HOW CAN THE BUDGET ARREST GROWTH DECLINE?
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
India’s economic slowdown is a major concern, with weak private consumption and sluggish investment despite increased government spending on infrastructure. A revised fiscal approach is required to boost economic growth.
Current Economic Scenario
- India’s GDP growth rate is lower than anticipated, despite higher government capital expenditure.
- The Economic Survey highlights declining private consumption and weak investment.
- Key economic disruptions such as demonetization, the GST rollout, and the COVID-19 lockdowns have impacted growth.
Phases of Post-Reform Economic Growth
- 1991-2004: Moderate growth due to initial economic reforms.
- 2004-2011: High growth, reduced poverty, increased state intervention, and social welfare expansion.
- 2011-2023: Slowdown, especially post-2019, with weak private consumption and investment.

Factors Behind High Growth (2004-2011)
- The consumption share of the top 20% declined, while the bottom 80% saw increased consumption.
- Government policies played a key role in raising demand among lower-income groups.
- Social welfare programs had a strong impact on income and employment.
- Initiatives like NREGA generated employment and boosted rural wages.
- Investment in rural development and agriculture contributed to economic stability.

Capital vs. Revenue Expenditure
Capital Expenditure (Capex)
- Includes infrastructure projects like roads, power plants, and railways.
- Limited impact on immediate demand and employment.
- Can increase imports, reducing domestic benefits.
Revenue Expenditure
- Includes social welfare programs such as pensions and MGNREGA.
- Directly enhances consumption, especially among lower-income groups.
- Generates a strong multiplier effect, leading to higher demand and employment.
- The 2004-2011 period saw increased revenue spending, resulting in widespread economic benefits.
Government’s Approach to the Slowdown
- The government has emphasized capital expenditure to revive growth.
- Corporate tax reductions from 30% to 22% in 2019 have not significantly boosted private investment.
- Weak demand and underutilized capacity have discouraged businesses from expanding investments.
- The expectation that infrastructure spending would stimulate private investment has not materialized.
Proposed Solutions
- The government should enhance revenue expenditure to increase demand and job creation.
- A greater focus on labor-intensive capital projects rather than highly mechanized ones.
- Fiscal spending as a share of GDP should increase to support long-term recovery.
- A balanced approach between capital and revenue expenditure is crucial for sustainable growth.
Conclusion
The upcoming budget will indicate whether the government prioritizes market-driven strategies or social welfare. A shift toward higher revenue spending could help reverse the economic slowdown, improve living conditions, and strengthen economic stability.
Mains Question:
- “Discuss the role of fiscal policy in addressing India’s economic slowdown. How can a balance between capital and revenue expenditure contribute to sustainable growth?” (150 WORDS)
AGRARIAN DISTRESS AND BUDGET CUTS
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
India’s agricultural sector is facing severe distress due to reduced government support and rising production costs. Budget cuts in food and fertilizer subsidies, along with declining allocations for agriculture, have worsened the situation. Farmer suicides and protests highlight the urgent need for policy changes to ensure sustainable farming and rural livelihoods.
Budget Cuts and Their Impact
- The latest Union Budget reduced food subsidy by ₹7,082 crore and fertilizer subsidy by ₹24,894 crore.
- Agriculture’s share in the budget declined from 5.44% in 2019 to 3.15% in 2024.
- Between 2015 and 2022, 1,00,474 farmer suicides were recorded, mainly due to debt and crop failures.
- India ranked 105th out of 127 nations in the Global Hunger Index 2024, reflecting widespread rural distress.
Controversial Farm Policies and Protests
- The draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing (NPFAM) includes provisions similar to the repealed farm laws, favoring corporates.
- Farmers across the country are protesting against NPFAM, demanding its withdrawal.
Key Farmer Demands
Guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP)
- Farmers demand MSP at 1.5 times the cost of production (C2+50%), as suggested by the Swaminathan Commission.
- The absence of a legal MSP has led to debts, land sales, and suicides.
