9 PM UPSC Current Affairs Articles 8 March, 2024
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Mains Oriented Articles
GS PAPER - 1
Financial literacy for women in India- Financial literacy is key
Source: The post financial literacy important for women in India has been created, based on the article “Financial literacy is key: Beti bachao, Vitt sikhao” published in “Live mints” on 8th March 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 1-Society-Social empowerment
News: The article discusses the importance of financial literacy for women in India. It highlights progress in women’s education and survival rates since 1947, but stresses the need for women to learn about finance. It suggests financial knowledge is crucial for true empowerment and mentions government initiatives supporting this goal.
What is the current status of women’s empowerment in India?
- Since 1947, there’s been significant progress in reducing female infant mortality and increasing women’s literacy. Female infant mortality dropped from 213 to 31 deaths per 1,000 live births between 1972 and 2021.
- Female literacy rose from 54.2% in 2001 to 65.5% in 2011.
Why is financial literacy important for women?
Essential for True Empowerment: Financial literacy is viewed as a crucial step beyond basic education for women’s empowerment, enabling them to make informed financial decisions.
Gap in Financial Knowledge: Women lag behind men in both financial knowledge and access to financial products, highlighting the need for focused financial education.
How can financial empowerment be achieved?
Women-Specific Banking Services: Initiatives like women-only bank branches introduced by nationalized banks can create a more accessible financial environment for women.
Leveraging Digitalization: The digitization of the economy allows women to access financial products from home, promoting convenience and wider reach.
Government-led Programs: The Jan Dhan Yojana, which makes direct cash transfers to women’s bank accounts, helps in enhancing financial inclusion among women.
Supporting Women Entrepreneurs: Platforms like the Open Network for Digital Commerce help women entrepreneurs market their products online, boosting their financial independence and skills.
Self-Help Groups: Models like Kerala’s Kudumbashree demonstrate the effectiveness of self-help groups in empowering women financially.
Way forward
The way forward involves integrating financial education into existing programs like ‘Beti bachao, Beti padhao’. This will ensure women not only receive education but also learn vital financial management skills, crucial for their complete empowerment and equal participation in India’s development.
Question for practice:
Discuss the strategies and initiatives aimed at promoting financial empowerment among women in India.
Women in India’s justice system- Can a justice system without women bring justice to women?
Source: The post women in India’s justice system has been created, based on the article “Can a justice system without women bring justice to women?” published in “Indian express” on 8th March 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 1-Society-Role of women and women’s organization.
News: The article discusses the low number of women in India’s justice system, including police, judiciary, and prisons. It highlights the gender gap, lack of women in high positions, and institutional biases against women, emphasizing the need for more gender diversity.
What is the current state of women in India’s justice system?
Low Female Representation: The India Justice Report indicates only about 300,000 women in the justice delivery system, highlighting a wide gender gap.
Judiciary Disparity: Women hold 35% of subordinate judiciary roles, drop to 13% in high courts, and there are only three women judges in the Supreme Court.
Lack of Leadership Roles: No woman has ever been the Chief Justice of India, and only 16 women have served as chief justices in high courts in over 70 years.
Human Rights Commissions’ Gender Gap: As of 2022, only six commissions had female members or secretaries, with no women chairpersons.
Policing and Prison Administration: Women constitute about 12% of police personnel and 14% in prison administration, mainly in lower ranks.
Why is it important to reduce the gender gap in India?
- The absence of a female Chief Justice of India and few women in high court chief justice’s positions limits women’s influence in judiciary leadership.
- The minimal presence of women in human rights commissions could lead to insufficient attention to gender-specific issues.
3.With low representation in police and prison administration, there’s a risk of gender biases affecting law enforcement and prison management.
4.The overall low representation of women implies an institutional bias, potentially impacting justice delivery and equality within the system.
What should be done?
Promote Women to Leadership Roles: Encourage more women to take up roles like Chief Justice of India and high court chief justices, going beyond the current limited history of 16 women chief justices in over 70 years.
Address Systemic Biases: Tackle institutional biases that hinder women’s advancement, learning from the exceptions of successful women like Justice Ruma Pal and Kiran Bedi.
Empower Women in Policing and Prisons: Increase the percentage of women in police and prison administration beyond the current 12% and 14%, respectively, to ensure a balanced and inclusive approach in these sectors.
