Junior Digest

Marseilles/New Delhi, Feb 12,2025: In a major step in civil nuclear energy cooperation, India and France agreed on establishment of partnership in Advanced Modular Reactors and Small Modular Reactors, following bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron of France in Marseilles.

The two leaders also jointly inaugurated India’s Consulate in Marseille, and paid homage to the Indian soldiers who died during World War I at the Mazargues War Cemetery.

Earlier, the two leaders flew together from Paris to Marseille in the French Presidential Aircraft on Tuesday, in a special gesture reflecting the personal rapport between the two leaders.

They held discussions on the full spectrum of bilateral relations and key global and regional issues.

This was followed by delegation level talks after arrival in Marseille.

The leaders reaffirmed their strong commitment to the India-France Strategic Partnership, which has steadily evolved into a multifaceted relationship over the past 25 years, a statement said.

The talks covered all aspects of the India-France strategic partnership. The two leaders reviewed cooperation in the strategic areas of Defence, Civil Nuclear Energy and Space.

They also discussed ways to strengthen collaboration in the fields of Technology and Innovation. This area of partnership assumes greater salience in the backdrop of the just concluded AI Action Summit and the upcoming India-France Year of Innovation in 2026.

The leaders also called for enhancing trade and investment ties and in this regard welcomed the report of the 14th India- France CEOs Forum.

⁠Prime Minister Modi and President Macron expressed satisfaction at the ongoing collaboration in the fields of health, culture, tourism, education and people-to-people ties. They committed to further deepen engagement in the Indo-Pacific and in global forums and initiatives.

A Joint Statement outlining the way forward for India- France ties was adopted after the talks.

Ten outcomes in the areas of Technology and Innovation, Civil Nuclear Energy, Triangular Cooperation, Environment, Culture and People to People relations were also finalized.

President Macron hosted a dinner in honour of Prime Minister in the coastal town of Cassis, near Marseille. Prime Minister invited President Macron to visit India.

List of Outcomes:

1. India France Declaration on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

2. Launch of the Logo for the India-France Year of Innovation 2026

3. Letter of Intent between Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA) France to establish the Indo-French Center for the Digital Sciences

4. Agreement for hosting 10 Indian Startups at the French Start-up incubator Station

5. Declaration of Intent on establishment of partnership on Advanced Modular Reactors and Small Modular Reactors (civil nuclear energy)

6. Renewal of MoU between Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), India and Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives of France (CAE), France concerning cooperation with Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) (civil nuclear energy)

7. Implementing Agreement between DAE of India and CEA of France concerning cooperation between GCNEP India and Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology (INSTN) France (civil nuclear energy)

8. Joint Declaration of Intent on Triangular Development Cooperation (Indo-Pacific/ Sustainable Development)

9. Joint Inauguration of India’s Consulate in Marseille

10. Declaration of Intent between The Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, Marine Affairs and Fisheries and The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the Field of Environment.

Sriharikota, (Andhra Pradesh), Jan 29,2025: In a record and historic 100th launch mission from SHAR Range for ISRO, the GSLV-F15 Rocket, with the indigenous cryogenic third stage,successfully precisely injected the NVS-02 Navigation satellite into the desired orbit on Wednesday morning.
After a smooth 27 hr countdown, the heavier launch vehicle, took off majestically from the Second Launch pad after after a flight duration of 19 minutes, injected the 2,250 kg satellite.
Union Minister of State (I/C) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh lauded ISRO for successfully accomplishing the landmark milestone of 100th mission from the SHAR Range on Wednesday morning and said this quantum leap instilled confidence that “sky is not the limit after the space sector was unlocked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.

In a post on X minutes after GLSV-F15 successfully and precisely injected the Navigation Satellite NVS-02 into the precise Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, he said.

The space sector was unlocked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

From a humble beginning by Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and few others, it has been an amazing journey and a quantum leap after the Prime Minister unlocked the space sector, he added.

“Congratulations @isro for achieving the landmark milestone of #100thLaunch from #Sriharikota.”

“It’s a privilege to be associated with the Department of Space at the historic moment of this record feat”, he wrote.

“Team #ISRO, you have once again made India proud with successful launch of GSLV-F15 / NVS-02 Mission”, he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said “From a humble beginning by Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and few others, it has been an amazing journey. And a quantum leap after PM Sh @narendramodi “unlocked” the Space sector and instilled the confidence that “sky is Not the limit”.

SINGAPORE, Jan 28,2025: China appears to be building a large laser-ignited fusion research centre in the southwestern city of Mianyang, experts at two analytical organisations say, a development that could aid nuclear weapons design and work exploring power generation.

Satellite photos show four outlying “arms” that will house laser bays, and a central experiment bay that will hold a target chamber containing hydrogen isotopes the powerful lasers will fuse together, producing energy, said Decker Eveleth, a researcher at U.S.-based independent research organisation CNA Corp.
Satellite photos show a new large-scale laser fusion research center in Mianyang, China, which could impact both nuclear weapons development and clean energy research.

