Story of BrahMos: the ‘fire and forget’, stealthy cruise missile India likely used against Pakistan

• Since it was first tested successfully on June 12, 2001, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was likely used for the first time in a combat situation during Operation Sindoor.
• It is learnt that as part of retaliatory precision strikes on Pakistani military bases early Saturday (May 10), the Indian armed forces also used missiles like the HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range), an air-to-surface precision-guided munition, and the SCALP, an air-launched cruise missile.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated a BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility Centre in Lucknow, saying the missile was a confluence of the top defence technologies of India and Russia.
• He hailed the missile as “not just one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles, but a message of the strength of the Indian Armed Forces, a message of deterrence to adversaries, and a message of the nation’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding its borders.”
• BrahMos is considered an extremely versatile ‘fire and forget’ type missile, which has proved its capabilities across its land-based, ship-based, air-launched and submarine-based versions. Here is its story.

How and why was the BrahMos developed?

• From the 1980s, India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as its central figure, began developing the Agni series of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.
•  The programme also delivered several other versatile missiles, including the surface-to-air missile Akash, surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile Prithvi and anti-tank guided missile Nag.
• In the 1990s, India’s policy makers felt the need for equipping the armed forces with cruise missiles – a category of guided missiles that traverse the majority of their flight path at almost constant speed to deliver warheads with high precision.
• They differ from ballistic missiles, which take a parabolic ballistic trajectory to deliver warheads over long distances. The need for cruise missiles was further underlined by their successful use during the 1991 Gulf War.
• After initial talks with Russia, an Inter-Governmental Agreement was signed in Moscow in February 1998 by Dr Kalam, who then headed the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and N V Mikhailov, Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister.
• The agreement led to the formation of BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between the DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM). BrahMos is an amalgamation of the names of the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers. The entity was set up with a mandate to design, develop, and manufacture a supersonic, high-precision cruise missile and its variants.
• India holds a 50.5 per cent share and Russia the other 49.5 per cent share in the joint venture. The first successful test of the missile was conducted on June 12, 2001, from the specially designed land-based launcher at the Integrated Test Range, off the Chandipur coast of Odisha.

What is the anatomy of a BrahMos missile?

• BrahMos is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster engine.
• Its first stage brings the missile to a supersonic speed, greater than the speed of sound, and it then gets separated. The second stage of the liquid ramjet then fires and thrusts the missile to three times the speed of sound in its cruise phase.
• A liquid ramjet is an air-breathing jet engine that uses liquid fuel, which is injected into the high-speed airstream and ignited to produce thrust.
• In general, ‘fire and forget’ missiles are guided weapons that require no further input or control after being launched. What brings the added element of stealth to BrahMos is its extremely low radar cross-section (RCS) because of its compact design and use of special materials.
•  It can achieve a cruising altitude of 15 kilometres and a terminal altitude as low as 10 metres to hit any target.
• Cruise missiles, like the BrahMos, come under the category known as the “stand-off range weapons”, which are fired from a range sufficient to allow the attacker to evade defensive fire from the adversary. These weapons are in the arsenal of most major militaries in the world.

The many variants of BrahMos

• Following the first successful launch at the Chandipur test range, the BrahMos was inducted into the Navy in 2005, into the Indian Army in 2007 and the first successful flight with IAF’s Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter in 2017.
•  While land, air, sea and submarine are broader classifications of the missile, numerous versions with extended ranges and evolving sensing capabilities have been tested and deployed over the last 24 years.
• 1. Ship-based variant: The naval version can be fired vertically or inclined, and from both moving and static naval platforms. It has been successful time and again in sea-to-sea and sea-to-land modes.
• From ships, the BrahMos can be launched as a single unit or in a salvo of upto eight, separated by two-and-a-half-second-long intervals. These salvos can hit and destroy a group of frigates having modern missile defence systems.
• BrahMos is a ‘prime strike weapon’ for such targets and significantly increases the capability of engaging naval surface targets at long ranges.
• The Indian Navy began inducting BrahMos on its frontline warships from 2005, and it can hit sea-based targets beyond the radar horizon. Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer INS Rajput was the first ship to deploy a BrahMos and it has since been deployed on other warships.
• 2. The land-based system: The land-based BrahMos Complex has four to six mobile autonomous launchers. Each launcher has three missiles on board that can be fired almost simultaneously on three different targets and in different configurations. Multiple units of BrahMos systems have been deployed along India’s land borders.
• The land attack version of the BrahMos, with a capability of cruising at 2.8 Mach speed. Following upgrades, it can hit targets at a range of upto 400 kilometres with precision. The development of advanced versions of a range above 1,000 kilometres and speed upto 5 Mach is said to be in store.
• The ground systems of BrahMos come with an air-conditioned cabin with Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) protection. The land attack version of the BrahMos was operationalised in the Indian Army in 2007.
• The missiles have been deployed in three different configurations – Block I with precision hitting capability, Block II with supersonic deep-dive and target discrimination capability, and Block III with mountain warfare capability.
• 3. The air-launched version: The BrahMos Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) is the heaviest missile to arm India’s frontline fighter jet, the Sukhoi-30 MKI. In November 2017, BrahMos was successfully flight-tested for the first time from the IAF frontline fighter aircraft against a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal and has since been successfully tested multiple times.
• In tests conducted in 2019, BrahMos ALCM validated its land attack and anti-ship capability from large, stand-off ranges by day or night and in all weather conditions.
• BrahMos-equipped Sukhoi-30s, which have a range of 1,500 kilometres at a stretch without mid-air refuelling, are considered a crucial deterrence for the adversaries both along land borders and in the strategically important Indian Ocean Region.
• 4. The submarine-launched version: This version can be launched from around 50 meters below the surface of the water. The canister-stored missile is launched vertically from the pressure hull of a submarine and uses different settings for underwater and out-of-the-water flights. This version was first successfully tested in March 2013 from a submerged platform off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
• 5. The futuristic BrahMos-NG: Development is underway for a futuristic version of the BrahMos, known as the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation), primarily for air and naval applications. This version will have reduced dimensions and weight, next generation stealth features, greater effectiveness against Electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM), higher versatility for underwater combat and launch capability from a torpedo tube.

