In a significant stride for India's human spaceflight ambition, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has conducted a fresh set of rigorous tests for the parachute systems destined for the Gaganyaan mission. This development headlines a day packed with crucial updates for UPSC aspirants, spanning science, polity, environment, and governance.
ISRO's Critical Parachute Tests for Gaganyaan Astronauts
The space agency carried out tests on December 18 and 19 at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility in Chandigarh. The exercise focused on the drogue parachutes, which are the second type in a sequence of four parachute systems designed to bring the crew module back safely. Engineers tested these parachutes under extreme conditions using a sled hurtling down a rail track at speeds of 600 kilometres per hour.
The tests successfully demonstrated "reefed opening," a controlled, step-by-step inflation process that prevents sudden jerks for astronauts during re-entry. The two drogue parachutes, each 5.8 metres in diameter, are deployed at high altitudes to stabilise the crew module and initiate the first stage of deceleration before the main parachutes take over.
This comes as ISRO prepares for another landmark launch on December 24. Its heaviest vehicle, the LVM-03, will carry the US-based BlueBird block-2 satellite, weighing approximately 6,100 kg, to low earth orbit. The Gaganyaan mission itself, announced in 2018 and now targeted for early 2027, aims to make India the fourth nation to independently launch humans into space.
Funding to Political Parties Triples via Electoral Trusts
In the realm of political finance, donations to political parties through electoral trusts saw a dramatic surge, tripling to Rs 3,811 crore in the financial year 2024-25. This follows the Supreme Court's landmark 2024 judgment striking down the anonymous electoral bonds scheme.
Data from the Election Commission shows that nine electoral trusts contributed this amount, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) receiving the lion's share of Rs 3,112 crore, accounting for over 82% of the total. This marks a significant shift in the channels of political funding, moving from the opaque bonds to the relatively more transparent trust route.
Electoral trusts, notified under a 2013 scheme, must donate 95% of their contributions to registered political parties and declare their donors and beneficiaries. This system provides clearer visibility into corporate and individual funding compared to the now-defunct bond scheme.
Legacy of India's First Atomic Energy Act
An opinion piece revisits the genesis of India's atomic energy programme, tracing it back to the Atomic Energy Act of 1948, piloted by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Passed by the Constituent Assembly acting in its legislative capacity, the Act was a response to urgent needs: preserving the country's strategic mineral deposits like monazite from Travancore and enabling international cooperation.
The law established a complete state monopoly over the sector, a framework that persisted for decades. The recent passage of the SHANTI Bill, 2025, which opens the nuclear energy sector to private players, represents a paradigm shift from this original legislation. The debate in 1948, though brief, saw members like Dr B Pattabhi Sitaramayya expressing caution about the secrecy associated with atomic development.
Today, India's nuclear power capacity stands at about 8,180 MW from 24 reactors, contributing roughly 3% to the national grid, with ambitious targets set for 2047.
Other Key Developments for UPSC Aspirants
Wildlife Board Clears Projects in Tiger Habitats: The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife approved infrastructure and mining projects in and around tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh, including the Greater Panna landscape and Ratapani. A ropeway project in the core zone of Uttarakhand's Rajaji National Park was also cleared, raising questions about balancing development and conservation.
Faith vs. Rights of Minors in Surat Court: A legal debate has been reignited in a Surat family court, where a father has petitioned to prevent his seven-year-old daughter from taking diksha (renunciation) in the Jain tradition. The case follows a similar interim stay granted in May for a 12-year-old, probing the intersection of religious freedom, parental authority, and the welfare of minors.
These stories collectively underscore the dynamic interplay of science, policy, law, and ethics that forms the core of the UPSC examination's demand for a holistic and analytical understanding of current affairs.
