Agritourism in India

Source: BL 

Why in News?

Himachal Pradesh (HP) is promoting agri-tourism to strengthen its economy where tourism contributes around 7% to the State's GDP. 

What is Agritourism? 

• About: Agritourism is a form of commercial enterprise that connects agriculture with tourism, attracting visitors to farms for education or entertainment while providing additional income to farmers.  
• Benefits: 
  • Boosting Rural Economy: It provides farmers with alternative income through farm/home stays, tours, and hands-on experiences, reducing reliance on uncertain crop yields and stabilizing finances. 
    • It creates jobs for artisans, guides, cooks, and transport providers, offering rural women and youth new employment opportunities. 
  • Sustainable Tourism: It promotes organic farming, water conservation, and eco-friendly stays, unlike mass tourism, which strains resources. 
  • Preserving Agricultural Heritage: It helps preserve traditional farming, crafts, folk music, and indigenous knowledge, allowing tourists to experience and support rural heritage. 
    • It preserves folk arts, pottery, weaving, and traditional food processing/cuisine and organic produce. 
  • Builds Social Capital: It builds social capital by fostering connections between rural and urban communities through shared experiences, knowledge exchange, and economic interactions. 
  • Educational Experiences: It educates visitors on organic farming, animal husbandry, and environmental conservation, with schools and universities organizing farm visits for hands-on learning. 
  • Aligning with Government Policies: Schemes like Dekho Apna Desh, and Agriculture Infrastructure Fund support farmers in agri-tourism by improving infrastructure, marketing, and training. 
• State-Level Initiatives:  
  • Maharashtra: Maharashtra was the first state to promote agritourism, establishing the Agro-Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) in 2005.  
    • ATDC runs a 28-acre pilot project in Baramati, Pune, with 328 agritourism centers across 30 districts. 
    • E.g., Vineyards (Nashik, Pune) and mango (Ratnagiri, Raigad) orchards in Maharashtra. 
  • Karnataka: Karnataka's Coorg offers coffee plantation stays where visitors experience coffee production from picking to brewing.  
  • Kerala: Launched the Kerala Agro-Tourism Network that offers visitors a chance to explore aromatic gardens, learn about spice cultivation, and buy organic spices.  
  • Sikkim: Sikkim, India's first organic state, offers agri-tourism with farm visits, sustainable agriculture lessons, and farmer interactions. 
  • Punjab: Tractor rides, traditional meals (sarson da saag and makki di roti), and folk performances showcase and preserve rural culture.  
• Potential: 
  • Bihar: Muzaffarpur’s litchi orchards offer agri-tourism, while Nalanda’s organic farms attract wellness tourists. 
  • Rajasthan: Rajasthan’s desert agriculture, camel farming, and Bishnoi village stays offer insights into rural life, sustainable farming, and wildlife conservation. 
  • North-East India: North-East has rich biodiversity and traditional farming methods that can attract eco-conscious travelers.  
    • E.g., Wet Rice Cultivation by Apatani tribe in Ziro Valley (Arunachal Pradesh), Bamboo Drip Irrigation (Meghalaya). 
  • Chhattisgarh: Tribal farm tourism in Bastar allows visitors to experience traditional Mahua brewing and organic farming. 
  • Gujarat: Kutch’s Banni Grasslands offer pastoral tourism with the Rabari community, while Anand features dairy tourism with Amul. 
• Government Policies & Initiatives:  
  • Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Develop theme-based tourism circuits to boost local economies by showcasing India's culture, heritage, and natural resources. E.g., Tribal Circuit. 
  • PMJUGA: As a part of Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PMJUGA), 1,000 homestays are being developed in tribal areas to boost tourism and livelihoods. 
  • Dekho Apna Desh Scheme: It boosts domestic tourism, encouraging Indians to explore lesser-known destinations. 
  • National Strategy for Promotion of Rural Homestays, 2022: Prepared by the Ministry of Tourism, it supports agritourism as part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative. 
• Agro-Tourism Destinations in India: 

What Challenges are Associated with Agritourism? 

