India-Canada Ties

Why in News?

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s arrival in India will mark a significant moment for the bilateral relationship that has gone through an arc of downs and ups over the last two-and-half years.

What is the status of the India-Canada relationship?

• Background – The relations hit a low point in September 2023 after Canadian Prime Minister alleged Indian involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader.
• Diplomatic tensions escalated, with expulsions of diplomats and stalled trade talks.
• Turning Point – Leadership Change in Canada - Mark Carney succeeded Trudeau as Prime Minister in 2025, signaling a fresh approach.
• Carney emphasized the importance of repairing ties with India, calling it a “turning point” for Canada’s foreign policy.
• Steps Toward Reconciliation
• High-Level Visits – Carney’s planned visit to India in March 2026 is seen as the highest-level engagement since ties cooled.
• Trade Reset – Canada is looking to expand trade with India, with discussions around a potential $50 billion reset in economic cooperation.
• Diplomatic Engagements – Indian External Affairs Minister and Canadian Foreign Minister have held multiple meetings since late 2025, signaling steady progress.
• Current Outlook – Both sides are working to rebuild trust and momentum, focusing on trade and investment, energy and technology partnerships and diaspora connections.

What are the key pillars of the India-Canada relationship?

• Historical Context
  • Diplomatic relations – Canada and India share over 75 years of diplomatic relations and deep people-to-people ties.
  • Strategic Partnership (2018) – Bilateral relations were formally designated as a “Strategic Partnership” in 2018, structured around Ministerial Dialogues on foreign policy, trade & investment, finance & energy.
  • Working Groups (Officials Level) – Focus on counter-terrorism, security, agriculture, education, science and technology.
• Trade & Economic ties
  • Trade Negotiations – At last year’s G20 Leaders’ Summit, Canada and India agreed to formally launch negotiations for an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to double two-way trade to $70 billion by 2030.
  • Current Status – In 2024, India was Canada’s 7^th largest goods and services trading partner, with two-way trade at $30.8 billion.
  • Major exports to Canada – Pharmaceutical products, machinery parts and mechanical appliances, iron and steel products, electronic goods, organic chemicals, jewelry, gems, textile and seafood.
  • India’s major imports – Pulses, fertilizers (potash) and minerals.
  • Foreign Investment – According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Canada is the 17^th largest foreign investor in India.
  • Its cumulative investment of $4.18 billion from April 2000 to June 2025 represented 0.56% of the total FDI inflows into India.
• Security & Defence
  • Global Security Cooperation – India and Canada have regularly engaged in dialogue and cooperation on global security issues, including counter-terrorism, cyber security and regional stability.
  • Counter-Terrorism Framework (1997) – The Counter-terrorism engagement was largely taken place through the ‘Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism’ set up in 1997.
  • Enhanced Security Cooperation (2018) – In February 2018, both sides signed a framework on “Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism.”
  • This expanded collaboration beyond traditional counter-terrorism to address radicalization and extremism.
• Energy
  • With Canada’s vast natural resources and India’s expanding energy demand, energy cooperation remains a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.
  • The partnership encompasses both conventional and renewable sources, with Canada pitching itself as a reliable supplier of oil, gas, LNG, LPG, crude oil, and critical minerals.
• Education
  • Indian Students in Canada – More than 3.92 lakh Indian students were studying in Canada (Dec 31, 2024), making  Indian students represent the largest group of international students in Canada.
  • The educational ties include institutional linkages, joint research programs and academic mobility initiatives.
  • Both countries have long recognised the strategic significance of higher education and research.
• Diaspora
  • With over 1.8 million Indo-Canadians and approximately a million non-resident Indians, Canada is home to one of the largest and most vibrant Indian diasporas in the world.
  • Indo-Canadians have had a profound impact across a wide range of sectors, and their influence continues to grow.
  • Immigration & Student Presence – India is Canada’s largest source country for immigration categories, including 392,810 study permit holders in 2024.
  • As of the 2021 federal census, there are more than 1.8 million Canadians of Indian origin.
• Geopolitics
  • Strategic partner in West – Canada is an important strategic partner for major western powers — it is part of the G7 grouping and shares the table with the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan.
  • Intelligence Sharing – It also shares intelligence with the Five Eyes grouping which also includes the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
  • All these countries are also close strategic partners for India.
  • Trilateral Technology and Innovation Partnership – On the margins of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Canada, India, and Australia launched a trilateral initiative to deepen collaboration in critical and emerging technologies and diversify supply chains for a secure, sustainable, and resilient future.
• Views about pro-Khalistan elements
  • Pro-Khalistan Elements in Canada – Diplomats note that pro-Khalistan groups represent only a small minority within the Canadian Sikh community.
  • Scale of Radical Influence – Of approximately 20 lakh Indian diaspora members, about 8 lakh are Sikhs, and only around 1% (8,000–9,000 individuals) are estimated to be pro-Khalistan radicals.
  • Control of Religious Institutions – Despite their small numbers, these groups exert influence by controlling 12–15 gurdwaras, using them for fundraising and political organization.
  •   – Their influence is concentrated in constituencies such as Brampton (Ontario), Vancouver, and Surrey (British Columbia).

