27 March 2025 : Daily Current Affairs

1. Nehru: ‘His mistakes are magnified, his achievements belittled’

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 11)

Criticism of Nehru’s Leadership

• In 2014, Madhav Godbole, a former civil servant, wrote The God Who Failed: An Assessment of Jawaharlal Nehru’s Leadership, questioning Nehru’s secular and socialist policies.
• Godbole argued that Nehru’s idea of secularism sometimes appeased Muslims and called for a “more balanced secularism.”
• Many other books have blamed Nehru for numerous present-day issues in India.

An Alternative Perspective on Nehru

• Academic Aditya Mukherjee, in his book Nehru’s India (The Most Definitive Book on Jawaharlal Nehru): Past, Present and Future, presents Nehru’s actions in the historical context of his time.
• Mukherjee highlights the challenges Nehru faced after Independence, including large-scale communal violence and displacement.
• Nehru firmly opposed religious rule and, in his speech on August 16, 1947, emphasized that India would remain a secular state.
• This policy remained in place until the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed in 2019, leading to protests like Shaheen Bagh.

Nehru’s Commitment to Scientific Temper

• Nehru strongly promoted scientific thinking and rational inquiry.
• Mukherjee contrasts Nehru’s approach with present-day political leaders who promote mythology as science.
• He criticizes claims that ancient India had advanced medical procedures, such as plastic surgery for Ganesha’s head.
• Mukherjee highlights how some leaders promoted unscientific remedies during the COVID-19 pandemic, like cow dung and urine.

The Political Narrative Against Nehru

• Nehru’s contributions are being ignored in textbooks, and even his image was removed from a historical poster celebrating 75 years of Independence.
• Critics blame Nehru for many of India’s present-day problems, from the Partition to the economic and agricultural crisis.
• Mukherjee refutes these claims, arguing that they stem from propaganda rather than historical facts.

Nehru’s Enduring Legacy

• Similar criticisms of Nehru existed during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure.
• In 2003, Shashi Tharoor noted in Nehru: The Invention of India that Nehruvian ideals had lost appeal, with critics magnifying his mistakes and downplaying his achievements.
• Mukherjee underscores Nehru’s support for freedom of expression, quoting his 1940 speech defending press freedom.
• Historian Irfan Habib, states that Nehru’s name may be removed from institutions, but his contributions will endure as long as truth and reason remain valued.

2. How futures thinking can help Indian businesses navigate uncertainty

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 13)

Rapid Disruptions in Global Business

• In 2025, businesses face increasing geopolitical tensions, fragile supply chains, and the fast-paced development of artificial intelligence.
• Traditional strategic planning, which relied on historical data and gradual adjustments, is no longer effective in addressing these rapid disruptions.

Challenges for India in a Changing World

• India’s efforts toward digital transformation and self-reliance in key industries like semiconductors and electric vehicles are taking place in a highly uncertain global environment.
• The government’s push for securing critical minerals is crucial to reducing supply chain vulnerabilities.
• Businesses need to understand that dependence on foreign supply chains increases the risk of unexpected disruptions.

Adopting a Foresight-Based Approach

• Businesses should expand their analysis to include economic, political, social, and environmental trends to ensure long-term success.
• Ignoring environmental and social factors, such as climate change and migration, can lead to sudden disruptions, affecting profits.
• Decision-makers should integrate various trends rather than analyzing them in isolation, as multiple factors often interact in complex ways.

Understanding Indirect Impacts

• Many businesses only consider direct impacts of trends but fail to assess their indirect consequences.
• For example, biodiversity loss directly affects agriculture, but it also leads to rising food prices, impacting household spending and overall economic stability.

Moving from Reactive to Proactive Strategies

• Companies often focus on responding to immediate risks rather than addressing underlying causes.
• Instead of just securing alternative suppliers, businesses should contribute to long-term resilience, such as improving water management in drought-prone cotton-producing regions.
• Whether it is ensuring resources for India’s energy transition, strengthening supply chains, or improving food security, businesses that anticipate and adapt will be better prepared for future uncertainties.

3. India’s Bioeconomy Surges to $165 Billion

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 16)

Analysis of the news:

Current Value and Growth Projections

• India’s bioeconomy has been valued at over $165 billion in 2024, contributing 4.2% to the national GDP.
• According to the India BioEconomy Report, this sector has the potential to expand significantly, reaching $300 billion by 2030 and $1 trillion by 2047.
• This growth is driven by advancements in biotechnology, sustainable bio-manufacturing, and increased industrial applications of biological resources.