Implement Supportive Policies: Develop and enforce policies that support gender equality and address the specific needs and challenges faced by women in the justice system.
Question for practice:
Examine the current state of gender representation in India’s justice system and the importance of reducing the gender gap?
GS PAPER - 2
Status of cervical cancer in India – free future
Source: The post status of cervical cancer in India has been created, based on the article “A bold step towards a cervical cancer-free future” published in “The Hindu” on 8th March 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2-governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
News: The article discusses India’s new budget plan which includes funding for HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer in girls. It mentions global and local successes in HPV vaccination and how it can improve women’s health and reduce cervical cancer.
For details information on cervical cancer read Article 1 and Article 2
What is the current status of cervical cancer in India?
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in Indian women, with 1.27 lakh cases and 80,000 deaths annually. The main cause is the Human papillomavirus (HPV).
For information on Human papillomavirus (HPV) read here
India’s 2024-25 interim budget includes funding for HPV vaccinating girls aged 9 to 14 against cervical cancer.
What initiatives have been taken to eliminate cervical cancer?
Initiatives in India
Development of Cervavac: India developed its own HPV vaccine, Cervavac, making it more affordable and accessible.
Sikkim’s Successful Model: Sikkim achieved a 97% HPV vaccination rate through effective community education and outreach programs.
U-WIN Portal Rollout: Similar to Co-WIN, this portal will track immunizations across the country, including HPV vaccines.
Initiatives Worldwide
WHO’s ‘90-70-90’ Targets: Aims for 90% of girls to be vaccinated by age 15, 70% of women screened by ages 35 and 45, and 90% of cervical cancer cases treated by 2030.
Rwanda’s Campaign: Reduced HPV prevalence, especially in women who participated in the 2011 catch-up program.
Southeast Asia Region: Bhutan, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand introduced the HPV vaccine nationwide.
Bhutan’s Leadership: First low-middle income country (LMIC) to start a nationwide HPV vaccination program for girls in 2010 and for boys in 2021, achieving 95% coverage among targeted girls.
What are the challenges in eliminating cervical cancer?
Combatting Vaccine Hesitancy: There’s a significant challenge in addressing myths and misinformation surrounding the HPV vaccine.
Achieving Equitable Access: A major hurdle is ensuring access to HPV vaccination for all, particularly in underserved areas.
Building Robust Infrastructure: Developing sufficient healthcare infrastructure for widespread vaccination is a challenge.
Implementing Tracking Systems: The need for efficient tracking systems like U-WIN presents a logistical challenge.
Raising Awareness and Education: Increasing awareness and understanding of HPV and cervical cancer in diverse cultural contexts is difficult.
Ensuring Vaccine Affordability: Making vaccines like Cervavac affordable and accessible remains a key challenge.
What is the overall impact of HPV vaccination?
Reduction in Cervical Cancer Cases: HPV vaccination has led to a notable decrease in cervical cancer, especially in countries with comprehensive vaccination programs.
Cost-Effective Healthcare: India’s development of the affordable Cervavac vaccine increases accessibility and affordability.
Improved Women’s Health and Productivity: By reducing the incidence of cervical cancer, HPV vaccination contributes to the better overall health and economic productivity of women.
Question for practice:
Discuss the current status of cervical cancer in India and the initiatives taken both locally and globally to eliminate it.
GS PAPER - 3
SC observation on National Park conservation practices- A slippery slope
Source: The post SC observation on National Park conservation practices has been created, based on the article “A slippery slope: Tourism in wildlife parks should not be at odds with conservation efforts” published in “The Hindu” on 8th March 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3-ecology and environment- conservation
News: The Supreme Court (SC) criticized the Uttarakhand government for allowing about 6,000 trees to be cut in Jim Corbett National Park.
What is the SC observation on National Park conservation practices?
The Supreme Court stated that cutting trees in National Park violates conservation practices and harms the ecosystem, especially tiger habitats.
It emphasized the importance of tigers in maintaining ecosystem health.
The Court pointed out loud music from nearby resorts posing threats to animals, indicating poor regulation around safari zones.
The Court observed that tiger safaris are acceptable if they adhere to eco-tourism guidelines and not just for commercial gains.
It highlighted the risk of political and financial misuse in the management of tiger safaris.
The Court pointed out the need for balanced tourism that supports conservation, citing the example of cheetah translocation in Kuno National Park.
How do Tiger Safaris impact National Park conservation practices?
