Rare Earth Elements
Context: India and the US signed a framework for cooperation in critical minerals and rare earth supply chains on the sidelines of the 11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
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- The framework covers mining, processing, recycling, and related investments in critical minerals and rare earths.
- A separate Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework was signed by all four Quad nations — Australia, India, Japan, and the US.
- The Quad framework aims to mobilise around $20 billion in government and private-sector support.
- The US is mobilising over $30 billion in letters of interest, investments, and loans for critical supply chains.
- China imposed export controls on rare earth elements in 2025, triggering the urgency behind these frameworks.
- India became a signatory to the US-led Pax Silica initiative on February 20.
About Rare Earth Metals (REMs)
- REMs are a group of 17 elements comprising 15 lanthanides + scandium + yttrium.
- They are not truly rare in Earth’s crust but are rarely found in concentrated, separable form.
- Their chemical similarity makes separation and refining extremely difficult.
- Key uses include EV motors, wind turbines, electronics, lasers, fibre optics, and defence systems.
- Neodymium-based magnets are considered the most critical among rare earth applications.
- Reserves of REMs are globally spread, but processing and refining are highly concentrated in China.
REMs vs Clean Energy Elements
- REMs are a fixed group of 17 elements used mainly for magnets, motors, and high-tech hardware.
- Clean energy elements have no fixed group and include lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, graphite, and silicon.
- REMs enable energy use; clean energy elements store and move energy.
Quad Maritime Initiatives
Context: The 11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) was held in New Delhi at Hyderabad House. Quad responded to tensions in the Persian Gulf (Hormuz crisis) and the South China Sea.
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- Quad launched the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration initiative to enhance information sharing among member nations.
- India will host the next iteration of the Quad at Sea mission, bringing together all four nations’ Coast Guards.
- Quad announced the Quad Initiative on Indo-Pacific Energy Security to boost regional energy resilience and emergency response.
- Quad Ports of the Future Partnership was announced, with a pilot project for port infrastructure in Fiji.
- The Quad joint statement insisted on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the South China Sea.
About Strait of Hormuz
- Location
- The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran (north) and Oman’s Musandam Peninsula (south).
- It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
- It is approximately 33 km wide at its narrowest point.
- Shipping lanes are only 3 km wide in each direction, separated by a buffer zone.
- Strategic Importance
- Around 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption passes through this strait.
- It is a crucial route for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), especially exports from Qatar.
- Major oil exporters using this route include Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Iran.
- It is vital for Asian energy importers including India, China, Japan, and South Korea.
Mekedatu Dam Project
About the Project
- It is a multipurpose project for drinking water supply and hydropower generation.
- Located near Kanakapura, Ramanagara district, Karnataka, about 90 km from Bengaluru.
- Proposed at the confluence of the Cauvery River and its tributary Arkavathi.
Key Features
- A 99-metre-high, 735-metre-long concrete gravity dam is proposed.
- Reservoir capacity will be 66 TMC (thousand million cubic feet).
- It will generate 400 MW of hydroelectricity once operational.
- Expected to supply over 4 TMC of drinking water to Bengaluru city.
Dispute
- Tamil Nadu, the lower riparian state, strongly opposes the project.
- Tamil Nadu argues that Mekedatu is the last free point from where Cauvery flows unrestricted into Tamil Nadu.
Asiatic Lion
Context: Two lion cubs died in Gir National Park, Gujarat due to suspected Babesia infection, a tick-borne parasite. Babesia is a tick-borne parasite affecting wild animals, causing weakness and respiratory distress.
About Asiatic Lion
- Scientific name is Panthera leo persica and it is a subspecies of lion.
- It is the only wild lion population found outside Africa.
- Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat is its only natural habitat in the world.
- Due to conservation success, the population has expanded into the Greater Gir Landscape covering Amreli, Bhavnagar, and Somnath districts.
- Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is being developed as a second home for natural dispersal of lions.
- As per the 16th Lion Population Estimation (May 2025), the count has risen to 891 individuals, a 32% increase since 2020.
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.
- CITES: Appendix I.
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
- Project Lion was launched in 2020 for landscape-based conservation and habitat restoration.
Key Characteristics
- Males weigh 160–190 kg and females weigh 110–120 kg, making them slightly smaller than African lions.
- Most distinctive feature is a longitudinal belly fold, which is rare in African lions.
- Males have a shorter mane, leaving their ears visible, unlike African lions.
- They live in smaller prides and males are less social than African counterparts.
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
Context: NCDs accounted for 60% of all deaths in India during the 2022-2024 reporting period, as per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2024.
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- This marks an increase of 7.3 percentage points compared to 52.8% recorded in the 2015-2017 period.