It is a similar layout to the $3.5 billion U.S. National Ignition Facility (NIF) in Northern California, which in 2022 generated more energy from a fusion reaction than the lasers pumped into the target – “scientific breakeven”.

Eveleth, who is working with analysts at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), estimates the experiment bay at the Chinese facility is about 50% bigger than the one at NIF, currently the world’s largest.

The development has not been previously reported.

“Any country with an NIF-type facility can and probably will be increasing their confidence and improving existing weapons designs, and facilitating the design of future bomb designs without testing” the weapons themselves, said William Alberque, a nuclear policy analyst at the Henry L. Stimson Centre.

China’s foreign ministry referred Reuters questions to the “competent authority”. China’s Science and Technology Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment.

Washington, Feb 13,2025: U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during a phone conversation earlier in the day that Washington and Moscow will immediately engage in direct negotiations aimed at ending the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

“I just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia,” Trump said, offering his version of the content of the call in a post on Truth Social.

Trump said he and Putin agreed that “we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine.”

“We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations. We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now,” Trump said.

He said he has asked U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff to lead the U.S. team in the negotiations.

Trump said he felt “strongly” that the negotiations between the United States and Russia “will be successful.”

Tel Aviv, Feb 2,2025: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to the United States on Sunday morning to be the first foreign leader to meet with President Donald Trump after the latter’s inauguration.

The Israeli prime minister’s office previously reported that a meeting between Trump and Netanyahu at the White House was scheduled for February 4.

Netanyahu and Trump intend to discuss the current situation in the Gaza Strip, the issue of Israeli hostages, the confrontation with all elements of the Iranian “axis of evil” and other key issues during the upcoming “historic” meeting.

Before the Israeli prime minister’s departure to the United States, it became known that Netanyahu had agreed with the US Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff to begin negotiations on the second stage of the deal with the Palestinian movement Hamas on a ceasefire in Gaza at their meeting in Washington next Monday. Thus, negotiations on the second stage of the agreement will begin on the 16th day of the implementation of the first stage of the deal, within the framework of which Israel managed to return 18 hostages from the Palestinian enclave in 2 weeks.

The negotiations will take place against the backdrop of Trump’s recent decision to lift the US ban on the deliveries of heavy 2,000-pound bombs to Israel.

New Delhi, Jan 31,2025: Highlighting the rapid infrastructure development in the country and underscoring the positive impact of various flagship schemes of the government, President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said Indian economy has demonstrated remarkable stability and resilience despite global concerns such as the Covid pandemic, its aftermath, and war-related uncertainties.

“Over the past decade, India has achieved several milestones in constructing world-class infrastructure. This modern infrastructure has strengthened India’s image globally, increased investors’ trust in the nation, boosted industries, and created new employment opportunities,” Murmu said while addressing the joint session of the Parliament.

The President said that 10 years ago, the budget for capex was around Rs 2 lakh crore which has now increased to over Rs 11 lakh crore.

Murmu said that initiatives like the construction of 12 crore toilets under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, 10 crore free LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, ration for 80 crore needy citizens, the Saubhagya Yojana, and the Jal Jeevan Mission have given poor the confidence that they can live with dignity.

“Due to such efforts, 25 crore people have overcome poverty and are moving forward in life. They have formed a Neo Middle Class, a group that is infusing new energy into India’s growth journey,” she said.

The President said that the government is steering India towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.

“To ensure that the journey towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ continues to be guided by the ideals of our Constitution, the government has placed four key principles—service, good governance, prosperity, and pride—at the core of its governance,” she said.

The President said that the government is making rapid advances in its commitment to reform, perform, and transform.

“The guiding mantra of my government is “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas” and its goal is the creation of a ‘Viksit Bharat’,” the President said.

Seoul [South Korea], January 27,2025: Prosecutors have formally indicted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of organizing an insurrection related to his brief declaration of martial law last month. With this, Yoon Suk Yeol becomes the first sitting South Korean president to be indicted while in detention, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency.
The indictment comes just one day before Yoon’s detention was scheduled to expire. He had been taken into custody on January 15 by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) over his December 3 declaration of martial law. Yoon was officially arrested on January 19.
Since the CIO lacks the authority to indict a sitting president, the case was transferred to the prosecution last week. On Sunday, senior prosecutors from across the country convened to discuss the next steps in the case.

