The Hindu Daily Current Affairs – 27 October 2026
Tuesday, 27 October 2026
The Hindu – Important News Articles & Editorial
Today’s edition covers the Defence Acquisition Council’s ₹2.12 lakh crore approvals, the Finance Minister’s fiscal consolidation claims, preparations for Cyclone Arnab in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, new genetic clues to the East Asian roots of Kashmir’s rice, and the case for energy justice in climate policy, along with an editorial analysis on cybersecurity beyond Kudankulam’s fence.
Centre Approves Defence Deals Worth ₹2.12 Lakh Crore
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth about ₹2.12 lakh crore for the Army, Navy and Air Force. About 82% of the value is earmarked for domestic industry. The approvals cover platforms, weapons and surveillance systems, with a clear tilt towards drones, counter-drone and air defence capabilities.
Key Facts
- Total AoN value: about ₹2.12 lakh crore, with about 82% to be sourced from domestic industry.
- Army:
- High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs) for logistics and mobility; self-propelled tracked gun systems for mechanised formations.
- Gun Shot Response Systems (GSRS) for real-time situational awareness.
- Light Multi-Role Helicopters (LMRH), shared with the Air Force.
- VSHORADS against small aerial threats; platform-based counter-UAS to improve tank survivability.
- Long-range UAS, surveillance UAVs, integrated surveillance and strike systems, and long-range kamikaze drones.
- Navy: Active Offboard Decoy Systems (AODS) for anti-missile defence, and other indigenously designed and built naval platforms.
- Air Force: special utility (transport) helicopters, air defence systems, weapons, and mobile X-band Doppler weather radars for localised weather surveillance.
What Each Service Gets
| Service | Key approvals | Capability gained |
|---|---|---|
| Army | HMVs, self-propelled tracked guns, GSRS, LMRH, VSHORADS, counter-UAS, long-range and kamikaze drones | Mobility, firepower, situational awareness and protection against drones |
| Navy | Active Offboard Decoy Systems; indigenous naval platforms | Anti-missile defence of ships |
| Air Force | Special utility helicopters, air defence systems, weapons, mobile X-band Doppler weather radars | Transport, air defence and localised weather surveillance |
Stages of Capital Acquisition
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Acceptance of Necessity | DAC confirms the requirement and the procurement category |
| 2. Request for Proposal | Bids are invited from vendors |
| 3. Technical evaluation and trials | Field and user trials of shortlisted systems |
| 4. Commercial negotiations | Price negotiation with the lowest compliant bidder |
| 5. Financial sanction | Competent financial authority (Cabinet Committee on Security above set limits) |
| 6. Contract and delivery | Contract signing, production, delivery and induction |
Static Dimensions
- DAC: the highest procurement decision-making body of the Ministry of Defence, headed by the Defence Minister; set up in 2001 following the Kargil Review Committee and Group of Ministers recommendations.
- Acceptance of Necessity: the first formal approval confirming a need. Trials, contract signing and financial sanction (by the Cabinet Committee on Security above set limits) follow.
- Procurement framework: Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, with categories Buy (Indian-IDDM), Buy (Indian), Buy and Make (Indian), Buy (Global) and Make; preference for Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) items.
- Self-reliance policy: Atmanirbhar Bharat, Positive Indigenisation Lists, iDEX, Make-I and Make-II, the Strategic Partnership Model, 74% FDI through the automatic route in defence, and defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Related data: record defence production of ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26 (private share about 24%) and defence exports of ₹38,424 crore.
- Concepts: VSHORADS (very short-range air defence systems), C-UAS (counter-unmanned aircraft systems), loitering and kamikaze munitions, decoys and force multipliers.
Analysis
- Indigenisation push: the 82% domestic share supports self-reliance, supply-chain depth and private participation, and reduces import exposure.
- Lessons of recent conflicts: the emphasis on drones, kamikaze systems, VSHORADS and counter-UAS reflects how warfare changed in Operation Sindoor and West Asia, and links to the cost-of-interception debate.
- Balanced tri-service approach: mobility and firepower for the Army, anti-missile protection for the Navy, and transport and air defence for the Air Force.
- Dual-use value: helicopters and weather radars also support disaster relief and humanitarian missions.
- Caution: AoN is only the first step; delays in trials, contracts and delivery have historically slowed projects (for example, engine delays for the Tejas).
Challenges
- Long gap between AoN, contract and delivery.
- Dependence on imported critical components such as engines, seekers and electronics.
- Limited testing and certification capacity for start-ups and MSMEs.
- Budget limits, with pensions and revenue spending taking a large share of the defence budget.
- Integrating many new systems into a common command-and-control network.
Way Forward
- Fast-track trials, contracts and timelines, with accountability for delays.
- Build domestic supply chains for critical subsystems and engines.
- Support start-ups and MSMEs through iDEX, assured orders and shared test facilities.
