UPSC Key: Muttaqi in Delhi, Global Burden of Disease report, and Ethanol production

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations; Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting

India’s interests

What’s the ongoing story: Hours after Taliban-led Afghan fighters clashed with Pakistani security forces and captured several border posts while killing 58 Pakistani soldiers, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister and Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi said Sunday that the situation was now under control and “we want a peaceful resolution… but if the peace efforts don’t succeed, we have other options”.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are the issues between Afghanistan and Pakistan?

— How has India’s relationship with Afghanistan evolved in recent years?

— Know about the history of Taliban group and how they came to power

— What is the name of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border?

— Why is India looking to normalise its relationship with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan?

— What are human rights concerns highlighted in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan?

— What is the strategic significance of Afghanistan for India?

Key Takeaways:

— Sending Pakistan a tough message from New Delhi, where he is on a visit until October 16, Muttaqi said: “The policy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is to resolve all problems through discussion and understanding. We want to have zero tension and if they don’t want that, then Afghanistan has other means.”

— His remarks came a day after Pakistan summoned the Taliban ambassador to convey its “strong reservations” over the India-Afghanistan joint statement issued in New Delhi in which Kabul strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April this year.

— Addressing a press conference which included women journalists, Muttaqi, who came under fire for excluding women journalists from his press conference Friday, claimed that not inviting women to the earlier press conference was not intentional but the result of a “technical issue”.

— On Sunday, Indian and foreign women journalists were among those allowed inside the Afghan embassy. About 100 journalists, almost half of them women, attended the press conference and asked tough questions on women’s rights in Afghanistan.

— Asked about the gender discrimination in his country where girls are being denied education, Muttaqi claimed: “With regard to education, at the moment we have 10 million students attending schools and other educational institutes, of which 2.8 million are women and girls.”

— “In religious seminaries, this educational opportunity is available all the way to the graduation level. There are certain limitations in specific parts, but that does not mean that we oppose education. We have not declared it religiously haram (forbidden), but it has been postponed,” he said.

— This flies in the face of facts which speak otherwise. Ever since August 2021, when the Taliban returned to power in Kabul, almost 100 edicts which restrict how women and girls move through society have been instituted and enforced.

— Over the last four years, Afghan women have been banned from pursuing higher education and working, not being allowed in public spaces like parks and gyms or travelling long distances without a male escort.

— Under the restrictions, women must not only be covered completely when in public but must not even be heard singing or reading aloud inside their homes.

— Pakistan has been accusing the Taliban regime of giving shelter to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), blaming the group for a series of attacks inside the country.

Do You Know:

— According to the United Nations Security Council, “Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, is an alliance of formerly disparate militant groups that came together in 2007 following Pakistan military operations against Al-Qaida-related militants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.”

— The TTP was formed under the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud, who died in August 2009 in a US drone strike.

— The TTP, belonging to the orthodox Deobandi school of thought, wants Pakistan to be run by an emirate based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law. To that end, it wishes to overthrow the current government, which it believes is not Islamic enough.

— The TTP also opposes the Pakistan government’s assistance to the US ‘war on terror’ launched after the 9/11 twin tower attacks.

— It has been behind some of the deadliest attacks on Pakistani soil, including the attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in December 2014, in which 132 schoolchildren between the ages of eight and 18, and nine school staff, were massacred.

— The Pakistani establishment had long nurtured the Afghan Taliban, in the hope of gaining “strategic depth” against India in Afghanistan. It provided funds, shelter, as well as military training to the Taliban.

— When the group came back to power in Kabul in 2011, Islamabad had hoped that Taliban would pay back the favour, and TTP militants would no longer get shelter and aid in Afghanistan. That hope has been conclusively belied.

