2025 for January 1970

Rare Earth Magnet Scheme to Build Domestic Supply Chain

November 27, 2025

Rare Earth Magnet Latest News

The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs. 7,280-crore scheme to establish India’s first integrated manufacturing ecosystem for Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs).

Rationale for the Rare Earth Magnet Scheme

India currently imports almost all the rare earth permanent magnets it uses, around 900 tonnes annually, despite having the world's 5th largest rare earth reserves.
These magnets are among the strongest permanent magnets and are indispensable to high-tech systems:
- EV traction motors, power steering, wiper motors, braking systems,
- Wind turbine generators,
- Consumer electronics and industrial equipment,
- Aerospace and defence applications.
Demand is expected to double by 2030, driven primarily by the EV and renewable energy sectors.
The disruptions caused by Chinese export controls in 2024-25 further underlined the need for India to develop secure, domestic REPM capabilities.

Key Features of the Approved Scheme

Rs. 7,280-Crore Outlay with Dual Incentive Structure
- As detailed across the three reports, the financial structure includes:
  - Rs. 6,450 crore in sales-linked incentives (spread over five years),
  - Rs. 750 crore in capital subsidy for setting up facilities.
  - This is part of a seven-year scheme period, two years for plant establishment and five years for incentive disbursement.
5 Beneficiaries via Global Competitive Bidding
- The total capacity of 6,000 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) will be allocated to five selected manufacturers, each eligible for up to 1,200 MTPA.
- Applicants will be chosen through a transparent international bidding process.
End-to-End Integrated Manufacturing
- Beneficiaries must build full-stack facilities capable of converting:
- rare earth oxides > metals > alloys > finished magnets.
- This integration is central to reducing India's reliance not only on finished REPMs but also on upstream value chains currently controlled by foreign markets.

Strategic Importance for India’s Clean-Tech and Defence Ecosystem

Boosting Electric Mobility & Renewable Energy
- REPMs, especially Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) magnets, are crucial for efficient and powerful EV motors.
- The auto sector welcomed the scheme as a major step toward a stable, localised component supply chain, reducing risks of shortages and preventing EV price escalation.
Strengthening Defence and Aerospace Capabilities
- Magnets are critical in precision-guided munitions, unmanned systems, avionics, and radar technologies. Local manufacturing enhances India’s defence security and reduces dependence on geopolitically sensitive supply chains.
Alignment with Net Zero and Critical Minerals Strategy
- The scheme aligns with India’s target of Net Zero by 2070 and builds on the National Critical Minerals Mission, which identifies REPMs as strategic components for energy transition and advanced manufacturing.
- Experts highlighted that this initiative will catalyse mining, processing, alloying, and high-value materials research.

Industry Response and Global Context

Automobile & Component Manufacturers
- Automotive bodies termed the decision pivotal for India’s long-term competitiveness and integration into global value chains. They emphasised that local REPM production would:
  - reduce import dependence,
  - protect manufacturers from Chinese export restrictions,
  - unlock investments in advanced mobility technologies.
China’s Dominance and Supply Chain Constraints
- Globally, China controls over 80% of REPM processing and has increasingly tightened export controls, impacting EV and electronics manufacturers worldwide.
- Indian automakers faced procurement delays due to prolonged Chinese approval procedures requiring end-user licences and bureaucratic clearance.
- This backdrop makes India’s initiative not merely economic but geostrategic, ensuring insulation from external shocks.

Implementation Challenges and Considerations

Experts caution that success depends on:
- securing advanced technologies for processing and sintering,
- building high-purity oxide-to-metal conversion capabilities,
- maintaining ESG standards, responsible mining, and sustainable extraction,
- ensuring disciplined execution and adherence to global quality benchmarks.
These are essential for India to eventually compete in the global REPM market.

Source: TH | IE

Rare Earth Magnet FAQs

Q1: What is the target capacity under the REPM scheme?

Ans: The scheme aims to create 6,000 MTPA of domestic rare earth magnet manufacturing capacity.

Q2: How many companies will be selected?

Ans: Five beneficiaries will be chosen via global competitive bidding.

Q3: What incentives does the scheme offer?

Ans: Rs. 6,450 crore in sales-linked incentives and Rs. 750 crore as capital subsidy.

Q4: Why does India need this scheme?

Ans: India imports almost all REPMs despite rising demand and large rare earth reserves.

Q5: Which sectors benefit the most?

Ans: EVs, renewable energy, defence, aerospace, and advanced electronics.

How Delhi’s Air Quality Monitors Work: Methods, Errors & CAG Findings Explained

November 27, 2025

Air Quality Latest News

The Supreme Court has asked authorities to justify whether Delhi’s air-quality monitoring equipment is appropriate for the city’s conditions.
Delhi currently operates 40 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), each functioning as a compact, automated laboratory housed in a temperature-controlled cabin.
These stations, positioned across the city for representative measurement, monitor eight key pollutants — PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, ammonia and lead — as mandated by CPCB’s 2012 guidelines.

