9 PM UPSC Current Affairs Articles 29 March 2025

Mains Oriented Articles

GS PAPER - 2

Africa explores nuclear energy amid global competition and crisis

Source: The post Africa explores nuclear energy amid global competition and crisis has been created, based on the article “Advantage China in Africa’s nuclear energy market race” published in “The Hindu” on 29 March 2025. Africa explores nuclear energy amid global competition and crisis.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2-International Relations-Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

Context: The Russia-Ukraine war exposed Europe’s energy vulnerability, prompting a global rethink on energy security. Although Africa is geographically distant, the crisis affected it too. African countries are now exploring nuclear energy as a long-term solution to expand electricity access and strengthen their energy mix.

For detailed information on Status of Nuclear Energy in India read this article here

Africa’s Emerging Nuclear Energy Sector

1. France’s Decline: Once the dominant player, France is now losing its hold, especially in Francophone Africa.

2. U.S. Initiatives: Since 2023, the US-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit (USANES) has been held. However, future progress depends on U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance on nuclear expansion in Africa.
3. Russia’s Slow Progress: Russia has signed nuclear agreements with Egypt, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Burundi. Its firm Rosatom is building a reactor in El Dabaa, Egypt, but progress is slow. Due to economic challenges and sanctions, Russia may struggle to fund projects in distant African countries, despite MoUs with pro-Russian governments.
4. South Korea’s Entry: South Korea, through KHNP, has shown growing interest in investing in Africa’s nuclear sector.

China’s Strategic Lead

1. China has become the leading player. Since 2012, it has trained African students through scholarships in partnership with the IAEA to promote its procedures and technologies.

2. Its state-owned giants — China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) — lead its efforts.
3. At the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Nigeria signed an MoU with China for complete cooperation in nuclear plant development and operation.
4. Uganda also signed an MoU to build a 2 GW plant, with the first 1 GW unit set to start by 2031.
5. Kenya plans to have a research reactor by 2030, while Ghana is working with U.S. and Chinese firms on SMRs and large reactors.

Implications for India

1. India currently generates 8,180 MW of nuclear power and aims to reach 100 GW by 2047.

2. To achieve this, India must secure uranium supplies from Africa. It has signed a nuclear deal with Namibia and is exploring projects in Niger and Namibia.
3. However, China’s dominance and stronger financial capacity may restrict India’s access to African uranium and reduce its role in the continent’s nuclear future, threatening India’s long-term energy security.

Question for practice:

Discuss how the Russia-Ukraine war influenced Africa’s interest in nuclear energy and the global competition shaping its nuclear future.

India seeks greater global role with caution

Source: The post India seeks greater global role with caution has been created, based on the article “U.S. defence ties — India needs to keep its eyes open” published in “The Hindu” on 29 March 2025. India seeks greater global role with caution.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2-International Relations-Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Context: Russian President Putin’s recent praise for PM Modi’s efforts in the Ukraine-Russia war highlights India’s growing credibility as a global actor. However, this raises a key question: Why has India refrained from a more active political role in regional and international conflicts despite its history of decisive interventions and rising global stature?

For more information on India and Global South read this article here

India’s Historical Role in Regional Conflicts

1. In 1971, India helped stop a genocide in East Pakistan and supported the creation of Bangladesh.

2. In 1988, India sent troops to the Maldives to stop armed mercenaries from overthrowing its President.
3. In 2009, India helped Sri Lanka defeat the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
4. India has recently taken action against piracy in nearby seas.
5. During the Korean War (1951–52), India played a key role in the UN Security Council and was made chair of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission.
6. India has often acted as a bridge between opposing sides, including in its 2021–22 UNSC stint.
7. These examples show that India has historically taken bold and active roles in regional peace and security.

Reasons for India’s Political Reticence

1. Economic Prioritization: Over the past two decades, under both UPA and NDA governments, India has focused on economic growth, becoming the world’s 5th largest economy. Political involvement is seen as a risk to development.
2. Preserving Bilateral Ties: India avoids interfering in sensitive issues to maintain strong relations with diverse countries.
3. Leaving Conflicts to Regional Powers: In regions like West Asia, India follows the lead of Gulf countries, even though it has major interests there.
4. Global Order Dynamics: With increasing geopolitical shifts, India treads carefully to safeguard its standing and future ambitions.
5. Geopolitical Risks of Inaction: If India remains passive, others like Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar will step in—even in areas crucial to India. For instance, India was excluded from Afghan talks and sidelined in Bangladesh, despite its proximity.

