Blog

1. India has identified 24 critical minerals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements. These minerals are important for electric mobility, battery storage, electronics, telecommunications, defence and clean energy technologies. India’s dependence on imported refined minerals and high-purity materials creates supply-chain risks due to geographically concentrated global processing capacity.

2. The CAPEX Support Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Processing was approved by the Union Cabinet on 4 November 2026. It has a total financial outlay of ₹2,814 crore and will operate for five years, from FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31. The scheme is fully funded through budgetary support from the Government of India and aims to strengthen domestic lithium and nickel processing capabilities.

India’s “Think West” Policy: Strategic Opportunities and Challenges in West Asia
India’s “Think West” policy, launched in 2014, represents a shift from an approach focused mainly on energy and trade to a broader strategy of multi-alignment across West Asia. The policy seeks to strengthen India’s partnerships in security, technology, infrastructure, trade and diplomacy. However, deepening regional divisions and changes in the security environment pose significant challenges.
This approach highlights how India seeks to maintain strategic autonomy while managing relationships with competing regional powers and security groupings.

1. Agriculture provides livelihoods to approximately 46.1% of India’s population, while the Gross Value Added (GVA) of Agriculture and Allied Sectors is estimated at ₹52.08 lakh crore in 2025–26. According to Land Use Statistics 2023–24, India’s reported area was 306.96 million hectares, with approximately 55% classified as agricultural land. The net sown area was 138.99 million hectares, while the gross cropped area was 217.88 million hectares.

2. Agrivoltaics, also called AgriPV, Agrisolar or Dual-Use Solar, combines agricultural production and solar electricity generation on the same land. Solar panels are installed above crops or between crop rows, allowing farming activities to continue alongside electricity generation. These systems can also support livestock rearing, improve land-use efficiency and contribute to food and energy security.

Transnational Water Governance and River Treaties

Transnational water governance deals with the management, distribution and use of rivers shared by two or more countries. In South Asia, where floods, droughts and water scarcity are major concerns, river-water agreements have become closely connected with national security, regional cooperation and diplomatic relations.

1. India’s internet subscriber base reached 1,092.79 million in March 2026, with average wireless data consumption of 25.51 GB per subscriber per month. Total wireless data usage reached 285,376 petabytes during FY 2025–26.

2. Cloud Computing provides internet-based access to servers, storage, software and processing resources without requiring organisations to maintain their own physical infrastructure. Its major benefits include scalability, lower infrastructure costs, faster service deployment, data backup, disaster recovery and operational continuity.

India’s New-Age Space Technologies and Space Sector Development

India’s space programme is moving beyond traditional applications such as telecommunications, weather forecasting, and satellite-based services towards advanced space exploration, reusable launch vehicles, human spaceflight, and commercial space activities. The development of new technologies by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), along with increasing private sector participation, is strengthening India’s technological capabilities, strategic independence, and position in the global space economy.

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage in India’s Net Zero Journey
Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is an important technology for achieving India’s Panchamrit commitments and its Net Zero
emissions target by 2070. It helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial activities, particularly in sectors where renewable energy
and electrification alone cannot eliminate emissions. CCUS supports industrial development while reducing the environmental impact of
carbon-intensive economic activities.

1. What is Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)?

1. India’s manufacturing sector contributes approximately 16–17% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs over 27 million workers. The National Manufacturing Mission aims to increase manufacturing’s share of GDP to 25% by 2035. Medium- and high-technology industries account for 46.3% of manufacturing value addition, reflecting the growing importance of technology-intensive manufacturing.

2. Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) was approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026 and notified on 10 April 2026, with a total financial outlay of ₹33,660 crore. The scheme aims to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across India to expand manufacturing capacity, attract investment, support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), strengthen supply chains, generate employment and improve ease of doing business.

1. Extended Reality (XR) is a collective term for immersive technologies that combine physical and digital environments through computer systems and wearable devices. Its three principal forms are Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR). These technologies support interactive applications in education, healthcare, tourism, cultural heritage, gaming, entertainment, retail and infrastructure planning.

2. Virtual Reality (VR) creates a completely digital environment in which users interact with simulated surroundings, primarily through sight and sound. Augmented Reality (AR) overlays digital information and objects onto the existing physical environment while keeping it visible. Mixed Reality (MR) combines physical and digital environments, allowing virtual objects to interact with real-world surroundings. Related technologies include 360-degree video, which allows viewing in every direction, and Haptic Technology, which uses vibrations, pressure and physical sensations to simulate touch.

Overview of the Election Commission of India (ECI)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a permanent, autonomous constitutional body established under Article 324 of the Constitution of India. It is entrusted with the superintendence, direction, and control of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President of India. Free and fair elections form a part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution (Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain, 1975), making the independence of the ECI fundamental to upholding the democratic fabric and ensuring electoral integrity.