16 May 2025 Current Affairs

India's 6th Semiconductor Unit Approved - Uttar Pradesh

1. Location: Near Jewar Airport, in the YEIDA (Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority) region, Uttar Pradesh.

2. Joint Venture: HCL and Foxconn

3.  Focus: Manufacturing display driver chips for:

• Mobile Phones
• Laptops
• Automobiles
• Other consumer electronics

India’s Expanding Semiconductor Ecosystem

1. Market Growth:

• From $22 billion in 2019 to $110 billion by 2030 (≈10% of global consumption)

2. Local Sourcing Push:

• 2021: Only 9% locally sourced
• Target for 2026: 17% local sourcing

3. R&D & Design Leadership:

• India has ~20% of the world’s semiconductor design engineers
• Designs ~3,000 ICs annually

4. Node Shrinking (Chip Fabrication Technology):

• Advanced nodes: 7nm, 5nm, 3nm, 2nm
• Benefits of smaller nodes:

- Higher transistor density

- Lower power usage

- Faster processing

Why India is Prioritizing Semiconductors

1. Reduce Trade Deficit:

• Semiconductor imports in 2024: ₹1.71 lakh crore
• ~38% came from China

2. Boost Self-Reliance and Security:

• Secure strategic sectors (defence, mobility, IT)

3. Economic Multiplier:

• 1 semiconductor job supports 16 others (16x employment effect)

4. Spillover Effects:

• Catalyzes growth in Robotics, Precision tools, Advanced electronics manufacturing

India Unveils First CCU Testbed Cluster for Cement Sector

Objective:

1. To develop and deploy innovative Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) units within the cement industry, with a focus on:

• Capturing CO₂ emissions
• Converting CO₂ into useful products
• Demonstrating integration in industrial setups

2. Model:

• Implemented through Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
• Backed by Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science & Technology

Innovative Technologies Showcased:

1. Oxygen-Enhanced Calcination:

• Captures CO₂ during cement production
• Converts CO₂ into:

- Concrete blocks

- Olefins like ethylene and propylene

2. Carbon-Negative Mineralization:

• Locks captured CO₂ into rock-like stable forms
• Creates permanent carbon sinks

3. Vacuum Swing Adsorption (VSA):

• Separates CO₂ from cement kiln exhaust
• Reinserts CO₂ into construction materials, e.g., low-carbon cement products

About Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)

1. Definition: A suite of technologies that capture CO₂ emissions and utilize it as a feedstock to produce:

• Fuels
• Chemicals
• Building materials
  Replacing conventional fossil-based inputs

2. Carbon Capture Pathways:

a. From Industrial/Energy Sources: E.g., Cement kilns, biomass plants

Methods:

• Membranes
• Solvent Absorption
• Adsorption

b. From Ambient Air – Direct Air Capture (DAC):

• Pulls CO₂ from open air
• Uses chemical trapping systems

3. Carbon Utilisation Pathways:

a. Direct Utilisation: Inject CO₂ into products directly, such as:

• Carbonated concrete
• Enhanced oil recovery
• Greenhouses (for plant growth)

b. CO₂-to-Products: Chemical conversion of CO₂ into:

• Synthetic fuels
• Plastics
• Fertilizers
• Polymers

Significance:

• Cement industry is one of the top carbon emitters globally.
• These testbeds support India’s Net Zero commitments.
• India becomes a pioneer in industrial-scale CCU for cement, potentially influencing global best practices.

India’s Biggest-Ever Anti-Naxal Operation (2025)

What Happened:

• 31 Naxalites killed at Karreguttalu Hill (KGH) on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.
• KGH housed key Naxal strongholds like the Unified Headquarters of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion 1.
• Marks a major step towards the goal of making India Naxal-free by March 31, 2026.

Security Forces Involved:

• CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) - CRPF's elite jungle warfare unit
• Special Task Force (STF)
• District Reserve Guards (DRG) - Local tribal recruits familiar with terrain

About Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)

1. Origins:

• Began in 1967, in Naxalbari (West Bengal) - hence the term Naxalism.
• Follows Maoist ideology: armed struggle to overthrow the state and establish parallel governance.

2. Red Corridor:

• Spread across parts of: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala
• Once included 126 districts - now reduced to 18 (as of 2025).
• "Most affected" districts dropped from 35 (2024) to 6 (2025).

