1) Celebrating a Decade of Soil Health Cards

GS 3: Economy: Improving soil health and fertility

Why is it in the news?

• The Soil Health Card Scheme was launched by PM Modi on 19th February 2015 in Suratgarh, Rajasthan, to assist State Governments in issuing soil health cards to all farmers. These cards provide essential information on soil nutrient status and recommendations for improving soil health and fertility.
• The Soil Health Card Portal enables the generation of standardized soil health cards across the country in multiple languages and dialects.

Key Features of Soil Health Cards

• The Soil Health Card contains data on 12 parameters, including macro-nutrients (N, P, K, S), micro-nutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo), and soil properties such as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), and Organic Carbon (OC).
• Based on these assessments, the card suggests fertilizer use and soil amendments. Soil samples are collected twice a year, after the Rabi and Kharif harvests or during non-cropping periods.

Village-Level Soil Testing Labs (VLSTLs)

• To improve soil testing accessibility, the government introduced guidelines for Village-Level Soil Testing Labs (VLSTLs) in June 2023. These labs can be set up by rural youth, entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), schools, and agricultural institutions.
• The eligible age range for individual entrepreneurs is 18–27 years. As of February 2025, 665 VLSTLs have been established across 17 states, enhancing decentralized soil testing.

School Soil Health Programme

• To promote soil health awareness among students, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), in collaboration with the Department of School Education & Literacy (DSE&L), ICAR, and State Governments, launched the School Soil Health Programme.
• Initially piloted in 20 rural schools (10 Kendriya Vidyalayas and 10 Navodaya Vidyalayas), the initiative has now expanded to 1,020 schools with 1,000 soil testing labs and 125,972 students enrolled.
• The programme educates students on soil health, enables them to conduct soil tests, and encourages them to guide farmers on soil health recommendations.

Integration with Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

• Since 2022-23, the Soil Health Card Scheme has been merged into the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) under the component ‘Soil Health & Fertility.’
• This integration aims to streamline agricultural development initiatives and ensure efficient resource utilization for soil health management.

Technological Advancements in Soil Health Cards

• In 2023, the government introduced a revamped Soil Health Card portal with Geographic Information System (GIS) integration. This upgrade ensures real-time mapping of soil test results and improves monitoring.
• A mobile application was also launched to simplify soil sample collection and enhance transparency. Key features include:

1) Restricting sample collection to designated areas.

2) Auto-selection of latitude and longitude for accuracy.

3) QR code generation for linking samples to test results.

4) Graphical representation of data, including multiple administrative boundaries.

• This digitization, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), has streamlined the entire process, allowing samples to be collected and analyzed more efficiently.

Conclusion

• The Soil Health Card Scheme has significantly impacted Indian agriculture over the past decade. By providing farmers with detailed soil health insights, it has promoted sustainable farming practices and improved crop productivity.
• The introduction of school-based initiatives and technological advancements has further enhanced soil health awareness and accessibility. As the scheme continues to evolve, it remains a crucial step toward preserving soil fertility and ensuring a sustainable agricultural future for India.

2) Building Resilient Telecom Infrastructure: Ensuring Connectivity During Disasters

GS 3: Disaster Management: Strengthening Telecom Infrastructure

Why is it in the news?

• The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a multilateral organization launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2019, recently released a report on Indian telecom networks’ preparedness for disasters. The report outlines how State governments can strengthen telecom infrastructure to withstand calamities.
• Telecom networks play a crucial role in disaster management, enabling swift communication between State and National Disaster Management Authorities, local municipalities, and governments.
• However, these networks are highly vulnerable due to exposed cabling, towers susceptible to high wind speeds, and reliance on electricity, which is often disrupted during disasters like cyclones and earthquakes.

Impact of Disasters on Telecom Networks

• Telecom infrastructure faces multiple threats during disasters. Towers can collapse under high-speed winds, and overland cables are prone to snapping. Underground cables offer better protection, but coastal regions remain at higher risk due to undersea cable landing stations.
• If these stations are damaged, it can severely impact internet connectivity, forcing telecom operators to reroute traffic. A major challenge is power failure, which disrupts telecom services. Moreover, the power outages have been the primary cause of telecom failures since 2016.

Addressing Power and Infrastructure Challenges

• Restoring power supply to telecom towers and network operating centres is crucial during disasters. While undersea cable repairs require specialized vessels and take time, maintaining power supply can mitigate disruptions.
• Telecom operators, except in Mumbai, do not assume 24/7 power availability and rely on battery and fuel backups. A former Chief Secretary of Odisha, highlighted an effective strategy where State authorities supply 50 litres of fuel per telecom operator to keep networks running.
• Additionally, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) collects real-time data from telecom operators on infrastructure damage, allowing quick resource deployment to restore services.

