Articles on 30 April 2025

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Rafale M for Indian Navy Latest News
• Naval Aviation: An Overview
• Aircraft Carrier: An Overview
• History of Carrier Aviation in India
• Why India Needs Aircraft Carriers
• How Rafale M Will Help the Indian Navy
• Rafale M for Indian Navy FAQs

Rafale M for Indian Navy Latest News

• India and France have signed a government-to-government deal worth $7.4 billion (around ₹63,000 crore) for 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy. 
• Earlier, 36 Rafale jets were inducted into the Indian Air Force starting in 2021. 

Naval Aviation: An Overview

• Naval aviation refers to the use of military aircraft by naval forces, operating from aircraft carriers, helicopter-equipped ships, or land bases to support maritime operations.

Specialised Aircraft and Operations

• Naval aviation includes aircraft designed for:
  • Short takeoffs and arrested landings on carriers
  • Air-to-air combat and surface/submarine attacks
  • Maritime reconnaissance and search & rescue
  • Logistics and supply missions

Key Roles of Naval Aviation

• Fleet Air Defence: Protects naval forces beyond the range of land-based air cover.
• Strategic Power Projection: Projects air power globally without relying on land bases.
• Anti-Surface Warfare: Targets enemy ships with air-launched weaponry.
• Support for Amphibious Warfare: Assists in marine landings and inland operations.
• Mine Countermeasures: Detects and neutralizes enemy sea mines using aerial assets.

Importance

• Naval aviation is vital for sea control, supporting joint naval-ground operations, and projecting power far from home bases. 
• It comprises carrier-based jets, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems.

Aircraft Carrier: An Overview

• An aircraft carrier is a warship that functions as a floating airbase. 
• It is equipped with a full-length flight deck and hangar facilities to support, arm, deploy, and recover aircraft.

Key Functions

• Seaborne Air Power Projection
  • Enables naval forces to project air power far from land-based airfields, enhancing operational reach.
• Carrier Battle Groups
  • Often the centerpiece of modern naval warfare, playing a critical role in deterrence, sea control, and achieving air superiority.

Strategic and Tactical Capabilities

• Adaptability and Survivability: Aircraft carriers can control seas, conduct strikes, and operate across the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace.

Global Presence

• About 50 active carriers are currently in service worldwide.
• The United States Navy leads with 11 large nuclear-powered carriers, followed by countries such as Brazil, China, France, India, Italy, Russia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

History of Carrier Aviation in India

• India's carrier aviation began with the commissioning of INS Vikrant in 1961, marking the start of the country's naval aviation journey.
• India continues to expand its carrier fleet, with future plans for additional indigenous carriers.

Key Aircraft Carriers in India

• INS Vikrant (1961-1997): India’s first aircraft carrier, operational for several decades.
• INS Viraat (1987-2017): Served the Indian Navy for 30 years after being commissioned in 1987.
• INS Vikramaditya (Since 2013): A Russian-origin carrier, currently in service with the Indian Navy.
• INS Vikrant (Commissioned in 2022): India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, joining the fleet in 2022.

Why India Needs Aircraft Carriers

• Strategic Deterrence and Power Projection
  • Aircraft carriers allow India to assert influence and maintain a favourable balance of power in the Indian Ocean, a region vital for trade, energy, and security.
• Protection of Maritime Interests
  • With over 90% of India’s trade by volume transported by sea, aircraft carriers help secure Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs), protect island territories, and deter potential threats.
• Blue Water Navy Capability
  • Carriers enable the Indian Navy to operate far from its shores, establishing India as a blue water navy capable of extended operations and rapid crisis responses.
• Continuous Operational Readiness
  • Multiple carriers ensure that at least one is always operational on each coast, even when others are undergoing maintenance or refit.
• Non-Military Roles
  • In addition to military functions, aircraft carriers are essential for Humanitarian & Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, projecting India’s soft power and providing rapid responses to regional emergencies.

How Rafale M Will Help the Indian Navy

• Enhancing Carrier-Based Fighter Fleet
  • Rafale M jets will augment the current MiG-29K fleet, joining a legacy of carrier-based fighters like Sea Hawks, Alizes, and Sea Harriers.
• Future Compatibility
  • While India is developing the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) for the next decade, the Rafale Ms will fill the capability gap in the interim with their advanced features.
• Combat-Ready and Proven
  • As a four-and-a-half-generation battle-proven aircraft, Rafale M brings superior combat performance to India's naval aviation.
• Interoperability with IAF
  • A major benefit is the commonality with Indian Air Force Rafales, allowing for joint training, shared maintenance protocols, and streamlined logistics between the Navy and the Air Force.
• Boost to Military Capability
  • The induction of Rafale M will significantly strengthen India's maritime strike power and enhance overall military readiness and effectiveness across all domains.

Rafale M for Indian Navy FAQs

Q1. What is the Rafale M deal between India and France?

Ans. India signed a $7.4 billion deal with France to acquire 26 Rafale M fighter jets for its Navy.

Q2. Why does India need aircraft carriers?

Ans. India needs carriers to project power, protect maritime interests, and ensure continuous operational readiness in the Indian Ocean.

Q3. How will Rafale M help the Indian Navy?

Ans. Rafale M will enhance combat capabilities, fill interim gaps, and offer interoperability with Indian Air Force operations.

Q4. What is naval aviation’s main role?

Ans. Naval aviation enables sea control, air defense, anti-ship warfare, and humanitarian operations through aircraft launched from sea platforms.

Q5. How many aircraft carriers has India operated?

Ans. India has operated four aircraft carriers: INS Vikrant (old and new), INS Viraat, and INS Vikramaditya since 1961.

Source: IE | IE

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Pegasus Spyware Case Latest News
• Spyware
• SC Emphasizes National Security Over Disclosure
• Pegasus Spyware Case FAQs

Pegasus Spyware Case Latest News

• The Supreme Court, while hearing the Pegasus case, said there is no issue with a country having spyware for national security, but the real concern is its use against individuals, which will be examined.

Spyware

• Spyware is a type of malicious software (malware) designed to secretly gather data from a user’s device and transmit it to third parties without consent. 
• It is often used for financial gain by advertisers, data brokers, or cybercriminals.

Purpose and Risks

• Spyware collects sensitive information like browsing history, financial details, and login credentials. 
• It poses serious threats by:
  • Enabling identity theft and financial fraud
  • Slowing device and network performance
  • Causing data breaches in businesses
  • Installing additional malicious software

Common Types of Spyware

• Adware – Monitors activity to serve or sell targeted ads.
• Infostealer – Gathers specific data and chat logs.
• Keyloggers – Records every keystroke to steal usernames, passwords, and messages.
• Rootkits – Grants deep access to a system, often undetectable.
• Red Shell – Tracks user activity during PC game installations.
• System Monitors – Captures emails, websites visited, and keystrokes.
• Tracking Cookies – Follows user behavior across the web.
• Trojan Horse Virus – Delivers spyware by disguising as legitimate software.

How Spyware Works: The 3-Step Process

• Infiltration – Installed via apps, malicious websites, or attachments.
• Monitoring and Data Capture – Tracks browsing, captures keystrokes, and takes screenshots.
• Transmission or Sale – Sends stolen data to attackers or sells it on the dark web.

Impact

• Spyware compromises personal and business data, facilitates identity theft, and weakens cybersecurity defenses. 
• Detecting and removing spyware can be challenging due to its stealthy nature.

SC Emphasizes National Security Over Disclosure

• The Supreme Court stated that national security cannot be compromised, and there is nothing wrong with a country possessing or using spyware for security purposes. 
• The bench, led by Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh, clarified that the key concern is not ownership of spyware but against whom it is deployed.

Individual Right to Privacy Recognised

• While declining to make the full report public, the Court acknowledged that individuals have a Constitutionally protected right to privacy. 
• It stated that people who suspect their phones were hacked deserve to know the truth, and the court would consider informing them individually.

Petitions Alleging Government Surveillance

• The case stems from petitions filed in 2021 by journalists, activists, and public figures. 
• They alleged that the government used Pegasus spyware, a military-grade surveillance tool made by Israel’s NSO Group, to monitor citizens.
• Petitioners argued that the core issue remains whether the government possesses and has used Pegasus. 
• They stressed that ownership implies the potential for continued surveillance.

Justice R V Raveendran Committee Report: No Public Disclosure

• On demands to release the report of the SC-appointed Justice R V Raveendran committee, the bench refused, citing national security and sovereignty concerns. 
  • In October 2021, the Supreme Court appointed a technical committee to investigate whether individuals' phones were hacked using Pegasus spyware. 
  • The committee was supervised by Justice (retd) R.V. Raveendran, and in 2022, it submitted its findings to the court in a sealed cover.
  • In August 2022, the Supreme Court noted the committee had found no conclusive evidence of Pegasus spyware use in the phones examined. 
  • Malware was detected in five devices, but its nature could not be definitively linked to Pegasus. 
  • The Centre did not cooperate with the investigation, as per the report.
• SC remarked that while individuals can be informed if their phones were targeted, the report cannot become a public debate document.

Pegasus Spyware Case FAQs

Q1. What did the Supreme Court say about spyware in the Pegasus case?

Ans. The SC said owning spyware is acceptable for national security but emphasized concern over misuse against individuals.

Q2. What is spyware and how does it work?

Ans. Spyware secretly collects data from devices through infiltration, monitoring, and transmits it to unauthorized third parties.

Q3. What did the Justice R V Raveendran committee report conclude?

Ans. The committee found no clear Pegasus use; malware existed in five devices but was not conclusively linked to Pegasus.

Q4. Why won’t the Pegasus report be made public?

Ans. The Supreme Court cited national security and sovereignty risks as reasons for not disclosing the committee’s full report.

Q5. What are the privacy implications in the Pegasus case?

Ans. The SC acknowledged privacy as a fundamental right and may individually inform those whose phones were potentially compromised.

Source: IE | HT | IT

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Education Sector Reforms Latest News
• Introduction
• Driving Forces Behind Education Reform
• Key Interventions and Infrastructure Development
• Empowering Research and Innovation
• Global Engagement and Academic Mobility
• Access to World-Class Knowledge
• India’s AI Ambitions in Education
• India’s Education System Modernisation FAQs

Education Sector Reforms Latest News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the government is modernising the country’s education system to meet the needs of the 21st century.

Introduction

• India is undergoing a significant transformation in its education landscape, with the government taking proactive steps to modernise the system in alignment with global standards and the needs of a rapidly evolving knowledge economy. 
• Addressing the first-ever YUGM Innovation Conclave held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a dynamic, inclusive, and future-ready education ecosystem. 
• The centrepiece of this transformation is the New Education Policy (NEP), which aims to equip India’s youth with the skills, resources, and mindset necessary to make the country a global innovation hub.

Driving Forces Behind Education Reform

• At the heart of this reform initiative is the belief that India’s future depends on its youth, and preparing them for global competitiveness is crucial. 
• The government’s approach encompasses three key elements: Talent, Technology, and Temperament, which together form the trinity envisioned to drive India’s ascent on the world stage.
• The NEP, introduced in 2020 and continuously refined, has become the cornerstone of this vision. 
• From curriculum redesign to technological integration, the focus is on transforming Indian classrooms, research spaces, and learning ecosystems to meet international benchmarks.

Key Interventions and Infrastructure Development

• National Curriculum Framework and School Reforms
• The development of new textbooks and teaching-learning materials for Classes 1 to 7 under the National Curriculum Framework represents a foundational shift. 
• The framework prioritises conceptual clarity, experiential learning, and multilingual education, addressing the diversity of India's learners.
• Higher Education Expansion
• The government has committed to increasing seats and capacity in premier institutions such as IITs, and to launching meditech courses in partnership with institutions like AIIMS. 
• These efforts aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry, especially in areas such as biomedical engineering and AI-driven healthcare.
• Digital Education Infrastructure
• Under the PM e-Vidya initiative and the DIKSHA platform, a robust digital backbone is being developed to enable ‘One Nation, One Digital Education Infrastructure’. 
• Educational content is now being created in over 30 Indian languages and seven foreign languages, enhancing accessibility and equity across socio-economic groups.

Empowering Research and Innovation

• Research Parks and R&D Cells
• India’s research ecosystem has witnessed significant growth. Since 2014, the number of operational research parks has grown from 3 to 9, with 13 more planned. 
• Nearly 6,000 higher education institutions now house Research and Development Cells, encouraging a research-driven academic culture.
• National Research Foundation
• The proposed Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) will play a central role in promoting frontier research. 
• With the Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) doubling from ₹60,000 crore in 2013-14 to ₹1.25 lakh crore, India is signalling a shift from rote-based education to a discovery-driven model.
• Innovation and Commercialisation
• To shorten the gap between idea, prototype, and product, the government is actively facilitating lab-to-market transitions. 
• This includes catalysing public-private-academic partnerships and encouraging youth-led innovation, making university campuses the new epicentres of transformative ideas.

Global Engagement and Academic Mobility

• India is not only transforming education domestically but also internationalising its institutions. 
• Campuses of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi, IIT Madras in Tanzania, and upcoming plans for IIM Ahmedabad in Dubai signal India’s academic footprint going global. 
• Simultaneously, top foreign universities are being invited to establish campuses in India, enhancing cross-border knowledge flows.

Access to World-Class Knowledge

• The ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ initiative ensures that Indian students and researchers can access top-tier research journals without institutional barriers. 
• This initiative aims to democratise academic access and foster a culture of continuous learning.

India’s AI Ambitions in Education

• Aligning with the larger IndiaAI Mission, the government is also investing in AI-based educational infrastructure. 
• The objective is to leverage AI not just for administrative efficiency but to personalise learning, predict skill gaps, and transform pedagogy across education levels.

India’s Education System Modernisation FAQs

Q1. What is the focus of India’s current education reforms?

Ans. The reforms aim to modernise the education system in line with 21st-century global standards.

Q2. What is the role of the New Education Policy (NEP)?

Ans. NEP is central to India’s education transformation, focusing on skill development, innovation, and inclusivity.

Q3. What digital platforms are being used to expand education access?

Ans. PM e-Vidya and DIKSHA platforms support digital education in over 30 Indian and 7 foreign languages.

Q4. How is India boosting research and innovation?

Ans. Through Research Parks, R&D Cells, the ANRF, and increased GERD, India is strengthening its innovation ecosystem.

Q5. What is the significance of ‘One Nation, One Subscription’?

Ans. It enables students and researchers to access world-class research journals across institutions in India.

Source: IE | TOI