- Properly managed tiger safaris can divert attention from forest core zones and help in raising awareness about conservation. Yet, improper management can lead to environmental damage.
- While tiger safaris and projects like the translocation of cheetahs to Kuno National Park can boost local employment and tourism, they need to be balanced with conservation needs to avoid negative impacts.
What should be done?
1.The Supreme Court recommends developing clear guidelines for conducting tiger safaris, ensuring they align with conservation goals.
2.Wildlife safaris should be managed to minimize impact on core zones, promoting the forest’s inviolate nature.
Question for practice:
Examine the Supreme Court’s stance on tiger safaris and their impact on National Park conservation practices.
Media and entertainment sector of India – Opportunities & Risks
Source-This post on Digital Media-Opportunities & Risks has been created based on the article “Medium of exchange- Digital media presents both opportunities and risks” published in “Business Standards” on 8 March 2024.
UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper 3- Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics
News-The article discusses the opportunities and risks associated with the rise of the Digital media industry.
Background– The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and EY have recently released a report on the media and entertainment sector. The report has made some interesting observations, datapoints, and trends that can help businesses in this segment adapt or reinvent themselves to remain relevant.
What are some important findings of the latest report on the media and entertainment sector?
1) Size of the industry-The has a growth rate of over 8 per cent. The size of the television, print, and radio segments was lower as compared to segments like digital media, online gaming, and filmed entertainment.
The projections (2023-26) also suggest segments like online gaming, digital media, animation, and music will drive revenue for the industry.
2) Internet Penetration-It has increased by 8 per cent to 938 million subscriptions in December 2023.
3) Time consumption– In 2023, Indians have spent around 4.8 hours daily on their phones. About 50 per cent of the time spent was on social media, while 28 per cent was on entertainment and news.
4) Online gaming– Online gaming expanded by 22 per cent in 2023 and overtook filmed entertainment to become the fourth-largest segment in the industry.
The number of online gamers is 450 million and 83 per cent of the revenue in this segment came from real money gaming.
5) Low advertising revenue-Advertising revenue is estimated at 0.33 % of gross domestic product in India, compared to 0.6 to1 % in large developed markets.
Read more- Social and Digital media regulations in India
What are the opportunities presented by the Digital media industry?
1) Democratizing digital market advertisement- Around a million small-scale businesses have spent about ~20,000 crore on digital advertising in 2023.This has allowed small businesses to reach their target audience.
2) Immense growth potential-It is estimated that by 2026 digital media space will be over three times print media size and have also overtaken television.
What are the challenges or risks associated with the rising digital media industry?
1) Domination of large firms-The large technology firms may corner incremental revenue in the advertising industry. This may marginalize small firms.
2) Abuse by social media giants– They may abuse their dominant position by exploiting vulnerabilities and biases of users to push content and advertisement.
3) Social disorder-The advertisements and content created by digital media can be used by vested groups to polarize society and sow the seed of social disharmony.
Question for practice
Critically analyze the significance of rise of digital media industry?
RBI and the net-zero transition
Source-This post on RBI and the net-zero transition has been created based on the article “RBI and the net-zero transition — A roadmap for green India” published in “The Indian Express” on 8 March 2024.
UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3- Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.
News-The article discusses the new draft brought out by RBI to help banks understand and manage climate-related financial risks.
Context– As fossil-fuel consumption is phased down over the coming decades, the financial system will have to prepare for this change.
What is the net zero target?
It is a state in which a country’s emissions are compensated by the absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
Indian government has committed to cut its emissions to net zero by 2070 at the conference of parties-26(COP) summit.
Read more- Achieving Net Zero by 2070 and the Associated Challenges
What are the steps taken by the RBI to align its policies to the net zero target set by the government?
1) The introduction of lending to renewable energy under priority sector lending.
2) A framework for green deposits.
3) Releasing reports that assess climate risks.
What is the need to bring new draft by RBI?
1) As per RBI estimates, banks’ current exposure to utilities, metal and transport is relatively higher. The transition to net zero may have implications for the financing of these sectors.
2)There would be more demand for green investment after the decline in consumption of fossil fuel-based assets. It will become difficult for the financial system to strike a balance between two demands because most fossil fuel assets are funded by banks and other financial institutions.
What are the themes of reporting as per the new draft by RBI?