- Develop a layered, networked air defence and counter-drone architecture.
- Promote exports of proven systems to raise scale and lower unit costs.
India Implications
- Self-reliance: large domestic orders give Indian firms – public, private and start-ups – the scale to invest in R&D and production lines.
- Modern warfare readiness: drone and counter-drone capability is now central to deterrence on both the western and northern borders.
- Fiscal trade-off: capital acquisitions must compete with pension and salary bills within a constrained defence budget.
Himachal Pradesh shares about 240 km of border with Tibet in the LAC’s Middle sector. Surveillance drones, counter-UAS systems, high-mobility vehicles and light helicopters directly strengthen mobility and surveillance in high-altitude districts such as Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti. Mobile X-band Doppler weather radars meet the same need as IMD’s radar at Kufri near Shimla – localised warnings in mountain terrain where weather turns with little notice. With one of the highest shares of Armed Forces personnel among States, Himachali families also have a direct stake in better-equipped forces.
ConclusionThe approvals show a shift towards drone-era, indigenous capability-building across the services. The real test lies in timely contracts, delivery and integration, so that approvals turn into operational strength.
Prelims Practice
Q. With reference to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), consider the following statements:
- It is the highest procurement decision-making body of the Ministry of Defence.
- It is chaired by the Defence Minister.
- It was established in the aftermath of the Kargil conflict.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (d)
The DAC was set up in 2001 after the post-Kargil review of national security, is chaired by the Defence Minister, and grants Acceptance of Necessity – the first formal step in every capital acquisition.
Q. What is the role of the Defence Acquisition Council in India’s defence procurement system? Explain the significance of Acceptance of Necessity in the acquisition process.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
India Is Working Hard to Reduce Fiscal Deficit: Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Tiruchi that India is among the few nations actively reducing its fiscal deficit, and that a steady decline over the past three years shows results. She reaffirmed the goal of bringing national debt down to 50% of GDP by 2030, despite shocks such as the pandemic, the West Asia war and high fuel prices. The statement comes as oil-driven inflation and a weakening external position shrink fiscal room.
Key Facts
- Claim: India is among the few countries actively cutting its fiscal deficit, with a steady decrease over the past three years.
- Target: reduce national debt to 50% of GDP by 2030.
- She said global organisations acknowledge India’s creditworthy fiscal efforts.
- Challenges cited: COVID-19, the West Asia war and soaring fuel prices; the government is trying to contain the inflation burden on the public.
- She also spoke of raising per capita income.
- She declined to answer questions on Tamil Nadu’s borrowings.
Key Deficit Indicators
| Indicator | Formula | What it signals |
|---|---|---|
| Fiscal deficit | Total expenditure − total receipts excluding borrowings | Total borrowing requirement of the government |
| Revenue deficit | Revenue expenditure − revenue receipts | Borrowing used to fund consumption rather than assets |
| Primary deficit | Fiscal deficit − interest payments | Current fiscal stance, excluding the burden of past debt |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio | Outstanding debt ÷ GDP × 100 | Long-term sustainability; now the Centre’s fiscal anchor |
Evolution of India’s Fiscal Rules
| Framework | Anchor |
|---|---|
| FRBM Act, 2003 | Fiscal deficit target of 3% of GDP and elimination of the revenue deficit |
| N.K. Singh Committee (2017) | General government debt of 60% of GDP (Centre 40%, States 20%) by 2023 |
| From 2026-27 | Central government debt-to-GDP of about 50% (± 1%) by March 2031, with the fiscal deficit as the operating target |
Static Dimensions
- Fiscal deficit: total expenditure minus total receipts excluding borrowings. Primary deficit = fiscal deficit − interest payments. Revenue deficit = revenue expenditure − revenue receipts.
- FRBM Act, 2003: set deficit targets and a rule-based fiscal path. The N.K. Singh Committee (2017) recommended a general government debt target of 60% of GDP (40% Centre, 20% States) by 2023.
- Shift to a debt anchor: from 2026-27 the Centre moved from annual fiscal deficit targets to a debt-to-GDP glide path (about 50% ± 1% by March 2031), with the fiscal deficit as the operating variable.
- Articles 292 and 293: borrowing by the Centre and the States. States’ borrowing limits follow Finance Commission recommendations (3% of GSDP, with additional room linked to power-sector reforms).
- Concepts: fiscal consolidation, crowding out, quality of expenditure (capital versus revenue), fiscal slippage, sovereign credit ratings and the fiscal–monetary policy mix.
- Related institutions: Finance Commission, CAG, proposals for a Fiscal Council, and rating agencies (S&P, Moody’s, Fitch).
Analysis
- Consolidation record: a falling deficit since the pandemic peak supports credibility with markets and rating agencies and lowers interest costs over time.
