Prelims-Pinpointer-for-15-oct-2025

Prelims

Enforcement Directorate’s (ED)

Syllabus: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies

Context: The Supreme Court extended the stay on the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering probe into the Tamil Nadu liquor scam. CJI questioned whether the ED’s investigation encroaches on the State’s authority, raising concerns about the federal structure.

Enforcement Directorate (ED)

• Mandate: ED investigates money laundering and foreign exchange violations.
• History:
  • Established in 1956 as the ‘Enforcement Unit’ under the Ministry of Finance.
  • Renamed the Enforcement Directorate in 1957; control moved to the Department of Revenue.
• Headquarters & Offices:
  • HQ: New Delhi.
  • Regional offices: Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Delhi.
• Leadership: Headed by the Director of Enforcement; tenure 2 years, extendable up to 5 years.
• Key Laws Administered:
  • Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002: Detects and prosecutes money laundering; allows confiscation; burden of proof reversal.
  • Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999: Governs foreign exchange violations; quasi-judicial powers to impose penalties.
  • Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), 2018: Attaches properties of offenders fleeing India.
  • Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA), 1974: Enables preventive detention in foreign exchange offenses.
• Powers of ED:
  • Investigative: Summon, record statements, conduct searches, seize property/documents.
  • Arrest & Detention: Arrest suspects based on evidence with legal justification.
  • Attachment & Confiscation: Temporarily attach assets up to 180 days; permanently confiscate after conviction.
  • Quasi-Judicial: Adjudicate FEMA violations and impose penalties.

Yamuna River

Context: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta promised a ‘froth-free’ Yamuna during Chhath Puja, addressing pollution concerns.

Yamuna River

• Origin: The Yamuna River rises from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas at a height of 4,421 meters.
• Course: It flows 1,376 km through India, crossing the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.
• Path: The river flows southward through the Himalayan foothills, enters the Indo-Gangetic Plain, and passes through Delhi before heading southeast towards Prayagraj.
• Confluence: Near Prayagraj, it meets the Ganges River, forming a sacred confluence for Hindus, celebrated during Kumbh Mela.
• Tributaries: Major tributaries include the Tons River, Chambal River, Hindon, Sarda, Giri, Betwa, and Sindh.
• Canals: The Eastern and Western Yamuna Canals are fed by the river, and the Agra Canal is supplied by the Yamuna near Delhi.

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

Syllabus: Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Context: Delhi’s air quality dropped to the ‘poor’ category after over three months, triggering stage 1 of GRAP by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

• GRAP is a set of emergency measures to prevent the further deterioration of air quality when the AQI reaches a certain threshold.
• It was approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 in the M. C. Mehta vs. Union of India case.
• Implementation Timeline:
  • First notified in 2017 by the MoEFCC, based on a plan submitted by CPCB.
  • Initially implemented by the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), now dissolved, the responsibility for GRAP implementation has since 2021 been taken over by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR & Adjoining Areas.
• Stages of GRAP:
  • Stage I (Poor): AQI 201-300 – Measures include enforcing orders on overaged vehicles.
  • Stage II (Very Poor): AQI 301-400 – Targeted actions at pollution hotspots and regulated use of DG sets.
  • Stage III (Severe): AQI 401-450 – Restrictions on BS-III and BS-IV vehicles, possible school closures for children up to Class V.
  • Stage IV (Severe +): AQI > 450 – Strict vehicle entry restrictions, odd-even system for vehicles, and possible closure of schools and non-essential activities.
• Revised GRAP (2023):
  • Revised GRAP came into effect from October 1, 2023 in NCR.
  • The revised plan includes more stringent measures to combat air pollution during the winter months and is aimed at reducing the impacts of smog and pollution.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

• CAQM was established through the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
• It replaced the EPCA and has jurisdiction over Delhi NCR and nearby states (Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan).
• CAQM has the authority to issue directions and impose penalties, with fines up to ₹1 crore and imprisonment up to 5 years for non-compliance.
• Key Responsibilities of CAQM:
  • CAQM has exclusive authority in the NCR to manage air pollution and can supersede local pollution control boards.
  • It has the power to enforce compliance and levy fines for non-compliance.

Crew Escape System (CES)

Overview:

• The Gaganyaan mission aims to safely transport Indian astronauts to low-earth orbit (400 km) and return them.
• In human space missions, crew safety is prioritized over mission success, focusing on safety during all phases: launch, ascent, orbit, and descent.

