GS 3
Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024-25
Context: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) officially released the detailed publications—Volume I and Summary Results of the Factory Sector—along with unit-level data for the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024–25.
The findings confirm broad-based expansion across India’s formal manufacturing sector, led by a 28% Gross Value Added (GVA) growth in the corporate manufacturing segment.
About Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024-25:
What It Is?
The principal statistical vehicle conducted by MoSPI to provide comprehensive insights into the structure, composition, capital formation, employment, output, and value addition of India’s registered manufacturing sector.
Statutory Authority: Administered under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 (as amended in 2017) and Rules framed thereunder in 2011.
Statutory Coverage:
Factories registered under Sections 2m(i) and 2m(ii) of the Factories Act, 1948 (employing 10+ workers with power, or 20+ workers without power).
Bidi and cigar manufacturing establishments registered under the Bidi & Cigar Workers Act, 1966.
Non-CEA electricity undertakings engaged in generation, transmission, and distribution.
Establishments with 100 or more employees listed in the Business Register of Establishments (BRE) maintained by States.
Key Data & Macro Indicators (ASI 2024–25):
Corporate Manufacturing GVA Expansion: The corporate manufacturing sector (accounting for >89% of total manufacturing GVA) expanded its Gross Value Added by 9.28% over the previous fiscal year.
Operational Productivity & Value Addition: Net Value Added (NVA) per operational factory increased by 6.59%, while GVA per person engaged grew by 2.25%.
Capital Investments in Plant & Machinery: Gross value of plant and machinery installed across registered units recorded a growth of 7.25% over the preceding year.
Employment Expansion: Operating factories in the corporate sector grew by 3.45%, while total persons engaged expanded by 7.57% (pushing total formal manufacturing employment past 2.10 crore).
Core Employment Drivers: Five key industries—Food Products, Textiles, Basic Metals, Motor Vehicles, and Wearing Apparel—collectively generated more than 41% of total formal manufacturing jobs.
Regional GVA Concentration: Five leading industrial states—Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh—together contributed more than 54% of the nation’s total manufacturing GVA.
Structural Composition of India’s Factory Sector:
Investment-Wise Distribution (The Missing Middle / Capital Concentration):
Small-Scale Base (Up to ₹5 Crore in Plant & Machinery): Accounts for 78.69% of all operational factories and employs 34.32% of total workers, but commands only 10.55% of fixed capital and generates 17.61% of net value added.
Large-Scale Heavyweights (₹10 Crore & Above in Plant & Machinery): Represents just 15.84% of factories, yet controls 87.42% of fixed capital, engages 59.66% of the workforce, generates 76.82% of gross output, and yields 78.07% of total net value added.
Output-Volume Disparities:
Factories producing output above ₹10 Crore constitute 47.63% of units but account for 95.55% of fixed capital, 88.78% of employment, and 97.87% of net value added.
Units producing less than ₹1 Crore output comprise 18.34% of factories, yet deliver only 0.08% of total gross output and a negative net value addition (-0.10% combined).
Positive Takeaways from ASI 2024–25
Broad-Based Industrial Modernization: Sustained capital accumulation reflected in a 7.25% expansion in plant and machinery reflects healthy corporate balance sheets and capacity utilization.
E.g., Steady capital formation in high-tech manufacturing lines under the central Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.
Formal Employment Generation: The 7.57% growth in corporate sector employment indicates that factory additions are translating into formal wage-earning opportunities.
E.g., Labor absorption in the motor vehicle and electronics assembly corridors across Tamil Nadu and Haryana.
Deepening Labor-Intensive Industrial Ecosystems: Strong contributions from food products, garments, and textiles prove that traditional employment-generating sectors remain resilient.
E.g., Apparel and textile clusters in Tirupur, Surat, and Noida continuing to employ large rural-to-urban migrant workforces.
Consolidation of Factory-Level Efficiency: A 6.59% growth in net value added per operating factory highlights improving operational margins and managerial efficiency.