- Fresh pressures: high oil prices raise subsidy and import bills, while elevated wholesale inflation and the RBI’s recent rate hike point to an inflationary environment that limits room for stimulus.
- Quality versus quantity: the path matters – cuts to capital expenditure can hurt growth, whereas revenue buoyancy and subsidy rationalisation are healthier.
- Debt anchor: a debt target gives flexibility to absorb shocks, but needs transparent annual glide-path reporting.
- Centre–State angle: the question on Tamil Nadu’s borrowings reflects the ongoing debate on State borrowing limits and fiscal federalism.
- Caution: the statement is a policy claim; independent assessments (CAG, IMF, rating agencies) should be used to verify progress.
Challenges
- Oil price shocks and the subsidy burden.
- Interest payments absorbing a large share of revenue receipts.
- Slower growth if consolidation relies on capex cuts.
- Revenue uncertainty from tax cuts and GST rate rationalisation.
- High general government debt, including that of States.
- Off-budget borrowings and contingent liabilities.
Way Forward
- Keep a credible, publicly tracked medium-term debt glide path.
- Protect productive capital expenditure while rationalising subsidies.
- Widen the tax base and improve compliance and non-tax revenue (disinvestment, asset monetisation).
- Reduce oil import dependence through the energy transition.
- Coordinate with States on borrowing rules and fiscal transparency.
- Consider an independent fiscal council to assess forecasts.
India Implications
- Macro-stability: a credible debt path supports sovereign ratings, lowers borrowing costs and reduces crowding out of private investment.
- Growth trade-off: oil shocks may force a choice between consolidation targets and protecting capital spending.
- Fiscal federalism: general government debt cannot fall unless States’ finances improve alongside the Centre’s.
Himachal Pradesh has one of the highest debt-to-GSDP ratios among States and a large committed expenditure on salaries, pensions and interest – a burden increased by the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme in 2023. With Revenue Deficit Grants under the Fifteenth Finance Commission declining and borrowing limits tightly linked to GSDP, the State’s fiscal space depends on raising own revenues (hydropower, tourism, excise) and on how the Centre and the Finance Commission treat special-category hill States.
ConclusionFiscal consolidation strengthens macro-stability and creditworthiness, but oil-driven shocks and inflation test it. India should sustain its debt path through better quality of spending, higher revenues and reduced external vulnerability.
Prelims Practice
Q. Which of the following best describes fiscal consolidation?
- (a)A sustained effort to improve the government’s fiscal position by managing expenditure, revenues and debt
- (b)An increase in government borrowing without regard to repayment capacity
- (c)A policy of eliminating all capital expenditure
- (d)A monetary policy measure that exclusively controls interest rates
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (a)
Fiscal consolidation means reducing deficits and debt over time through better revenue mobilisation and expenditure quality – ideally without cutting productive capital spending.
Q. Define fiscal deficit, revenue deficit and primary deficit. Explain their significance in assessing the fiscal health of the government.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
A.P., Odisha Step Up Evacuations as Cyclone Arnab Nears Coast
Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have stepped up evacuations and preparedness as Cyclone Arnab nears the coast. The storm is expected to cross as a very severe cyclonic storm near Yanam or Kakinada around noon on Wednesday, with gusts of up to 140 kmph. Coming in an El Niño year with an unpredictable northeast monsoon, it is a live test of India’s cyclone preparedness.
Key Facts
- Andhra Pradesh:
- IMD red alerts for seven districts on Tuesday – Kakinada, East Godavari, Konaseema, Eluru, West Godavari, Alluri Sitharama Raju and Anakapalli – with isolated extremely heavy rain of 200 mm or more likely.
- Heavy to very heavy rain (70–200 mm) in several other districts, including Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Krishna and Guntur.
- 4,711 pregnant women are being shifted to safer healthcare facilities, and 30,043 fishing boats have returned to harbour.
- Seven NDRF and eight SDRF teams deployed; helplines 112, 1070 and 1800-425-0101; the power distribution company APEPDCL has opened 30 divisional and 11 circle control rooms.
- Odisha:
- Over 1,700 shelters ready (135 permanent, about 1,600 temporary) in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajapati and Rayagada.
- About 3,000 pregnant women are being monitored for shifting if needed.
- Eight NDRF teams, 40 ODRAF teams and fire services deployed; the Centre has assured more forces and Army and Navy help if needed.
- The Mahanadi could be in spate if the cyclone curves towards Chhattisgarh, and the full moon (high tide) will slow discharge to the sea.
