Why in the News?

• The Union Cabinet has approved a major revision to the Agnipath scheme, offering 75% of Agniveers an additional two-year engagement and an opportunity to join the Armed Forces as regular soldiers, subject to eligibility and selection criteria.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Agnipath Scheme (Original Framework, Major Changes, Enhanced Benefits, Govt’s Rationale, Implications, etc.)

Understanding the Agnipath Scheme

• The Agnipath scheme was introduced in 2022 as a recruitment reform for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. It aims to maintain a younger, fitter and technologically equipped military workforce.
• Under the original framework:
  • Personnel were recruited as Agniveers for an initial period of four years.
  • Up to 25% of each batch could be retained in the regular cadre based on merit and organisational requirements.
  • The remaining 75% were released after completing four years of service and received a contributory Seva Nidhi package.
• The scheme represented a departure from the earlier system of regular military recruitment by introducing a fixed-term engagement model.

Major Changes in the Revised Agnipath Framework

• The Union Cabinet has approved an additional two-year engagement period for Agniveers who are not selected for regular enrolment after their initial four-year tenure.
• The revised arrangement introduces a two-stage pathway:
• First Stage: Selection After Four Years
  • The top 25% of Agniveers will continue to be selected on merit for absorption into the regular cadre.
  • Selection will be based on performance evaluations and the requirements of the respective services.
• Second Stage: Additional Two-Year Engagement
  • The remaining 75% of Agniveers will be offered an additional two-year engagement.
  • At the end of six years of service, they will be eligible for consideration for enrolment as regular soldiers.
  • Regular enrolment will depend on their willingness and fulfilment of objective military selection criteria.
• The revised arrangement therefore provides all Agniveers with an opportunity to pursue regular military service, although enrolment is not guaranteed.

Enhanced Remuneration and Seva Nidhi Benefits

• The additional engagement period will provide improved financial benefits to Agniveers.

                                  Image Caption: Financial Benefits to Agniveers

• Under the original arrangement, the Seva Nidhi package involved equal contributions from the Agniveer and the government.
• Under the revised framework, the government's contribution will increase to 70% for those completing the additional engagement period and choosing to exit.
• The revised arrangement also provides seniority benefits, further improving the service conditions of Agniveers.

Selection Criteria for Regular Enrolment

• The opportunity to join the regular cadre after the additional two-year engagement will depend on objective performance and service requirements.
• The selection process will consider:
  • Adaptability: Ability to adjust to military responsibilities and changing operational requirements.
  • Discipline: Maintenance of military discipline and professional conduct.
  • Performance: Overall performance during the extended service period.
  • Vigilance record: Absence of vigilance-related cases.
  • Organisational requirements: The manpower requirements and operational needs of the respective services.
• The Chief of Defence Staff, General N.S. Raja Subramani, stated that a centralised database had been maintained across all three services to track Agniveers' performance, with annual reviews forming part of the assessment process.

Government's Rationale Behind the Reform

• The decision follows a four-year assessment of the Agnipath scheme by the three services, incorporating performance reviews, operational requirements and organisational feedback.
• According to the government, Agniveers have demonstrated strong performance in:
  • Physical fitness and military preparedness
  • Motivation, morale and competitive spirit
  • Technological proficiency and adaptability
  • Skills and educational qualifications
• The assessment also highlighted wider geographical representation in recruitment, a more standardised and transparent selection process, and the opening of various branches of the Armed Forces to women.
• The revised framework seeks to balance two objectives: maintaining a youthful military profile and retaining experienced personnel who have already undergone military training.

Implications for the Armed Forces

• The additional engagement period is expected to have several implications for military manpower management.
• Retention of Experienced Personnel
  • The earlier four-year exit provision limited the period for which trained Agniveers could serve before leaving the Armed Forces.
  • The additional two years will allow the services to retain trained personnel for a longer period.
• Maintaining a Younger Military Profile
  • The government has clarified that the Agnipath scheme will continue in its existing form, with the initial four-year engagement unchanged.
  • The revised arrangement is intended to provide greater flexibility without abandoning the objective of maintaining a younger military workforce.
• Competitive Performance and Merit-Based Selection
  • The additional opportunity to enter regular service is expected to encourage Agniveers to maintain high standards of discipline, fitness and performance throughout their engagement.
• Career Continuity
  • The extension provides an additional period of military employment and a further opportunity for regular enrolment. Those who eventually exit will also receive an enhanced Seva Nidhi package.