Strategies for Strengthening Telecom Resilience

• The CDRI report recommends several measures to improve telecom resilience. It emphasizes better data collection, enhanced coordination among officials, and stronger power infrastructure. In coastal areas prone to hurricanes, telecom towers must be built to withstand higher wind speeds.
• The “dig-once” policy is also advocated, which involves constructing underground civil infrastructure, such as water, gas supply lines, drainage, and fibre optic cables simultaneously. This minimizes the risk of cables being damaged when new infrastructure is built. Pre-existing damage to underground cables can worsen network failures when disasters strike.

Future Roadmap and Commercial Solutions

• The report suggests updating disaster damage data formats, integrating disaster risk modelling into telecom planning, and strengthening telecom asset design based on regional hazard vulnerability. Commercial solutions like parametric insurance can also play a role.
• This system ensures that telecom operators are financially supported after disasters, encouraging faster restoration and incentivizing disaster-proof infrastructure to keep insurance premiums low.

Small Interventions with Significant Impact

• Telecom resilience requires both large-scale investments and minor but effective modifications. For instance, during heavy rains, diesel generators often fail due to flooding. A simple yet impactful solution is installing generators higher up on the towers to ensure backup power remains functional even in waterlogged conditions.
• By implementing such measures, India can develop a more resilient telecom infrastructure capable of withstanding natural calamities while ensuring uninterrupted communication.

3) Iron Age on Tamil Soil: A New Historical Perspective

GS 1: Culture and History: Iron Age in India

Why is it in the news?

• Tamil Nadu CM recently claimed that the Iron Age began on Tamil soil around 5,300 years ago, dating back to the 4th millennium BCE.
• This assertion was based on the report titled Antiquity of Iron: Recent Radiometric Dates from Tamil Nadu, which suggests that the history of the Indian subcontinent can no longer overlook Tamil Nadu’s contributions.

Previous Understanding of Iron in India

• The use of iron marked a significant technological advancement in human history. Earlier theories suggested that iron arrived in India through western immigrants.
• Mid-20th-century research placed its origins around 700–600 BCE, but radiocarbon dating pushed this timeline further back. Some studies indicated that iron smelting could have begun in India as early as the 16th century BCE.
• Former Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Director-General Rakesh Tiwari’s research, based on excavations in Uttar Pradesh, showed large-scale iron smelting by the early 13th century BCE.
• Excavations at Raja Nala-ka-Tila (1996–98), Malhar (1998–99), and Dadupur (1999–2001) revealed iron artefacts, furnaces, and tuyeres dating between 1800 and 1000 BCE.
• Malhar, in particular, indicated large-scale iron tool production. This evidence confirmed the widespread use of iron in the eastern Vindhyas and the Central Ganga Plain by the early second millennium BCE.

Iron Age Discoveries in Tamil Nadu

• In Tamil Nadu, extensive excavations have been ongoing. In 2022, Tamil Nadu CM highlighted findings from Mayiladumparai in Krishnagiri district, placing the Iron Age in Tamil Nadu around 4,200 years ago (3rd millennium BCE). This timeline coincided with the Copper or Bronze Age in other parts of India.
• The recent Antiquity of Iron report further supports this claim. It suggests that while northern cultural zones experienced the Copper Age, the southern regions might have entered the Iron Age earlier due to limited copper ore availability.
• Excavations at sites like Sivagalai, Adichanallur, Kilnamandi, and Mayiladumparai provided a comprehensive view of Tamil Nadu’s Iron Age.

Radiometric Findings and Their Significance

• The radiometric dating of iron artefacts found in Tamil Nadu places their age between 3345 BCE and 2953 BCE. Based on the mean of these dates, scholars concluded that the Iron Age in Tamil Nadu began in the first quarter of the 4th millennium BCE.
• However, experts caution that while this timeline highlights Tamil Nadu’s early adoption of iron, it does not necessarily imply that the Iron Age originated there.

Conclusion

• These findings have opened new avenues for research into Tamil history and culture. The early adoption of iron in Tamil Nadu reshapes the understanding of technological advancements in ancient India, emphasizing the region’s significant role in shaping the subcontinent’s history.

4) India and Qatar Strengthen Ties to Strategic Partnership

GS 2: International Relations: India-Qatar Relations

Why is it in the news?

• India and Qatar have upgraded their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership, marking a significant milestone as both nations celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2023.

Key Agreements and Outcomes

• The two countries are considering a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to enhance economic collaboration.
• They also signed a double taxation avoidance agreement and set a goal to double bilateral trade to $28 billion within the next five years. Discussions also covered the Israel-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip.
• India now has strategic partnerships with all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait.

