The Supreme Court of India recently ruled that the age limits under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, do not apply to couples who had frozen their embryos and initiated the surrogacy process before the law came into force on January 25, 2022. This ruling clarifies that those couples who had already begun the surrogacy process prior to the enactment of the Act are not bound by the new age limits for surrogacy, allowing them to proceed with their existing arrangements.
The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, was passed to regulate surrogacy practices in India. Its main objectives are to protect the rights of surrogate mothers, prevent exploitation, and ensure ethical practices in surrogacy arrangements. The law significantly overhauls the surrogacy landscape in India, especially by distinguishing between altruistic and commercial surrogacy.
Prohibition of Commercial Surrogacy
The Act prohibits commercial surrogacy, i.e., any financial compensation or profit-making from surrogacy arrangements, other than covering medical and insurance expenses.
Exploitation Prevention: The law aims to prevent the exploitation of women, who may be vulnerable to being coerced or lured into commercial surrogacy contracts.
Altruistic Surrogacy
The Act permits altruistic surrogacy, where a surrogate mother helps another individual or couple without any monetary compensation other than medical and insurance costs.
Surrogacy Clinics Regulation: Surrogacy clinics must be registered under the Act to operate legally. They are prohibited from performing any surrogacy procedures unless they are registered.
Regulation of Surrogacy Clinics and Related Parties
The Act prohibits any commercial surrogacy involvement by individuals, including gynaecologists, embryologists, and paediatricians.
It also ensures that no surrogacy procedure can be initiated without a certificate of essentiality from the intended couple.
Eligibility Criteria for Surrogacy
For Surrogate Mothers:
She must be a married woman with at least one child of her own.
The surrogate must be between the age of 25-35 years at the time of implantation.
She cannot act as a surrogate more than once and cannot use her own gametes for the process.
For Intended Parents:
The intended couple must be married for at least 5 years.
The woman must be between 23-50 years and the man between 26-55 years.
They must be Indian nationals and have no surviving children, whether biological or adopted, or from any earlier surrogacy procedures.
The intended couple must obtain a certificate of essentiality to initiate surrogacy.
Rights of the Child Born via Surrogacy
The child born through surrogacy is considered the biological child of the intended couple and is entitled to all rights and privileges available to a natural child.
Surrogate Mother’s Rights and Protection
The Act provides strong safeguards for the surrogate mother, ensuring that she is not coerced into surrogacy and has the right to consent throughout the process, particularly in the case of abortion.
The prohibition of commercial surrogacy is seen as a significant step toward protecting women from potential exploitation, especially in the face of a burgeoning surrogacy industry in India.
The shift to altruistic surrogacy ensures that women acting as surrogates are not financially exploited, but only compensated for the medical expenses and risks they undertake.
The Act mandates that surrogacy clinics must be registered and comply with a set of stringent standards to prevent unethical practices.
The emphasis on the registration of clinics ensures transparency and accountability in the surrogacy process.
The Act's restrictions, particularly concerning the age limits for both surrogate mothers and intended parents, aim to ensure that surrogacy is carried out responsibly and in a way that is in the best interest of the child born out of the arrangement.
However, these strict requirements can sometimes lead to challenges for couples who have had embryos frozen before the law was passed, as highlighted by the Supreme Court’s recent ruling.
The Act ensures that children born through surrogacy have all the legal rights of a biological child, addressing concerns about inheritance, citizenship, and other legal matters.
India has long been a preferred destination for individuals and couples seeking surrogacy services, largely due to its cost-effectiveness and the growing number of fertility clinics across the country. India’s cheaper surrogacy services have attracted a significant number of foreign clients, making it a global hub for the surrogacy industry.
In 2002, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) laid out guidelines for surrogacy that made it legal, but these lacked legislative backing, resulting in an unregulated market.
By 2012, the surrogacy industry had ballooned into a $400 million business, with over 3,000 fertility clinics operating in India, as per a UN-backed study.
This booming industry, however, faced numerous ethical and legal issues due to the lack of regulation, leading to exploitation, especially of surrogate mothers. There were concerns regarding the rights of the surrogate, lack of medical insurance, child custody, and the absence of transparency in contracts.
Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman (the surrogate mother) agrees to carry a pregnancy for another person or couple (the intended parents). After the child is born, the surrogate mother relinquishes parental rights, and the intended parents become the legal parents of the child. Surrogacy may be chosen when pregnancy is medically impossible, there are significant health risks for the biological mother, or when a same-sex couple chooses surrogacy as a method of having children.
Altruistic Surrogacy:
The surrogate mother does not receive any financial compensation beyond medical expenses.