Why in News?

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Critical Mineral Processing Scheme - a ₹2,814-crore Capital Expenditure (Capex) Support Scheme to develop domestic processing capacity for critical minerals, particularly lithium and nickel.
• The initiative seeks to address India's dependence on imported refined materials, reduce strategic vulnerability arising from China's dominance and strengthen the domestic critical mineral value chain.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Key Features of the Scheme
• Significance of the Scheme
• Critical Mineral Processing Parks
• Complementary Government Initiatives
• Way Forward
• Conclusion

Key Features of the Scheme:

• Financial assistance and capacity targets:
  • Total outlay: ₹2,814 crore.
  • Duration: Five years, from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31.
  • Capital subsidy: 30% of eligible capital investment.
  • Processing facilities: Four plants — two for lithium and two for nickel.
  • Capacity and financial support: For Lithium, minimum capacity per plant will be 30,000 tonnes, while maximum capital support per beneficiary will be ₹500 crore (Nickel - 50,000 tonnes, ₹900 crore).
• Selection and disbursement:
  • Beneficiaries will be selected through a two-stage process: technical qualification followed by financial bidding.
  • Two beneficiaries will be selected for each mineral based on the least-cost criterion, prioritising bidders seeking the lowest government support.
  • Incentives will be disbursed in three tranches linked to the achievement of specified milestones.
• Processing objectives: The scheme aims to convert lithium and nickel ores and intermediate products into high-purity compounds. Nickel processing is also expected to facilitate the recovery of cobalt as a by-product.
• Industry perspective:
  • Industry stakeholders have welcomed the scheme as a significant step towards addressing India's processing-capacity gap.
  • For example, Attero emphasised that domestic processing is as important as securing access to mineral resources.

Significance of the Scheme:

• Reducing import dependence:
  • India has limited domestic processing capacity and relies heavily on imports of refined critical minerals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, rare earth elements (REEs) and silicon.
  • The scheme will -
    • Promote domestic beneficiation and processing infrastructure.
    • Reduce dependence on imported refined intermediates and high-purity materials.
    • Enhance domestic value addition and strengthen supply chain resilience.
• Addressing China’s strategic dominance:
• China controls approximately 90% of global critical mineral processing capacity and can use this dominance as leverage during trade tensions.
• India's limited processing capabilities expose it to supply disruptions, price volatility and geopolitical risks.
• Developing indigenous processing capacity is essential for economic security, technological self-reliance and strategic autonomy.
• Supporting strategic industries: Domestic processing facilities are expected to strengthen mineral supplies for -
  • Electric mobility and electric vehicle batteries.
  • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
  • Electronics and semiconductor-related industries.
  • Defence and speciality steel.
  • Chemicals, catalysts and pharmaceuticals.
• Overcoming structural challenges:
  • India's commercial-scale processing projects face several constraints -
    • High capital investment requirements.
    • Limited availability of suitable processing technologies.
    • Constrained access to raw materials.
    • Nascent domestic beneficiation and processing infrastructure.
  • The capital subsidy seeks to reduce investment risks and encourage private-sector participation.

Critical Mineral Processing Parks:

• The government is developing mineral-specific processing parks in four states to establish integrated ecosystems.
• Gujarat: Availability of heavy REEs and existing processing capabilities.
• Andhra Pradesh: Development of a rare earth corridor.
• Maharashtra: Proposed lithium processing ecosystem.
• Odisha: Domestic nickel reserves and access to imported nickel from Indonesia and other countries.
• The parks aim to integrate mineral processing, infrastructure and associated industrial activities.

