28 December 2023

Jaishankar meets Putin, says he is confident of return of annual summits

 External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed confidence that the annual India-Russia
leadership summit, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin
skipped for two years, would be held in 2024.
 Jaishankar, who met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials during his
visit to Moscow, highlighted the strong and steady nature of India-Russia relations.
 Russian President Putin mentioned during a meeting with Jaishankar that he would be glad to see
Prime Minister Modi in Russia, indicating a positive outlook for the bilateral ties.
 The visit has resulted in various agreements between India and Russia, covering areas such as
trade, connectivity, nuclear energy, military technology, and arms supplies.
 Both countries emphasize the strategic convergence, geopolitical interests, and mutually
beneficial aspects of their relationship.

Rajnath meets kin of dead civilians, promises justice

 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Jammu and Kashmir following a militant attack that killed
four soldiers and the subsequent deaths of three civilians due to alleged torture by the Army.
 Singh met with the families of the victims and assured them of an expeditious investigation and
justice.
 Addressing troops in Rajouri, Singh emphasized the need to win the hearts of the people while
combating terrorism.
 He directed soldiers to conduct operations based on hard intelligence, following established
procedures and using technology.
 The Defence Minister called the deaths unfortunate and stressed a zero-tolerance approach for
violations of standard operating procedures.
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Union govt. bans Muslim League J&K faction

 The Union Home Ministry declared the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) as
  The Union Home Ministry declared the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) as
an "unlawful association" under the anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for five years.
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on X that the organization is engaged in secessionist
activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Shekhawat to meet Haryana, Punjab CMs amid SYL row

 Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will hold a meeting with Chief Ministers of
Haryana and Punjab to address the longstanding Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) issue.
 The SYL canal issue has been a contentious matter between Punjab and Haryana for several years.
 Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will attend the
meeting.
 The canal project aims to facilitate the effective sharing of water between the two states from the
Ravi and Beas rivers, with a 214-kilometer canal planned.

Centre hikes copra MSP by ₹250-₹300 per quintal for 2024

 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has decided to increase the Minimum Support
Price (MSP) for copra in 2024.
 The new MSP for milling copra will be ₹11,160 per quintal, a ₹300 increase from the 2023 season.
 The MSP for ball copra will be ₹12,000 per quintal, marking a ₹250 per quintal increase.
 The rate changes will be effective from the upcoming year.
 Despite global decreases in copra prices, the decision ensures an MSP at least 50% higher than the
production cost.
 The new rates will provide a margin of 51.84% for milling copra and 63.26% for ball copra.
About Milling copra and Ball copra
 Milling copra is used for oil extraction, while ball/edible copra is consumed as a dry fruit and for
religious purposes.
 Major producers of milling copra include Kerala and Tamil Nadu, while Karnataka is a
predominant producer of ball copra.
 In 2023, the government procured over 1.33 lakh metric tonnes of copra at a cost of ₹1,493
crore.

Indian banks’ asset quality improved to decadal high: RBI

  The Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) ratio of Indian scheduled commercial banks (SCBs)
improved, reaching a decadal low of 3.2% at end-September 2023, down from 3.9% at end-March
2023.
 Around 45% of the reduction in GNPAs during 2022-23 came from recoveries and upgradations.
 The consolidated balance sheet of SCBs (excluding Regional Rural Banks) grew by 12.2% in
2022-23, the highest in nine years.
 Bank credit recorded its fastest pace of expansion in more than a decade, driving the growth in
the asset side of the balance sheet.
 The capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR) of SCBs was 16.8% at end-September 2023,
meeting regulatory requirements.
 The common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio requirement was also met by all bank groups.
 Urban co-operative banks (UCBs) experienced a 2.3% expansion in their balance sheet in 2022-23,
driven by loans and advances.
 The consolidated balance sheet of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) expanded by 14.8% in
2022-23, with double-digit credit growth.
 Profits and asset quality of NBFCs improved, and the sector remained well-capitalized with Capital
to Risk (Weighted) Asset Ratio (CRAR) higher than regulatory requirements.
 The RBI emphasized the need for banks to guard against credit losses in the future, although
higher capital buffers and provision coverage ratios provide cushions.
 Qualitative metrics such as enhanced disclosures, a strong code of conduct, and clear governance
structures are recommended for financial stability.
 Despite global uncertainties, the RBI stated that the Indian banking system is well-positioned to
improve further.