Significance of the Visit

• Arab States Summit: The visit by the Qatari Emir precedes the five-nation Arab summit in Riyadh, where new U.S. proposals will be discussed.
• US Proposal on Gaza Crisis:S. President Trump suggested relocating Palestinians to neighbouring countries like Egypt and Jordan. India, however, maintains its support for a two-state solution and welcomed the recent ceasefire.

India-Qatar Relations

Economic and Trade:

• Qatar is India’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), providing 10.91 million metric tonnes of LNG and 4.92 million metric tonnes of LPG in FY 2023-24.
• The current annual trade between the two nations stands at $14.08 billion.

Defence Cooperation:

• India participates in Qatar’s biennial Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX). The two navies conduct the joint exercise Zair-Al-Bahr.
• The India-Qatar Defence Cooperation Agreement, signed in 2008 and extended for five years in 2018, is managed through the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC).

Labor and Diaspora:

• Over 700,000 Indians reside in Qatar, contributing significantly to its development, particularly in the construction sector.

Regional Cooperation:

• India maintains active engagement with the GCC, a political and economic alliance established in 1981, comprising Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

Challenges and Concerns

• The Hamas-Israel conflict and Red Sea shipping disruptions pose threats to India’s energy security and economic stability. India maintains a balanced approach in the Middle East, managing ties with the Gulf, Iran, and Israel. Any escalation in conflict could complicate this balancing act.
• The ongoing conflict has delayed senior-official meetings of the I2U2 group since 2023. India continues to push for economic initiatives like I2U2 and the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC).
• The India-GCC Free Trade Agreement faces delays due to changes in the GCC’s trade negotiator, making consensus among GCC members challenging.

Way Forward

• Given increasing security challenges, India aims to solidify its strategic partnerships with Gulf states. Enhanced cooperation in political, economic, and security spheres is shaping a robust India-Gulf framework.
• Sustaining this momentum can foster trust and unlock ambitious opportunities for future collaboration.

5) NAKSHA Program: Transforming Land Governance

GS 3: Economy: Digitizing land records

Why is it in the news?

• The Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture launched the NAKSHA program in Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, aiming to modernize land record management in India.

Advancing Land Record Digitization

• The NAKSHA program focuses on digitizing land records to streamline ownership documentation and resolve disputes arising from complex paperwork.
• Since 2016, nearly 95% of rural land records have been digitized, enhancing accessibility and transparency.

Key Benefits:

• Ensures clarity in ownership and reduces illegal encroachments.
• Simplifies dispute resolution, easing the burden on courts.
• Empowers marginalized communities by providing secure land rights.
• Integrates geospatial mapping for precise surveys and efficient land management.

Existing Challenges

Despite progress, significant hurdles remain in achieving complete land reforms:

• Outdated and incomplete land records, especially in northeastern states with community-owned land.
• Missing cadastral maps leading to ownership disputes and inconsistencies.

Government Initiatives

Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP):

• Launched in April 2016, DILRMP aims to establish a transparent, real-time land records system. Fully funded by the central government, it focuses on reducing disputes, preventing fraud, and optimizing land use.

NAKSHA Program:

• Budget: ₹194 crore, fully funded by the Government of India.
• Coverage: 152 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across 26 states and 3 Union Territories.

Survey of India: Conducts aerial surveys and provides orthorectified imagery.

MP State Electronic Development Corporation (MPSEDC): Develops the web-GIS platform.

National Informatics Centre Services Inc. (NICSI): Offers secure data storage facilities.

SVAMITVA Scheme: Implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, this scheme provides official property rights to rural households, promoting ownership security.

Conclusion

• The NAKSHA program marks a significant step towards transparent and efficient land governance. By ensuring secure land rights and streamlining ownership documentation, the initiative fosters economic growth, reduces disputes, and empowers marginalized communities.
• Moving forward, addressing outdated records and expanding coverage will further strengthen India’s land management system.

6) Record Low in Global Sea Ice Cover

GS 1: Geography: Melting of Sea Ice

Why is it in the news?

• Global sea ice cover has reached a record low, with the combined extent of Arctic and Antarctic sea ice dropping to 15.76 million sq km during the five days leading up to February 13, 2025.
• This is lower than the previous record of 15.93 million sq km observed in January-February 2023, according to BBC’s analysis of data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).
• Sea ice, distinct from icebergs, glaciers, ice sheets, and ice shelves, floats freely in the polar regions, expanding in winter and melting in summer, though some persists year-round. It plays a crucial role in cooling the planet by trapping ocean heat, and its decline can have severe environmental consequences.