Changing Global Expectations

1. India’s global ambitions—UNSC permanent seat, being a leading democracy, and a pole in a multipolar world—bring rising expectations.
2. India’s neutral stance in the Ukraine war influenced other developing nations to take a balanced position.
3. PM Modi’s message that “this is not an era of war” and his call to avoid nuclear escalation were globally recognised.
4. Putin’s praise is not just a thank you, but a subtle signal for India to take a larger role.

Need for Strategic Shift and Internal Reform

1. India must move from bilateral to regional strategies, especially in West Asia, Central Asia, and East Asia.
2. It should re-engage with forums like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and revisit its RCEP decision.
3. Internal economic reforms are needed to meet U.S. trade expectations and build deeper global ties.
4. India doesn’t have to mediate, but must show its readiness to lead in peace and security.
5. India’s early leadership in the Korean War, despite its poverty, shows that proactive diplomacy is possible and respected.

Conclusion
India should not view geopolitics and economic development as conflicting. A more active global role, without necessarily becoming a mediator, will enhance India’s standing. In a changing world order, India must assert itself as a responsible and capable power.

Question for practice:

Examine why India, despite its history of decisive interventions and rising global stature, has refrained from playing a more active political role in regional and international conflicts.

GS PAPER - 3

AI literacy is essential for India’s growth and innovation

Source: The post AI literacy is essential for India’s growth and innovation has been created, based on the article “In the new reading and writing, what will India’s role be?” published in “Indian Express” on 29 March 2025. AI literacy is essential for India’s growth and innovation.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – science and technology – Awareness in IT, Space, Computers, and Robotics.

Context: In 1947, India’s literacy rate was just 12%; today, it exceeds 75%. This remarkable increase has significantly boosted India’s economic growth, global competitiveness, and innovation. Now, with the rising prominence of artificial intelligence (AI), another critical shift emerges, highlighting the necessity of AI literacy for India’s next generation.

For detailed information on India can lead AI with innovation and strategy read this article here

Importance of AI Literacy:

1. Just as reading and writing were essential during the industrial era, AI literacy is vital in today’s AI-driven age.
2. Historically, literacy enabled economic mobility, political participation, and innovation. Similarly, AI literacy now determines economic competitiveness and technological leadership, shaping whether individuals actively contribute to the future or remain passive consumers.

Nature of AI Literacy:

1. AI literacy goes beyond coding or programming and emphasizes three key areas:

• Human-AI Collaboration: Understanding AI systems and working effectively with them.
• Critical AI Awareness: Interpreting AI-generated content critically to identify biases, fairness, and ethical issues.
• Problem-solving with AI: Creatively using AI to solve real-world challenges without needing programming skills.

2. AI literacy fundamentally involves problem-solving, abstraction, and systems thinking, aligning closely with computational thinking promoted globally since the early 2000s by scholars like Jeannette Wing.

Current Challenges in India:

1. India’s approach to computational thinking and AI education has been narrow, largely industry-focused, and often limited to IT-specific training programs.
2. Such an approach is inadequate, as AI now impacts all sectors, including education, workplaces, banking, legal systems, and entertainment.
3. Comprehensive AI literacy must therefore reach every segment of Indian society, irrespective of age, occupation, or location.

For detailed information on India lagging behind in AI innovation read this article here

Opportunity and Need for Strategic Action:

1. Historically, India has mainly provided back-office services and IT outsourcing, limiting its global innovation role.
2. AI offers India an opportunity to move beyond this limited role and emerge as a global leader in innovation.
3. Early examples like Wadhwani AI’s agricultural innovations and Sarvam AI’s generative AI technologiesdemonstrate India’s potential.
4. Realizing this potential, however, requires significant investment in AI education, research, and entrepreneurship.

For detailed information on India’s Strategy for AI Leadership read this article here

Proposed Initiatives:

1. A national AI literacy initiative is essential. Policymakers must integrate AI into school curricula, industries should prioritize workforce upskilling, and civil society needs to ensure equitable access to AI literacy.
2. Specific actionable steps include:

• Developing a national K-12 AI literacy curriculum accessible to all students.
• Establishing experiential AI maker labs and tinkering spaces nationwide.
• Investing in workforce reskilling and future-focused employment readiness.

2. Launching a culturally inclusive national AI literacy platform connecting government, business, education, and civil society stakeholders.

