DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

In response to increasing complaints from locals regarding the misbehavior of foreign visitors, police on Jeju Island in South Korea have taken proactive measures by printing a special type of multilingual notice.

About Jeju Island

Jejudo, commonly known as Jeju Island, is a renowned volcanic island located in South Korea. Below are some essential details about Jeju Island:

1. Geographical Location:
   • Jeju Island is situated about 130 km off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula and is the largest island of Jeju Province.
   • It lies in the East China Sea, approximately 60 miles (100 km) southwest of South Jeolla Province.
   • The island is oval-shaped, measuring 64 km from east to west and 26 km from north to south.
2. Size and Importance:
   • With a total area of 1,846 square kilometers, Jeju is the largest island in South Korea.
   • The city of Jeju, located on the island, is the provincial capital and is a major hub for tourism and local governance.
3. Natural Heritage:
   • Jeju Island is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, largely due to its unique volcanic landscape and the presence of the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes.
   • One of the most notable features of Jeju is Hallasan, the tallest mountain in South Korea, which is a dormant volcano. Hallasan rises 1,950 meters above sea level and is surrounded by 360 satellite volcanoes.
4. Popular Tourist Destination:
   • Known for its scenic landscapes, waterfalls, beaches, and volcanic formations, Jeju Island is a major tourist destination, attracting both domestic and international visitors.
   • The island is famous for traditional culture, Jeju women divers, and its natural beauty, making it a preferred spot for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.

Recently, Exercise Samanvay Shakti 2025 was inaugurated in Laipuli, located in the Tinsukia district of Assam. This exercise is a collaborative effort between the Indian Army and various state officials from Assam and Manipur to foster efficient cooperation and mutual understanding among diverse stakeholders involved in security and civil administration.

About Exercise Samanvay Shakti

Exercise Samanvay Shakti is a military-civil integration exercise designed to strengthen the cooperation between security forces, government departments, and civil institutions. Its primary goal is to address the complex challenges in the region through a unified, coordinated approach.

The inaugural session of the exercise saw participation from various organizations, including:

• Indian Army
• Indian Air Force
• District Administration
• Police, Intelligence Agencies
• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
• State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)
• Medical Officials
• Border Roads Organisation (BRO) & General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF)
• Railways
• Security Officials from Oil India, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Coal India
• Representatives from local media

This wide-ranging participation underlines the collaborative nature of the exercise, involving both military and civilian entities working together.

Objectives of Exercise Samanvay Shakti

1. Enhance Readiness: The exercise aims to improve the readiness of various stakeholders by focusing on efficient communication channels and refined standard operating procedures (SOPs). These will be tested and practiced through practical drills.
2. Synergy Between Civil and Military Institutions: The exercise is designed to foster deeper cooperation between the Indian Army, local government authorities, and civil institutions. This partnership aims to improve the handling of regional security challenges.
3. Strengthening Trust: A significant goal is to build and reinforce trust between the people of Upper Assam and Manipur and the institutions serving them. This cooperation is critical in ensuring both security and development in the region.
4. Support National Integration and Development: By fostering closer relationships between the military and civilian organizations, the exercise aims to contribute to the nation-building process and reinforce national integration.

Conclusion

Exercise Samanvay Shakti 2025 is an important initiative that combines military precision with civil administration to address regional challenges in Upper Assam and Manipur. This exercise not only aims to strengthen security preparedness but also to support regional development and reinforce national integration. The involvement of various key agencies, both civil and military, signifies the comprehensive nature of the exercise and its potential to tackle the complex challenges of the region through a coordinated approach

Recently, seaweed farming has gained attention as a potential Blue Carbon strategy, but empirical estimates of carbon burial from such farms are still lacking in scientific literature

About Blue Carbon

Blue Carbon refers to the organic carbon captured and stored by the ocean in vegetated coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows. These ecosystems play a critical role in the global carbon cycle and contribute significantly to mitigating climate change.

Key Characteristics of Blue Carbon:

• "Blue" Nature: The term "Blue" signifies the watery environment where the carbon is stored, primarily in oceanic settings.
• Carbon Storage Mechanism: The majority of Blue Carbon comes from carbon dioxide (CO?) that is directly absorbed by the ocean. Smaller quantities are stored in the form of carbon-containing molecules like DNA, proteins, and in the life forms that inhabit these ecosystems, from whales to phytoplankton.

