NATIONAL – DAIRY OF EVENTS

Great Nicobar Project: Infrastructure, Environmental Safeguards and Tribal Welfare

• • Context: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (A&NI) administration did not achieve the mandated 50% quorum at the gram sabha meetings held to get consent for the Centre’s ₹92,000-crore Great Nicobar Island project.

• Quorum is the minimum number of members needed in such a meeting to reach a decision.

• According to the rules issued by the Centre for the implementation of the FRA, a quorum at a gram sabha is achieved only if ‘one-half’ or 50% of the adult population of that village is in attendance, of which one-third must be women.

The Great Nicobar Project

• The Great Nicobar Project is a strategic project which aims to strengthen India’s presence in the Andaman Sea and Southeast Asia.

• The project seeks to balance port-led growth with calibrated environmental safeguards and protection of indigenous communities. 
• By combining strategic, economic, and ecological priorities, the project seeks to ensure that development in Great Nicobar is sustainable, inclusive, and aligned with national interests.

The project includes

• • International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) with a capacity of 14.2 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit)
  • Greenfield International Airport (4000 Peak Hour Passengers-PHP) 

• A 450 MVA (Megavolt Ampere) gas and solar-based power plant,

• A new township spanning 16,610 hectares.

Core Infrastructure Components of the Great Nicobar Project

International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT)

• • Developed at Galathea Bay under the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island programme

• Aims to reduce India’s dependence on foreign transhipment hubs such as Colombo, Singapore and Klang

• • Possesses natural water depth of more than 20 metres, suitable for large container vessels

• Intended to attract both gateway cargo and transhipment cargo

• Enhances India’s strategic, defence and maritime security presence in the Indian Ocean Region

Greenfield International Airport

• • Proposed to improve connectivity and promote tourism in Great Nicobar Island

• Expected to support both domestic and international passenger traffic

• Strategically located near major tourist destinations such as Phuket, Langkawi and Senang City

• Complements port-led economic development and boosts tourism potential

Township and Area Development

• Planned to support residential, commercial and institutional needs of the project
• Provides urban infrastructure for workers, businesses and service providers
• Expected to facilitate economic activities and organised urban expansion on the island

Power Plant

• Intended to provide reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply for the port, airport and township
• Designed with backup systems to ensure continuity even during component failure
• Seeks to reduce dependence on diesel-based electricity generation in the islands
• Renewable energy sources are planned as supplementary power generation options

Environmental Safeguards and Compensatory Afforestation Plan

• Before clearance, the project underwent multiple levels of statutory scrutiny, including preparation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP). 
• The EMP outlines mitigation measures for construction and operational phases.

Environmental Management Plan (EMP) 

• EMP is a plan to ensure sustainable development around a proposed project. 
• It involves the industry, Government, Pollution Control Board, and local people.
• It includes measures to reduce environmental impacts. 
• Mitigation is done at the source and at the project site. 

Tribal Welfare and Social Considerations in the Great Nicobar Project

Indigenous Communities of Great Nicobar

• Great Nicobar Island is inhabited by the Shompen and Nicobarese tribes

• Shompens are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) and mainly follow a hunter-gatherer lifestyle

• Nicobarese communities primarily live in coastal settlements and depend on fishing for livelihood

Policy Framework for Tribal Protection

• • Project aligns with the Shompen Policy, 2015 and Jarawa Policy, 2004

• These policies require development projects to prioritise welfare and cultural integrity of PVTGs

• Structured consultation mechanisms are mandated before implementation of large-scale projects

Constitutional and Administrative Safeguards

• Project implementation follows provisions of Article 338A(9) of the Constitution

• Article 338A (9) – The Union and every State Government shall consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Tribes.
• Emphasis placed on safeguarding interests of Scheduled Tribes and PVTGs
• No additional policy measures affecting tribal communities have been introduced beyond the development project
• Tribal welfare, rights and protection remain central to the planning and implementation process

 

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit

• Context: The inaugural International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit, to be held here from June 1 to 3, is expected to adopt the first-ever global declaration on big cat conservation.

