GDP growth projected to fall to four-year low at 6.4%

India's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to rise at a four-year low pace of 6.4% in this financial year, down from 8.2% in 2023-24, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said. This implies that the country's economy, that grew 6% in the first half of this financial year, is expected to rebound with a 6.8% surge in the second half. The real Gross Value Added (GVA) in the Indian economy is reckoned to rise 6.4% as well, relative to a 7.2% uptick in 2023-24. 

Karnataka HC strikes down Centre's Electricity Rules

In a major setback to the Centre, the High Court of Karnataka has struck down the Electricity (Promoting Renew- able Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022, which were framed for promoting generation, purchase, and consumption of green energy, including the energy from waste-to- energy plants through open access in a bid to reach the goal of net-zero emission by 2070 as per international climate commitment. "Since the power to regulate the transmission, determination and, more specifically, all aspects relating to open access is conferred exclusively on the State Electricity Commission under Sections 42 (2) and 181 of the Act, it is obvious that all aspects of open access lie within the exclusive domain of the State Commission,” the court said. 

More flexibility, but also greater challenges

The latest guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) herald a transformative shift in higher education in India. Among other reforms, the UGC has introduced an accelerated degree programme and an extended degree programme for undergraduate students, which will allow them to complete their degrees either earlier or later than the standard duration. In addition, by aligning the structure of undergraduate education with international standards, the reforms aim to create greater mobility for Indian students, both within India and abroad. The flexible credit system introduced under these reforms will allow students to progress at their own pace. Accelerated engineering degrees could risk oversimplifying technical learning. Engineering degrees require an in-depth study of subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and advanced engineering principles. 

Why is there a drop in school enrolments?

The total enrolment of students in schools across India studying from grade 1-12, dropped by over a crore in 2023-24 as compared to 2018-19. MoE officials in the UDISE+ reports have given a disclaimer that the UDISE+ reports of 2022-23 and 2023-24 are not strictly comparable to previous years reports because of a change in the 'methodology,' of data collection. Till November 2022 when the 2021-22 data was released, the number hovered around 26 crore, until last month, when the 2022-23 data reflected enrolment at 25.18 crore, which has further fallen to 24.8 crore in 2023-24. There is also a stark decrease in the number of schools covered under UDISE+. There was a drop in the number of schools covered - from 15, 58, 903 (2017-18) to 14,71,891 (2023-24), a decline of 87,012 schools. 

Why the location of China's earthquake matters

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck Tibetan China and Nepal. The epicentre was located 10 km below a spot around 80 km north of Mt Everest. Chinese state media had reported 95 people dead, 130 injured, and hundreds of houses flattened on its side of the border. There have also been reports of the tremors being felt as far away as Kathmandu, Thimphu, and Kolkata.

According to preliminary assessments, the quake's mainshock may have emerged in the Lhasa terrane. A terrane is a specific fragment of the crust. The Lhasa terrane includes sites involved in China's construction of the world's largest hydroelectric-power dam. The Chinese government approved the project last month. Once completed, the project will straddle the Yarlung Tsangpo River and generate around 300 billion kWh per year. The tension between the two plates has continued to build as the Indian plate is still pushing in at around 60 mm/year. 

India, U.S. to jointly manufacture interoperable sonobuoys for Navy

In a significant development, India and the United States announced cooperation on coproduction of U.S. sonobuoys for undersea domain awareness (UDA) for the Indian Navy, a high- end technology that allows tracking submarines in the deep seas and oceans. This is the latest in a series of cooperation measures between the two countries as both grow wary of the rapid expansion of Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region. They will jointly manufacture and supply sonobuoys for the Indian Navy as per U.S. Navy standards, with production split across the U.S. and India, in accordance with "Make in India" principles. 

Inter-ministerial committee is needed to strengthen Al governance: IndiaAl Mission

In a recognition that artificial intelligence (AI) has impact on a wide range of fields, a Union government panel mandated to develop Al guidelines has recommended that an inter- ministerial committee be set up to enforce Al rules and ensure effective governance of the country's emerging Al ecosystem. An advisory group of the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's IndiaAI Mission, headed by the Principal Scientific Adviser, is seeking public feedback on a report released by its Al guidelines sub-committee. The panel's report is notable as it is the most detailed articulation yet of the government's approach towards AI in India. It appears that the Centre seeks to maximise gains from investments in AI, while having light regulatory frameworks to act as guardrails against any potential harm. 

V. Narayanan, spacecraft and rocket propulsion expert, appointed ISRO Chairman

V. Narayanan has been appointed the new Space Secretary. Dr. Narayanan, who is currently the Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), will be the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and he will take over from S. Somanath. Dr. Narayanan, who is a rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert, joined the ISRO in 1984 and functioned in various capacities before becoming Director of the LPSC. 

Kandla port to get ship building facility, cargo terminal at ₹57,000 cr.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways announced two major investments at the Kandla port a mega ship building and repair project at an investment of ₹30,000 crore, and a new cargo terminal outside Kandla Creek for ₹27,000 crore, which will add 135 mtpa to the port's capacity. 

"The new shipbuilding facility at the Kandla Port will develop technical cap- ability in the country to manufacture 'Very Large Crude Carrier' or similar class of vessels with capacity up to 3,20,000 tonnes DWT. The facility will have capacity to produce 32 new ships and repair 50 old ships every year," the Ministry said in an official statement. Spread across an area of more than 8,000 acres, the new facility will have com- ponents like marina, fishing harbour, townships and marine industrial cluster.