Multi-Domain Deterrence for India

For Prelims: Multi-Domain Deterrence, Drone swarms, Quantum encryption, C4ISR, Theaterisation-of-Armed-Forces 

For Mains: Multi-Domain Operations and modern warfare, Integrated Theatre Commands and defence reforms, Use of AI in promoting national security, Threats posed by weaponisation of AI to India's national security

Source: TH 

Why in News?  

Strategic assessments highlight a widening military gap between India and China, driven by the rapid modernisation of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This has raised concerns over India’s deterrence capabilities, prompting a shift towards a Multi-Domain Deterrence (MDD) strategy to address emerging security challenges.

Summary 

• India faces a widening military gap with China due to rapid PLA modernisation, making stronger and integrated deterrence essential. 
• Multi-Domain Deterrence focuses on combining capabilities across all domains and strengthening the defence-industrial base to build a credible, system-wide military response.  

What is Multi-Domain Deterrence (MDD)? 

• About: Multi-Domain Deterrence is a comprehensive strategic framework where a nation integrates its military and non-military capabilities across multiple domains, Land, Air, Sea, Cyber, Space, and Cognitive (Information) to deter adversaries. 
• From Silos to Synergy: It moves beyond isolated, service-specific warfare (Army, Navy, Air Force fighting separately) to a networked "system-of-systems" architecture where sensors, shooters, and decision-makers are digitally interconnected. 
• Deterrence by Denial: It aims to convince an adversary that aggression will fail operationally (e.g., through air and cyber denial) and will incur unacceptable costs simultaneously across various fronts. 
• ARADO Framework: MDD aligns with India's strategy  of actively evolving toward All Realm All Domain Operations (ARADO), focusing on "Intelligent Warfare" and non-nuclear strategic deterrence to win at every level of the escalation ladder. 
• Need for Multi-Domain Deterrence in India: 
  • China Challenge: China's "intelligentized" warfare uses a dense network of satellites, AI, and a massive inventory of precision missiles. India faces a widening capability gap against the People's Liberation Army (PLA). 
  • Two-Front Threat: The persistent threat from both China and Pakistan, including potential collusion, complicates defense planning and requires cross-domain force multiplication. 
  • Rise of Grey-Zone Warfare: Modern conflicts increasingly involve cyberattacks, disinformation, and economic coercion below the threshold of conventional war. MDD enables India to detect and respond to these non-kinetic threats. 
  • Vulnerable Sea Lines: Over 90% of India's trade passes through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).  
    • MDD provides layered maritime security through the integration of naval, air, cyber, and space assets. 

What Strategic Choices Does India Have for MDD? 

• Bold Approach (Technological Leapfrogging): Betting entirely on disruptive new war-fighting technologies (AI, autonomous drone swarms, quantum encryption). 
  • However, India's lack of industrial scale means implementation failure could create severe capability gaps. 
• Conservative Approach (Incremental Integration): Combining emerging technologies (cyber, space, electronic warfare) with existing legacy systems. 
  • Though it Improves efficiency and is suited for short conflicts (like with Pakistan) but fails to shift the long-term balance of power with China. 
• Middle-Path Approach: Continue relying on legacy platforms while simultaneously investing in critical enabling layers   (Command & Control (C2), Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR), deep-strike, close-battle, logistics, and infrastructure). 
  • Over time, this shapes India's military into a syncretic, multi-domain force. 
  • This is considered the most pragmatic and achievable option given current constraints. 

What are the Systemic Challenges in India’s Deterrence Posture? 

