Daily Current Affairs 27 August 2026 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 27 August 2026 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

OBC Creamy Layer Criteria And Rules Of The Game Doctrine

Source: Indian Express
GS II: Indian Polity & Governance: Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments and Significant Provisions; Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections; Issues Relating to Reservation

Why in the News?

The Supreme Court has agreed to constitute a Special Bench to hear the Centre’s plea seeking clarification on whether its March 11, 2026 judgment on the OBC creamy layer should apply to the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025.

News in Brief

• The Supreme Court has agreed to constitute a Special Bench to clarify whether its March 2026 ruling on OBC creamy-layer criteria applies to the CSE 2025 selection process.
• The March 11 judgment held that parental salary/income alone cannot determine OBC creamy-layer status for children of PSU or private-sector employees; the parent’s post/status and applicable income-wealth criteria must also be considered.
• The Centre has sought permission to complete service allocation for 958 CSE 2025 candidates using the creamy-layer criteria applicable before the March 11 judgment, arguing that the selection process had already substantially concluded.
• The government has warned that retrospective application could affect service allocation, training schedules, cadre allocation, seniority and pay fixation, raising questions about the “rules of the game” principle in recruitment.

Background of the Case

• 1993 Rules- The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) created rules in September 1993 to leave wealthy people out of OBC reservations, and salary income was not counted then.
• 2004 Change- A 2004 letter stated that salary income for private sector and public sector workers should count toward the income limit.
• The Problem- This caused unfair differences. Children of low-tier government workers kept reservation benefits even if their pay rose, but private and public sector workers lost benefits just because their salary crossed ₹8 lakh.

The March 2026 Verdict

• The Decision- The Supreme Court of India struck down the idea that salary alone defines the creamy layer, restoring the focus back to the parent’s job rank and status.
• The Timeline- The court gave the government six months, until September 11, 2026, to apply the new verdict.
• If the March ruling is implemented in full, its benefits would extend not only to candidates appearing in future examinations but also to those affected in earlier cycles.
• The implementation could hence lead to revised ranks for some.

The Rules Of The Game Doctrine

• The Supreme Court of India strictly prohibits authorities from altering eligibility or selection criteria after a recruitment or admission process has commenced.
• In Tej Prakash Pathak v. Rajasthan High Court (2024), a Constitution Bench held this as “rules of the game” principle.

Key Aspects of the Principle

• The process officially begins with the initial advertisement that sets out the primary requirements and rules.
• Changes are only permitted if the original rules or the job advertisement explicitly allow for adjustments from the start.
• Any allowed modification must still follow Article 14 of the Constitution to prevent arbitrary or unfair treatment of applicants.

Purpose of the Principle

• It seeks to ensure:
  • Fairness and transparency in recruitment/admissions.
  • Equal treatment of all candidates.
  • Protection against arbitrary changes in eligibility or selection criteria.
  • Certainty for candidates who participate under a prescribed set of rules.

Recent NEET Matter

• In January 2026, the Supreme Court applied the same principle in a case concerning MBBS and BDS admissions under Punjab’s sports quota.
• The prospectus had already been issued and candidates had applied when the State widened the eligibility criteria.
• The Court held that the rules of selection cannot ordinarily be changed once the process has begun, and noted that this principle applies to both admissions and recruitment.

Question of Relief

• After finding the revised criteria unlawful, the Court had to decide the appropriate relief.
• Reopening the merit list could affect non-parties, disturb settled admissions or selections, create uncertainty for selected candidates and lead to administrative complications.
• Thus, declaring a rule unlawful and deciding the appropriate relief are separate questions, with courts required to consider the practical consequences.

Centre’s Plea

• The Centre has pointed out that the Supreme Court’s March 11, 2026 judgment came 46 days after the CSE 2025 final result was declared.
• It argues that the examination had already reached the terminal stage of service allocation.
• Applying the revised creamy-layer criteria could require changes to the merit list and service allocation and affect candidates who were not parties to the case.
• The Centre has therefore sought clarification that the judgment should not retrospectively disturb the CSE 2025 selection process.

Centre’s Argument Based on the NEET Case

• The Centre has relied on the NEET case to argue that even when a rule is found unlawful, relief should avoid unnecessary disruption to an advanced or completed selection process.
• It seeks similar protection for CSE 2025 candidates who have already secured appointments, as reopening the process could affect service allocation, training, seniority and other settled matters.
• The Court will therefore have to balance implementation of the creamy-layer ruling with fairness, certainty and settled rights.