Inside each dust-proof, air-conditioned unit, racks of analysers, pumps and data loggers process samples drawn through inlets mounted on masts above the station roof.

How Delhi’s AQI Stations Measure Pollutants

Delhi’s air-quality monitors use specialised, CPCB-approved techniques to measure each pollutant.
Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) is tracked using Beta Attenuation Monitors, which gauge how dust collected on filter tape reduces beta-ray transmission.
Gaseous pollutants are measured through optical and chemical methods:
- sulphur dioxide via UV fluorescence,
- ozone by UV photometry, and
- carbon monoxide with Non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) absorption.
  - NDIR absorption is a gas sensing technology that measures the concentration of a specific gas by analyzing how much infrared light it absorbs.
Nitrogen oxides are detected through chemiluminescence, while ammonia is measured using optical spectroscopy.
- Chemiluminescence is the emission of light as a result of a chemical reaction.
- Optical spectroscopy is a scientific technique that studies the interaction of light with matter to determine a sample's physical and chemical properties.
These instrument-based techniques comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards to ensure uniform, reliable data nationwide.

Factors That Distort Air-Quality Readings

AQI accuracy depends on equipment reliability and the volume of validated data recorded daily.
Stations often miss CPCB’s 16-hour data requirement due to shutdowns caused by calibration, power cuts, extreme weather or transmission failures.
A recent CAG report found many Delhi stations failed to log complete data or measure key pollutants like lead, weakening daily AQI assessments.
Technical issues also distort readings: high humidity inflates particulate measurements, instruments drift without frequent calibration, and poor station siting near buildings or vents skews airflow.
Together, these operational and environmental challenges reduce the precision of Delhi’s air-quality readings.

What Research Reveals About PM Measurement Errors

Multiple studies show that Delhi’s particulate readings — especially from Beta Attenuation Monitors (BAM) — can significantly overestimate pollution under certain weather and loading conditions.
A 2021 CSIR–NPL and AcSIR study found that beta gauge accuracy declines sharply when relative humidity (RH) exceeds 60%, causing particles to absorb moisture and appear heavier.
The study reported more than 30% overestimation, with bias rising up to fivefold during high-pollution events when particle mass loading is high.
Seasonal effects worsen errors, particularly in winter and post-monsoon months.
Researchers advised using site-specific correction factors, which lowered biases from 46% to below 2%.
The U.S. EPA similarly warns that heavy particle accumulation can disrupt airflow and destabilise readings.
These issues help explain why Delhi’s stations experienced data dropouts on Diwali night, when sudden pollution spikes overloaded the instruments.

Ensuring Reliable Air-Quality Data: Calibration, Compliance & Oversight

Calibration and Maintenance Are Crucial
- Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) must follow strict calibration schedules.
- CPCB’s 2012 guidelines mandate maintaining detailed calibration records for every particulate monitor.
- Regular checks are essential because even minor instrument drift affects readings — especially for gases measured through sensitive optical methods.
Major Gaps in Data Reporting
- The CAG audit exposed serious shortcomings in Delhi’s monitoring network:
  - None of DPCC’s 24 stations measured lead (Pb), despite its mandatory inclusion in AQI calculations.
  - Monthly AQI data was incomplete for 12% of months (2014–2021), meaning many stations failed to produce the minimum required valid data.
Need to Upgrade and Reposition Stations
- CAG recommendations include:
  - Relocating stations obstructed by buildings, trees or improper siting.
  - Upgrading or replacing equipment unable to measure all mandated pollutants.
  - Ensuring daily data availability for all pollutants to provide a complete air-quality picture.
Third-Party Audits for Accountability
- Experts, including Anumita Roychowdhury (CSE), stress the need for regular independent audits to verify:
  - Whether stations follow CPCB protocols,
  - Equipment calibration accuracy,
  - Data generation and reporting standards.

Source: IE | CNBC

Air Quality FAQs

Q1: How do Delhi’s AQI monitors measure particulate matter?

Ans: Stations use Beta Attenuation Monitors that measure how dust collected on filter tape reduces beta-ray transmission, enabling automated PM2.5 and PM10 quantification.

Q2: What causes inaccurate air-quality readings in Delhi?

Ans: High humidity, poor calibration, power issues, incorrect station placement, and data gaps often distort readings and reduce compliance with CPCB’s minimum data requirements.

Q3: What did recent studies find about PM measurement errors?

Ans: A CSIR–NPL study found PM2.5 readings can be overestimated by over 30% when humidity exceeds 60%, with biases rising fivefold during high-pollution episodes.

Q4: What gaps did the CAG report highlight?

Ans: CAG found Delhi’s stations often failed to record adequate valid data, didn’t measure lead, and lacked proper calibration or suitable siting, weakening AQI reliability.