The Importance of Blue Carbon Ecosystems:

• These coastal ecosystems cover just 2% of the total ocean surface but are responsible for absorbing 50% of the ocean’s carbon. This means that they store large amounts of carbon, far more efficiently than terrestrial forests.

Blue Carbon's Role in Climate Change Mitigation

1. Carbon Sequestration: Blue Carbon ecosystems act as carbon sinks, capturing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the ocean for long periods.
2. Climate Change Mitigation: As ocean-based ecosystems, they are a natural solution to reduce atmospheric CO? levels and slow the effects of global warming.
3. Biodiversity & Coastal Protection: In addition to carbon sequestration, these ecosystems provide vital services such as biodiversity support and coastal protection from storms and erosion.

Seaweed Farming and Its Potential

Seaweed farming has emerged as a promising Blue Carbon strategy due to its potential to sequester carbon and its capacity to provide environmental and economic benefits. However, empirical data on the actual carbon burial potential of seaweed farms is still in its early stages. Further research is required to assess the long-term storage of carbon in seaweed-based ecosystems and its role in global climate mitigation efforts.

In addition to carbon sequestration, seaweed farming also holds promise for:

• Marine biodiversity enhancement: By creating habitats for marine life.
• Sustainable food production: Seaweed can be a source of nutrition and has various industrial applications, including biofuels and pharmaceuticals.

Conclusion

The concept of Blue Carbon highlights the ocean's significant role in carbon storage and climate change mitigation. Coastal ecosystems like mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows are essential to our planet's ability to regulate carbon levels, making them a priority for conservation and restoration efforts. While seaweed farming has emerged as a promising addition to these strategies, more research is needed to quantify its actual potential for carbon burial and integration into broader climate solutions

As India aims to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047, a transformative vision dubbed Viksit Bharat@2047 calls for comprehensive reforms across various sectors to drive economic, social, and technological growth. Below are the imperative reforms to realize this vision, structured around key areas.

1. Governance & Bureaucracy Reforms (Mnemonic: CIVIC)

C – Cut the Compliance Burden

• Challenge: India faces over 69,000 compliances under more than 1,500 laws.
• Reform: Establish a digital, faceless governance system to reduce outdated processes and enhance efficiency. Use Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) to assess policies and improve decision-making.

I – Institutions for Accountability

• Challenge: Bureaucratic inefficiency and political interference hinder growth.
• Reform: Introduce lateral entry in the civil services and form an independent Civil Services Board to oversee appointments. Strengthen the judiciary with more judges, faster trials, and tech-enabled contract enforcement.

V – Voter & Electoral Reforms

• Challenge: Electoral transparency is limited, with opaque funding and misinformation.
• Reform: Focus on voter education to combat misinformation and implement electoral funding reforms to ensure transparency.

I – Inclusive Cities & Federalism

• Challenge: Urbanization and the fiscal imbalance between the Centre and states.
• Reform: Build liveable cities with 24/7 utilities and affordable housing. Reform GST to allow for fairer tax sharing between the Centre and states.

C – Cyber & Digital Public Infrastructure

• Challenge: Digital infrastructure remains fragmented.
• Reform: Expand AI-enabled governance and improve centralized KYC systems for real-time, secure financial access.

Economic Reforms (Mnemonic: LIBERATE)

L – Labour & Land

• Challenge: Rigid labour laws and complex land acquisition processes deter investments.
• Reform: Implement labour codes and simplify land acquisition processes.

I – Inflation Targeting

• Challenge: Inflation management is inconsistent.
• Reform: Strengthen Consumer Price Index (CPI) and improve repo rate transmission for better price stability.

B – Banks & Bankruptcy

• Challenge: A weak banking ecosystem limits global competitiveness.
• Reform: Strengthen banking institutions and speed up resolutions under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

E – Ease of Doing Business

• Challenge: India has a reputation for bureaucratic hurdles.
• Reform: Swiftly implement the Jan Vishwas Act (2023) to decriminalize minor business offences.

R – Research and Development (R&D)

• Challenge: India’s R&D spending is below global standards.
• Reform: Increase R&D spending to 2% of GDP and integrate private players into innovation ecosystems.

