backing and technical support.
• Innovations designed for cost efficiency, scalability, and debris mitigation compliance.