Q5: How can Delhi improve AQI data quality?

Ans: Regular calibration, equipment upgrades, better station siting, mandatory third-party audits, and ensuring complete pollutant data are essential to strengthen AQI accuracy.

Higher Education Commission of India Bill 2025: Key Provisions, Concerns & NEP 2020 Link

November 27, 2025

Higher Education Commission of India Bill 2025 Latest News

Five years after NEP 2020 proposed it, the government is set to table the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill 2025 in the upcoming Winter Session.
The Bill aims to merge the regulatory roles of the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE into one unified authority, marking the second attempt to establish a single higher education regulator in India.

HECI: India’s Proposed Single Regulator for Higher Education

The Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill draws directly from NEP 2020, which recommended replacing the fragmented regulatory structure with a single overarching authority.
Currently, India’s higher education landscape is regulated by multiple statutory bodies:
- the University Grants Commission (UGC) oversees higher education,
- the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) regulates technical and professional education, and
- the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) governs teacher education.

Four Verticals Under HECI

NEP 2020 outlines four specialised bodies within HECI:
- National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC): Regulates all higher education except medical and legal fields.
- National Accreditation Council (NAC): Serves as the accrediting authority.
- General Education Council (GEC): Frames academic learning outcomes and standards.
- Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC): Handles funding and grants (though officials indicate funding may still rest with the government).
HECI itself will function as a compact body of eminent experts overseeing the four verticals.

Reducing Red Tape and Conflict of Interest

NEP 2020 criticised the existing system for being “mechanistic and disempowering”, with concentrated powers, regulatory overlap, and conflicts of interest.
The new commission aims to streamline governance, ensure accountability, and eliminate bureaucratic hurdles.

Autonomy and Quality Focus

The Bill seeks to empower higher education institutions to operate as “independent self-governing institutions” while ensuring excellence through a transparent accreditation system and enhanced institutional autonomy.

The 2018 HECI Bill: Key Provisions and Why It Stalled

The government’s first attempt to replace the UGC came through the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, 2018.
It proposed a new commission with a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and 12 members appointed by the Centre.
Since the Bill did not merge AICTE and NCTE, their chairpersons were included as members.
The 2018 draft limited HECI’s powers to setting academic standards and granting autonomy while leaving funding authority with the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
It also planned an advisory council headed by the HRD Minister and comprising state higher education council heads.
However, the Bill drew criticism for potentially centralising authority and creating excessive overregulation.
Following strong pushback during public consultations, it was shelved and revisited for alignment with the NEP 2020 framework.

Opposition to HECI: Concerns Over Centralisation and Autonomy

Fears of Excessive Centralisation
- Critics argue that the HECI framework concentrates too much authority with the Union government.
- The 2018 Bill shifted UGC’s financial powers to the MHRD, raising concerns that universities could lose autonomy and become dependent on central directives.
Lack of Diverse Representation
- Opposition leaders objected to the commission’s composition.
- They noted the absence of representation from disadvantaged groups — women, Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, minorities, and persons with disabilities — while industry stakeholders were prominently included.
Apprehensions From States
- The then CM of Tamil Nadu warned that centralised funding could lead to biased resource allocation.
- He feared that replacing UGC grants with ministry-controlled funding might shift to a 60:40 Centre-state share, reducing states’ financial autonomy.
Parliamentary Panel’s Warning
- A parliamentary standing committee flagged “excess centralisation” concerns.
- The panel noted that while multiple regulators create inconsistency, the proposed HECI model risks trapping state universities between national and state rules, with insufficient state representation in decision-making.
Overall Concern
- Across political and academic circles, the prevailing worry is that HECI could weaken federalism, dilute institutional autonomy, and marginalise key stakeholders in higher education governance.

Source: IE | IT

Higher Education Commission of India Bill 2025 FAQs

Q1: What is the Higher Education Commission of India Bill 2025?

Ans: It is a proposed legislation to merge UGC, AICTE and NCTE into a single higher education regulator, as recommended by NEP 2020, to streamline governance and standards.

Q2: Why is the HECI Bill being introduced now?

Ans: Five years after NEP 2020 suggested regulatory unification, the government is pushing the Bill to modernise oversight, reduce overlaps and improve accountability in higher education.

Q3: What are the four verticals proposed under HECI?

Ans: HECI will include NHERC for regulation, NAC for accreditation, GEC for learning outcomes, and HEGC for grants, though funding may remain with the government.

Q4: Why did the earlier 2018 HECI Bill fail?

Ans: The 2018 Bill faced criticism for centralising power, excluding key stakeholders, and removing UGC's funding role, prompting the government to withdraw it for revision

Q5: What are major concerns about the new HECI structure?

Ans: Opposition parties fear excessive centralisation, limited state representation, weakened federalism, and potential constraints on university autonomy and equitable resource distribution.