UPSC Key: LVM-3, Personality rights, and Akash-NG missile system

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are the various launch vehicles of ISRO?

— What are the features of launch vehicle LVM-3?

— Know about the various launches made by LVM-o3?

— What is the purpose of communication satellites?

— How is this vehicle linked to the Gaganyaan mission?

— What is the Gaganyaan mission?

— Know about the orbits in the space and the placement of satellites in these orbits

— What are the various initiatives for ISRO’s commercialization?

— What is the CMS-03 satellite?

Key Takeaways:

— “This (the LVM3-M6 mission) was the ninth consecutive successful launch for LVM-3, demonstrating a 100% reliability… The satellite was placed with less than 2-km deviation from the planned orbit, which is one of the best performances among launch vehicles in the global arena… This gives us great confidence for the Gaganyaan mission,” said ISRO chairperson V Narayanan after the successful launch.

— A modified version of the same launch vehicle — a human-rated version with more safety — will carry Indian astronauts to space.

ISRO launches LVM3-M6 into orbit from Sriharikota on Wednesday. (ANI)

— The Bluebird Block-2, developed by the US company ASTSpace Mobile, is a part of a low-earth orbit constellation that will provide direct-to-mobile connectivity. This means the satellites would directly communicate with commercially available cell phones instead of specialised ground stations from where the data is further disseminated.

— The launch was significant because of the weight of the payload, with India previously having to contract out its own heavier launches to private players such as Ariane Space and SpaceX. The heaviest satellite flown by ISRO — using the same vehicle — were two sets of 36 OneWeb satellites, each totalling more than 5,700 kgs.

— The space agency also broke its record for the heaviest satellite placed in the distant geosynchronous transfer orbit last month with the launch of CMS-03 using the same vehicle. The satellite weighed 4,410 kg.

Do You Know:

— LVM-3, earlier referred to as Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle Mark 3 or GSLV Mk 3, uses solid, liquid, as well as cryogenic-fuel based engines to put up to 8,000 kg in low earth orbit (up to an altitude of 2,000 km from Earth’s surface) and up to 4,000 kg in geosynchronous orbit (about 36,000 km).

—  ISRO has been working on increasing the carrying capacity of launch vehicle, especially considering it will be used for the country’s human spaceflight mission.

— One of the ways is to increase the thrust produced by the third or the cryogenic upper stage of the rocket, which accounts for nearly 50% of the velocity needed to place the satellites in the geosynchronous transfer orbits.

— The C25 stage presently being used in the launch vehicle can carry only 28,000 kg of the propellent producing a thrust of 20 tonnes. The new C32 stage will be capable of carrying 32,000 kg of fuel and produce a 22 tonne thrust.

— The space agency is also looking at using a semi-cryogenic engine instead of the liquid-propellent based second stage of the rocket. A cryogenic engine essentially uses liquified gases at extremely low temperatures as the fuel — in this case liquid oxygen and hydrogen.

— A semi cryogenic engine uses a liquified gas and a liquid propellent. ISRO plans to use a refined kerosene and liquid oxygen based second stage. This will not only increase the capability of the launch vehicle, it might also be cheaper.

— With the new engine, the vehicle is likely to become capable of carrying around 10,000 kg to the low earth orbit instead of the current 8,000 kg. The heaviest payload it has carried to low earth orbit is 5,800 kg for the OneWeb mission.

— The space agency is working on developing a new vehicle called Lunar Module Launch Vehicle (LMLV) that will be capable of carrying up to 80,000 kg in the low earth orbit — mainly being designed to carry out missions sending humans to the moon.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍A Giant launch today

📍Shubhanshu Shukla returns to Earth: 10 key points for your UPSC prep

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(1) With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2018)

1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.

2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.

3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 2 only

(d) 3 only

THE CITY

One-third of Delhi’s annual PM2.5 pollution is secondary ammonium sulfate

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story: Nearly one-third of Delhi’s annual Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) pollution is made up of secondary ammonium sulfate, resulting from coal plants, industries and agriculture, with the chemically-formed pollutant dominating the city’s air during its worst pollution periods, according to a new analysis conducted by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a Finland-headquartered think-tank.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are the major sources of ammonium sulfate in the environment?

— What is the impact of SO2 on human health?

— How is air pollution measured?

— What are the steps needed to curb SO2 emission?

— What are the major causes of air pollution in India?