• Weak Defence-Industrial Base: India's defence-industrial base is not structured to deliver at speed and scale required to match China's military output. 
  • The ability to translate military requirements into industrial targets remains doubtful. Overdependence on the public sector has limited efficiency, innovation, and competition. 
• Flawed Procurement System: The procurement system constrains rather than evolves the fighting force. Lengthy cycles, red tape, and lack of budgetary stability delay induction of critical platforms. 
  • Focus remains on service-specific acquisitions rather than fixing enabling layers of deterrence.  
  • Spending is high but not smart, lacking clear prioritisation of key deterrent capabilities. 
• Underdeveloped C4ISR Architecture: India's C4ISR remains fledgling and fragmented across services. 
  • Gaps in cyber, space, and electronic warfare further weaken India's ability to deceive and degrade adversary systems. 
• Doctrinal Ambiguity and Inter-Service Gaps: Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) as a concept remains difficult to define and harder to operationalise in India's context. 
  • Theaterisation-of-Armed-Forces alone cannot create enabling layers without deep inter-service doctrinal alignment. Technology is evolving faster than doctrine, making precise strategic choices increasingly difficult. 
• Political and Institutional Gaps: No broad national consensus exists on deterrence goals and the industrial strategy needed to achieve them. 
  • The window for industrial and doctrinal reform is shrinking, yet urgency remains underappreciated.

Way Forward

• Shift to System-Wide Capability: Move beyond service-specific platform acquisitions (just buying jets or tanks) to building integrated, system-wide capabilities. 
• Empower the Private Sector: Abandon excessive reliance on Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). Leverage the dynamism of private industries and startups through initiatives like iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) and long-term specialized contracts. 
• Institutional Coordination: Ensure close alignment between research, private industry, armed forces, and political leadership through outcome-based planning and stable funding.  
  • For instance, initiatives like the Defence Research and Development Organisation–private sector collaboration in missile systems and drones  reflect efforts to synchronize technology development with military needs and strategic priorities. 
• Operationalize Theatre Commands: Accelerate the establishment of Integrated Theatre Commands to ensure doctrinal convergence and unified, rapid decision-making across all realms of warfare. 
• Fix the Critical Enabling Layers: 
  • C4ISR: Invest in affordable, attrition-tolerant ISR platforms in large numbers; develop layered C4ISR that enhances own capacity while degrading the adversary's. 
  • Strike Layer: Integrate missiles, aircraft, and drones for deep-strike operations to dislocate the enemy. 
  • Close-Battle Layer: Modernise land-based platforms — tanks, artillery, and infantry fighting vehicles. 
  • Logistics Layer: Build a robust rear-zone supply chain capable of sustaining a protracted conflict. 

Conclusion 

India’s deterrence against China will not come from a single breakthrough weapon. It will come from a coherent system of capabilities, built over time through strong industrial foundations, smart policy choices, and integrated military thinking. The window for reform is still open—but it is narrowing fast. 

Drishti Mains Question: 

"In the era of non-contact warfare, the credibility of India’s deterrence relies more on its defense-industrial base than on the mere acquisition of military platforms." Discuss.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is Multi-Domain Deterrence (MDD)? 
It is a strategy integrating capabilities across land, air, sea, cyber, space, and information domains to deter adversaries through coordinated action. 

2. What is C4ISR and why is it important? 
C4ISR stands for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance; it enables real-time battlefield awareness and decision-making. 

3. What is the key challenge in India’s defence-industrial base? 
Lack of speed, scale, and private sector participation limits efficient production of advanced military systems. 

4. Why is grey-zone warfare significant for India? 
It involves cyberattacks, disinformation, and economic coercion below war threshold, requiring multi-domain response capabilities. 

5. What is the role of Integrated Theatre Commands? 
They ensure jointness and unified operations across services, enabling faster and coordinated military responses. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Years Questions (PYQs)

Mains

Q. “Increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in India and growing interference in the internal affairs of several member-states by Pakistan are not conducive for the future of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).” Explain with suitable examples. (2016)

Q. The terms ‘Hot Pursuit’ and ‘Surgical Strikes’ are often used in connection with armed action against terrorist attacks. Discuss the strategic impact of such actions. (2016)

Revitalizing India’s Cotton Sector

For Prelims: Cotton, Paddy, Pink Bollworm, Bt Cotton, Minimum Support Price (MSP), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Indus Valley Civilization, Black Cotton Soil, Deccan Plateau, Kasturi Brand, PM MITRA Scheme, Blockchain.