Complementary Government Initiatives:

• National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM):
  • It seeks to strengthen India's critical mineral supply chain through exploration, mining, processing, recycling and international partnerships.
  • It proposes a National Critical Mineral Stockpile Programme to maintain strategic reserves and protect against supply disruptions.
• National Critical Mineral Stockpile Programme:
  • Allocation: ₹500 crore for the development of reserves.
  • Mission period: 2024-25 to 2030-31.
  • Objective: Ensure uninterrupted availability of critical and strategic minerals during supply shocks.
• Critical Mineral Recycling:
  • The processing scheme complements existing government support for recycling critical minerals from used batteries and electronic waste.
  • Together, primary mineral processing and recycling can create a more dependable domestic supply chain.

Way Forward:

• India must combine capital incentives with technology development, reliable raw-material access, skilled manpower, sustainable processing practices and international mineral partnerships.
• Developing domestic processing capacity alongside recycling and strategic stockpiling will be crucial to reducing import dependence and ensuring long-term supply chain security.

Conclusion: The scheme represents an important step towards transforming India from a predominantly import-dependent consumer of critical mineral compounds into a competitive domestic processing and value-addition hub.

Context

• Carbon markets are important instruments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and financing the transition towards a low-carbon economy.
• However, differences in national regulations, accounting methodologies and verification standards have prevented the development of interconnected international markets.
• At the 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi on September 12, 2026, members reiterated their commitment to the BRICS Carbon Markets Partnership.
• India should prioritise developing a common regulatory rulebook rather than immediately establishing a unified trading platform.

Growing Importance of BRICS Carbon Markets

• Eight BRICS members reportedly operate voluntary carbon markets, while Brazil, China, India and Indonesia account for over one-third of registered carbon credit projects worldwide.
• Their domestic compliance systems are also developing. China has expanded its Emissions Trading System (ETS) to steel, cement and aluminium.
• India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) has notified emission-intensity targets for 490 entities across nine sectors and introduced an offset mechanism.
• Brazil established its Brazilian Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System (SBCE) in 2024, based on an absolute emissions cap.
• Despite these developments, national markets remain disconnected because of differences in regulations, accounting procedures and eligibility criteria.
• Common principles are therefore necessary to improve transparency and interoperability.

Divergence and a Common Framework

• Differences in Domestic Carbon Market Structures
  • China and India follow output-based emissions-intensity benchmarks, whereas Brazil is establishing an absolute emissions cap.
  • Their offset-credit eligibility rules also differ. China accepts domestic certified credits, India restricts eligibility to projects initiated after January 1, 2025, and Brazil requires accredited methodologies.
  • The legal status of carbon units varies too. Brazil regulates its market through securities authorities, whereas India facilitates carbon certificate trading through power exchanges under CERC regulations.
  • Consequently, identical emissions reductions represent different legal instruments across jurisdictions.
• Establishing Common Measurement and Verification Standards
  • The first priority should be harmonising Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems.
  • Common standards would ensure consistent measurement, independent verification and transparent reporting of emissions reductions.
  • The 2025 BRICS Principles for Fair, Inclusive and Transparent Carbon Accounting provide a foundation through comparable benchmarks and interoperable systems. These principles should be operationalised using ISO 14064 standards while preserving national regulatory autonomy.
• External Pressure from Carbon Border Measures
  • The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered its definitive phase in January 2026, while the United Kingdom will follow in January 2027.
  • These mechanisms impose carbon-related costs on imports of steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers and hydrogen.
  • Recognition of carbon prices paid in exporting countries requires verified evidence.
  • The UK's recognition of India's CCTS in August 2026 demonstrates the importance of accredited verification.
  • Exporters without reliable emissions data risk punitive default values. A common BRICS framework would strengthen collective bargaining and reduce compliance costs.