• High Competition: Low awareness and competition from eco, cultural, and adventure tourism limit agro-tourism growth. 
• Poor Accessibility: Poor roads, transport, and healthcare deter tourists, while financial limits hinder farmers' investment in accommodation, training, or marketing.  
  • E.g., Agro-tourism sites in Uttarakhand remain inaccessible during monsoons. 
• Land Use Conflict: Agri-tourism can divert land from farming, with farmers prioritizing tourism over crop production as income from tourism through homestays, resorts, and restaurants is more profitable and provides immediate cash flow. 
• Monoculture: Monoculture dominated by wheat and rice in northern states like Punjab, Haryana, UP, MP etc discourages agritourism as tourists prefer interactive farming activities like horticulture, floriculture, and livestock rearing. 
• Seasonal Dependency: Agri-tourism income fluctuates with seasons, peaking during crop harvests but declining in off-seasons or due to harsh weather events. 
  • E.g., Rajasthan's desert farms face low summer tourism due to heat, while Assam's tea estates see declines in monsoons due to floods and roadblocks. 
• Security Concerns: Remote agro-tourism sites face risks like theft, wild animals, and limited emergency services. E.g., Wild elephant threats in Karnataka. 
• Lack of Skills: Farmers and rural entrepreneurs lack training in customer service, tour management, and accommodation, making visitor engagement challenging.  
  • Poor planning further hampers the balance between farming and tourism. 

Way Forward

• Infrastructure Development: Improve rural connectivity by investing in better roads, transportation, water supply, and electricity for easy access. 
  • E.g., develop dedicated agrarian tourism circuits to enhance visitor experience. 
• Accommodation Facilities: Promote sustainable, affordable farm stays with financial support for farmers to develop eco-friendly accommodations. 
  • Further, it needs to be registered and in compliance with rules and regulations of the local authorities to address security concerns. 
• Skill Development: Train farmers and youth as tourist mitras in hospitality, customer service, and farm management by collaborating with agriculture universities and private firms under PPP to provide hands-on training in agritourism. 
• Community Participation: Form FPOs for collective agritourism management and involve tourism boards, investors, and NGOs for infrastructure and skill development. 
  • Empower Gram Sabhas to develop and promote rural tourism, linking their Finance Commission grants to the success of such initiatives. 
• Regulatory Framework: Create clear agritourism policies with defined activities and safety norms, and implement single-window clearance for faster approvals. 

Drishti Mains Question:  Discuss the role of agritourism in boosting rural economies and employment in India. What measures can be taken to enhance its growth?

Tea industry and Jhumoir Dance

Source: IE 

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Jhumoir Binandini 2025, a cultural event in Guwahati, Assam, celebrating 200 years of Assam’s tea industry and its Tea Tribe through the traditional Jhumoir dance. 

What is Jhumoir Dance? 

• About: Jhumur, a traditional folk dance of Assam’s Adivasi tea tribes, was brought by the tea garden community from Jharkhand’s Chotanagpur region.  
  • It belongs to the Sadan ethnolinguistic group (origins to the Chotanagpur region) and is performed during harvest, weddings, and gatherings. 
• Performance and Style: Jhumur is performed by men and women in a circular formation.  
  • It features rhythmic footwork, and lively music, accompanied by Madal, Dhol, Taal, and Flute. 
• Cultural Significance: Jhumur dance reflects unity, pride, and the struggles of Assam’s tea garden communities, with songs narrating migration, exploitation, and social struggles of the tea garden community. 

What are the Key Facts About Tea? 

