Strategic alliances with our global Bharatiyas : A boost to Act East Policy.

• The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention be held in Bhubaneswar from January 8-10 perhaps gives us an opportune moment to look at the Indian diaspora and evaluate its true potential in giving shape to the Prime Minister’s dream of a Viksit Bharat.
• Estimated to be the world’s largest, the Indian diaspora with 35.42 million people residing outside India as of November 2024 includes 15.85 million NRIs and 19.57 million PIOs. It has a significant impact on India’s economy, contributing around 3.5% of the country’s GDP through remittances.
• In 2023, India retained the top spot with remittances of $120 billion, nearly two times ahead of Mexico ($66 billion) and China ($50 billion). Remittances are critical for any country since they help cushion the adverse impact of any fall in foreign direct investment and higher trade deficit.
• For India too, the steady flow of remittances has been hugely beneficial and it is estimated to top $124 billion in 2024 and touch $129 billion in 2025.
• Apart from the sheer numbers, what also works in India’s favour is the diverse composition of these remittance inflows which is predicted to provide steadiness in case of economic downturns. The United States, United Kingdom, and Singapore, which collectively account for 36% of total remittance flows to India, are the primary destinations for highly skilled Indian migrants in the IT and services industries. The UAE accounted for 18% of India’s remittance flows while Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, collectively accounted for 11% of India’s total remittances.
• The diversification of India’s migrant pool, between a large chunk of highly skilled migrants working in high-income OECD markets and less skilled migrants in the GCC markets, could impart stability to remittance inflows in the event of external shocks.

Leveraging Connections

• Based on the theme “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat”, the PBD convention is expected to witness 7,500 participants, including NRIs from more than 50 countries. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards will be conferred by the President of India.
• However, even as the optics is focused on celebrating successful Indians abroad, it is perhaps time we move a step ahead and turn our attention towards the real ‘equity’ that they can bring in.
• While it is important to drum up noise on the inflow of funds, we would do well to look beyond finance. The first step would be to identify the qualities and traits that we need to harness and imbibe from these successful people.
• Once we engage with them to enlist the skills that set them apart and contribute to their success, we can request them for guidance and mentorship in developing a training programme and  impart the required expertise to aspiring youth and talented entrepreneurs.
• Transferring new knowledge and skill, leadership training, sharing of experiences, creating new businesses, and spurring entrepreneurship would be some of the notable benefits from these exchanges.
• Such conventions also offer networking opportunities to the Indian community across the world to share their experiences in various fields. We need to ensure how India gains from these interactions, leverage their goodwill and professional network to work out deals in India’s favour.
• Diaspora can help act as valuable bridges between their adopted countries and their homelands, facilitating  strategic connections.

Act East

• Finally, the PBD convention aligns with India’s ‘Act East Policy,’ aimed at fostering economic and cultural ties with Southeast Asia. In many ways, Bhubaneswar provides the perfect backdrop for the grand event.
• Rich in natural resources, Odisha’s strategic coastal location and its growing prominence as a metal & mining hotspot, tourism hub, its port-based infrastructure has generated a lot of enthusiasm.
• With its natural deep-water ports, including Paradip, Dhamra, and Gopalpur, Odisha is poised to emerge as a major maritime hub, driving economic growth, generating employment, and boosting trade.
• By leveraging its port infrastructure, Odisha can unlock its vast potential in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and tourism, propelling the state towards a prosperous and sustainable future.

India’s Space Capabilities Advances with the SwetchaSAT-V0 Launch Aboard ISRO’s POEM

•  India’s space sector has taken a significant leap forward with the successful launch of N Space Tech’s maiden payload, SwetchaSAT-V0, aboard the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-4). This marks a pivotal moment in India’s growing self-reliance in space technology, especially in satellite communication systems.
• The launch took place as part of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) SPADEX mission.  The company’s SwetchaSAT-V0 payload is an advanced ultra-high-frequency (UHF) communication system designed to enhance the speed and reliability of satellite communications. The payload was deployed on ISRO’s POEM-4 platform, a repurposed fourth stage of the PSLV rocket, which provides a stable orbital environment for experimental payloads from the SHAR Centre at Sriharikota.
• The SwetchaSAT-V0 mission is not just a technical success but also a milestone in India’s journey towards technological self-reliance in space.
• The communication, power, computing, and sensor modules of the payload were developed entirely in-house by N Space Tech, reflecting the company’s strong commitment to India’s Make in India initiative.
• “SwetchaSAT, an ultra-high-frequency communication technology demonstrated by N Space Tech, on the POEM-4 platform of PSLV C60, paves the way for faster and more reliable communication for many satellite applications.
• It is also noted that the entire hardware was designed and manufactured by this young startup as part of the Make in India initiative.
• Such efforts by entrepreneurs would help India become a competitive satellite manufacturing base for the global economy.”
• This achievement underscores the growing capabilities of Indian startups in the space sector, making them key players in an area historically dominated by large governmental agencies and foreign entities.
• The launch of SwetchaSAT-V0 also reinforces India’s ambitions to become a leader in satellite manufacturing and space exploration.