Key Constitutional and Legal Issues

• The issue involves equality, reservation and the limits of retrospective application of judicial decisions.
• The creamy-layer criteria must comply with Article 14, ensuring equality and protection against arbitrary classification.
  • Exclusion of the creamy layer is intended to ensure that reservation benefits reach the more disadvantaged sections within the OBC community.
• It also raises the question of legitimate expectations, as candidates enter examinations based on the rules applicable at that time.
• A major concern is whether a revised judicial criterion should apply to a selection process that was substantially completed before the judgment.
• At the same time, courts must balance correction of an unlawful rule with the need to protect settled selections and third-party rights.
• Even where a rule is found unlawful, the Court may therefore tailor the relief to avoid disproportionate administrative disruption.

Way Forward and Conclusion

The government and the judiciary should ensure that revised creamy-layer criteria are implemented prospectively with clear guidelines, while protecting candidates who participated under the earlier rules. Any transition should minimize disruption to completed selections and safeguard legitimate expectations and settled rights.

Going forward, recruitment rules should be clearly notified in advance and changes should not be introduced after the selection process has substantially progressed. A balanced approach can uphold the objective of social justice and equitable reservation while maintaining fairness, certainty and administrative stability.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding the OBC creamy layer and the “rules of the game” principle:

1. The creamy-layer principle seeks to exclude relatively advanced sections among OBCs from reservation benefits.
2. The “rules of the game” principle implies that selection criteria can ordinarily be changed midway through a recruitment process.
3. Article 16(4) enables the State to make provisions for reservation in favour of inadequately represented backward classes in public employment.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

Mains Practice Question

Q. Discuss the challenges involved in balancing social justice, equality and administrative efficiency in the implementation of reservation policies in India. (250 words)

Regenerative Agriculture In India

Source: PIB
GS III: Agriculture

Why in the News?

The PIB, in its explainer “Rebuilding Farming Systems: Regenerative Agriculture for a Resilient India”, highlighted regenerative agriculture as a pathway to restore soil health, conserve resources, enhance biodiversity and make Indian agriculture more resilient to climate stresses.

News in Brief

• India’s agriculture and allied sectors recorded 4.45% decadal growth during FY16–FY25, but sustaining productivity requires restoring the ecological foundations of farming.
• Natural farming, agroforestry, micro-irrigation, integrated farming systems, farm mechanisation and scientific soil management are among the major regenerative approaches being promoted in India.
• As of March 2026, natural farming clusters covered 8.80 lakh hectares with 18.19 lakh farmers, while 109 lakh hectares had been covered under Per Drop More Crop (PDMC).
• The government is supporting the transition through initiatives such as National Mission on Natural Farming, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, PDMC, Rainfed Area Development Programme, Agroforestry Component under PM-RKVY and Soil Health Card Scheme.

What is Regenerative Agriculture?

• Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming approach centred on restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity and ensuring long-term productivity and resilience in farming systems.
• It is based on the following principles:
  • Minimizing soil disturbance
  • Protecting the living roots of perennial crops
  • Maintaining soil cover
  • Integrating Livestock
  • Limiting the use of chemical inputs
  • Enhancing biodiversity

Need For Regenerative Agriculture

• Soil degradation
  • Intensive cultivation and excessive chemical use reduce soil vitality.
  • Declining soil health raises input costs and creates uncertain yields.
• Climate vulnerability
  • Heatwaves, dry spells and excess rainfall cause major crop losses.
  • Small and marginal farmers are particularly vulnerable to such shocks.
• Resource stress
  • Agriculture faces increasing pressure on water, soil and other natural resources.
  • Efficient use of water and nutrients is essential for long-term productivity.
• Ecological degradation
  • Conventional intensive farming can affect biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
  • Regenerative approaches seek to restore ecological balance.

Major Regenerative Agricultural Practices

Water and Resource Efficiency

• Micro-Irrigation
  • Includes drippers, sprinklers, and foggers deliver water directly to plant roots.
  • This reduces water wastage and improves water-use efficiency.
  • By optimizing farm-level water management, these systems enhance crop productivity and strengthen resilience to droughts and water stress.
• Farm Mechanization
  • involves the use of agricultural machinery and equipment to streamline and automate various farm operations.
  • It helps optimize the use of key inputs such as water, fuel, and fertilizers, reducing wastage and lowering the carbon footprint.
  • By enabling timely and precise farm operations, mechanization improves resource management, enhances productivity, and helps reduce the environmental impact of farming.