For detailed information on Recommendations for development of Artificial general intelligence in India read this article here

Conclusion:

AI literacy is critical for India’s economic competitiveness, innovation, and societal wellbeing. Just as traditional literacy unlocked human potential, AI literacy presents India with a transformative opportunity, determining whether India will lead or lag behind globally in the AI era.

Question for practice:

Examine how AI literacy can shape India’s future economic competitiveness and societal development.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Nag Anti-Tank Missile System (NAMIS)

News- The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited to procure the tracked version of the Nag Missile System (NAMIS), an anti-tank weapon platform. Nag Anti-Tank Missile System (NAMIS).

About Nag Anti-Tank Missile System (NAMIS)

• It is an advanced anti-tank weapon system designed as a mobile platform to launch Nag anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).
• Developed By: Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), DRDO
• The tracked system is mounted on a BMP-2 chassis.

Key Features:

• Armed with Nag ATGM:
  • Third-generation fire-and-forget missile with lock-on after launch capability.
  • Designed to destroy heavily armored enemy tanks, including those with composite and reactive armor.
  • All-weather and night-strike capable using Imaging Infrared (IIR) Seeker.
• Range: 500 meters to 4 km
• Thermal Imaging: Equipped with an advanced sighting system for effective targeting in low-visibility conditions.

Exercise Prachand Prahaar

News– The Indian Armed Forces recently conducted a multi-domain exercise, Prachand Prahar, in Arunachal Pradesh. Exercise Prachand Prahaar.

About Exercise Prachand Prahaar

• It is a tri-service integrated multi-domain warfare exercise, conducted in the high-altitude areas of Arunachal Pradesh under the Eastern Army Command.
• Continuation of Previous Exercise: It follows Exercise Poorvi Prahar (Nov 2024), conducted along the India-China border, which focused on the integrated use of aviation assets.
• Objective: Enhancing operational readiness and joint integration of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, while validating surveillance, command, control, and precision firepower in modern warfare.
• Key Features:
  • Deployment of advanced platforms, including long-range reconnaissance aircraft, UAVs, armed helicopters, and space-based assets.
  • Simulated targets neutralized through coordinated strikes involving fighter aircraft, rocket systems, artillery, and kamikaze drones (loitering munitions).
  • Conducted in an electronically contested environment, replicating real battlefield conditions.

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary

News– In a first-of-its-kind initiative. Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary hosted the ‘indian Bison Fest’ to spread the word about its conservation needs and ecological significance. Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location-It is located in the Bargarh district of Odisha, near the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River.
• Historical Significance– This sanctuary holds historical significance due to its association with the renowned freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai. During his uprising against British rule, he used Barapathara, a site within the sanctuary, as his base of operations.
• Vegetation–  The sanctuary primarily features dry deciduous mixed forests.
• Flora– The major tree species found here include Sal, Asana, Bija, Aanla, and Dhaura.
• Fauna: Tigers, sloth bears, leopards, hyenas, spotted deer, antelopes, sambar, gaur, nilgai, bison, and langur monkeys.

Indian Bison (Gaur) It is the largest extant bovine species. It is among the largest wild cattle species, reaching a shoulder height of up to 220 cm. Habitat & Distribution: Gaurs inhabit forested hills, grasslands, and tropical deciduous forests across South and Southeast Asia. Globally, their population is estimated to be between 13,000 and 30,000, with around 85% found in India. Apart from India, they are also found in Burma and Thailand. In India, one of their strongest habitats is the Western Ghats, particularly in the Wayanad–Nagarhole–Mudumalai–Bandipur complex The gaur is the State Animal of Goa and Bihar. Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Vulnerable CITES: Listed in Appendix I Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Mount Kenya

News– Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak after Kilimanjaro, is experiencing rapid glacier loss due to climate change. Mount Kenya

About Mount Kenya

• Location: Central Kenya, just south of the Equator.
• Elevation: 5,199 meters (17,058 feet) at its highest peak, Batian.
  • Peaks: Batian (5,199m), Nelion (5,188m), and Point Lenana (4,985m)
• Geology: An extinct stratovolcano that has undergone significant erosion over time.
• Glaciers: Hosts Lewis Glacier and Tyndall Glacier, among Africa’s few remaining tropical glaciers.
• UNESCO Status: Recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1997 for its ecological and cultural importance.
• Sacred Mountain: Considered sacred by the Kikuyu people, who believe it is the home of their god, Ngai.