India’s Major Defence Agreements of India in the recent past

• India has signed significant defence agreements aimed at cooperation, collaboration, and the import and export of missiles, weapons, naval ships, and technology know-how. These bilateral agreements are meant to strengthen India’s defence posture against emerging terrorist threats in the Indian subcontinent
• The “Pahalgam attack was the first escalation,” the government said during a special briefing on Operation Sindoor on Thursday. Responding to the Pakistani attack on Indian military installations, India also attacked their military targets, even taking out an air defence system in Lahore, using its latest loitering munitions such as the Israeli HAROPs and the HARPYs. These can “loiter” or hover in the air close to the designated target before self-destructing on impact.
• India’s advanced military capabilities have been strengthened by several defence agreements signed over the past decade. Let’s examine some of the important defence agreements signed in the recent past.

Key Takeaways:

• India-Russia: India’s flagship surface-to-air missile systems — S400 Triumf, Barak 8 MRSAM (Medium Range Surface to Air Missile) and the indigenous Akash — played a key role as the IAF activated its Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid and other air defence systems to thwart the attacks by Pakistan on 15 military bases and several cities. The S-400 air defence system was brought by India from Russia.
• India and Russia have also signed agreements for the supply of MiG-29 fighter aircraft, Kamov helicopters, and for the licensed production of T-90 tanks, Su-30MKI fighters, AK-203 assault rifles, and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
• The INS Vikramaditya, one of the Indian Navy’s two aircraft carriers, is the former Soviet and Russian warship Admiral Gorshkov.
• India-UK: In a historic move, India and the UK have finalised the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) earlier this week. This will further enhance the defence cooperation between the nations. In February, Defence Partnership-I (DP-I) was formally launched with the signing of multiple defence agreements at the Aero India 2025. Thales UK and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) have signed a contract to deliver laser beam riding MANPADs (LBRM), with an initial supply of high-velocity missiles (STARStreak) and launchers this year.
• MBDA UK and BDL have been working together on the installation of a first-of-its-kind advanced short-range air-to-air missile assembly and test facility in Hyderabad, arming the current fleet of India’s fighter jets as well as exporting to the world.
• Joint Military Exercise: Ex Ajeya Warrior (Army), Konkan (Navy), Indradhanush-iv (Airforce)
• India-France: Last month, India and France inked an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for the procurement of 26 Rafale-M aircraft – 22 single-seater and four twin-seater – for the Indian Navy. The procurement includes training, a simulator, associated equipment, weapons, and performance-based logistics.
• Over the years, alongside Russia, France has been a key and reliable source of defence equipment for India. Also, France was among the few Western nations that refrained from imposing sanctions on India following the Pokhran-II nuclear tests of 1998. Since then, the two countries have collaborated closely at nearly all multilateral forums.
• Following the Ukraine war, France also figured in the list of the top three destinations for Indian defence exports in 2023-24. Last year, India and France also agreed on a Defence Industrial Roadmap to deepen cooperation.
• The Scorpene submarine project, additional purchases of Rafale jets and helicopters, as well as efforts toward indigenous production, are ongoing under this framework.
• Joint Military Exercise: Ex Shakti (Army) and Varuna (Navy).
• India-Thailand: During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Thailand to attend the 6th BIMSTEC leaders’ summit, India and Thailand agreed to upgrade their relations to a “strategic partnership”. Defence is one of the key sectors in their strategic partnership.
• Both countries have agreed to institutionalise new frameworks for high-level consultations, including a strategic dialogue between their National Security Councils and enhanced defence coordination through technology transfers, joint training, and industry collaboration.
• Joint Military Exercise: Ex Maitree (Army) and Indo-Thai CORPAT (Navy).
• 5India-US: COMPACT: With their strategic cooperation straddling sectors from defence to high-tech, US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a new initiative, the ‘US-India COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century’, to “drive transformative change across key pillars of cooperation”.
• Last year, during Rajnath Singh’s four-day official visit to the US, both countries signed a Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) and Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers. Under SOSA, the US and India will provide reciprocal priority support to each other for goods and services that promote national defence.
• US-origin defence items that are part of India’s defence inventory to date are C-130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, P-8I Poseidon aircraft, CH-47F Chinooks, MH-60R Seahawks, and AH-64E Apaches; Harpoon anti-ship missiles; M777 howitzers, and MQ-9Bs. The talks around importing of US-made F-35 Lightning-II combat aircraft are still underway.
• Joint Military Exercise: Ex Yudhabhayas (Army), Ex Vajra Prahar (Army), Malabar (Navy), Red Flag 16-1 (Air Force).
• India-New Zealand: In March this year, India signed a defence cooperation pact, the India-New Zealand Memorandum of Understanding for Defence Cooperation, with New Zealand, a partner of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. This will further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and establish regular bilateral defence engagement. It was part of the major agreements signed during the visit of the Prime Minister of New Zealand to India on 16-20 March 2025.