The draft by RBI sets three thematic pillars for reporting:
1) Governance- The framework expects financial institutions to provide information on their internal processes to ensure capacity or understanding of climate change-related issues and oversight.
2) Strategy– The regulated entities will have to specify the kinds of issues and impacts that may arise over different time horizons, that is, short, medium and long term. It is specifically important for long-term lending to sectors in transition and sectors that are prone to extreme weather events.
3) Risk Management-Transition risks can impact differently under the various scenarios. Therefore, the framework seeks information from entities on the assessment of stress through climate-scenario analysis.
RBI has taken a step forward by introducing the draft that aligns well with international standards. There is a need to keep a watch on the asset quality not just in fossil fuel-based sectors but also in “green” sectors to ensure a smoother journey to net zero.
Question for practice
How can the recent draft by RBI help financial sectors to ensure smooth transition to net zero target?
Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)
Rupa Tarakasi- GI Tag
Source- The post on Rupa Tarakasi is based on the article “Odisha: Cuttack city’s silver filigree receives geographical indication tag” published in “The Telegraph” on 4th March 2024.
What is the News?
Recently, Orissa’s famous silver filigree Rupa Tarakasi got a GI tag.
About Rupa Tarakasi
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1. About: Rupa Tarakasi is one of the most exquisite silver crafts, practised in the Silver City of Cuttack, Odisha.
2. Origin: The art form has a rich history, dating back as far as the 12th century, and it received considerable patronage under the Mughals. It changed its form with change in ruler.
3. Influence– The craft resembles filigree traditions from places such as Arabia, Malta, Genoa, and ancient Greece, suggesting long-standing cultural exchanges.
3. Process:
i) In this work of craft, silver bricks are transformed into thin fine wires called tara or foils, from which silver filigree is made with all designs called kasi.
ii) While different grades of silver are used in the main metal alloy, the craftsmen also use other metals like copper, zinc, cadmium and tin.
iii) The skilled artisans involved in this filigree work are known as “Rupa Banias” or “Roupyakaras” in Odia.
iv) They create various items, including jewellery worn by Odissi dancers, decorative artefacts, accessories, and religious and cultural pieces.
UPSC Syllabus: Art and Culture
Dying declaration
Source- The post on Dying declaration is based on the article “Conviction Can Be Solely Based On Dying Declaration If It Inspires Confidence: Supreme Court” published in “The Live law” on 6th March 2024.
What is the News?
Recently, Supreme court gave judgement on the matter of dying declaration.
About Supreme Court Judgement:
i) The Supreme Court held that the conviction of the accused can be sustained solely based on the dying declaration if the declaration made by the victim inspires the confidence of the court and proves to be trustworthy.
ii) The victim must have been in a fit state of mind when providing the dying declaration. The court ensures that the statement was not a result of imagination or coercion.
About Dying Declaration
i) The Dying Declaration is the statement of a person who had died explaining the circumstances of his death.
ii) A dying declaration is considered credible and trustworthy evidence, based upon the general belief that most people who know that they are about to die, do not lie.
iii) Section 32 of the Indian Evidence Act deals with the cases related to that person who is dead or who cannot be found.
iv) Anyone can record the dying declaration of the deceased as per law. The law does not compulsorily require the presence of a Judicial or Executive Magistrate to record a dying declaration.
UPSC Syllabus: Polity and Nation
Majuli Masks GI Tag
Source- The post on Majuli Masks is based on the article “GI tag for Majuli masks of Assam: History, cultural significance of the centuries-old art form” published in “Indian Express” on 7th March 2024.
What is the News?
Recently, Assam’s traditional Majuli masks got a GI tag.
About Majuli masks
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1) About: These are handmade masks that are traditionally used to depict characters in bhaonas, or theatrical performances with devotional messages under the neo-Vaishnavite tradition.
Note: Majuli is the largest river island in the world and the seat of Assam’s neo-Vaishnavite tradition. Neo-Vaishnavite tradition was introduced by the 15th-16th century reformer saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
2) Characterstics:
i) The masks can depict gods, goddesses, demons, animals and birds. Ravana, Garuda, Narasimha, Hanuman, Varaha Surpanakha all feature among the masks.
iii) Sizes:
(a) Mukh mukha: They cover just the face, and it is made in around five days.
(b) Cho mukha: They cover the whole head and body of the performer and takes up to one-and-a-half months to be made.
iii) Material used: The masks are made of bamboo, clay, dung, cloth, cotton, wood and other materials available in the riverine surroundings of their makers.