— While the Taliban government has repeatedly proclaimed that it won’t allow an inch of its soil to be used by terror groups of any stripe, it has been reluctant in mounting an outright offensive against the TTP, with which it shares ideological and to a degree cultural affinity.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Foreign minister in India, Afghanistan says ‘killed 58 Pakistani soldiers’: Why they are fighting, implications for New Delhi

📍With new Great Game, India must engage with the Taliban and Kabul

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(1) Consider the following countries: (UPSC CSE 2022)

1. Azerbaijan

2. Kyrgyzstan

3. Tajikistan

4. Turkmenistan

5. Uzbekistan

Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan?

(a) 1, 2 and 5 only

(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 3, 4 and 5 only

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

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

The proposed withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from Afghanistan in 2014 is fraught with major security implications for the countries of the region. Examine in light of the fact that India is faced with a plethora of challenges and needs to safeguard its own strategic interests. (UPSC CSE 2013)

EXPRESS NETWORK

Study: Leading cause of deaths in India shifts from infectious to NCDs

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

What’s the ongoing story: Non-communicable diseases account for nearly two-thirds of the world’s total mortality and morbidity, led by ischaemic heart disease, stroke and diabetes, says the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report launched at the World Health Summit, Berlin, and published in The Lancet.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are non-communicable diseases?

— What is the objective of the World Health Summit?

— What is the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR)?

— What is ischaemic heart disease?

— What are the reasons for the shift in cause of deaths from infectious diseases to NCDs?

— What are the steps needed to be taken to reduce NCDs?

Key Takeaways:

— In India, the causes of death are shifting from infectious diseases to NCDs. According to the report, while in 1990 diarrhoeal diseases were the leading cause of deaths, with the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) at 300.53 per lakh population, in 2023, ischaemic heart disease caused maximum deaths — ASMR rate at 127.82 per lakh population.

— Produced through rigorous scientific methods and a global network of more than 16,500 collaborators, the report delivers insights for policymakers, healthcare leaders and researchers.

— Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder was the second leading cause of deaths in India in 2023 with ASMR rate at 99.25 per lakh, while the third was stroke with an ASMR rate of 92.88 per lakh in 2023.

— In India, the all-cause ASMR per lakh population was 1,513.05 per lakh in 1990, which dropped to 871.09 in 2023. However, while the causes of death have shifted from infectious to NCDs, there has been a progress in life expectancy from 1990 to 2023.

— In India there has been a 13-year increase — life expectancy at birth for males, females and both genders combined was 58.46 in 1990 and 71.56 in 2023. For men, it was 58.12 in 1990 and now 70.24, while for women in 1990 it was 58.91 and 72.96 in 2023.

— Globally, mental health disorders rose steeply, with anxiety disorders increasing by 63% and depressive disorders by 26%. Sexual abuse and partner violence were identified as preventable contributors to depression and other health consequences.’

— Among children under 5, the leading risk factors were child and maternal malnutrition, pollution, and unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. For children aged 5 to 14 years, iron deficiency was the leading risk, followed by other causes and malnutrition.

— For 15 to 49, the top two risks were unsafe sex and occupational injuries, followed by high BMI, high systolic blood pressure and smoking. For 50 to 69 years old, high BP was the leading risk, followed by smoking, blood sugar, and kidney dysfunction.

Do You Know:

— In preventing NCDs, early intervention becomes ever more important. This requires investments in strong primary care networks. In addition, new modalities like AI and telemedicine require innovative digital health infrastructures.

— The aim is to prevent diseases, detect cases faster and manage chronic conditions closer to people’s homes. These solutions not only improve lives in India but also provide valuable lessons for other countries.

— An ageing population combined with socio-economic disparities makes health a defining challenge for India. It needs active prevention, healthy nutrition and innovations to be prepared for the imminent health challenges. Healthy ageing needs to be included in primary care networks. This will challenge many aspects of existing health systems

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Express Interview | Investments in strong primary care networks important to prevent non-communicable diseases: World Health Summit President Axel R Pries

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

“Besides being a moral imperative of Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary pre-condition for sustainable development.” Analyze. (UPSC CSE 2021)

 

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

Good diplomacy. Good business

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India, with a strong business contingent, augurs well for Delhi. This is especially so when India is facing the blow of 50 per cent tariffs from US President Donald Trump. This is not only good diplomacy, but also good business.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed between India and the UK?