Reducing Farming Costs
- Prices of fertilizers, seeds, diesel, and electricity must be regulated.
- Public sector support should counter corporate monopolies in agricultural inputs.
Loan Waivers
- A one-time loan waiver for farmers and farm workers is necessary to prevent suicides.
- The government waived ₹14.46 lakh crore in corporate loans over the past decade but lacks similar support for farmers.
Better Crop Insurance
- The current PMFBY scheme is ineffective; a farmer-friendly insurance policy is required.
- Climate change effects like droughts and floods must be covered adequately.
Investment in Irrigation and Power
- Increased public investment can reduce costs and provide steady irrigation and power.
- Completing pending irrigation projects will improve productivity and employment.
Expansion of MGNREGA
- Increase MGNREGA workdays to 200 and wages to ₹600 per day.
- Strengthening the scheme will boost rural employment and economic stability.
Funding Solutions
- Tax billionaires through wealth and inheritance taxes (their numbers doubled from 109 in 2014 to 200 in 2025).
- Restore corporate tax rates to generate ₹1.45 lakh crore annually.
- Increase direct taxes on the rich while reducing indirect taxes and preventing tax evasion.
Conclusion
To resolve the agrarian crisis, the government must ensure fair MSP, lower production costs, provide loan waivers, improve crop insurance, and boost public investment. These initiatives can be funded by taxing the wealthy and restoring corporate taxes, ensuring justice for farmers and a stronger agricultural sector.
CHINA’S EAST REACTOR SETS A NEW FUSION BENCHMARK
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor has set a new record by sustaining plasma confinement for over 1,000 seconds. This achievement marks significant progress in nuclear fusion research, a potential clean energy source of the future.
About Tokamak
- A tokamak is a device designed to harness energy from nuclear fusion.
- It generates heat through atomic fusion, which is absorbed by the walls of the reactor.
- This heat can eventually be used to produce steam, driving turbines and generating electricity, similar to conventional power plants.
Breakthrough in Fusion Research
- The EAST reactor achieved steady-state plasma confinement for over 1,000 seconds, surpassing its previous record of 400 seconds.
- Although the reactor did not generate electricity, maintaining plasma for an extended period is crucial for fusion energy.
- Nuclear fusion, the same process that powers stars, requires extremely high temperatures (millions of degrees Celsius) and strong magnetic fields to sustain plasma.
- This milestone demonstrates progress in managing plasma, though commercial reactors must maintain it for much longer.
Potential and Challenges of Fusion Energy
Advantages:
- Fusion offers a vast energy supply with minimal environmental impact.
- It produces no greenhouse gases or long-lived nuclear waste.
- Fuel sources like deuterium and tritium are abundant, making it a sustainable option.
Challenges:
- Despite decades of research, practical fusion reactors are still in development.
- Commercial viability is expected around 2050, but current energy policies do not factor in fusion due to its uncertainties.
Recent Global Advancements in Fusion
- In 2021, the UK’s JET laboratory generated 12 MW of fusion energy for five seconds.
- In 2022, a US reactor achieved a net energy gain, a key milestone in fusion research.
- MIT has developed advanced materials to improve reactor durability.
- Private sector investment in fusion energy has increased, with $6.2 billion raised in 2023.
- Companies like Helion and Commonwealth Fusion Systems aim for commercial fusion power by the late 2020s or early 2030s.
ITER: The World’s Largest Fusion Project
- The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is the largest fusion collaboration, involving over 30 countries, including India.
- ITER is expected to begin deuterium-tritium fusion by 2039, targeting 500 MW of power output.
- While it won’t produce electricity, its success could pave the way for future commercial reactors.
- Some experts believe commercial fusion energy could become viable within the next 15 years.
Conclusion
China’s EAST reactor has demonstrated progress in plasma confinement, a crucial step toward practical fusion energy. While challenges remain, global advancements in fusion research and international collaborations like ITER bring the world closer to achieving clean, limitless energy. Fusion’s potential to revolutionize global energy and combat climate change makes it a priority for scientific and technological investment.