What are the challenges in India-Canada relations?

• The Khalistan Issue – While both governments are working to "decouple" this issue from broader ties, it remains a point of sensitivity, particularly within Canada's domestic political landscape.
• Immigration Tensions – Despite the reset, some friction persists in the education sector; reports from late 2025 indicated high rejection rates (up to 80%) for Indian student visa applications.
• Foreign Interference Allegations – A 2025 Canadian inquiry into foreign interference cited India as an active participant, a claim New Delhi has consistently rejected.

What lies ahead?

• Canada-India ties have faced several challenges and missed opportunities for deeper co-operation.
• Yet they are underpinned by numerous factors that make them natural partners — especially given their alignment of interests and values in fostering innovation, prosperity, and a free and open Indo-Pacific, particularly amid geopolitical volatilities.
• Moving forward, a clear roadmap is needed to foster resilience in the relationship despite these challenges.

Reference

Indian Express | How India and Canada mended their frayed ties?

Carbon Capture and Utilisation(CCU) Technologies

Why in News?

Recently many countries have developed technologies to capture carbon and utilize it, and it is important to know about the CCU mechanisms.

What is Carbon Capture and Utilisation?

• CCU – Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) refers to a set of technologies that capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources or directly from the air and convert them into useful products.
• Process – It removes carbon from the atmosphere and puts it into the economy as inputs for fuels, chemicals, building materials, or polymers.

• Unlike carbon capture and storage, where captured CO₂ is permanently stored underground rather than reused, CCU uses up the captured carbon.
• Utilization Pathways:
  • Chemicals – Converted into urea, methanol, and polymers.
  • Fuels – Combined with green hydrogen to produce synthetic fuels (e-methanol, aviation fuels).
  • Materials – Used in carbon-cured concrete and building materials.
  • Biological – Utilized by microalgae for biofuel production.

Why does India need CCU?

• Large CO2 emissions – India has consistently been the world’s third-largest emitter of CO₂, with emissions driven largely by power generation, cement, steel, and chemicals.
• While renewable energy may reduce future emissions, many industrial processes are inherently carbon-intensive and difficult to decarbonise.
• Potential of CCU – The CCU offers a pathway to reduce emissions from these “hard-to-abate” sectors while simultaneously creating new industrial value chains.
• Supports net zero target – It also aligns with India’s net-zero target for 2070 and its push to build a circular, low-carbon economy.

Where does India stand today?