For Mains: Key facts regarding cotton in India, associated concerns and way forward. 

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

The convergence of pest resistance, market volatility, and rising input costs has transformed cotton from a high-value Kharif staple into a loss-making venture for farmers in Haryana. It has pushed farmers into debt and forced a shift to water-intensive paddy with severe ecological consequences. 

Summary 

• India’s cotton sector faces a critical crisis due to rising input costs and the Pink Bollworm's resistance to Bt technology.  
• This economic unviability is driving farmers toward ecologically damaging, water-intensive paddy cultivation.  
• Revitalizing this "White Gold" requires urgent policy interventions, including next-generation seeds, high-density planting, and strengthening the "Kasturi Cotton" global brand. 

What Challenges are Associated with Cotton Farming in India? 

• Pest-Induced Yield Collapse: The Pink Bollworm has developed significant resistance to Bt Cotton (Genetically Modified) since 2014. Yields have plummeted from 10–12 quintals per acre to just 3–4 quintals, rendering the technology largely ineffective. 
• Economic Non-Viability: According to the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University (CCSHAU) 'Economics of Kharif Crops 2025' report, cotton farmers face an average net loss of Rs 15,143 per acre. Total cultivation costs (approx. Rs 40,024) now far exceed gross returns (approx. Rs 24,882). 
• Drastic Acreage Reduction: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare data shows a sharp decline in cultivation area from 0.72 million hectares (2019-20) to 0.40 million hectares (2024-25). This reflects a shift in Haryana’s national share from 5.36% to 3.47%. 
• Market & MSP Disparity: Farmers often sell to private players at rates significantly below the Minimum Support Price (MSP)—sometimes Rs 1,600 less per quintal—due to alleged "quality issues" and a lack of effective government procurement. 
• Paddy Shift & Ecological Risk: Despite the ‘Mera Pani-Meri Virasat’ scheme of the Haryana government (offering Rs 8,000/acre incentive to move away from rice), the cotton crisis is driving farmers back to water-intensive Paddy, threatening groundwater conservation in semi-arid districts like Sirsa and Hisar. 
• Terms of Trade (ToT) Imbalance: Farmers highlight a massive gap between input costs (Diesel, Seeds, Fertilizer) and output prices. For instance, the purchasing power of one quintal of grain against gold or fuel has declined drastically over the last two decades. 
• Socio-Economic Displacement: Cotton production is highly labour-intensive, playing a vital role for women and local Scheduled Caste (SC) workers engaged in picking. The shift to mechanized paddy harvesting favors migrant labor, leading to rural-to-urban migration and loss of seasonal livelihood for locals. 
• Insurance & Policy Gaps: Despite paying premiums under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), farmers report consistent delays or denials in receiving insurance claims for pest-led crop failures. 

What are the Key Facts Regarding Cotton in India? 