The prosecution team investigating the case said they had reviewed the evidence, and based on the comprehensive review, it was determined that indicting the defendant was appropriate, Yonhap reported.
Yoon is accused of conspiring with former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to incite an insurrection by declaring martial law. He is also alleged to have ordered the deployment of military forces to block a parliamentary vote that sought to repeal the decree.
Earlier, on January 23, the CIO handed over its investigation into President Yoon’s alleged attempt to impose martial law to the prosecution, urging that he be charged with insurrection and abuse of power.
The CIO had said that it transferred all related investigation materials, totaling over 30,000 pages compiled into 69 volumes.
On December 14, Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly over his attempt to impose martial law in the country. The members of the unicameral National Assembly had voted 204 to 85 to impeach South Korea’s President.

Washington, DC [US], January 29,2025: On January 27, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at enhancing the United States’ missile defence capabilities in light of the growing threats from sophisticated ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles.
The order, which lays out a comprehensive plan for the next-generation missile defence shield, underscores the US government’s recognition of the increasingly complex and urgent risks posed by adversaries’ evolving missile technologies.
The order highlights the necessity of bolstering US defence systems against advanced aerial attacks, a challenge that has only intensified over the past several decades.
Despite efforts in the 1980s, particularly the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) under President Ronald Reagan, previous attempts at a comprehensive missile defence program were ultimately halted. While SDI led to technological advancements, its goal of building an effective defence against nuclear missile threats was never fully realised. In the years since the United States withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002, the country’s missile defence strategy focused largely on addressing threats from rogue states and mitigating the risks of accidental missile launches. However, with the rise of new missile technologies by both peer and near-peer adversaries, the threat landscape has become more sophisticated, prompting the need for an updated and more robust defensive posture.
The executive order directs the development of a next-generation missile defence shield that will provide multi-layered defence against a wide array of missile types. This system is designed to defend against threats such as ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and advanced cruise missiles. A key component of the plan is to ensure that the US retains its secure second-strike capability, meaning it can retaliate effectively in the event of a missile attack.

To achieve these objectives, the order sets in motion the acceleration of several critical technological advancements, including the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor layer. This layer will allow for faster detection and tracking of incoming missiles.
Additionally, the order calls for the development and deployment of space-based interceptors capable of intercepting missiles during their boost phase, as well as the establishment of terminal-phase intercept systems to neutralise threats before they reach critical infrastructure. The plan also envisions the creation of a secure and resilient supply chain to support the defence technologies, with a focus on next-generation security features.
The Secretary of Defence is tasked with submitting a detailed implementation plan within 60 days. This plan will outline the architecture and requirements for the new missile defence system, and it will include a roadmap for accelerating the deployment of these advanced systems. Additionally, the Department of Defence will be asked to review its organisational structure to ensure it can rapidly respond to evolving threats.
The administration will also work closely with the Office of Management and Budget to secure the necessary funding for the initiative, ensuring that it is integrated into the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. As part of the broader implementation strategy, US Strategic Command and Northern Command will provide an updated assessment of the missile threat to the US homeland, with an emphasis on defending against counter value nuclear strikes. A prioritised list of locations will be developed to determine where the defence systems should be deployed first.
In addition to strengthening its own missile defence systems, the United States will continue to collaborate with its allies and partners around the world to enhance missile defence capabilities. This will include bolstering theatre missile defences to protect US and allied troops deployed in various regions.
The order emphasises the importance of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in developing advanced missile defence technologies and operational strategies. It also calls for the acceleration of US missile defence provisions to allies, further enhancing global defence against missile threats.

Jan 27,2025: The CIA has announced that it believes the COVID-19 pandemic “more likely” originated from a laboratory leak than a natural event.

The CIA’s “low confidence” assessment comes after John Ratcliffe was on Thursday sworn in as director of the top intelligence agency under United States President Donald Trump.

The “CIA continues to assess that both research-related and natural origin scenarios of the COVID-19 pandemic remain plausible”, a spokesperson said on Saturday.

“We have low confidence in this judgement and will continue to evaluate any available credible new intelligence reporting or open-source information that could change CIA’s assessment.”

US media reported that the assessment had been ordered under the administration of former US President Joe Biden and was completed before Ratcliffe took up his post.

The assessment was also based on existing intelligence, not new information, according to the reports.

Following the CIA’s announcement, three US agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Energy, have now publicly backed the theory that COVID-19 most likely escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China.

China’s embassy in Washington, DC, rejected the CIA assessment, which it said “concocts misleading conclusions, throws dirty water on China, and engages in framing”.

“It is still an old routine of political manipulation of tracing the source and has no credibility. The source of the virus is a complex scientific issue, and scientists and experts should find the answer through rigorous and meticulous scientific research, rather than being judged by politicians,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said.

“We firmly oppose the politicization and stigmatization of the source of the virus, and once again call on everyone to respect science and stay away from conspiracy theories.”

January 27,2025: Uttarakhand has officially become the first Indian state to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on Monday, a move that has stirred political debates and national attention.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the UCC portal and rules at an event in Dehradun. The Chief Minister also launched the Gazette Notification for the UCC. He earlier said the law will bring uniformity in society while ensuring equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens.
“Today, by implementing UCC in Uttarakhand, we are paying our true tribute to the makers of the Constitution, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and all the respected members of the Constituent Assembly,” Dhami said on the occasion.