• Research funding – India has begun supporting CCU through research funding from the Department of Science and Technology which has created a specific research and development roadmap for these technologies.
• 2030 Roadmap – The draft 2030 roadmap for Carbon Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) presented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural gas has identified projects that can be used for CCUS purposes.
• Private sector activities – Ambuja Cements (Adani Group) is working on an Indo-Swedish CCU pilot with IIT Bombay to convert captured CO₂ into fuels and materials.
  • JK Cement is collaborating on a CCU testbed to capture CO₂ for applications such as lightweight concrete blocks and olefins.
  • Beyond cement, Organic Recycling Systems Limited (ORSL) is leading India’s first pilot-scale Bio-CCU platform, valorising CO₂ from biogas streams into bio-alcohols and specialty chemicals.

What are other countries doing?

• European Union – The EU Bioeconomy Strategy and Circular Economy Action Plan explicitly supports CCU as a way to turn CO₂ into feedstocks for chemicals, fuels, and materials, linking it to circularity and sustainability targets.
• ArcelorMittal and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. are working with a climate tech company, D-CRBN, to trial a new technology to convert CO2 captured at ArcelorMittal’s plant in Gent, Belgium into carbon monoxide which can be used in steel and chemical production.
• United States – The U.S. uses a combination of tax credits and funding to scale CCUs, particularly for CO₂-derived fuels and chemicals.
• UAE – The UAE’s Al Reyadah project and planned CO₂-to-chemicals hubs leverage CCU with green hydrogen.

What are the risks ahead?

• Cost issues – The foremost risk in scaling CCU in India is cost competitiveness.
• Capturing, purifying, and converting CO₂ is energy-intensive and expensive.
• Without policy incentives, CCU-derived products will struggle to compete with cheaper, fossil-based alternatives.
• Infrastructure readiness – CCU requires co-located industrial clusters, reliable transport of CO₂, and integration with downstream manufacturing, all of which are unevenly developed across Indian industrial regions.
• Governance issues – The absence of clear standards, certification, and market signals creates uncertainty for investors and limits demand for CO₂-derived products.

Reference

The Hindu| Carbon Capture and Utilisation

Carbon Capture and Utilisation(CCU) Technologies

Why in News?

Recently many countries have developed technologies to capture carbon and utilize it, and it is important to know about the CCU mechanisms.

What is Carbon Capture and Utilisation?

• CCU – Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) refers to a set of technologies that capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources or directly from the air and convert them into useful products.
• Process – It removes carbon from the atmosphere and puts it into the economy as inputs for fuels, chemicals, building materials, or polymers.

• Unlike carbon capture and storage, where captured CO₂ is permanently stored underground rather than reused, CCU uses up the captured carbon.
• Utilization Pathways:
  • Chemicals – Converted into urea, methanol, and polymers.
  • Fuels – Combined with green hydrogen to produce synthetic fuels (e-methanol, aviation fuels).
  • Materials – Used in carbon-cured concrete and building materials.
  • Biological – Utilized by microalgae for biofuel production.

Why does India need CCU?

• Large CO2 emissions – India has consistently been the world’s third-largest emitter of CO₂, with emissions driven largely by power generation, cement, steel, and chemicals.
• While renewable energy may reduce future emissions, many industrial processes are inherently carbon-intensive and difficult to decarbonise.
• Potential of CCU – The CCU offers a pathway to reduce emissions from these “hard-to-abate” sectors while simultaneously creating new industrial value chains.
• Supports net zero target – It also aligns with India’s net-zero target for 2070 and its push to build a circular, low-carbon economy.

Where does India stand today?

• Research funding – India has begun supporting CCU through research funding from the Department of Science and Technology which has created a specific research and development roadmap for these technologies.
• 2030 Roadmap – The draft 2030 roadmap for Carbon Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) presented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural gas has identified projects that can be used for CCUS purposes.
• Private sector activities – Ambuja Cements (Adani Group) is working on an Indo-Swedish CCU pilot with IIT Bombay to convert captured CO₂ into fuels and materials.
  • JK Cement is collaborating on a CCU testbed to capture CO₂ for applications such as lightweight concrete blocks and olefins.
  • Beyond cement, Organic Recycling Systems Limited (ORSL) is leading India’s first pilot-scale Bio-CCU platform, valorising CO₂ from biogas streams into bio-alcohols and specialty chemicals.