- Cardiovascular diseases alone accounted for 32.1% of all deaths in 2022-2024, rising from 27.1% in 2015-2017.
- NCDs caused 64.8% of urban deaths and 58.8% of rural deaths in 2022-2024.
- Suicide remains the leading cause of death in the 15-29 age group, accounting for 19% of deaths in that group.
- In EAG States and Assam, NCDs accounted for 53.9% of deaths, compared to 63.5% in other states.
About NCDs
- NCDs are chronic, non-infectious illnesses that do not spread from person to person.
- They are characterised by long duration, slow progression, and need for prolonged treatment.
- NCDs account for around 74% of all deaths globally.
- 86% of premature deaths (before age 70) occur in low- and middle-income countries.
- These countries also account for 77% of all NCD cases worldwide.
- Major Types of NCDs
- Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs): Include heart attacks, strokes, and hypertension.
- Cancer: Characterised by uncontrolled cell growth, contributing to 9.3 million cases annually.
- Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Include asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
- Type-2 Diabetes: A metabolic disorder causing elevated blood sugar levels.
- Mental Health Disorders: Include depression and anxiety, increasingly recognised as NCDs.
Wetlands
What is a Wetland?
- A wetland is an area where water is the primary factor influencing the environment and associated life.
- It includes areas where the water table is at or near the surface or land is seasonally or permanently submerged.
Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010
- These were India’s first comprehensive wetland protection rules under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
- Wetlands include marshes, fens, peatlands, lakes, reservoirs, lagoons, estuaries, and man-made wetlands up to a depth of 6 metres, including their catchment areas.
- Prohibited activities include reclamation, industrialisation, and dumping of hazardous or solid waste.
- Regulated activities such as water withdrawal and dredging require prior approval from authorities.
- Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority (CWRA) was established to monitor activities and evaluate state submissions.
- Approved wetlands could be notified as “Protected Wetlands.”
- Appeals against CWRA decisions can be filed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
- Limitations of 2010 Rules
- Smaller wetlands, jheels, tanks, and rural water bodies were excluded from coverage.
- No State or District-level Wetlands Regulatory Authorities were mandated.
- CWRA lacked representation from local communities, farmers, and fishing associations.
Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017
- State Wetlands Authority to be established in each state and UT, headed by the State Environment Minister.
- CWRA was replaced by a Central Advisory Committee for policy guidance and Ramsar site nominations.
- A digital wetland inventory must be created and updated every ten years.
- Prohibited activities include industrial expansion, conversion for non-wetland use, hazardous waste disposal, and untreated effluent discharge.
- State governments hold protection powers; the Central Government retains monitoring authority.
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
About OPCW
- OPCW is the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
- Headquarters are located in The Hague, Netherlands.
- OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013.
- It reports on its inspections and activities to the UN through the office of the Secretary-General.
Functions
- It receives declarations from states-parties detailing chemical weapons stockpiles and industrial activities.
- It conducts inspections to verify compliance with the CWC.
- It performs testing of sites and victims of suspected chemical weapons attacks.
About Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
- CWC is a multilateral treaty that bans chemical weapons and requires their destruction within a specified period.
- It entered into force on April 29, 1997.
- It currently has 193 states-parties and is open to all nations.
- States-parties must declare their chemical weapons stockpiles, production facilities, and related industrial information to OPCW in writing.
RBI Dividend
Context: RBI approved a dividend transfer of ₹2.87 lakh crore to the government, covering roughly 20% of the latter’s fiscal deficits.
RBI Dividend- Key Facts
- RBI pays dividends to the government under RBI Act, 1934 (Section 47).
- Dividend is paid after setting aside a minimum Contingency Risk Buffer (CRB) as per the Bimal Jalan Committee recommendations.
- The maximum contingency buffer was raised from 6.5% to 7.5% of RBI’s asset position.
- RBI maintained a 7.5% CBR last year and this year as well.
How RBI Earns Profits
- RBI earns income from interest on domestic and foreign investments in various bonds.
- It also earns by selling dollars at a higher rate to defend the rupee when it depreciates.
- A falling rupee generates higher dividends for the government — a unique feature of many emerging market economies.
Bimal Jalan Committee
- The Bimal Jalan Committee recommended the framework for determining RBI’s surplus transfer to the government.
- It established the Contingency Risk Buffer (CRB) range for maintaining RBI’s financial resilience.
Key Concerns
- RBI profits are more volatile than tax revenues, making dividend-based fiscal reliance risky.
- Reliance on RBI dividends even during good economic years creates fiscal profligacy risks.
- Perception of RBI-government nexus in dividend transfers raises concerns about central bank independence.