Key Takeaways:

— Ammonium sulfate is a secondary inorganic aerosol formed through the oxidation of sulphur dioxide (SO2) into sulfate. This reacts with ammonia emissions from agriculture and other sources. Its formation is enhanced under humid conditions, linking coal-based power generation, industrial activity and agricultural ammonia to elevated PM2.5 levels in Delhi and across the National Capital Region (NCR).

— This is particularly alarming, as at 11.2 million tonnes, India is the biggest emitter of SO2 globally, and ranks second only to China, an analysis by CREA published earlier this year had flagged.

— Its latest analysis found that ammonium sulfate accounts for 49% of PM2.5 pollution in Delhi during the post-monsoon period and 41% in winter, compared with just 21% in summer and monsoon.

— This indicates that the Capital’s most severe pollution episodes are driven largely by region-wide SO2 emissions and secondary chemical formation in the atmosphere, rather than only local primary sources.

— Secondary particulate matter is a core driver of PM2.5 pollution in India, with up to 42% of the country’s PM2.5 burden being chemically formed in the atmosphere from precursor gases such as sulphur dioxide and ammonia, CREA said.

— At the national level, the highest annual contribution of ammonium sulfate to PM2.5 mass was observed in coal-fired power plant-dominated states. Chhattisgarh recorded the highest share at 42%, followed by Odisha (41%), as well as Jharkhand and Telangana (40% each).

— High secondary PM2.5 contributions were also observed in Bihar (39%), Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal (38% each), as well as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh (37% each).

Do You Know:

— These are extremely fine particulate matter (PM) particles, with the digits accompanying them referring to their diameter. So, PM 10 and PM 2.5 are smaller than 10 and 2.5 microns in their diameter, respectively. One micron is about a thousandth of a millimetre and this tiny size has a role to play in how they impact human health. The finer the particles are, the more difficult it gets to protect oneself from them.

— Due to their size, the PM 2.5 particles can easily bypass the nose and throat and can enter the circulatory system. The particles can also lead to chronic diseases such as asthma, heart attack, bronchitis and other respiratory problems. Byproducts of emissions from factories, vehicular pollution, construction activities and road dust, such particles are not dispersed and stay suspended in the air that we breathe.

— As with other gases, SO2 exposure is harmful to the cardiovascular system and can lead to the development of respiratory illnesses. SO2 can also react with other compounds to form particulate matter. “At high concentrations, gaseous SOx can harm trees and plants by damaging foliage and decreasing growth,” EPA states.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍PM 2.5, Sulphur Dioxide, and more: What are the pollutants in our air, and how they impact health

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(2) In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index? (UPSC CSE 2016)

1. Carbon dioxide

2. Carbon monoxide

3. Nitrogen dioxide

4. Sulfur dioxide

5. Methane

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve revised standards? (UPSC CSE 2021)

 

EXPLAINED

The great wall in the North: Why the Aravallis matter

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Salient features of the world’s physical geography

General Studies-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

What’s the ongoing story: The new definition of the Aravallis, proposed by the Centre on October 13 and accepted by the Supreme Court on November 20, effectively excludes almost 90% of the range from protections against mining and other development activities, as per an internal assessment of the Forest Survey of India.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Understand the reasons behind the recent criticism on the new definition of the Aravallis

— What are the reasons for the lower height of Aravallis?

— How were Aravalli hills formed?

— What are the threats to the Aravalli Hills?

— How does mining impact the Aravalli ecosystem?

— What is the impact of illegal mining on the environment? How can the government ensure sustainable mining?

— The Aravalli range is an ecological shield for the plains of Northwest and North India. Elaborate.

— What is the ‘Aravalli Green Wall’ project?

— How to create a balance between environment protection and development?

Key Takeaways:

— Critics fear that this definition, under which the Aravallis comprise any landform at an elevation of 100 metres or more above the local relief, would be a hammer blow for an already degraded hill range that provides diverse ecological and environmental services to northern and northwestern India.

— The Centre on Wednesday wrote to states, directing them to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court and ensure that no new mining leases are to be granted in the Aravallis till a management plan for sustainable mining is finalised.

— At over a billion years old, the Aravallis are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, formed during the Precambrian Era due to the collision of tectonic plates of the earth’s crust. The 700-odd-km range stretches across four states (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi) and 37 districts, with 560 km lying in Rajasthan.

— The present-day range, however, is much eroded compared to what the Aravallis were at their birth. Their degradation is due to both natural factors and human activities.

Mining in the Aravalli region in the Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Nuh districts has been prohibited by the Supreme Court since 2002. (File)

— Yet, the Aravallis provide priceless ecological services. If the Western Ghats are considered the water tower and climate regulator of peninsular India, the Aravalli range is an ecological shield for the plains of Northwest and North India.