• About: Cotton, often referred to as "White Gold," is one of the most important commercial crops in India, playing a vital role in the agrarian and industrial economy. 
  • India has produced high-quality, world-famous textiles since the Indus Valley Civilization; however, under British rule, India was reduced to supplying raw materials for British textile industries." 
• Geographic and Climatic Requirements:  
  • Climate: Cotton is a tropical and sub-tropical crop. It requires a modest temperature of 21°C to 30°C. 
  • Rainfall: It needs 50 to 100 cm of rainfall. However, it can be grown in areas with less rainfall through irrigation (as seen in Haryana and Rajasthan). 
  • Frost-free Days: A critical requirement for cotton is at least 210 frost-free days during the growing period. 
  • Soil: It grows best in well-drained Black Cotton Soil (Regur Soil) of the Deccan Plateau, which is known for its high moisture-retention capacity. It also grows in alluvial soils (North India) and red/laterite soils (South India). 
• Production and Distribution: India is the world's 2nd largest producer of cotton after China, accounting for about 20% of global production. It also has the largest area under cotton cultivation globally (nearly 40% of global cotton cultivation area). 
  • Major Producing States: Cultivation is divided into three zones: 
    • North Zone: Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. 
    • Central Zone: Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. 
    • South Zone: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. 
• Varietal Diversity and Biotechnology:  India is the only country that grows all four cultivated species of cotton on commercial scale i.e., G. Arboreum & G. Herbaceum (Asian cotton), G. Barbadense (Egyptian cotton) and G. Hirsutum (American Upland cotton).  
  • G. Hirsutum represents 90% of the hybrid cotton production in India and all the current Bt cotton hybrids are G. Hirsutuim.  
  • Approximately 95% of India’s cotton area is under Bt Cotton (Genetically Modified). It was introduced in 2002 to combat the American Bollworm. 
• Economic Significance: It provides a livelihood to an estimated 6 million farmers and about 40-50 million people in related processing and trade. 
  • Cotton is a major export earner (India is the 2nd largest cotton exporter after China), with key markets in Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. 
  • It is the primary raw material for the textile industry, which contributes significantly to India’s GDP and industrial output.  

Government Initiatives to Support Cotton 

• MSP: The government fixes the MSP for two types of cotton, i.e., Medium Staple and Long Staple. 
• Cotton Corporation of India (CCI): The central nodal agency responsible for undertaking price support operations when prices fall below the MSP. 
• Branding: India launched its first-ever brand and logo, "Kasturi Cotton India," to provide a premium identity to Indian cotton in the international market. 
• Schemes: 
  • Mission for Cotton Productivity: Focused on increasing productivity. While India leads in area and total production, its yield per hectare (approx. 450–500 kg/ha) remains significantly lower than the global average (approx. 800 kg/ha). 
  • PM MITRA: Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel parks to strengthen the "Farm to Fashion" value chain. 
• Others: Cott-Ally Mobile App, Textile Advisory Group (TAG), Cotton Development Programme, National Technical Textiles Mission (2020) 

What Steps Can be Taken to Strengthen India's Cotton Industry? 

• Accelerating Seed Technology (Next-Gen Bt): There is an urgent need to approve Bollgard-II RRF (Roundup Ready Flex) and other advanced transgenic varieties to counter Pink Bollworm resistance that has rendered older Bt technologies ineffective. 
• Promoting High-Density Planting System (HDPS): Transitioning from traditional spacing to HDPS can significantly increase the yield per hectare. This method allows for more plants per acre and is highly compatible with mechanical harvesting, reducing labour costs. 
• Focus on Long-Staple Cotton: India currently imports high-quality extra-long staple (ELS) cotton from Egypt and the US. Providing incentives for ELS cultivation in the South Zone (Tamil Nadu/Karnataka) can reduce import dependency. 
• Strengthening the "Kasturi Cotton India" Brand: Enhancing the traceability and certification of Indian cotton under the "Kasturi" brand will help fetch a premium price in the global market, competing with Pima (United States, Peru, etc.) or Giza (Egypt) cotton. 
• Modernizing Ginning and Pressing: Much of India's cotton is contaminated during the ginning process. Incentivizing the upgrade of Ginning & Pressing (G&P) units with modern pre-cleaning machines is essential for maintaining fiber quality. 
  • The PM MITRA scheme should be fast-tracked to integrate the entire value chain—spinning, weaving, processing, and printing—at a single location to reduce logistic costs. 
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Beyond seeds, farmers must be trained in Pheromone Traps, light traps, and biological control agents (like Trichogramma) to manage the Pink Bollworm without excessive chemical use. 
• Digital Integration: Implementing Blockchain-based traceability and satellite-based crop area estimation can help in better price discovery and risk management for both farmers and textile mill owners. 