3. Decline in Naxal Activity (2024):

• 290 Naxalites neutralized
• 1,090 arrested
• 881 surrendered

Reasons for Persistence of LWE:

1. Socio-Economic Factors:

• Social alienation of tribal populations
• Lack of access to Education, Healthcare, Employment.
• Underdevelopment and poor infrastructure

2. Governance Deficits:

• Inadequate implementation of:

- Forest Rights Act, 2006

- PESA Act, 1996 (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas)

• State heavy-handedness and security excesses

Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) – Key Reforms (Effective January 2025)

Background

• Launched: 2017 by NSO, under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
• Aim: Capture timely data on employment and unemployment patterns in India

Major Changes Introduced

1. Monthly Labour Indicators (First Time Ever)

• Indicators Released:

- Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)

- Worker Population Ratio (WPR)

- Unemployment Rate (UR)

• Based on: Current Weekly Status (CWS)
• Coverage: All-India level

2. Quarterly Estimates Now Cover Rural + Urban

• Previously: Only urban areas
• Now: Both rural and urban areas included
• Provides a more holistic and timely view of labour dynamics

3. Annual Reports Shift to Calendar Year

• New format: January–December
• Previous format: July–June
• Benefit: Better alignment with international labour statistics databases

4. Enhanced Sample Size

• Increase: Sample size multiplied 2.65 times
• Outcome: Improved precision and statistical reliability

5. Improved Geographical Representation

• Primary Unit: District (instead of larger regional units)
• Rural Stratification: Based on village proximity: Within 5 km of district HQ or cities/towns with >5 lakh population
• Result: More granular, localised labour data collection

Objective of the Reforms

• Meet the high-frequency data needs of policymakers, businesses, and researchers.
• Enhance India’s labour market intelligence and align with global practices.

UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee – Key Facts

What is it?

• Also known as the ISIS and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee.
• Established in 1999 through UNSC Resolution 1267, later strengthened by Resolutions 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015).
• It targets individuals and entities associated with ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and related groups.

Purpose

1. Combat international terrorism by designating terrorists and groups.

2. Impose sanctions such as:

• Asset freezes
• Travel bans
• Arms embargoes

Composition

• Includes all 15 UNSC members (5 permanent + 10 non-permanent).
• Decisions are made by consensus.

India’s Role

Recently, Indian officials briefed the 1267 Monitoring Team on:

• Activities of The Resistance Front (TRF) - a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
• India has sought global recognition of TRF as a terrorist outfit under the 1267 framework.

Why Important?

• Plays a critical role in global counter-terrorism.
• Can block safe havens and funding for terror groups.
• Used by countries (like India) to push for designation of Pakistan-based terror groups and individuals.

Akashteer - Advanced AI-Driven Air Defence System

Overview

• Akashteer is a fully automated, AI-driven air defence solution.
• Developed indigenously by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
• Designed to detect, intercept, and neutralise a wide range of aerial threats.

Recent Operational Role

• Played a pivotal role in neutralising drones and missile threats during recent border skirmishes with Pakistan, enhancing frontline air defence.

Key Capabilities

1. Threat Interception: Targets include:

• Drones
• Missiles
• Micro UAVs
• Loitering munitions

2. Low-Altitude Monitoring: Effective in battle zones where threats fly below radar coverage.

Core Features

• AI-Driven Decision Support: Enables rapid response with minimal human intervention.
• Integrated Network Architecture: Connects radar, surveillance, and command units.
• Real-Time Situational Awareness:

- Shares live airspace data across all operational units.

- Ensures synchronized and coordinated action.

Significance for India

• Boosts self-reliant defence capabilities under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• Enhances protection of strategic assets, borders, and troop positions.
• Addresses the growing threat from asymmetric aerial warfare, especially low-cost drone attacks.

Bhargavastra - India’s Indigenous Hard-Kill Anti-Drone System

Overview

• Bhargavastra is a low-cost, hard-kill anti-drone system developed to neutralize drone swarms, particularly useful in modern asymmetric warfare scenarios.
• Developer: Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL)

Key Features

Two-Layered Defence System

1. Layer 1:

• Unguided micro-rockets
• Lethal radius: 20 meters
• Effective against drone swarms (saturation attacks)

2. Layer 2:

• Guided micro-missiles
• For precision targeting of individual drones

Detection & Engagement Capabilities

• Drone Detection Range: Up to 2.5 km
• Radar Detection Range: 6–10 km for aerial threats

Adaptability & Design

• Terrain Versatility: Effective above 5000 meters altitude
• Modular Architecture: Allows integration of soft-kill techniques such as: Jamming and Spoofing

Tech Integration

C4I-Enabled Command Centre:

• Supports network-centric warfare
• Allows real-time data sharing and command coordination

Strategic Importance

• Enhances India’s counter-drone capabilities amidst rising drone-based threats, especially along sensitive borders.
• Supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat by advancing indigenous defence tech.