E.g., Adoption of automated process engineering and shared supply-chain digital platforms lowering per-unit production costs.
Structural Challenges & Fault Lines:
Persistent Capital & Value Concentration: Nearly 80% of operating factories generate less than a fifth of national value added, highlighting the persistent low-capital, low-productivity trap among smaller enterprises.
E.g., Small unorganized-tier engineering job shops unable to upgrade machinery, remaining tied to low-margin subcontracting.
Skewed Regional Industrialization: Over 54% of manufacturing GVA is concentrated in just five states (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh), leaving eastern and central regions industrially underdeveloped.
E.g., Mineral-rich eastern states functioning primarily as raw material extractors rather than high-value manufacturing hubs.
Modest Labor Productivity Growth: While corporate GVA expanded by 9.28%, GVA per person engaged grew by only 2.25%, signaling that wage growth is constrained by lower productivity improvements.
E.g., Slower integration of advanced robotics and continuous upskilling across tier-2 and tier-3 factory workforces.
Sub-Scale Viability of Micro Units: Over 18% of operating factories generate less than ₹1 Crore in annual output and operate on wafer-thin or negative net margins (-0.24% NVA for units under ₹25 lakh output).
E.g., Micro-manufacturing units struggling under high compliance costs, volatile raw material inputs, and high power tariffs.
Way Ahead:
Scale Up Technology Adoption for MSME Factories: Launch targeted credit-linked capital subsidy schemes to help factories in the Up to ₹5 Crore tier upgrade to automated CNC machinery and digital enterprise systems.
Decentralize Industrial Corridors to Eastern States: Leverage the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and dedicated freight corridors to establish industrial parks across eastern states (Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand) to correct regional GVA imbalances.
Expand National Apprenticeship & Shop-Floor Reskilling: Restructure vocational training through the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) to lift labor productivity (GVA per worker) in line with capital growth.
Incentivize Factory Aggregation & Plug-and-Play Clusters: Develop shared common facility centers (testing labs, effluent treatment plants, power grids) to help sub-₹1-crore output units scale up into economically viable entities.
Conclusion:
The Annual Survey of Industries 2024–25 demonstrates strong resilience in Indian manufacturing, highlighted by a 9.28% corporate GVA expansion and rising factory employment. However, the sharp divide between a small group of high-output, capital-intensive firms and a large base of low-productivity units remains a structural challenge. Unlocking India’s goal of raising manufacturing’s contribution to 25% of GDP will require modernizing this small-scale factory base, bridging regional disparities, and boosting labor productivity through targeted industrial reforms.
CME
Ministry of Railways Wins PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026
Context: The Ministry of Railways received the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026 for securing the top position among Central ministries and departments in rooftop solar installations.
About Ministry of Railways Wins PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026:
What is it?
A recognition under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, honouring Central ministries and departments for their achievements in installing rooftop solar systems on government buildings.
The Ministry of Railways secured first position in the Maximum Buildings Solarized by Central Ministries/Departments category.
Organisation: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, under the PM Surya Ghar initiative.
Aim: To encourage rooftop solar adoption across government buildings, reduce dependence on conventional electricity and promote clean energy and sustainable infrastructure.
Key Achievements of the Ministry of Railways:
Highest Rooftop Solar Coverage: Installed solar systems on 12,495 of 15,868 identified railway buildings, achieving 79% coverage and securing the top position among Central ministries.
Significant Solar Power Capacity: Commissioned 351 MW of rooftop solar capacity against a target of 424 MW, achieving approximately 83% of its planned capacity.
Major Contribution to Central Ministries: Railway installations account for nearly 48% of the 25,984 government buildings solarised across 77 Central ministries and departments.
Target for Complete Solarisation: Aims to install rooftop solar systems on all remaining feasible railway buildings by March 2027, strengthening renewable energy adoption across railway infrastructure.
Significance:
Expands renewable electricity generation in public infrastructure, reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based power and supporting India’s climate commitments.