Conclusion 

The Indian cotton sector stands at a crossroads where technological fatigue meets economic instability. Revitalising "White Gold" requires a shift from subsistence-based farming to high-tech, high-density systems (HDPS). By bridging the yield gap and ensuring price parity, India can safeguard both its groundwater and its status as a global textile powerhouse. 

Drishti Mains Question: 

Despite being the world’s largest cotton producer, India faces a yield gap and quality issues. Suggest policy measures to enhance cotton productivity and global competitiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What are the specific climatic requirements for cotton cultivation? 
Cotton requires temperatures between 21°C–30°C, 50–100 cm of rainfall, and at least 210 frost-free days to prevent boll damage. 

2. What is the significance of the 'Kasturi Cotton India' initiative? 
It is India’s first national brand for premium cotton, aiming to ensure traceability, fiber quality, and global competitiveness against brands like Pima. 

3. What is the primary challenge affecting Bt Cotton in India? 
The Pink Bollworm has developed significant resistance to the genetically modified Bt Cotton since 2014, causing yields to plummet from 10–12 quintals per acre to just 3–4 quintals. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)  

Prelims 

Q1. The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of (2021)  

(a) brown forest soil  

(b) fissure volcanic rock  

(c) granite and schist  

(d) shale and limestone  

Ans: (b)

Q2. A state in India has the following characteristics: (2011)  

1. Its northern part is arid and semi-arid.  
2. Its central part produces cotton.  
3. Cultivation of cash crops is predominant over food crops.  

Which one of the following states has all of the above characteristics?  

(a) Andhra Pradesh  

(b) Gujarat  

(c) Karnataka  

(d) Tamil Nadu  

Ans: (b)

Mains 

Q. Analyse the factors for the highly decentralised cotton textile industry in India. (2013)

Artemis II Mission

Source: FE

Why in News?

NASA’s Artemis II mission was launched on 1st April, 2026, as a vital crewed test flight to re-establish human presence beyond low-Earth orbit for the first time in over 5 decades.

What is Artemis II Mission?

• About: NASA's Artemis II is the first crewed mission of the Artemis program and the first time humans will travel to the vicinity of the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. This 10-day lunar flyby mission will carry 4 astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft to validate deep-space life support systems.
• Crew Profile: The four-person crew includes several "firsts" for deep-space exploration:
  • Reid Wiseman (Commander): A NASA veteran and former Chief of the Astronaut Office.
  • Victor Glover (Pilot): First person of color to travel beyond low-Earth orbit.
  • Christina Koch (Mission Specialist): First woman to travel to the Moon's vicinity.
  • Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist): A Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut, he will be the first non-American to leave Earth's orbit.
• Trajectory: The crew will not land on the Moon. Instead, they will perform a "lunar flyby" using a free-return trajectory. They will fly approximately 7,400 km beyond the far side of the Moon before using lunar gravity to "slingshot" back toward Earth.
  • In orbital mechanics, a "slingshot"—more formally known as a Gravity Assist—is a maneuver where a spacecraft uses the gravity and orbital motion of a planet or moon to change its velocity and path. It allows the Orion spacecraft to return to Earth without using its main engines to "turn around."
• Launch Architecture: The mission utilizes the Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket ever built, generating 8.8 million pounds of thrust—approximately 15% more than the Apollo-era Saturn V.
• Advanced Communications: For the first time, NASA will test Laser Communications (O2O), using infrared lasers to transmit data at 260 Mbps, allowing for 4K video streaming from lunar distances.
• Biological Research: The AVATAR (A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response) experiment will use "organ-on-a-chip" technology with the crew's own cells to study the real-time effects of deep-space radiation and microgravity.
• Global Collaboration: The mission will deploy CubeSats from Germany, Argentina, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia to study radiation shielding, space weather, and lunar rover components.

What are the Various Landing Missions to the Moon?