What is the Crew Escape System (CES)?

• The Crew Escape System (CES) is designed for the atmospheric phase to ensure crew safety in case of a contingency, by rapidly separating the crew module from a malfunctioning launch vehicle.
• The system must extract the crew module with greater acceleration than the launch vehicle, and in minimal time to ensure crew safety during high acceleration.
• The system can impart acceleration up to 10 times that of gravity, which is tolerable for humans for a few seconds when the crew is in the correct position. The “child in cradle” orientation helps manage this high acceleration.
• Types of Crew Escape Systems:
  • Puller Type: The Gaganyaan mission uses this system, where the CES pulls the crew module away from the launch vehicle.
  • Pusher Type: Used in rockets like SpaceX’s Falcon 9, this system pushes the crew module using compact, high-thrust liquid-fuel engines.
  • Both types of systems have advantages and disadvantages, with the choice depending on propulsion technology and system integration.
• System Functionality:
  • Once the CES has moved the crew module to a safe distance, the module is decelerated using multistage parachutes to ensure a safe splashdown.
  • The Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) system, with sensors and software, monitors real-time vehicle and crew health, and aids in activating the CES during a contingency.
• Testing of CES:
  • ISRO has developed a cost-effective, single-stage Test vehicle powered by the Vikas engine to validate the CES.
  • The first successful test occurred in October 2023, when the CES was activated during transonic conditions (when the velocity transitions from subsonic to supersonic).
  • Future tests are planned to simulate other critical ascent conditions to further validate the system.

LEAPS 2025

Context: The Logistics Excellence, Advancement, and Performance Shield (LEAPS) 2025 was launched by the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry at the 4th Anniversary of PM GatiShakti in New Delhi.

About LEAPS 2025:

• LEAPS 2025 is a national benchmarking initiative to recognize excellence, innovation, and leadership in India’s logistics sector.
• Launched in October 2025 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Aim and Objectives:
  • Benchmark logistics performance and align industry practices with the National Logistics Policy (2022) and PM GatiShakti’s vision for integrated, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure.
  • Recognise sectoral innovation and promote diversity and inclusion in the logistics sector.
• Criteria:
  • Applications are invited under 13 categories including air, rail, road, and maritime freight operators, warehousing, MSMEs, Startups, academic institutions, and e-commerce logistics providers.
• Key Features:
  • Promotes ESG compliance, green logistics, and sustainability goals.
  • Encourages collaboration between Government, Industry, and Academia.
  • Serves as a platform for national recognition of logistics innovation, efficiency, and technology adoption.
  • Supports India’s Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Viksit Bharat 2047 goals.

Indian Wolf

Syllabus: General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change

Context: The IUCN has classified the Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) as a potential distinct species and listed it as ‘Vulnerable’ on the Red List, with only 3,000 individuals remaining in the wild.

Indian Wolf:

• Scientific Name: Canis lupus pallipes; also called the Peninsular wolf or Indian grey wolf.
• Endemic to the Indian subcontinent, the species is one of the oldest and genetically unique wolf lineages globally.
• Conservation Status and Population:
  • IUCN Status (2025): Listed as Vulnerable.
  • Population estimate: 2,877–3,310 mature individuals remain in the wild, mostly in India and Pakistan.
• History and Distribution:
  • Historically, the Indian wolf was widespread across northern and western India but has now been extinct in many regions due to habitat loss, persecution, and expanding agriculture.
• Evolutionary Significance:
  • The Indian wolf diverged from other wolf species thousands of years ago, making it one of the oldest wolf lineages.
  • It evolved in India’s semi-arid and grassland ecosystems long before human civilization.
• Physical Characteristics:
  • Smaller and leaner build than Himalayan or Eurasian wolves, adapted to open and dry landscapes.
  • Light brown-grey coat and short fur for camouflage in scrub and grassland habitats.
  • Adapted to heat with no thick undercoat, helping it survive in high-temperature regions.
  • Agile, long-limbed, and designed for speed and endurance while hunting.
• Other Species Status Updates:
  • Hooded Seal: Upgraded to Endangered.
  • Bearded Seal: Now Near Threatened.
  • Harp Seal: Now Near Threatened.
  • Green Turtle: Vulnerable (downgraded).