— The range acts as a shield for the northern plains against the incursion of sand from the Thar desert in the west. This also protects air quality in the North. Any rising incursion of sand would be disastrous for the Delhi-NCR Region, which is already struggling to contain local sources of pollution.

— Moreover, the hills also bring in a healthy amount of rainfall, which is essential for agriculture and drinking water needs of settlements that are located around them.

— As per studies, deforestation, quarrying and erosion has already led to 12 major gaps in the Aravallis. These gaps extend from Magra hills in Ajmer district to Khetri-Madhogarh hills in Jhunjhunu district and northern most hillocks in Mahendragarh district of Haryana.

— Although water drainage and recharge influenced by the Aravallis is not talked about enough, the hills’ rocky formations are essential to recharge aquifers and groundwater levels, and sustain seasonal rivers of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

— The region is also home to important lakes and wetlands including Sambhar, Sultanpur, Pushkar, Fateh Sagar, and Jaisamand, the action plan adds.

— Ecologist and curator of the Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon, Vijay Dhasmana, said that rocks in Aravallis are highly fractured, weathered and porous, allowing rainwater to percolate deep into the ground instead of running off the surface.

— On the biodiversity and wildlife front, the ranges provide a unique dry, deciduous, and semi-arid landscape for a host of flora and fauna to flourish. The range is home to 22 wildlife sanctuaries, including 16 in Rajasthan, three of which — Ranthambore, Sariska, and Mukundra — are tiger reserves.

— Key species found in this landscape include tiger, leopard, sloth bear, sambar, chital, desert fox, blackbuck, hyena, wolf, jackal, gharial, crocodile. These species are also crucial in helping preserve the semi-arid scrub forests and semi and dry savanna forests, such as those found in Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar.

— The smaller Aravalli hillocks, if opened for mining, would shrink the wildlife corridors.

— The Aravallis are already under immense pressure, and have faced degradation over the years due to urbanisation, industrial clusters, and mining, both legal and illegal. The Union government has itself accepted the large-scale degradation in its action plan under the ‘Aravalli Green Wall’ project.

— The mountain range is home to lead, zinc, copper, gold, tungsten and has reserves of critical minerals such tin, graphite, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, lithium, and rare earth elements (REEs). These are considered to be of strategic relevance for energy transition, high-technology manufacturing, and national security.

THE IDEAS PAGE: On Aravallis, fake claims abound on social media and among activists. Here are the facts

— Shehzad Poonawalla and Vijeta Rattani wrote Ignoring the government statements, calling the Supreme Court decision a “death warrant” for Aravallis and claiming that more than 90 per cent of the Aravallis would be chopped off for corporate interests, it is clear that “activists” and propagandists have failed to understand the judgment and/or are misled into believing otherwise.

— First, they have claimed that only landforms with an elevation of 100 m or more above the local relief would classify as “Aravali hill”, implying that any hills or landforms falling below this 100 m mark are exempted from mining prohibitions. Incorrect.

— In fact, all the landforms enclosed within the lowest binding contour encircling hills of height 100 m or more, irrespective of their height and slopes, are excluded for the purposes of grant of mining leases. Therefore, the 100-m criterion is not limited to height alone.

— Second, more alarmist claims have been made that 90 per cent of the Aravallis would be opened for mining and that not just the hills but agriculture, sanctuaries, reserves and core areas would be wiped out.

— The truth is that any mining or construction activity — whether inside or outside the defined hill ranges — continues to require statutory environmental clearances, regulatory approvals and compliance with existing safeguards.

— Third, there have been claims of the government prioritising development over environmental protection.

— Incorrect. The judgment strengthens environmental governance by making protection more precise, enforceable and science-based. Treating the Aravallis as a continuous geological ridge protects the entire landscape and prevents fragmentation. Further, by focusing on surveillance with drones, task forces, CCTVs, weighbridges, and district task forces, the ruling ensures strong enforcement and monitoring against unauthorised activities.

FRONT: Before 2025 yes was the 2010 no: Supreme Court had rejected 100-metre definition of Aravallis

— IN STARK contrast to its order last month, the Supreme Court had rejected the state of Rajasthan’s 100-metre definition for Aravallis — 15 years ago. The court had in 2010 ordered a survey by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) which shall “not be confined to peaks/parts of hills above 100 metres, from the ground level”.