“Uniform Civil Code has been fully implemented in Uttarakhand from this very moment and the constitutional and civil rights of all the citizens of the state of Uttarakhand have become equal and from this very moment, women of all religions have got equal rights,” he added.
The UCC addresses various societal issues, including marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships. Key aspects of the law include the registration of marriages, divorces, and live-in relationships to ensure equal property rights and protect children’s rights, with penalties for non-compliance.
UCC is a set of laws that aims to standardise personal laws across religions. The move has sparked both support and criticism, with proponents arguing for equality and opponents warning of potential societal divisions.
The UCC clarifies legal requirements for marriage, stating that only mentally capable individuals aged 21 (for men) or 18 (for women) who are not already married may enter into a union. Marriages can be performed according to religious customs, but registration will be mandatory to ensure legal recognition.
The law also addresses issues related to the creation and cancellation of wills and codicils under testamentary succession. Marriages solemnized before March 26, 2010, or those outside the state will be eligible for registration if legal requirements are met.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Act was notified on March 12, 2024, after getting the nod from President Droupadi Murmu. “The Uniform Civil Code is just an offering made by our state in the great ‘yagya’ being performed by the prime minister to make the country a developed, organized, harmonious and self-reliant nation,” he said.
However, the opposition Congress said the UCC implementation in Uttarakhand is nothing but “kickstarting a pilot project” without proper consensus. “Can a uniform civil code be state-specific. You talk of the ‘uniform’ civil code and then make it state-specific,” said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi.
What Is The Uniform Civil Code?

The UCC refers to one law that would be applicable to all religious communities in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, maintenance etc. India has a uniform or one set of ‘criminal code’ for all its citizens but doesn’t have uniform civil law.

After much debate, tribals have been kept out of the UCC ambit, and has a complete ban on practices like halala, iddat, and talaq (customs related to marriage and divorce in Muslim Personal Law).

The UCC, which has 392 sections under seven schedules, is based on a 750-page draft, spread over four volumes, prepared by an expert committee formed by the government in June 2022, to examine the way the law can be introduced in the state.

The five-member expert committee, headed by Retd. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, had submitted its draft to Uttarakhand on February 2, 2024, which was subsequently passed by the State Cabinet on February 4. The Bill, after it was passed in the Assembly during a special session, was sent for Governor’s nod and was approved by the Lt. Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) on February 28. This received presidential assent in March 2024.

What Are The UCC Provisions On Marriage?

According to the government, a public welfare system promoting the protection of individual rights and social harmony has been provided in the Uniform Civil Code Act to streamline and simplify the legal processes related to marriage.

Under this, marriage can be solemnised only between those parties, none of whom has a living spouse, both are mentally capable of giving legal permission, the man should have completed at least 21 years of age and the woman 18 years of age and they should not be in the ambit of prohibited relationships.

Marriage rituals can be performed in any form under religious customs or legal provisions, but it is mandatory to register marriages taking place after the implementation of the Act within 60 days.

Moreover, the acceptance and acknowledgement of marriage registration is also required to be completed promptly. After receiving the application, the sub-registrar has to make an appropriate decision within 15 days. If no decision is taken in that period, then that application will be automatically forwarded to the registrar.

The implementation of the UCC was a major commitment of the BJP in the run-up to the 2022 assembly polls in Uttarakhand which saw the party storm to power for a second consecutive term.

New Delhi, Feb 11,2025: In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the Sikkim High Court’s decision striking down Clause of Section 65(105) of the Finance Act, 1994, as inserted by the Finance Act, 2010, declaring it unconstitutional.

The contentious clause sought to introduce “promotion, marketing, organising, or assisting in organising games of chance, including lottery” as a new category of taxable service.

The petitioners, private companies engaged in the sale of paper and online lottery tickets organized by the Government of Sikkim, had challenged the clause on the grounds that their activities did not constitute a “taxable service.” They argued that conducting lotteries falls under “betting and gambling,” which is exclusively within the competence of the State legislature under Entry 62 of List II in the Seventh Schedule.

A bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice N.K. Singh affirmed the Sikkim High Court’s findings and dismissed the Union Government’s appeal.

The Court held that the relationship between lottery distributors and the State of Sikkim is principal-to-principal, not principal-to-agent. As a result, service tax could not be levied on lottery distributors, as they were not rendering any service to the State.

“There being no agency, no service is rendered by the respondent-assessees herein as an agent to the Government of Sikkim. Service tax is not leviable on the transactions between the purchaser of the lottery tickets and the Government of Sikkim,” Justice Nagarathna stated while delivering the operative portion of the judgment.