What are other countries doing?

• European Union – The EU Bioeconomy Strategy and Circular Economy Action Plan explicitly supports CCU as a way to turn CO₂ into feedstocks for chemicals, fuels, and materials, linking it to circularity and sustainability targets.
• ArcelorMittal and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. are working with a climate tech company, D-CRBN, to trial a new technology to convert CO2 captured at ArcelorMittal’s plant in Gent, Belgium into carbon monoxide which can be used in steel and chemical production.
• United States – The U.S. uses a combination of tax credits and funding to scale CCUs, particularly for CO₂-derived fuels and chemicals.
• UAE – The UAE’s Al Reyadah project and planned CO₂-to-chemicals hubs leverage CCU with green hydrogen.

What are the risks ahead?

• Cost issues – The foremost risk in scaling CCU in India is cost competitiveness.
• Capturing, purifying, and converting CO₂ is energy-intensive and expensive.
• Without policy incentives, CCU-derived products will struggle to compete with cheaper, fossil-based alternatives.
• Infrastructure readiness – CCU requires co-located industrial clusters, reliable transport of CO₂, and integration with downstream manufacturing, all of which are unevenly developed across Indian industrial regions.
• Governance issues – The absence of clear standards, certification, and market signals creates uncertainty for investors and limits demand for CO₂-derived products.

Reference

The Hindu| Carbon Capture and Utilisation

El Niño & Climate Dynamics

Why in News?

Recently, a study in Nature Geoscience linked recent global temperature spikes to Earth’s energy imbalance and ENSO shifts.

Key Findings

• Temperature Spike – Earth’s temperature suddenly jumped higher in early 2023 and stayed high through 2025.
• This rise was above the normal long-term warming trend.
• Energy Imbalance – Scientists studied the gap between energy coming into Earth and energy going out to space.
• In 2022, more heat was trapped than usual, making the planet warmer.
• Main Causes – About 3-quarters of this extra trapped heat came from two things
  • Long-term human-caused climate change and
  • The shift from cooling la niña to warming el niño.
• Triple La Nina – From 2020 to 2023, the world experienced a rare 3-year La Nina.

La Niña events typically prevail for 9 to 12 months during a standard cycle.

• Around 23% of the recent heat increase was linked to this long La Niña.
• Heat Trapping - During such prolonged phases the ocean continues to absorb and store excess heat.
• Surface warming is somewhat suppressed temporarily.
• However, the underlying long-term global warming trend continues due to greenhouse gases.
• More heat is transferred from the atmosphere into the deeper Pacific Ocean.
• This stored heat can later be released during a strong El Niño, often contributing to record-breaking global temperatures.
• Fossil Fuels – Slightly more than half of the extra heat in the spike came from gases released by burning coal, oil and gas.
• Label Change – Because oceans are getting hotter overall, scientists updated how they classify El Niño and La Niña.
• The new method may label more events as La Niña and fewer as El Niño.

El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

• ENSO – It is a recurring natural climate pattern involving fluctuating ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, alternating between warmer (El Niño) and colder (La Niña) phases, along with a neutral phase.

References

1. TH | El Niño Labelling & Global Temperature Spike
2. NOAA | ENSO

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in News?

Despite a decline in local breeding linked to human disturbance and invasive vegetation, Wayanad’s vulture population remains stable, with roughly 80 birds recorded in the sanctuary.

• Location – Wayanad district, southern part of the Western Ghats in Kerala.
• It is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• Established in – 1973.
• Under – The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Rivers – Kabini River, a tributary of the Cauvery River, flows through the sanctuary.
• Vegetation & Flora – Tropical semi-evergreen forests, moist mixed deciduous forests, dry mixed deciduous forests, bamboo forests and marshy grasslands (vayals).
  • Invasion - The sanctuary is currently battling a massive invasion of Senna spectabilis (a golden-flowered tree).
• Fauna – Asian elephants, Bengal tigers, leopards, gaur, vultures, sambar deer, and the Malabar giant squirrel, etc.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is the only vulture habitat in Kerala, hosting the White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) and the Red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) primarily.