IMD Classification of Cyclonic Disturbances
| Category | Sustained wind speed |
|---|---|
| Depression | 31–49 kmph |
| Deep Depression | 50–61 kmph |
| Cyclonic Storm | 62–88 kmph |
| Severe Cyclonic Storm | 89–117 kmph |
| Very Severe Cyclonic Storm | 118–165 kmph |
| Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm | 166–220 kmph |
| Super Cyclonic Storm | 222 kmph and above |
Preparedness Snapshot: Andhra Pradesh vs Odisha
| Measure | Andhra Pradesh | Odisha |
|---|---|---|
| Alerts / districts | Red alerts in seven coastal and hill districts | Southern districts: Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajapati, Rayagada |
| Vulnerable groups | 4,711 pregnant women being shifted | About 3,000 pregnant women under watch |
| Forces | Seven NDRF and eight SDRF teams | Eight NDRF and 40 ODRAF teams, fire services |
| Other steps | 30,043 boats back in harbour; power control rooms; helplines | Over 1,700 shelters ready; Mahanadi flood watch |
Static Dimensions
- Cyclone season: the Bay of Bengal is more cyclone-prone than the Arabian Sea, with peaks in October–November (and a smaller one in May).
- IMD alert colours: green, yellow, orange and red.
- Naming: names come from a rotating list contributed by member countries of the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones, including India; IMD, as the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in New Delhi, assigns them.
- Disaster framework: Disaster Management Act, 2005; NDMA, NDRF, SDRF and State Disaster Management Authorities; the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP); Odisha’s model (OSDMA and permanent cyclone shelters built after the 1999 super cyclone).
- Storm surge and tides: full-moon spring tides worsen coastal flooding and slow river drainage.
- Global framework: Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030).
Analysis
- Preparedness model: early alerts, pre-emptive evacuation, boat recall and priority for pregnant women reflect the “zero casualty” approach pioneered by Odisha.
- Compound hazards: cyclone rain, river flooding (Mahanadi, Godavari) and spring tides make this a multi-hazard event.
- Inter-State coordination: contact with Chhattisgarh and Centre-level reviews reflect cooperative federalism in disaster response.
- Last-mile focus: control rooms, helplines and the shifting of expectant mothers address the most vulnerable.
- Climate link: El Niño-year uncertainty and warming seas raise the risk of rapid intensification.
Challenges
- Evacuating coastal communities and tribal populations in hilly districts.
- Post-landfall flooding and power and communication outages.
- Loss of fishers’ livelihoods and crop damage.
- Limited shelter capacity for large populations, and compliance with evacuation orders.
Way Forward
- Strengthen impact-based forecasting and last-mile warnings.
- Expand permanent shelters and resilient power and telecom networks.
- Manage reservoirs and river discharge carefully.
- Provide quick relief, crop and fisher compensation, and post-disaster health surveillance.
- Invest in coastal protection (mangroves, embankments) and climate-resilient planning.
India Implications
- Proven model: India’s shift from relief-centred to preparedness-centred cyclone management has sharply cut death tolls since 1999.
- Economic losses: lives are increasingly saved, but damage to crops, power networks, fisheries and housing remains large and needs risk-transfer tools.
- Inland reach: cyclones now bring flood risk far inland, so river basin States must plan alongside coastal ones.
Himachal Pradesh does not face cyclones, but Odisha’s zero-casualty model offers direct lessons for its cloudburst and flash-flood season: act on early warnings, evacuate pre-emptively, prioritise pregnant women, the elderly and tourists, and keep power and communication lines resilient. The 2023 and 2025 monsoon disasters in Kullu, Mandi and Shimla showed that the HP State Disaster Management Authority and district emergency operation centres need the same pre-positioned shelters, teams and helplines that coastal States now treat as routine.
ConclusionEarly, coordinated action by the States and the Centre shows how preparedness can save lives. Sustained investment in shelters, forecasting and ecosystem-based protection is needed as storms grow more unpredictable.
Prelims Practice
Q. Consider the following statements:
- A Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, as classified by IMD, has sustained wind speeds of 118–165 kmph.
- Tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean are named by the India Meteorological Department from a list prepared by India alone.
- Spring tides at full moon can worsen storm-surge flooding in coastal areas.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)1 and 3 only
- (c)2 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (b)
Statement 2 is incorrect: names come from a common list contributed by all member countries of the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones; IMD only assigns them in rotation as the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre.
Q. Explain the role of the India Meteorological Department in cyclone forecasting and early warning. How can impact-based forecasting improve disaster preparedness?
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
Kashmir’s Rice Holds Clues to a Journey from East Asia
A study by SKUAST-Kashmir, published in The Plant Genome, finds that Kashmir’s traditional rice varieties carry cold-tolerance and other locally adapted genes that modern varieties have partly lost. Genetic analysis shows they are more closely related to rice from the Korean Peninsula and Northeast China than to rice from other parts of India. The finding matters for climate-resilient breeding, the conservation of landraces and understanding how crops moved across Asia.
Key Facts
- The team sequenced 142 rice germplasm accessions from Kashmir and compared them with the 3K Rice Genomes panel (3,010 samples, published in 2018), which had no Kashmiri landraces.
