Context:

• The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act represents the most significant reform of India’s nuclear sector since the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
• It marks a decisive shift from a state monopoly to a regulated, licence-based framework enabling private and foreign participation.
• It is crucial for achieving India’s climate commitments (Net Zero 2070), energy security, and technological self-reliance, especially in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

Key Features of the SHANTI Act:

• End of State monopoly: It opens civil nuclear power generation to private sector participation, introduces a licence-based regime for nuclear activities, and aims to attract long-term domestic and foreign capital.
• Independent nuclear regulation: It grants statutory backing to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). Positions AERB as the sector regulator, enhancing credibility and predictability.

Reform of Civil Nuclear Liability - A Breakthrough:

• Background - CLND Act:
  • Influenced by the Bhopal gas tragedy, the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act (2010) allowed operator recourse against suppliers for defective equipment/services.
  • This deviated from global norms under the Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC), creating a major deterrent for US, French and Japanese OEMs (Kovvada, Jaitapur stalled).
• Changes under SHANTI Act:
  • Operator recourse against suppliers allowed only when explicitly provided in contract, or in cases of intentional acts to cause nuclear damage.
  • It aligns India with international nuclear liability architecture, enhancing investor confidence and supplier participation.
• Remaining gap:
  • No statutory definition of “supplier”.
  • Earlier proposals suggested categorising manufacturers of systems/components, designers providing specifications, and quality assurance/design service providers.
  • Lack of clarity leaves residual liability uncertainty in the supply chain.

Regulatory and Institutional Concerns:

• Ambiguity in key terms:
  • Undefined terms include -
    • “Sensitive” activities (non-patentable),
    • “National security implications” (may bypass AERB),
    • “Strategic” activities (may trigger separate regulators).
• Risk -
• Start-ups, especially in SMRs, may face expropriation of IP.
• Could deter R&D investment and innovation.
• Multiple regulators (Section 25):
  • Allows creation of additional regulatory bodies for “strategic” activities. Open-ended provision creates regulatory uncertainty.
  • Need: Clearly defined circumstances in rules, or procedural safeguards before jurisdiction shifts.
• Independence of AERB:
  • AERB member selection committee constituted by the Atomic Energy Commission (DAE).
  • Best practices (e.g., Financial Sector Legislative Reform Commission [FSLRC] model) suggest independent experts, retired judges, and limited executive dominance.
  • Section 17(5) allows rules to strengthen structural independence while safeguarding national security.

Pricing of Nuclear Power - A Major Policy Challenge:

• Section 37 - Centralised tariff control: It vests pricing authority for nuclear electricity in the central government, overriding the Electricity Act, 2003.
• Issues with administered pricing:
  • Electricity is fungible — no justification for treating nuclear power differently.
  • The Electricity Act ecosystem supports tariff discovery, open access, power exchanges, and captive generation.
  • Nuclear power’s high cost makes mandatory procurement burdensome for financially stressed DISCOMs.

Way Forward - Market-Based Nuclear Expansion:

• Enable private-to-private transactions: Encourage captive nuclear generation, natural buyers (data centres, industrial clusters, SEZs, GCCs, power-intensive commercial consumers), and SMRs (ideal for 24×7 clean baseload demand).
• Learn from renewable energy models: For example, in offshore wind proposals, generators find their own C&I (commercial and industrial) buyers. Similar models can drive scalable nuclear adoption.
• Reform Section 37:
  • Legislative amendment: To remove administered pricing.
  • Alternative: Exempt private-to-private contracts via notification. Retain tariff control only for PSUs and DISCOM-linked transactions. Ensure non-discriminatory grid access. 

Conclusion:

• The SHANTI Act is a landmark reform.
• However, clarity in regulatory scope, market-driven tariff mechanisms, etc., will determine whether India can truly harness nuclear power for clean energy transition, energy security, and industrial growth.
• The success of this reform lies not just in legislation, but in its implementation architecture.

Why in news?

India’s Malaria Elimination Technical Report, 2025 has flagged urban malaria driven by the invasive mosquito Anopheles stephensi as a growing national concern.