This is usually when the surrogate is a relative of the intended parents.
Commercial Surrogacy:
The surrogate mother is paid beyond medical expenses.
In this case, the surrogate is unrelated to the intended parents, and it is often more transactional in nature.
Traditional Surrogacy:
The surrogate mother uses her own eggs, which are fertilized by the intended father’s sperm (or a donor’s sperm) through artificial insemination.
The surrogate mother is the biological mother of the child, which can lead to legal complications over parentage.
Gestational Surrogacy:
The egg of the intended mother (or a donor egg) is fertilized by the intended father’s sperm, and the embryo is implanted into the surrogate’s uterus.
In this case, the biological mother is the woman whose egg was used, while the surrogate is simply the birth mother.
Access for Infertile Couples, Singles, and LGBT: Surrogacy allows individuals or couples who are unable to conceive naturally, including single people and members of the LGBT community, to become parents.
Genetic Connection: Through gestational surrogacy, one or both parents can be genetically related to the child.
Higher Success Rate: Surrogates, who have previously carried successful pregnancies, have a proven uterus, leading to higher chances of successful pregnancies compared to fertility treatments.
Greater Control: Surrogacy often provides the intended parents with more control over the pregnancy than adoption.
Less Restrictive than Adoption: Surrogacy may offer fewer barriers for parents, particularly those who are ineligible for adoption due to age restrictions or other reasons.
While surrogacy offers several benefits, the practice in India has faced significant challenges due to a lack of regulation and ethical concerns:
There have been several cases of death associated with surrogacy, where neither the commissioning parents nor the doctors took responsibility.
Citizenship and Adoption Laws: Surrogacy laws can clash with adoption or citizenship laws, leading to complications in determining the nationality of children born via surrogacy.
For example, Germany gives citizenship by mother, which sometimes creates legal issues in determining the child’s nationality when the birth occurs in India.
There were no clear laws or accountability for surrogates concerning:
Fair compensation.
Maternal health care.
The right to abortion and proper medical insurance during pregnancy and post-birth.
Surrogacy arrangements often result in multiple parent figures, including biological donors, surrogate mothers, and commissioning parents. Legal clarity on who is considered the legal parent and the rights of the child are not always addressed.
There have been reports of forced surrogacy and instances where women, especially from poorer backgrounds, were pressured or coerced into becoming surrogates.
In some cases, commissioning parents have abandoned the surrogate mother or the child if they were unhappy with the outcome of the surrogacy.
Surrogate mothers often don’t receive a copy of the contract signed by the intended parents. As a result, they often have little recourse for disputes. Furthermore, women often stay in shelter homes with insufficient care and support.
The ICMR guidelines (2005) were insufficient in addressing key issues like sex selection, accountability of agencies, and protecting the surrogate mother's physical and emotional well-being.
Pakistan may soon receive AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from the United States following its first shipment of mineral samples to Washington as part of a rare earths deal.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) is one of the most widely used beyond-visual-range (BVR) air combat weapons in the world, offering enhanced air superiority. Developed by the United States in the late 1970s and 1980s, it became operational in 1991 with the US Air Force, replacing older radar-guided missiles.
Today, the missile is employed by over 35 countries, including NATO allies, Japan, Australia, and several countries in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Missile Type:
Active radar-guided missile.
Medium-range air-to-air missile.
Speed and Propulsion:
Powered by a solid-fuel rocket motor capable of propelling it to speeds exceeding Mach 4 (approximately 3,000 miles per hour).
Operational Capability:
All-weather operation, capable of being launched day or night.
The missile's ability to engage moving targets in varied conditions makes it highly effective in modern aerial combat scenarios.
"Fire-and-Forget" Technology:
The fire-and-forget capability means once launched, the missile can track and engage targets without further input from the pilot. This significantly reduces the pilot’s workload and allows for multiple engagements at once.
The missile utilizes its onboard radar to track and follow the target, so the pilot doesn’t need to maintain radar lock after firing.
Range:
The missile has a range of over 160 kilometers under optimal conditions, making it effective for engaging enemy aircraft from a considerable distance, well beyond the pilot’s visual range.
Guidance and Tracking:
The missile incorporates a two-way data link, which allows for real-time updates to its trajectory during flight. This enhances its accuracy and makes it highly capable against maneuvering targets.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM is widely used by NATO and other allied countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and several Middle Eastern and Asian nations.
It is deployed on a variety of fighter jets from different countries, including:
U.S. fighter jets such as the F-15, F-16, and F-35.
European aircraft like the Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab Gripen.
