Why in news?

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz exposed India’s dependence on imported cooking gas, prompting the government to invoke the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

The Act serves as an emergency measure, allowing the Centre to increase domestic LPG production, prioritise household supply, and regulate natural gas allocation while longer-term energy diversification strategies are pursued.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Key Provisions of the Essential Commodities Act
• Why the Essential Commodities Act Was Invoked?
• Government Measures to Increase Domestic LPG Production
• Regulation of Natural Gas Supply Under the Government Order

Key Provisions of the Essential Commodities Act

• The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 empowers the Union government to regulate the production, supply, and distribution of essential goods such as foodstuffs, edible oils, fertilizers, drugs, fuels, and seeds.
• Under Section 3 of the Act, the government can take measures to ensure adequate supply and fair prices of essential commodities.
• These include setting price controls and stock limits, regulating storage, transport, and distribution, prioritising production, and preventing hoarding and black marketing.
• The Act has been used in the past to address shortages of commodities such as wheat, sugar, and pulses, and was also invoked during the COVID-19 lockdown to curb hoarding, black marketing, and profiteering of essential goods.

Why the Essential Commodities Act Was Invoked?

• Impact of West Asia Conflict on Energy Supplies - The ongoing conflict in West Asia, including attacks near the Strait of Hormuz, has disrupted maritime trade routes. This chokepoint handles a significant share of global energy shipments, affecting India’s energy imports.
• Panic Over LPG Supply - While a large portion of global oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, the immediate concern for India has been the disruption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplies, leading to fears of shortages among consumers.
• Rising Domestic Demand for LPG - Government schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana expanded LPG coverage from about 62% of households in 2016 to nearly universal coverage today, significantly increasing national demand.
• Dependence on LPG Imports - India’s domestic LPG production has not matched consumption. In 2024–25, refineries produced 12.8 million tonnes, covering only 41% of the total demand of 31.3 million tonnes, with around 90% of imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
• LNG Supply Dependence - India also relies on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for cooking, transportation, and commercial use. While 52% of LNG demand is met domestically, about 25% of consumption is imported from the Persian Gulf, highlighting India’s dependence on the region.

Government Measures to Increase Domestic LPG Production

• Directive to Refineries - The government ordered oil refineries to divert propane and butane streams to LPG production, instead of using them for petrochemical manufacturing, to boost domestic cooking gas supply.
• Expansion of the Order - A revised directive extended the order to SEZ refineries and petrochemical complexes, requiring additional hydrocarbon streams such as propylene and butene (C3 and C4 streams) to be used solely for LPG production.
• Refineries Covered Under the Order - The directive applies to state-owned refiners such as IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, ONGC, Chennai Petroleum, and Numaligarh Refinery, as well as private companies like Reliance and Nayara Energy.
• Increase in Domestic LPG Output - According to the government, the measure has raised domestic LPG production by about 25%, although a significant portion of demand still needs to be met through imports.
• Prioritisation of Household LPG Supply - All LPG produced under the order must be supplied to IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL, which have been instructed to prioritise domestic household consumption. As a result, reduced supply to commercial users has affected restaurants, hotels, and hostels, forcing some to limit operations.

Regulation of Natural Gas Supply Under the Government Order

• The government’s order introduces a priority-based allocation system for natural gas, overriding existing supply contracts to ensure essential sectors receive adequate gas during supply disruptions.
• Top Priority Sectors - Highest priority is given to piped natural gas for households, compressed natural gas for transport, LPG production, and pipeline compressor fuel.
  • These sectors will receive 100% of their average consumption over the past six months, subject to availability.
• Supply Allocation for Fertiliser Sector - Fertiliser manufacturers will receive around 70% of their normal gas requirement, though allocations may be adjusted if disruptions continue and agricultural demand increases during the kharif sowing season.
• Reduced Supply for Other Industries - Gas supplies to tea, manufacturing, and other industrial sectors have been limited to 80% of their usual demand, while oil refineries will receive only about 65% of their regular gas allocation.
• Curtailment for Petrochemical Facilities - Some petrochemical plants operated by ONGC, GAIL, and Reliance may face partial or complete LNG supply cuts under the revised allocation framework.

Why in news?

The United States launched a major bombing raid on Iran’s Kharg Island, a critical hub for Iran’s oil exports in the Persian Gulf, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing West Asia conflict.

According to US President Donald Trump, the bombing raid targeted military installations on Kharg Island. Despite the attack, oil infrastructure was deliberately not targeted.