Rooftop solar installations can lower long-term electricity expenditure and improve energy efficiency across railway stations, offices and other buildings.
Demonstrates the potential of large-scale solar adoption by government institutions, encouraging other ministries to accelerate their renewable energy initiatives.
Relevance in UPSC Examination Syllabus
UPSC Paper Relevant Syllabus Topics GS Paper II Government policies and interventions, implementation of renewable energy schemes GS Paper III – Environment Renewable energy, climate change mitigation, environmental conservation GS Paper III – Science & Technology Solar photovoltaic technology, clean energy applications Essay Sustainable development, green infrastructure, India’s energy transition
Prelims
Nationally Determined Contribution-Transport Initiative for Asia Phase II (NDC-TIA II)
Context: NITI Aayog and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH signed an Implementation Agreement under Phase II of the Nationally Determined Contribution–Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA II).
About Nationally Determined Contribution-Transport Initiative for Asia Phase II (NDC-TIA II):
What it is?
A regional technical cooperation and policy facilitation program funded by the German Government’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) and implemented by a consortium of global think tanks led by GIZ.
It is designed to promote coordinated decarbonization strategies and electric mobility adoption in Asia’s transport and freight sectors.
Established in / Duration:
Phase I: Launched in November 2019.
Phase II: Commenced in November 2024, running through September 2028.
Nations Involved:
Target Countries: India, China, and Vietnam.
Funder & Global Partner: Germany.
Aim: To promote electric freight transport through coordinated policies, regulations and green financing, helping partner countries reduce transport emissions and achieve their Paris Agreement NDC targets.
Key Features of NDC-TIA II:
Focus on Medium- and Heavy-Duty Freight: Promotes electric trucks and commercial vehicles to reduce freight emissions, as these vehicles contribute significantly to pollution despite their relatively small fleet size.
High-Power Charging and Grid Integration: Supports high-capacity charging stations along major freight corridors, alongside electricity grid upgrades to ensure reliable charging for heavy-duty electric vehicles.
Innovative Green Financing: Promotes blended finance, risk-sharing mechanisms and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models to reduce investment risks and make zero-emission trucks more affordable.
Multi-Stakeholder Policy Platforms: Brings together government ministries, vehicle manufacturers, logistics companies and electricity providers to address regulatory barriers and accelerate electric freight adoption.
Cross-Regional Knowledge Sharing: Encourages India, China and Vietnam to exchange technical knowledge, emissions data and best practices for developing coordinated low-carbon transport strategies.
Prelims
The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026
Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notified the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, amending the 2025 order to streamline cross-border movement rules between India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
About The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026:
What it is?
A statutory executive order notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, amending the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025. It sets down legal guidelines, documentation requirements, and exemption classes governing cross-border entry, transit, and exit.
Aim: To strengthen border security, prevent third-country infiltration and regulate immigration along India–Nepal and India–Bhutan borders, while preserving visa-free movement for eligible citizens.
Key Features of the Order
Travel Rules for Indian Citizens:
Indian nationals travelling to or returning from Nepal or Bhutan by land or air must produce any one of the valid identity documents specified in the Central Government’s Visa Manual before an immigration officer and provide any requested information.
The exemption does not apply to Indians departing to or returning from countries other than Nepal or Bhutan through these borders; in such cases, a valid passport is mandatory, and entry/exit is restricted strictly to designated immigration check posts.
Travel Rules for Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan:
Must produce any one of the identity documents prescribed in the Visa Manual before immigration authorities when entering or departing India by land or air.
The exemption is withdrawn if entering/leaving India to or from a third country.
Must hold a valid passport and an Indian visa if they have boarded a flight from or transited through China, Macau, Hong Kong, or Pakistan.
Statutory Definition of ‘Visa Manual’:
Formally defined as the official compendium issued and updated periodically by the Central Government, detailing operative guidelines, documentation norms, and regulatory instructions on visas and immigration.