Other countries' fighters, including F/A-18 Hornet and Dassault Rafale.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM missile represents a leap forward in aerial warfare technology, offering a combination of long-range engagement and advanced tracking capabilities. As Pakistan moves forward with the acquisition of this missile, it is likely to significantly enhance its air defense capabilities, potentially reshaping the balance of power in the region. The deal further underscores the growing defense ties between the U.S. and Pakistan, signaling a shift in strategic cooperation between the two nations
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) recently announced the transfer of technology under the AgriEnIcs Programme. This marks a significant step in advancing technological integration in agriculture and environmental management in India, with the aim to enhance precision in these sectors.
The AgriEnIcs Programme is a national initiative launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which seeks to harness the power of cutting-edge technologies for agriculture and environmental management.
Research and Development (R&D): To drive research in the agriculture and environmental domains, with an emphasis on innovation.
Technology Deployment and Demonstration: To deploy and demonstrate new technologies that directly benefit the agriculture sector.
Commercialization: To support the commercialization of these technologies for wide-scale adoption.
Technology Translation: The programme facilitates the translation of research into practical, scalable applications that can impact the ground level, especially for farmers and rural communities.
The AgriEnIcs Programme focuses on integrating cutting-edge technologies such as:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Internet of Things (IoT)
Machine Vision
Sensor Networks
These technologies aim to bring digital precision to agriculture, improving efficiency, resource management, and yield prediction.
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), based in Kolkata, serves as the nodal agency responsible for implementing the AgriEnIcs Programme.
Established in 1988 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Initially set up to carry out research and development in Electronics, IT, and associated areas.
C-DAC was established in response to the denial of supercomputer imports by the USA, leading to the development of India’s first indigenously built supercomputer, Param 8000 in 1991.
C-DAC is now recognized as the apex research and development wing for high-performance computing and advanced technology in India.
The AgriEnIcs Programme represents a significant initiative in India's efforts to revolutionize agriculture and environmental management through technological innovation. By leveraging emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and sensor networks, the program promises to bring digital precision to sectors directly impacting farmers and rural communities. With C-DAC as the key implementing agency, the programme aims to drive long-term growth and sustainability in agriculture, improving outcomes for farmers and environmental health
The DRAVYA portal has launched its first phase, aiming to catalogue information on 100 key medicinal substances used in Ayurveda and other AYUSH systems.
The DRAVYA portal, which stands for Digitized Retrieval Application for Versatile Yardstick of AYUSH Substances, is a state-of-the-art platform aimed at consolidating vast information on Ayurvedic ingredients and medicinal products.
It is a dynamic and ever-evolving database that integrates classical Ayurveda texts and contemporary scientific research, providing an extensive collection of data on medicinal substances used in Ayurveda and other AYUSH systems. The portal is developed and managed by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS).
Comprehensive Data Source:
The portal houses information from classical Ayurvedic texts as well as modern scientific literature and field studies.
It serves as an open-access database for both researchers and practitioners of Ayurveda.
Interlinking with Other Initiatives:
The DRAVYA portal is AI-ready and will eventually be interconnected with the Ayush Grid, as well as other government initiatives related to medicinal substances and drug policy.
QR Code Integration:
The portal features QR code integration, which enables standardized and easily accessible information to be displayed in medicinal plant gardens and drug repositories across the country.
Extensive Coverage:
Users can search for medicinal substances used across different Ayush systems (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy).
The portal provides detailed profiles on each substance, including:
Pharmacotherapeutics
Botany
Chemistry
Pharmacy
Pharmacology
Safety Information
AI and Digital Integration:
The platform is designed to be AI-ready, meaning it is capable of adapting to future digital needs, ensuring a scalable and robust infrastructure for integrating new data and research findings.
The DRAVYA Portal represents a major milestone in digitizing and standardizing data related to Ayurvedic and medicinal substances. By consolidating information from both ancient texts and modern research, it supports not only traditional Ayurveda but also the broader AYUSH systems in promoting evidence-based practices.
The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (CDBR), located in Himachal Pradesh, India, has recently earned global recognition as it has been included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) by UNESCO, alongside 25 other biosphere reserves from different countries.
Location:
Region: Situated in the Trans-Himalayan region, the reserve spans the Spiti Wildlife Division and adjacent areas of the Lahaul Forest Division, including the Baralacha Pass, Bharatpur, and Sarchu. The altitudes range from 3,300 to 6,600 meters.
Established: The CDBR was declared in 2009 as India's 16th biosphere reserve and the first high-altitude cold desert biosphere reserve in the country.
Landscape:
The landscape integrates several protected areas, including Pin Valley National Park, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Chandratal Wetland.