Soil and Nutrient Management

• Nitrogen Fertilizer Management
  • Helps reduce nitrous oxide emissions while improving crop productivity.
  • It focuses on selecting the right fertilizer and optimizing application timing and dosage.
  • Other practices include deep placement of supergranular urea and the use of leaf color charts for precise assessment of nitrogen status.
  • The approach also promotes biological inputs such as cyanobacteria and legume intercropping.
  • These measures improve nitrogen-use efficiency and minimize environmental losses.
• Natural Farming 
  • It is a chemical-free agricultural approach rooted in India’s traditional knowledge systems.
  • It also promotes the use of traditional seed varieties and the integration of trees along farm boundaries.
  • Important practices,
    • The system relies on on-farm biological inputs such as Beejamrut, Jeevamrut, GhanJeevamrut, Neemastra, and Dashparni, prepared using inputs from native livestock.
    • Pest management is undertaken through locally prepared, on-farm botanical formulations.
    • Practitioners are encouraged to adopt continuous cover cropping, multi-cropping, mulching, and minimal soil disturbance to maintain soil fertility and ecological balance.
    • The integration of livestock with diversified cropping systems further helps improve soil health, restores ecosystems, and reduces input costs for farmers.
• Soil Health Management practices
  • Green manuring
    • Involves growing and incorporating specific crops into the soil to add organic matter and nutrients.
    • It helps in improving soil fertility, structure, and carbon sequestration.
  • Cover cropping
    • Refers to growing crops primarily to cover the soil rather than for harvest.
    • It protects against erosion, maintains soil organic carbon, and supports nutrient cycling.
  • Mulching
    • Involves covering the soil surface with organic residues such as leaves, straw, etc.
    • It helps conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature.
    • Mulching also suppresses weeds, promotes beneficial microbial activity, and improves crop productivity.

Integrated and Climate Resilient Farming 

• Integrated Farming System
  • It integrates crops, livestock, fisheries, and allied activities such as horticulture, agroforestry, and apiculture.
  • The approach promotes practices such as intercropping, crop rotation, multi-cropping, and mixed farming that maximize resource use.
  • This also reduces the risk of crop failure, diversifies livelihood opportunities, and enhances resilience to climate extremes such as floods and droughts.
• Agroforestry
  • Integrates perennial tree systems with fruit and plantation crops to create a more sustainable and profitable farming system.
  • It helps farmers earn additional income while improving soil moisture, regulating local temperatures, and storing more carbon.
  • In rainfed regions, agroforestry plays a crucial role in rejuvenating degraded land. These systems help mitigate the impacts of unpredictable rainfall, enhance agricultural resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions over time.
• Climate-Resilient Agriculture
  • Focuses on balanced nutrient and fertilizer use, effective pest management, efficient water use, soil-moisture conservation and land preparation practices that protect soil health and improve crop performance.
  • It also promotes water-sharing groups, seed and fodder systems, community nurseries and collective marketing, helping farming systems withstand climate-related stresses and shocks.

Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture

Environmental Benefits

• Regenerative practices rebuild soil organic matter, improve soil structure, and enhance long-term soil fertility, supporting stable agricultural productivity.
• Regenerative approaches create favourable conditions for a wide variety of species, including pollinators, beneficial insects, and soil microorganisms.
  • This helps in strengthening overall ecosystem balance.
• These systems absorb and store more carbon than they emit, helping reverse agricultural emissions.
• Healthier soils improve water retention and reduce runoff.
  • This limits soil erosion and the flow of sediments and pollutants into rivers and lakes, helping protect water bodies.

Economic and Social Benefits

• Healthier soils reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation which in turn lowers input costs, stabilizes yields, and enhances farmers’ net incomes.
• Regenerative agriculture creates new livelihood opportunities across farming, advisory services, technology, and ecological management.
• Farms adopting regenerative practices are better equipped to withstand climate variability and market fluctuations.

Key Government Initiatives Driving Regenerative Agriculture

• National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)– Promotes chemical-free natural farming through bio-inputs, farmer training and community-led adoption.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)– Encourages organic farming through financial support, certification and market linkages.
• Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)– Improves water-use efficiency by promoting micro-irrigation systems.
• Rainfed Area Development Programme (RAD)– Promotes integrated farming systems by combining crops with allied activities.
• Sub-Mission on Agroforestry Component under PM-RKVY- Supports tree-based farming through quality planting material and related support.
• Soil Health Card Scheme- Promotes scientific soil nutrient management through soil testing and crop-specific recommendations.