• Origin of Tea in India: Tea cultivation began in the early 19th century when the British discovered the Singpo tribals of Assam consuming a drink from wild tea bushes. Recognizing its potential, the British commercialized tea cultivation. 
• Characteristics of Tea Plants: Tea belongs to the Camelliaceae family, with two main species Camellia sinensis (Short-leaved ‘China’ variety) and Camellia assamica (Broad-leaved ‘Assam’ variety). 
  • It is an evergreen shrub, growing up to 30 feet if unpruned. Thrives in sub-tropical climates. 
    • Tea thrives in 16-32°C, 150 cm annual rainfall, and 80% humidity. It requires a frost-free environment, and temperatures above 35°C and below 10°C are harmful for the bush. 
    • Tea grows best in slightly acidic, well-drained soil with porous subsoil for water percolation. 
  • Fresh leaves contain ~4% caffeine. Tea seeds yield tea oil, used for cooking but different from tea tree oil used for medicinal purposes. 
• Tea Varieties: India holds Geographical Indication (GI) tags for Darjeeling Tea, Assam Orthodox Tea, Nilgiri Orthodox Tea and Kangra Tea. 
  • Darjeeling tea, known for its unique aroma and flavor, was India’s first GI-tagged product. 
• India’s Tea Industry: India has 39,700 tea estates and employs over one million workers. 
  • India is the second-largest tea producer after China, contributing 21% of global tea production and the world's largest producer of black tea.  
  • India is the 4^th largest exporter of tea. In 2023-24, the tea export value stood at 781.79 Million USD. 
    • India exports tea to over 120 countries, the top importers are Iraq, UAE, Russia, US, UK, Germany. 
  • India consumes 80% of its tea production and 18% of global black tea. 
  • The tea industry directly employs 1.16 million workers and indirectly supports an equal number. 
  • Small Tea Growers (STGs) contribute 52% of total production, with 2.3 lakh growers involved. 
• Regional Production Trends:  
  • North India (83% of total production): Assam (Assam Valley, Cachar), West Bengal (Dooars, Terai, Darjeeling). 
  • South India (17% of total production): Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka. 
• Tea Board of India (TBI): The TBI is a statutory body established in 1954 under the Tea Act, 1953, under the Ministry of Commerce.  
  • Headquartered in Kolkata, it also has overseas offices in London, Dubai, and Moscow.  
  • The Board consists of 31 members, including the Chairman, and is reconstituted every three years. 

What are the Challenges in the Indian Tea Industry? 

• Declining Tea Production: India's tea production fell by 66 million kg in Jan-Oct 2024, with a further 45-50 million kg decline expected. 
  • Loss of first and second flush crops (which fetch the highest prices) is impacting revenue and pushing tea prices higher. 
• Impact of Climate Change: Extreme temperature fluctuations, including heat, rain deficits, and excess rainfall, harm tea bushes, reducing yield and quality. 
• Pesticide Ban: The ban on pesticides like Aldrin, and Captafol has increased production costs as growers seek alternatives, while demand for pesticide-free tea has risen in Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia, growers struggle with pest control. 
• Wages of Tea Workers: The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) report highlights inadequate wages and lapses in labor law implementation for Assam’s tea workers. 
  • State-owned Tea Corporation workers face delayed or irregular salary payments. 
  • Lack of basic worker welfare measures, including housing, healthcare, and retirement benefits. 
• Rising Costs and Market Pressures: Production losses and rising costs are putting financial strain on STGs . 
  • Competition from Kenya, Sri Lanka, and China is making Indian tea exports less competitive. 

Way Forward 

• Climate Resilience Measures: Promote climate-smart agricultural practices, such as drought-resistant tea varieties and better irrigation systems. 
  • Encourage agroforestry to improve soil health and mitigate climate impact. 
• Sustainable and Organic Tea Production: Expand organic and pesticide-free tea farming under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) to align with global demand. 
• Labor Welfare Reforms: Ensure minimum and timely wages for tea plantation workers.  
  • Improves access to basic welfare services and amenities such as housing, medical care, primary education, water supply, and sanitation to tea workers, in line with the Labour Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020, and the Code on Social Security, 2020, which have subsumed the Plantation Labour Act, 1951. 
• Market Diversification & Export Promotion: Strengthen India’s presence in new export markets like Africa and Latin America. 
  • Promote value-added tea products, such as flavored and specialty teas, for international consumers. 
• Support for STGs: Increase access to low-interest credit and modern technology. Encourage cooperative farming models to enhance collective bargaining power. 