Historical Soft Landings (1966–1976)

Mission (Year)	Country	Description
Luna 9 (1966)	USSR	The 1st spacecraft to achieve a survivable soft landing, proving the lunar surface was solid enough to support a vehicle rather than being a thick layer of dust.
Surveyor 1 (1966)	USA	America’s first successful robotic landing, which collected over 11,000 photos and vital data on lunar soil temperature and radar reflectivity to prepare for future human visits.
Apollo 11 (1969)	USA	The historic 1st crewed landing where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the surface, collected samples, and safely returned to Earth, fulfilling a decade-long national goal.
Luna 16 (1970)	USSR	This robotic mission marked the 1st time an automated spacecraft landed, drilled into the surface, and launched a return capsule to bring lunar soil back to Earth.
Apollo 17 (1972)	USA	The final mission of the Apollo era, featuring the longest moonwalks and most extensive geological sampling, including the discovery of unique "orange soil" near the landing site.
Luna 24 (1976)	USSR	The last Soviet mission to the Moon, which successfully drilled two meters deep to return a soil sample that was provided early, overlooked evidence of water on the Moon.

Modern Era Soft Landings (2013–Present)

Mission (Year)	Country	Description
Chang'e 3 (2013)	China	China’s 1st lunar landing, which deployed the Yutu rover. It utilized a telescope to perform the first-ever astronomical observations from the surface of another celestial body.
Chang'e 4 (2019)	China	A groundbreaking mission that achieved the first soft landing on the Moon's far side, using a relay satellite to maintain communication with Earth from the lunar "dark" side.
Chandrayaan-3 (2023)	India	India’s historic achievement as the first nation to land near the South Pole, deploying the Pragyan rover to confirm the presence of sulfur and study lunar soil properties.
SLIM (2024)	Japan	Known as the "Moon Sniper," this mission demonstrated high-precision landing technology by touching down within 100 meters of its target despite an engine issue during the final descent.
IM-1 (Odysseus) (2024)	USA (Private)	The first successful landing by a commercial company and the first American return to the surface in 50 years, despite the lander tipping over slightly upon touchdown.
Chang'e 6 (2024)	China	A complex, world-first mission that landed on the far side's South Pole-Aitken Basin to collect and return unique soil samples, providing insights into the Moon's early history.

Scheduled Landing Attempts (2026 and Beyond)

Mission (Expected)	Country/Agency	Description
Blue Moon MK1 (2026)	Blue Origin	A commercial cargo demonstration mission designed to test large-scale landing technologies and power systems, paving the way for sustainable human infrastructure and heavy logistics on the Moon.
Griffin-1 (2026)	Astrobotic	This mission aims to deliver NASA’s VIPER rover to the South Pole to scout for water ice, which is essential for creating fuel and oxygen for future colonies.
Chang'e 7 (2026)	China	A sophisticated multi-part mission involving a lander, rover, and a "flying" detector to explore shadowed craters at the South Pole and search for evidence of water ice.
Artemis IV (2028)	NASA	Expected to be the first crewed landing of the Artemis program, transporting astronauts to the lunar surface to begin building a permanent base camp for long-term exploration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a "free-return trajectory" in the context of Artemis II?
It is an orbital path that uses the Moon’s gravity to naturally "slingshot" the spacecraft back to Earth without requiring engine burns, ensuring crew safety in case of propulsion failure.

2. What is the significance of the O2O system being tested on Artemis II?
The Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System (O2O) uses infrared lasers to provide high-bandwidth data transmission (260 Mbps), enabling real-time 4K video and high-resolution data transfer from deep space.

3. What distinguishes the Artemis II crew composition?
The crew includes the first woman (Christina Koch) and the first person of color (Victor Glover) to travel beyond low-Earth orbit, along with the first non-American (Jeremy Hansen) to leave Earth’s orbit.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q.Consider the following statements: (2016)

The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO

1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 1 and 3 only 

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (c)

Q. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? (2014)

Spacecraft                                     Purpose

1. Cassini-Huygens : Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth
2. Messenger :             Mapping and investigating the Mercury
3. Voyager 1 and 2 : Exploring the outer solar system

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Q. What is the purpose of the US Space Agency’s Themis Mission, which was recently in the news? (2008)

(a) To study the possibility of life on Mars

(b) To study the satellites of Saturn

(c) To study the colourful display of high latitude skies

(d) To build a space laboratory to study the stellar explosions

Ans: (c)

Odisha Day

Source: PIB 

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation extended greetings to the people of Odisha on the occasion of Odisha Day. 