Way Forward and Conclusion

Scaling regenerative agriculture requires greater farmer awareness, location-specific practices, stronger extension services, improved access to quality bio-inputs and planting material, and better market linkages. Convergence among natural farming, soil-health management, micro-irrigation and agroforestry initiatives can help farmers adopt these practices at scale.

Ultimately, regenerative agriculture can strengthen soil health, resource efficiency, climate resilience and farm incomes, providing a sustainable pathway for India’s agricultural future.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding Regenerative Agriculture:

1. It seeks to actively improve soil health and ecosystem resilience rather than merely maintaining existing conditions.
2. The National Mission on Natural Farming provides an output-based incentive of ₹4,000 per acre per year for two years, subject to the prescribed limit.
3. Under Per Drop More Crop, financial assistance is higher for small and marginal farmers than for other farmers.
4. The Soil Health Card Scheme assesses soil health on 12 key parameters.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Answer: (c) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Mains Practice Question

Q. Regenerative agriculture can simultaneously address India’s concerns relating to soil degradation, water stress, climate vulnerability and farm profitability. Discuss the potential and challenges of scaling regenerative agriculture in India. (250 words)

Rural Employment In India: Jobs vs Wage Guarantees

Source: Indian Express
GS III: Indian Economy: Employment; Inclusive Growth; Issues relating to mobilization of resources, growth and development.

Why in the News?

The debate over rural employment has gained attention following reports of a sharp decline in employment generated under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM-G).

News in Brief

• VB-G RAM G, which replaced MGNREGA from 1 July 2026, increased the statutory rural wage-employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days per household.
• The new framework focuses not only on wage employment but also on durable rural assets, sustainable livelihoods, rural infrastructure and climate-resilient works.
• Employment generated under the new programme was reported to have fallen sharply in its first month, prompting debate over the effectiveness and accessibility of the revised employment-guarantee framework.
• The broader policy debate is shifting from providing temporary wage employment towards creating durable, productive rural jobs through food processing, MSMEs, renewable energy and rural services, while retaining social protection for vulnerable households.

VB-G RAM-G and the Wage-Guarantee Model

Shift from Rights-Based to Budget-Capped Model

• Under MGNREGS, employment was a legal right triggered by worker demand.
• If the private sector failed, workers could force the government to employ them.
• The VB-G RAM G Act introduces a budget-capped, supply-driven system.
  • This means the program acts as an “employer of last resort” only within the limits of its pre-allocated normative budget (reported at ₹95,692 crore).
  • It does not automatically scale up indefinitely during severe economic shocks.

Supply Side Adjustments (The 60-Day No-Work Period)

• To fix the historical issue of public works pulling laborers away from agricultural fields during crucial seasons, the new Act introduces an aggregated 60-day no-work period.
• The government temporarily pauses operations during peak sowing and harvesting periods.
• This ensures that the state does not compete with private farmers for labor, protecting agricultural production while still guaranteeing 125 days of employment over the remaining 305 days of the financial year.

Impact on the Reservation Wage

• The expansion of guaranteed work from 100 days to 125 days, combined with faster weekly wage payouts via biometric and face-authentication technology, significantly increases income security.
• This raises the reservation wage (the minimum wage a laborer is willing to accept from private employers).
• Consequently, private employers may need to offer competitive wages and better working conditions to attract rural labour.

Rationale Behind Rural Employment Guarantees

• The idea of using public works to support people during periods of weak employment is not new.
• It gained prominence during the Great Depression, when governments used public employment programmes to provide income and sustain demand.
• The basic idea was simple: when the private sector cannot provide enough jobs, the government steps in to provide temporary employment.
• This model was particularly relevant in rural economies where:
  • Industry had not developed enough to absorb surplus workers.
  • Most service-sector jobs were concentrated in towns and cities.
  • Agriculture provided work only during certain periods and often had disguised unemployment.
  • Rural families had few alternatives when farm incomes fell.
• For such households, guaranteed wage employment served as an important safety net, providing income during lean periods and helping them cope with poverty and economic shocks.

Why Rural India Needs A Shift Towards Jobs

Changing Rural Economic Structure

• Rural India requires a shift toward modern “Jobs 3.0” because the economy has diversified beyond agriculture.
• Key changes include,
  • Sustained industrial expansion.
  • Rapid diversification of the rural non-farm sector.
  • Expansion of the digital economy into villages.
  • Rising rural consumption.
  • Increasing connectivity and access to markets.
• India has around 950 million active internet users, with rural users forming a significant share.
• Rural Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) demand, for example, has been growing at roughly four times the rate of urban demand and is projected to reach about $220 billion, representing nearly a tenfold increase over a decade.