Specified Categories Exempted from Passport/Visa Mandates:
Armed Forces Personnel: Members of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force travelling on official duty, including family members accompanying them on government transport.
Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees: Registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who took refuge in India on or before January 9, 2015, and are registered with designated authorities.
Foreign Military Vessel Crew: Foreign crew of non-commercial government ships and warships visiting India for repairs, holding a valid Military Ship Repair Permit and military identity credentials.
Tibetan Entrants: Tibetans who entered India after 1959 but prior to May 30, 2003, with an Entry Permit from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, or post-May 30, 2003, with an embassy-issued Special Entry Permit through designated checkpoints.
Persecuted Minority Communities: Persecuted religious minorities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Christians) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2024.
Prelims
UNESCO Memory of the World Register: Rajatarangini, Mahabharata and Arthashastra Recognised
Context: Three seminal texts of Indian civilization, Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, the Mahabharata, and Kautilya’s Arthashastra, were inscribed into UNESCO’s Memory of the World Regional Register for Asia and the Pacific at the 11th MOWCAP session in Jakarta, Indonesia.
About The UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme:
What it is?
An international programmatic initiative established by UNESCO in 1992 to protect, preserve, and provide universal access to the world’s documentary heritage—including manuscripts, archives, oral recordings, and rare texts—which face risks from neglect, decay, conflict, and destruction.
Aim: To preserve documentary heritage of global and regional importance, ensure public access and promote awareness of its cultural and historical significance.
Key Features of the Programme:
Three-Tier Register System: Maintains International, Regional and National Registers to recognise and preserve documentary heritage based on its global, regional or national significance.
Strict Evaluation Criteria: Expert committees assess nominations based on authenticity, historical significance, rarity, cultural influence and preservation status before recommending their inclusion.
Preservation and Digitisation: Promotes conservation techniques, microfilming and digital archives to protect fragile manuscripts and historical documents from deterioration and ensure wider accessibility.
Protection of Cultural Heritage: Strengthens international recognition of historical documents and literary traditions, helping prevent cultural loss and preserve knowledge for future generations.
About the Works Recognised:
Kalhana’s Rajatarangini (The River of Kings)
Author and Period: Written in Sanskrit by Kalhana around 1148–1150 CE, during the reign of King Jayasimha of Kashmir.
History of Kashmir: Chronicles Kashmir’s rulers, dynasties, political events and administrative changes across eight books called Tarangas.
Historical Approach: Kalhana consulted earlier chronicles, royal grants, inscriptions and coins, making the work an important example of early Indian historical writing.
Social and Political Insights: Describes feudal revolts, famines, taxation, temple patronage and religious traditions, offering insights into medieval Kashmir’s society and governance.
The Mahabharata:
Author and Evolution: Traditionally attributed to Sage Vyasa, it evolved from Jaya (8,800 verses) to Bharata (24,000 verses) and the larger Mahabharata.
Cultural and Ethical Epic: Narrates the Kurukshetra war between the Pandavas and Kauravas, exploring Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.
Bhagavad Gita: Contains the 700-verse Bhagavad Gita in Bhishma Parva, explaining selfless action (Nishkama Karma), knowledge (Jnana) and devotion (Bhakti).
Cultural Influence: Inspired regional retellings, oral traditions and performing arts such as Yakshagana, Kathakali and Wayang across South and Southeast Asia.
Kautilya’s Arthashastra:
Author and Rediscovery: Traditionally attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya/Vishnugupta), associated with Chandragupta Maurya; rediscovered by R. Shamasastry in 1905 and published in 1909.
Statecraft and Governance: Comprises 15 books covering administration, taxation, economic regulation, treasury management, law and governance.
Saptanga Theory: Identifies seven elements of the state: Swami (ruler), Amatya (ministers), Janapada (territory and people), Durga (fort), Kosa (treasury), Danda (army) and Mitra (allies).
Diplomacy and Foreign Policy: Explains the Mandala Theory, sixfold foreign policy (Shadgunya) and four diplomatic methods: Sama, Dana, Bheda and Danda.