Necessary Steps to Link Domestic Carbon Projects

• Developing a Common Rulebook
  • A BRICS rulebook should prioritise three areas:
    • Common monitoring standards: Establish consistent emissions-monitoring and reporting procedures, particularly for industries exposed to carbon border adjustments.
    • Mutual recognition of verifiers: Recognise verifiers accredited by members' national accreditation bodies.
    • Harmonised registries: Adopt compatible data fields to facilitate information exchange and prevent duplication.
  • These measures would provide exporters with a common compliance pathway and strengthen BRICS' negotiating position.
  • Credible emissions accounting is essential to challenge unilateral carbon border measures effectively.
• Introducing a Pilot Carbon Credit Exchange
  • The second priority should be a limited pilot exchange involving domestic carbon projects.
  • Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement provides the legal basis for bilateral transfers of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes, subject to corresponding adjustments.
  • Two or three BRICS members could mutually recognise selected methodologies and permit capped transfers of authorised credits within domestic offset limits.
  • The pilot would identify practical challenges, including corresponding adjustments, financial regulations, legal classification of carbon units and prevention of double counting.
  • Its objective should be institutional learning rather than maximising trading volumes.

The Way Forward: Using Existing Institutions

• The New Development Bank (NDB) could establish a shared registry data facility or purchasing mechanism for pilot carbon units, improving transparency and reducing transaction costs.
• A portion of carbon-transfer proceeds could support climate adaptation financing, giving countries with limited mitigation potential an incentive to participate.
• However, national interests diverge. China's industrial scale could make it a dominant price-setter, sanctions may complicate settlements, and competition in steel and aluminium exports could discourage integration.
• Therefore, full integration of compliance markets is neither realistic nor desirable at present.
• Common MRV standards and limited pilot exchanges offer a practical alternative while preserving national autonomy.

Conclusion

• The BRICS Carbon Markets Partnership offers an opportunity to strengthen climate cooperation among emerging economies.
• Its success requires moving beyond general commitments towards practical institutional arrangements.
• Priorities should include common MRV standards, mutual recognition of verifiers, interoperable registries and pilot carbon exchanges.
• Supported by the New Development Bank, these measures can strengthen domestic markets and collective bargaining capacity.
• Ultimately, a common carbon market rulebook can establish BRICS as a credible force in global climate governance while advancing equitable carbon accounting, climate justice and sustainable development.

Context

• The National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) found that more than half of women and approximately two-thirds of young children are anaemic.
• Double-Fortified Salt (DFS), containing iodine and iron, has been proposed as a convenient solution.
• However, convenience does not guarantee effectiveness. Excessive salt consumption, risks associated with iron accumulation and the multiple causes of anaemia raise questions about the suitability of universal fortification.

The Contradiction Between Iron Fortification and Salt Reduction

• The effectiveness of DFS depends on regular salt consumption.
• However, Indians consume approximately twice the WHO-recommended five grams of salt per day.
• Nearly one in three Indian adults suffers from hypertension, while India's National Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) action plan aims for a 30% reduction in salt intake.
• DFS potentially contradicts these objectives because its delivery mechanism depends on continued salt consumption.
• Moreover, salt intake varies across population groups. Adult men generally consume more salt than women and children, meaning that those with greater iron requirements may receive smaller quantities.
• Thus, universal salt fortification may create an imbalance between nutritional requirements and actual iron consumption.

Iron as a Nutrient

• Health Risks Associated with Excessive Iron
  • International studies have raised concerns about indiscriminate iron supplementation.
  • The 2006 Pemba trial in Tanzania associated iron and folic acid supplementation among children in a malaria-endemic setting with increased hospitalisations and deaths.
  • A 2015 Kenyan trial found that iron-fortified foods altered infants' gut microbiota towards pathogenic bacteria and increased diarrhoeal infections.
  • These findings are relevant to India because several regions face malaria and inadequate sanitation.
• Haemoglobinopathies and Iron Overload
  • India has millions of beta-thalassaemia carriers, while sickle cell disease is concentrated in several tribal regions.
  • People with thalassaemia, particularly those receiving repeated blood transfusions, are vulnerable to iron overload.
  • Screening everyone before introducing fortified salt is impractical, especially considering that the Public Distribution System (PDS) reaches approximately 800 million people.
• The Problem of Cumulative Iron Exposure
  • Fortified rice is already distributed through the PDS, PM POSHAN and ICDS, while iron-folic acid tablets reach several population groups.
  • Introducing DFS could expose children and adolescents to iron through multiple government programmes simultaneously.
  • The absence of comprehensive research on cumulative iron intake makes a nationwide rollout premature.
• Iron Absorption and Dietary Limitations
  • DFS generally contains non-haem iron, whose absorption depends on dietary composition.
  • Phytates in cereals, millets and pulses, polyphenols in tea and coffee, and calcium in milk inhibit iron absorption.
  • Since fortified salt is consumed with food, much of its iron may remain unabsorbed. Furthermore, infections and inflammation increase hepcidin, a hormone that restricts iron absorption.
  • Consequently, fortification may be least effective among populations with high infection burdens.