Drishti Mains Question:  Evaluate India’s position in the global tea market. What steps should be taken to increase its competitiveness in tea exports?

Amir Khusrau and Sufism

Source: IE 

Why in News? 

The Prime Minister praised Amir Khusrau and Sufism, highlighting it as India’s pluralistic heritage. 

Who is Amir Khusrau? 

• About: He was a 13^th century Sufi poet and musician who was bestowed with the title of Tuti-yi-Hind, the ‘Parrot of India’.  
  • His real name was Abu'l Hasan Yamin ud-Din Khusrau and was born in Patiali, Etah district of Uttar Pradesh. 

• Contributions: He made lasting contributions to Indian classical music, Sufi qawwali, and Persian literature.  
  • Language: He is credited for developing Hindavi, a precursor to modern Hindi and Urdu. 
    • His literary works blended Persian, Arabic, and Indian traditions, enriching Indian linguistic heritage. 
    • His literary works include Divans (poetry collections), Mathnawis (narrative poetry), and treatises. 
  • Music: He is credited with creating new ragas and developing musical forms like Khayal (a form of classical Hindustani music), and Tarana (a rhythmic, fast-paced vocal composition),  
    • It is said that Amir Khusrau was one of the first expounders of the art of making Ghazal and Qawwali (devotional Sufi music traditions). 
    • He is believed to have invented musical instruments such as the sitar and tabla. 
• Role in the Delhi Sultanate: He served at least five Sultans i.e., Muiz ud din Qaiqabad, Jalaluddin Khalji, Alauddin Khalji, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, and Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, and many other powerful patrons over five decades. 
  • Sultan Jalaluddin Khalji honored him with the title of Amir in recognition of his literary excellence. 
• Sufi Influence: Amir Khusrau was the beloved disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya and drew spiritual inspiration from him, shaping his poetry and music. 

What is Sufism? 

• About: Sufism is the mystical and spiritual dimension of Islam, focusing on inner purification, love, and direct connection with God (Allah).  
  • It emerged in the 7th and 10th centuries CE against the rigidity of institutionalised religion and emphasizes devotion, self-discipline, and renunciation of materialism to attain spiritual enlightenment.  
  • It ran parallel to the spiritual Bhakti movement in Hindu tradition emphasizing devotion (bhakti), love, and inner realization over ritualistic practices. 
• Core Practices: Sufis organized themselves into communities centered around khanqahs (hospices), led by a master (shaikh or pir).  
  • Sufis established silsilas (Orders of Sufi ) linking disciples to the God, and Sufi tombs (dargahs) became pilgrimage sites for spiritual blessings. 
  • Sufis practice self-mortification, zikr (remembrance of God), sama (musical recitals), and Fana-o-Baqa (dissolution of self for union with God) to induce mystical states of ecstasy.  
• Sufism in India: Al-Hujwiri was the earliest prominent Sufi in India, settled in Lahore, and authored Kashf-ul Mahjub.  
  • The 13^th and 14^th centuries marked the growth of Sufism, spreading messages of compassion and love for all, known as sulh e-kul. 
• Sufi Orders in India: By the 12th century, the Sufis were organised in 12 orders or Silsilas. Major Sufi Orders are: 
  • Chishti Order: It is the most influential Sufi order in India and was founded by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer.  
    • Key persons associated with it were Akbar (follower of Salim Chishti), Qutbuddin Bhaktiyar Kaki, Baba Farid, Nizamuddin Auliya, and Amir Khusrau. 
  • Suhrawardi Order: It was founded by Bahauddin Zakaria in Multan and embraced luxury and state support. 
    • It combined religious knowledge with mysticism, stressing personal experience and inner purification for divine knowledge. 
  • Naqshbandi Order: It emphasised the primacy of Shariat and opposed innovations (biddat) and rejected Sufi traditions like musical assemblies (sama) and pilgrimages to saints’ tombs. 
    • Mughal emperor Aurangzeb followed the Naqshbandi Order. 
  • Rishi Order (Kashmir): It was established by Shaikh Nuruddin Wali and flourished in Kashmir during the 15th and 16th centuries.. 
    • It draws inspiration from the popular Shaivite bhakti tradition and being rooted in the socio-cultural milieu of the region. 
• Impact: 
  • Religious: Emphasized personal devotion, tawhid (oneness of God), and equality, fostering Hindu-Muslim coexistence.  
    • The Chishti order welcomed all faiths. 
  • Social: Attracted marginalized groups, weakened caste hierarchies, and established khanqahs and madrasas as learning centers. 
  • Cultural: Influenced Indian music, notably qawwali, and enriched vernacular literature through poets like Bulleh Shah and Sultan Bahu. 
  • Political: Inspired Sulh-i-Kul, shaping Akbar’s religious tolerance policies. Rulers patronized Sufis to reinforce authority and manage religious diversity 

