15-Feb-2024

#GS3 –01. SSLV

The Small SatelliteLaunchVehicle (SSLV),first proposed in 2016,was meant to be India’s challenge to the dominance of the US in space launch services.

The SSLV is a small rocket,both in size and capacity, in comparison with other rockets that the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) can carry upto 1.75 tonnes in satellite payload. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3) can carry up to 8 tonnes. But large-capacity rockets have long waitlists as they wait for a single large order—the ‘primary’ payload. Hence, private commercial firms often wait for years until they can launch their small satellites. This model helps cut satellite launch costs. The SSLV can help resolve this with faster,cheaper launch cycles.

While the first SSLV demo launch was a part-failure,the second was a success. Nodal agency In-Space’s FY25 launch schedule shows only three scheduled launches in the next 12 months. A large part of this is due to engineering requirements: a key part of making small rockets successful is reliability, which often takes years in the space sector. However, apart from this, the space sector itself has been slow—with demand for commercial operators being limited. SpaceX,the most successful private space firm so far, has had only two non-SpaceX and non-Nasa missions this year,and19 last year. Further land degradation until 2050 could add an other120 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent to the atmosphere, worsening climate change.

Investing about $2.7 trillion each year in ecosystem restoration, regenerative agriculture and circular business models could help add nearly 400 million new jobs and generate more than$10trillionin economic value annually.

– Commentary in News

Key Terms/Issues : SSLV, PSLV

#GS2 — 02. Governance & IEA

Sustained growth needs energy security and sustainability. I am sure that the IEA will benefit when India plays a bigger role in it.

Today, the world needs governments that are clean, corruption-free and transparent. Today, the world needs governments that are green and serious about environment related challenges. I believe that the interference of the government in the lives of citizens must be minimal.It is also the job of the government to ensure this.

In my 23 years in government,my biggest principle has been ‘minimum government, maximum governance’.I have always tried to create an environment that increases enterprise and energy among citizens
-PM Modi

#Essay–#GS4 –03. Development

Economic growth without investment in human development is unsustainable—and unethical.
– Amartya Sen

#GS3 — 04. Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

The IIP is old and rusty but GST data can be used to formulate an indicator that offers a better picture of economic change. IIP growth does not match India’s real GDP growth.

This is not just a problem with the current IIP series,but has in fact been a problem for at least the last three revisions of the IIP series. This method of data collection, which ‘freezes’ both items and establishments, has some inherent

problems. It does not capture new establishments coming up.Additionally, the closure of old establishments leads to non-responses. There is a felt need for an accurate high-frequency indicator of manufacturing output. In the absence of this, people rely on indicators like the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) which is not quite an indicator of output.The GST system by contrast, is a rich source of high-frequency information about the economy andcan be used to construct an indicator which would be far superior to the current IIP.

–Former Chief Statistician of India TCA Anant
Key Terms/Issues : IIP, PMI

#GS3 — 05. Digital Capitalism

Byju’s,once the darling of India’s digital economy with a valuation of $22 billion in late 2022,is attempting to raise money at a valuation that’s a small fraction of that today. Through its roller-coaster ride, one thing has remained constant: in its 13-yearhistory, it appears to never have been profitable.This is standard for internet companies. Amazon did not make profits in its first 6 years. How have we arrived at this model of ‘digital capitalism,’ a system where valuations are independent of firm profitability for long periods of time?

Many would ascribe the phenomenon to the internet being characterized by network economies, the phenomenon of benefits to users increasing with the addition of new subscribers. For instance,a social network such as Facebook becomes more valuable for each user with an increase in the number of users on account of the increasing number of people that can be reached.Therefore, the argument goes, competition on the internet must inevitably resemble winner- takes-all contests, with each firm trying to achieve a critical mass of subscribers in the earliest possible time.

• MDI Professor Rohit Prasad

#GS3 –06. EV & Hybrid Vehicles

As recently as a year ago, automakers were struggling to meet the hot demand for EVs. In a span of months, though,the dynamic flipped. The industry may face a glut of EVs now. The EV push overlooked the consumer. Car buyers were more discerning than the industry expected.Many are hesitant to pay a premium for a vehicle that come with compromises.

By late last year,it was becoming clear that sales of hybrids—once dismissed by some automakers as an unnecessary half-measure—were taking off. EVs will eventually take off, albeit at a slower pace than initially envisioned. But for now, the miscalculation has left the industry in a bind.

– Commentary in News