The bench also reiterated that the activity of promotion, marketing, or organizing games of chance, including lotteries, is covered under “betting and gambling” in Entry 62 of the State List, making the State Legislature the only competent authority to levy tax on such activities.

The Supreme Court’s verdict follows the precedent set in K. Arumugham v. Union of India (2024), where it was held that the sale of lottery tickets by State Governments is an activity for revenue generation and does not constitute a service-attracting service tax liability. However, the respondents will remain liable to pay gambling tax imposed by the State under Entry 62 of List II.

The Apex Court reaffirmed the constitutional distinction between State and Parliamentary taxation powers concerning lottery operations.

CAPE CANAVERAL, January 30, 2025: Asteroid samples fetched by NASA hold not only the pristine building blocks for life but also the salty remains of an ancient water world, scientists reported Wednesday.

The findings provide the strongest evidence yet that asteroids may have planted the seeds of life on Earth and that these ingredients were mingling with water almost right from the start.

“That’s the kind of environment that could have been essential to the steps that lead from elements to life,” said the Smithsonian Institution’s Tim McCoy, one of the lead study authors.
NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft returned 122 grams (4 ounces) of dust and pebbles from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, delivering the sample canister to the Utah desert in 2023 before swooping off after another space rock. It remains the biggest cosmic haul from beyond the moon. The two previous asteroid sample missions, by Japan, yielded considerably less material.

Small amounts of Bennu’s precious black grains — leftovers from the solar system’s formation 4.5 billion years ago — were doled out to the two separate research teams whose studies appeared in the journals Nature and Nature Astronomy. But it was more than enough to tease out the sodium-rich minerals and confirm the presence of amino acids, nitrogen in the form of ammonia and even parts of the genetic code.

Some if not all of the delicate salts found at Bennu — similar to what’s in the dry lakebeds of California’s Mojave Desert and Africa’s Sahara — would be stripped away if present in falling meteorites.

“This discovery was only possible by analyzing samples that were collected directly from the asteroid then carefully preserved back on Earth,” the Institute of Science Tokyo’s Yasuhito Sekine, who was not involved in the studies, said in an accompanying editorial.
Combining the ingredients of life with an environment of sodium-rich salt water, or brines, “that’s really the pathway to life,” said McCoy, the National Museum of Natural History’s curator of meteorites. “These processes probably occurred much earlier and were much more widespread than we had thought before.”

NASA’s Daniel Glavin said one of the biggest surprises was the relatively high abundance of nitrogen, including ammonia. While all of the organic molecules found in the Bennu samples have been identified before in meteorites, Glavin said the ones from Bennu are valid — “real extraterrestrial organic material formed in space and not a result of contamination from Earth.”

Bennu — a rubble pile just one-third of a mile (one-half of a kilometer) across — was originally part of a much larger asteroid that got clobbered by other space rocks. The latest results suggest this parent body had an extensive underground network of lakes or even oceans, and that the water evaporated away, leaving behind the salty clues.

Sixty labs around the world are analyzing bits of Bennu as part of initial studies, said the University of Arizona’s Dante Lauretta, the mission’s chief scientist who took part in both studies.

Most of the $1 billion mission’s cache has been set aside for future analysis. Scientists stress more testing is needed to better understand the Bennu samples, as well as more asteroid and comet sample returns. China plans to launch an asteroid sample return mission this year.

Many are pushing for a mission to collect rocks and dirt from the potentially waterlogged dwarf planet Ceres in the main asteroid belt. Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus also beckon as enticing water worlds. Meanwhile, NASA has core samples awaiting pickup at Mars, but their delivery is on hold while the space agency studies the quickest and cheapest way to get them here.

“Are we alone?” McCoy said. “That’s one of the questions we’re trying to answer.”

New Delhi, Feb 4,2025: In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed pleas filed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) seeking clarification that the Court’s 2019 ruling in Union of India v Tarsem Singh on grant of solatium and interest to aggrieved landowners should apply prospectively.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan stated that granting such clarification would defeat the very relief intended by Tarsem Singh. The bench emphasized that modifying the ruling would undermine the doctrine of finality in judicial decisions and delay justice for landowners.

“The ultimate outcome of Tarsem Singh relates to granting solatium and interest to aggrieved landowners whose lands were acquired between 1997 and 2015. Modifying or clarifying it would amount to evading responsibility and delaying a settled issue,” the bench observed.

In the landmark 2019 Tarsem Singh case, the Supreme Court declared Section 3J of the National Highways Act, 1956, unconstitutional to the extent it excluded solatium and interest payable under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, for land acquisitions by NHAI.

The judgment ensured that solatium and interest provisions under Sections 23(1A), 23(2), and 28 of the Land Acquisition Act applied to acquisitions under the NH Act.

NHAI later sought clarification on whether this ruling would apply prospectively to avoid reopening cases where compensation determinations had attained finality.