Kharg Island handles almost all of Iran’s oil exports, making it one of the most strategically important energy infrastructure sites in the region.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Geographical Location of Kharg Island
• Strategic Importance of Kharg Island for Iran
• Why Kharg Island’s location makes it crucial?

Geographical Location of Kharg Island

• 
• Kharg Island is a small coral island in the northern Persian Gulf, about 8 km long and covering roughly 20 sq. km, located around 25–30 km off Iran’s mainland coast.
• Its landscape is dominated by industrial infrastructure such as massive oil storage tanks, jetties, and an airstrip, reflecting its role as a major oil export hub.
• Often called the “orphan pearl” of the Persian Gulf, Kharg Island has long been part of regional trade routes.
• Over centuries, it saw control by Dutch and British forces before becoming a key Iranian energy hub.
• Kharg Island became Iran’s main oil export terminal because it connects to major oil fields such as Ahvaz, Marun, and Gachsaran through pipelines and has deep-water jetties that allow supertankers to dock.

Strategic Importance of Kharg Island for Iran

• Economic and Energy Significance - Kharg Island is one of Iran’s most critical economic assets, serving as the main hub for the country’s oil storage and export infrastructure. Pipelines from the island connect to several major Iranian oil and gas fields.
• Impact on Iran’s Oil Exports - The island handles around 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. Any attack on its oil infrastructure could severely disrupt Iran’s export capacity and cause a sharp rise in global oil prices.
• Global Oil Market Implications - Although recent strikes targeted only military facilities, analysts warn that tensions around Kharg Island could still push global crude prices toward $150 per barrel, given its central role in Iran’s energy exports.
• Key Energy Infrastructure on the Island
  • Kharg Island hosts major energy facilities operated by the Iranian oil ministry, including Falat Iran Oil Company, which produces about 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day, as well as Kharg Petrochemical Company and large oil and LNG storage and export terminals.
  • Until recently, US-Israel strikes avoided targeting oil export facilities to prevent destabilising global oil markets and allow Iran to retain economic recovery options after the conflict.

Why Kharg Island’s location makes it crucial?

• Key Hub for Iran’s Oil Pipelines - Kharg Island serves as the terminal point for pipelines from Iran’s major oil fields located in the central and western parts of the country, making it a crucial export hub for Iranian crude.
• Historical Background of the Facility - The infrastructure on Kharg Island was originally developed by the American Oil Company (Amoco) but was seized by Iran following the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
• Geographic Advantage for Large Oil Tankers - Most of Iran’s coastline is too shallow for very large crude carriers, but Kharg Island lies near deep waters with specialised jetties, allowing large oil tankers to dock and load crude efficiently.
• Volume of Oil Passing Through Kharg Island - On average, about 1.5 million barrels of oil per day are exported through Kharg Island. In anticipation of potential conflict, Iran reportedly increased exports to around 3 million barrels per day in early 2026.
• Strategic Oil Storage Capacity - Kharg Island also serves as a major storage hub, holding approximately 18 million barrels of crude oil as reserve capacity to ensure continuity of exports during disruptions.

Why in the News?

• The atomic clock onboard the IRNSS-1F satellite of India’s NavIC navigation system recently failed, weakening the operational capacity of India’s indigenous satellite navigation network.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About Atomic Clock (Basics, Application, Role in Satellite, etc.)
• News Summary (Status of NavIC System)

About Atomic Clock

• An atomic clock is a highly precise timekeeping device that measures time using the natural oscillations of atoms, typically caesium or rubidium atoms.
• Unlike traditional clocks that rely on mechanical or electronic oscillators, atomic clocks operate based on the consistent frequency of atomic transitions.
• In an atomic clock, atoms are exposed to microwave radiation. The radiation causes the atoms to transition between energy states at a precise frequency. This frequency is used to measure time with extraordinary accuracy.
• Atomic clocks are the most accurate clocks ever developed. Modern atomic clocks can measure time so precisely that they would lose or gain less than a second over millions of years.

Importance of Atomic Clocks

• Atomic clocks play a critical role in several modern technologies and scientific applications.
• Satellite Navigation Systems: Global navigation systems such as GPS (United States), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (European Union), and BeiDou (China) rely on atomic clocks to determine accurate positioning.
• Precise Timekeeping: Atomic clocks define the international standard of time known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
• Telecommunication Networks: Accurate time synchronisation is essential for mobile networks, internet communication, and financial transactions.
• Scientific Research: Atomic clocks are used in space science, physics experiments, and deep-space navigation.
• Because satellite navigation depends on measuring the time taken for signals to travel from satellites to receivers, even a tiny error in time can translate into large positional errors. Therefore, atomic clocks are essential for maintaining accurate navigation services.