— This FSI survey came up with the 3 degree slope definition of Aravalli, which was ignored on November 20 by the Supreme Court in favour of the same 100 metre height benchmark now recommended by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Before 2025 yes was the 2010 no: Supreme Court had rejected 100-metre definition of Aravallis

📍Facing flak, minister claims no relaxation for mining in Aravallis

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(3) Which one of the following is the correct order of formation of geological systems in India in terms of their age? (Starting with the oldest) (UPSC CAPF 2016)

(a) Dharwars – Aravallis – Vindhyans – Cuddapahs

(b) Aravallis – Dharwars – Cuddapahs – Vindhyans

(c) Vindhyans – Dharwars – Aravallis – Cuddapahs

(d) Cuddapahs – Vindhyans – Dharwars – Aravallis

Amid AI content boom, how courts are enforcing personality rights

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

What’s the ongoing story: The Delhi High Court restrained the unauthorised commercial use of actor R Madhavan’s image and likeness on Monday (December 22), ordered the takedown of obscene and AI-generated material circulating online, and barred the sale of merchandise using his persona.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are Personality Rights?

— What are the laws governing personality rights in India?

— What is the difference between copyright and trademark?

— What are the challenges in protecting personality rights?

— What is Performer’s Rights?

— How can personality rights be secured against AI misuse?

Key Takeaways:

— This comes amidst an uptick in celebrities, from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan to NTR Jr, seeking judicial intervention towards intermediaries wherein their names and images were allegedly misused across social media platforms.

— Courts, too, are no longer waiting to merely recognise personality rights after misuse has occurred. They are issuing urgent and preventive orders such as blocking links, authorising future URLs to be disabled, and directing platforms to comply almost immediately.

— Personality Rights safeguard an individual’s name, image, likeness, voice, signature and other identifiable traits from unauthorised commercial exploitation.

— India does not have a standalone statute defining these rights. Instead, courts have assembled them through a combination of intellectual property law and constitutional principles, with personality rights derived from the following:

— Copyright Act 1957: Section 38A of the Copyright Act grants performers exclusive rights, once consent is provided for commercial use of their performances. Section 38B recognises the moral rights of performers, which lets them retain the ability to “claim to be identified as the performer” and to object to, or seek damages for, any “distortion, mutilation or other modification” of their performance that harms their reputation.

— Trademarks Act 1999: This act allows individuals to register distinctive attributes to their persona, such as names, signatures, catchphrases, as trademarks. Section 27(2) of the act is the most widely used safeguard. It states that “passing off” protects the goodwill of an unregistered mark and prevents misrepresentation that deceives the public into believing there is an endorsement or association where none exists.

— Article 21: Courts also draw from constitutional law, where personality rights are located within the right to life. Personal liberty is enshrined under Article 21, which has been expansively interpreted to include dignity, autonomy and privacy. A person may consent to appear in an advertisement or a campaign, thereby exercising control over how their identity is used.

— These protections, while fragmented, are neither automatic nor absolute. Courts generally require proof of reputation, goodwill, and unauthorised commercial use.

— Balancing the right to free speech under Article 19(1)(a) is also a key judicial consideration: Courts have repeatedly stressed that personality rights cannot be interpreted so broadly that they extinguish parody, satire, criticism, or reportage.

— However, the lack of statutes to protect personality rights ensures that any issue related to them will secure a common law remedy, according to Rahul Bajaj, partner at Zen Axis Law Associates. Early cases involving unauthorised merchandise laid the groundwork, but the volume of Delhi High Court orders reflects institutional expertise rather than legislative clarity.

— The IT Rules 2021 lay out distinct takedown pathways depending on the source and nature of the complaint. Where content is flagged through a court or government order, intermediaries are mandated to act within 36 hours.

— Once the court passes an order, the platforms decide as to how broadly such orders will be complied with. At present, there is no compliance log and no systematic review of over removal.

— This enforcement reality exists against a broader regulatory gap. India has no clear consent framework for digital likeness, no statutory protection against AI-generated impersonation, and no settled rules on how personal data is used in training generative models.

— In contrast, the New York governor recently signed legislation requiring advertisers to disclose when advertisements feature AI-generated likeness and mandating consent before commercially using a deceased person’s likeness. The emphasis is on transparency and consent, backed by penalties, with clear exemptions for expressive works such as films and television.

Do You Know:

— In 2023, the Bombay High Court ruled that FM radio channels cannot use copyrighted music without paying royalties to composers and lyricists.

— Section 38 of the Copyright Act, 1957, as amended in 2012, recognises “Performer’s Rights” of the Singer of a commercially recorded song for 50 years from the “beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the performance is made”. During this period, the performance, or “a substantial part thereof”, cannot be recorded, reproduced, broadcast or communicated without the Performer’s consent.