The Role of Startups in Shaping India’s Space Future

• Founded in 2020, N Space Tech is one of the leading examples of Indian startups are reshaping the space landscape.
• The success of SwetchaSAT-V0 marks a critical step forward in our mission to develop and deploy advanced communication technologies. This payload symbolizes months of relentless effort, innovation, and teamwork. Building on this achievement, we are now setting our sights on future missions to demonstrate our capabilities up to the Ku-band.”

Moving Beyond UHF: The Road Ahead

• With SwetchaSAT-V0 successfully transmitting data from orbit, N Space Tech has demonstrated its ability to develop and deploy sophisticated satellite communication systems. This success lays the foundation for future advancements, including plans to demonstrate even more complex technologies, such as communication in the Ku-band.
• N Space Tech’s achievement in advancing UHF communication technology with precision and reliability represents a leap forward in satellite communications.
• As India’s private space sector continues to grow, the role of startups will be critical in establishing India as a global leader in space technology.
• Their ability to innovate, push boundaries, and develop homegrown solutions will contribute to the nation’s increasing influence in the international space community.

New ‘BAANKNET’ Portal Launch: DFS Secy launches ''Baanknet'' portal as a one-stop property e-auction hub

•  Department of Financial Services (DFS) secretary launched a revamped e-auction portal ‘Baanknet’ in Delhi.
• It significantly aids the recovery process of public sector banks (PSBs), thereby improving the balance sheet of banks and enhancing credit availability to businesses and individuals.
• According to a finance ministry statement, this platform consolidates information on e-auction properties from all PSBs and offers a one-stop destination for buyers and investors to discover a wide range of assets.
• “This platform is expected to enhance the overall economic environment by unlocking the value of distressed assets and boosting investor confidence. With the use of technology, this process will be more transparent, efficient, and accessible,” .
• The listings include residential properties such as flats, independent houses, open plots, commercial properties, industrial land and buildings, shops, vehicles, plant and machinery, agricultural and non-agricultural land.
• It is a newly launched e-auction portal that consolidates information about properties put up for auction by public sector banks (PSBs).
• It operates as a one-stop destination for buyers and investors, showing a wide range of properties such as residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural assets.

What types of properties are listed on Baanknet?

• The portal lists various properties, including:
• Residential properties like flats, independent houses, and open plots.
• Commercial properties, industrial land, shops, and buildings.
• Agricultural and non-agricultural land.
• Vehicles, plant and machinery.

What are the features of Baanknet?

• Baanknet includes several advanced features:
• Simplified Processes: It covers pre-auction, auction, and post-auction stages within a single application.
• Integrated Payment Gateway: Users can make payments easily with an automated system.
• it includes an automated and integrated payment gateway alongside KYC tools, all built on a microservices-based architecture that allows for third-party integration through open application programming interface (API).
• Users can benefit from a dashboard feature for easy access to ‘Spend Analytics’ and various ‘MIS Reports’ at the click of a button.
• Additionally, a dedicated helpdesk and call centre facility with a call back request option ensures customer support.
• The DFS has already provided training on the features of ‘Baanknet’ portal to executives of all PSBs and to all recovery officers in debt recovery tribunals (DRTs). This will ensure effective and efficient utilisation of the portal
• KYC Tools: Integrated tools ensure quick and secure identity verification.
• Open APIs: The platform uses a microservices-based architecture to enable third-party integrations.
• The platform supports PSBs by assisting in the recovery of distressed assets, improving their balance sheets, and enhancing credit availability to businesses and individuals.

