Current Context: The National Statistical Office (NSO) released the second all-India Time Use Survey (TUS) in February 2025. It highlights how Indians spend their time on paid/unpaid work, learning, self-care, and leisure.

About

• Conducted by NSO under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) from January–December 2024.
• The first all-India TUS was conducted in 2019.
• Provides data on time spent on economic activities, unpaid domestic work, caregiving, volunteering, learning, and personal care.
• India joins countries like Australia, Japan, and the USA in conducting national time use surveys.

Key Findings (TUS 2024)

• Work-related activities:
• Delhi residents spend the most time: 563 minutes/day (national average: 440 mins).
• Goa follows with 536 mins/day, an increase from 2019.
• Unpaid Domestic Work (Gender Gap):Women: 289 mins/day & Men: 88 mins/day
• Learning time:
• Slight drop: From 424 mins/day (2019) to 414 mins/day (2024).
• Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu remained high in learning hours.
• Leisure time:Increased across states; Uttarakhand saw a significant rise.
• Self-care activities (sleep, hygiene, eating):National decline, but increase in Meghalaya and Jammu & Kashmir.
• Social & community participation: Increase observed in Nagaland.

Current Context: Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán announced Hungary’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) during Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit.

Key Highlights

• Hungary becomes the first European country to exit the ICC.
• Announcement came amid ICC’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
• As a Rome Statute signatory, Hungary was obligated to arrest Netanyahu.
• Post-withdrawal, Hungary is no longer bound to act on the ICC warrant.

About ICC (International Criminal Court)

• Established: 2002 | Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands
• Members: 125 countries (pre-Hungary’s exit)
• Legal Basis: Rome Statute, adopted 1998
• Jurisdiction: Genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, aggression
• Non-members: USA, China, India, Israel, Russia

Current Context: The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to conduct a detailed survey of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve to identify encroachments and non-forestry activities.

About

• A UNESCO-designated tropical forest biosphere, known for rich biodiversity and cultural value.
• Part of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves since March 2016.
• Location:Situated at the southern end of the Western Ghats,Spread across Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram & Kollam) and Tamil Nadu (Tirunelveli & Kanniyakumari).

Protected Areas:

• Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala)
• Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (TN)
• Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (TN)
• Neyyar, Peppara, and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries

Cultural & Tribal Significance:

• Home to the Kani tribe (~30,000 people), known for sustainable living.
• Associated with Hindu mythology (Sage Agastya) and Ayurveda

General Studies Paper -3

Context: As satellite internet becomes a crucial component of global connectivity, and the competition to dominate satellite-based communications is not just about technological advancement but also about national security, economic influence, and digital sovereignty.

About Satellite Net 

• It is communications infrastructure in space that has the potential to connect underserved and unserved regions, transforming education, healthcare, and commerce, which are critical for national security.
• However, the ability to control satellite networks can influence military operations, surveillance, and emergency response systems.
• As nations race to secure orbital slots, frequency bands, and Low-Earth orbit (LEO)dominance, the competition extends to domains like:
  • Cybersecurity and surveillance;
  • Digital colonization risks;
  • Sovereignty over data and infrastructure;
  • Military dual-use of satellites;
• It is not only technological but deeply geopolitical, with ramifications across spectrum allocation, national sovereignty, data governance, and digital dominance.

Strategic Players

• United States: Dominates with SpaceX’s Starlink, boasting over 5,000 satellites in orbit.
• China: Developing its own LEO constellation called Guowang, aiming to avoid reliance on Western networks.
• Others: OneWeb (United Kingdom), Amazon’s Project Kuiper

India’s Satellite Internet Strategy

• India still has regions where fiber optic cables have never reached, and cellular towers remain sparse.
• India is planning satellite internet networks via Bharti-backed OneWeb and Jio’s collaboration with SES, positioning itself as a regional player.
• Recent partnerships between SpaceX and Indian telecom giants Airtel and Jio to expand Starlink services across India mark a fundamental shift in connectivity, sovereignty, and economic power.

Radio Frequency Spectrum and Sovereignty

• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) governs spectrum access on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. It incentivizes a space race among major powers.
• For countries of the Global South, particularly India, it raises urgent questions about access parity.
• India has pushed for a more equitable model of spectrum distribution, echoing its calls for Global South-centric multilateralism.

Challenges and Concerns

• Monopoly Concerns in Satellite Internet: With around 7,000 satellites already in orbit, SpaceX enjoys a first-mover advantage in the LEO internet market.
  • The dominance of US-based Starlink raises concerns about digital influence, particularly as China develops its rival GuoWang constellation.
• Market Risks: A monopolistic structure could lead to concerns about competition, pricing, and dependency.
  • Private companies wielding nation-state levels of influence over critical infrastructure pose strategic risks, as seen when SpaceX briefly cut Ukraine’s Starlink access during military operations.
• Space debris: With tens of thousands of satellites expected, orbital crowding poses serious environmental and collision risks.
• Regulatory vacuum: International rules governing LEO satellite operations are underdeveloped, creating loopholes.
• Digital divide: While promising connectivity for underserved regions, satellite internet might exacerbate inequalities if monopolized.