• Foundation and Significance: Celebrated every 1st April, Utkal Divas (Odisha Foundation Day) commemorates the formation of the separate Orissa Province in 1936, making it the first state in India to be formed on a linguistic basis under British rule. 
• Historical Context: The region was famously known as Kalinga, conquered by the Mauryan King Ashoka in 261 BC.  
  • Later, King Kharavela of the Mahameghavahana dynasty established a powerful state and is credited with fostering the region's rich art and architecture. 
  • Gajapati Mukunda Deva was the last Hindu king of Odisha, after whose defeat in 1576 the region fell under Mughal control, followed by the Marathas and eventually the British. 
• Administrative Marginalisation: Under British rule, Odisha was fragmented and merged into the Bengal Presidency, with Odia-speaking regions scattered across Bengal, Madras, Central Provinces, and Bihar, leading to a loss of cultural identity and administrative coherence. 
• Statehood Movement: The demand for a separate Odisha province was examined by a British subcommittee in 1928, led by Clement Attlee.  
  • It was strongly supported by Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati at the Round Table Conference (1930), and the boundary commission headed by Samuel O'Donnell in 1932 recommended its creation.  
  • Following a prolonged struggle for a separate identity, the province of Odisha was finally created on 1st April 1936.  
  • The movement remained largely non-violent, relying on petitions, conferences, intellectual efforts, and youth participation. 
  • Sir John Austin Hubback was appointed as the first Governor of the province. 
• Key Visionaries: The movement was led by prominent figures like Madhusudan Das, Gopabandhu Das, Fakir Mohan Senapati, and Pandita Nilakantha Das, with the Utkal Sammilani (Odisha Association) playing a central role in unifying Odia-speaking regions.  
  • Its first conference held in Cuttack in December 1903 was crucial in passing resolutions demanding a separate Odisha province. 
• Constitutional Evolution: While originally called Orissa, the state was officially renamed Odisha in 2011 following the 113^th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2010 (later enacted as the 96th Amendment Act) and the Orissa (Alteration of Name) Bill. 

Read more: Odisha's Border Disputes 

Amaravati as Permanent Capital of AP

Source: TH 

The Lok Sabha has passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, officially designating Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh, insulating the city's status from future political fluctuations.  

• The legislation follows a resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, requesting the Union Government to formalise the capital's status. 
• Statutory Amendment: The Bill amends Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, which originally designated Hyderabad as the common capital for a period not exceeding 10 years. 
  • By incorporating "Amaravati" into the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, it effectively scuttled previous "3-capital" proposals (Visakhapatnam as executive capital, Kurnool as judicial capital, and Amaravati as legislative capital). 
• Retrospective Effect: Once enacted, the law will recognise Amaravati as the capital with retrospective effect from 2nd June, 2024, the date marking the end of the 10-year common capital period with Telangana. 
• Constitutional Precedent: This marks the 1st time in the history of independent India that a specific Bill has been brought to Parliament to declare a particular city as the permanent capital of a state. 
• Historical Context: The Bill resolves the post-2014 bifurcation uncertainty, overriding the K.C. Siva Ramakrishnan Committee’s recommendations for decentralized capitals across multiple locations, as well as later state-level policy changes.

Read More: Creation of Andhra Pradesh and Special Category Status 

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026

Source: BL 

The Lok Sabha passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, a landmark legislative move designed to enhance the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and Ease of Living by transitioning from a punitive to a trust-based governance model. 