— What are the key features of the India-UK trade deal?

— Although the UK cannot fully compensate India’s losses in the US market, it can help soften the Trump tariff blow. Analyse.

— What are the domestic reforms India needs to implement to  promote India’s competitiveness?

— The CETA provides an opportunity for both sides to enhance their economic cooperation and contribute to economic growth. Elaborate.

Key Takeaways:

— Starmer himself said that the India-UK trade partnership, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), is a “launch pad for growth”.

— The CETA is significant in both depth and breadth. It covers more than 99 per cent of tariff lines in industrial and agriproducts. This clearly shows that India can successfully negotiate and come to an agreement that is mutually beneficial.

— The India-UK bilateral trade in goods ($23 billion) and services ($33 billion) stands at $56 billion. Under CETA, both sides have set an ambitious goal to double this, and reach $120 billion by 2030.

— Of the $92.7 billion imports by the UK, India’s contribution was just $0.6 billion. With nearly $11.9 billion of Indian exports at stake in the US market, the UK can be a very promising hedge.

— Labour-intensive sectors like textiles and apparel tell a similar story. The UK imported $22.3 billion worth of apparel and made-ups in 2023, while India supplied only $1.59 billion.

— Before the CETA, India faced MFN tariffs averaging 9-12 per cent (HSN61-63). With the CETA, Indian exporters are on par with Bangladesh and Vietnam (zero tariff), and enjoy a tariff edge over China.

— Likewise, in leather and footwear (HSN 42, 64), the UK imported around $8.5 billion, while India’s exports were just $453 million… With CETA now reducing duties, India’s share in the UK’s overall imports could increase substantially, partly offsetting the losses arising from US tariff shocks.

— At the same time, India, too, must open space for UK products to ensure a balanced and credible trade partnership. One of the most prominent areas is alcoholic beverages, where India will gradually cut import duties on Scotch whisky and gin from 150 per cent to 75 per cent immediately and to 40 per cent over 10 years.

— However, a 10-year timeline is long; reducing it to five would signal a stronger partnership. Beyond beverages, advanced machinery, including defence equipment, clean-energy technologies and medical devices offer further scope for UK exports.

— With Starmer’s visit and CETA in place, the UK market offers significant opportunities for India. But reduced tariffs alone will not translate into exports unless matched with structural reforms that promote India’s competitiveness.

— Domestic reforms are equally important. Access to capital must improve, both in terms of ease of reach and cost. Trade facilitation is another critical gap.

— According to the World Bank Enterprise Survey, the average export customs clearance time in India is 17.3 days, compared to 6.7 days in Bangladesh and 3.3 in China.

— The next important thing to address is India’s “regulatory cholesterol”, as highlighted by Manish Sabharwal. India’s regulatory framework often constrains rather than enables scale. The ease of doing business also has to improve.

— Finally, India must scale up and integrate its industrial clusters by investing in shared testing facilities, infrastructure that can reduce costs and improve quality across sectors.

Do You Know:

—- During PM Modi’s visit to the UK in July, a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Vision 2035 document, as well as a new Defence Industrial Roadmap were signed.