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Unjust and unwise

Counterinsurgency in J&K must not target civilians indiscriminately
[editorial]
 Recent events in the Pir Panjal Valley in Jammu and Kashmir raised concerns about counter-
insurgency tactics.
 Security forces faced militant attacks, resulting in the death of soldiers and subsequent operations
in the Pir Panjal region.
 Allegations surfaced that civilians were tortured by the Army in response to the militant ambush.
 The incident included the death of three civilians and injuries to five others, leading to public
outrage.
 Indiscriminate violence targeting civilians can increase discontent and erode support for the
government in a region without recent elections.
 Militants aim to provoke security forces into rights violations to garner public support.
 Security forces' actions must be just and precise to maintain legitimacy and prevent an escalation
of militancy.
 The J&K police registered a murder case, and the Army initiated an inquiry, emphasizing the need
for swift and firm justice.
 The incident highlights challenges with the security-centric approach and the importance of a
balanced strategy in the region.
 balanced strategy in the region.

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Will SLIM revolutionise lunar landings?

[Text and Context]

The story so far:

 Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) entered orbit around the moon on December
25.
 SLIM is scheduled for a moon-landing attempt on January 19, aiming to be the fifth country to
soft-land a robotic craft on the moon.
 India achieved success with its Chandrayaan-3 mission in August, soft-landing a robotic craft on
the moon.
 The outcome of SLIM's mission will influence the planning and execution of India's upcoming
Chandrayaan-4 mission.
 The Chandrayaan-4 mission is anticipated to benefit from insights gained by SLIM's activities on
the moon.

What is SLIM?
 SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) is a spacecraft developed and launched by the Japan
Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
 It was launched on September 7, 2023, from the Tanegashima spaceport alongside the XRISM X-
ray space telescope.
 SLIM's launch was initially planned for 2021 but was delayed due to XRISM readiness, leading to its
launch in 2023.
 The spacecraft's weight at launch was 590 kg, significantly smaller than Chandrayaan-3, which
weighed 3,900 kg.
 SLIM entered an elliptical orbit around the moon on December 25, with an apogee (farthest point)
of 4,000 km and perigee (closest point) of 600 km above the lunar surface.
 The mission aims to soft-land on the moon, making Japan the fifth country to achieve this feat if
successful.
 SLIM's launch closely followed the success of the surface component of India's Chandrayaan-3
mission and preceded Russia's Luna 25 spacecraft failure.
 It marks Japan's second attempt in 2023 to soft-land on the moon, following the unsuccessful
landing of the HAKUTO-R M1 lander in April.

How did SLIM get to the moon?

 SLIM is lighter due to carrying much less fuel compared to Chandrayaan-3.
 Chandrayaan-3, with a total weight of 3.9 tonnes, had a propulsion module alone weighing 2.1
tonnes.
 The mission's lighter payload allowed it to follow a fuel-thrifty route based on weak-stability
boundary theory, taking four months to reach the moon.
 SLIM, following a different trajectory, swung around the Earth multiple times, building kinetic
energy, and shot up towards the moon's orbit.
 energy, and shot up towards the moon's orbit.
 Unlike Chandrayaan-3, SLIM did not apply brakes to slow down near the moon. Instead, it allowed
itself to be deflected toward the moon's direction, moving past lunar orbit and deeper into space.
 This deflection was achieved through the combined forces exerted by the Earth and the moon, a
trajectory similar to the one used in the late 1980s for the JAXA mission 'Hiten.'

What will SLIM do on the moon?

 SLIM entered orbit around the moon on December 25 after following a fuel-efficient trajectory
that sacrificed time.
 SLIM, known as the "moon sniper," will attempt to land within 100 meters of its chosen landing
site on January 19.
 This landing precision is remarkable, considering historical moon-landing missions allowed for
greater deviations.
 The landing site is near the Shioli Crater, at 13.3° S and 25.2° E, and SLIM will use data from JAXA's
SELENE orbiter for guidance.
 SLIM's lower mass (120 kg excluding fuel) and small size contribute to its maneuverability and
economical design.
 Before landing, SLIM will deploy two small rovers called Lunar Excursion Vehicle (LEV) 1 and 2 to
study the lunar surface, collect data on temperature and radiation, and attempt to study the
moon's mantle.

How will SLIM affect Chandrayaan-4?

 Scientists focus on the moon's South Pole region due to areas in constant shadow, offering low
temperatures and water-ice deposits.
 Chandrayaan-3 marked the completion of the second phase of ISRO's lunar exploration, and the
upcoming Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission, or Chandrayaan-4, is the first of the third
phase.
 LUPEX, an Indian-Japan joint venture (pending India's approval), is set to launch in 2026, exploring
an area closer to the moon's South Pole.
 The rocky and crater-filled terrain near the moon's poles presents challenges for landing, requiring
precise downrange and cross-range limits.
 JAXA's SLIM mission will test technologies crucial for LUPEX, including a feature-matching
algorithm and navigation systems.
 LUPEX's success depends on collaboration, with JAXA providing the launch vehicle and lunar rover,
and India contributing the lander module.
 The landing site for LUPEX is yet to be determined, with a focus on achieving a closer landing than
Chandrayaan-3's 600 km from the South Pole.