• Tribe – Several indigenous tribal families live in settlements inside the Sanctuary, such as Kattunaikar and Paniyar.
• Corridor Connectivity – It is bordered by Nagarhole National Park and Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu).
• Significance – Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is noted for its biodiversity and conservation efforts under Project Elephant and Project Tiger.

Reference

TH | Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary vultures

Self-Replicating RNA Discovery

Why in News?

Recently, scientists have reported RNA may have been Earth’s first genetic material.

• Key Findings – Scientists have discovered a very small RNA molecule called QT45 that can copy itself.
• This is the first clear evidence of a simple RNA molecule that can self-replicate.
• It strengthens the idea that RNA may have been the first genetic material on Earth, but it does not prove it.
• Experiments on Life’s Origin – In 1953, scientists (in the Miller-Urey experiment) recreated early Earth conditions in a lab.
• They showed that amino acids (building blocks of proteins) could form naturally. However, they did not find DNA or RNA in it.
• This meant that forming proteins was only part of the story of how life began.
• Core Issue – Life needs genetic material (DNA or RNA) to store information and a way to copy it to make new life.
• Modern cells use proteins to copy DNA or RNA, but DNA and RNA are needed to make those proteins, creating a “chicken-and-egg” problem for the origin of life.
• RNA’s Special Role – In the 1980s, scientists found that RNA, being a single molecule, could both store information and carry out chemical reactions.
  • It stores genetic instructions and also acts like a basic enzyme, doing jobs needed for life on its own.
• Early Life – This suggested that early life may have depended only on RNA, before proteins evolved.
• Limitations – Earlier lab-made RNA was large and complex, and it could help copy others but not itself.
• Development of QT45 – The researchers selected rare RNA sequences from large pools and improved them step by step until QT45 was developed.
• QT45 is only 45 nucleotides long and can copy its own genetic information.

Nucleotides are the tiny building blocks that make up DNA and RNA.

• QT45 Replication – QT45 copies itself by three-nucleotide building blocks.  That is the joining of small three-letter pieces.
  • First, it makes a matching copy and then uses that copy to rebuild the original version.
• Slow Replication – The copying is very slow and needs special conditions — it can take weeks, while modern cells do it in seconds.
• But early Earth had millions of years, so even slow copying could have worked.

Quick facts

• DNA – Stores and replicates genetic information as a long, stable double-stranded molecule, acting as the blueprint for life.
• RNA – It is shorter, single-stranded, and carries genetic instructions from DNA to build proteins, while also being chemically more reactive.

Reference

TH | Self-Replicating RNA Discovery

White-rumped Vulture

Why in News?

Recently, experts have reported stable vulture numbers in Wayanad despite reduced breeding, with invasive plants and human activity affecting nesting areas.

• Scientific Name – Gyps bengalensis.
• Family – Accipitridae.
• Habitat – Mostly plains with open areas, light woodland, villages and cities. Occasionally found in hilly regions.
• Distribution – Native to India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
• Extinction - Possibly extinct in Afghanistan, Iran, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Extinct in China and Malaysia
• Key Identification – Size – Medium-sized vulture (75–85 cm).
• Adult – Mostly black body feathers with a white ring of feathers around the neck (neck-ruff) and white feathers on the lower back (rump).
• Wings have silvery feathers, the head and neck are dark, and the bill is short, thick, and silver-colored.
• Juvenile – Brown body feathers with white streaks on wing and back feathers and soft down on the head and neck.

• Behaviour – Aggregates at carcasses and uses regular feeding sites. Highly social, forms large flocks and communal roosts (gathers together to rest or sleep).
• Breeding – Breeds in colonies in tall trees, often near human habitation.
• Diet – Obligate scavenger feeding on fresh and decaying carcasses (dead animals).
• Conservation Status –
  • IUCN – Critically Endangered.
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Schedule I
• Threats – Rapid population decline due to Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac, aceclofenac, and ketoprofen used in livestock, causes kidney failure and visceral gout in vultures.
• Other threats – Habitat loss, deforestation, poisoning, electrocution, collisions, and reduced food availability from changes in livestock management.