Characterized by windswept plateaus, glacial valleys, alpine lakes, and high-altitude desert, it is one of the coldest and driest ecosystems in the world, making it a unique biosphere reserve.
Floral Diversity:
The reserve is home to 14 endemic plant species, 68 native species, and 62 threatened plant species, including key medicinal plants such as Salix spp., Betula utilis, and others.
It also supports alpine grasses, medicinal herbs, and rare stands of species like Willow-leaved Sea-buckthorn, Himalayan Birch, and Persian Juniper.
Faunal Diversity:
The CDBR is home to rare and endangered species, such as:
Snow Leopard
Himalayan Wolf
Tibetan Antelope
Himalayan Brown Bear
Himalayan Griffon
Himalayan Ibex
Bearded Vulture
Red Fox
Tibetan Gazelle
Definition: The World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) is a dynamic network of protected areas across the globe that serves as a platform for international cooperation in biodiversity conservation, research, and sustainable development.
UNESCO Affiliation: The WNBR operates under the UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, a global initiative that promotes eco-friendly sustainable development.
Global Coverage: The network currently includes 785 sites across 142 countries, covering over 1 million square kilometers of natural areas protected since 2018—equivalent in size to Bolivia.
A Biosphere Reserve (BR) is a designation given by UNESCO to areas that aim to balance conservation of biodiversity with sustainable economic development. These reserves act as living laboratories for research and education about the environment and sustainable human activities.
Three Key Functions of a Biosphere Reserve:
Conservation: Protecting biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Economic Development: Promoting environmentally and socially sustainable growth.
Logistic Support: Facilitating research, education, and capacity building.
Structure of Biosphere Reserves:
Core Areas: Strictly protected for conservation of ecosystems and species.
Buffer Zones: Surround the core areas and are used for eco-friendly activities such as research and education.
Transition Zones: Areas where communities engage in sustainable practices that benefit both people and the environment.
A protected and minimally disturbed core area with significant conservation value.
A focus on preserving traditional tribal or rural lifestyles and incorporating local community knowledge in biodiversity conservation.
Ensuring large enough areas for sustainable populations and ecosystems across various trophic levels (e.g., plants, herbivores, predators).
India launched the Biosphere Reserve scheme in 1986, guided by UNESCO’s MAB Programme.
The country has 18 Biosphere Reserves, with 13 of them listed under UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).
The Indian government provides financial assistance to Biosphere Reserves in a 90:10 ratio for the North-Eastern and Himalayan States, and 60:40 for other states for their maintenance and development.
Each Biosphere Reserve has a Management Action Plan, which is prepared by the State Government and approved by the Central MAB Committee.
The inclusion of the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (CDBR) in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves further cements its role in global conservation. The reserve plays an essential role in the preservation of rare species, especially in high-altitude ecosystems like the Trans-Himalayan region, which are increasingly threatened by climate change.
The Indian Army has recently initiated the procurement of the SAKSHAM Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid System, marking a significant step toward enhancing airspace security and countering drone threats on the battlefield.
The SAKSHAM system stands for Situational Awareness for Kinetic Soft and Hard Kill Assets Management. It is an indigenously developed and modular Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) designed to secure airspace in battlefield environments, especially against hostile drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Developed by: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a public sector company under the Ministry of Defence.
Purpose: The system is designed to enhance situational awareness, enabling real-time detection, tracking, identification, and neutralization of hostile UAS in the airspace.
Real-Time Detection and Tracking:
The SAKSHAM system is equipped to detect and track drones in real time, ensuring timely response to threats.
Integrated Recognised UAS Picture (RUASP):
It generates a real-time integrated UAS picture that provides commanders with an overview of the entire operational airspace. This combines sensor data, counter-drone systems, and AI-driven analytics for enhanced decision-making.
AI-Enabled Predictive Analysis:
The system leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) for predictive analysis, improving its ability to identify potential threats before they materialize.
AI-driven decision support helps commanders take swift and informed actions against enemy drones.
Comprehensive Data Integration:
The SAKSHAM system integrates its own data, as well as data from hostile UAS, C-UAS sensors, and both soft- and hard-kill systems (e.g., electronic jamming or direct kinetic destruction) on a common Geographic Information System (GIS)-based platform.
This integration ensures synchronized response and maximizes effectiveness in neutralizing threats.
Akashteer System Integration:
The system can also receive inputs from the Akashteer System, a radar and surveillance platform, further improving its situational awareness.
This integration helps map all airspace users (friendly, neutral, or hostile) within the combat zone, ensuring no threats are overlooked.