- They focused on 21 agronomic traits (grain, starch content, aroma, adaptation) out of rice’s roughly 30,000–40,000 genes.
- Kashmiri germplasm showed greater affinity with Korean and Northeast Chinese rice, notably in the cold-tolerance genes HAN1 and CTB4a.
- Experts’ views:
- Kashmiri landraces likely descend from temperate East Asian (japonica-type) rice, later shaped by the valley’s short, cool growing season.
- Modern varieties were bred using lowland Indian rice for yield and lost much of their cold tolerance.
- Some starch and cooking-quality genes resemble tropical rice, so the ancestry is “layered”.
- The route is unclear – directly across the Himalaya, or via Central Asia and early Silk Road trade routes.
- Limitations: a small sample of landraces, and cold tolerance, aroma and grain quality were not tested in the field – the gene–trait links are predicted, not demonstrated.
- Suggested follow-up: compare with rice from Nepal and Tibet, and date and sequence ancient rice grains from Kashmir.
- Archaeology: wheat, barley and millets were Kashmir’s earliest crops. Rice probably arrived around 1000–1500 BCE (megalithic period), though rice grains from Burzahom and Gufkral could not be directly radiocarbon-dated. Mid-to-late Holocene cooling may have favoured cold-tolerant variants.
Indica vs Japonica Rice
| Feature | Indica | Japonica |
|---|---|---|
| Climate | Tropical and subtropical lowlands | Temperate and high-altitude areas; cold-tolerant |
| Main regions | South and Southeast Asia, most of India | Japan, Korea, Northeast China |
| Grain | Generally long and slender, less sticky | Generally short and rounded, stickier |
| Kashmir link | Some starch and cooking-quality genes | Closest affinity, especially in cold-tolerance genes HAN1 and CTB4a |
Tools for Conserving Traditional Varieties
| Tool | How it helps |
|---|---|
| NBPGR national gene bank | Ex-situ storage of seed germplasm |
| On-farm conservation | In-situ conservation by farmers, keeping varieties evolving in their environment |
| PPVFR Act, 2001 | Registration of farmers’ varieties and protection of farmers’ rights |
| Geographical Indications | Market recognition for traditional produce, e.g. Kashmir’s Mushk Budji rice |
| Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and ITPGRFA | Access and benefit-sharing for genetic resources |
Static Dimensions
- Rice: Oryza sativa has two main subspecies – indica (tropical, lowland) and japonica (temperate, cold-tolerant). India is a centre of rice diversity; its origin is debated (Yangtze valley and Ganga plains).
- Landraces and germplasm: locally adapted traditional varieties that act as genetic reservoirs. Related concepts: genetic erosion, gene banks, and in-situ and ex-situ conservation.
- Institutions: ICAR, the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR, national gene bank), IRRI (Philippines) and SKUAST-Kashmir.
- Legal framework: Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001 (PPVFR Authority; recognises farmers’ varieties), Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).
- Kashmir crops: Mushk Budji, a GI-tagged scented traditional rice; Kashmir’s paddy is grown in the cool Jhelum valley.
- Archaeology: Burzahom (Neolithic site near Srinagar) and Gufkral (Neolithic site in Pulwama).
Analysis
- Genetic reservoir: landraces hold traits such as cold tolerance that are valuable for breeding as climate change brings erratic temperatures.
- Cost of modern breeding: the focus on yield narrowed the genetic base – a clear example of genetic erosion.
- History through genomics: DNA evidence offers clues about the movement of crops and people, but cannot prove routes alone; archaeology and ancient DNA are needed.
- Predicted, not proven: the gene–trait links require field trials.
- Interdisciplinary value: genetics, archaeology and palaeoclimate science together can reconstruct agricultural history.
Challenges
- Loss of landraces to high-yielding varieties and changing land use.
- Small and incomplete sampling.
- Limited archaeological dating and ancient-DNA work.
- Benefit-sharing and protection of farmers’ rights over traditional varieties.
- Climate pressure on Himalayan agriculture.
Way Forward
- Conserve landraces in gene banks and on farms, with incentives for farmers.
- Validate traits through field trials and use them in breeding for cold tolerance.
- Expand sampling across Himalayan regions (Nepal, Tibet) and sequence ancient grains.
- Register and protect traditional varieties under the PPVFR and GI laws.
- Support interdisciplinary research on crop history.
India Implications
- Climate-resilient breeding: cold-tolerance genes from Himalayan landraces can help protect rice yields in hill regions and during cold spells.
- Farmers’ rights: traditional varieties conserved by hill communities need registration and fair benefit-sharing when used in breeding.
- Heritage and markets: GI-tagged speciality rice can raise incomes from small, high-altitude farms.
Himachal has its own cold-adapted rice landraces, such as the red rice of Rohru (Chhohartu) and the traditional red rice of Kullu valley, grown at high altitude in short seasons much like Kashmir’s. CSK HPKV Palampur and the NBPGR Regional Station at Shimla are well placed to conserve and study these varieties – and the Kashmir study suggests they too may hold valuable cold-tolerance genes worth protecting under the PPVFR Act.