• India-Indonesia: Underscoring the historical ties between India and Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia was invited as the Chief Guest to this year’s Republic Day celebration. Both sides have decided to strengthen cooperation in maritime security, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, and de-radicalisation.
•  Both sides also welcomed the ratification of the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), which was signed in 2018. They expressed satisfaction on military and strategic cooperation, including the conduct of biannual India–Indonesia Coordinated Patrol and joint army and naval exercises.

Precision-guided long-range weapons of India

• India has not revealed what weapons were used in Operation Sindoor early on May 7. The official statement said that the Indian Armed Forces carried out precision strikes, hitting terrorist infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
• Here are some of India’s important precision-guided long-range weapons and drones.
• 1. HAMMER: The Highly Agile and Manoeuvrable Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) air-to-ground precision-guided weapon system for the Rafale fighter aircraft has a range of up to 70 km, and can also be fitted to bombs and various guided systems.
• 2. SCALP: This is an air-launched cruise missile with stealth features, designed for long-range deep strikes. SCALP-EG (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée — Emploi Général), known as Storm Shadow in Britain, can be operated at night and in all weather conditions.
• 3. BRAHMOS: These supersonic cruise missiles are operationalised in all three defence services. It is built by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. The missile operates on a ‘Fire and Forget Principle’, adopting varieties of flights on its way to the target.
• 4. METEOR: The Meteor is a new-generation Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) system which is effective in dense electronic-warfare environments

How Air Defence Systems work

• In The primary objective of an air defence system is to take out threats from the skies — be it enemy fighter aircraft, unmanned drones, or missiles.
• This is done with the help of a complex system of radar, control centres, defensive fighter aircraft, and ground-based air defence missile, artillery, and electronic warfare systems.
• An air defence system can be sub-categorised into three interlinked operations.
• DETECTION: Key to the success of any air defence system is its ability to detect threats in the first place. This is typically done by radar, although satellites may be used in certain circumstances — such as an enemy launching an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).
• Radar send out beams of electromagnetic radio waves through a transmitter. These waves are reflected by the objects that they hit — such as an enemy aircraft. A receiver then collects the returning radio waves — based on which it makes inferences such as the distance of the threat, its speed, and its specific nature (what kind of aircraft/ missile).
• TRACKING: The efficiency of an air defence system is also determined by its ability to constantly and accurately track — and not merely detect — an aerial threat. This is typically done using a combination of radar and other sensors such as infrared cameras or laser rangefinders.
• More often than not, an air defence system is not just dealing with a single threat — it has to identify and track multiple, fast-moving threats in complex and cluttered environments, which may also include friendly aircraft.
• The accuracy of tracking is crucial for effectively neutralising the enemy without targeting false threats.
• INTERCEPTION: Once the threat has been detected and tracked, it must be neutralised. Here, the specifics of the threat — its range, type (what kind of missile/ aircraft), speed, etc. — determine the ways in which air defences work.
• All these three aspects of an air defence system have to work together as a cogent whole. This requires what in military parlance is called “C3” or a “command, control and communication” system.
• Beyond the technical capabilities of detecting, tracking, and intercepting aerial threats, superior communication and decision-making capabilities are crucial for an effective air defence.

