On July 03rd, 2025, India & the world witnessed important developments across various sectors. Recent significant developments in India span critical areas of national importance: addressing the severe groundwater crisis in Karnataka's hard rock terrain, bolstering defence capabilities with the commissioning of INS Tamal as the last foreign-built major warship, and launching ambitious new schemes like the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme and Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme to foster economic growth and technological sovereignty. 

Awareness regarding daily UPSC current affairs is crucial for cracking the UPSC Prelims, excelling in UPSC Mains. It helps perform well in the UPSC personality test, thus becoming an informed and effective UPSC civil servant.

Below are the current affairs and headlines of the day taken from The Hindu, Indian Express, Press Information Bureau & All India Radio as required for UPSC preparation:

Groundwater Crisis in Karnataka’s Hard Rock Terrain

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper I (Geography)

IN NEWS

A recent study revealed a sharp decline in groundwater levels in Aralumallige and Doddathumakuru gram panchayats (Upper Arkavathy watershed, Karnataka). The study highlighted increasing borewell depth, high borewell failure rates, water quality concerns, and mounting economic pressure on local governance. If trends continue, the region may run out of groundwater within 3–4 years.

What is the Issue?

Severe groundwater depletion in Karnataka’s hard rock aquifers, especially in the Deccan Plateau region. Overreliance on deep borewells and unsustainable farming practices is exacerbating the crisis. Local panchayats are financially overburdened, and borewells are failing due to rapidly falling water tables.

Geography

• 99% of Karnataka’s groundwater lies in hard rock aquifers (basalt and granite) of the Deccan Plateau.
• These have low porosity and rely on narrow fractures and weathered pockets for water storage and movement.
• Compared to sedimentary aquifers, they store less water and are slow to recharge.

Key Reasons for Water Depletion

• Geological Factors: Karnataka’s groundwater lies in hard rock aquifers (granite/basalt) that have low porosity, depend on microfractures and weathered zones for storage, and recharge very slowly, unlike sedimentary aquifers.
• Agricultural Practices: Areas like Aralumallige and Doddathumakuru produce water-intensive vegetables, flowers, and exotic crops for Bengaluru, demanding excessive groundwater extraction.
• Borewell Drilling Impacts: Borewells drilled into granite bedrock cause microfractures, pushing rainwater too deep to recharge shallow aquifers, leading to disruption in local hydrology and weak long-term recharge.
• Policy and Infrastructure Gaps: Free electricity for farmers leads to over-extraction without economic disincentive. There is a lack of awareness or education on water-efficient cropping and irrigation methods, and neglect of traditional water systems (e.g., tanks and lakes).
• Climate and Land Use: Despite heavy rains, recharge lakes remain dry due to encroachment, loss of green cover, and destruction of recharge channels.

Key Problems Faced

• Borewell Failures: Borewell depth increased from 183 m (2001–2011) to 321 m (2011–2021). 55% of all wells failed; 70% of drinking water borewells failed within 10 years.
• Water Quality Issues: Nitrate levels in drinking water often exceed 50 mg/l (WHO limit). Despite poor water quality, most borewells were abandoned due to dryness, not contamination.
• Economic Burden: Panchayats face mounting electrical debt due to powerful pumps for deep borewells and the free electricity policy without regulation. Development funds are diverted to pay electricity bills. Farmers invest ₹4–5 lakh per borewell with no success guarantee, leading to land leasing and rural-urban migration.
• Governance Crisis: Revenue shortfalls and unpaid utility bills strain governance. Greywater reuse is not viable in current terrain and demographic patterns. There are no local predictive models for borewell failure, leading to policy blindness.

INS Tamal Commissioned

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper II (Security)

IN NEWS

INS Tamal (F71) was commissioned into the Indian Navy at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. It is the last foreign-built major warship to be inducted into the Indian Navy, aligning with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India policies aimed at defence indigenisation. The commissioning ceremony reflects the continued strategic and maritime cooperation between India and Russia.

Details Related to INS Tamal

• Project Classification: INS Tamal is part of the Talwar-class frigates (Project 1135.6). It is the eighth ship in the series and the second of the follow-on Tushil-class. The earlier seven ships are all deployed under the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy.
• Manufactured by: Built at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia. Part of the Indo-Russian shipbuilding collaboration, which has produced 51 warships over 65 years.
• Capabilities: A multi-role, stealth, guided missile frigate designed for blue-water operations. Equipped for 4-dimensional naval warfare: Air, Surface, Sub-surface, and Electronic warfare.
• Weapon Systems: Equipped with dual-role BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and other state-of-the-art sensor and weapon suites for comprehensive threat engagement.

Strategic Importance

• It marks the end of India’s dependence on foreign-built major warships.
• Highlights transition to indigenously built platforms such as INS Nilgiri (Project 17A) and INS Vikrant (Indigenous aircraft carrier).
• Reinforces India’s blue-water naval capabilities and its strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific region.
• Symbol of deep-rooted Indo-Russian defence ties.
• Reaffirms India’s commitment to strategic autonomy while leveraging traditional defence partnerships.

Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme and Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper II (Governance)

IN NEWS

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme and Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme on 1st July 2025.

What is the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme?