Utilization of Bioresources

• Bioeconomy involves the use of biological resources such as plants, animals, and microorganisms for industrial and commercial purposes.
• While sectors like healthcare and agriculture have historically relied on bioresources, newer applications include biofuels, bioplastics, sustainable textiles, and bio-based chemicals.
• Technologies like synthetic biology and precision biotherapeutics are expanding the role of biotechnology in pharmaceuticals and industrial processes, offering eco-friendly and cost-effective alternatives to conventional materials.

Expanding Industrial and Regional Footprint

• India’s bioeconomy has almost doubled in the last five years, with the number of bio-based companies increasing by 90% since 2021.
• The industrial sector leads in value generation ($78 billion), followed by pharmaceuticals, primarily vaccines (35%).
• Research and IT, including biotech software and bioinformatics, emerged as the fastest-growing segments in 2024.
• However, regional disparities exist, with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh contributing over two-thirds of the sector’s value, while eastern and northeastern states account for less than 6%.

Challenges and Policy Interventions

• Maintaining high growth rates will require increased innovation, better infrastructure, and policy reforms.
• Addressing regional imbalances and regulatory hurdles, particularly in agricultural biotechnology, is essential.
• Countries like Spain and Italy derive over 20% of their GDP from bioeconomy, indicating the need for India to scale up its efforts.

BioE3 Policy and Future Strategy

• To strengthen its position as a global bio-manufacturing hub, India launched the BioE3 policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) in 2024.
• This policy aims to boost R&D, encourage bio-industrialization, and support advancements in bio-based chemicals, functional foods, marine biotechnology, and climate-resilient agriculture.
• The report also recommends setting up a National BioEconomy Mission and a single-window regulatory mechanism to streamline biotech innovations and unlock the full potential of India’s bioeconomy.

Conclusion

• India’s bioeconomy is on a strong growth trajectory, driven by biotechnology innovations and increasing industrial applications of bioresources.
• However, to sustain this momentum, addressing regional imbalances, regulatory hurdles, and infrastructure gaps is crucial.
• Policies like BioE3 and the proposed National BioEconomy Mission can help India emerge as a global leader in bio-manufacturing and biotechnology-driven industries.

4. Judicial Appointments Row Rekindled: NJAC Debate Resurfaces Amid Cash Scandal

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 14)

Analysis of the news:

What is the collegium system in the Indian judiciary?

• The Collegium system is a system for the appointment and transfer of judges in the Supreme Court and High Court.
• It is not rooted in the Constitution. Instead, it has evolved through judgments of the Supreme Court.
• Under the system, the Chief Justice of India (CJI), along with four senior-most Supreme Court judges, recommends the appointment and transfer of judges.
• A High Court Collegium, meanwhile, is led by the incumbent Chief Justice and the two senior most judges of that court.
• The government can also raise objections and seek clarifications regarding the Collegium’s choices, but if the Collegium reiterates the same names, the government is bound to appoint them to the post.

Evolution of Judicial Appointments

• Initially, the executive appointed judges until the 1970s when political interference led to changes.
• The collegium system, established through Supreme Court rulings, granted primacy to the judiciary in appointments.
• This system remains in place despite criticisms of opacity and lack of accountability.

The NJAC Reform Attempt

• In 2014, Parliament passed the 99th Constitutional Amendment and NJAC Act to replace the collegium system with a commission comprising judges, government representatives, and civil society members.
• The Act received bipartisan support but was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015 for violating the “basic structure” doctrine by undermining judicial independence.

Challenges and Criticism

• The Supreme Court objected to the veto power granted to non-judicial members, arguing it could undermine judicial primacy.
• Critics of the collegium system argue that the judiciary lacks transparency, while supporters emphasize the need to safeguard judicial independence from political influence.

Conclusion

• Experts suggest modifications, such as granting the Chief Justice of India a casting vote, to ensure judicial predominance while enhancing accountability.
• A balanced approach that addresses concerns of both the judiciary and the executive may lead to a more transparent and effective appointment system.

5. PM-WANI Scheme

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2115285 )

Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) Scheme

• Objective: PM-WANI aims to expand internet access across India by setting up public Wi-Fi hotspots, promoting Digital India and its associated benefits.
• Implementation: Public Data Offices (PDOs) establish, operate, and maintain Wi-Fi hotspots, partnering with Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) to provide internet services.
• Current Status: As of March 20, 2025, 2,78,439 PM-WANI Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed nationwide.
• PM-WANI compliant Wi-Fi hardware is widely available in the market and supplied by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) through its Transfer of Technology (ToT) partners.
• Government Initiative: The scheme enables affordable internet access, bridging the digital divide and enhancing rural connectivity.