Prelims
Cosmoserve Space’s Base 1 Facility
Context: Union Minister virtually inaugurated Cosmoserve Space’s Base 1 facility in Hyderabad for Active Debris Removal (ADR) and In-Orbit Servicing (IOS), reinforcing India’s goal of Debris-Free Space by 2030.
About Cosmoserve Space’s Base 1 Facility:
What it is?
A national strategic and technological initiative aimed at mitigating orbital congestion and the risk of Kessler Syndrome through indigenous Active Space Debris Removal (ADR), autonomous robotic capture, and In-Orbit Servicing (IOS) to preserve low-Earth orbits for sustainable global space exploration.
Organisation: Developed by Cosmoserve Space, an Indian private spacetech startup, within the space-sector regulatory framework involving IN-SPACe, the Department of Space and ISRO.
Aim: To develop cost-effective autonomous space robotics for capturing, servicing and de-orbiting defunct satellites and space debris, supporting India’s Debris-Free Space by 2030 vision.
Key Features:
Base 1 Infrastructure: A 14,800-square-foot facility at VSD Tech Park, Hyderabad, featuring robotic testing laboratories, microgravity simulation systems, satellite integration clean rooms and a mission control centre.
Soft Robotic Capture Technology: Uses robotic gripper petals, tested during Mission EMBRACE in July 2026, to safely capture irregular or tumbling space debris without creating additional fragments.
Domestic Industry Partnerships: Integrates capabilities from Skyroot Aerospace for launch services, Pixxel for satellite systems and Dhruva Aerospace Netherlands for specialised orbital propulsion technologies.
Dual ADR and IOS Capabilities: Supports removal of defunct satellites alongside commercial services such as satellite refuelling, orbital inspection, spacecraft assembly and operational life extension.
Alignment with ISRO Initiatives: Complements Debris-Free Space Missions (DFSM) and Project NETRA by combining active debris removal with orbital monitoring and responsible satellite disposal.
Significance:
Strengthens India’s transition from tracking orbital debris to actively removing it, improving satellite safety and supporting sustainable use of Earth’s orbital environment.
Creates opportunities in satellite servicing, debris removal and space domain awareness, supporting India’s ambition to expand its space economy to $40–45 billion.
Prelims
Viability Gap Funding Scheme for development of 92 GWh Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems
Context: The Union Cabinet approved a ₹14,500 crore Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme spanning FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31 to support the creation of 92 GWh of grid-scale energy storage capacity.
About Viability Gap Funding Scheme for development of 92 GWh Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems:
What it is?
A targeted financial incentive program providing capital grant support through Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to bridge the initial commercial deficit in setting up commercial, utility-scale energy storage infrastructure. It adds capacity equivalent to 170% of India’s current grid storage base, moving toward the national target of 411 GWh by 2031–32.
Aim: To make energy storage commercially viable, manage renewable energy intermittency, stabilise the grid, ensure affordable Round-the-Clock (RTC) green power and reduce import dependence through domestic manufacturing.
Key Features of the Scheme:
Diversified 92 GWh Technology Allocation: Targets a multi-technology storage portfolio comprising:
60 GWh of Hydro Pumped Storage Plant (PSP) capacity.
30 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
2 GWh dedicated to alternative and emerging storage technologies.
Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding: Projects and VGF support will be awarded through transparent competitive auctions, favouring developers offering the lowest storage tariffs and requiring minimal government assistance.
40% Domestic Content Requirement (DCR): VGF-supported BESS projects must use at least 40% domestically sourced components, promoting indigenous battery manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
DISCOM and Multi-Sector Participation: Public and private DISCOMs can receive VGF support for BESS and pumped storage projects, while other storage technologies can involve wider industry participation.
Significant Capital Investment: The government’s ₹14,500 crore VGF allocation is expected to attract approximately ₹97,600 crore in public and private investments in energy storage infrastructure.