Conclusion 

Amir Khusrau’s contributions to literature, music, and Sufism reflect India’s pluralistic and syncretic traditions. His works bridged Persian and Indian cultures, while Sufism, alongside the Bhakti movement, fostered social harmony. These traditions played a crucial role in shaping India’s composite cultural and religious ethos. 

Drishti Mains Question:  Discuss the contributions of sufism in shaping India’s cultural and social heritage.

State of Madras vs V.G. Row Case

Source: IE 

Why in News? 

The Supreme Court’s ruling in State of Madras vs V.G. Row, 1952, established the test of reasonableness for laws restricting fundamental rights. 

• It set a precedent for judicial review, ensuring that restrictions on civil liberties must be fair, just, and not excessive. 

What is the State of Madras vs V.G. Row Case? 

• Background: The case challenged the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1950, which empowered the government to restrict associations deemed prejudicial to public order, under which the Madras government banned the People's Education Society in 1950. 
  • V.G. Row, a member of the banned society, contended that the law violated Article 19(1)(c) (Right to Form Associations) and imposed an unreasonable restriction under Article 19(4). 
• Supreme Court (SC) Ruling: 
  • In 1952, the SC struck down the law as unconstitutional, ruling that excessive executive discretion in banning associations was arbitrary and violated Article 19(1)(c).  
  • It emphasized that restrictions must be fair, just, and not excessive in relation to their objective.  
  • SC laid out a framework to test reasonableness of restriction based on factors like the nature of the right infringed, purpose and extent of the restriction, proportionality to the issue addressed, and prevailing socio-political conditions. 
• Significance:  
  • Evolution of Constitutional Jurisprudence: The reasonableness test became foundational, evolving into the structured proportionality test used today to evaluate state actions that limit fundamental rights. 
  • Impact on Modern Legal Frameworks: Laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), and Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) have been scrutinized under this to ensure they do not arbitrarily infringe on civil liberties. 

Read more: Fundamental Rights (Part-1), Fundamental Rights (Part-2)

Drishti Mains Question:  Q. How does the principle of ‘reasonable restrictions’ safeguard national interest while upholding democratic freedoms?

HeroRATS for Tuberculosis Elimination

Source: TH 

Why in News?  

A Tanzanian non-profit organization conducts research to train African giant pouched rats, or HeroRATS, to detect Tuberculosis (TB).  

• These rats show high accuracy, especially in resource-limited areas. This research could help speed up TB detection in countries like India. 

What are the Key Findings of the Research on HeroRATS? 

• HeroRATS: These rats have an exceptional sense of smell due to their sensitive olfactory receptors, allowing them to detect diseases like TB. 
  • HeroRATS undergoes a training program, learning to detect TB in sputum samples (thick mucus from lungs). They can screen 100 samples in just 20 minutes, compared to 3–4 days for traditional methods.  
    • Detected samples are then confirmed using Ziehl-Neelsen and fluorescent microscopy. 
• Increased Detection Rates: HeroRATS doubled TB detection rates in children compared to conventional testing. 
  • The rats were six times more effective at detecting TB in patients with a low bacillary load compared to those with a higher concentration of bacteria. 
  • They outperformed traditional microscopy, which often fails in such cases. 