ConclusionKashmir’s rice landraces are living records of crop migration and a reservoir of genes for climate-resilient agriculture. Conserving them and validating their traits can link heritage to future food security.
Prelims Practice
Q. Consider the following pairs (Site : Location / Significance):
- Burzahom : Neolithic archaeological site near Srinagar
- Gufkral : Prehistoric archaeological site in Kashmir
- Both sites : Directly established the exact radiocarbon date of the earliest rice cultivation in Kashmir
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (a)
Pair 3 is incorrect: rice grains from Burzahom and Gufkral could not be directly radiocarbon-dated, so the arrival of rice in Kashmir (around 1000–1500 BCE) remains an estimate.
Q. What are landraces, and why are they important for maintaining crop genetic diversity and improving agricultural resilience?
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
From Climate Targets to Energy Justice
The author argues that India should reframe climate change as a set of national crises arising from unequal energy use, rather than as a global temperature goal driven by aggregate emissions. Policy focus, he says, must shift from production to consumption patterns, since emerging economies use far less energy to reach comparable well-being. The call is for a climate-justice agenda centred on electrification and national action, not a Western-set “global consensus”.
Key Facts
- Critique of the climate regime:
- Western academic “epistemic communities” built the framework of global values, goods, models and rules; UN institutions gave them legitimacy, and international law enforced them within countries.
- There was no commitment to transfer finance as “means of implementation”, and technology transfer was treated as a scientific issue rather than an implementation one.
- Thirty-five years of negotiation gave the Global South mainly empty resolutions.
- Five reasons to reframe:
- The US Executive Order “Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements” (20 January 2025) now echoes Global South reservations by prioritising economic efficiency and prosperity.
- In the Global South, “carbonising” will precede “decarbonising”; the UN’s new call for stabilisation rather than reduction only partly recognises this.
- The energy needed for human well-being has never been discussed – China reached Western-comparable well-being with much lower energy use.
- China’s nationally driven path to stabilisation is missed in UN reports, while US emissions rose by 133 megatons in 2025.
- China and India limit consumption as a share of GDP, replace the internal combustion engine and meet new demand through solar, wind and hydro.
- China installed more wind and solar in 2025 than all other nations combined (about ten times the US addition); about 50% of its electricity could be non-fossil by 2030, and it registered 5.62 million new energy vehicles in the first half of 2025.
- Cheap renewables alone will not drive the transition, the author says: renewable energy is decentralised, intermittent and zero-marginal-cost, so a state strategy is needed.
- Trends ignored by global models: cities in emerging economies use less energy per unit of well-being; the West is about one-fifth of the world’s population but uses a disproportionate share of energy; and populations are ageing. Hence, he concludes, there are a few national crises rather than one global crisis.
- Extreme events hit the Global South where insurance is thin, so token climate finance should give way to early warning and regional technical cooperation.
Kyoto Protocol vs Paris Agreement
| Feature | Kyoto Protocol (1997) | Paris Agreement (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Who has targets | Developed (Annex I) countries only | All parties, through NDCs |
| Nature of targets | Binding, top-down emission cuts | Nationally determined, bottom-up pledges |
| Temperature goal | None explicit | Well below 2°C, pursuing 1.5°C |
| Finance and markets | Clean Development Mechanism | Article 9 (finance), Article 6 (carbon markets) |
India’s Key Climate Commitments
| Commitment | Target |
|---|---|
| Net zero emissions | By 2070 |
| Non-fossil energy capacity | 500 GW by 2030 |
| Emissions intensity of GDP | 45% reduction by 2030 from 2005 levels |
| Behavioural change | Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) |
Static Dimensions
- UNFCCC (1992): principles of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), equity, and “means of implementation” (finance, technology, capacity building).
- Kyoto Protocol (1997) vs Paris Agreement (2015): Kyoto had binding targets for developed countries; Paris relies on nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Article 9 covers finance and Article 6 carbon markets.
- Climate finance: the $100 billion goal, and the COP29 New Collective Quantified Goal ($300 billion a year by 2035, with a $1.3 trillion aspiration).
- India’s commitments: net zero by 2070, 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, a 45% cut in emissions intensity by 2030, and LiFE.
- Energy justice and per capita emissions: India’s per capita emissions are far below the global average and developed-country levels.
- Concepts: carbon budget, historical responsibility, climate justice, consumption-based accounting and the loss and damage fund.
- Related: India’s positions at COP, the debate on the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and the International Solar Alliance.
Analysis
- Consumption view: looking at national energy use and lifestyles exposes the outsized role of rich economies, strengthening India’s equity argument.
- Electrification trend: technology change (EVs, cheap renewables) may cut the energy needed per unit of well-being – something global models often miss.
