India's northeastern states are increasingly being viewed as strategic resource frontiers, shifting from traditional border and security concerns. This re-evaluation is driven by the global demand for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, vital for industrial and energy transitions. The Ministry of Mines has initiated extensive exploration projects in the region, recognizing its untapped mineral wealth. However, the article emphasizes the need for resource extraction to be sensitive to the region's complex social, political, and historical contexts, including customary land systems and local institutions. Inclusive development is crucial to avoid exacerbating existing tensions and ensure equitable benefits for the local populace.
India's northeastern states are increasingly being framed as strategic resource frontiers due to their critical mineral potential.
Critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are vital for industrial competition, technological manufacturing, and energy transitions.
Extensive exploration projects for these minerals are underway in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur.
Exam Points
Ministry of Mines undertook 43 critical mineral exploration projects across northeastern States during 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25.
Minerals being explored include graphite, vanadium, lithium, rare earth elements, nickel, and cobalt.
Manipur was described as a 'quiet mineral frontier,' and Arunachal Pradesh as a 'resource-rich frontier.'
India's provisional GDP growth for 2025-26 is pegged at 7.7%, demonstrating resilience in manufacturing and services sectors. Private Final Consumption Expenditure and Gross Fixed Capital Formation grew faster, indicating positive trends in household consumption and investment. However, the economic outlook faces significant challenges. The agriculture sector's growth slowed to 3% in 2025-26, and the India Meteorological Department predicts a deficient monsoon at 90% of the Long Period Average. Global headwinds, including geopolitical conflicts, energy supply disruptions, and fertilizer constraints, are expected to strain the economy, with the RBI forecasting a growth dip to 6.6% for 2026-27, emphasizing the need for policy agility.
India's provisional GDP growth for 2025-26 is estimated at 7.7%, showing resilience in manufacturing and services.
Private Final Consumption Expenditure and Gross Fixed Capital Formation have shown faster growth, indicating positive trends in consumption and investment.
The agriculture sector's growth has slowed significantly, raising concerns, especially with a predicted deficient monsoon.
Exam Points
Provisional GDP growth for 2025-26: 7.7%.
Agriculture sector growth slowed to 3% in 2025-26 from 4.2% in 2024-25.
India Meteorological Department predicted this year's monsoon at 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA).
The southwest monsoon arrived late in Kerala, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a pessimistic forecast, predicting a deficient seasonal rainfall at 90% of the long-period average with a 60% probability of an outright deficient year. This outlook is particularly concerning given the near-certainty of El Niño conditions, historically linked to deficient monsoons. The article stresses that the distribution of rainfall and potential long dry spells are as crucial as the total volume. Compounded by existing input crises from West Asia conflicts affecting energy and fertilizer supplies, a weak monsoon will severely impact the farm economy. The government is urged to activate relevant ministries, promote short-duration crops, and manage water resources effectively.
The southwest monsoon arrived late, and IMD predicts a deficient seasonal rainfall at 90% of LPA, with a high probability of an outright deficient year.
The forecast is the most pessimistic in a decade, with El Niño conditions near-certain, historically correlating with deficient monsoons.
Beyond total rainfall, the distribution and occurrence of long dry spells are critical for agricultural impact.
Exam Points
Southwest monsoon reached Kerala on June 4, three days past its normal date.
IMD pegged seasonal rainfall at 90% of the long-period average (LPA), with a 60% probability of an outright deficient year.
Around 60% of El Niño years since 1951 have brought deficient or below-normal rains.
The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), a flagship cash assistance program for the elderly, is in urgent need of reform. The central government's contribution of ₹200 per person per month has remained unchanged since 2007, while state top-ups have increased. Inflation has significantly eroded the real value of the central assistance, reducing its purchasing power by half since 2013. Despite recommendations from various committees to increase assistance and expand coverage, the number of beneficiaries (2.2 crore) has remained stagnant, far below the projected elderly population (17-20 crore). Surveyed beneficiaries overwhelmingly cite increased prices and insufficient funds to meet daily needs.
IGNOAPS, a centrally-sponsored scheme, has not seen an increase in central contribution (₹200) since 2007, despite rising state contributions.
Inflation has significantly eroded the real value of the central assistance, reducing its purchasing power by half since 2013.
Recommendations from various reports, including the MoRD and PAC, have called for increasing the assistance amount and expanding coverage.
Exam Points
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is part of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).
Central contribution of ₹200 per month for 60-plus age group, ₹500 for 80-plus category, frozen since 2007.
The real value of ₹200 in 2012 has eroded to just around ₹99.
Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal affirmed that Nepal is not seeking mediation on its border dispute with India and China, asserting historical claims over the territories of Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura. The border issue resurfaced after India announced the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra for 2026 through the Lipulekh pass, which Nepal claims. Khanal's visit to India aimed to restart high-level interactions, including discussions on digital and financial connectivity, resulting in an MoU for cross-border payment transactions. The minister also highlighted Nepal's new generation leadership, which is focused on good governance, meritocracy, and accountability, signaling a fresh approach to both domestic and international affairs.
Nepal asserts its historical claim over Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura and is not seeking mediation on the border dispute with India and China.
The border issue was reignited by India's announcement of the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh pass.
Nepal's Foreign Minister's visit to India aimed to resume high-level diplomatic interactions between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Major Abhilasha Barak for receiving the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. This prestigious honor recognizes her exemplary service and underscores India's significant contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions. Major Barak, currently deployed with the UN mission in Lebanon, was specifically awarded for her dedicated outreach efforts with women and girls in the West Asian nation. She holds the notable distinction of being the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the Indian Army, marking a significant milestone in gender equality and women's empowerment within India's armed forces and international peacekeeping operations.
Major Abhilasha Barak received the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
The award acknowledges her exemplary service and India's contribution to UN peacekeeping efforts.
She was recognized for her outreach work with women and girls during her deployment in Lebanon.
Exam Points
Award: UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
Recipient: Major Abhilasha Barak.
Deployment location: United Nations mission in Lebanon.
The Union Health Ministry addressed criticisms regarding "missing" indicators like anaemia, sanitation, and clean cooking fuel in the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6 factsheets. Officials clarified that these factsheets are the initial stage of dissemination, covering 101 major indicators for a concise snapshot of health and demographic trends. They stated that "missing" indicators are monitored through dedicated national surveys and administrative databases to avoid duplication and ensure data coherence. A comprehensive national report with a broader range of indicators, detailed analyses, and methodological documentation will be released later. Hemoglobin testing for anaemia was omitted in NFHS-6 due to concerns about previous capillary blood sampling methodology.
NFHS-6 factsheets are the initial stage of data dissemination, providing a concise overview of 101 key health and demographic indicators.
Indicators like anaemia, sanitation, and clean cooking fuel, perceived as "missing," are tracked via separate dedicated national surveys and administrative platforms.
The Ministry aims to report each indicator through the most appropriate and authoritative source to ensure data coherence and avoid duplication.
Exam Points
Survey: National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6.
Initial factsheets cover 101 major indicators.
Sanitation and clean cooking fuel coverage tracked by Swachh Survekshan Grameen and Statistics and Programme Implementation Ministry's surveys.
A recent study in Odisha reveals that nearly 74% of female students miss school during menstruation due to a combination of pain, discomfort, lack of privacy, inadequate facilities, and social stigma. Despite 94% of surveyed schools having separate toilets for girls, significant hurdles persist, including the absence of basic menstrual hygiene support systems, water, soap, and proper waste disposal. The study, conducted by organizations like UNICEF and WaterAid, highlights critical gaps in menstrual hygiene management infrastructure and awareness. It calls for urgent initiatives to build accessible and inclusive sanitation infrastructure in public spaces, emphasizing dignity, hygiene, and comfort for women, girls, and persons with disabilities.
Nearly 74% of female students in Odisha miss school during menstruation due to various factors.
Primary reasons for absenteeism include pain, discomfort, lack of privacy, inadequate facilities, and social stigma.
Despite widespread separate toilets, schools often lack basic menstrual hygiene support, water, soap, and proper waste disposal.
Exam Points
Study conducted by UNICEF, Aaina, WaterAid, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar, and IIT-Bhubaneswar.
Nearly 74% of female students in Odisha miss school during menstruation.
94% of surveyed schools had separate toilets for girls.
The Supreme Court's acceptance of a Presidential Ordinance to increase the sanctioned strength of judges from 34 to 38, leading to the appointment of five new judges (three to newly created posts), raises significant questions about judicial independence and security of tenure. The article draws parallels to historical instances, like President Roosevelt's court-packing plan, which were rejected to preserve an independent judiciary. It highlights that an Ordinance's temporary nature and the possibility of its lapse or disapproval by Parliament could make the tenure of judges appointed under it precarious, potentially creating an obligation to the executive. The Supreme Court itself has previously ruled against governance by repromulgated ordinances, calling it a "fraud on the Constitution."
The Supreme Court accepted a Presidential Ordinance to increase its sanctioned strength from 34 to 38 judges, leading to appointments to newly created posts.
This move raises concerns about judicial independence and the security of tenure for judges appointed via a temporary Ordinance.
Historically, attempts to alter court composition for political reasons, like Roosevelt's court-packing plan, have been resisted to protect judicial autonomy.
Exam Points
Sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges increased from 34 to 38 via Presidential Ordinance.
Article 124(1) of the Constitution allows Parliament to prescribe the number of judges.
Article 123 of the Constitution deals with the President's power to promulgate ordinances.
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