— The key pillars of India-UK Vision 2035 include growth and jobs in the UK and India, education and skills partnership to nurture the next generation of global talent, developing cutting-edge technology and research, and strengthening resilience, defence and security co-operation.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍India-UK ties: much to build on

📍India UK trade deal: How the pact partly shields India from volatile US trade policies

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(2) Consider the following countries: (UPSC CSE 2014

1. Denmark

2. Japan

3. Russian Federation

4. United Kingdom

5. United States of America

Which of the above are the members of the ‘Arctic Council’?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 3 and 5 only

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

The newly tri-nation partnership AUKUS is aimed at countering China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. Is it going to supersede the existing partnerships in the region? Discuss the strength and impact of AUKUS in the present scenario. (UPSC CSE 2021)

THE IDEAS PAGE

This Diwali, a Hanuman leap

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc

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: Hardeep S Puri writes: As the world turns inwards with new visa barriers and tariffs, India under Modi is turning its own confidence outward, transforming adversity into acceleration.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are the benefits of Production Linked Incentives?

— What are the major schemes launched by the government for skilling and self-reliance?

— What are the challenges of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat Mission?

— How can India reap its demographic dividend?

— What is the objective of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation?

— How is India leveraging technology for governance, empowerment, and export?

— What do you understand about remittances?

Key Takeaways:

— India’s answer under Prime Minister Modi has been to strengthen the three pillars that no tariff can touch: Scale, skill, and self-reliance.

— The contrast with the world is striking. China’s population is ageing rapidly, its median age is now past 40, while India’s remains under 29. Two-thirds of our people are below the age of 35.

— That youthful energy, harnessed through skilling, education, and enterprise, is what makes India the growth engine of the world economy.

— Recent data underlines this momentum. The Reserve Bank of India has revised India’s GDP forecast for FY26 to 6.8 per cent, citing resilient domestic demand, steady investment flows, and a healthy monsoon outlook.

— Over the past decade, India’s GDP has nearly doubled to become the world’s fourth largest and imminently expected to overtake Germany.

— Atmanirbhar Bharat is best understood as strength turned outward — strength that allows engagement on equal terms. It is the capacity to make in India for the world, to decentralise opportunity so that value flows to those who create it, and to engage global markets on equal terms. From mobile phones and defence equipment to medical devices and solar modules, production-linked incentives have catalysed investment, jobs, and exports.

— The Anusandhan National Research Foundation, with Rs 50,000 crore of planned outlay, will revitalise our R&D ecosystem. A second fund-of-funds for start-ups and the expansion of PLI schemes will deepen our technology base.

—  Aadhaar, DigiLocker, and ONDC together form an ecosystem that connects citizens, small businesses, and innovators at a population scale. UPI’s global partnerships with Singapore, the UAE, and others show that Indian innovation can set global benchmarks.

— People remain the centrepiece of this story. Our diaspora, over 32 million strong, is among the world’s most successful and respected. Eleven Fortune 500 companies today are led by Indian-origin CEOs commanding a combined market capitalisation above six trillion dollars.

— Remittances of $135 billion in 2024 are not just inflows of wealth; they are affirmations of trust. As PM Modi has often said, the Indian abroad is not just an expatriate but an ambassador of the country’s values and enterprise.

— Make in India, Startup India, and Skill India are not parallel tracks but a connected value chain: Identify opportunity, enable entrepreneurship, equip talent. The next step is a comprehensive global skilling mission that unites these initiatives under a single framework.

— The symbolism of Hanuman’s leap is, therefore, apt. It was not an act of defiance, but of duty fulfilled through self-realisation. PM Modi’s governance philosophy is rooted in the same belief that India’s destiny lies in awakening the potential of its people.

Do You Know:

— CALLING FOR scaling up of manufacturing capabilities in the critical sectors of semiconductors and renewable energy technologies, Dr V K Saraswat, Member of NITI Aayog and former chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), emphasised on reducing the reliance on imports for enhanced global competitiveness

— “Make in India” was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on  September 25, 2014. It aims to facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill development, protect intellectual property & build best in class manufacturing infrastructure.

