Lithium brine assets

Context:

• Coal India looks to Argentina for lithium brine assets

News:

• Coal India Ltd (CIL) has set its sights on Argentina as a destination in its strategic diversification into critical minerals, with a focus on lithium brine assets.

More info:

• Recognising the economic significance and strategic value of minerals like lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and others, the Maharatna Company has initiated steps to explore opportunities in key resource-rich nations such as Argentina, Australia and Chile.
• CIL’s foray into critical minerals is driven by the need to reduce its reliance on coal and align with global trends prioritising these minerals for clean energy technologies.
• Lithium brine is a concentrated salt solution that contains dissolved lithium and other minerals.
• Lithium is in great demand for its use in lithium-ion batteries, driven by the surging demand for electric vehicles.
• Critical minerals are essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced manufacturing, making them indispensable for India’s future industrial strategy.
• The Centre, last year, listed 30 minerals, including lithium, nickel, titanium, vanadium and tungsten, as critical to drive the adoption of clean energy.
• By venturing into the critical minerals business, CIL aims to secure a sustainable supply chain for these resources, supporting India’s transition to a greener economy while reinforcing its global presence.
• Argentina, with its rich lithium deposits, is poised to play a pivotal role in CIL’s critical minerals strategy, marking a significant milestone in the company’s diversification journey.
• Last week, Coal India Limited (CIL) and IREL (India) Limited signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development of critical minerals.
• This partnership aims to foster the development of critical minerals such as mineral sands and rare earth elements (REE).
• The two companies will join forces to acquire assets, source raw materials from domestic and international markets, and establish mining, extraction, and refining capabilities.

Is groundwater contamination high in India?

What are the contaminants? What happens if nitrate presence is high in groundwater?

Context:

• An assessment of India’s groundwater by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) found that several States are grappling with a serious problem of nitrate contamination.

Sources of contamination:

• The most concerning finding was that the number of districts with excessive nitrate in their groundwater rose from 359 in 2017 to 440 in 2023.
• This works out to nearly 56% of India’s districts having excessive nitrate in ground water, defined as having more than 45 mg/l (milligram per litre).
• Of the 15,239 groundwater samples collected from across the country for testing, 19.8% samples had nitrates – nitrogenous compounds – above safe limits though it must be said that this proportion has not substantially changed since 2017.
• In the 13,028 samples analysed in 2017 for instance, 21.6% had excessive nitrate.
• There are two major concerns with excess nitrate content: one is methemoglobinemia, or a reduced ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen.
• A bigger problem with excessive nitrates are environmental: once the nitrates in the groundwater rise to the surface and become part of lakes and ponds, algal blooms throttle the health of aquatic ecosystems.
• The most common contaminant identified in groundwater is dissolved nitrogen in the form of nitrate in sub-surface waters.
• Since, the nitrogen content of soil is generally quite low, farmers have to look for external sources of nitrogen by using ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, urea, diammonium hydrogen phosphate etc.
• Although nitrate is the main form in which nitrogen occurs in groundwater, dissolved nitrogen also occurs in the form of ammonium (NH4+), ammonia (NH3), nitrite (NO2-), nitrogen (N2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and organic nitrogen.

Places which had serious contamination:

• Rajasthan, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu reported the highest proportion of tested groundwater blocks with nitrate exceeding permissible levels – 49%, 48% and 37% of the tested samples respectively reported numbers beyond the limit.
• Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have a long-standing nitrate problem with relative levels fairly constant since 2017, the report says.
• However a growing concern are blocks in central and southern India, which are reporting an increasing trend, and therefore is a reason for worry.
• “Maharashtra (35.74%), Telangana (27.48%), Andhra Pradesh (23.5%) and Madhya Pradesh (22.58%) also show notable levels of nitrate contamination,” the report notes.

Is nitrate the only chemical contaminant?

• Other major chemical contaminants affecting groundwater quality are arsenic, iron, fluoride and uranium.
• Just as 19.8% samples of tested groundwater had excess nitrate, 9.04% of samples had fluoride levels above the limit.
• Fluoride concentrations exceeding the permissible limit were “a major concern” in Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• Rajasthan and Punjab reported the maximum number of samples with uranium concentration exceeding 100 ppb (parts per billion).
• Anything over 30 ppb is considered unsafe and several of these samples were predominant in regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, where groundwater was over-exploited: more water was being drawn out than replenished by rains or other means.

State of groundwater in 2024:

• Along with its report on groundwater quality, the organisation also produced a report on the quantity of groundwater in various blocks, enumerating the availability of groundwater across India.
• The CGWB estimates that on the whole, the country’s degree of groundwater extraction is 60.4%, or roughly the same as it has been through the years since 2009.
• About 73% of the blocks are in the ‘safe’ zone, meaning that they are replenished enough to compensate for water drawn out.

Measurement of groundwater levels:

• The CGWB relies on a network of about 26,000 groundwater observation wells that require technicians to manually measure the state of groundwater in a region.
• Since 2023, however, around 16,000-17,000 digital water level recorders were connected to piezometers in the wells.
• Piezometers measure groundwater levels and transmit the information digitally to a centralised location.
• In the next three years, the CGWB aims to increase its network from the existing 26,000 to about 40,000.
• When combined with similar networks possessed by other institutions, India will have about 67,000 digitally recordable units to monitor ground water dynamics.

UPSC CSE Pre 2019:

• Nitrate contamination in groundwater is primarily due to:

1. Industrial effluents
2. Agricultural activities
3. Urban construction
4. Natural soil composition

• Ans: B
• Exp: Agricultural activities, especially the use of nitrogen-rich fertilizers, are a primary cause of nitrate contamination in groundwater.