Tactical Battlefield Space (TBS):
SAKSHAM focuses on the newly defined Tactical Battlefield Space, which now includes the Air Littoral (the airspace up to 3,000 meters or 10,000 feet above ground level).
This expanded scope covers a wider operational area, making the system more effective for modern warfare scenarios.
Enhanced Security: With increasing threats from unmanned aerial systems (drones), especially in border regions and conflict zones, the SAKSHAM system significantly enhances the Indian Army’s capability to secure its airspace against aerial threats.
Modular and Scalable: Its modular design allows for easy scaling and adaptation to different battlefield environments, ensuring that it can be deployed in various operational scenarios.
Indigenous Technology: The SAKSHAM system underscores India’s growing capabilities in indigenous defense technology and reliance on domestic solutions to address modern warfare challenges.
The SAKSHAM system represents a major leap forward in India’s defense technology, providing the Indian Army with an advanced, AI-driven solution for countering the growing threat of drones and unmanned aerial systems. Its ability to integrate multiple technologies and sensors on a common platform and its predictive analysis capabilities make it a vital asset for ensuring airspace security in modern warfare.
Myanmar recently assured India that there is no Chinese presence at the Coco Islands in the Bay of Bengal, a matter of significant strategic interest for India due to the islands' proximity to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Coco Islands are a small group of islands located in the Bay of Bengal, near the strategic Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. Here are some key facts about the Coco Islands:
The Great Coco Island, the largest in the group, lies just 55 km from India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The islands are part of Myanmar's Yangon Region and are located in a crucial maritime area in the Bay of Bengal, close to one of India’s most strategically significant territories.
Geologically, the Coco Islands are an extension of the Arakan Mountains (also called the Rakhine Mountains) of Myanmar.
These mountains extend as a chain of islands in the Bay of Bengal, and similar topography continues to India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The islands form a long stretch that submerges and emerges again, with the Coco Islands serving as part of this unique geographical feature.
In the early 19th century, the British government in India established a penal colony in the Andaman Islands for convicts from the Indian subcontinent. During this time, the Coco Islands served as a source of food for the penal settlement.
The islands were leased to the Jadwet family of Burma for a period, leading to a situation of poor governance.
In 1882, the islands became officially part of British Burma and continued as a self-governing crown colony after Burma was separated from British India in 1937.
The Coco Islands hold significant strategic value due to their proximity to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which serve as a critical location for India’s defense infrastructure and maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
The area is strategically located for controlling vital sea lanes in the Bay of Bengal and is crucial for India’s naval operations and regional security.
The Coco Islands remain a key area of strategic interest in the Bay of Bengal, and their proximity to India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands makes them a critical location in India’s national security strategy. The recent assurance from Myanmar on the absence of Chinese presence on these islands is likely to further bolster India-Myanmar relations while addressing India’s concerns over China’s growing footprint in the region.
The Madras High Court recently directed authorities to take appropriate action against all illegal resorts and tourist lodges functioning within the prohibited zone of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR). This decision aims to protect the reserve's wildlife and ecosystems from unregulated tourism and construction activities that could disturb the reserve's biodiversity.
The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is one of India's prominent wildlife conservation areas, located at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Location: Situated in Erode District, Tamil Nadu, the reserve spans over an area of more than 1,400 sq. km.
Borders: It is contiguous with the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu), Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka), and the BR Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka), forming a vital corridor in the Nilgiris Biosphere Landscape.
Strategic Position: The region historically served as a passage between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, facilitating trade along the Mysore-Tamil Nadu trade routes.
The terrain is hilly and undulating, with an altitude range between 750 m and 1,649 m.
Climate: It has a subtropical dry climate. Summers are hot and dry, while monsoons bring cooler, wetter conditions. The region also faces flooding from rivers during the monsoon season.
Key rivers in the region include the Bhavani, Moyar, and Noyyal rivers.
The region's vegetation includes:
Southern tropical dry thorn forests
Mixed deciduous forests
Semi-evergreen forests
Riparian forests (forests along riverbanks)
Prominent trees include teak, sandalwood, bamboo, Terminalia, and Albizia, with various medicinal plants supporting both wildlife and local tribal communities.
The STR is home to a variety of wildlife, including:
Big Cats: Tigers, Panthers
Elephants, Sloth bears, Gaur (Indian Bison)
Deer species: Spotted deer, Black Buck
Other species: Wild boar, Black-napped hare, Striped neck mongoose, Common langur, and Nilgiri langur.
Biodiversity Hotspot: The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is an essential part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Landscape, which is home to the largest tiger population in the world—over 280 tigers.