— Production linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes:The primary goals of the PLI Schemes are to attract substantial investments, incorporate advanced technology, and ensure operational efficiency. These schemes cover 14 key sectors aimed at fostering investment in cutting-edge technology and promoting global competitiveness.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍10 years of Make In India

📍Scaling up manufacturing capabilities key to secure India’s future as a global leader: NITI Aayog member

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(3) Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is aimed at (UPSC CSE 2016)

(a) bringing the small entrepreneurs into formal financial system

(b) providing loans to poor farmers for cultivating particular crops

(c) providing pensions to old and destitute persons

(d) funding the voluntary organizations involved in the promotion of skill development and employment generation

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

“Success of ‘Make in India’ program depends on the success of the ‘Skill India’ programme and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments. (UPSC CSE 2015)

 

EXPLAINED

The grain of ethanol production

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.

General Studies-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story: The programme for blending of ethanol in petrol was initiated primarily to help sugar mills make timely payments to farmers, by creating an additional revenue stream from the processing of cane.

Key Points to Ponder:

— How is Ethanol produced?

— What are the uses of Ethanol?

— What target has been set by the government for blending ethanol with petrol?

— What is the difference between C-heavy molasses and B-heavy molasses?

— Why have cereal grains become the mainstay of the ethanol-blended petrol programme?

— What is the “fuel versus food and feed” debate?

Key Takeaways:

— Till 2017-18, mills produced ethanol only from so-called C-heavy molasses, the final dark brown liquid byproduct of cane processing containing sucrose that cannot be further economically recovered and crystalised into sugar.

— From the 2018-19 supply year, mills began making ethanol from an earlier ‘B-heavy’ stage molasses (having higher sucrose content available for fermentation) and also directly from whole cane juice or syrup.

— They were encouraged to do so by the Narendra Modi government’s decision to pay mills more for ethanol produced from the B-heavy and direct cane juice/syrup routes, in order to compensate them for the revenues foregone from reduced/ nil recovery and sale of sugar.

— The result: Between 2013-14 and 2018-19, the total supply of ethanol to oil marketing companies (OMC) shot up from a mere 38 crore to nearly 189 crore litres. The all-India average ethanol blending in petrol, too, rose from 1.6% to over 4.9%.

— From 2018-19, the Modi government also fixed separate ex-distillery prices for ethanol derived from rice, maize and damaged foodgrains. This was, again, intended mainly to help sugar mills.

— The incentives for ethanol production from grains led to not only sugar mills using these as an alternative, off-season feedstock — in no time, exclusively grain-based ethanol distilleries came up in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

— The grains were largely maize and rice. That included surplus and broken/damaged grain sourced from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) as well as the open market.

— There are two reasons why cereal grains have become the mainstay of the ethanol blended petrol programme rather than its originally targeted beneficiary, sugar.

— The first was the drought-induced poor sugarcane crops in 2023-24 and 2024-25. The Modi government responded by limiting the use of B-heavy molasses and cane juice/syrup for making ethanol. The sugar diverted for production of ethanol through these routes, then, fell from 45 lakh tonnes (lt) in 2022-23 to 24 lt and 35 in the following two seasons.

— The second reason had to do with differential pricing. For the 2024-25 supply year, the ex-distillery price of ethanol produced from maize was fixed at Rs 71.86 per litre. This was more than the per-litre prices payable by the OMCs for ethanol from C-heavy molasses (Rs 57.97), B-heavy molasses (Rs 60.73), cane juice/syrup (Rs 65.61) or even FCI surplus rice (Rs 58.50) and broken/damaged grains (Rs 64).

— From a policy perspective, the problems are two-fold. The first is the excess capacity. At last count, there were some 499 distilleries in India that had invested roughly Rs 40,000 crore in building an annual ethanol production capacity of 1,822 crore litres. And there are limits to how much more ethanol blending in petrol is technically feasible.

— The second relates to the familiar “fuel versus food and feed” debate. The ethanol blending programme has certainly given a boost to maize growers, by creating a new market for the grain consumed mostly as a poultry and livestock feed ingredient.

— The fuel vs. food dilemma is probably less in sugar, where domestic consumption isn’t growing as much. That leaves more surplus cane as feedstock for biofuel.

