Current Affairs

DRDO conducts key test for hypersonic missile programme

Context: The Defence Research & Development Laboratory, the Hyderabad-based laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, has achieved a milestone in India’s hypersonic missile programme with the successful long-duration ground test of an actively-cooled scramjet full-scale combustor.

• The Defence Ministry said the test was conducted at the DRDL’s state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Pipe Test Facility, where the combustor demonstrated sustained performance for over 12 minutes.
• The successful trial positions India among the global leaders in advanced hypersonic, aerospace technologies.

The Scramjet Connect Pipe Test is a ground-based facility used to validate scramjet engine combustors for hypersonic flight.

📌 What is a Scramjet?
A scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) is an advanced air-breathing engine designed to operate at speeds above Mach 5.

Unlike conventional jet engines, scramjets do not carry oxidizers; they use atmospheric oxygen for combustion, making them lighter and more efficient at hypersonic speeds.

🏛️ The Connect Pipe Test Facility
Located at DRDL, Hyderabad, this Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) Facility is a state-of-the-art ground testing setup.

It allows engineers to simulate hypersonic airflow conditions and test combustor designs without actual flight.

The “connect pipe” links the airflow source to the combustor, enabling controlled, repeatable experiments.

🌱 Why It Matters for India
Hypersonic Missiles: Enables development of weapons capable of speeds > Mach 5, reducing enemy response time.

Strategic Edge: Competes with global programs in the US, Russia, and China.

Technology Leap: Demonstrates India’s ability to sustain scramjet combustion for long durations — a critical step toward operational deployment.

Cooling Innovation: The “actively cooled” design prevents overheating, ensuring stability during extended runs.

Centre chairs meet to chart pathway for Samagra Shiksha 3.0

Context: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a consultative meeting with representatives of State governments and experts on the next phase of the Centre’s Samagra Shiksha school education programme, with the Minister noting that it was “essential to once again entrust schools to society” so that the holistic development of students can be promoted and their access to knowledge expanded through “meaningful integration of technology”.

• At the meeting held in Delhi, which was co-chaired by Skills Development Minister Jayant Chaudhary, discussions focused on best practices, emerging challenges, and priority interventions needed to strengthen school governance, infrastructure, teacher training, and student entitlements.
• Union Education Ministry suggested to increase public participation in school management committees, whereas State representatives sought additional support for teacher training and capacity building. Mr. Pradhan said that while salaries of teachers and systems must be the responsibility of the government, operation of the schools themselves must be the responsibility of society.
• Mr. Pradhan said that the Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 can be achieved only when every child in India has access to quality education, and the country achieves a 100% school enrolment ratio up to Class 12.

Samagra Shiksha 3.0
Samagra Shiksha 3.0 is the next phase of India’s flagship school education programme, set to begin in the 2026–27 academic cycle. It focuses on outcome-based reforms, curriculum modernization, digital learning, and governance overhaul to align with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

🏛️ Background & Evolution
Launched in 2018 as an integrated scheme by subsuming Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE).

Samagra Shiksha 1.0 & 2.0 focused on access, equity, and infrastructure.

Samagra Shiksha 3.0 (2026–27 onwards) aims to reimagine school education with quality, innovation, and accountability at its core

🎯 Key Features of Samagra Shiksha 3.0

⚖️ Challenges Ahead
Implementation across diverse States: Ensuring uniform standards while respecting local contexts.

Digital Divide: Rural and marginalized students may lag without adequate infrastructure.

Teacher Preparedness: Large-scale training needed for AI and tech-enabled pedagogy.

Monitoring Outcomes: Requires robust data systems and independent evaluation.

✨ Significance
Aligns with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Supports India’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 by creating a skilled, innovative, and inclusive education system.

Marks a shift from quantity (enrolment, infrastructure) to quality (learning outcomes, skills, innovation).

NIT-K Surathkal develops jute-based geocell as alternative to plastic in roadworks

Context: Researchers at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, have developed an industrially manufactured ‘jute geocell’ that can replace plastic geocells used in road construction and slope stabilisation.