Rejecting NHAI’s plea, the Court underscored the need to eliminate discrimination between landowners whose properties were acquired by NHAI between 1997 and 2015 and those whose lands were acquired post-2015.

“When a provision is declared unconstitutional, disparity affecting a select group must be rectified, particularly when it strikes at the core of Article 14,” the bench noted.

The Court also dismissed concerns about the financial burden of Rs. 100 crores raised by NHAI, stating that the cost would ultimately be borne by commuters and not project proponents under the public-private partnership model.

The Court finally directed the competent authority to compute the solatium and interest payable to landowners under the Tarsem Singh case.

February 1, 2025: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her 8th budget on Saturday. The Finance Bill is set to be tabled next week, according to the Finance Minister.

Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Budget 2025 announcement, proposed revised tax rates, which highlights that income up to ₹12 lakh will draw zero income tax rates under the new tax regime.
Capex: India’s capital expenditure (Capex) rises to ₹11.21 crore as per the budget estimates of FY2025-26, the budget estimates of FY2024-25 was at ₹11.11 lakh crore, according to the budget data.
Bihar Makhana: Budget 2025 announced India’s plans to create a Makhana Board, which will be established in Bihar to improve the production, processing, value addition, and marketing of Makhana.
Job Scheme: The Modi 3.0 government accounted its plans to generate 22 lakh jobs in the economy through this scheme. India aims to enhance the productivity, quality, and competitiveness of India’s footwear and leather sector.
UDAN Scheme: The government also plans to launch a modified version of the UDAN Scheme, which aims to enhance regional connectivity to 120 new destinations and carry 4 crore passengers in the coming 10 years.

To boost India’s agriculture sector, FM Sitharaman announced multiple agriculture support schemes, expanded credit limit for farmers, MSMEs, and startups. There was a focus on boosting cultivation of pulses and cotton.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman included the gig economy workers to Centre’s several employment welfare schemes. Now, gig economy workers can take the benefit of identity cards and be enrolled in a national registry to ensure their inclusion in welfare schemes
India’s Nuclear Move
According to Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget announcement, the government plans to launch a Nuclear Energy Mission for research and development of Small Modular Reactors (SMR).
India allocated ₹20,000 crore for it to be set up and said that it will develop five SMRs, which would be operational by 2033.
Budget Speech’s hot topic ‘Bihar’
According to Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement and the Budget speech, Bihar remained the hot topic for the government this year. Sitharaman mentioned Bihar six times in her entire speech, the Finance Minister did not name any other state during the Lok Sabha and Nation address.
Proposals ranged from Makhana Board to Greenfield Airports, as per the budget announcement.

IT and Telecom allocations dropped to ₹95,298 crore for FY2025-26.
According to the Union Budget data, the IT and Telecom sector allocations dropped to ₹95,298 crore for FY2025-26, while the FY2024-25 budget estimates were at ₹1.16 lakh crore.

These were the most important numbers for the day:

1. Total receipts (excluding borrowings) – 31.47 lakh crore

2. Net tax receipts – 25.57 lakh crore

3. Total expenditure – 47.16 lakh crore

4. Capital expenditure – 10.18 lakh crore

5. Fiscal deficit – 4.8 per cent of GDP

(As per the FY25 revised estimates)

What will become cheaper?

Union Budget 2025 Highlights: According to Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget 2025 announcement, these are the following items which are meant to become cheaper after the government’s guidance.

1. Cancer and lifesaving drugs

2. Solar PV cells and lithium-ion batteries

3. Lithium-ion batteries for EVs and mobiles

4. Telecom equipment
India’s Energy allocation rose 18% YoY as per budget estimates
According to the Union Budget data, India’s allocation to Energy increased to ₹81,174 crore as per the budget estimates of FY2025-26, compared to ₹68,769 crore as per the budget estimates of FY2024-2.
What does an increase in FDI limit mean?
According to the Budget 2025 announcement, the government of India increased the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit for the insurance sector from 74% to 100%.

This move from the government comes to attract more foreign investment into the insurance sector in the Indian market. “This enhanced limit will be available for those companies which invest the entire premium in India,” according to the Budget announcement.

India pegs Defence Budget at ₹4.91 lakh crore for FY2025-26
The Indian government pegged its Defence spending budget estimates at ₹4.91 lakh crore for FY2025-26. The government spent ₹4.56 lakh crore in the FY2024-25, as per the revised estimates.

New tax regime advantageous for younger taxpayers?

According to the new tax proposals laid out by Nirmala Sitharaman, the new tax regime aims to ensure that individuals have more disposable income to spend and invest in the manner they want.

The old tax regime makes individuals invest in tax-saving investment options like ELSS, provident funds, pension funds, life insurance among other things. It also made people buy houses with bank loans to reduce the tax outgo.