Do You Know:

— Ethanol production basically involves fermentation of sugar by yeasts. In molasses or cane juice, sugar is present in the form of sucrose. Grains contain starch, a complex carbohydrate that has to first be extracted and broken down into simple sugars before further fermentation, distillation and dehydration to ethanol with 99.9% alcohol concentration.

— Ethanol is basically 99.9% pure alcohol that can be blended with petrol. It is different from the 94% rectified spirit having applications in paints, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and other industries, and 96% extra neutral alcohol that goes to make potable liquor.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Ethanol+petrol: How to blend more and blend better

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(4) Given below are the names of four energy crops. Which one of them can be cultivated for ethanol? (UPSC CSE 2010)

(a) Jatropha

(b) Maize

(c) Pongamia

(d) Sunflower

Quantum breakthrough in digital security: How Indian researchers achieved this, significance

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: In a significant breakthrough that can have profound implications for digital and online security, an Indian research group has developed new quantum techniques to generate and certify truly random numbers.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are true random numbers?

— Randomly-generated numbers are critical to digital security. Elaborate.

— What is quantum computing?

— What is the National Quantum Mission?

— How is this breakthrough significant for digital security?

Key Takeaways:

—- This means that, for the first time, a technique to generate true random numbers is ready to be deployed in real-life situations. It potentially paves the way for the development of hack-proof digital security.

— Randomly-generated numbers are critical to digital security. In fact, very large randomly-generated numbers are the foundation on which modern encryption systems and security architectures are built.

— The defining feature of such numbers is that they are created in completely random processes, not by following any pattern or algorithm. As a result, they cannot be guessed or predicted. Anything built on top of them — passwords, encryption keys, or authentication systems – become highly secure against hacking.

— These pseudorandom numbers are good enough for securing our existing networks and information systems. Even the fastest computers, applying brute-force algorithms, would take centuries or longer to decode the passwords or encryption keys based on these numbers.

— All this may change with the advent of quantum computers, which utilise the highly unique and unusual properties of the quantum world to store and process data. These computers handle data in a manner that allows them to efficiently perform complex tasks that go beyond the capabilities of traditional computers. This renders realistic vulnerabilities in the current architectures of digital security.

— Strengthening the current security architecture is, therefore, one of the major areas of scientific research, which is where techniques to generate truly random numbers become so important.

— If a stream of photons is sent through a device and measured for a particular property, some of the photons might exhibit one behaviour, and can be assigned the number 0, while others can be assigned 1. The resulting sequence of 0s and 1s can be truly random. This is how a Quantum Random Number Generator typically works.

Do You Know:

— True randomness is observed in some natural or physical processes that are inherently random, not from any algorithm. Radioactivity and weather events are a few examples of random processes in nature. The quantum behaviour of microscopic particles is also inherently random.

— In the quantum world, two particles, such as photons or electrons, that have interacted previously may be mysteriously linked to each other, with the behaviour of one instantaneously influencing that of the other, regardless of the physical distance between them. Each particle can be measured independently and in a randomly chosen manner, and the results compared.

— The inherent quantum behaviour and randomness of this linkage is established if the outcomes violate a property called Bell’s Inequality.

— Several scientific groups have run such experiments and generated random numbers, but have to contend with the challenge of separating the two particles by at least a couple hundred metres to eliminate any possibility of external interference. A set-up exceeding two hundred metres in size is not a practical proposition in real-life situations.

— Sinha used a slightly modified approach. Instead of using spatial separation in two particles, she used time separation in a single particle to look for violations of another property, the Leggett-Garg inequality. In 2024, Sinha’s laboratory at RRI became the first one to generate truly random numbers by showing the violations of Leggett-Garg inequality in a loophole-free experimental set-up.