UPSC Mains PYQ:

• “Analyze the environmental and socio-economic impacts of groundwater pollution in rural India.” (2020)

Teacher development in higher education

Why India needs to prioritise teacher development in higher education?

Introduction:

• Industry readiness is one of the graduate attributes in the outcome-based education framework.
• A recent revelation has exposed a critical factor in India’s higher education system: a staggering 80% of graduates are deemed not fitting for industry roles.
• With nearly 50 million graduates entering the workforce annually, this alarming statistic raises serious questions about the quality and relevance of our education system.
• While the tech industry often dominates the conversation, India’s workforce is predominantly employed in sectors like services, construction, retail, and healthcare.
• Despite the rapid evolution of technology, these sectors continue to generate the majority of job opportunities.
• For instance, the personal grooming industry alone demands nearly 1.3 million professionals annually, significantly surpassing the 3-4 lakh jobs added by the software industry each year.
• Even for engineering graduates, the Internet provides a wealth of resources like NPTEL, Coursera, and SWAYAM.
• So, why do industries continue to lament the lack of employability among the majority of graduates? The issue, it seems, runs deeper than a mere skills gap.
• India’s higher education system faces growing criticism for its theory-heavy curricula going slow for improving skill sets.
• Critics argue that graduates lack the practical skills and industry relevance necessary for modern jobs.
• To bridge this gap, universities are incorporating experiential learning, internships, and soft skills training.
• Government initiatives like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and platforms like SWAYAM and NPTEL aim to modernise education.
• However, the challenge remains: balancing academic rigour with industry demands to produce well-rounded graduates.

Major shift:

• India’s higher education has seen a major shift, with faculty influence on students noticeably waning.
• Regulatory bodies like the UGC and AICTE have introduced reforms to modernise education by integrating online courses into the curriculum.
• While these changes support scale and accessibility, they tend to weaken traditional teacher-student bonds.
• Everybody recalls at least one mentor who profoundly impacted their lives.
• However, the shift towards online learning reduces chances for deep, lasting connections with faculty, making mentorship increasingly rare.
• While online platforms offer vast resources, they cannot completely replace the personalised guidance and emotional support provided by dedicated teachers.
• The commercialisation of education, coupled with online tutoring, has further exacerbated the issue.
• The lack of nurturing from qualified and passionate teachers has hindered the growth of India’s education system and its ability to produce skilled graduates.
• This has significant implications for the country’s economic competitiveness and technological innovation.
• To revitalise India’s education system, it is imperative to prioritise teacher training, incentivise quality teaching, and create a supportive environment for both teachers and students.
• By investing in human capital, India can produce world-class scholars and innovators.

Way forward:

• India’s educational landscape, while embracing technological advancements, risks losing the invaluable human touch.
• The NEP 2020 is a step in the right direction, emphasising teacher quality and professional development.
• However, more substantial investments are needed to nurture a generation of passionate educators.
• By improving working conditions, providing adequate compensation, and fostering a supportive learning environment, India can ensure that teachers are empowered to inspire and guide students.
• Overlooking this human element could have unpleasant consequences.
• Countries like Argentina and Greece, despite producing highly educated individuals, have struggled with unemployment and economic stagnation.
• To avoid a similar trend, India has to prioritise teacher development and the cultivation of strong teacher-student relationships to equip its youth with not only knowledge but also the essential skills and mindset to thrive in the 21st century.

UPSC Mains PYQs:

• The crucial aspect of the development process has been the inadequate attention paid to Human Resource Development in India. Suggest measures that can address this inadequacy. (2023)
• National Education Policy 2020 conforms with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient the education system in India. Critically examine the statement. (2020)

Sonobuoy

Context:

• India-U.S. joint Sonobuoy production line by 2027

News:

• The final assembly of sonobuoys from the U.S., meant for detecting submarines underwater, will be done in India and an operational production line is expected to be ready in 2027.

Note:

• Sonobuoys, a niche technology, are very effective in detecting submarines lurking deep in the oceans.

More info:

• In a significant development, India and the U.S. last week announced the “first-of-its-kind partnership on co-production” of U.S. sonobuoys for Undersea Domain Awareness for the Indian Navy, a high-end technology that allows tracking of submarines in the deep seas and oceans.
• Workshare will be in line with the principles of Make in India.
• Final assembly will be done in India.
• Goal is to have an operational production line in 2027.
• These will be U.S.-specification sonobuoys equivalent to those used on the P-8 aircraft.
• The U.S.-based company (Ultra Maritime (UM)), a world-leader in the design and production of undersea warfare capabilities, has already stated that in line with the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) launched in May 2022, they will also pursue new sonobuoy technologies with BDL teams to optimise their acoustic performance in the unique environment of the Indian Ocean, enabling wide area search through bespoke multi-static active solutions.
• On the future outlook, Ultra Maritime said it was working with BDL to identify opportunities for Indian suppliers to enter its global supply chain.
• An Ultra Maritime statement issued last week had stated that the UM sonobuoys co-produced in India are interchangeable and interoperable between the U.S. Navy, Indian Navy and allied P-8, MH-60R and the MQ-9B Sea Guardian aircraft.
• The development is of particular significance as India has over the years acquired a series of military platforms from the U.S. that are also operated by other countries in the region, especially Australia and Japan, which too are part of the Quad grouping and also hold the Malabar naval exercise.
• These sonobuoys are dropped from aircraft and helicopters.
• India is also pursuing another technology – sensors embedded on the ocean bed – and recently some progress has been made as a few Indian start-ups showcased the technology that is now undergoing trials.
• As China undertakes massive expansion of its navy and also its presence in the Indian Ocean, undersea domain awareness has become critical and Indian Navy has been collaborating with countries on the region, especially the Quad group.
• Indian Navy operates the P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft, is inducting the MH-60R multi-role helicopters and has two MQ-9A armed High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems on lease.