Iron Deficiency Only in Half of Anaemia Cases

• Multiple Causes of Anaemia
  • India's Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (2016–18) also found that iron deficiency explained only part of anaemia among children and adolescents.
  • Other important causes include:
    • Folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies, particularly among populations with limited dietary diversity.
    • Chronic inflammation, recurrent infections, malaria and hookworm.
    • Poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene.
    • Haemoglobinopathies, including thalassaemia and sickle cell disease.
    • Protein and vitamin A deficiencies.
    • Early marriage, pregnancy, adolescent undernutrition and menstrual blood loss.
  • Therefore, treating anaemia exclusively through iron fortification risks overlooking its underlying causes.

Lessons and Policy Recommendations for India

• Lessons from Peru
  • Peru achieved a double-digit reduction in child anaemia during the early 2010s through political prioritisation, individual tracking of children, iron supplementation, micronutrient powders and cash transfers.
  • However, progress reversed when COVID-19 disrupted healthcare delivery.
  • This demonstrates the importance of sustained public health services and institutional accountability.
• Lessons from Vietnam
  • Vietnam reduced anaemia among women through weekly iron-folic acid supplementation, deworming and fortified fish sauce containing NaFeEDTA, an iron compound better absorbed in phytate-rich diets.
  • Rising incomes and greater dietary diversity complemented these interventions.
  • Its experience demonstrates that fortification must be adapted to local dietary patterns and supported by broader nutritional measures.
• Policy Recommendations for India
  • India should avoid an immediate nationwide rollout of DFS and instead:
    • Conduct monitored district-level pilot programmes.
    • Measure haemoglobin, ferritin and inflammation markers.
    • Assess cumulative iron exposure across government programmes.
    • Monitor risks in malaria-endemic and haemoglobinopathy-prone regions.
    • Adopt better-absorbed iron forms and targeted fortification.
    • Strengthen diagnostics, deworming, malaria prevention and sanitation.
    • Improve affordable access to diverse and nutritious foods.

Conclusion

• India's anaemia burden requires urgent intervention, but universal iron fortification through DFS may create health risks and conflict with salt-reduction objectives.
• The experiences of Peru and Vietnam demonstrate that successful anaemia reduction requires integrated nutrition programmes, targeted supplementation and effective healthcare delivery.
• India must adopt an evidence-based strategy that addresses nutritional deficiencies, infections, sanitation and socioeconomic inequalities.
• Ultimately, anaemia is a multidimensional public health challenge, not merely a nutritional deficiency that can be corrected through an additive in the salt bottle.

About Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve:        

• Location: It is located in the state of Tamil Nadu.
• It is nestled at the junction of the Eastern and the Western Ghats in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
• It is contiguous with the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka), and BR Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka).
• Terrain: The terrain is hilly and undulating with altitude ranging between 750 m and 1649 m.
• Climate: It mainly has subtropical and dry type of climate.
• Rivers: Some of the prominent rivers in the region include the Bhavani and Moyar rivers.
• Tribal Communities: It is home to several indigenous tribal communities, including the Irula and Kurumba tribes.
• Vegetation: It consists of southern tropical dry thorn forests, mixed deciduous forests, semi-evergreen forests, and riparian forests.
• Flora: It includes teak, sandalwood, bamboo, Terminalia, and Albizia, alongside medicinal plants and shrubs that support both wildlife and local communities.
• Fauna: The major species are Elephant, Tiger, Panther, Sloth bear, Gaur, Black Buck, Spotted deer, Wild boar, Black napped hare, Common langur Nilgiri langur, Striped neck mongoose, and Bonnet macaque.