- Changed geopolitics: US withdrawal and America-first policy remove a pillar of the old consensus and open space for developing-country leadership.
- Role of the state: decentralised, intermittent renewables need planning, grids and storage, so market prices alone will not deliver the transition.
- Limits of the argument: declaring “no global crisis” understates the collective nature of the carbon budget and cross-border impacts; China is also the world’s largest emitter, so its path is not a simple model for India; and “stabilisation” does not meet the 1.5°C pathway.
- Finance gap: the critique of token finance is valid, since promised flows remain well below needs.
Challenges
- Developing countries’ growing energy demand against limited carbon space.
- Inadequate climate finance and technology transfer.
- Intermittency, storage and grid constraints.
- Dependence on China for solar and battery supply chains and technology (export controls).
- Risk from border carbon measures such as CBAM.
- Disagreement among countries on any new framework.
Way Forward
- Push for climate justice through equity-based, consumption-sensitive metrics in UNFCCC talks.
- Demand predictable, grant-based finance and technology transfer as implementation commitments.
- Accelerate electrification: renewables, storage, grid modernisation, EVs and efficient cities.
- Build Global South coalitions (BRICS, G77, ISA) for a common agenda on adaptation, early warning and regional technical cooperation.
- Strengthen national climate planning, carbon markets and domestic manufacturing capacity.
- Prepare for CBAM-type measures through diplomacy and standards.
India Implications
- Negotiating stance: a consumption- and equity-based framing strengthens India’s case on historical responsibility and carbon space.
- Domestic transition: electrification of transport, industry and cooking can cut oil imports while meeting rising energy demand.
- Trade risk: carbon border measures make domestic decarbonisation of exports an economic, not only environmental, priority.
Himachal Pradesh, with about 27,000 MW of identified hydropower potential and its goal of becoming a “Green Energy State”, is central to India’s electrification push – but large hydro also brings local costs to fragile valleys such as Kinnaur. The 2023 and 2025 monsoon disasters show why early warning, adaptation finance and regional technical cooperation – the author’s priorities – matter more to hill States than headline global temperature targets.
ConclusionThe author urges India to lead a shift from global temperature targets to energy justice, treating climate as a question of national energy use, equity and implementation. A credible agenda will combine fair demands for finance and technology with fast domestic electrification.
Prelims Practice
Q. Consider the following statements regarding India’s climate commitments:
- India has announced a net-zero emissions target for 2070.
- India has announced a target of 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
- India’s climate commitments include reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 from the 2005 level.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a)1 only
- (b)1 and 2 only
- (c)2 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (d)
All three were announced at or after COP26 (Glasgow, 2021); the 45% intensity cut and the 50% non-fossil share of installed power capacity by 2030 are part of India’s updated NDC (2022).
Q. What is climate justice? Explain how historical responsibility, per capita emissions and development needs shape climate negotiations between developed and developing countries.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
Beyond Kudankulam’s Fence, a Cybersecurity Challenge
The author argues that the Kudankulam data breach (reported on 15 July 2026) shows that India’s critical-infrastructure cybersecurity lags behind a perimeter that now extends well beyond the facility. The reactor was not hacked, but sensitive project files were exposed through a contractor’s server in a commercial data centre. The central question: who protects critical infrastructure information once it leaves the operator’s control?
Key Facts
- The ransomware group World Leaks posted parts of an alleged leak of about 19,000 files (14.3 GB) on its dark-web portal, spanning 2016 to about 2025 – engineering drawings, supplier information, inspection records, meeting minutes and insurance documents.
- Reliance Infrastructure (EPC contractor for Kudankulam Units 3 and 4) confirmed the breach, saying the data sat on a server at its third-party data centre, Yotta, and that the government was notified.
- Yotta confirmed ransomware activity on 29 May and said it was contained; by June, the attackers were claiming the data and demanding ransom.
- NPCIL said the data related only to non-nuclear infrastructure, not to systems supporting nuclear safety. Nothing public shows that the air-gapped reactor, control or safety systems were accessed, and ransomware groups’ claims are not evidence in themselves.
- Precedent: in 2019, Dtrack malware (linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group) was found on Kudankulam’s Internet-facing administrative network. In both cases the core held and the exposure was at the periphery.
- Governance gap:
- A “protected system” belongs to the infrastructure, and obligations fall on its operator.
- Once data passes to contractors, sub-contractors and data centres, protection depends mostly on contracts.
- The DPDP Act does not generally cover engineering drawings and technical data that contain no personal data.
- Accountability gets passed along the chain – operator, contractor, host.
- Expansion adds risk: Kudankulam growing to 6,000 MW, smart grids, private entry into defence and space, and government data moving to commercial clouds.
