1) The Rise of Quick Commerce

GS 3: Economy: Q-commerce

Why is it in the news?

• Quick commerce (Q-commerce) emerged as a crucial service during the COVID-19 lockdown, catering to customers confined to their homes. However, even after the pandemic, it has continued to grow, reshaping urban shopping habits in India.
• This rapid delivery model has altered consumer expectations, emphasizing speed and convenience in retail.

How Quick Commerce Operates

• Q-commerce, a subset of e-commerce, focuses on ultra-fast delivery, usually within 10 to 20 minutes. This efficiency is achieved through a network of dark stores—warehouses exclusively used for fulfilling online orders.
• Unlike traditional retail stores or supermarkets, dark stores are strategically placed close to customers to ensure quick deliveries.
• Moreover, Q-commerce platforms leverage mobile apps and customer data to refine their services. Data analytics help in demand forecasting, inventory planning, and personalized recommendations.
• For instance, platforms can predict seasonal demand shifts or demographic-based preferences, ensuring better stock management and customer satisfaction.

Benefits for Brands

• The expansion of Q-commerce has provided significant advantages for brands. A study by IIM Ahmedabad’s Centre for Transportation and Logistics highlights its role in enhancing brand visibility. Experts note that the availability of a young, cost-effective workforce has contributed to Q-commerce’s rapid growth in India.
• Additionally, these platforms offer supply-side advantages. For example, distributing frozen or chilled products through traditional kirana stores requires expensive infrastructure like freezers. Q-commerce platforms eliminate this cost barrier, making distribution more efficient.
• The sector has witnessed exponential growth, estimating the Indian Q-commerce market at $3.34 billion in 2024, projected to reach $9.95 billion by 2029. The industry recorded a 76% year-on-year growth in FY 2024.

Challenges for Traditional Retailers

• Despite its success, Q-commerce has faced criticism from traditional retailers. FMCG stockists and the All-India Consumer Products Distribution Federation (AICPDF) have lodged complaints with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against major players like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart.
• They allege anti-competitive practices, including predatory pricing and deep discounting, which they claim are driving small retailers out of business.
• The complaint argues that these platforms initially sell products below cost to eliminate competition before increasing prices to recover losses. Additionally, concerns have been raised about platforms using customer data to implement differential pricing based on location, device type, or purchasing habits.
• Experts has called for a “level playing field” to ensure both Q-commerce platforms and traditional retailers can coexist. As Q-commerce continues to expand, the need for regulatory oversight and fair market practices will remain critical in shaping the future of India’s retail landscape.

2) Push for Tamil Medium in Education and Recruitment: A Regional Language Debate

GS 2: Polity and governance: Debate over regional language

Why is it in the news?

• On March 7, Union Home Minister urged Tamil Nadu CM to introduce medical and engineering education in Tamil. He emphasized that several States have already implemented regional language instruction in professional courses and expressed hope that Tamil Nadu would follow suit.

Introduction of Tamil Medium in Engineering

• The idea of offering engineering education in Tamil was first proposed in 2010 by the then DMK government under M. Karunanidhi. As a pilot initiative, Anna University introduced Tamil-medium courses in Civil and Mechanical Engineering during the academic year 2010-11.
• The government also decided to provide undergraduate engineering examination papers in both English and Tamil, allowing students to answer in their preferred language.
• During the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions counselling in July 2010, Karunanidhi highlighted the popularity of Tamil-medium education, noting that 149 students had already enrolled.
• In September 2010, the DMK government further promoted Tamil-medium education by reserving 20% of State government jobs for students who studied in Tamil across various courses.

Decline in Patronage and Suspension of Courses

• Initially, Tamil-medium engineering courses received good enrolment, even attracting students who had completed their schooling in English. As a result, Anna University expanded the Tamil-medium option to more of its constituent colleges.
• However, over time, student interest declined. In May 2023, Anna University announced the suspension of Tamil-medium courses in 11 constituent colleges, citing poor demand.
• The decision sparked controversy, leading to a reversal after intervention from the Higher Education Minister. Former Vice Chancellor clarified that the university initially planned to withdraw Civil and Mechanical Engineering courses due to low enrolment and introduce Tamil-medium Computer Science and Engineering courses instead, as they were in higher demand.
• He also noted that study materials for 50 subjects had already been translated into Tamil, with translation work for another 500 subjects in progress.
• A 2021 online survey by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), which gathered responses from 85,195 undergraduate students across India, revealed that 12,487 students preferred to study engineering in Tamil if given the option.