A national initiative to provide long-term concessional finance to the private sector for scaling research, development, and innovation (RDI). It targets sunrise sectors and strategic domains critical to India’s economic and technological sovereignty. Administered by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) with ANRF (Anusandhan National Research Foundation) as the strategic oversight body.

Key Features of the RDI Scheme

• Financing Model:
  • Corpus: ₹1 lakh crore.
  • Special Purpose Fund (SPF) to be created under ANRF.
  • 2nd-level fund managers will receive funds from SPF to disburse to projects.
  • Funding Types: Long-term concessional loans (low or nil interest rates), equity funding (especially for startups), and contributions to Deep-Tech FoF or other RDI-targeted funds.
• Institutional Framework:
  • Governing Board of ANRF: Chaired by the Prime Minister, provides strategic direction to the scheme.
  • Executive Council (EC) of ANRF: Finalizes scheme guidelines, recommends fund managers and eligible project types.
  • Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS): Chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, approves scheme modifications, monitors implementation, reviews sectoral coverage.
• Sectoral Focus: Emphasis on sunrise sectors like Semiconductors, Green energy, Quantum computing, Space technology, Biotechnology, Defence technology. Also supports strategic projects with high national relevance.
• Eligibility and Risk Management: TRL-4 and above projects (i.e., beyond proof-of-concept stage) will be eligible. Focus on growth capital and risk financing for projects where private capital is typically hesitant.
• Innovation Ecosystem Development: Aims to make the private sector the main driver of basic research, in line with practices in developed countries. Supports India's shift from grant-driven R&D to market-linked and innovation-focused R&D.

🎯 Question No. 1

With reference to groundwater in Karnataka's hard rock terrain, consider the following statements:

1. A significant majority of Karnataka's groundwater is stored in sedimentary aquifers.
2. Hard rock aquifers, like those found in the Deccan Plateau, are characterized by high porosity and rapid recharge rates.
3. Borewell drilling into granite bedrock can disrupt local hydrology by pushing rainwater to deeper levels.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

✅ Correct Answer: (c)

ℹ️ Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The text states, "99% of Karnataka’s groundwater lies in hard rock aquifers (basalt and granite) of the Deccan Plateau."
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The text states, "These have low porosity and rely on narrow fractures and weathered pockets for water storage and movement. Compared to sedimentary aquifers, they store less water and are slow to recharge."
• Statement 3 is correct: The text mentions, "Borewells into granite bedrock cause microfractures, pushing rainwater too deep to recharge shallow aquifers. Leads to disruption in local hydrology and weak long-term recharge."

🎯 Question No. 2

Which of the following factors contribute to the groundwater depletion crisis in Karnataka's hard rock terrain?

1. Overreliance on water-intensive exotic crops.
2. Free electricity policy for farmers.
3. Encroachment and loss of green cover around recharge lakes.
4. Lack of local predictive models for borewell failure.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

✅ Correct Answer: (d)

ℹ️ Explanation: All four points are explicitly mentioned as reasons for water depletion or key problems faced:

• "Agricultural Practices: These are water-intensive, demanding excessive groundwater extraction."
• "Policy and Infrastructure Gaps: Free electricity for farmers → over-extraction without economic disincentive."
• "Climate and Land Use: Despite heavy rains, recharge lakes remain dry due to: Encroachment, Loss of green cover, Destruction of recharge channels."
• "Governance Crisis: No local predictive models for borewell failure → policy blindness."

🎯 Question No. 3

With reference to INS Tamal, recently commissioned into the Indian Navy, consider the following statements:

1. It is the first indigenously built major warship under the 'Make in India' initiative.
2. It is part of the Talwar-class frigates (Project 1135.6).
3. It is equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

✅ Correct Answer: (b)

ℹ️ Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The text states, "It is the last foreign-built major warship to be inducted into the Indian Navy, aligning with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India policies aimed at defence indigenisation."
• Statement 2 is correct: The text states, "INS Tamal is part of the Talwar-class frigates (Project 1135.6)."
• Statement 3 is correct: The text states, "Equipped with: Dual-role BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles."

🎯 Question No. 4

The Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, recently approved by the Union Cabinet, aims to provide long-term concessional finance primarily to which sector for scaling R&D?

(a) Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)

(b) Private Sector

(c) Government Research Institutions

(d) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in R&D

✅ Correct Answer: (b)

ℹ️ Explanation: The text clearly states, "A national initiative to provide long-term concessional finance to the private sector for scaling research, development, and innovation (RDI)."

🎯 Question No. 5

Consider the following statements regarding the newly approved Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme and Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme:

1. The RDI Scheme has a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore and focuses on sunrise sectors like semiconductors and green energy.
2. The ELI Scheme primarily targets first-time employees with monthly salaries up to ₹1 lakh.
3. Both schemes are administered by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

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

✅ Correct Answer: (a)

ℹ️ Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The "Key Features of the RDI Scheme" mentions, "Corpus: ₹1 lakh crore" and "Emphasis on sunrise sectors like: Semiconductors, Green energy..."
• Statement 2 is correct: The "Key Features of the ELI Scheme" states, "Targets youth with monthly salaries up to ₹1 lakh."
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Only the RDI Scheme is administered by the DST (with ANRF oversight). The ELI scheme is a "government initiative" to incentivize employment creation, but it is not stated to be administered by DST.