Isro grows crops in space, cowpea seeds sprout in just four days

• In a landmark achievement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully germinated cowpea seeds in microgravity during the PSLV-C60 POEM-4 mission.
• The experiment, carried out using the Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS), represents a significant advancement in understanding plant growth in space environments.
• The CROPS payload, developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is an automated system designed to study seed germination and plant sustenance under microgravity.
• For this experiment, eight cowpea seeds were placed in a controlled closed-box environment with precise thermal regulation, setting a critical foundation for extraterrestrial agricultural research.
• The module incorporates cutting-edge monitoring technologies to track and analyse plant growth in real-time. These include high-resolution camera imaging, oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration tracking, relative humidity measurement, temperature monitoring, and soil moisture assessment.
• The experiment, conducted as part of the PSLV Orbital Experiment Module (POEM-4), underscores ISRO’s growing emphasis on scientific innovation. The POEM-4 mission itself features 24 advanced payloads developed by ISRO and academic institutions, highlighting a collaborative effort to expand India’s capabilities in space research.
• The germination of cowpea seeds in just four days, with leaves expected to sprout shortly, marks a pivotal moment in space exploration. The CROPS project is envisioned as a multi-phase platform aimed at developing sustainable agricultural practices for extraterrestrial environments.
• This breakthrough holds promising implications for future space missions, particularly those focused on long-duration travel and establishing human presence on other planets.
• By demonstrating the viability of growing plants in extreme conditions, ISRO is paving the way for advancements in space agriculture, a crucial component of self-sustaining space habitats.

Cowpea :

• Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an annual pea family (Fabaceae) plant.
• It is a long-stalked legume crop producing black, white, or red-colored seeds that is widely used in various food preparations.
• It originated and domesticated in southern Africa and was later translocated to eastern and western Africa and Asia.It is also known as black-eyed pea, southern pea, etc.
• Cowpeas are typically climbing or trailing vines that bear compound leaves with three leaflets.
• Cereals contain 25% protein and several vitamins and minerals.
• The plant tolerates drought, thrives in various soils, and, like a legume, supplements low-fertile soils when the roots are allowed to rot.
• A well-drained loamy or slightly heavy soil is best.
• In cooler climates, somewhat sandy soils are preferred because crops ripen earlier.
• It is mainly grown by small farmers in developing areas, where it is often grown with other crops because it tolerates shade.
• It also grows quickly and covers the ground, preventing erosion.
• The largest world production and consumption of cowpea is in West Africa, accounting for more than 87% of world production and use.
• Nigeria, the largest producer and consumer, accounts for 46% of global production.
• In the Indian context, it is a minor pulse grown mainly in the arid and semi-arid regions of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and West UP, along with significant areas in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

Rare Banded Royal butterfly spotted in Tripura for first time

• Tripura has made a significant contribution to biodiversity documentation with the first-ever recorded sighting of the Banded Royal butterfly (Rachana jalindra indra), a rare species, within the state.
• The discovery occurred in Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary in Sepahijala district 
• Protected under Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, this finding adds Tripura to the known distribution range of R. j. indra, previously recorded in Odisha, West Bengal, Bangladesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand.

Banded royal butterfly

Microsoft partners with govt’s India AI Mission to skill 5 lakh people by 2026

• The Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced a series of AI initiatives in India, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government’s ‘India AI Mission’ to skill 500,000 people by 2026.
• The partnership with India AI, a division of Digital India Corporation, aims to harness AI to drive innovation, boost productivity, and promote inclusive growth nationwide.
• As part of the MoU, Microsoft and India AI will collaborate to upskill students, educators, developers, government officials, and women entrepreneurs. They will also establish an AI Center of Excellence, called ‘AI Catalysts,’ to foster rural AI innovation and support 100,000 AI innovators and developers through hackathons, community-building solutions, and an AI marketplace.
• Additionally, the MoU includes plans to set up ‘AI Productivity Labs’ at 20 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and NIELIT centers across 10 states. These labs will offer foundational AI courses to 20,000 educators.
• The partnership will further focus on developing AI-powered solutions for citizen-centric domains such as healthcare, education, accessibility, and agriculture.
• “We are excited to work closely with the government to extend the benefits of the India AI mission to every corner of the country and democratize access to technology and resources,” said Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India and South Asia.
• In a separate initiative, RailTel and Microsoft signed a five-year strategic partnership to accelerate digital, cloud, and AI transformation in Indian Railways and the public sector.
• A recent IDC study commissioned by Microsoft revealed that AI adoption in India increased from 63% in 2023 to 72% in 2024.
• On Tuesday, Microsoft announced its plan to invest $3 billion in cloud and AI infrastructure in India over the next two years, including the establishment of new data centers. The company also committed to training 10 million people in AI skills by 2030, having already empowered 2.4 million Indians, including civil servants, college students, and people with disabilities.