• The project is funded by the National Jute Board under the Union Ministry of Textiles and was executed at NITK Surathkal in collaboration with Birla Jute Mills. It is designed to be cheaper, environmentally sustainable, and suitable for large-scale use, particularly in rural and ecologically sensitive regions.

What are geocells?

• Geocells are three-dimensional, honeycomb-like structures placed beneath roads or on slopes to strengthen weak soil, improve load-bearing capacity, and control erosion.
• At present, most geocells used in India are made from petroleum-based polymers such as high-density polyethylene or polypropylene.
• While effective, these materials are expensive, non-biodegradable, and raise long-term environmental concerns, including microplastic pollution.

Studies

• Laboratory studies conducted as part of the NITK research show that jute geocells perform on a par with conventional polymeric geocells. Tensile strength tests recorded values of about 15.7 kilonewtons per metre, comparable to or higher than many plastic geocells currently in use. Plate load tests showed that soil reinforced with jute geocells achieved up to a 120% increase in bearing capacity, along with a significant reduction in settlement. One of the key reasons for this performance is the natural surface texture of jute.
• Researchers found that the surface roughness of jute geocells is more than 10 times higher than that of polymeric geocells, which allows stronger interaction between soil and reinforcement. This improves load transfer without the need for perforations or chemical treatments commonly used in plastic systems.
• A major innovation of the study lies in its manufacturing method. Instead of hand-stitched natural fibre geocells, which are labour-intensive and inconsistent, the team developed a mechanised stitching process using existing jute mill machinery. Jute fabric is cut into uniform strips and assembled into a honeycomb structure through machine stitching to enable consistent quality and industrial-scale production. This approach reduced production costs by nearly 80%, making the technology economically viable for public infrastructure projects, officials from the NITK said.
• Because of their cost advantage and environmental benefits, the jute geocells are considered suitable for rural and low-volume roads, pavement subgrade and base reinforcement, slope stabilisation and landslide mitigation, erosion control on embankments and riverbanks, landfill cover systems and retaining structures.

• From an environmental perspective, jute is a biodegradable and carbon-negative natural fibre, with cultivation capable of sequestering approximately 4.88 tonne of carbon dioxide per tonne of fibre. The technology also supports India’s domestic jute industry and rural employment. The researchers noted that as a natural material jute is biodegradable and its long-term durability under extreme environmental exposure requires further study. However, for many temporary and semi-permanent infrastructure applications, this characteristic is seen as an advantage rather than a limitation.

Next step

• Future work will focus on large-scale field trials, development of Indian standards for natural fibre geocells, enhancement of durability through eco-friendly treatments, and integration of the technology into national rural road and slope protection programmes.
• The system also has potential for adoption in other developing countries facing similar cost and environmental constraints.

Trump withdraws U.S. from UNFCCC, a key climate treaty

Context: U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from a bedrock climate treaty was slammed by the EU, which vowed to keep tackling the crisis with other nations.

• The White House flagged the U.S. exit from 66 global organisations and treaties — roughly half affiliated with the United Nations — it identified as “contrary to the interests of the United States”.
• Most notable among them is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the parent treaty underpinning all major international climate agreements. The treaty adopted in 1992 is a global pact by nations to cooperate to drive down planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
• European Union climate chief Wopke Hoekstra said the UNFCCC “underpins global climate action” and brings nations together in the collective fight against the crisis.
• “The decision by the world’s largest economy and second-largest emitter to retreat from it is regrettable and unfortunate,” Mr. Hoekstra said.