Status of Medical Education in Tamil

• Tamil Nadu considered introducing Tamil-medium medical education in 2010, with Karunanidhi stating that after engineering, medical courses would also be offered in Tamil. However, the initiative did not materialize after the DMK lost the 2011 elections.
• In October 2022, State Health Minister announced efforts to introduce Tamil as a medium in medical colleges. He mentioned that once the Union government approved new medical colleges in six districts, a Tamil-medium medical college would be established in Chennai.
• In December 2022, Union Finance Minister advocated for medical and allied health courses, including nursing, to be taught in Tamil. Last year, Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University’s Vice Chancellor confirmed that affiliated medical colleges would offer education in both Tamil and English, with Tamil textbooks made available if required.

Regional Language in Police Recruitment Exams

• In April 2023, CM M.K. Stalin strongly opposed the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) decision to conduct constable recruitment exams only in Hindi and English. He wrote to Amit Shah, urging for exams to be conducted in Tamil and other regional languages.
• The CRPF responded, stating that written examinations for internal recruitment had never been conducted in regional languages and that computer-based tests for constable recruitment were only available in Hindi and English.
• However, following this demand, the Ministry of Home Affairs decided to allow constable examinations for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including CRPF, BSF, and CISF, in 13 regional languages, alongside Hindi and English, starting from January 1, 2024.

3) SIPRI Report: India Second-Largest Arms Importer After Ukraine

GS 2: Polity and Governance: SIPRI Report

Why is it in the news?

• According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India was the second-largest importer of major arms between 2020 and 2024, despite a 9.3% decline compared to 2015-19.
• Russia remained India’s primary arms supplier, accounting for 36% of imports, though this was significantly lower than the 55% share in 2015-19 and 72% in 2010-14. India was also the top destination for French arms exports, receiving 28% of France’s total arms exports.

Some of the Key findings

• Ukraine, engaged in a prolonged war with Russia since 2022, emerged as the world’s largest arms importer during 2020-24. Its arms imports surged nearly 100-fold compared to 2015-19, as several countries supplied weapons to support its defense efforts.
• At least 35 countries have sent arms to Ukraine since the war began, contributing to its 8.8% share in global arms imports.
• While global arms exports remained stable, Russia’s share of exports fell by 64%, reducing its global share to 7.8%. In contrast, France overtook Russia to become the second-largest arms exporter with a 9.6% share. France exported arms to 65 countries, with significant deliveries to Greece, Croatia, and Ukraine.
• Pakistan’s arms imports increased by 61% between 2015-19 and 2020-24. China strengthened its role as Pakistan’s dominant arms supplier, accounting for 81% of imports, up from 74% in 2015-19.
• Despite regional fluctuations, the overall volume of global arms transfers in 2020-24 remained at similar levels to 2015-19 and 2010-14, though 18% higher than in 2005-09.
• European arms imports surged by 155%, reflecting the region’s rearmament in response to Russian threats. The United States increased its global arms export share to 43%, solidifying its dominance in the market.
• For the first time since 1990-94, China did not feature among the top 10 global arms importers, highlighting its growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing. Meanwhile, four Asia-Pacific countries—India, Pakistan, Japan, and Australia—were among the world’s top 10 arms importers.
• India has signed major defense contracts with France, including 36 Rafale fighter jets and six Scorpene-class submarines. Additionally, deals for 26 Rafale-M jets and three more submarines are expected to be finalized soon.

Conclusion

• The SIPRI report highlights shifting global arms trade dynamics, with Ukraine’s soaring imports, India’s continued reliance on Russian and French weapons, and China’s declining dependence on foreign arms.
• Europe’s rapid military buildup and the U.S.’s expanding market dominance indicate changing security concerns in the international landscape.

4) Cosmic Particle Acceleration: Earth’s Bow Shock as a Natural Laboratory

GS 3: Science and Technology: Particle accelerator

Why is it in the news?

• In 2017, data from three NASA missions—Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS), THEMIS, and ARTEMIS—revealed an unusual phenomenon near Earth’s bow shock, where the solar wind interacts with the planet’s magnetic field.
• Researchers found that electrons in Earth’s foreshock region were gaining an enormous amount of energy, raising questions about the mechanisms behind such acceleration.
• A study suggests that collision-less shock waves play a crucial role in accelerating subatomic particles in space. These shock waves, found throughout the universe, act as natural particle accelerators, pushing electrons to near-light speeds.