Five-Year Implementation Period: The scheme will operate from FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31, allowing time for developing battery storage facilities and hydro-pumped storage projects.
Significance:
Helps store surplus solar and wind power for peak demand periods, improving grid stability, reducing renewable energy wastage and dependence on thermal power.
The 40% domestic content requirement promotes local battery manufacturing, reduces import dependence and strengthens India’s clean energy supply chain alongside PLI incentives.
Prelims
The Martyrs’ Memorial of the First War of Independence of 1857
Context: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation inaugurated the grand Martyrs’ Memorial of the First War of Independence of 1857 in Ambala, Haryana, constructed at a cost of ₹594 crore across 22 acres.
About The Martyrs’ Memorial of the First War of Independence of 1857:
What it is?
A sprawling, modern war and heritage memorial complex featuring 22 interactive exhibition galleries, an open-air theatre for 2,500 people, and a light-and-sound show.
It integrates traditional regional crafts (such as Phulkari and Sarkanda) with advanced digital technologies—including virtual reality, holography, and projection mapping—to depict the unsung revolutionaries and timeline of the 1857 freedom struggle.
Located in: Situated along the Grand Trunk Road in Ambala Cantonment, Haryana, a historic military centre that witnessed sepoy unrest during the Revolt of 1857.
About the First War of Independence (1857):
Causes and Immediate Trigger: The revolt was triggered by greased Enfield rifle cartridges, while agrarian distress, heavy taxation, military discrimination and declining handicrafts fuelled widespread resentment.
Political Discontent and Annexations: Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse and the annexation of Awadh in 1856 alienated Indian rulers, landlords and soldiers, intensifying opposition to British rule.
Outbreak at Meerut and Unrest at Ambala: Following Mangal Pandey’s resistance at Barrackpore, the major uprising began at Meerut on May 10, 1857, while Ambala also witnessed sepoy unrest.
Widespread Popular Participation: The revolt spread across north and central India, involving sepoys, peasants, artisans, zamindars and sections of Hindu and Muslim communities against British colonial rule.
Constitutional Transformation: The Government of India Act, 1858 ended East India Company rule, transferred administration to the British Crown and led to major military and administrative reforms.
Major Leaders and Centres of the 1857 Struggle:
Centre / Region Major Leaders Role & Significance Delhi Bahadur Shah II (Zafar) & General Bakht Khan Nominal head and symbolic rallying center of Indian unity; General Bakht Khan of the Bareilly troops led the military defense. Kanpur Nana Saheb (Dhondu Pant), Tatya Tope, & Azimullah Khan Adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II who expelled the British garrison; supported by military tactician Tatya Tope and political strategist Azimullah Khan. Jhansi Rani Lakshmibai Valorous leader who rebelled against the Doctrine of Lapse; famously died in combat defending Gwalior alongside Tatya Tope. Lucknow (Awadh) Begum Hazrat Mahal & Birjis Qadr Declared her young son ruler and led talukdars and sepoys in prolonged resistance, laying siege to the British Residency in Lucknow. Jagdishpur / Arrah (Bihar) Kunwar Singh & Amar Singh 80-year-old Rajput zamindar who waged mobile guerrilla warfare against British forces across western Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Faizabad Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah Religious scholar and military leader (Lighthouse of Rebellion) who led troops in battle against British columns in Awadh. Bareilly (Rohilkhand) Khan Bahadur Khan Descendant of Rohilla rulers who organized a parallel government and led large rebel forces in Rohilkhand. Haryana (Rewari/ Ballabhgarh) Rao Tula Ram & Raja Nahar Singh Rao Tula Ram liberated Rewari and defended the southwestern frontier (Battle of Nasibpur); Raja Nahar Singh fortified the approaches to southern Delhi. Allahabad (Prayagraj) Maulvi Liaquat Ali Led revolutionary forces and set up headquarters at Khusro Bagh, governing the region until captured by Colonel Neill.
Prelims
The India Science and Technology (S&T) Scoreboard
Context: NITI Aayog launched the India Science and Technology (S&T) Scoreboard in New Delhi, unveiled by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri.