Changing aspirations of rural youth

• Nearly, 64% of India’s population and around two-thirds of its 378 million young people live in rural areas.
• Rural youth today are,
  • Better educated.
  • More digitally connected.
  • More exposed to employment opportunities.
  • Less willing to undertake long periods of manual wage labour.
  • Increasingly interested in productive employment closer to their homes.
• This transition necessitates productive and sustainable livelihood creation over basic wage-labor schemes.

Sectors with Rural Employment Potential

Food Processing

• Food processing turns raw farm goods into finished products right where they are grown.
• This cuts down waste and creates local jobs.
• Raw Materials- Uses locally grown milk, fruits, grains, and spices.
• Job Areas,
  • Processing and value addition (making raw goods into packaged foods)
  • Packaging and labeling
  • Cold storage warehousing
  • Transport and supply chain
  • Marketing and local retail
• Growth- The sector is projected to nearly double in size by 2030, creating millions of jobs.

Renewable Energy

• India’s push for clean energy creates decentralized jobs in villages and small towns.
• Job Potential- Expected to generate over 4.4 lakh (440,000) jobs by 2030.
• Job Areas,
  • Decentralized solar and biomass production
  • Local installation and routine maintenance of panels and grids
  • Labor-intensive component assembly
  • Manufacturing clean-energy parts locally

Rural Manufacturing

• Small clusters of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) drive manufacturing locally instead of relying on giant city factories.
• Key Products,
  • Textiles and handlooms
  • Farm equipment and tools
  • Healthcare devices and basic medical kits
  • Construction materials like bricks and tiles
  • Consumer goods and daily essentials
• Impact- Creates large-scale, localized employment and keeps wealth within rural communities.

Rural Services

• Service sector growth brings skilled and semi-skilled work directly to rural regions.
• Key Sectors,
  • Rural healthcare (clinics, pharmacies, and telemedicine support)
  • Agri-logistics (warehousing and supply-chain management)
  • Digital services (common service centers and internet kiosks)
  • Repair and maintenance for vehicles and farm machinery
  • Local transport services
• Advantage- Capital, skills, and markets connect locally, allowing rural workers to earn without migrating to big cities.

Significance for Viksit Bharat

Shifting from basic wage guarantees to productive employment under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) is crucial for transforming India’s rural economy to achieve the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

• Expands income sources beyond agriculture and reduces dependence on seasonal farm work.
• Helps address underemployment and creates more stable jobs.
• Availability of local jobs can reduce the need to migrate in search of work.
• Growth of rural enterprises and services can create more opportunities for women to enter the workforce.
• Higher and more stable incomes can support consumption and local economic activity.
• Skill development and work experience can improve workers’ productivity and employability.
• Rural producers and enterprises can become part of wider domestic and global supply chains.
• Expanding economic activity in rural areas can help reduce the rural–urban divide.

Challenges in moving from wage work to jobs

Moving from temporary wage employment to regular, productive jobs is not easy. Rural areas still face several structural constraints,

• Many villages lack the infrastructure and industrial ecosystem needed to attract businesses.
• The skills available among rural workers often do not match the requirements of emerging sectors.
• Small rural enterprises and MSMEs continue to face difficulties in obtaining affordable credit.
• Poor storage, transport and logistics can make rural production less competitive.
• Rural producers may struggle to connect with larger and more reliable markets.
• Many rural enterprises operate on a small scale with limited technology and capital.
• Agriculture continues to provide work mainly during specific periods, leaving workers underemployed during the lean season.
• A rapid shift away from wage-support programmes could leave poorer households without a reliable source of income.

Therefore, India’s rural employment strategy needs to pursue two goals together: protecting households from income shocks while creating pathways to stable, productive employment.

Way Forward & Conclusion

India needs to gradually move from a wage-support-centric approach to productive and sustainable rural employment while retaining social protection for vulnerable households. This requires promoting non-farm jobs, developing MSME clusters, aligning skill development with emerging sectors, and improving infrastructure, logistics, and market access.