Cultural Significance: The area was once a traditional hunting ground for local rulers and has been historically important for trade and cultural exchanges between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The reserve is also home to several indigenous tribal communities, including the Irula and Kurumba tribes, who have lived in harmony with the forest ecosystem for generations. These communities play an important role in the conservation efforts, as their traditional knowledge and practices are closely aligned with sustainable forest management.
The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve plays a crucial role in India's tiger conservation efforts and is a vital part of the broader Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The court's decision to crack down on illegal activities within the reserve is a significant step towards preserving this critical ecosystem. Ensuring the protection of STR is not only important for the wildlife but also for the tribal communities that depend on the forest for their livelihood.
The DeepSeek-AI team has recently published a paper discussing their model, called R1, which is capable of developing new forms of reasoning using reinforcement learning (RL). The paper highlights how the R1 model could learn to tackle complex tasks through trial and error, guided only by rewards for correct actions, without needing explicit human guidance.
Reinforcement Learning (RL) is a sub-field of machine learning (ML) that focuses on enabling AI systems to learn how to take actions in a dynamic environment based on feedback (rewards or punishments) generated for those actions. RL is widely applied in scenarios where decision-making occurs over time and is based on learning from experience.
Agent: The learner or decision-maker in the system, such as a robot or a software program.
Environment: The world or system the agent interacts with, providing information on its state and how it reacts to actions taken by the agent.
Actions: The choices or moves the agent can make at any given time.
Rewards: The feedback received by the agent after taking an action, indicating whether the action was desirable (positive reward) or undesirable (punishment).
Trial and Error: The agent learns by interacting with the environment and receiving feedback on the actions it takes. Over time, the agent explores various strategies and learns which actions lead to the most beneficial outcomes.
Goal: The primary goal of RL is to maximize the cumulative reward over time. This involves taking actions that contribute to achieving a specific goal, such as solving a puzzle or optimizing a process.
The RL learning process is driven by a feedback loop consisting of:
Agent (learns and makes decisions)
Environment (provides information about the state and consequences of actions)
Actions (choices made by the agent)
Rewards (feedback given after actions, helping to shape future behavior)
RL is particularly effective for problems involving sequential decision-making in uncertain environments, where the outcome of an action may not be immediately clear. For example, RL is widely used in fields like robotics, gaming, autonomous vehicles, and even healthcare, where decisions impact future states and outcomes.
Autonomous Systems: RL is used in self-driving cars, where the system learns how to navigate, make driving decisions, and improve its performance by learning from past actions.
Robotics: In robotics, RL helps robots learn tasks such as manipulation, movement, and decision-making in dynamic environments.
Healthcare: RL is applied in optimizing treatment strategies, like personalized medicine, where the system can learn the most effective approach for individual patients based on past treatment outcomes.
Gaming: RL has been instrumental in AI development for gaming, such as AlphaGo by DeepMind, which used RL to learn how to play the game of Go at a superhuman level.
Finance and Marketing: RL can be used in stock market prediction, algorithmic trading, and customer recommendation systems, where strategies evolve based on continuous feedback.
While RL has shown great promise, it still faces some challenges:
Data Efficiency: RL systems require large amounts of data to learn effectively, which can be computationally expensive.
Exploration vs Exploitation: RL algorithms must balance exploring new actions versus exploiting known strategies that maximize rewards. Finding the right balance is key to achieving efficient learning.
Real-world Applications: RL’s application in real-world scenarios, especially in complex environments, requires careful design of feedback mechanisms and reward systems.
Reinforcement Learning continues to evolve as a powerful tool for developing autonomous AI systems capable of learning complex behaviors through trial and error. The recent advancements by DeepSeek-AI with their R1 model highlight the growing potential of RL to drive innovative solutions across various sectors. As RL continues to advance, we can expect even more sophisticated applications in industries ranging from robotics and autonomous vehicles to healthcare and finance
The UN Gender Snapshot 2025 highlights alarming trends and the urgent need for targeted action to ensure gender equality worldwide. The report warns that over 351 million women and girls could remain in extreme poverty by 2030 without immediate intervention.
Freedom from Poverty:
Women continue to face lower-paying jobs, higher poverty rates, lack of protection, and heavy unpaid care responsibilities.
52 million women and girls could escape extreme poverty by 2030 with adequate measures like equality in social security, healthcare, and education.
Zero Violence:
12.5% of women globally experience violence, with conflict-hit nations seeing higher rates.
Although many countries have laws against gender-based violence, weak enforcement limits their effectiveness.
Key Solutions: Strengthening survivor support, increasing economic empowerment for women, and enforcing laws.
Full and Equal Decision-Making Power:
Women hold just 27% of parliamentary seats, and few top leadership roles.