About The India Science and Technology (S&T) Scoreboard:
What it is?
A centralized, interactive analytical dashboard that consolidates fragmented national and sub-national research data. It maps research outputs, patent filings, innovation infrastructure, and institutional capabilities across States and Union Territories.
Organisation: Developed by NITI Aayog’s Science & Technology Division, in collaboration with scientific institutions and research databases such as Web of Science and Clarivate.
Aim: To identify regional research strengths and gaps, promote innovation and competitive federalism, and align state-level scientific progress with Viksit Bharat 2047.
Key Features of the Scoreboard:
Pan-India Coverage: Covers all 36 States and Union Territories, tracking research performance from FY 2021–22 to FY 2024–25, along with universities, R&D laboratories, startups and incubators.
Three-Sector Classification: Divides research publications and patent applications into Academia, Government R&D Laboratories and Industry, helping compare their contributions to innovation.
Research Quality Assessment: Measures not just the number of publications but also their quality through key indicators:
Top 10% Most-Cited Papers: 8.5%
Publications in Q1 (Top-Ranked) Journals: 28.5%
International Research Collaboration: 29.9%
Citation Impact (CNCI): 0.89, against a global average of 1.0.
11 Priority Research Areas: Tracks progress in important fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors, Clean Energy, Critical Minerals, Biotechnology and Space Technologies.
State-Level Comparison: Allows comparison of research performance, patent filings, innovation policies and best practices across States and UTs to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Regional Research Disparities: Highlights the concentration of research in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi, which are among India’s leading contributors to scientific publications.
Significance:
Helps States and universities identify research gaps, funding needs and institutional priorities, enabling better science and technology policies.
Connects academic research with industry, encouraging technology transfer, startup innovation and domestic manufacturing.
Mapping
The Yanbu Oil Hub
Context: Saudi Arabia issued security alerts warning of imminent threats to its Yanbu Red Sea oil export hub following continued missile and drone barrages launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia.
About The Yanbu Oil Hub:
What it is?
A major industrial port city, refining centre, and Saudi Arabia’s principal crude oil and petrochemical export terminal on the Red Sea, serving as the western maritime terminus of the Kingdom’s critical trans-peninsular energy corridor.
Located in: Situated in the Al Madinah Province of western Saudi Arabia along the eastern coast of the Red Sea, approximately 300 km north of Jeddah and 160 km southwest of the holy city of Medina.
Background:
Developed in the mid-1970s under the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu to diversify the Kingdom’s economic base and build an industrial anchor on the Red Sea.
Conceived strategically during the Iran-Iraq War and the Tanker War (1980s) to create an alternative export gateway that could bypass vulnerable shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Key Features of the Yanbu Oil Hub:
Western Terminus of East-West Pipeline: Yanbu serves as the export terminal for the 1,200-km Petroline, transporting up to 5 million barrels of crude daily from eastern Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea.
Major Refining and Petrochemical Hub: Houses YASREF refinery (400,000 bpd), Saudi Aramco refining facilities and SABIC petrochemical complexes, supporting large-scale petroleum processing and exports.
Strategic Deep-Water Port: King Fahd Industrial Port features deep-water terminals, crude storage facilities and loading infrastructure capable of handling large oil tankers along the Red Sea shipping route.
Vision 2030 Industrial Development: Supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 through emerging investments in green hydrogen, mineral processing and desalination, alongside industrial development linked to NEOM.
Implications of Threats to Yanbu:
Disruptions at Yanbu could weaken Saudi Arabia’s alternative oil export route, designed to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and maintain supplies during Gulf tensions.
Threats to Yanbu could disrupt crude shipments to Europe and Mediterranean markets, increasing oil prices, shipping costs and maritime insurance premiums.
Security threats could encourage Saudi Arabia to expand defence cooperation with regional partners and strengthen air defence to protect critical energy infrastructure.