Stronger linkages between rural producers, industries, and value chains can create better employment opportunities and raise productivity.  This can help rural households achieve sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the goal of Viksit Bharat.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

Consider the following statements

1. Expansion of rural non-farm sectors such as food processing, renewable energy and MSME-based manufacturing can provide more durable employment than temporary wage employment.
2. Rural manufacturing clusters can generate employment by combining local labour and resources with access to wider markets.
3. A rural employment strategy focused only on providing wage employment may not adequately address structural underemployment when the rural economy is diversifying beyond agriculture.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d) 1,2 and 3

Mains Practice Question

Q. Rural employment policy in India needs to move beyond wage guarantees towards productive and sustainable job creation. Discuss. (250 words)

India-UK Strategic Defence Cooperation

Source: Indian Express
GS II: International Relations- India-UK Bilateral Relations

Why in the News?

India and the UK are close to signing an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for developing maritime electric propulsion systems for four Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) of the Indian Navy.

News in Brief

• The cooperation is also expected to cover the development of Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) systems for future Indian naval vessels.
• A second inter-governmental agreement is expected for the procurement of British Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) for the Indian Army.
• The LMM contract is expected to be worth around £350 million ($468 million), making India one of the largest customers for the missile.
• The cooperation reflects the broader India–UK defence partnership and Atmanirbhar Bharat objectives.

Key Highlights

• Maritime Electric Propulsion
  • India and the UK are close to signing an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to develop maritime electric propulsion systems for four Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) of the Indian Navy.
  • The proposed system is aimed at powering large Indian Navy warships with a displacement of over 6,000 tonnes.
  • The technology is expected to be tested first on LPDs before being considered for wider use.
  • The agreement is part of efforts to introduce advanced propulsion technologies into India’s naval fleet.

•  Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP)
  • Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) is a naval propulsion system in which electricity generated onboard is used to power the ship’s propulsion motors as well as other major systems.
  • Indian warships currently use a combination of diesel engines, gas turbines and steam turbines for propulsion.
  • The UK’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers use an integrated full electric propulsion system.
  • Developing such technology in India could help the Navy operate larger and more technologically advanced vessels in the future.
• Land-Based Testing Facility
  • GE Vernova and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) will establish India’s first maritime Land-Based Testing Facility.
  • The facility will support the development and testing of the IFEP system.
  • Testing the system on land before its installation on operational warships can help identify technical issues and reduce risks during deployment.
• Cooperation Framework
  • India and the UK signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) on cooperation in the design and development of electric propulsion systems for the Indian Navy in Portsmouth on 28 November 2024.
  • The Statement of Intent was signed during the third meeting of the Joint Working Group on Electric Propulsion Capabilities Partnership.
  • It provides a framework for co-design, co-creation and co-production of electric propulsion capabilities for future Indian naval vessels.
  • The partnership therefore goes beyond procurement and focuses on developing capabilities through joint cooperation.
•  Naval Modernization
  • The proposed partnership is part of India’s broader naval fleet modernization efforts. It could support:
  • Adoption of electric propulsion systems in new-generation warships.
  • Retrofitting of selected legacy vessels with modern propulsion systems where technically feasible.
  • Greater cooperation with the UK in developing and adapting advanced warship propulsion technologies.

Defence Manufacturing And Atmanirbhar Bharat

• The India-Uk Cooperation has an important indigenization and defence- industrial cooperation dimension.
• The LLM arrangement is expected to support India’s air-defence capabilities while the electric propulsion partnership can promote,
  • Technology development
  • Domestics testing capabilities
  • Indian industrial participation
  • Long-term defence technology cooperation
  • Co-development and co-production
• The cooperation is therefore linked with the broader objective of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.

Conclusion

The Partnership highlights the shift from a traditional buyer-seller model towards technology cooperation, co-development and co-production.

Its long-term success will depend on effective technology transfer, domestic manufacturing capabilities and sustained cooperation, strengthening India’s naval modernization and overall defence preparedness.

Key Takeaways

Click image to enlarge for better readability

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

With reference to India–UK cooperation in naval technology, consider the following statements:

1. India and the UK are cooperating on the development of electric propulsion systems for Indian Navy Landing Platform Docks.
2. Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) uses onboard-generated electricity to power propulsion motors and other major ship systems.
3. The Statement of Intent (SoI) between India and the UK provides a framework for co-design, co-creation and co-production of electric propulsion capabilities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Mains Practice Question

Q. Advanced defence technologies and international partnerships are crucial for strengthening India’s defence preparedness and self-reliance. Discuss (150 words)

Daily Current Affairs: Click Here

Rate this Article and Leave Feedback