Barriers: Glass ceilings, lack of quotas, and insufficient reforms to ensure gender parity in decision-making positions.
Peace and Security:
Women and children are the most affected in conflicts, and they remain underrepresented in peace processes.
Only 55% of 113 national action plans ensure women’s participation in peace-building efforts.
Climate Justice:
Climate change disproportionately impacts women, especially in low-income and conflict-affected regions.
Only 39% of countries have integrated gender concerns into their climate policies.
By 2050, climate change may push 158 million women into extreme poverty.
Recommendation: Inclusive decision-making and empowering women in climate leadership.
Female Labor Force Participation Rate (FLFPR):
37% of women participate in the labor force (ILO 2023), which is among the lowest in South Asia.
Political Representation:
Women hold around 15% of seats in the Lok Sabha (India's lower house), but the Women’s Reservation Act 2023 promises 33% representation.
Education:
India has achieved gender parity in school enrollment, but dropout rates for girls increase at the secondary level, mainly due to early marriage, safety concerns, and social norms.
Digital Divide:
33% of women use the internet, compared to 57% of men, indicating a significant gender digital divide (NFHS-5).
Crimes Against Women:
In 2023, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported approximately 4.48 lakh cases of crimes against women, a slight increase from the previous year.
Preamble:
Guarantees social, economic, and political justice, and equality of status and opportunity for all citizens.
Article 14:
Ensures equality before the law, promoting gender equality in all state actions.
Article 15(1):
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.
Article 15(3):
Allows affirmative action for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and children.
Article 16:
Ensures equal opportunities in public employment, irrespective of gender.
Article 23:
Prohibits human trafficking and forced labor, both of which disproportionately affect women and girls.
Article 39(a) & (d):
Guarantees equal pay for equal work and equal means of livelihood for both genders.
Article 42:
Advocates for just working conditions and maternity benefits.
Article 51A(e & f):
Calls on citizens to renounce derogatory practices against women and to promote respect for women’s dignity.
73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992):
Provide 33% reservation of seats for women in local bodies, ensuring their participation in grassroots governance.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5:
Aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Beijing Declaration+30 A:
Digital Inclusion: Bridging the gender digital divide.
Economic Security: Expanding social protection, healthcare, education, and care economy.
Safety & Justice: Ending gender-based violence through robust laws and support systems.
Leadership & Governance: Strengthening women’s roles in politics and decision-making.
Peace & Security: Fully financing the Women, Peace & Security agenda and ensuring women’s participation.
Climate Justice: Mainstreaming gender in climate policies and resource rights.
CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women):
Promotes legal reforms and protection against gender discrimination.
Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE KIRAN):
Supported nearly 1,962 women scientists from 2018 to 2023.
Kishori Shakti Yojna:
Aimed at improving nutrition, health, and self-development of girls aged 11-18 years.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna:
Provides a cash incentive of Rs. 5,000 for pregnant women and lactating mothers.
State Resource Centre for Women:
Provides technical assistance for implementing women-centric programs and schemes.
Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017:
Provides 26 weeks of paid maternity leave for women in the private and public sectors.
Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023:
Seeks to reserve one-third of the seats for women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and Delhi Assembly.
UN Women is the UN entity dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls worldwide.
Established in 2010, it accelerates efforts to meet gender-related needs globally.
Headquarters: New York.
India has a female population of 48.20% compared to 51.80% male population, making women an essential and equal part of the nation's demographic fabric. However, the status of women in India has undergone significant fluctuations through different historical periods, marked by both progress and setbacks.
Ancient India:
In ancient India, particularly during the Vedic period, women enjoyed a relatively high status. They participated in religious, social, and educational activities.
Women Rishis (sages) like Gargi and Maitreyi were known for their intellectual contributions. Women could own property, receive an education, and hold social authority.
Practices like Sati, child marriage, and purdah (seclusion) were not yet widespread. These, however, came to dominate social life later, especially during the medieval period.
Medieval Period:
The medieval period saw a decline in the social status of women, largely due to the influence of external invasions, foreign rule, and the growing dominance of patriarchal practices.
Women were often confined to household duties and faced restrictions in education, social participation, and inheritance rights.
Colonial and Reform Movements:
During the British colonial rule, women’s conditions were marked by a mix of repression and reform. The colonial period brought with it harsh laws that confined women to subjugated roles.
However, social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Swami Vivekananda played crucial roles in women’s rights movements.
The Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj supported women’s education and the abolition of Sati and child marriage.
The Indian independence movement saw active participation from women leaders such as Sarojini Naidu, Kamini Roy, and Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, marking a turning point in women’s political activism.