It could threaten India’s target of eliminating malaria by 2030, with an interim goal of zero indigenous cases by 2027, aligned with World Health Organisation strategy.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Urban Malaria: A New Challenge
• Why Anopheles stephensi Is a Serious Threat?
• Persistent High-Burden Pockets
• India’s Progress So Far
• Strategic Frameworks Guiding Elimination
• The Road Ahead: 2030 Malaria-Free India

Urban Malaria: A New Challenge

• The spread of Anopheles stephensi in cities such as Delhi marks a shift from traditional rural malaria transmission.
• The species thrives in urban environments, breeding in artificial containers like overhead tanks, tyres, and construction sites.
• It efficiently transmits Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, complicating malaria control efforts.

Why Anopheles stephensi Is a Serious Threat?

• Recognised globally as an invasive vector.
• Adapted to high population density, informal settlements, and fragmented urban healthcare systems.
• Requires city-specific vector control and surveillance strategies, unlike conventional rural-focused approaches.

Persistent High-Burden Pockets

• India has entered the pre-elimination phase, but malaria is now concentrated in specific pockets rather than widespread.
• High-burden districts persist in Odisha, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• Cross-border transmission from Myanmar and Bangladesh continues to affect northeastern border districts.
• Key Drivers of Continued Transmission
  • Asymptomatic infections, making detection difficult.
  • Difficult terrain and remote tribal and forest areas.
  • Population mobility and migration.
  • Occupational exposure and uneven access to health services.

India’s Progress So Far

• Malaria cases reduced from 11.7 lakh (2015) to ~2.27 lakh (2024).
• Deaths declined by 78% over the same period.
• Active surveillance intensified in tribal, forest, border, and migrant-population settings.
• Health System Gaps Identified
  • Inconsistent reporting by the private sector.
  • Limited entomological capacity.
  • Drug and insecticide resistance.
  • Operational gaps in remote tribal regions.
  • Occasional shortages of diagnostics and treatment supplies.
• Priority Actions and Research Areas
  • Strengthen surveillance systems and vector monitoring.
  • Improve supply-chain reliability for diagnostics and medicines.
  • Focus operational research on:
    • Asymptomatic malaria infections
    • Ecology and control of Anopheles stephensi
    • Drug and insecticide resistance
    • Optimisation of P. vivax treatment regimens

Strategic Frameworks Guiding Elimination

• India’s success rests on a clear policy roadmap:
  • National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME), 2016: Target of zero indigenous cases by 2027.
  • National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2023–2027): Focus on enhanced surveillance, “test–treat–track” strategy, and real-time monitoring through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP).
• Vector Control and Urban Malaria Management
  • Integrated Vector Management (IVM) has been central, including:
    • Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS)
    • Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs)
    • Special attention has been given to controlling the invasive Anopheles stephensi mosquito, strengthening urban malaria control.
• Strengthening Diagnostics, Health Systems, and Communities
• Establishment of National Reference Laboratories under the National Centre of Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC).
• District-specific action plans for tribal, forested, and high-endemic areas.
• Integration of malaria services into Ayushman Bharat, with Community Health Officers and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs delivering care at the grassroots level.
• Capacity Building, Research, and Partnerships
  • Over 850 health professionals trained in 2024 through national refresher programmes.
  • Research on insecticide resistance and drug efficacy guiding evidence-based interventions.
  • Intensified Malaria Elimination Project–3 (IMEP-3) covering 159 districts in 12 states, focusing on vulnerable populations, Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) distribution, entomological studies, and surveillance.

The Road Ahead: 2030 Malaria-Free India

• India remains committed to achieving zero indigenous malaria cases by 2027 and elimination by 2030, with safeguards against re-establishment.
• By combining strong policy frameworks, scientific interventions, community participation, and sustained funding, India is emerging as a global benchmark in malaria elimination.

Why in news?

Amid widespread violence and political unrest in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to the country after 17 years in exile. The turmoil has also been marked by intensifying anti-India rhetoric, raising regional and diplomatic concerns.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Forces Driving the Current Turmoil in Bangladesh
• Mobocracy and Media Control as Tools
• Economic Unravelling and India Ties
• Tarique Rahman’s Return: Political Impact After 17 Years
• Rising Anti-India Rhetoric in Bangladesh
• Why the India–Bangladesh Relationship Matters Deeply?