Prelims Question:
- Consider the following statements regarding Nuclear Fusion and the Tokamak reactor:
- Nuclear fusion produces energy by splitting heavy atomic nuclei.
- The Tokamak reactor uses strong magnetic fields to confine plasma at extremely high temperatures.
- The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is a global initiative focused on fusion energy research.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2, and 3
Answer:B
Explanation:
- Nuclear fusion generates energy by combining (not splitting) light atomic nuclei, such as hydrogen isotopes, under extreme temperature and pressure. This is different from nuclear fission, where heavy atomic nuclei are split.
- The Tokamak reactor uses powerful magnetic fields to confine and stabilize plasma at extremely high temperatures (millions of degrees Celsius) to enable nuclear fusion.
- The ITER project is a multinational effort involving over 30 countries, including India, to develop nuclear fusion as a sustainable energy source.
MOVEMENT OF EARTH’S NORTH MAGNETIC POLE
TOPIC: (GS1) GEOGRAPHY: INDIAN EXPRESS
The Earth’s north magnetic pole has been gradually shifting from Canada to Siberia. This movement affects how charged particles behave in space and influences satellite operations. Scientists study these changes to predict space weather and protect technology in orbit.

Impact of Magnetic Pole Movement
- Charged particles, including protons and electrons, interact with the Earth’s magnetic field and create the Northern Lights.
- Researchers have analyzed how the shift in the magnetic pole alters the altitude of these particles.
- In 1900, when the magnetic field was stronger near Canada, charged particles remained at higher altitudes.
- By 2020, as the pole drifted toward Siberia, the magnetic field in that region strengthened, causing particles to reach altitudes 400 to 1200 kilometers higher.
- This shift impacts satellites that orbit near the poles, as charged particles can create drag, slowing them down.
- These particles also heat the atmosphere, altering its density and affecting satellite trajectories.
- Understanding these magnetic field changes helps in predicting space weather and safeguarding satellites from potential damage.
Causes of the Magnetic Pole Shift
- The Earth’s core, composed of molten iron and nickel, is responsible for generating the planet’s magnetic field.
- The movement of liquid metals in the outer core creates electric currents, leading to magnetic fields.
- These flows are not uniform, which results in shifts in the magnetic pole.
- Scientists believe variations in molten metal movement influence the pole’s drift, though the exact mechanisms remain unclear.
- Over time, these changes lead to continuous drifting of the magnetic pole.
Conclusion
The movement of Earth’s north magnetic pole is a natural process driven by core dynamics. Studying these shifts is essential for predicting space weather, protecting satellites, and understanding the Earth’s magnetic environment.
Prelims Question:
- Which of the following is a consequence of the movement of the Earth’s north magnetic pole towards Siberia?
- Increase in the strength of the Northern Lights
- The altitude of charged particles such as protons and electrons increases
- The Earth’s magnetic field near Canada has become weaker
- Satellites orbiting near the poles experience increased drag and slower speeds
Answer: B
Explanation:
The movement of Earth’s north magnetic pole towards Siberia influences the Earth’s magnetosphere. This shift causes charged particles like protons and electrons to be deflected to higher altitudes. As a result, the altitude of these particles increases. This change is linked to the altered magnetic field configuration.
LEZIM DANCE AND CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJI MAHARAJ
TOPIC: (GS1) HISTORY: THE HINDU
Recently, Lezim dance gained attention due to its portrayal in the upcoming Bollywood film Chhava, based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, which sparked controversy.
- Lezim is a traditional folk dance from Maharashtra.
- It is performed using a musical instrument called “Lezim,” which is a wooden stick with jingling cymbals attached to it.
- The dance is a blend of rigorous physical exercise and rhythm, performed in various formations.
- A dhol or dhalgi (small drum) is often played during the dance.

About Lezim Dance:
- Musical Instrument: The dance gets its name from the Lezim, a traditional instrument with cymbals attached to a wooden stick. Originally used in folk dances, it is now more commonly seen during Ganesha processions.