How can HeroRATS Help India’s TB Elimination Efforts? 

• Potential Benefits for India: HeroRATS provide fast, cost-effective TB screening, especially for children and smear-negative cases, aiding early diagnosis and reducing transmission, thereby contributing to lowering the TB burden in India. 
  • Integrating rat-based TB detection into the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) through a phased rollout, starting in high-TB burden states, can enhance case detection. 
• TB in India: India has the highest burden of TB with two deaths occurring every three minutes from TB. 
  • NTEP, implemented under the aegis of the National Health Mission, aims to make India TB-free by 2025, ahead of the global 2030 target.  
  • TB incidence declined by 17.7% (237 to 195 per 100,000) from 2015 to 2023, while TB deaths fell by 21.4% (28 to 22 per lakh). 

What are the Key Facts About Tuberculosis? 

• About:  TB is a bacterial infection (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) affecting the lungs, spreading through the air.  
  • Preventable and curable with antibiotics. About 25% of the global population is infected, but only 5–10% develop symptoms. 
• Risk Factors: Weak immune system, diabetes, malnutrition, tobacco, and alcohol use. 
• Diagnosis: WHO recommends rapid molecular tests (Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra). Traditional methods struggle with low bacterial loads, especially in children difficult due to their inability to produce sufficient sputum for testing. 
• Prevention: The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is given to infants to prevent TB. 
• Treatment: Standard TB treatment lasts 4-6 months. Incomplete treatment leads to drug-resistant TB. 
• Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB): It is resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin (medicines used to treat TB), treatable with costlier alternatives. 
• Extensively Drug-Resistant TB: It is more severe, with limited treatment options. 
• TB and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): HIV patients are 16 times more vulnerable to TB, a leading cause of their deaths. 

Initiatives in India’s Maritime Sector

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

The Ministry for Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched major initiatives to modernize India's maritime infrastructure. 

What are the Key Initiatives Taken to Modernize Maritime Infrastructure? 

• One Nation-One Port Process (ONOP): Standardizes port operations, reducing documentation inconsistencies. 
  • Through the ONOP process, the Ministry standardized documentation, reducing container operation documents by 33% and bulk cargo documents by 29%. 
• Sagar Ankalan – Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) 2023-24: Evaluates port efficiency based on turnaround time, berth idle time, and cargo handling. 
• Bharat Global Ports Consortium: Expands India’s maritime reach by integrating key stakeholders in port operations, finance, and infrastructure development. 
  • The consortium of India Ports Global Ltd (operations), Sagarmala Development Company Limited (finance), and  Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Limited (infrastructure development) will drive port expansion, operations, and financing, strengthening India’s role in global trade and logistics. 
• MAITRI Platform: Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface (MAITRI) to digitize trade documentation, reduce processing time, optimize trade flows, and contribute to sustainable development. 
  • It enables the Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC) between India and the UAE (under IMEC) and aims to expand to BIMSTEC and ASEAN using AI and Blockchain for efficiency and security. 
• NCoEGPS: National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) to promote eco-friendly shipping and carbon footprint reduction. 
  • It promotes cleaner fuels and eco-friendly port management, aiming to build a future-ready maritime ecosystem aligned with global environmental goals. 

Aditya-L1 Mission Captures Solar Flare

Source: TH 

The Aditya-L1 mission has captured the first-ever image of a solar flare 'kernel' in the lower solar atmosphere using the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) payload. 

• Solar Observation: SUIT detected an X6.3-class solar flare, one of the most intense solar eruptions, in the Near Ultraviolet (NUV) wavelength (200-400 nm). 
• Solar Flares: Solar flares are massive explosions on the Sun’s atmosphere that release energy, light, and high-speed particles into space, often linked to coronal mass ejections (CMEs). 
  • Solar flares are classified into A, B, C, M, and X categories, with each class increasing 10-fold in energy. X-class flares are the most powerful. 
• Aditya-L1: It is India's first space-based solar observatory, designed to study the Sun from the Lagrange Point 1 (L1)  in a halo orbit. This is ISRO’s second astronomy observatory-class mission after AstroSat (2015). 