About Eka-1:

• It is a new AI model developed by Soket Labs Technology and Research.
• Features of Eka-1:
• It is a powerful Foundation Model featuring 26.3 billion parameters and trained on approximately 7.5 trillion tokens.
• It demonstrates advanced capabilities, spanning all 22 scheduled Indian languages alongside English.
• It is built as an open, sparse hybrid language model and is designed for math, code, reasoning, and agentic use.

About Dhir 2B and Dhir 5B:

• These two are open-source models developed by ZenteiQ AiTech Innovations.
• Features:
• These models can be deployed as secure, on-premise, multilingual assistants supporting English and 10 Indian languages.
• The models can run on different computing platforms, including GPUs and TPUs.
• Their lightweight architecture also allows on-device deployment on mobile phones without depending on cloud connectivity,
• It enable offline-capable, document-grounded automation, knowledge retrieval, and citizen or enterprise services across defence, government, industrial, and educational sectors particularly in low-connectivity or sensitive environments.

About Colletes Inaequalis:    

• It is a solitary, ground-nesting bee belongs to Colletidae family.
• They pollinate red maple, willow, and apple trees.
• Unique Nesting Capacity:
• These bees line the inner walls of its nest with a transparent, cellophane-like film, earning it the nickname “cellophane bee.”
• The nest lining of the ground-nesting bee is translucent, flexible, resilient and degrades within a year.
• This cellophane like film is a flexible, translucent material made from polyester and silk.
• The material is produced in a specialized gland, called the Dufour's gland, that is connected to the bee's stinger.
• The polyester produced by cellophane bees resembles polyethylene in its molecular packing.

Highlights of the Study

• The analysis showed that the polyester produced by the cellophane bee has a “semicrystalline” structure, in which amorphous and crystalline regions coexist within a single material.
• The polyester nest material showed impressive degradation in a short amount of time.
• In natural soil, the amount of polyester lining fell from 73% to 40% of the nest by weight within four months.
• By seven months, the linings developed visible cracks, and by 11 months, they became brittle and prone to crumbling. 

About Siri Cattle:

• It is a dual-purpose cattle breed.
• Distribution: It is a vital indigenous zebu-derived livestock breed native to the Eastern Himalayan region, primarily found in Sikkim, the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal, and Bhutan.
• It is a medium-sized draught-purpose breed of the hilly region of West Bengal and Sikkim.
• The breed is also known as “Trahbum”. 
• Appearance:
• The breed is either black or brown with white patches, though totally black or brown animals are also available.
• The hump is cervico-thoracic type with a tuft of hair on it.
• Horns are medium-sized and curved outward, forward and slightly upward with sharp and pointed tips.
• The males are mainly reared for draught purposes in the hilly area, and sometimes they are the only source of draught power.
• The breed produces a very less amount of milk, averaging around 425.8 kg per lactation, with fat percentage varying from 2.8 to 5.5%.

About India Science and Technology Scoreboard:

• It is an interactive data platform aimed at mapping the country’s science and innovation ecosystem across states and Union Territories (UTs).
• It enables policymakers to assess performance, identify gaps and compare their progress with other states.
• It is developed by NITI Aayog’s Science and Technology Division.
• Features
• Information: It will bring together information on research institutions, publications, patents, start-ups, research funding and state-level policies in one place.
• National Overview: The platform will provide a national overview of India’s science and technology ecosystem, alongside state-wise profiles and benchmarking.
• Users will be able to compare any two states or UTs, examine their research output and assess their performance across sectors.
• Priority Areas: It will also cover 11 priority research areas of national importance, including clean energy, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical minerals and agriculture, allowing users to assess research output and compare progress across these sectors.
• Comprehensive Data: The scoreboard will capture data on central, state and private higher education institutions, R&D laboratories, deep-tech startups, Atal Tinkering Labs, and research funding from central, state and private sources.
• For patents, the platform will provide information on applications filed, patent strength, research areas and collaboration between states.
• It will also document state science and technology, startup and innovation policies, along with notable practices that other states can study and adopt.