- Performance: The dance involves high-energy movements with the Lezim, creating rhythmic sounds. The formations include pairs, groups of four, or even circles. It is a form of physical exercise as well as dance.
- Music: The Lezim dance is accompanied by a dholki, a small drum that provides the rhythm. There are usually no wind or string instruments, though sometimes songs are sung.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj:
- He was the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire.
- Sambhaji Maharaj became king after a succession battle with his half-brother Rajaram in 1681.
- He ruled during a turbulent time, facing constant conflicts with the Mughal Empire, led by Emperor Aurangzeb.
ASIAN WATERBIRD CENSUS
TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: DOWN TO EARTH
The Asian Waterbird Census-2025 recorded a new milestone with 39,725 birds of 106 species spotted in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding wetlands.
The census is an important initiative for monitoring waterbirds and their habitats.

About the Asian Waterbird Census:
- Citizen-Science Initiative: It is a citizen-science program aimed at supporting the conservation and management of wetlands and waterbirds around the world.
- Annual Event: Conducted every year, it is a part of the International Waterbird Census (IWC) that helps track the health and trends of waterbird populations globally.
- Regional Coverage: Initiated in 1987 in the Indian subcontinent, it has expanded significantly, covering regions from Afghanistan to Japan, Southeast Asia, and Australasia. It now monitors the entire East Asian-Australasian Flyway and a major part of the Central Asian Flyway.
- In India: The census is organized annually in early January by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), focusing on various waterbird habitats.
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS):
- Role in Conservation: BNHS is a non-governmental organization dedicated to biodiversity research and conservation in India.
- Recognition: It has been recognized as a ‘Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’ by the Department of Science and Technology.
- International Collaboration: BNHS is also the partner of BirdLife International in India, working together on global bird conservation efforts.
ASTEROIDS AND THEIR DISCOVERY
TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: INDIAN EXPRESS
Recently, a 14-year-old boy from Noida was recognized by NASA for discovering an asteroid called ‘2023 OG40’.
- Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun.
- They are remnants from the early solar system, formed around 4.6 billion years ago.
- They vary in size, shape, and location, with most found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Key Facts About Asteroids:
- Asteroids are much smaller than planets and can be irregularly shaped or occasionally spherical.
- Most asteroids orbit in a flattened or elliptical path around the Sun.
- Some asteroids are found alongside planets, sharing the same orbital path.
- A small number of asteroids have moons or form double/triple systems.
International Asteroid Discovery Project (IADP):
- The IADP, affiliated with NASA’s IASC, is a citizen science program allowing participants to discover asteroids.
- Participants use software and datasets provided by NASA to search for new asteroids.
- The process involves calibrating data with special software and looking for new asteroid sightings.
Asteroid discoveries are not just limited to professionals but are open to anyone interested in astronomy, providing a chance to contribute to scientific progress.
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS (HABS)
TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU
India’s coastline is experiencing a rise in Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), which are becoming a significant concern for marine ecosystems.
HABs occur when algae grow excessively due to certain environmental conditions, affecting both aquatic life and human health.

What are Algal Blooms?
- Algal blooms are rapid growths of algae in water bodies that can be green, blue-green, red, or brown, depending on the type of algae.
- These blooms can happen in fresh, marine, or brackish water.
- Not all algal blooms are harmful, as most are a natural food source for aquatic animals.
What Causes HABs?
- HABs are triggered by warmer water temperatures and excessive nutrients from runoff, such as fertilizers or sewage.
- Algae types like cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates, and diatoms are responsible for the majority of HABs that are harmful to health.
Impacts of HABs:
- HABs can produce toxins that harm both humans and animals, causing diseases.
- They can deplete oxygen in water, leading to the death of marine life such as fish.
- Algal blooms near the surface can block sunlight, affecting organisms deeper in the water.
HABs are a growing environmental issue that can have serious effects on marine ecosystems and human health, making it crucial to address their causes and impacts.