- Author’s five steps: security duties that follow the data; real data classification and minimisation; third-party risk assessment and red-teaming of the vendor ecosystem; zero-trust for projects of national importance; and a single national supply-chain framework among CERT-In, NCIIPC, sector regulators and operators.
Kudankulam Cyber Incidents: 2019 vs 2026
| Aspect | 2019 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | Dtrack malware (linked to the Lazarus Group) | Ransomware at a contractor’s third-party data centre |
| Where | Plant’s Internet-facing administrative network | Contractor server at Yotta, outside the plant |
| What was exposed | Administrative network | About 19,000 project files (14.3 GB): drawings, supplier data, inspection records |
| Reactor systems | Not affected (air-gapped) | No public evidence of access (air-gapped) |
| Lesson | The core held both times; the weakness lies at the periphery and in the supply chain | |
Who Protects What
| Institution / law | Role | Gap highlighted |
|---|---|---|
| Section 70, IT Act, 2000 | Notification of Critical Information Infrastructure as a “protected system” | Duties attach to the system and its operator, not to data held by vendors |
| NCIIPC (Section 70A, 2014) | Nodal agency for protecting Critical Information Infrastructure | No clear reach over contractors and commercial hosts |
| CERT-In (Section 70B) | Incident response; 2022 directions on six-hour reporting and 180-day log retention | Reactive; does not assign supply-chain responsibility in advance |
| DPDP Act, 2023 | Protection of digital personal data | Does not cover non-personal technical and engineering data |
| AERB / NPCIL | Nuclear safety regulation / plant operation | Focus on plant systems rather than vendor-held information |
Static Dimensions
- NCIIPC: set up under Section 70A of the IT Act, 2000 (notified in 2014) as the nodal agency for Critical Information Infrastructure, which is notified as a “protected system” under Section 70.
- CERT-In: Section 70B; 2022 directions on six-hour incident reporting and 180-day log retention.
- Nuclear regulation: Atomic Energy Act, 1962; AERB (regulator); NPCIL (under the Department of Atomic Energy). Kudankulam uses Russian VVER reactors – Units 1–2 operating, Units 3–6 under construction with Russian cooperation.
- Concepts: supply-chain attack, air gap, zero trust, red-teaming, ransomware, data minimisation, and critical information infrastructure (power, nuclear, banking, telecom, defence, space).
- Related laws and events: DPDP Act, 2023; National Cyber Security Policy, 2013; the recent SBI breach and CERT-In advisories; and the Stuxnet attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities as a precedent.
Analysis
- Perimeter fallacy: air gaps protect control systems, but strategic documents held by vendors reveal contractors, access routes and phishing targets.
- Accountability gap: the law protects systems, not information across a supply chain, so no single party is clearly liable.
- Repeat pattern: the 2019 and 2026 incidents show that lessons about the periphery were not institutionalised.
- Privatisation effect: opening strategic sectors to private firms widens the attack surface faster than rules adapt.
- Reasonable caution: NPCIL’s clarification should be taken seriously – the risk is future misuse of leaked information, not a present compromise of the reactor.
Challenges
- Contract-based, uneven security across layers of sub-contractors.
- Lack of data classification and retention discipline.
- Weak oversight of commercial data centres and cloud providers.
- Foreign technology partners and global supply chains.
- Multiple agencies with overlapping mandates.
- No coverage of non-personal strategic data.
Way Forward
- Bind all contractors, sub-contractors and cloud providers to defined standards, audits and liability through procurement contracts.
- Classify data and limit holdings to what is needed, for as long as needed.
- Replace annual compliance certificates with third-party risk assessments and ecosystem-wide red-teaming.
- Adopt zero-trust architecture for projects of national importance.
- Create a single national supply-chain security framework for critical infrastructure, assigning responsibility before a breach – through legislation or a wider reading of the IT Act.
- Bring non-personal strategic data within a regulatory framework.
India Implications
- National security: leaked drawings and supplier details can enable targeted phishing, sabotage planning or coercion, even without a direct hack of the plant.
- Nuclear expansion: India’s plans to scale up nuclear power, including private participation, require supply-chain security to be built in from the start.
- Digital public infrastructure: as government data moves to commercial clouds, the same contractor-chain gaps apply across sectors.
Himachal’s critical infrastructure is largely hydropower – projects such as Nathpa Jhakri (SJVN) and the Bhakra dam (BBMB) in Bilaspur – along with the State’s transmission grid. Their design, dam-safety and supplier data also pass through long chains of contractors and consultants. In a border State, holding every contractor and data host to the same security standard as the operator is as relevant for HP’s dams as for Kudankulam.
ConclusionCritical infrastructure today is a layered system with many access points outside the operator’s control. India must hold every organisation that holds a facility’s secrets to the standard those secrets deserve.
Q. What is Critical Information Infrastructure (CII)? Explain its significance for India’s national security and economic stability, with suitable examples.
(15 Marks, 250 Words)