HOW THEY INTERCEPT

• Depending on the challenges they foresee, nations utilise a wide assortment of weapons to neutralise aerial threats. These include the following.
• FIGHTER AIRCRAFT: Interceptors are fighters that take on attacking enemy aircraft, especially bombers. These agile aircraft can be scrambled at a moment’s notice, and they climb quickly to altitude and neutralise an enemy aircraft before it deploys its weapons.
• Interceptors are equipped for air-to-air combat with cannon, rockets, a suite of visual-range and beyond-visual-range missiles, and electronic warfare systems.
• Aircraft such as the MiG-21 — an upgraded variant of which is still in service with the Indian Air Force — were dedicated interceptors; latest fighter aircraft have “multirole capabilities”. India can deploy any of its Sukhoi Su-35s, MiG-29s, HAL Tejas, Mig-21 Bisons, and Dassault Rafales for interceptor missions.
• SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES (SAMS): Today, SAMs are the bread-and-butter of most air defence systems. This is because they are more effective than anti-aircraft artillery (AAA), and do not put pilots in danger like interceptors.
• SAMs can be used to target enemy fighters, helicopters, and missiles. They are generally radar-, infrared-, or laser-guided. In addition to being operated from the ground, SAMs can also be launched from ships.
• The three, oft-used but unofficial classes of SAMs are:
• * Heavy long-range systems which are fixed or semi-mobile;
• * Medium-range vehicle-mounted systems that can fire on the move;
• * Short-range man-portable air-defense systems (or MANPADS).
• Each SAM class has a different function.
• The heaviest SAMs, such as the Russian-made S-400 system used by India, take on enemy ballistic missiles or aircraft at long range, as much as a few hundred kilometres. Medium range SAMs have the capability to hit targets in the 50-100 km range but are more mobile, and can be launched in next-to-no time.
• MANPADS are used for low-lying targets such as hovering helicopters or drones, or fixed-wing aircraft engaged in ground attack roles. These are far more cost-effective than the other classes, and have been used extensively not only by militaries but also non-state actors in unconventional warfare.
• India’s arsenal of SAMs include the indigenously-developed medium-range Akash missiles, the medium-to-long range Barak missiles, and the long-range S-400 missiles.
• ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY (AAA): Once the cornerstone of ground-based air defence systems, the development of SAMs and capabilities of modern fighter jets have greatly reduced the salience of AAA.
• But augmented with automated fire-control systems, they remain crucial last-ditch defences, and are also used for specialised anti-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) roles.
• AAA fire shells rapidly, at rates of over 1,000 rounds per minute. AAA shells are designed to explode at predetermined altitudes so as to disperse shrapnel over a wide area. This makes an AAA battery effective even if it does not achieve a direct hit.
• ELECTRONIC WARFARE (EW): It is not necessary to actually shoot down an enemy aerial threat in order to neutralise it. EW systems are designed to disrupt, deceive, or destroy threats using the power of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• In the context of air defence, EW is most often used to jam enemy radar and targeting systems, so as to impede its ability to accurately and effectively deploy its weapon. EW can confuse attack drones or prevent enemy air-to-surface missiles from homing in on targets.
• Several highly sophisticated EW systems are in use today. These can operate from both land and air, including from specialised EW aircraft, such as the US Navy’s Boeing EA-18G Growler, the EW version of the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

TAKING DOWN ADs

• Establishing air superiority allows an Air Force to operate with a degree of impunity, and without fear of attrition in bombing, tactical air support, paratroop insertion, or supply-drop missions.
• To establish air superiority over enemy territory, the enemy’s air defence systems have to be neutralised. Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) operations target enemy air defences with missiles, EW, bombs, UAVs or even ground attacks. An analysis published in 2005 found that a quarter of American combat sorties in (then) recent conflicts had been SEAD missions (Christopher Bolkcom, ‘Military Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD): Assessing Future Needs’).
• Given the role of air superiority in providing a protective umbrella for ground forces, taking down enemy air defences also lays the ground for deeper ground attacks into enemy territory