More about the news

• Plasma, a gas of charged particles, interacts with electromagnetic fields rather than through direct collisions. Unlike traditional shock waves in air or water, collision-less shock waves in plasma transfer energy through electromagnetic forces. This process is believed to be responsible for accelerating electrons to extreme speeds in space.
• A long-standing astrophysical mystery is how electrons gain an initial energy boost before undergoing further acceleration in shock waves.
• Known as the electron injection problem, this challenge has puzzled scientists studying cosmic rays and high-energy particles near supernovae, pulsars, and black holes. The new study provides insights into this first step of acceleration.
• Using real-time data, researchers analyzed how the solar wind—a continuous stream of charged particles from the Sun—interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere. When the solar wind slows down at the bow shock, energy is transferred into a shock wave.
• Observations showed electrons in Earth’s foreshock gaining more than 500 keV of energy, nearly 500 times their usual level. These electrons were moving at about 86% of the speed of light.
• The researchers ruled out solar flares or coronal mass ejections as possible sources of this extreme acceleration. Instead, they identified a complex interplay of plasma waves and transient structures in the bow shock as key drivers of this energy gain.
• Further, the findings suggest that similar processes could contribute to cosmic ray production in the universe. While supernovae have long been considered the primary sources of cosmic rays, this study proposes that planetary magnetospheres interacting with stellar winds might also play a role.

Conclusion

• The research provides a deeper understanding of space plasma physics and cosmic particle acceleration. It suggests that Earth’s bow shock serves as a natural laboratory for studying universal astrophysical processes.
• The study calls for further investigations to confirm whether planetary shocks contribute to the broader cosmic ray distribution across the universe.

5) Gene-Edited Banana: A Solution to Food Waste

GS 3: Science and Technology: Genetically engineered banana

Context

• Bananas often turn brown and overripe quickly, leading to significant food waste. Despite being perfectly edible, many of them are discarded. To address this, UK-based biotech company Tropic has developed a genetically engineered banana with a longer shelf life that resists browning.
• These modified bananas stay fresh and yellow for 12 hours after peeling and are less likely to bruise during harvesting and transportation.

Why Do Bananas Turn Brown?

• Bananas undergo a natural ripening process driven by ethylene, a plant hormone. Unlike melons and citrus fruits, bananas continue producing ethylene even after being harvested. This hormone activates several genes, including one responsible for producing polyphenol oxidase (PPO), an enzyme that causes browning.
• When PPO comes in contact with oxygen, it breaks down the yellow pigment, turning the fruit brown. Bruising accelerates this process by increasing ethylene production, which speeds up ripening and discoloration.

How Was a Non-Browning Banana Developed?

• Scientists at Tropic used gene-editing techniques to disable the gene responsible for PPO production. This modification does not prevent ripening but helps the banana maintain its yellow colour for longer.
• The same approach was used in Arctic apples, developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., which became the first genetically modified fruits approved for commercial sale in the US in 2017. Similar methods have been applied to other perishable fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, melons, kiwifruits, and mushrooms.

Significance of this innovation

• Bananas are highly perishable, with an estimated 50% of the crop going to waste annually. A UK government survey from 2017 found that British households discard around 1.4 million edible bananas daily. This not only results in financial losses but also contributes to environmental harm.
• Food waste is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, which drive global warming. By preventing bananas from browning, gene editing could encourage people to consume older yet edible fruit, reducing food waste.
• According to Tropic, their non-browning bananas could help cut carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to removing 2 million passenger vehicles from the road annually.

6) Theories and Evidence of Early Tool Use

GS 1: Culture and History: Early invent and use of tools

Why is it in the news?

• A recent study reveals that our ancient ancestors used bone tools at least 1.5 million years ago, nearly a million years earlier than previously believed. The oldest known stone tools date back to 3.3 million years. These estimates are based on surviving prehistoric tools, but it is likely that wooden tools were also used, though they have not survived.
• The earliest evidence of wooden tools dates back to only 700,000 years ago. Experts suggest that our ape-like ancestors may have used sticks and stones millions of years before the earliest known tools, indicating that tool use predates the emergence of our genus, Homo, and is not an exclusively human trait.

‘Man, the Tool-Maker’ Theory

• British paleoanthropologist Kenneth Oakley, in the late 1940s, proposed that tool use and toolmaking were uniquely human traits, signifying advanced cognitive ability. In his book Man the Tool-Maker (1949), Oakley emphasized that while some animals use objects as tools, only humans had the mental capacity to shape tools for future use.
• His theory influenced the classification of Homo habilis in 1964 by British-Kenyan paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey, who named the species “handy man” due to its presumed ability to make tools.
• Leakey’s classification was based on fossils found in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, which included large brain cases, dexterous hand bones, and stone tools, reinforcing the belief that toolmaking was uniquely human.