Gene associated with Autism disorder Identified.

• A team of researchers, led by Indian-origin neuroscientist and researcher Viji Santhakumar, has identified a gene that contributes to the behavioural changes associated with autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy.
• The gene, called neuropilin2, encodes a receptor involved in cell-cell interactions in the brain and plays a crucial role in regulating the development of neural circuits.
• The study, provides a pathway for future treatments aimed at alleviating the challenging symptoms of these frequently co-occurring conditions.
• Previous research has linked mutations in neuropilin2 to neurological disorders like autism and epilepsy, but the mechanisms underlying these conditions have remained unclear.
• Santhakumar and team at the University of California–Riverside created a mouse model to examine the effects of deleting the neuropilin2 gene.
•  Their findings revealed that the absence of neuropilin2 disrupts the migration of inhibitory neurons, disturbing the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signals in the brain.
• “This imbalance leads to autism-like behaviours and an increased risk of seizures
• “The results highlight the influence of a single gene on both excitatory and inhibitory systems in the brain. We show that disrupting inhibitory circuit development is sufficient to cause autism-related behaviours and epilepsy to co-occur,”.
• By selectively deleting neuropilin2 during a critical developmental window, researchers observed impairments in inhibitory regulation of neural circuits, leading to deficits in behavioural flexibility, social interactions, and heightened seizure susceptibility.
• The findings suggest that targeting specific phases of neuronal development could open new avenues for therapeutic interventions, potentially preventing the onset of these disorders if detected early.
• “By isolating the role of inhibitory circuit formation, we may develop therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for individuals with autism, particularly those who experience seizures”.

Rush to the space: Exploration of other celestial bodies for natural resources is on

• A new era of exploration, not on the Earth but in space, with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Artemis programme that will send human explorers to the Moon and Mars soon.
• NASA aims to land at the Moon’s south pole by mid-2027 while sending humans on a scientific mission to Mars as early as 2035, aiming to decode the potential for human life on the red planet.
• The mission aims to land the first woman and first person of colour on the Moon, explore the lunar surface, and lay the groundwork for sending astronauts to Mars.
• It is almost 50 years since astronauts last walked on the lunar surface, after which robotic exploration of deep space has seen decades of technological advancement and scientific discoveries.
• With NASA implementing the Artemis programme to achieve the goal of human landing, there is more to these explorations that will pave the way for a new and sustainable lunar economy.
• The research, over the years, also shows that such landing and mining opportunities on the Moon will harvest lunar resources and could lead to safer, efficient operations with less dependence on supplies delivered from Earth.
• The public-private partnerships are expected to support and expand NASA’s Moon to Mars mission.
• As per ‘NASA’s Lunar Exploration Program Overview plan documented in September 2020 report, there are several current In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) investments through partnerships with industry and academia, especially with mining initiatives that will advance capabilities to find chemical and thermal process developments and provide options to break down naturally occurring minerals and compounds found on the Moon and convert them to human consumables or even propellant.
• Not only the Moon, but the Mars atmosphere is rich in carbon dioxide, so NASA is investing in initiatives to focus on atmospheric extraction and conversion of CO2 to other useful elements or compounds.
• Some other repercussions include extraction and mining that could pollute space with lunar dust. So managing this dust is crucial in ensuring sustainable and minimally disruptive mining practices.
• Laws governing space are quite contradicting. On one hand, the Outer Space Treaty (1967) states no nation can claim to ‘own’ the Moon (or any celestial body).
• The 2020 Artemis Accords, however, allow for mining while reaffirming the Outer Space Treaty’s rejection of any claims of ownership over the Moon itself.
• Co-led for the United States by the Department of State and NASA, the Artemis Accords were initiated on October 13, 2020 with Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• In fact, even Russia, which launched its first moon-landing spacecraft in 47 years last year to discover more about the elements held on the earth’s only natural satellite, is exploring the potential of moon mining.  Because the moon has water potential, hydroxyl molecules spread across the lunar surface and concentrated at the poles, as detected by NASA.
• Water is another source of hydrogen and oxygen and used as rocket fuel. Helium-3 is an isotope of helium, found on the moon and can be a good source of nuclear energy.
• Countries like China have proven their capabilities in space and plan to explore the moon, Mars, and the deep space market, just as the United States and Russia.
• There are researches led to implement a lunar architecture in which multiple providers (of crew systems, propulsion, logistics, science platforms, technology demonstrators, etc) can provide complementary capabilities that increase the overall success and resiliency of the lunar architecture.
• However, mining is not an easy affair on the moon. ISRU involves the extraction of oxygen, water and pulling out metals on the moon, which will also lead to commercial activities and manual intervention of companies on the surface of the Moon.