India’s climate finance needs pegged at $2.5-trn by 2030

• India may require financing to the tune of $2.5 trillion by 2030 for climate transition, given its pledge to achieve net-zero emission by 2070, the government said on Wednesday.
• “India’s climate finance taxonomy will facilitate greater resource flow to climate-friendly technologies and activities, enabling India to achieve the vision of being Net Zero by 2070, while ensuring long-term access to reliable and affordable energy,”
• However, the report did not reveal any specific tax measures to be taken to support the green transition. Those details are understood to have been shared with experts.
• To begin with, power, mobility, and buildings will be part of the taxonomy, in the context of climate mitigation and adaptation benefits. Agriculture, food and water security will be in the context of climate adaptation and resilience building. As for addressing transition, in line with country circumstances, in hard-to-abate sectors, iron and Steel and Ccment would be be considered at the outset.
• Specifically, the taxonomy will cover technologies, measures, projects and activities that are aligned to: mitigation. This includes improvements in energy efficiency or reduction in emission intensity, and avoidance of GHG emissions including through the expansion of non-fossil fuel energy, etc.
• It would support adaptation- action that enhances resilience, including sustainable water management, ecosystem protection and restoration, and geography-specific adaptation measures to lower the negative impacts of climate change.
• Transition activities in line with the specific pathway for hard-to-abate industries, innovation and R&D facilitate low carbon pathways considering the available technology, its access and viability.
• “Meeting its updated NDC targets requires an estimated $2.5 trillion (at 2014–15 prices) by 2030. To bridge this significant financing gap, access to affordable finance and advanced technology—particularly from developed countries, as stipulated under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement—is critical for sustaining and scaling India’s climate efforts,” according to the report.
• India’s proactive measures have yielded positive results, with many targets under its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) achieved ahead of schedule. India achieved 40% cumulative electrical power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources in 2021, well before the 2030 target.
• Similarly, the emission intensity of GDP was reduced by 33% from 2005 levels by 2019—nine years ahead of the target year. Recognising the progress, India revised its NDC in August 2022, enhancing the target to reduce GDP emission intensity to 45% (up from 33-35%) by 2030 and increasing the arget for non-fossil fuel-based cumulative electric power installed capacity to 50% (from the earlier 40%).
•  India has successfully established an installed electricity generation capacity of 222.85 GW from non-fossil fuel sources, which account for 47.4% of the total capacity as of 28 February 2025.

Zinc and Silver: Critical metals powering global energy transition

• Three global trends have the potential to shape the future of our planet: push for green energy, speedy adoption of digital technologies, and demand for sustainable infrastructure. Among the many forces shaping our future, the transition to clean energy stands out as a defining challenge as well as opportunity of our times.
• It will combat climate change and enable long-term economic resilience. However, achieving this shift to clean energy depends on continuous innovation and reliable access to the resources that power green technologies.
• With the London Metal Exchange planning to introduce green premium, we are at the epicentre of innovative and sustainable production. By producing metals more responsibly, we can enable a net-zero supply chain, helping to power industries—and the world—toward a cleaner future.
• As the world accelerates efforts to build sustainable and low-carbon economies, critical metals such as Zinc and Silver are central to the energy transition and assume significant importance.
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that the world will add more than 5,500 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy capacity between 2024 and 2030—almost three times the increase seen between 2017 and 2023. In 2024, this would roughly equal the combined power capacity of China, the European Union, India, and the United States.

Zinc – A key enabler of resilient clean energy infrastructure

• Zinc, long valued for its anti-corrosive properties, is finding increasing applications in various areas, including renewable energy infrastructure. Zinc coatings extend the lifespan of wind turbines and solar structures by preventing rust formation, reducing maintenance needs, and corresponding costs.
• Beyond galvanisation, Zinc is also emerging as a crucial metal for energy storage – a key component of the global energy transition. While lithium has historically been the preferred mineral for energy storage, Zinc-based batteries can offer an alternative, owing to its safety, cost-efficiency, and resource availability.
• Zinc batteries are more stable and less prone to fire or explosion hazards, making them safer for a variety of applications.
• They offer several advantages, like providing long storage durations ranging from 3 to 72 hours, operating effectively across a wide temperature range, and offering a projected lifespan of up to 20 years. These characteristics make Zinc batteries suitable for India’s renewable energy storage needs.
• According to research firm Wood Mackenzie, Zinc consumption by the solar energy sector alone is expected to double from 0.4 million tonnes in 2020 to 0.8 million tonnes in 2030 in a net-zero scenario. Overall, Zinc demand from the renewables sector is expected to reach 1.3 million tonnes by 2050.
• Simultaneously, energy storage systems are projected to consume 790,000 tonnes (0.79 million tonnes) of Zinc annually (from negligible levels currently)—a transformative shift for the industry. To meet this demand, the global metals sector will need to develop over 13.8 million tonnes of new Zinc capacity by 2050, especially as over 60% of the current production is expected to be phased out in the coming decades.

Silver – A critical metals for the solar economy

• Silver is another essential mineral that has enabled the transition to clean energy worldwide. Globally, advancements in high-efficiency solar cell technologies such as Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) and Heterojunction (HJT) have increased Silver’s importance in solar manufacturing.
•  Demand for Silver in solar panels could surge by nearly 170% by 2030, based on BloombergNEF’s estimate of 12 tonnes of Silver per gigawatt of solar capacity.
•  Based on trend projections, this increase would amount to about 273 million ounces of Silver, constituting roughly one-fifth of the total global Silver demand. The metal also plays a significant role in emerging technologies such as EVs, 5G, nanotechnology, biotechnology, healthcare, energy in data centres, and next-generation consumer electronics and wearables. These areas are poised for rapid growth in India’s current manufacturing ecosystem.
• Realising the full potential of the global energy transition will require more than just technological innovation. Proactive investment in critical metals value chains, efforts to secure reliable supply, and developing robust ecosystems around these minerals will be essential enablers.
•  Countries and companies that can responsibly source, process, and deploy Zinc and Silver will hold a decisive advantage in building resilient green economies. As one of the world’s leading producers of Zinc and with significant potential to expand Silver production, India is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation, advancing its own clean energy ambitions while contributing.

Biometric screening must for MSP purchases of pulses, oil seeds from next kharif season

• The agriculture ministry has made biometric face authentication and use of point of sale (PoS) machines mandatory for minimum support price (MSP) purchases of pulses and oil seeds from the next kharif 2025-26 season.
• The move is intended to ensure that only genuine farmers get the benefit of procurement under various schemes.
• What has enabled this is the Section 7 of Aadhar Act, 2016, which came into effect from April 21, 2025.
• Officials said with the new stipulation, only fresh produce and genuine farmers will be part of procurement process. Farmers’ cooperative Nafed and NCCF and state level agencies carry out procurement of pulses and oil seeds.
• Currently, PoS machines are employed for MSP operations of rice and wheat.
• We want to ensure that only registered farmers with the two agencies (Nafed and NCCF) get the benefits of minimum support prices and other interventions initiated under the umbrella scheme –  Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM Aasha) for oilseeds and pulses,” an official told
• PM Aasha integrates the price support scheme, price deficiency payment scheme, price stabilization fund and  market intervention scheme, all aimed at providing remunerative prices to farmers.
• The agriculture ministry has also decided to limit the procurement period to 60 days, with a possible extension of 30 days, if necessary. “No further extension will be allowed beyond the 90-day limit,” an official said.
• “It has been observed that there is a sudden jump in procurement on the thirteenth week or towards the end of the purchase period, which should not normally happen,” an official had stated earlier indicating possible manipulation by traders.
• The disposal of commodities purchased under integrated scheme of would be initiated in the remaining nine months of the year.
• Currently, Nafed and NCCF pre-register farmers on their portals – e-Samriddhi and e-Samyukti respectively on the basis of aadhaar authentication prior to procurement of oilseeds, pulses and onion under various schemes.
• In a communication to Nafed and NCCF, the agriculture ministry has urged them to integrate their portals used for registration of farmers with the ministry’s unified portal on agricultural statistics (UPAg) and upload procurement of oilseeds and pulses on a real time basis.
• With market prices ruling below minimum support price (MSP) on robust crop prospects after staying at elevated levels for two years, the government has sanctioned approval of over 6 million tonne (MT) of oilseeds and 5 MT of pulses purchase under the PSS in the key growing states for 2024-25 season (July-June
• Officials said this approval for MSP purchase of oilseeds and pulses in the current season would be a record, while previously in 2017-18, the government agencies had purchased a 6.55 MT — 4.55 MT (pulses) and 2 MT (oilseeds) from the farmers.
• PSS, a component of PM-AASHA is implemented when the market prices of notified pulses and oilseeds and copra fall below the MSP during peak harvesting period to provide the remunerative price to the farmers.
• To boost domestic production through providing incentives to the farmers and reduce the dependence on import, the existing procurement ceiling of 25% on tur, urad and masur under PSS had been lifted for 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons

What is S-400 system, how many India has, and what it can do

• Tensions between India and Pakistan are running high after armed forces launched precision strikes on nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) under Operation Sindoor on May 7.
•  The situation further escalated after both sides launched aerial attacks on each other, with India saying that it thwarted Pakistan''s attempted drone and missile attacks and neutralised an air defence system in Lahore.
• India has increased its aerial firepower manifold in recent years. Among the most prized weapons in the armoury is the S-400 air defence systems, known in Indian service as Sudarshan Chakra. 

What is the S-400 Sudarshan Chakra

• The S-400 is a long-range surface-to-air missile system developed by Russia’s Almaz Central Design Bureau. It is among the most advanced air defence systems in the world, capable of detecting, tracking, and engaging a variety of aerial threats including drones, stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.
• Each S-400 squadron consists of two batteries, each equipped with six launchers, a command-and-control system, surveillance radar, and engagement radar. Each battery can support up to 128 missiles.
• India signed a ₹35,000 crore (approximately $5.4 billion) deal with Russia in 2018 to procure five squadrons of the S-400 system. Three squadrons are currently operational, with the remaining two expected by 2026.

 What is the S-400 system capable of?

• The S-400 can engage aerial threats at ranges up to 400 km and altitudes up to 30 km. It uses four types of missiles to cover different threat distances:
• - Short-range: up to 40 km 
• - Medium-range: up to 120 km 
• - Long-range: up to 250 km 
• - Very long-range: up to 400 km
• The system can track up to 160 targets and engage 72 simultaneously. It is equipped with phased array radars and electronic warfare countermeasures, allowing it to operate effectively in contested environments
• In earlier IAF exercises, the S-400 system demonstrated high effectiveness, reportedly neutralising 80 per cent of a simulated enemy aircraft package. 