Tool Use in Other Primates

• Contrary to Oakley’s claims, evidence shows that other primates also use tools. Charles Darwin, in The Descent of Man (1871), noted that chimpanzees cracked nuts using stones.
• In the 1960s, primatologist Jane Goodall documented chimps using sticks to extract termites and modifying leaves to collect water. She also found that chimps occasionally altered objects to serve specific purposes, challenging the notion that toolmaking was a uniquely human trait.
• Subsequent studies have documented chimps crafting rudimentary wooden spears and capuchin monkeys unintentionally producing stone flakes similar to those made by early human ancestors.

Lucy’s Grippy Hands and Early Tool Use

• Despite Goodall’s findings, scientists long held an anthropocentric view of tool use. When paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson discovered Lucy, a 3.2-million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis fossil, in 1974, he did not consider her a tool user, as tool use was still believed to be unique to Homo.
• However, in 1983, Mary Marzke’s research on Lucy’s hand bones suggested that she had the grip needed to manipulate stone tools. This was confirmed in 2010 when researchers in Ethiopia found bones with cut marks and percussion marks, indicating stone tool use 3.39 million years ago.
• In 2015, another team discovered 3.3-million-year-old stone tools in Lomekwi, Kenya, making them the oldest tools found to date.

Rethinking Human Exceptionalism

• The discoveries of Goodall and Marzke challenge the idea of “human exceptionalism”—the belief that humans are superior to all other species.
• The long-held view that tool use was a defining human trait persisted due to this belief, despite growing evidence to the contrary. Studies of primates show that various hand morphologies allow for dexterous behaviours beyond just human hands.
• Evidence now suggests that even the last common ancestor of all great apes, living around 13 million years ago, possessed precision dexterity and used tools, pushing the history of tool technology far beyond what was previously assumed.

7) Water-Ice Beyond Moon’s Polar Regions: Chandrayaan-3 Findings

GS 3: Science and Technology: Data from Chandrayaan-3

Why is it in the news?

• New findings from Chandrayaan-3 suggest that water-ice on the Moon could be more widespread than previously thought, extending beyond the polar regions.
• Data from the Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) indicate that certain high-latitude areas, particularly those on inclined surfaces away from direct sunlight, could create conditions similar to the polar regions, potentially allowing water-ice to exist beneath the surface. These findings highlight new possibilities for lunar water resources.

ChaSTE and Lunar Temperature Variability

• ChaSTE, the first instrument to measure on-site surface and sub-surface temperatures near the Moon’s polar regions, provided crucial insights into lunar temperature variations. Earlier satellite data had only estimated these temperatures.
• ChaSTE recorded a drastic 60-degree Celsius difference between the Moon’s surface and the layer just 10 cm beneath it. This extreme non-conductivity of heat provides new information on the Moon’s composition and could aid future lunar habitat designs by offering natural temperature-controlled environments.

Chandrayaan-3’s Landing and Temperature Observations

• A research team led by K. Durga Prasad at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) analyzed ChaSTE’s temperature data to infer the likelihood of water-ice near the Shiv Shakti point, where Chandrayaan-3 landed.
• Although water-ice was earlier believed to exist only in the Moon’s polar craters, Chandrayaan-3’s findings suggest its presence in high-latitude regions outside the poles.
• The Vikram lander recorded temperatures of 355 Kelvin (82°C) on a sun-facing slope and 332 Kelvin (59°C) just a meter away on a flatter surface, demonstrating significant temperature variations over short distances.

Previous Evidence of Water on the Moon

• The presence of water on the Moon was first confirmed by Chandrayaan-1, which detected strong water signals and thick water-ice deposits in the polar regions. Chandrayaan-3’s findings now suggest that such deposits might not be restricted to the poles but could also exist in adjacent high-latitude areas.
• The study observed that locations with slopes greater than 14 degrees in poleward directions might provide conditions similar to polar regions for water-ice accumulation at shallow depths.

Implications for Future Exploration

• The study emphasizes that high-latitude regions with favourable slopes are potential sites for water-ice exploration, resource extraction, and future lunar habitation. These areas present fewer technical challenges compared to the Moon’s poles, making them attractive for scientific study and human exploration.
• The findings open new possibilities for utilizing lunar water resources, which could play a crucial role in long-term space missions and colonization efforts.

8) PM Modi’s Visit to Mauritius: Strengthening Strategic and Cultural Ties

GS 2: International Relations: India- Mauritius Relations

Why is it in the news?

• PM Narendra Modi is visiting Mauritius for a two-day State visit, marking his second trip since 2015. He will be the Chief Guest at Mauritius’ National Day celebrations on March 12.
• The island nation, strategically located in the western Indian Ocean, holds significant importance for India due to its historical, cultural, economic, and strategic ties. Nearly 70% of Mauritius’ 1.2 million population is of Indian origin, further deepening bilateral relations.