Forces Driving the Current Turmoil in Bangladesh

• A Planned Regime-Change Operation (July–August 2024)
  • The unrest that began in July–August 2024 has often been described as a spontaneous uprising, but evidence points to a planned operation aimed at regime change.
  • Bangladesh’s chief adviser Muhammad Yunus publicly acknowledged this in September, identifying a close aide as the strategist behind it.
  • The Jamaat-e-Islami, long aligned with Pakistan, emerged as a key driving force—and now exerts significant influence over the administration.
• Dismantling the Post-1971 Political Order
  • A central objective has been to erase the post-1971 legacy.
  • From August 5, 2024, symbols and institutions linked to the Liberation War and the Awami League have been targeted, signalling an attempt to rewrite national memory and politics.
• Minority Repression and Visible Islamisation
  • Another major strand is a crackdown on minorities and a push toward more overt Islamisation.
  • Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and Ahmadiyyas have faced attacks, including allegations of killings, sexual violence, property destruction, and land grabs.
  • The lynching of Dipu Chandra Das drew international condemnation, underscoring the severity of abuses.

Mobocracy and Media Control as Tools

• Jamaat-e-Islami’s consolidation of power has been accompanied by violence and unrest as methods of control.
  • Mobocracy: Crowds surround offices, officials, and judges until demands are met.
  • Institutional Capture: Jamaat-aligned appointees are replacing incumbents across bureaucracy and academia.
  • Media Suppression: Attacks on journalists and outlets have surged; offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were recently attacked, and some journalists detained without trial.

Economic Unravelling and India Ties

• The turmoil has disrupted long-standing economic cooperation with India, built over decades under Sheikh Hasina.
• An economy that grew 6.5–7% annually for 15 years has slowed sharply: growth has halved, factories are closing, unemployment is rising, private investment has stalled, and inflation is high.

Tarique Rahman’s Return: Political Impact After 17 Years

• Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has returned after 17 years in exile and is widely seen as a frontrunner if elections are held soon.
• However, with the Awami League barred from contesting, any poll in the current climate would likely fall short of being free or fair.
• Rahman’s return is expected to trigger a surge of public support, partly driven by sympathy for his ailing mother.
• Still, an electoral victory is not assured, given shifting alliances and internal party dynamics.
• Rahman’s homecoming does not materially alter the fundamentals: a constrained electoral field, a fragmented BNP, and an emboldened Jamaat.
• Popular enthusiasm may be high, but structural realities limit Rahman’s room to reshape outcomes in the near term.

Rising Anti-India Rhetoric in Bangladesh

• Anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh is not new. Even during 1971, around 20% of the population opposed the Liberation War and India’s role.
• This strand has endured over decades alongside mainstream politics.
• Parallel to this undercurrent, India–Bangladesh relations have been anchored by deep economic cooperation and people-to-people links—including tourism, medical travel, education, and trade—creating mutual stakes beyond politics.
• India’s First Priority: Reassure the Bangladeshi People
  • India should signal goodwill toward the people of Bangladesh, not regimes alone.
  • New Delhi has already demonstrated this by continuing aid and trade, keeping communication channels open, and recently agreeing to export 50,000 metric tonnes of rice.
  • Maintaining strategic restraint while engaging all principal actors remains key.
• India’s Second Priority: Push for Inclusive Elections
  • New Delhi should insist on free, fair, and inclusive elections that allow participation by all parties, including the Awami League.
  • Only an inclusive process can restore legitimacy and stability; exclusion risks prolonging violence and volatility.

Why the India–Bangladesh Relationship Matters Deeply?