Coal India Looks to Argentina for Lithium Brine Assets

• Coal India Ltd (CIL) has set its sights on Argentina as a destination in its strategic diversification into critical minerals, with a focus on lithium brine assets, an official said on Sunday.
• Recognising the economic significance and strategic value of minerals like lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and others, the Maharatna company has initiated steps to explore opportunities in key resource-rich nations such as Argentina, Australia and Chile.
• "The state-owned mining behemoth has invited expressions of interest (EoI) from experienced consultants to conduct technical due diligence on lithium brine assets in Argentina,
• Lithium brine is a concentrated salt solution that contains dissolved lithium and other minerals. Lithium is in great demand for its use in lithium-ion batteries, driven by the surging demand for electric vehicles.
• CIL''s foray into critical minerals is driven by the need to reduce its reliance on coal and align with global trends prioritising these minerals for clean energy technologies.
• "Critical minerals are essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced manufacturing, making them indispensable for India''s future industrial strategy,".
• The Centre, last year, listed 30 minerals, including lithium, nickel, titanium, vanadium and tungsten, as critical to drive the adoption of clean energy.
• By venturing into the critical minerals business, CIL aims to secure a sustainable supply chain for these resources, supporting India''s transition to a greener economy while reinforcing its global presence.
• Argentina, with its rich lithium deposits, is poised to play a pivotal role in CIL''s critical minerals strategy, marking a significant milestone in the company''s diversification journey.
• Last week, Coal India Limited (CIL) and IREL (India) Limited signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development of critical minerals.
• "This partnership aims to foster the development of critical minerals such as mineral sands and rare earth elements (REE). The two companies will join forces to acquire assets, source raw materials from domestic and international markets, and establish mining, extraction, and refining capabilitie

India’s Gas Pipeline Network Set to Increase by 10,805 km

• India’s natural gas pipeline network is expected to increase by 10,805 km, adding to the current operational network of 24,945 km, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced on January 7.
• This expansion is a significant step toward completing the national gas grid, ensuring uniform availability of natural gas across all regions in the country. However, expanding this network faces significant challenges.

Infrastructure Challenges in Gas Pipeline Development

• The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Body (PNGRB) is working with state governments to streamline the laying of gas pipelines and reduce associated costs .
• The report highlighted that building gas infrastructure should not be viewed as a revenue-generating opportunity for state governments but rather as a means of creating essential facilities for the public.
• The costs of laying pipelines vary significantly across states, ranging from Rs 60,000 per metre in some regions to as low as Rs 2,000 per metre in others.
• Emphasising the need for standardising costs such as road cutting and pipeline-laying charges, Gajendra Singh, a member of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) told Moneycontrol that the board’s goal is to minimise charges, as the pipeline infrastructure serves a public purpose.
• City gas distribution (CGD) companies often face difficulties in laying pipelines due to delays in obtaining the necessary permissions and the higher costs of installation in areas with lower consumer density.

Rising Gas Procurement Costs for CGD Companies

• In addition to the infrastructure challenges, CGD companies are facing increased procurement costs. The gas procurement cost for CGD companies is expected to rise by Rs 2 - 3 per kilogram following a reduction in the allocation of input natural gas under the administered price mechanism (APM), reported Business Standard.
• CGD operators typically receive priority gas allocation at reduced prices under APM from legacy gas fields, particularly for domestic compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG). However, GAIL (India) Ltd., the nodal agency for domestic gas allocation, recently reduced the APM gas allocation for the CNG segment by 20 per cent of its requirements, effective from October 16, 2024.
• With the rising procurement costs and infrastructure challenges, CGD companies may struggle to maintain affordable pricing for consumers and efficiently expand their services.