Historical Ties: Indian Connection with Mauritius

• Mauritius was a French colony before coming under British rule. Indians were first brought to Mauritius as artisans and masons from Puducherry during French rule in the 1700s. Later, under British rule, around half a million Indian indentured workers were brought between 1834 and the early 1900s, with two-thirds settling permanently.
• Mauritius’ National Day has a unique Indian connection. Mahatma Gandhi briefly visited the island in 1901 during his journey from South Africa to India. His messages on education, political empowerment, and maintaining ties with India left a lasting impact.
• In tribute to Gandhi, Mauritius celebrates its National Day on March 12, coinciding with the start of the Dandi March.

Diplomatic Relations and Political Connections

• India established diplomatic relations with Mauritius in 1948, making it one of the first nations to do so post-independence. Since Mauritius gained independence from Britain in 1968, its political landscape has been dominated by two major families—the Ramgoolams and the Jugnauths.
• The current Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, has previously held office twice (1995-2000 and 2005-2014). His father, Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, was the first Prime Minister of independent Mauritius and played a key role in its freedom struggle, maintaining close ties with Indian leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subhash Chandra Bose.

Infrastructure and Strategic Cooperation: The Agaléga Project

• During PM Modi’s 2015 visit, India signed an MoU to improve transport and connectivity in Agaléga, a remote island 1,100 km north of Mauritius. In February 2024, India and Mauritius inaugurated an airstrip and jetty project, enhancing connectivity and security.
• These facilities aid Mauritius in maritime surveillance, protecting its Exclusive Economic Zone, and combating piracy, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
• Despite speculation about India setting up a military base in Agaléga, then-Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth firmly denied these claims, reaffirming that Mauritius retains full sovereignty over the island. India’s involvement is seen as crucial in countering China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean region.

Key Areas of India-Mauritius Cooperation

Defence and Maritime Security

• India and Mauritius are advancing cooperation in defence and maritime security. A technical agreement on sharing white-shipping information between the Indian Navy and Mauritian authorities is expected. This will strengthen Mauritius’ maritime security, protect trading routes, and enhance regional cooperation in real-time data-sharing.

Development Assistance and Infrastructure Projects

• India has provided Mauritius with approximately $1.1 billion in development assistance over the last decade, including $729 million in lines of credit and $427 million in grants. Key completed projects include:

1) Three phases of the Metro Express project.

2) A 2022 MoU for 96 small, community-focused projects, of which 51 have been inaugurated.

Humanitarian Assistance

India has consistently been Mauritius’ first responder in crises, providing aid during:

• The Covid-19 pandemic with vaccine and medical supply assistance.
• The Wakashio oil spill (2020), where India played a crucial role in containing environmental damage.
• The Cyclone Chido (2023), where India used its naval assets and Agaléga facilities for relief efforts.

Trade and Investment

• India is one of Mauritius’ largest trading partners and the second-largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India in FY 2023-24, after Singapore.
• The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) was signed in 2021, marking India’s first trade pact with an African nation.
• Currently, 11 Indian Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) operate in Mauritius, including:
• Bank of Baroda; Life Insurance Corporation (LIC); and National Building and Construction Company Ltd (NBCC).

Space Cooperation and Satellite Development

• India and Mauritius signed an agreement in 1986 to establish a Telemetry, Tracking, and Telecommand (TTC) station for space research. In 2023, ISRO and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) signed an MoU for developing a joint satellite, further deepening space cooperation.

Capacity Building and Education Ties

• Mauritius is a major recipient of India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, with nearly 4,940 Mauritian professionals trained since 2002-03.
• Additionally, around 2,300 Indian students are pursuing higher education in Mauritius in fields such as medicine, hotel management, and business studies.

Cultural Ties: Shared Heritage and Traditions

• PM Modi’s visit will also celebrate the contributions of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who had ancestral roots in Bihar. Cultural connections between India and Mauritius remain strong, with shared traditions like the grand celebration of Maha Shivratri and pilgrimages to Ganga Talao, a sacred lake for Mauritian Hindus.

Conclusion

• PM Modi’s visit to Mauritius underscores the depth of India-Mauritius relations, encompassing strategic, economic, humanitarian, and cultural ties.
• With growing defence collaboration, significant economic investment, and deep-rooted historical links, Mauritius remains a key partner for India in the Indian Ocean region.
• The visit is expected to further solidify this partnership, reinforcing Mauritius’ role as a strategic ally in India’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy.