What’s in Today’s Article?

• Deep Sea Technology Latest News
• Background
• Importance of Deep Sea Matters for India
• Challenges of Deep Sea Technology
• What India Needs to Do Next
• Conclusion
• India’s Deep Sea Capabilities FAQs

Deep Sea Technology Latest News

• Recently, India completed wet testing of its Matsya-6000 submersible, capable of diving up to 6 km below the surface to look for underwater minerals off the coast.

Background

• India is steadily moving forward in its journey to explore and harness the vast potential of the deep ocean. 
• A key step in this direction was the recent wet testing of Matsya-6000, a deep-sea submersible developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) under the Samudrayaan Project. 
• Capable of diving up to 6 km beneath the sea surface, Matsya-6000 is part of the broader Deep Ocean Mission, which aims to place India among a handful of nations with human-rated submersibles capable of operating at such extreme depths.
• However, as former naval commander Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (Retd) explains, developing deep sea capabilities is not just about science—it’s about economic strength, digital infrastructure, national security, and global competition, especially with countries like China far ahead in this field.

Importance of Deep Sea Matters for India

• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) gives countries exclusive rights over natural resources within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), extending 200 nautical miles (about 370 km) from the coastline. 
• India’s EEZ holds massive untapped potential on the seabed and in the water column.
• Some key reasons why India needs to invest in this domain include:
  • Mineral and energy resources: The seabed holds valuable resources like polymetallic nodules, gas hydrates, oil, and other rare-earth materials that are critical for India’s growing industrial and energy needs.
  • Food and nutraceuticals: Fisheries and marine bio-resources offer economic and nutritional benefits.
  • Oceanographic and climate data: Deep ocean exploration can support climate modelling, weather forecasting, and environmental research.
  • Digital economy infrastructure: Over 95% of global internet traffic passes through undersea fiber-optic cables. Ensuring these cables are secure, well-maintained, and possibly expanded with Indian participation is crucial to the digital economy.
  • National security: Deep sea is increasingly a space of strategic competition. China, for example, recently unveiled a cable-cutting device capable of damaging critical undersea infrastructure. India must prepare with domain awareness, monitoring systems, and countermeasures.

Challenges of Deep Sea Technology

• Developing deep sea capability is no small feat. The average depth in India’s EEZ is around 3,741 metres, nearly four-and-a-half times the height of the Burj Khalifa. 
• The pressure at such depths exceeds 380 atmospheres, requiring specially designed submersibles and materials.
• Some key technological challenges include:
  • Communication underwater: Unlike air, sound in water is affected by temperature, pressure, and salinity, making communication difficult. Very Low Frequency (VLF) and Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) sound systems are essential but expensive to develop.
  • Pressure resistance: The deeper the dive, the more robust the vessel needs to be. The OceanGate Titan submersible tragedy in 2023 is a sobering reminder of what can go wrong without rigorous safety and engineering standards.
  • Cost and expertise: Building these technologies demands large financial investments, specialised research, and a highly skilled workforce—areas where countries like China, the US, Japan, and France have made significant progress.

What India Needs to Do Next

• While the Deep Ocean Mission launched in 2018 is a step in the right direction, experts believe much more needs to be done. Key suggestions include:
• Create a dedicated Ministry: Upgrade the Department of Ocean Development into a full-fledged Ministry of Ocean Affairs, with a Cabinet-rank Minister to drive coordination and accountability.
• Boost funding and speed: Approve projects in mission-mode with clear deadlines, adequate budgets, and transparent review mechanisms.
• Establish centres of excellence: Invest in academic institutions and research labs focused on deep ocean science and technology, encouraging innovation and skill development.
• Support industrial partnerships: Incentivise private companies to enter deep sea mining, cable-laying, salvage, and submersible development.
• Create a 10-year roadmap: Formulate a long-term plan with defined milestones across technology, governance, infrastructure, and security.
• Importantly, the dual-use nature of deep sea technologies, serving both scientific and military goals, makes it essential for India to view ocean development as not just a technical project but a national strategic priority.

Conclusion

• India’s ambition to be a global economic and strategic power cannot ignore the depths of the ocean. 
• Whether it's for minerals, data, food, or security, the deep sea holds the key to the future. 
• With Matsya-6000 as a starting point, India must now accelerate efforts to build a robust, well-funded, and forward-looking deep ocean capability that matches its global aspirations.

India’s Deep Sea Capabilities FAQs

Q1. What is Matsya-6000?

Ans. Matsya-6000 is India’s first deep sea manned submersible, capable of diving up to 6 km below sea level.

Q2. Why is deep sea technology important for India?

Ans. It helps access underwater resources, secures digital infrastructure, and supports national security.

Q3. What are the main challenges in deep sea exploration?

Ans. High pressure, communication issues, and the need for specialised vessels and materials.

Q4. What is the Deep Ocean Mission?

Ans. A government initiative launched in 2018 to promote deep sea research and exploration technologies.

Q5. Why is China’s progress a concern for India?

Ans. China leads in deep sea capabilities and has developed disruptive tools like cable-cutting devices, posing strategic risks.

Source: IE

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Legal Difference between Preparation and Attempt Latest News
• Background of the Case
• Distinction Between ‘Preparation’ and ‘Attempt’
• Allahabad HC Downgrades Attempted Rape Charges
• Historical Precedents in Attempted Rape Cases
• Legal Difference between Preparation and Attempt FAQs

Legal Difference between Preparation and Attempt Latest News

• The Supreme Court stayed an Allahabad High Court ruling that downgraded charges against three accused from attempted rape to mere preparation, calling the judgment insensitive. 
• The High Court had removed attempted rape charges and directed trial under lesser offences, including IPC Section 354B (using criminal force against a woman) and Sections 9/10 (aggravated sexual assault) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act). 
• The case highlights the critical legal distinction between “preparation” (generally not punishable) and “attempt” (criminally punishable), prompting Supreme Court intervention.

Background of the Case

• The High Court was hearing an appeal against a POCSO court order that had summoned the accused for trial under Section 376 IPC (rape) and Section 18 of the POCSO Act (punishment for attempt). 
• On March 17, the HC removed attempted rape charges, terming the act as mere "preparation."

Key Legal Distinction: Preparation vs. Attempt

• The case highlights the crucial difference between "preparation" (generally not punishable) and "attempt" (which is criminally punishable), leading to Supreme Court intervention.

Distinction Between ‘Preparation’ and ‘Attempt’

• The Supreme Court has clarified that an attempt to commit an offence goes beyond preparation and involves concrete steps toward committing the crime. 
• Preparation is merely a stage that precedes an attempt.

Legal Criteria for ‘Attempt’

• In Abhayanand Mishra v. State of Bihar (1961), the SC outlined key requirements to establish an attempt:
  • The accused had the intention to commit the offence.
  • The accused prepared to commit the offence.
  • The accused took actions towards committing the offence (not necessarily the final act).
  • The penultimate act occurred during the course of committing the offence (proximity requirement).

Key SC Ruling: Where Attempt Begins

• In State of Maharashtra v. Mohd. Yakub (1980), the SC ruled that “attempt begins where preparation ends”—an accused cannot be punished for mere preparation without an overt act leading to the crime.

Allahabad HC Downgrades Attempted Rape Charges

• The Allahabad High Court ruled that the accused could not be charged with attempted rape, stating that the prosecution failed to prove the offence had progressed beyond preparation.

HC’s Reasoning

• The court held that the allegations did not meet the legal threshold for attempted rape, as no concrete steps towards the offence were proven.
• It relied on the 1836 English case Rex v. James Lloyd, which required evidence that the accused intended to gratify their passions despite resistance.
• The HC noted no claim of penetrative assault, a key requirement for proving rape under the IPC.

Reduced Charges and Punishment

• The HC ruled that the accused could only be charged under Section 354B IPC (assault with intent to disrobe a woman), which carries a punishment of 1-5 years in prison, rather than attempted rape under the IPC and POCSO Act.

Historical Precedents in Attempted Rape Cases

• The Lloyd ruling (1836), despite being nearly two centuries old, continues to influence Indian courts in determining whether an accused has attempted to commit rape.
• Recent Applications of the Lloyd Ruling
  • May 2024: The Rajasthan High Court applied the Lloyd test and altered an attempted rape conviction, reducing the charge to Section 354 IPC (assault on a woman with intent to outrage modesty).
  • 2004: In Aman Kumar & Anr v. State of Haryana, the Supreme Court adopted a similar approach, lowering the conviction from attempted rape to a lesser offence.

SC’s Criticism and Potential Legal Reassessment

• On March 25, 2025, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the Allahabad HC’s ruling and issued a stay, strongly criticizing its reasoning. 
• The SC remarked that the observations were legally flawed, insensitive, and inhumane. 
• This case presents an opportunity for the Supreme Court to reconsider and redefine the legal standard for attempted rape.

Legal Difference between Preparation and Attempt FAQs

Q1. What is the key legal difference between preparation and attempt?

Ans. Preparation involves planning, while an attempt includes concrete steps toward committing the crime, making it legally punishable.

Q2. Why did the Supreme Court stay the Allahabad High Court ruling?

Ans. The SC found the downgrading of charges legally flawed, insensitive, and inconsistent with judicial precedents on attempted crimes.

Q3. What legal precedents define an attempt in criminal law?

Ans. Cases like Abhayanand Mishra v. State of Bihar (1961) and State of Maharashtra v. Mohd. Yakub (1980) establish attempt criteria.

Q4. How does the Lloyd ruling influence Indian courts?

Ans. The 1836 Rex v. James Lloyd ruling still shapes judicial interpretations of attempt, requiring clear evidence beyond preparation.

Q5. What are the potential implications of this Supreme Court review?

Ans. The SC may redefine attempt standards, ensuring stricter legal interpretations to prevent dilution of sexual assault charges.

Source: IE | LL

What’s in Today’s Article?

• India's e-Retail Market FAQs Latest News
• Government Initiatives Boosting E-commerce in India
• E-Retail Slowdown
• Key Drivers of E-Retail Growth
• India's e-Retail Market FAQs

India's e-Retail Market FAQs Latest News

• India's e-commerce market has reached $60 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV), becoming the world's second-largest online shopper base. 
  • GMV is the total value of merchandise that's sold over a given period through a customer-to-customer (C2C) exchange site.
• However, growth slowed to 10-12% in 2024, down from the historical 20%, due to higher inflation and stagnant real wages, according to a Flipkart-Bain report. 
• Despite short-term challenges, long-term prospects remain strong, driven by three key trends: quick commerce, trend-first commerce (especially in fashion), and hyper-value commerce.

Government Initiatives Boosting E-commerce in India

• Digital Infrastructure & Policy Support
  • The Indian government has launched key initiatives like Digital India, Make in India, Start-up India, and Skill India, driving e-commerce growth. 
  • The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has surpassed ₹4 lakh crore GMV in FY24, enhancing procurement efficiency.
• Expanding E-commerce Access
  • Collaborations like CSC-ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) aim to extend e-commerce to rural areas. 
  • The National Retail Policy focuses on digitization and ease of business, while FDI in B2B e-commerce is now allowed up to 100%.
• Regulatory & Tax Measures
  • Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules 2020 ensure fair competition. 
  • 5G expansion is expected to further accelerate digital commerce adoption.

E-Retail Slowdown

• India’s private consumption growth has slowed from 11% (2017–19) to 8% (2022–24), driven by high inflation and stagnant real wages. 
• This has impacted e-retail, with growth dropping to 10–12% in 2024, compared to historical rates of over 20%.

Expected Rebound and Future Growth

• Fiscal and monetary policy interventions are anticipated to revive e-retail growth, particularly from the 2025 festive season. 
• By 2030, the market is expected to reach $170–190 billion, growing at over 18% annually. 
• As India's GDP per capita crosses $3,500–4,000, discretionary spending is set to rise, with nearly 1 in 10 retail dollars projected to be spent online.

Key Drivers of E-Retail Growth

• High-frequency categories like grocery, lifestyle, and general merchandise will fuel e-retail expansion, making up two-thirds of total online spending by 2030. 
• E-retail penetration in these segments is expected to grow 2–4 times over this period.

Rise of Tier-3 and Smaller Cities

• Online shopping adoption is shifting from Tier-2 to Tier-3 cities, with 60% of new shoppers since 2020 coming from smaller cities. 
• The Northeast has 1.2 times higher e-retail penetration than the rest of India. 
• Additionally, 60% of new sellers since 2021 are from Tier-2 or smaller cities, diversifying the seller base.

Quick Commerce’s Rapid Expansion

• Quick commerce dominates e-grocery, accounting for two-thirds of orders and 10% of total e-retail spending. 
• It is projected to grow over 40% annually until 2030, expanding across new categories and geographies.

Trend-First and Hyper-Value Commerce on the Rise

• Trend-first fashion is set to grow fourfold, reaching $8–10 billion by 2028, with over half of sales happening online. 
• Hyper-value commerce, driven by ultra-low-price assortments, has grown from 5% of e-retail GMV in 2021 to over 12% in 2024, gaining traction among lower-middle-income consumers in smaller cities.
  • Hyper-value commerce refers to a retail model that focuses on offering ultra-low-priced products to attract cost-conscious consumers.

India's e-Retail Market FAQs

Q1. Why has India's e-retail market growth slowed in 2024?

Ans. High inflation and stagnant real wages reduced consumer spending, causing e-retail growth to drop from 20% to 10-12%.

Q2. What are the key drivers of e-retail growth in India?

Ans. Quick commerce, trend-first fashion, hyper-value commerce, and expanding digital infrastructure fuel long-term e-retail expansion in India.

Q3. How is the Indian government supporting e-commerce?

Ans. Initiatives like Digital India, ONDC, and 100% FDI in B2B e-commerce promote sector growth and accessibility.

Q4. What role do smaller cities play in e-retail growth?

Ans. Tier-3 cities drive e-commerce expansion, contributing 60% of new shoppers and sellers since 2020.

Q5. What is the future outlook for India’s e-retail market?

Ans. By 2030, India’s e-retail market may reach $170–190 billion, driven by increasing discretionary spending and digital commerce adoption.

Source: IE | CNBCTV18 | IBEF