— Performers (which includes Singers) have the Right to Receive Royalty (R3) in case their performances are commercially utilised. While a Singer can sign over the rights to a song to a producer/third party, R3 for the song cannot be given over. This means that once a Singer has recorded an original song, everyone except the producer/copyright holder needs to get permission and pay royalty to play/perform it in public.

— The objective of the amendment was to protect artists. For example, if the copyright of a song is licensed, it would not just be the producer who would get a royalty but the singer and lyricist would also be entitled to a share.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Knowledge nugget of the day: Copyright Act — the focus of Dhanush-Nayanthara dispute

📍Personality rights — What you must know for UPSC Exam

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

In a globalized world, Intellectual Property Rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms Copyrights, Patents and Trade Secrets. (UPSC CSE 2014)

Better range, sleeker profile: Latest version of Akash missile

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology

What’s the ongoing story: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the user evaluation trials (UET) of Akash-New Generation, also called Akash-NG, missile system, paving the way for its induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are the key features of the Akash-NG missile system?

— What is the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme?

— What are the major defence missiles of India?

— How is India moving towards Atmanirbhar in the defence sector?

— What is Akash Prime?

Key Takeaways:

— The development of the Akash, a short to medium range surface-to-air missile, was started by DRDO in the late 1980s as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme led by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Following the developmental trials in the 1990s and early 2000s, extensive user trials were conducted by the IAF and the Indian Army.

— Named after the Sanskrit word for sky, Akash symbolises the deterrence in the air. It is primarily designed to provide air defence cover to the vulnerable areas and critical installations.

— The Akash weapon system can simultaneously engage multiple targets in group mode or in autonomous mode. It features built-in electronic counter-counter measures (ECCM), which means it has onboard mechanisms that can counter electronic systems that deceive detection systems.

— Akash was inducted into the IAF in 2014, and into the Indian Army the next year. Both the IAF and the Army currently operate multiple squadrons and groups of missiles, respectively. The DRDO has said the Akash missile has 96% indigenous components.

— In December 2020, the Cabinet approved the Akash missile for exports after many friendly foreign countries showed interest in it during various international exhibitions. The export version of Akash will be different from those in service with the Indian Armed Forces.

— Akash-NG is primarily designed for the IAF with an aim of intercepting high manoeuvring aerial threats that have low radar cross section (RCS), which is the electromagnetic signature of an airborne object.

— Besides improved effectiveness against low electromagnetic signature threats, the NG version features a range of up to 70 kilometres, a sleeker and lighter profile, and a much smaller ground system footprint.

— The DRDO has also developed another version of Akash, Akash Prime, which has the same range as that of the earlier version but has a crucial new addition of an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy to hit the aerial targets.

— User evaluation trials of the Akash-NG missile on Tuesday (December 23) successfully met provisional staff qualitative requirements (PSQR). During the trials, the missiles successfully intercepted aerial targets at different ranges and altitudes, including the near-boundary-low-altitude and long-range, high altitude scenarios.

— All the systems and subsystems, including the multi-function radar (MFR), command and control unit, missile launch vehicle (MLV), etc., have been designed by various laboratories of DRDO with the help of Indian industries.

— The development cycle of systems from DRDO broadly consists of three phases: developmental trials, user-assisted trials in various conditions, and user evaluation trials (UETs). The successful UET clears the way for the induction of the system, and an acceptance of necessity (AoN) is issued by the user, which, in Akash-NG’s case, is the IAF

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍India’s atmanirbhar defence sector 

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(4) With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?  (UPSC CSE 2014)

1. It is surface-to-surface missile.

2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.

3. It can deliver one tonne nuclear warhead about 7500 km away.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

ALSO IN NEWS

‘See no reason why 5% GST can also not be provided for air purifiers’: Delhi HC seeks panel response on slashing GST

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, directed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council to convene a meeting at the earliest to decide the issue of lowering or abolishing GST on air purifiers, keeping in view the prevailing air quality situation in Delhi and nearby areas. The direction came while the court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocates Kapil Madan and Gurmukh Singh Arora challenging the levy of 18 per cent GST on air purifiers and seeking their classification as medical devices. The petitioner said that medical devices attract 5 per cent GST, while air purifiers are currently taxed at 18 per cent seeking a direction to the respondents to levy GST at 5 per cent on air purifiers, citing the worsening air quality in Delhi and surrounding regions.

 

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (a)    2. (b)    3. (b)    4. (a)

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