• For Bangladesh, cooperation with India was central to its economic success under Sheikh Hasina.
• India has consistently been the first responder in times of need and a reliable partner due to geographic proximity, competitive pricing, shared history, and strong people-to-people ties.
• While the current regime is engaging Pakistan, China, and Turkey, none can replicate the scale, speed, or depth of support India provides.
• Vital for India’s Security Interests
  • For India, Bangladesh is pivotal primarily due to security considerations.
  • The two share a 4,000+ km porous land border and a maritime boundary, making cooperation essential.
  • In the past, Pakistan-backed terror networks and Northeast insurgent groups used Bangladeshi territory as a haven—an issue the Hasina government actively helped address.
• Growing Strategic Risks Since August 2024
  • Since August 2024, Pakistan’s state and military have reportedly re-established pre-1971 command-and-control linkages with Bangladesh, seeking deeper military embedding, including near the India–Bangladesh border.
  • This raises concerns about regional security spillovers.

About Himalayan Red Fox:

• The Himalayan Red Fox, a subspecies of the widespread red fox (Vulpes vulpes), is one of the most adaptable predators of the high-altitude landscapes.
• Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes montana
• Distribution:
  • It is native to the Himalayan mountain range in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.
  • It has a wide distribution in the Indian Himalayan region, including the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Habitat:
  • They are known to occupy a variety of habitats, including alpine meadows, grasslands, forests, and agricultural lands.
• Features:
  • It is a medium-sized mammal, with males being slightly larger and heavier than females.
  • The coat of the Himalayan red fox is typically rusty-red in color, with white underparts and a distinctive white-tipped tail.
  • It is a solitary and nocturnal
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Key Facts about Pangong Tso:

• Pangong Tso, or Pangong Lake, is a long, narrow, endorheic (landlocked) lake in the Ladakh Himalayas.
• It is the world’s highest saltwater lake.
• It is also known to change colors, appearing blue, green, and red at different times.

About Vitamin C:

• Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin.
• Function:
  • It is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of body. It is used to:
    • Form an important protein called collagen, used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels.
    • Heal wounds and form scar tissue.
    • Repair and maintain cartilage, bones, and teeth.
    • Aid in the absorption of iron.
  • It is a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize harmful free radicals.
  • It helps make several hormones and chemical messengers used in the brain and nerves.
• The body doesn't make vitamin C. It comes from the diet.
• Sources:
  • Vitamin C comes from fruits and vegetables.
  • Good sources include citrus, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and greens.
  • Some juices and cereals have added vitamin C.
• Vitamin C is sensitive to heat, so some of its nutritional benefits can be lost during cooking. Raw foods are more beneficial as dietary sources.
• Vitamin C is not stored in body, so deficiency can happen quickly.
• Sometimes, vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy.
  • Scurvy symptoms and signs can include anemia, exhaustion, spontaneous bleeding, limb pain, swelling, and sometimes ulceration of the gums and loss of teeth.

About Titan:

• Titan is Saturn's largest moon.
• It is the second largest moon in our solar system after Jupiter's moon Ganymede.
• It is the only moon in the solar system with a dense atmosphere.
• It's the only world besides Earth that has standing bodies of liquid, including rivers, lakes, and seas, on its surface.
• Like Earth, Titan’s atmosphere is primarily nitrogen, plus a small amount of methane.
• Titan takes 15 days and 22 hours to complete a full orbit of Saturn.
• Titan is also tidally locked in synchronous rotation with Saturn, meaning that, like Earth’s Moon, Titan always shows the same face to the planet as it orbits.

Key Facts about Cassini Spacecraft:

• It is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).
• Cassini was a sophisticated robotic spacecraft sent to study Saturn and its complex system of rings and moons in unprecedented detail.
• It was launched in 1997. It was one of the largest interplanetary spacecraft.
• The mission consisted of NASA’s Cassini orbiter, which was the first space probe to orbit Saturn, and the ESA’s Huygens probe, which landed on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.

About Rashtriya Prerna Sthal:

• It has been developed as a landmark national memorial and inspirational complex of enduring national significance.
• It has been dedicated to the life and ideals of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• It is located on the banks of the Gomti River in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
• The complex also features 65-foot-high bronze statues of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, alongside the former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• The complex is envisioned as a permanent national asset dedicated to fostering leadership values, national service, cultural consciousness, and public inspiration.
• The complex houses a state-of-the-art museum designed in the shape of a lotus flower.