Framework for Satellite Internet Geopolitics 

• Digital Sovereignty (High Economic Value, High Geopolitical Control): Nations achieve both profitable telecommunications and strategic independence.
• Example: China’s GuoWang constellation, a state-controlled satellite system ensuring economic benefits while maintaining complete national control.
• Market Dominance (High Economic Value, Low Geopolitical Control): A highly profitable system, but control remains outside the host nation’s hands.
• Example: Starlink (SpaceX), offering strong commercial potential worldwide but limiting host countries’ control.
• Strategic Asset (Low Economic Value, High Geopolitical Control): Satellites provide strategic value but lack commercial viability.
• Example: India’s limited indigenous satellite capacity, which is strategically vital but economically suboptimal.

Indian Perspective

• Technological Capability: ISRO’s SatCom division and private players like Tata, Reliance, and Bharti must scale domestic production and launch capacity to ensure self-reliance.
• Strategic Autonomy: India must avoid dependence on foreign orbital networks for critical services. Satellite-based internet must be embedded in national cyber strategy.
• Legal Frameworks: Updating the Satellite Communications Policy and Spacecom Policy is vital to regulate foreign players and protect digital sovereignty.
• Diplomatic Positioning: India can leverage forums like the Quad and BRICS to push for norms on fair access, orbital debris management, and peaceful space usage.

Conclusion 

• The race for satellite internet dominance is shaping global geopolitics, influencing digital sovereignty, economic dependencies, and national security.
• As India navigates this evolving landscape, balancing technological partnerships with strategic autonomy will be crucial for its future in the digital age.

Current Context: Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that around 450 Forest Department rest houses across the state will be leveraged to promote eco-tourism.

About

• Foundation stone laid for a new forest rest house at Sara Gadakufar (Theog, Shimla) worth ₹1.60 crore.
• Sara Gadakufar, known for its natural beauty, lacks nearby accommodation despite tourist and pilgrimage inflow.
• The initiative aims to boost eco-tourism, forest conservation, and rural employment.
• Promotes self-reliance among youth through tourism-based job creation.

Current Context: The Government of India has approved Phase II of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) with a financial outlay of ₹6,839 crore, aimed at developing strategic border villages across 15 states and 2 Union Territories till 2028–29.

About

• Objective: Improve living conditions, create jobs, and support border security through local engagement.
• Coverage: Villages within 0–10 km of the international border.
• Infrastructure: Roads, power, telecom, SMART classes, and tourism circuits.
• Implementation: 100% Centrally Funded; monitored by a high-powered committee.
• Community Engagement: Local fairs, festivals, awareness camps, and regular visits by officials.
• Focus Areas: Tourism, cultural heritage, skill development, cooperatives, housing, health, and sanitation.
• Goal: Stabilize border populations and promote local economies through comprehensive development.

Current Context: The Technology and Innovation Report 2025, titled “Inclusive Artificial Intelligence(AI) for Development”, was released by UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development).

About

• Aims to guide inclusive AI policies for development.

AI Investment (2023):

• US: $67 billion (70% of global share)
• China: $7.8 billion
• India: $1.4 billion (10th position)
• India ranked 36th in 2024 on Readiness for Frontier Technologies Index (up from 48th in 2022).

Concerns:

• 100 firms (mostly US & China) drive 40% of global R&D.
• 118 Global South countries excluded from AI governance.
• Up to 40% of global jobs could be affected by AI.

Recommendations:

• Focus on reskilling, infrastructure, data ecosystems, and digital skills.
• Create global AI access facility.

Current Context: Rongali Bihu (also called Bohag Bihu) is a major festival of Assam, celebrated in mid-April. It marks the Assamese New Year and the onset of the agricultural season.

About

• Rooted in agrarian traditions, it celebrates the arrival of spring and the start of the harvest.
• Celebrated over 7 days, collectively called ‘Xaat Bihu’.

Each day has a distinct focus:

• Goru Bihu (cattle worship):Cattle are bathed and honored on Goru Bihu for their role in agriculture.
• Manuh Bihu (human celebration):Manuh Bihu involves feasting and wearing new clothes.
• Gosain Bihu (deity worship):Gosain Bihu includes prayers and offerings to household deities.
• Cuisine:Traditional dishes like ‘Chira’ (flattened rice) and ‘Pitha’ (rice cakes) are central to the celebrations.

Current Context: Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Construction has announced the discovery of the country’s largest rare earth metals deposit at the Kuirektykol site in the Karaganda region, about 300 km southeast of Astana (now Nur-Sultan).

About

• Key zones: Irgiz and Dos
• Rare earth concentration: 0.1% to 0.25%
• Irgiz zone alone may hold 800,000 tons
• Average concentration: 700 grams/ton
• Key elements: Cerium, Lanthanum, Neodymium, Yttrium

Global Relevance:

• Rare earths are vital for Electric Vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, modern electronics, and defence technologies
• Rising global demand; strategic interest from China, United States (US), Russia, and the European Union (EU)

Geopolitical Angle:

• Discovery announced during the first EU–Central Asia Summit
• EU interest tied to carbon neutrality goals by 2050
• Opens scope for increased EU–Kazakhstan cooperation in the critical minerals and resource sector.

Current Context: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is leading India’s delegation to the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly being held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 5 to 9 April 2025.

About

• Theme: “Parliamentary action for social development and justice”
• Focus areas: Poverty eradication, promotion of decent work, social inclusion, and participation of marginalized groups in decision-making
• The IPU is a global organization of 181 national parliaments and 15 associate members, founded in 1889
• It promotes peace, democracy, sustainable development, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment, and climate action
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; offices in New York and Vienna