Key Features of the 2026 Bill  

• Scope and Scale: The Bill amends 784 provisions across 80 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries, effectively decriminalising 717 provisions.  
  • The key laws that the bill seeks to amend include the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.  
    • The laws dealing with real estate, coal, mining, shipping, petroleum, power, railways, copyright and patents would also be amended through the bill. 
• Regulatory Shift: It decriminalises minor civic violations, replacing criminal prosecution with civil penalties and "warning-first" principles. Reserving courts for willful non-compliance, it reduces systemic burdens to create a more "predictable, transparent and fair" regulatory environment for all stakeholders. 
• Institutional Framework: To streamline justice and reduce the burden on courts, the Bill mandates the appointment of Adjudicating Officers and the establishment of Appellate Authorities. 
• Consultative Approach: The legislation was shaped by High-Level Committee meetings under NITI Aayog and a Select Committee process involving 49 sittings with industry leaders and subject-matter experts.

Read More: Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 

Income-tax Act, 2025

Source:PIB 

The Income-tax Act, 2025, has officially come into force on 1st April, 2026, superseding the six-decade-old Income-tax Act, 1961. 

• Core Objective: It is believed that these revisions are designed to align exemption limits with current cost structures and inflationary trends, which have rendered many existing thresholds outdated.  
  • The broader objective is to ease the tax burden on salaried individuals while modernising the tax administration system. 
• Operational Framework: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) notified the Income-tax Rules, 2026 to operationalise the new legislative provisions. 
• Procedural Overhaul (Introduction of Form 130): In a major push for standardisation and digitization, the traditional Form 16 (a tax deducted at source (TDS) certificate issued by an employer to an employee) is being replaced by a new system-generated Form 130 to improve reporting accuracy. 
• Tax Year Consolidation: The traditionally distinct concepts of Financial Year (FY) and Assessment Year (AY) have been merged into a single, unified "Tax Year." 
• Digital Expansion: The definition of undisclosed income now explicitly includes virtual digital assets, and authorities are granted access to "virtual digital spaces" (e.g., social media, email servers) during search and seizure. 
• Standardised Compliance: The transition includes simplified and re-engineered tax forms, designed to make the filing process more user-friendly and efficient. 
• Strategic Vision: This reform is positioned as a critical step toward improving tax administration and supporting the broader national goal of Viksit Bharat. 
• Income Tax: It is a direct tax on the income earned by individuals, companies, or other entities during a financial year. For individual taxpayers in India, it is levied according to progressive tax slabs.   
  • These slabs may vary under the new tax regime or with applicable rebates and deductions.  
  • According to the Central Board of Direct Taxes, India’s gross direct tax collections for 2025-26 stood at Rs 7.99 lakh crore, down 1.9% from Rs 8.14 lakh crore in FY 2024-25.

Read more: Income Tax Bill, 2025 

India Hosts 1st BRICS Youth Coordination Meeting 2026

Source: PIB 

Recently, India conducted the 1st BRICS Youth Coordination Meeting in virtual mode, initiating youth engagements under its BRICS Chairship. 

• Organiser: It was organised by the Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. 
• Theme: The meeting was held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” 
• Objective: To strengthen youth cooperation and promote collaboration among BRICS nations. 
• Participation: Representatives from all BRICS member countries took part in the discussions, and the meeting helped align member countries on key thematic areas of cooperation. 
• Key Initiatives: India presented an overview of the BRICS Youth Track 2026 outlining the roadmap for the year, including Working Group Meetings, Thematic Engagements, Serve BRICS Volunteering Activities, Youth Development Forum, Youth Council Meeting, Youth Summit and Youth Ministerial Meeting. 
• Priority Areas: Focus on education & skills, entrepreneurship, science & innovation, social participation, inclusion, health & sports, environment & sustainability, interfaith dialogue and youth exchange. 
• India’s Chairship: The meeting marked the formal beginning of the BRICS Youth Track 2026 during India’s leadership and laid the foundation for upcoming engagements during its Chairship. 

Read more: 17th BRICS Summit