Read more: Aditya-L1 Mission, Solar Coronal Holes

State of India’s Digital Economy Report 2025

Source: TH 

A State of India’s Digital Economy (SIDE) Report, 2025, report by Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) highlights that while India is the 3rd- largest global economy, it ranks only 28th in digital user spending, reflecting a gap in per capita digital adoption. 

• The report uses the Connect-Harness-Innovate-Protect-Sustain (CHIPS) framework to measure digitalisation, focusing on technological, economic, and societal factors. 
• Key Findings: 
  • Rapid Digital Growth: India’s digital economy is growing twice as fast as its overall economy and is projected to contribute 20% of GDP by 2029. 
  • Internet vs. Digital Spending: While India has strong internet penetration, actual digital spending remains lower than global standards, highlighting an economic participation gap. 
  • India’s AI Positioning: India is 11th in AI research and 16th in AI infrastructure. 
    • The US, China, South Korea, Singapore, and the Netherlands lead in AI innovation. 
    • When considering both economic size and digital user economy, India ranks 8th globally. 
  • ICRIER: It is an independent Indian think tank, providing policy research on economic growth, trade, digital economy, and climate change to support India’s development.

Read more: Navigating India's Digital Growth

Algal Blooms in River Thames

Source: DTE 

A study has revealed that climate change is increasing the risk of algal blooms in the River Thames (England) despite an 80% reduction in phosphorus loads over four decades. 

• An algal bloom is the overgrowth of microscopic algae or algae-like bacteria in fresh, salt, or brackish waters. 

Key Findings: 

• Rising river temperature is driving the growth of spring diatom blooms and summer cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) blooms, which deplete oxygen, harm aquatic life, and increase drinking water treatment costs. 
  • Algal blooms also restrict recreational activities like fishing and swimming. 
• Despite an 80% reduction in phosphorus since 1985, its concentration remains above safe limits, sustaining algal growth. 
  • Excess nitrogen and phosphorus block sunlight and deplete oxygen, threatening marine ecosystems. 

 

River Thames: 

• It is 346 km long (Longest in England, second longest in the UK after River Severn). 
• It originates from Thames Head, Gloucestershire, and drains into the North Sea via the Thames Estuary, with Nore sandbank at its mouth. 
  • London is on the bank of Thames. 
• It supplies two-thirds of London’s drinking water and has been a vital trade route. 

Read More: Red Tide, Plankton Crash

Red Color of Mars

Source: TOI 

The study, based on data from several space missions and ground-level observations, suggests that Mars' red color is primarily due to Ferrihydrite—a water-formed iron oxide—rather than the previously assumed Hematite. 

• Ferrihydrite forms in cool, water-rich conditions, whereas hematite forms in dry, warm conditions.  
  • It suggests that Mars once had liquid water, potentially supporting life. Additionally, the study revealed hydrogen bound to iron-rich minerals, further indicating past interactions with liquid water on Mars. 

Mars: Mars is the 4^th planet from the Sun and the second-smallest in the Solar System after Mercury. 

• About half Earth's size, it hosts Olympus Mons (largest volcano), and has 2 moons (Phobos and Deimos). 
• Mars completes a rotation every 24.6 hours, making its day nearly identical in length to Earth's (23.9 hours). Martian days are called sols.  
  • A year on Mars lasts 669.6 sols, which is the same as 687 Earth days. 
• Its axis is tilted at 25 degrees relative to its orbit, similar to Earth’s axial tilt of 23.4 degrees.  
  • Mars experiences seasons like Earth, but they are longer in duration.  
• Important Mars Missions:  
  • NASA's Mars Mission, India’s MOM, UAE’s Hope  
  • Tianwen-1: China's Mars Mission 

Read More: NASA's Mars Sample Return Program