The condition of women in India has indeed been a deeply concerning issue throughout history. Despite significant strides in certain areas, the patriarchal system and gender inequality continue to affect women in many parts of the country. While women in India are often revered as mothers, daughters, and sisters, this respect has not always translated into empowerment or equal opportunities. Instead, the deeply ingrained patriarchal values have restricted their independence, autonomy, and safety at every stage of their lives, from birth to death.
One in three women globally will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, often at the hands of an intimate partner.
In India, 30% of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, and 6% have experienced sexual violence at least once.
52% of married women in India have no say in their sexual relations, contraceptive use, or healthcare decisions.
Globally, 750 million women and girls alive today were married before the age of 18, and 200 million have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM).
71% of human trafficking victims are women and girls, most of whom are sexually exploited.
Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence (IPV), is one of the most common forms of abuse women face. It can be physical, emotional, verbal, economic, or sexual, and often takes place within the confines of what should be a safe and supportive relationship. The prevalence of domestic violence remains alarmingly high in India, where many women suffer in silence due to societal pressures, family shame, and lack of support.
Female feticide, which is the abortion of a female fetus, and female infanticide, the killing of a female infant, are practices still observed in parts of India. The strong preference for male children, stemming from patriarchal norms that associate sons with security and daughters with financial burden, contributes to these practices. This cultural mindset leads to the death of millions of female children, depriving them of the right to life and equality.
The dowry system continues to be a significant source of violence for women in India. In cases where the dowry demands are unmet, or a woman’s family cannot provide the required sum, she may be harassed, tortured, and even killed by her husband and in-laws. This form of violence is tragically common, and many women are forced to endure abuse until they either die or commit suicide.
Honor killings are another brutal manifestation of patriarchal control over women’s lives. In many instances, women are murdered by their family members for actions perceived as dishonorable, such as choosing their own partner, having a relationship outside marriage, or even being a victim of rape. Khap panchayats (village councils) in India sometimes pass death sentences on women based on these narrow, archaic notions of family honor.
Rape, molestation, and sexual assault are all-too-common occurrences in India. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports that one woman is raped every 20 minutes in India. Marital rape is not even considered a criminal offense in India, putting many women at risk within their marriages. Sexual violence continues to be underreported due to social stigma, fear of further violence, and a lack of faith in the justice system.
Accusations of witchcraft against women, particularly poor, elderly, or widowed women, are still prevalent in some parts of India. These women, often from marginalized communities, are tortured, humiliated, and sometimes killed based on superstitions and unfounded accusations.
Early marriage is a critical issue, especially for girls in rural areas. In many parts of India, young girls are married off before they are legally or emotionally ready. This practice exposes them to a lifetime of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Girls in forced marriages also face denial of education and the opportunity to develop independent livelihoods.
While more common in parts of Africa and the Middle East, female genital mutilation is also practiced among certain communities in India. This procedure, which involves the partial or complete removal of the female genitalia, causes severe pain, long-term physical and psychological trauma, and an increased risk of childbirth complications.
Acid attacks, often used as a form of punishment or revenge against women for rejecting marriage proposals or love advances, have emerged as a horrifying tool to disfigure and sometimes kill women. These attacks are often not only violent but also socially stigmatizing, as the survivors are left with lasting scars, both physical and emotional.
The deeply rooted patriarchal culture in India assigns women secondary status, viewing them as subservient to men in the family and society. This system encourages violence, as women are perceived as objects of ownership rather than independent individuals. When women challenge these norms, they often face violent retaliation.
Sexist attitudes and a male-dominated power structure in families and workplaces create an environment where violence against women is normalized or even justified. These views often shape public and legal responses to violence, leading to leniency or a lack of action against perpetrators.
Despite the presence of laws like the Domestic Violence Act, Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, and Vishakha Guidelines, the implementation is weak. Many women are unaware of their rights, and the lack of domestic violence shelters, legal aid, and police support makes it difficult for survivors to seek justice.
Many women, particularly in rural areas, are financially dependent on their husbands or family members, which limits their ability to escape abusive situations. Lack of education, economic opportunities, and awareness of their legal rights keeps many women trapped in violent relationships.
The police and judiciary often fail to protect women or deliver swift justice. The slow judicial process, underreporting, and lack of sensitivity in law enforcement contribute to the continuation of violence against women. Many women face further humiliation and violence when trying to file complaints or seek help from the police.
The UN Gender Snapshot 2025 is a call to action for global and national stakeholders to address the challenges women face, including poverty, violence, underrepresentation, and climate injustice, and to move towards a more equitable and just society for women and girls
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
Offline/Online Class