References

1. TH | White-rumped Vulture
2. IUCN | White-rumped Vulture

National Science Day, 2026

Why in News?

Recently, National Science Day 2026 was observed to honour C.V. Raman’s discovery and highlight India’s latest scientific achievements.

• National Science Day (NSD) – It is celebrated every year on 28 February to commemorate the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’
• Designated in –1986, by the Government of India.
• Discovery– On 28 February 1928, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman marked the discovery of the Raman Effect.
  • It earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics (1930).
• Aim – To promote science communication activities across the country, encouraging scientific inquiry and collaboration.
• Conducted by - The Department of Science and Technology (DST), which functions under the Ministry of Science and Technology. 

The Raman effect is the change in color (wavelength) of light when it passes through a material and is scattered by its molecules.

• Key Highlights, 2026 – Theme – “Women in Science Catalysing Viksit Bharat.”
  • Highlights the contribution of women scientists and aims to inspire more girls and women to pursue science careers.

India’s Scientific Achievements (2025)

• Growing Global Standing – Ranked 38^th in Global Innovation Index 2025 
• 6th worldwide in intellectual property filings (WIPO).
• Improved position in Network Readiness Index.
• ISRO Milestones – Over 200 achievements in 2025 and a successful Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) with two satellites in orbit.
• Completed 100th launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre and approved a third launch pad for Gaganyaan and future missions.
• Aditya-L1 sent key solar data, and Shubhanshu Shukla returned after an 18-day ISS mission.  
• Semiconductors and Computing – DHRUV64 – first fully indigenous 64-bit microprocessor by C-DAC.
• Vikram 3201 – A processor introduced by ISRO for use in space missions.
• India Semiconductor Mission to strengthen chip manufacturing.
• National Supercomputing Mission expanded high-performance systems for research in climate, drugs, and materials.  
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) – AI used in agriculture for monsoon forecasts via SMS. 
• MadhuNetrAI tool aids early detection of diabetic eye disease.
• BharatGen, a multilingual AI model, supports farmers, small sellers, and citizens.
• Quantum Computing – QpiAI-Indus, a 25-qubit quantum computer launched by Bengaluru startup QpiAI.
• Later, the 64-qubit “Kaveri” processor was introduced.
• Research and Youth – RDI Scheme approved with Rs 1 lakh crore to boost private investment in science.
• Science outreach expanded through student competitions, mobile science vans, and the INSPIRE-MANAK program.

References

1. NEWS 18 | National Science Day 2026
2. TH | C.V. Raman

C. V. Raman

Why in News?

Recently, National Science Day (February 28) is being observed to honour C. V. Raman’s discovery of the Raman Effect and his Nobel Prize-winning contribution to physics.

• Born in – 7^th November 1888, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. 
• Parents – R. Chandrasekhar Iyer (Lecturer in Physics and Mathematics).
• Early Brilliance – Won gold medals in Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
• Published first paper at age 18 in Philosophical Magazine.
• Early Career – Assistant Accountant General, Indian Finance Service (1907), Calcutta.
• Research Work – Early Phase – Conducted research at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science during spare time.
• Later Years – Optics, crystal dynamics, diamond structure, colours of flowers, human vision.
• Academic Career – Professor of Physics at Calcutta University (Palit Chair) for 15 years.
• Director, Indian Institute of Science (1933–1937).
• Founded Raman Research Institute in 1948.
• Major Discovery – Raman Effect (1928).
• Nobel Prize – Nobel Prize in Physics (1930), first Indian and person of colour to receive it in Physics.
• Mentorship – Mentored Vikram Sarabhai in cosmic ray research.
• Legacy – Raman Effect used in cancer detection, drug development, and space exploration; inspiration for National Science Day.
• Death – 1970.

Reference

TH | C.V. Raman