3. Traditional practitioners are working to take the art out of their traditional place in sattras, or monasteries, and give them a new, contemporary life.
About Sattras
1. Sattras are monastic institutions established by Srimanta Sankardev and his disciples as centres of religious, social and cultural reform.
2. Presently, Sattras are also centres of traditional performing arts such as borgeet (songs), xattriya (dance) and bhaona (theatre), which are an integral part of the Sankardev tradition.
3. Majuli has 22 sattras, and the patent application states that the mask-making tradition is by and large concentrated in four of them — Samaguri Sattra, Natun Samaguri Sattra, Bihimpur Sattra and Alengi Narasimha Sattra.
About Majuli manuscript painting
1. It is a form of painting originated in the 16th century.
2. It is done on sanchi pat, or manuscripts made of the bark of the sanchi or agar tree, using homemade ink.
3. The earliest example of an illustrated manuscript is said to be a rendering of the Adya Dasama of the Bhagwat Purana in Assamese by Srimanta Sankardev.
4. This art was patronised by the Ahom kings. It continues to be practised in every sattra in Majuli.
UPSC Syllabus: Art and Culture
ISRO to Provide Internet Services in 80 Remote Tribal Villages
Source- The post on ISRO to Provide Internet Services in 80 Remote Tribal Villages is based on the article “Centre to rope in ISRO to provide Internet in 80 remote tribal villages” published in “The Hindu” on 8th March 2024.
What is the News?
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is planning to collaborate with ISRO to deploy V-SAT stations on a pilot basis for around 80 tribal villages to bring internet services to these geographically remote and challenging areas that have long been without connectivity.
About V-SAT
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1. About: A Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) is a two-way satellite ground station equipped with a dish antenna ranges from 75 cm to 1.2 meters.
2. Functionality:
i) VSATs facilitate two-way communication via satellite. They relay data between small remote Earth stations (terminals) and other terminals (in mesh topology) or central Earth station “hubs” (in star topology).
ii) VSATs handle both narrowband data and broadband data.
Ex-Narrowband data: Credit card transactions, polling, RFID data, or SCADA
Ex-Broadband data: Satellite Internet access, VoIP, or video
3. Applications: They find use in providing connectivity to remote locations, supporting transportable or on-the-move communications (using phased array antennas), and enabling mobile maritime communication.
4. Advantages: In the realm of modern telecommunications, VSATs offers a number of advantages:
i) No physical network needed: VSATs rely on satellite signals instead of physical links like Ethernet cables, reducing the risk of structural issues and eliminating the need for extensive infrastructure.
ii) Independent operation: VSAT systems can operate independently for local telecommunication networks, serving as a backup for wired networks in case of failure.
iii) Easy deployment: VSATs can be installed in remote locations with minimal infrastructure requirements, as satellite signals can be redirected to various locations through a central hub.
5. Disadvantages: It has few disadvantages:
i) Latency: VSATs suffer from latency due to the time delay in signals traveling between space and the ground, especially noticeable in two-way communication.
ii) Signal quality changes: Weather conditions and obstructions like buildings or trees can cause signal distortion between the satellite and earth station.
UPSC Syllabus: Science and Technology
Desert star dunes
Source- The post on Desert star dunes is based on the article “Scientists reveal secrets of Earth’s magnificent desert star dunes” published in “The Hindu” on 5th March 2024.
What is the News?
Scientists unveiled the first in-depth study of star dunes, revealing the internal structure of these geological features.
About Sand Dunes
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1. About: Star dunes are the tallest and most complex type of desert sand formations.
They reach hundreds of meters in height and are characterized by their pyramidal forms and radiating arms.
Star dunes are pyramid-shaped sand formations with arms stretching out from a central peak. This gave them a star-like appearance when viewed from above.
2. Locations: Star dunes comprise about 10% of desert dunes on Earth. These dunes are found in various deserts across the globe, including the sand seas of Africa, Arabia, China, Saudi Arabia, North America, and even on Mars and Saturn’s moon Titan.
Findings of the study
i) The study focused upon a star dune named Lala Lallia in eastern Morocco, located within the Sahara Desert.
ii) Researchers utilized ground-penetrating radar and luminescence dating to estimate the formation time of Lala Lallia, relying on energy trapped within sand grains.
iii) The findings suggest that Lala Lallia took approximately 900 years to form, accumulating approximately 6,400 metric tons of sand annually as wind carries it across the desert.