A young taxpayer is not required to make forced investments which people in the old tax regime used to make to save taxes. The new regime has brought the tax slabs down for the middle-income and low-income earners.

What is Section 87A rebate?

Union Budget 2025 Highlights: According to the Income Tax Act of 1961, eligible taxpayers get a total waiver of income tax if their total income for the year is below ₹5 lakh.

As per the proposal of the Budget 2025, Section 87A has been revised for resident individuals, the rebate limit has been increased from ₹7 lakh to ₹12 lakh and the maximum rebate from ₹25,000 to ₹60,000.

However, the rebate will not apply to income taxed at special rates if the individual stays in the default tax regime, according to the data.
The ‘dream budget’ for middle class?

Union Budget 2025 Highlights: Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget 2025 announcement is being termed as the “dream budget” for the middle class as the Union Finance Minister proposed no tax till the income of ₹12 lakh per year.

Key tax points you need to look out for:

1. Taxpayers with a normal income (excluding special rate income like capital gains) of up to ₹12 lakh will have no tax liability due to a rebate and reduced slab rates.

2. Those earning ₹12 lakh will receive a tax benefit of ₹80,000, which covers 100% of their tax payable under existing rates. For an income of ₹18 lakh, the benefit is ₹70,000, covering 30% of the tax payable.

3. Similarly, a person earning ₹25 lakh will get a benefit of ₹1,10,000, which accounts for 25% of their tax liability under the current rates.

Where is Govt earning from?

Union Budget 2025 Highlights: The Indian government expenditures are diversified in terms of supporting national security, public good, and economic development.

According to the budget 2025 data, the biggest share goes to the state’s taxes and duties at 22%. Interest payments that result from previous borrowings are at 20%. Central sector schemes at 16% of the total spending, 8% goes to Finance Commission transfers and other grants, are among many other costs which the nation has to expend and estimate for its budget every year.

Where does money come from?

Union Budget 2025 Highlights: The government of India earns from the collection of tax revenues and non-tax revenues.

According to the Union Budget 2025, the government earned 39% of the total receipts from income and corporate taxes compared to the previous year. The GST collection trends show a consistent consumption pattern unchanged at 18%.

The government earned 5% from union excise duties and 4% from customs duties, according to the budget data.

India to launch a modified UDAN Scheme.
The Indian government plans to launch a modified version of the UDAN Scheme, which aims to boost regional connectivity in India. The scheme aims to connect 120 new destinations and carry four crore passengers in the coming 10 years, according to the Budget announcement.

Budget proposes to lift restrictions on claiming two properties as self-occupied.

In the Budget announcement, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed that India plans to lift restrictions on claiming two properties as self-occupied to streamline the process for taxpayers.

India’s Capex target drops in FY2025-26.

India’s capital expenditure (Capex) target drops to ₹11.21 crore as per the budget estimates of FY2025-26, compared to the budget estimates of FY2024-25 at ₹11.11 lakh crore, according to the budget data.

Fiscal Deficit estimated to be 4.4% of GDP for FY2025-26.
India’s Fiscal Deficit is estimated to be 4.4 per cent of GDP at ₹15.68 lakh crore as per the budget estimates for FY2025-26.
India’s market borrowings estimates at ₹11.53 lakh crore as per the FY2025-26 budget estimates.

Union Finance Minister Sitharaman said the gross market borrowings through bonds and other dated securities are estimated to be ₹11.53 lakh crore as per the budget estimates of 2025-26, according to the budget announcement.

The gross market borrowings via bonds, as per the budget estimates of FY2024-25, were at ₹14.01 lakh crore, as per the July Budget data.

India’s capital receipts borrowings estimated to be at ₹15.68 lakh crore for FY2025-26

India’s estimate for capital receipt borrowings is ₹15.68 lakh crore for FY2025-26, according to the budget data.

According to the July Budget 2024 data, India’s borrowings and other liabilities under capital receipts for the FY2024-25 budget estimates were ₹16.13 lakh crore.

Capital receipts are money inflows that the government receives from non-recurring activities and are used to create long-term investments, pay off debts, and plan expansion.

India’s manufacturing aims
The Indian government aims to support “Clean Tech Manufacturing” to improve domestic value addition, jobs and build an ecosystem for solar PV cells, EV batteries, motors and controllers, electrolyzers, wind turbines, very high voltage transmission equipment and grid-scale batteries, according to the budget announcement.

India exempted basic customs duty on Wet Blue Leather.
The government announced that it has decided to fully exempt the basic customs duty on Wet Blue Leather. India aims to help imports for domestic value addition and employment.

Govt to launch ‘Customized Credit Card’ with ₹5 lakh limit for Micro Enterprises.

The government will launch a ‘Customized Credit Card’ with ₹5 lakh limit for Micro Enterprises, registered on the Udyam portal. According to the budget announcment, the government plans to launch 10 lakh cards in the first year.