Extent of the Dip

• Arctic sea ice is currently at its lowest extent for this time of year, while Antarctic sea ice is nearing a record low based on satellite observations since the late 1970s. NSIDC data indicates an annual loss of around 77,800 sq km of sea ice since then.
• Between 1981 and 2010, Arctic sea ice extent in September—the month when it reaches its minimum—shrunk at a rate of 12.2% per decade, according to NASA.
• Antarctic sea ice showed a different pattern, with slight annual increases until 2015. However, between late 2014 and 2017, the region lost two million sq km of sea ice—equivalent to four times the size of Spain—according to the Copernicus Marine Service.
• Sea ice levels briefly increased in 2018 but hit a historic low in 2023, with maximum coverage over two million sq km below usual levels, an area nearly ten times the size of the UK. In 2024, the cover was slightly higher but still 1.55 million sq km below the 1981-2010 average maximum.

Causes Behind the Dip

• Experts attribute the record low in 2025 to a combination of warm air, warm seas, and ice-breaking winds. Antarctic sea ice, surrounded by ocean rather than land like the Arctic, is more mobile, thinner, and vulnerable to winds. This vulnerability worsened due to warmer air and waters at the end of the southern hemisphere summer (December to February). Higher air temperatures also melted the edges of Antarctic ice shelves, which extend over the ocean.
• According to the British Antarctic Survey, ongoing ocean warming is the primary factor behind these changes. In the Arctic, where winter lasts from November to February, sea ice remained low due to delayed freezing around Hudson Bay in northeastern Canada, caused by unusually warm ocean temperatures.
• Storms further fragmented ice around the Barents Sea, north of Norway and Russia, and the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia. Over the years, Arctic ice has become thinner and more fragile, making it more susceptible to breaking during storms. Additionally, higher-than-usual air temperatures in regions like Svalbard, Norway, led to further sea ice loss.

Environmental Consequences

• The decline in sea ice cover has significant environmental implications. With less ice, more ocean water gets exposed to sunlight, absorbing more heat and raising temperatures further.
• Sea ice helps maintain cooler temperatures in polar regions by reflecting sunlight, and its loss is a key reason why the poles are warming faster than the rest of the world.
• Moreover, melting sea ice is slowing the movement of water through global oceans. As freshwater from melting ice enters the ocean, it reduces surface water salinity and density, weakening the downward flow to the sea floor.
• This slowdown in ocean overturning can disrupt global climate patterns, destabilize ice shelves, and harm marine ecosystems and the food chain.

7) PM-AASHA Scheme Extended Till 2025-26

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Ensuring farmer’s welfare

Why is it in the news?

• The Central Government has extended the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) until the end of the 15th Finance Commission period, covering up to 2025-26.

Overview of PM-AASHA Scheme

• Introduced in 2018, the PM-AASHA Scheme acts as an umbrella initiative aimed at ensuring farmers receive the Minimum Support Price (MSP), particularly for pulses, oilseeds, and copra.
• It focuses on offering fair returns to farmers while maintaining stability in the agricultural market.

Key Components of PM-AASHA:

1) Price Support Scheme (PSS):

• Under this component, the government purchases pulses, oilseeds, and copra at MSP.
• Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs), in coordination with state bodies, oversee the procurement process.
• Only produce meeting Fair Average Quality (FAQ) standards is eligible for procurement.

2) Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS):

• This scheme provides direct compensation to pre-registered farmers for the gap between MSP and market prices.
• No physical procurement takes place under this scheme.
• It specifically targets oilseeds, with transactions occurring through transparent auctions in notified market yards.

3) Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPSS):

• Implemented as a pilot project, this scheme allows states to involve private stockists for oilseed procurement.
• It operates in selected Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) or specific districts.

Recent Changes

• In 2024, the government merged the Price Support Scheme (PSS) with the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) under PM-AASHA to streamline support for both farmers and consumers.
• This integration helps maintain a strategic buffer stock of pulses and onions to stabilize prices, curb hoarding, prevent speculative trading, and ensure affordability for consumers.
• Additionally, the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) was incorporated into PM-AASHA. This component targets perishable crops like onions, potatoes, and tomatoes, and is activated when prices fall by at least 10% compared to the previous normal season.

Significance of the Scheme

• Provides price assurance to farmers, reducing the risk of distress sales.
• Promotes efficient procurement through market-oriented approaches.
• Encourages farmer participation in transparent marketing systems.
• Prevents sharp price fluctuations, safeguarding both farmers and consumers.

Challenges Faced

• Limited Adoption: States have shown low participation in PDPS and PPSS.
• Procurement Gaps: MSP coverage remains inconsistent across regions and crops.
• Awareness Issues: Many farmers lack proper awareness or face difficulties in the registration process.
• Budget Constraints: Adequate funding for procurement operations continues to pose a challenge.

Conclusion

• The extension of PM-AASHA until 2025-26 highlights the government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing farmers’ income and reforming agricultural markets.
• Strengthening its implementation and addressing existing challenges will further improve its effectiveness in ensuring fair prices for farmers.