Role of Atomic Clocks in Satellite Navigation

• Satellite navigation systems work by transmitting signals from satellites to receivers on Earth. These signals contain the precise time at which the signal was sent.
• The receiver calculates its position by measuring the time difference between signal transmission and reception. Since signals travel at the speed of light, extremely accurate timing is required.
• Even a time error of one nanosecond (one billionth of a second) can lead to positional errors of several centimetres. Therefore, atomic clocks installed on navigation satellites ensure that time measurements remain extremely precise.
• Each satellite typically carries multiple atomic clocks as backup systems to ensure uninterrupted functioning.

News Summary

• According to ISRO, the atomic clock onboard the IRNSS-1F satellite stopped functioning in March 2026. This development has significant implications for India’s NavIC system.
• Impact on Navigation Capability
  • Atomic clocks are critical components of navigation satellites because they ensure precise timing for navigation signals.
  • With the failure of the IRNSS-1F clock, the number of satellites with functioning clocks has fallen further. At least four operational satellites are required to provide reliable navigation services, but the number has now been reduced to three.
  • This situation weakens the reliability of India’s indigenous navigation system.
• Status of NavIC Satellite Constellation
  • Since 2013, nine IRNSS satellites have been launched, out of which eight reached their intended orbit.
  • However, several satellites in the constellation have experienced failures in their onboard atomic clocks. Earlier reports indicated that multiple satellites had lost all three of their atomic clocks.
  • The IRNSS-1F satellite, launched in March 2016, had already completed its designed mission life of ten years in March 2026 when the clock failure occurred.
• Although the satellite will continue operating in orbit, it can now provide only limited services such as one-way broadcast messaging.

Efforts to Strengthen NavIC

• To address the challenges posed by ageing satellites and clock failures, ISRO has begun deploying improved navigation satellites.
• For future missions, ISRO plans to use indigenously developed rubidium atomic clocks instead of imported ones.
• Previously, the atomic clocks used in NavIC satellites were imported from a Swiss manufacturer, SpectraTime.
• Recent developments include:

• NVS-01 satellite (launched in 2023) carrying an indigenous rubidium atomic clock.
• NVS-02 satellite (launched in 2025), which unfortunately failed to reach its intended orbit.

• ISRO has also announced plans to launch three new replacement satellites by the end of 2026 to replace ageing and malfunctioning satellites in the NavIC constellation.

Why in News?

• Recently, the Supreme Court of India permitted the withdrawal of life support for Harish Rana, a 32-year-old patient who had remained in a persistent vegetative state for nearly 13 years after an accident.
• The Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan ruled that continuing treatment was futile and not in the patient’s best interest.
• The judgment reaffirmed that the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution includes the right to die with dignity, marking India’s first judicial approval of passive euthanasia in such a case.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• What is Passive Euthanasia?
• Right to Die with Dignity under Article 21
• The ‘Best Interests’ Test
• Evolution of the ‘Right to Die’ Jurisprudence in India
• Challenges and Concerns
• Way Ahead
• Conclusion

What is Passive Euthanasia?

• Euthanasia is the intentional, painless termination of a patient’s life—often called "mercy killing"—to end severe, incurable suffering. Traditionally, it has been classified into two forms -
  • Active [Illegal in India, it involves direct intervention to cause death (e.g., administering a lethal injection].
  • Passive (Involves withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment, such as ventilators or artificial nutrition).
• SC’s clarification:
  • The Court clarified that the earlier “act vs omission” distinction is simplistic and misleading.
  • Active euthanasia introduces a new external agent of harm, while withdrawal of life support merely removes an artificial barrier to death, allowing the natural course of life to conclude.
  • Thus, withdrawing life-sustaining treatment does not create a new risk of death but allows the inevitable to occur.
  • The Court also observed that the term “passive euthanasia” is outdated and should instead be referred to as “withdrawing or withholding medical treatment.”