A – Asset Sales

• Challenge: State-owned enterprises are capital-draining.
• Reform: Pursue strategic privatisation and disinvestment of loss-making PSUs to unlock capital.

T – Tax Reform (GST)

• Challenge: The GST system is complex and incomplete.
• Reform: Simplify GST and gradually expand its scope to include fuel, alcohol, and real estate.

E – Empower Consumers & Investors

• Challenge: Market trust and participation are low.
• Reform: Strengthen consumer protection mechanisms and improve market transparency.

3. Industrial & Manufacturing Reforms (Mnemonic: MADE)

M – MSMEs & Markets

• Challenge: MSMEs face credit and market access barriers.
• Reform: Revive MSMEs with enhanced credit access and offer global listing opportunities via GIFT IFSC.

A – Atmanirbhar in Defence

• Challenge: Heavy reliance on imports for defence.
• Reform: Raise defence spending to 3% of GDP and encourage domestic defence production through private-public partnerships.

D – Deregulation

• Challenge: Setting up factories involves cumbersome paperwork.
• Reform: Introduce a single-window system for approvals, integrated with state and central authorities.

E – Energy & Exports

• Challenge: Over-dependence on foreign energy sources.
• Reform: Focus on renewable energy capacity, create industrial zones for rare earth metals, and promote ISO/BIS certifications to enhance export credibility.

4. Agriculture Reforms (Mnemonic: FARM)

F – Finance & Fertility

• Challenge: Agricultural credit and post-harvest losses.
• Reform: Provide farm credit access, replace input subsidies with direct cash transfers, and invest in irrigation and climate-resilient farming.

A – Agri Markets & Export

• Challenge: Limited market access for farmers.
• Reform: Expand APMC coverage, encourage private procurement, and increase agricultural exports.

R – Rural Livelihoods

• Challenge: Over-reliance on traditional farming.
• Reform: Promote diverse rural livelihoods like dairying, poultry, and beekeeping. Pursue ethanol blending to enhance farmer incomes.

M – Market & Land Security

• Challenge: MSP is inefficient, and land titles are unclear.
• Reform: Replace MSP with comprehensive insurance, and use blockchain to ensure clear land ownership titles.

5. Education Reforms (Mnemonic: LEARN)

L – Literacy & Learning

• Challenge: Low quality of public education.
• Reform: Increase education spending to 6% of GDP and focus on foundational skills and teacher training.

E – Education Regulation

• Challenge: Regulatory bottlenecks stifle innovation.
• Reform: Strengthen higher education regulators like the UGC and AICTE to focus on quality and innovation.

A – Acquire Skills Early

• Challenge: Skill gaps in the workforce.
• Reform: Integrate vocational training in schools to align education with industry needs.

R – Reach Global Standards

• Challenge: Indian universities lag in global rankings.
• Reform: Invite foreign universities, aim for a top 100 Indian university, and improve sports infrastructure in schools.

N – Nurture Innovation & Digital Learning

• Challenge: Low digital engagement in education.
• Reform: Digitize curricula, promote private capital in universities, and reform testing mechanisms.

6. Health Reforms (Mnemonic: CURE)

C – Coverage & Care

• Challenge: Inadequate healthcare access.
• Reform: Ensure universal health coverage through Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

U – Unified Standards

• Challenge: Inconsistent healthcare standards.
• Reform: Standardize hospital accreditation and mandate clear product labelling for safety and affordability.

R – Records & Rights

• Challenge: Poor healthcare data management.
• Reform: Secure health data ownership via the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA).

E – Encourage Innovation

• Challenge: Slow innovation in MedTech.
• Reform: Support domestic MedTech start-ups and create a national trauma care grid.

Conclusion

India’s vision of a Viksit Bharat@2047 hinges on bold, transformative reforms across governance, economy, agriculture, education, health, and infrastructure. These reforms will foster inclusive growth, improve global competitiveness, and establish India as a leading global power in the next 25 years. The success of this vision requires not just policy changes but also a shift in mindset, building institutions that are accountable, transparent, and forward-looking

Starlink, the satellite internet service by SpaceX, has recently received a Unified Licence from the Indian government to provide satellite internet services in the country. This significant development could bring high-speed, low-latency internet to remote and underserved areas of India, enhancing connectivity and communication infrastructure.

How Does Satellite Internet Work?