HOW DOES S400 WORK:

• S-400 detects an aerial threat approaching the air defence bubble (the area it has to protect), calculates the trajectory of the threat, and fires missiles to counter it.
• It has long-range surveillance radars that send information to the command vehicle. On identifying the target, the command vehicle orders a missile launch.
• Think of the Iron Dome, recently used by Israel to protect against incoming rockets from Gaza in May. Only S-400 has the capacity to protect a much larger area from threats that are much further away.

WHAT IS THE USE OF INDIA:

• To protect against attacks by missiles, or fighter jets from China or Pakistan. A report in February by the think tank Observer Research Foundation mentioned that from the perspective of the Indian Air Force, “there is no alternative system capable of serving its long-range air defence requirements, from the standpoint of either capability or cost”.
• The S-400, it said, can “constrain the adversary’s air operations even within their own airspace” a capability “unmatched by typical Western systems offered up as analogues”.

HOW MANY DOES INDIA HAVE:

• India has ordered five squadrons -- of which three have been delivered.
• The contract for delivery of the S-400 long-range air defence missile system from Russia was signed in October 2018 at a cost of around Rs 35,000 crore for five missile systems.
• The first unit of the missile system was fully delivered by December 2021 and operationalised, added another source.

WHAT’S IN THE S400 SQUADRON:

• Each S-400 squadron includes 16 vehicles, comprising launchers, radar, control centres, and support vehicles. It can track aerial threats up to 600 km away.
• The S-400 uses four missile types, capable of engaging targets at ranges of up to 400 km. It can intercept fighter jets, ballistic missiles, and drones, making it a vital part of India''s defence arsenal. These systems are critical for protecting India''s strategic assets.

WHERE ARE S400 SQUADRONS DEPLOYED:

• A One of the deployed squadrons has been strategically positioned to protect the Siliguri Corridor, a vital passage connecting India’s northeastern states with the rest of the country.
• Another squadron has been stationed in the Pathankot region to strengthen the defence of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, providing security against potential aerial threats from both China and Pakistan.
• The third squadron has been deployed along India’s western border, ensuring protection for key locations in Rajasthan and Gujarat from enemy attacks

Which other countries have the S-400 system?

• Russia, as the manufacturer, remains the primary operator of the S-400 system. China was the first foreign buyer, signing a deal in 2014 and receiving deliveries by 2018.
• Turkiye purchased the system in 2017, prompting friction with its Nato allies due to interoperability issues.
• Algeria has reportedly acquired and deployed the S-400, though details remain sparse
• Belarus also received units from Russia, with some managed directly by Russian personnel
• The S-400 system was also deployed in Syria, but it was not operated by the country''s military. Russia deployed the S-400 to its Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia in late 2015, following the downing of a Russian Su-24 bomber by Turkish forces

 India’s rising e-waste, the need to recast its management

• India’s journey toward Viksit Bharat is being powered by a rapid digital transformation, with an increasing reliance on electronic devices. From smartphones and laptops to advanced industrial and medical equipment, technology has become the backbone of economic growth, connectivity and innovation.
• However, this growing dependence on electronic devices has a by-product — electronic waste (e-waste) — which must be managed effectively to ensure sustainable progress. Ranking among the world’s top e-waste generators (China, the United States, Japan, and Germany) India confronts a formidable challenge of managing e-waste.
• India’s e-waste volumes soared by 151.03% in six years, from 7,08,445 metric tonnes in 2017-18 to 17,78,400 metric tonnes in 2023-24, with an annual increase of 1,69,283 metric tonnes.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mandates producers, importers and brand owners to manage waste from their products’ end-of-life. It holds them accountable for environmental impacts throughout the product lifecycle, promotes sustainable design, integrates environmental costs into pricing, and supports efficient waste management, reducing the burden on municipalities.

Impact of improper e-waste management

• The consequences of improper e-waste management extend beyond environmental degradation. India loses more than $10 billion annually due to water pollution from the disposal of cyanide and sulphuric acid solutions, air pollution caused by lead fumes, open coal burning, and plastic incineration, and soil pollution.
•  Beyond the environmental impact, improper e-waste recycling causes a social loss of over $20 billion annually, as most of the hazardous processing is conducted by informal, illegal recyclers (women and children comprise the majority workforce).
• Tragically, their average lifespan is less than 27 years due to prolonged exposure to toxic substances. Additionally, India forfeits over ₹80,000 crore annually in lost critical metal value due to rudimentary extraction methods in informal recycling. In addition, at least $20 billion in annual tax revenue is lost as informal recycling is largely cash-based and unaccounted for.