Prelims Facts

1. Mass bleaching drains life from Australian reef

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 15)

Analysis of the news:

• Cause: A prolonged marine heatwave has caused ocean temperatures to rise significantly, leading to coral bleaching.
• Extent of Bleaching: The bleaching is widespread, affecting various coral species and extending deep into the reef, not just the surface.
• Ningaloo Reef: This 300-km-long reef is one of the world’s largest fringing reefs and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Severity: Scientists believe this may be the worst bleaching event in the area since 2011.
• Ocean waters off Western Australia have been up to three degrees Celsius warmer than average in recent months.
• The water temperature surpassed the bleaching threshold in mid-January, as per U.S. NOAA monitoring.
• Impact on Coral: Warm temperatures force corals to expel the algae that give them color, turning them white.

2. New data keeps the search for rare subatomic mystery going

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7)

Majorana 1: Key Information

• Introduction: Majorana 1 is a quantum computing chip developed by Microsoft, designed to accelerate advancements in quantum computing.
• Purpose: It aims to enable quantum computers capable of solving complex industrial-scale problems in a shorter time frame.
• Technology: The chip is based on Majorana particles, a unique type of subatomic particle with unusual properties.
• Unique Feature: Majorana particles are their own anti-particles, meaning two of them annihilate each other upon interaction.
• Scientific Significance: If successful, Majorana 1 could contribute to more stable and error-resistant quantum computing.
• Future Impact: Majorana 1 could revolutionize computing by overcoming current quantum error limitations.

3. Section 44(3) of The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 16)

Analysis of the news:

About Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023

• The DPDP Act is a legal framework introduced in India to safeguard the personal data of individuals and ensure that their data is shared only with their consent.
• It regulates the processing of digital personal data and outlines various provisions to protect individuals’ privacy in the digital age.
• Applicability:
  • It applies to the processing of digital personal data within the territory of India collected online or collected offline and later digitized.
  • It is also applicable to processing digital personal data outside the territory of India, if it involves providing goods or services to the data principals within the territory of India.
• Evolution:
  • The conceptual basis of the DPDP Act is the report of the Expert Committee set up under the chairmanship of Justice BN Srikrishna, which led to the introduction of the Personal Data Protection Act in 2019.
  • After several iterations and consultations, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, was introduced and subsequently passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Changes in Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act

• Previously, Section 8(1)(j) allowed the disclosure of personal information if it was in the larger public interest.
• However, the DPDP Act now simplifies this clause to a blanket exemption for “information which relates to personal information,” removing the public interest justification.
• This significantly broadens the scope for denying access to information.

Concerns Raised by Activists

• Transparency at Risk: Activists argue that this amendment could block access to crucial data related to public servants, government actions, and decision-making processes.
  
  
• Weakened Accountability: Details such as the assets and liabilities of public officials, which are currently disclosed in the public interest, may no longer be accessible.
  
  
• Loss of Public Oversight: The original RTI Act provided a balance between privacy and public interest. The amendment removes this balance, reducing the ability of citizens to hold the government accountable.
  
  

Government’s Justification

• The government argues that the amendment aligns with the need to protect individuals’ privacy, particularly in the digital age.
• However, critics contend that it serves as a tool to curb transparency rather than genuinely safeguard privacy.

4. Martian Dust: A Health Risk for Astronauts

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 16)

Analysis of the news:

Respiratory and Health Hazards

• The study highlights that Martian dust, due to its fine particle size (about 4% the width of a human hair), can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
• Unlike Earth’s dust, Martian particles are too small for lung mucus to expel, increasing the risk of respiratory diseases.
• The presence of toxic elements like silica and iron dust further exacerbates health concerns, with silica being linked to lung diseases like silicosis.

Toxicity and Environmental Factors

• Martian dust contains harmful substances such as perchlorates, gypsum, and metals like chromium and arsenic.
• These can lead to severe health complications, including thyroid diseases and lung damage.
• Additionally, Mars’ microgravity and high radiation exposure could amplify the toxic effects, making long-term astronaut missions riskier.

Mitigation Strategies

To counter the hazards posed by Martian dust, researchers suggest several protective measures:

• Nutritional countermeasures: Vitamin C can help mitigate chromium toxicity, while iodine can reduce the risks of thyroid diseases from perchlorates.
  
  
• Engineering solutions: Air filtration systems, self-cleaning space suits, and electrostatic repulsion devices can limit dust contamination.
  
  
• Preventive measures: Isolating habitats from dust entry and designing effective decontamination protocols will be crucial for astronaut safety.
  
  

Significance for Future Missions

• As NASA and China plan human missions to Mars in the next decade, understanding and addressing the impact of Martian dust is critical.
• With no option for an immediate return to Earth, astronauts will need robust health safeguards to ensure their well-being during prolonged stays on the Red Planet.

check more – 26 March 2025 : Daily Current Affairs