Satellite internet works by using orbiting satellites or large-scale mega-constellations of satellites in space to transmit data between user terminals on Earth and space-based infrastructure. Here's how the technology functions:

Working Mechanism

1. Space Segment

• This segment comprises satellites positioned at various altitudes in space, each equipped with communication payloads designed to transmit and receive data signals.
• LEO Mega-constellations (Low Earth Orbit satellites) incorporate on-board signal processing and optical inter-satellite links, allowing satellites to communicate directly with one another, reducing dependency on ground stations.

2. Ground Segment

• The ground segment includes user terminals (like antennas, modems) and ground stations on Earth that communicate with satellites.
• These terminals send data requests to the satellites, which route the data through the satellite constellation or ground infrastructure to reach the internet backbone.

Orbital Deployment of Satellites

Satellite internet services rely on three main orbits, each with different characteristics and applications:

1. Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO)

• Altitude: ~35,786 km above Earth's equator.
• Coverage: A single GEO satellite can cover approximately one-third of the Earth's surface.
• Limitation: While it offers broad coverage, it has high latency, making it unsuitable for real-time applications like video conferencing or online gaming.
  • Example: Viasat Global Xpress.

2. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)

• Altitude: Between 2,000 to 35,786 km.
• Latency: Lower than GEO but still requires constellations of satellites for global coverage.
  • Example: O3b MEO.

3. Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

• Altitude: Less than 2,000 km.
• Latency: Very low latency due to the shorter distance between satellites and Earth.
• Coverage: Smaller coverage per satellite, but mega-constellations can provide global coverage.
  • Example: Starlink, with over 7,000 satellites.

Key Potential Applications of Satellite Internet

1. Connectivity & Communications

• Rural & Remote Areas: Satellite internet can provide broadband connectivity to regions where traditional terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable or unreliable.
• Future Direct-to-Smartphone Services: Plans to integrate satellite connectivity directly into smartphones could power the Internet of Everything (IoE), enabling seamless communication across smart devices globally.

2. Transport, Logistics & Public Services

• Autonomous Vehicles: Satellite connectivity can support navigation systems for self-driving vehicles.
• Logistics & Smart Cities: It can enhance supply chain management, power smart cities, and support early warning systems for natural disasters.
• Disaster Response: Satellite internet allows quick deployment of connectivity in disaster-affected areas, as terrestrial networks may fail in emergencies.

3. Healthcare & Agriculture

• Telemedicine: It can enable remote healthcare delivery and patient monitoring.
• Precision Farming: Satellite data can help monitor crop health, optimize resource use, and improve overall agricultural productivity.

4. Strategic, Industrial & Environmental Uses

• Defense Operations: Satellite internet is crucial for military and defense purposes.
• Environmental Monitoring: Satellite data can track climate change, manage wildlife reserves, and assess natural resource use.
• Energy Exploration: It can help in monitoring and managing offshore and remote energy projects.

5. Disaster Response & Emergency Communication

• Rapid Deployment: During disasters like Hurricane Harvey in 2017, satellite internet enabled rescue operations when terrestrial networks were down, proving its utility in emergency communications.

Key Satellite Internet Projects

• Starlink (SpaceX): Launched in 2019, Starlink aims to deploy a 42,000-satellite constellation in LEO to provide high-speed internet worldwide.
• Project Kuiper (Amazon): Plans to launch over 3,200 LEO satellites to offer affordable broadband to underserved areas.
• OneWeb (Eutelsat, France): The second-largest satellite constellation after Starlink.
• Qianfan or G60 Starlink Constellation (China): China’s planned LEO mega-constellation to provide global internet coverage.

Current Status in India

• Starlink has received its Unified Licence from the Indian government and is now one step closer to launching commercial satellite internet services in India.
• While commercial satellite internet services are not yet operational in India, other companies like Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio-SES have received necessary permits.
• The government is in the process of finalizing spectrum allocation for the commercial rollout of these services.

Conclusion

Satellite internet services are poised to play a transformative role in bridging the digital divide, particularly in remote, rural, and underserved regions. With companies like Starlink expanding their operations and other players such as Amazon (Project Kuiper) and OneWeb setting ambitious goals, the future of global connectivity looks promising. India’s adoption of this technology will not only improve communication but also drive progress in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, logistics, and defense