Importance of stable pricing

• The E-waste (Management) Rules, 2022 introduced a floor price for EPR certificates, a game-changer for India’s e-waste management. This provision ensures fair returns for registered recyclers, curbing informal, hazardous recycling (practices that dominate 95% of the sector).
• Without a strong floor price, India may miss the chance to lead in sustainable waste management. Stable pricing incentivises formal recyclers to adopt safe, advanced technologies, unlocking e-waste’s valuable materials such as gold and copper.
• It prevents chaos seen in sectors such as plastic waste and drives investment in infrastructure, turning e-waste into a resource and supporting a circular economy.
• This economic pivot carries profound environmental benefits.
• Fair compensation motivates recyclers to prioritise material recovery over disposal, shrinking landfill burdens and halting the seepage of toxins such as lead and mercury into soil and waterways. It recasts e-waste as an asset rather than as a liability, redefining India’s waste narrative toward sustainability.
• Globally, EPR fees paid by original equipment manufacturers are significantly higher than the floor EPR prices fixed by the Government of India, in alignment with global best practices.
•  The minor impact of floor EPR prices on product costs is outweighed by the significant environmental and social benefits of formal recycling and sustainable practices.
• An effective floor price levels the playing field by offsetting the informal sector’s cost advantage. It makes formal recycling viable, reduces waste leakage, and ensures more responsible processing.
• This not only corrects market imbalances but also drives compliance, helping producers meet EPR targets through certified recyclers. When recyclers are adequately paid, they can expand operations, deliver verifiable outcomes, and reduce producers’ incentives to bypass obligations.
• In a country where only 10% of e-waste reaches formal recycling, this stability is a game-changer. Without it, certificate prices could collapse, starving recyclers of funds and exposing producers to unpredictable costs, destabilising EPR markets. A predictable pricing framework fosters trust, ensuring the system doesn’t erode into a free-for-all.
• Critics argue that a floor price hikes producer costs, potentially raising consumer prices. This concern, while valid, misses the broader calculus. The cost of inaction — environmental ruin, health crises and lost resources — dwarfs the modest burden of fair pricing. Producers can offset expenses by innovating durable, recyclable designs, which is a core EPR goal.
• The plastic industry’s misstep with low prices, which spawned sham recyclers and eroded trust, underscores the peril of under-pricing. Far from stifling progress, a floor price could surge innovation, rewarding efficiency and technological breakthroughs. India’s e-waste crisis demands audacious solutions, aligning with economic and ecological imperatives.

Need for a recycling vision

• The stakes of EPR floor pricing transcend financial concerns. Inadequate pricing imperils more than profits. It endangers rivers with pollution, soils and agriculture produce with harmful ingredients, damages communities with toxic exposure, and squanders valuable potential.
• By valuing recycling efforts, India can formalise its e-waste sector, spur advanced infrastructure, and champion resource efficiency, ensuring responsible practices.
• As India vies for sustainability leadership, this floor price is the bedrock of its recycling vision — a bold move to transform e-waste into opportunity, setting a global standard.
• The numbers demand action: a 73% e-waste surge in five years is a clarion call. With an adequate floor price, economic vitality and environmental care can coexist, securing the future with sustainability

India has implemented a ban on several medically important antimicrobials in the aquaculture sector

• India has implemented a ban on several medically important antimicrobials in the aquaculture sector, as announced by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This decision, made in consultation with the Export Inspection Council, amends a previous order from 1995 and aims to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—a growing public health concern linked to the overuse of antibiotics in food-animal production

Impact on Indian Aquaculture

• India ranks as the third-largest fish producer globally, contributing 9% of world fish production.
• In FY 2023-24, seafood exports reached 1.78 million tonnes, valued at $7.38 billion, with frozen shrimp being a primary export.
• Ensuring compliance with global food safety standards will help India maintain international trade partnerships.

Regulatory Framework & Future Actions

• The Coastal Aquaculture Authority and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have also imposed antibiotic restrictions for domestic consumption.
• Previous measures include a 2019 ban on colistin, a last-resort antibiotic.
• Ongoing regulatory efforts will be crucial in balancing aquaculture expansion with public health safety.

Key Points of the Ban

• Prohibited Usage: The amendment bans antimicrobials for growth promotion or yield enhancement in aquaculture.
• List of Restricted Substances: A detailed list of 12 antibiotic classes and six specific antibiotics—all classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as medically important for human health—has been introduced.
• Historical Context: This builds on previous regulations, including a 2002 ban on 20 pharmacologically active substances, five of which were antibiotics.

Regulatory Framework & Public Health Measures

• Export-Focused Policies: Existing regulations primarily target export-centric fisheries to prevent trade rejections.
• Domestic Consumption: The Coastal Aquaculture Authority and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have also imposed bans on various antibiotics for domestic consumption.
• Previous Measures: In 2019, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare prohibited colistin, a last-resort antibiotic, in food-producing animals