UPSC Syllabus: Geography
Penicillin G manufacturing to restart in India
Source-This post on Penicillin G manufacturing in India has been created based on the article “India to restart Penicillin G manufacture: why was it stopped, what changed now” published in “The Indian Express” on 7 March 2024.
Why in the news?
India has decided to resume the manufacturing of the common antibiotic Penicillin G after nearly 3 decades.
About Penicillin G
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1) It is a medication used to manage and treat a wide range of infections. This is very effective against gram-positive and gram-negative cocci bacterial infections. For Ex- Susceptible bacterial infections in the stomach.
2) It is the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) used in manufacturing several common antibiotics.
About Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
Description– These are the active ingredients contained in a medicine. It is that part of the medicine that produces the intended therapeutic effects. For example, in a painkiller, the active ingredient relieves pain.
Quantity– A Small amount of the API is required to produce the effect, and so the medicine contains only the required amount of the API.
Largest production– China is one of the largest producers of Key Starting Material (KSM) and APIs in the world.
Why did penicillin manufacturing stop in India?
1) It was phased out of production because of subsidy-driven cheaper Chinese products flooding the market.
2) The Drug Prices Control Order ensured that more companies went for cheaper imported products. The Drug Prices Control Order regulates the price of essential medicines in India.
What is a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme?
Objective– To promote the domestic manufacturing of APIs, drug intermediates and key starting materials (KSMs).
Incentive– The scheme envisages support of 20% for first four years, 15% for fifth year, and 5% for sixth year on eligible sales of fermentation-based bulk drugs such as antibiotics, enzymes, and hormones such as insulin.
Implementation– The scheme will be implemented through a Project Management Agency (PMA) to be nominated by the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
NOTE– After PLI scheme, there has been a decline in the imports of APIs.
Read more-Increasing Antimicrobial Resistance in India
UPSC Syllabus-Science & technology.
Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft/ Fifth Generation Aircraft
Source-This post on Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft has been created based on the article “5th generation fighter jet project gets CCS approval” published in “The Hindu” on 7 March 2024.
Why in the news?
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has recently approved the project for the design and development of India’s fifth-generation fighter jet, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
What is Fifth Generation Aircraft?
Fifth generation aircraft are advanced multirole fighter jets capable of operating in highly contested combat environments against the most capable current and foreseeable threats.
Characteristics
Stealth: Multi-spectral low observable design features to evade detection.
Advanced Avionics: Integrated systems for real-time data fusion and situational awareness.
Self-Protection: Radar jamming and robust defense mechanisms.
Network-Centric Operations: Enhanced communication and coordination with other assets.
Pilot Role Enhancement: Pilots act as mission commanders, not just operators.
Indigenization of Fifth Generation Aircraft
India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved a ₹15,000 crore project to develop the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation fighter jet. This project, led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under DRDO and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will place India among the select few nations with indigenous fifth-generation aircraft.
Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft
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Aspect | Details |
Description | It is an Indian fifth-generation stealth, multirole combat aircraft. It is being developed for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. |
Designed by | It is designed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) – an Aircraft Design Agency under Ministry of Defence. |
Production | It will be produced by a public-private joint venture between the DRDO, HAL and an Indian private company. |
Specification | 1) It is designed as a single-seat, twin-engine combat aircraft. 2) Weight- 25-tonne twin-engine stealth aircraft with an internal weapons bay and Diverterless Supersonic Intake. This has been developed in India for the first time. |
Significance | 1) It will perform operations like Air supremacy, Ground-Strike, Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Electronic Warfare (EW) missions. 2) It will replace the Sukhoi Su-30MKI air superiority fighter, which forms the backbone of the IAF fighter fleet. |
Other Fifth-Generation Fighters
Countries with fifth-generation fighters include the US (F-22 Raptor, F-35A Lightning II), China (J-20 Mighty Dragon), and Russia (Sukhoi Su-57).
IAF’s Dwindling Numbers
The IAF currently operates around 30 fighter squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42. This number is expected to decrease further as MiG-21s, MiG-29s, Jaguars, and Mirage 2000s are phased out by the mid-2030s
Read more-Tejas, world’s lightest fighter, is battle ready
UPSC Syllabus-Science & technology