Right to Die with Dignity under Article 21:

• The Court reaffirmed that Article 21 (Right to Life) encompasses the right to die with dignity, especially in cases involving irreversible medical conditions.
• Key observations:
  • Preserving life cannot justify prolonged suffering through artificial medical intervention.
  • For patients who are brain-dead or in a persistent vegetative state, continued life support may violate dignity.
  • Technological advancements in medicine should not compel patients to endure prolonged suffering.
• The Court emphasised that human dignity extends beyond mere biological survival.

The ‘Best Interests’ Test:

• The judgment relied on the common law principle that medical treatment requires justification, since it involves bodily intrusion.
• Meaning of the test: The ‘best interests’ inquiry evaluates whether continuing medical treatment benefits the patient, not whether it is better for the patient to die.
• Key features:
  • Strong presumption in favour of preserving life.
  • However, this presumption is not absolute.
  • It may be overridden if treatment is medically futile, artificially prolongs suffering, and provides no prospect of recovery.
• Factors considered:
  • Medical considerations (prognosis, reversibility of condition).
  • Non-medical considerations (dignity, quality of life, family views).

Evolution of the ‘Right to Die’ Jurisprudence in India:

• Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab Case (1996):
  • The Court held that the right to live with dignity includes the right to die with dignity when death is imminent.
  • It distinguished between an attempt to suicide and abetment of suicide from “acceleration of the process of natural death”.
• Law Commission of India’s recommendations:
  • Recommended that withdrawal of treatment for terminally ill patients should not attract criminal liability. [196th Report (2006)]
  • Reiterated the need for a legal framework. [241st Report (2012)]
• Aruna Shanbaug Case (2011):
  • The SC permitted passive euthanasia under strict guidelines due to the absence of legislation.
  • The case highlighted the ethical dilemma of life-support continuation in irreversible conditions.
• Common Cause v. Union of India Case (2018): The Constitution Bench -
  • Recognised Advance Medical Directives (Living Wills).
  • Laid down procedures for withdrawal of life support.
  • Required medical boards and judicial oversight.
• Recent developments:
  • 2023: Supreme Court simplified procedures for Advance Medical Directives (AMDs).
  • 2024: Government released guidelines on withdrawal of life support for consultation.

Challenges and Concerns:

• Absence of a comprehensive law: Despite judicial guidelines, India still lacks a statutory framework governing end-of-life decisions.
• Ethical and moral dilemmas: Balancing sanctity of life vs dignity of death remains controversial.
• Risk of misuse: Concerns exist about coercion by families or medical negligence.
• Procedural complexity: Implementation of medical boards and legal safeguards may delay decisions.
• Limited awareness: Low public awareness about living wills and AMDs.

Way Forward:

• Enact a comprehensive end-of-life care law: Parliament should legislate on withdrawal of medical treatment and living wills.
• Strengthen safeguards: Mandatory multi-disciplinary medical boards, transparent documentation.
• Promote AMDs: Encourage citizens to prepare living wills to guide medical decisions.
• Improve palliative care: Expand palliative and hospice care services to ensure dignified end-of-life care.
• Ethical guidelines for hospitals: Clear medical ethics protocols should guide doctors in terminal care decisions.

Conclusion:

• The SC’s ruling marks an important step in aligning medical ethics with constitutional values of dignity and autonomy.
• By recognising that the right to life includes the right to die with dignity, the Court has clarified the legal status of withdrawing life support in cases of irreversible medical conditions.
• However, there is the urgent need for Parliament to enact a law governing end-of-life care, living wills, and withdrawal of treatment, ensuring both human dignity and protection against misuse.

About Deepor Beel:

• It is a permanent freshwater lake in in Assam.
• It lies in a former channel of the Brahmaputra River.
• Beel is an Assamese local word which means ‘lake’, and the name Deepor Beel means the ‘lake of elephants’.
• It is considered one of the biggest lakes of the Brahmaputra Valley of Lower Assam.
• It is surrounded by steep highlands on the northern and southern sides, and its main sources of water are the Kalmani and Basistha Rivers.
• It is the only major stormwater storage basin for the city of Guwahati.
• The lake’s outflow is the Khandajan rivulet, which joins the Brahmaputra.
• It is recognised as a Ramsar Site and as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). It is the only Ramsar site in Assam.
• This lake is a staging site on migratory flyways, and some of the largest concentrations of aquatic birds in Assam can be seen, especially in winter.
• Some globally threatened birds are supported, including Spot-billed Pelican, Lesser Greater Adjutant Stork, and Baer’s Pochard.
• The Rani and Garbhanga hills, the habitat of the Asiatic elephants on the southern side of the beel, are part of this ecosystem.