Source: The Hindu

India-Europe ties growing, can bring stability to global politics: Jaishankar

Context: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s first official visit for 2026 began in Europe, with a visit to Paris and Luxembourg, against the backdrop of major shifts in global politics including the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the U.S. and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

• In Paris, the Minister met his French, German and Polish counterparts for the India-Weimar Triangle meeting. Mr. Jaishankar said he chose Europe to kickstart the year because India-Europe ties were growing and because the two sides could bring stability to the international economy and global politics.
• “Why did I come to Europe? I think it was a very conscious choice. It was a choice which reflected our belief that this relationship with Europe is really poised to grow, grow to the next level,” he said at a joint press conference in Paris on Wednesday, with his Weimar Triangle counterparts.
• “I think we can bring more stability, both into the international economy and global politics, and that really is why I’m here,” he said.
• India’s relationship with the EU and with Europe had the most room to grow, among all its major relationships, Mr. Jaishankar said. The discussions in Paris included India sharing perspectives on challenges in the Indo-Pacific and on the Ukraine conflict, he said on X.
• The European Union and India are working to announce a ‘Free Trade’ Agreement (FTA) during the visit of EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa to India for Republic Day later this month. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in Brussels on a two-day visit (January 8-9) for discussions with his EU counterpart, Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. German Chancellor Frederik Merz is due in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru next week while French President Emmanuel Macron is due in New Delhi next month for the India AI Impact Summit.
• Mr. Jaishankar also held bilateral discussions with France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

‘Build bridges’

• Mr. Barrot emphasised that it was the first time a non-European partner had been invited to the Weimar Triangle meeting format at the Foreign Minister level. The rationale, as per Mr. Barrot, was that France currently held the G7 presidency and India, the presidency of BRICS. He also pointed to the FTA that is approaching finalisation.
• “In an increasingly violent world where balances are being questioned, it is important to build bridges between centres of stability, dialogue and responsibility,” the French Minister said.
• Europe has been reeling from U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambiguity about the transatlantic relationship, including his qualified and wavering support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. More recently, following the U.S.’s capture of Mr. Maduro, Mr. Trump has renewed his push to acquire Greenland, an autonomous region of Denmark. This has alarmed European allies of the U.S., many of whom have defended Denmark and Greenland’s sovereignty to determine their future.
• “There’s no such thing as a collective West. There’s no such thing as a Global South,” the French Foreign Minister said at Wednesday’s press conference.
• “There are but nations who can dialogue for their mutual interests,” he said, adding that countries could come together to defend international law and sovereignty.

Source: The Hindu

Textiles ministry signs MoUs with 15 States under Tex-RAMPS scheme

Context: The Ministry of Textiles has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with 15 States as part of the ‘Textiles focused Research, Assessment, Monitoring, Planning And Start-Up’ (Tex-RAMPS) scheme.

• The MoUs were signed on the first day of the two-day national textile ministers’ conference in Guwahati on the theme ‘India’s Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation’.
• The scheme is designed to improve the coverage, quality, timeliness, and credibility of textile-related statistical products and research, according to a press release.
• The initiative drives integrated planning for key sectors including handlooms, handicrafts, apparel, and technical textiles by focusing efforts directly at the cluster and district levels, the release said.
• The Ministry provides an annual grant of ₹12 lakh to each State or Union Territory. An additional grant of ₹1 lakh a year will be provided for each district, based on the development and execution of specific district action plans.

Source: The Hindu

India to continue to work with ISA, back solar adoption

Context: India will continue to work with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and support solar adoption and energy transition goals, government sources said on Thursday, even as the U.S. announced its withdrawal from the alliance.

• In an executive order signed on January 7, the U.S. sought to withdraw from 66 “wasteful, ineffective or harmful international organisations”, which also included the solar alliance.
• “These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over U.S. priorities, or that address important issues inefficiently or ineffectively such that U.S. taxpayer dollars are best allocated in other ways to support the relevant missions,” read a White House fact sheet.
• The 125-member alliance was conceptualised on the sidelines of COP21 in Paris in 2015 and was formally instituted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of France Francois Hollande.
• It aspires to unlock $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 whilst reducing technology and financing costs relating to solar implementation.
• The sources stated that the alliance’s programmes are operational in more than 95 countries and had supported creation of national pipelines, regulatory frameworks, and market creation.
• They added that the alliance had been “successful” in demonstrating the “feasibility and effectiveness” of solar solutions.
• Taking note of the latest development, the sources held, “ISA will continue to work with member countries, particularly least developed countries and small island developing states, in development and deployment of solar energy, mobilising finance, building capacity, and reducing risk perceptions.”

Source: The Hindu