• Summit is expected to adopt the first-ever global declaration on big cat conservation called the “Delhi Declaration”

• Declaration will focus on shared conservation priorities, transboundary cooperation, and landscape-based conservation approaches

About the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• IBCA is an alliance of countries hosting at least one of the seven big cat species

• Big cats covered under the alliance include: Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma

• Alliance aims to strengthen global cooperation for conservation of big cats and their habitats

Membership and Participation

• IBCA currently has 24 member countries and 3 observer countries
• Representatives from about 95 countries are expected to participate in the summit

Objectives of the Alliance

• Promote protection and conservation of big cats and their habitats
• Improve prey base and ecosystem health
• Encourage research, innovation, development and capacity building
• Facilitate sharing of information and best practices among member countries
• Strengthen collective global action for biodiversity conservation

Theme of the Summit

• Theme: “Save big cats, save humanity, save ecosystem”

India’s Role

• • IBCA was conceived and piloted by India

• Officially launched by Prime Minister in 2023

• India views conservation as a global responsibility requiring cooperation, knowledge sharing and mutual support

Significance

• Promotes international cooperation in wildlife conservation
• Strengthens ecosystem-based and transboundary conservation strategies
• Enhances global efforts to protect endangered big cat species and biodiversity
• Reinforces India’s leadership in global environmental diplomacy

 

First Anniversary of Operation Sindoor

• • Context: India marked the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor on May 7

• Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22 last year

• The operation reflected India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism

Objectives of Operation Sindoor

• Aimed to punish perpetrators and planners of cross-border terrorism

• Intended to destroy terrorist infrastructure located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir

• Focused on neutralising terror threats while maintaining strategic restraint

Major Military Actions

• Indian Armed Forces conducted detailed surveillance and identified multiple terror camps and training centres
• Airstrikes targeted nine major terror infrastructures across the border
• Around 100 terrorists were reportedly eliminated during the operation
• Eleven Pakistani airbases were also attacked during the operation

Non-Military Measures under Operation Sindoor

• India adopted diplomatic, economic and strategic measures while maintaining strategic restraint and international support.
• Closure of Attari-Wagah Border
• Suspension of Bilateral Trade
• Visa and Travel Restrictions
• Cultural Restrictions
• Diplomatic

Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty

• India placed the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance until Pakistan permanently stops support for cross-border terrorism

Pakistan depends heavily on the Indus river system for

• • 80% of its agricultural land
  • 93% of its water usage
  • Indus basin supports around 237 million people in Pakistan

• Agriculture linked to the river system contributes nearly one-fourth of Pakistan’s GDP

Suspension could lead to

• Agricultural losses
• Food shortages
• Water rationing
• Electricity shortages
• Industrial disruption

Benefits for India

• • Treaty restrictions on infrastructure projects in Jammu & Kashmir were eased

• India gained greater control over western rivers such as Jhelum and Chenab

Broader Impact

• Enhanced India’s global image as a nation taking decisive action against terrorism

• Reflected growing defence and technological capabilities of India
• Also highlighted India’s emerging strength in advanced defence systems and military coordination

Significance

• Operation Sindoor remains a symbol of India’s strong counter-terrorism policy
• Demonstrated India’s military preparedness, strategic restraint and deterrence capability

 

Cabinet Approves Two Semiconductor Projects 

• Context: Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister approved two semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)

Projects include:

• India’s first commercial Mini/Micro-LED display facility based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology
• A semiconductor packaging and testing facility

Investment and Employment

• Projects will be established in Gujarat

• Total cumulative investment is around ₹3,936 crore
• Expected to generate employment for about 2,230 skilled professionals

Significance of the Projects

• • Strengthens India’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.
  • Promotes indigenous advanced display and chip packaging technologies.
  • Enhances India’s capabilities in compound semiconductors and GaN technology.

• Supports the objectives of the India Semiconductor Mission and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

• Boosts high-technology manufacturing and skilled employment generation.

About India Semiconductor Mission

• The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was launched in 2021 with a financial allocation of ₹76,000 crore under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

• ISM functions as a specialised and autonomous institution under MeitY, Government of India.

• • It operates as an independent business division within the Digital India Corporation.
  • The mission seeks to develop a strong semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem and position India as a major global centre for electronics manufacturing and chip design.
  • ISM acts as the nodal agency for the effective and coordinated implementation of programmes related to semiconductor and display manufacturing in India.

• • It is also responsible for implementing various schemes approved under the Semicon India Programme.