FM Sitharaman on New Income Tax says, ‘Everyone is getting benefits…’

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that every salaried individual is getting benefits from this new system, as overall tax rates have also been brought down.

“Across the board, everyone is getting benefits, as all the groups are getting benefits,” said Sitharaman.

FM Sitharaman on the new Finance Bill.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says she hopes the upcoming Finance Bill gets past without any “difficulties.”

“I hope it gets passed without any difficulties…,” said Sitharaman.

Centre announced new Urea plant plans in Assam.

According to the Budget announcement, a new Urea plant is to be set up in Namrup, Assam. The plant is set to have an annual capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes.

Centre will create ‘Makhana Board’ in Bihar.

Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the central government would create a “Makhana Board” in Bihar to improve the production, processing, value addition, and marketing of Makhana.

India to create 22 lakh jobs

According to the budget announcement, India aims to generate 22 lakh jobs in the economy through a newly launched “Focus Product Scheme” in the footwear and leather industry.

What will the new Income Tax bill have?

According to the Budget announcement, the New Income Tax Bill, which is set to be tabled next week, will be 50% less in text compared to the present law. With this move, the government aims to simplify the topic of taxation for taxpayers and the tax administration. They also aim to create tax certainty and reduce litigation.

Govt exempted 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines from the basic customs duty.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced the exemption of 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines from the basic customs duty (BCDs) on Saturday, February 1.

Centre hikes MSME investment and turnover limits

Budget 2025 Key Highlights: The government hiked the MSME investment and turnover limits 2.5 and 2 times, respectively, in the Union Budget 2025 announcement.

Govt’s plan to boost India’s tourism
India plans to boost tourism in the nation, as Union Finance Minister announced the plans to develop the top 50 tourist sites in partnership with the State.

The Centre announced the introduction of an intensive skill-development programme for the youth. Sitharaman announced that the government will provide MUDRA loans for homestays. They also provide performance-linked incentives to states. They also announced e-visa facilities in the Budget announcement.

Washington, Feb 3,2025: US President Donald Trump announced plans to hold “meetings and talks” with Russia and Ukraine.

“We’ve had a very busy weekend. We’re dealing with Israel, we’re dealing with Ukraine and Russia. We have meetings and talks scheduled with various parties, including Ukraine and Russia,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews on his way to the White House.

According to Trump, “the discussions are actually going pretty well.”

New Delhi, Jan 31,2025: India’s real gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow at 6.3-6.8% year-on-year in the financial year 2025-26 (FY26), as per the Economic Survey 2024-25 tabled in the Parliament on Friday ahead of the Union Budget.

The Survey tabled by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that while there are many upsides to domestic investment, output growth and disinflation in FY26, the economy faces equally strong downsides too.

“On balance of these considerations, we expect that the growth in FY26 would be between 6.3 and 6.8 per cent,” the Survey said.

It further said that navigating global headwinds will require strategic and prudent policy management and reinforcing the domestic fundamentals.

India’s GDP growth slowed down to nearly seven-quarter low of 5.4% year-on-year in the July-September quarter (Q2) of current financial year 2024-25 triggering downward revision in annual growth forecast by multiple agencies.

As per the first advance estimates of national accounts, India’s real GDP is estimated to grow by 6.4% in FY25.

“Looking ahead, India’s economic prospects for FY26 are balanced. Headwinds to growth include elevated geopolitical and trade uncertainties and possible commodity price shocks,” the Economic Survey 2024-25 said.

The government’s report card noted that domestically the translation of order books of private capital goods sector into sustained investment pick-up, improvements in consumer confidence, and corporate wage pick-up will be key to promoting growth. Further, it said that rural demand backed by a rebound in agricultural production, an anticipated easing of food inflation and a stable macro-economic environment provide an upside to near-term growth.

“Overall, India will need to improve its global competitiveness through grassroots-level structural reforms and deregulation to reinforce its medium-term growth potential,” the Survey authored by Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran said.

Feb 9,2025: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned today to quell dissidence in the state BJP against his leadership. His government was facing the possibility of a Congress no-confidence motion and floor test. The Chief Minister handed his resignation to the Governor this evening. The Congress said the “belated” resignation was a vindication of its demand.

With the resignation of the Chief Minister, the budget session of the Manipur assembly that was to begin from today, has been cancelled, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has said.

While the BJP has the numbers despite the withdrawal of support by Conrad Sangma’s National Peoples’ Party, there was a possibility that the MLAs who sought a change in leadership, would have disregarded a party whip in case of a floor test.

To avert that possibility, the Chief Minister stepped down after conferring with the central leadership.

Mr Singh had gone to Delhi this morning where he met party chief JP Nadda and its chief strategist, Union Minister Amit Shah.

Citing the ethnic violence that broke out in May 2023, around 12 MLAs have been strongly pushing for a change in leadership.