— Sinha’s result is a major breakthrough with huge commercial and strategic implications. It is the kind of fundamental research that the National Quantum Mission was set up to support. In fact, it is the first major globally-relevant research output from the National Quantum Mission so far.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Physics Nobel 2025: How winners revealed quantum physics in action

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(5) Which one of the following-is the context in which the term “qubit” is mentioned? (UPSC CSE 2022)

(a) Cloud Services

(b) Quantum Computing

(c) Visible Light Communication Technologies

(d) Wireless Communication Technologies

ECONOMY

India’s 4G stack export ambition: Counter to China’s digital silk road’?

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story: During his inaugural speech at the 9th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said with its 4G stack India would not only offer seamless connectivity, high-speed internet and reliable services to citizens, especially in remote areas, but also export the technology abroad.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is 4G stack India?

— What is the Bharat 6G project?

— What is the significance of the ‘Swadeshi’ 4G stack?

— What are the pillars of  India’s ‘digital’ public infrastructure?

— What are the various generations of telecom technology?

— What is ‘Digital Silk Road’?

Key Takeaways:

— India’s ambitions of exporting its recently unveiled 4G stack, which includes telecom hardware and software, will pit it squarely against China, which has for several years now managed to get a significant foothold in building telecom infrastructure for other countries in the developing world, for instance, in Africa.

— Along with the 4G stack, New Delhi has also prepared its ‘digital’ public infrastructure, and hopes to export it to the developing world. Called the India Stack, — moniker for a set of digital codes and digital public goods that aim to unlock the economic primitives of identity, data, and payments at population scale.

— Key features of the 4G stack include:

* Radio Access Network (Tejas), Core Network(C-Dol)and domestic integration, therefore reducing dependency on foreign vendors and building local capability.

* Enables rapid upgrades, scalability and easier future migration path to 5G.

* Sites and architecture described as “5G ready,” facilitating an upgrade path without replacing large parts of the deployed infrastructure.

— For years, Chinese telecom companies have offered infrastructure to several developing countries, at cheaper rates than their Western counterparts, and backed by easy loans from Chinese funding agencies. This has resulted in Beijing’s telecom companies having a stronghold in several developing markets.

— As per the Delhi-based think tank, the Organisation for Research on China and Asia, China’s Digital Silk Road is part of the Belt and Road Initiative that finances and supports digital connectivity infrastructure to support China’s technology companies, goods and services.

— This includes the provision of cellular networks as well as applications and mobile payment platforms to facilitate China’s trade with developing countries.

— The DSR is also a nexus between the state and tech companies to establish China as the primary supplier of technology goods. The initiative is backed by policy banks and receives political support from the government.

Do You Know:

— In a major boost to telecommunication infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on last month inaugurated BSNL’s ‘Swadeshi’ 4G stack, marking India’s entry into a coveted league of nations, such as Denmark, Sweden, South Korea, and China, which manufacture homegrown telecom equipment.

— India is gearing up to roll out high-speed 6G communication services by 2030 and has set up a Bharat 6G project to identify and fund research and deployment of the next-generation technology in the country, according to a vision document unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October last year.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍At IMC 2025 inauguration, PM Modi says, ‘India’s indigenous 4G stack now export ready’

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(6) With reference to ‘LiFi’, recently in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC CSE 2016)

1. It uses light as the medium for high­speed data transmission.

2. It is a wireless technology and is several times faster than WiFi’.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

ALSO IN NEWS

Decks cleared for Maitri II, India set to chart new frontiers in Antarctica’s icy wilderness

India’s next chapter in the world’s southernmost continent, Antarctica, is all set to unfold. The Finance Ministry has granted approval for Maitri II — the country’s newest research station proposed to come up in eastern Antarctica. Once built and readied by January 2029, Maitri II will become India’s fourth research base on the frozen continent. Goa-based National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is the nodal agency responsible for operating and organising missions to Antarctica and the Arctic.

 

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (c)         2. (d)          3. (a)         4. (b)        5. (b)       6. (c)

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