Green Hydrogen, Maritime Security, DPDP Act I UPSC News 28 July 2025
Green Hydrogen, Maritime Security, DPDP Act | UPSC News 28 July 2025
Table of Contents
GS Paper III: National Green Hydrogen Mission
Overview and Objectives
India's National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), launched in January 2023, represents a pivotal step in the nation's commitment to clean energy and decarbonization. The overarching objective of the mission is to position India as a "Global Hub for production, usage and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives". This ambitious goal is deeply intertwined with India's aim to achieve Aatmanirbhar (self-reliance) in clean energy. By 2030, the mission projects the development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) per annum, supported by an associated renewable energy capacity addition of approximately 125 GW. This scale of development is anticipated to attract over Rs. Eight lakh crore in total investments and create more than Six lakh jobs.
Production Methods and Technologies
Green hydrogen is defined as hydrogen produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable electricity sources like solar or wind power. This distinguishes it from "grey hydrogen" (from fossil fuels) and "blue hydrogen" (fossil fuels with carbon capture). The three primary types of electrolyzers are:
- Alkaline Electrolysis: The most mature technology, using an alkaline solution. It is cost-effective but requires expensive materials like nickel and platinum.
- Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Electrolysis: An advanced method using a solid polymer membrane, offering higher efficiency but at a higher cost due to precious metal catalysts.
- Solid Oxide Electrolysis: Operates at high temperatures (700°C-1000°C) with a solid ceramic electrolyte. It is highly efficient but complex and expensive.
The NGHM defines green hydrogen as having a well-to-gate emission of not more than 2kg carbon dioxide equivalent per kg hydrogen.
Strategic Interventions and Financial Incentives
A key component of the mission is the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme, with an outlay of ₹17,490 crore up to 2029-30. It includes incentives for domestic manufacturing of electrolyzers and for the production of green hydrogen. The mission also supports the development of "Green Hydrogen Hubs" and facilitates a public-private partnership framework for R&D named Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership (SHIP).
Challenges and Opportunities
Challenges include high capital expenditure, expensive production processes compared to conventional hydrogen, and infrastructure limitations for storage and transport. Safety concerns are also paramount due to hydrogen's high flammability. However, opportunities are substantial. Government incentives, projected cost reductions, India's cheap renewable electricity, and a lower GST rate (5%) enhance cost-competitiveness. The mission's phased implementation and potential for deployment in hard-to-abate sectors like steel and shipping present vast opportunities.
International Collaborations
Key collaborations include the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Roadmap and partnerships with the European Union (EU). A notable project is the $1.3 billion initiative to convert Andhra Pradesh's Mulapeta port into a global hub for green hydrogen and clean ammonia exports by 2029. These collaborations are crucial for technology transfer and overcoming financial constraints.
Economic and Environmental Implications
Economically, the mission aims to reduce fossil fuel imports by over Rs. One lakh crore by 2030 and create over six lakh jobs. Environmentally, it is a cornerstone of India's climate strategy, aiming to abate nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. This contributes directly to India's "Panchamrit" pledge made at COP26, including the net-zero emissions target by 2070.
GS Paper II: India's Evolving Maritime Security Strategy
The Indo-Pacific: A Geopolitical and Economic Nexus
The Indo-Pacific region, spanning from Africa's east coast to the Americas' west coast, is a focal point of global geopolitics and economics. It hosts over 65% of the world's population and accounts for 63% of global GDP. Over 80% of the world's maritime trade transits through its waterways, including the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea. For India, 90% of its trade by volume passes through this region. Strategically, the region is marked by power competition, particularly China's growing assertiveness and its "Nine-Dash Line" claim and "String of Pearls" strategy.
India's Vision and Strategic Imperatives
India advocates for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. A foundational element of its strategy is the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) doctrine, announced in 2015. SAGAR focuses on security, capacity building, collective action, and sustainable development. This is complemented by the "Act East Policy," which deepens engagement with Southeast Asian nations, including in maritime security.
Key Maritime Security Challenges
Challenges in the Indo-Pacific are both traditional and non-traditional:
- Traditional Threats: Great power rivalry, territorial disputes (e.g., South China Sea), and naval arms races.
- Non-Traditional Threats: Piracy, armed robbery, Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, maritime terrorism, environmental degradation, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
India's Initiatives and Collaborations
India has undertaken several initiatives:
- Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad): Collaboration with the US, Japan, and Australia to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. A key initiative is the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA), launched in 2022 to combat illicit maritime activities.
- Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR): Hosted by the Indian Navy in Gurugram, it enhances maritime domain awareness by sharing information with partner nations.
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): India acts as a first responder in the region, exemplified by operations like "Mission Sagar".
- Bilateral and Trilateral Exercises: Joint exercises with partners like France, Madagascar, and Tanzania to enhance interoperability.
Role of Major Maritime Security Groupings
Besides the Quad, other key groupings include the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), which fosters defense cooperation, and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a voluntary initiative of littoral states' navies to enhance maritime security cooperation.
GS Paper II: Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
Genesis and Evolution of Data Protection in India
The journey towards a data protection law began with the landmark Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India judgment in 2017, which affirmed the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21. This led to the formation of the Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee. After several drafts and consultations, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) was enacted in August 2023. It is India's first cross-sectoral law on personal data protection, aiming to balance individual privacy rights with the state's need to process data for lawful purposes.
Key Provisions of the Act
- Data Fiduciary and Data Principal: A Data Fiduciary is the entity that determines the purpose of data processing, while the Data Principal is the individual to whom the data relates.
- Consent-Based Processing: Personal data must be processed only after obtaining explicit, informed, and freely given consent.
- Legitimate Uses: The Act allows data processing without explicit consent for certain "legitimate uses," such as fulfilling legal obligations or providing government services.
- Obligations on Data Fiduciaries: They must ensure data accuracy, implement security safeguards, and notify the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI) and affected individuals of any data breach within 72 hours.
- Cross-Border Data Transfer: The Act allows data transfer to countries notified by the Central Government, aiming to facilitate global business operations.
Powers and Functions of the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI)
The DPBI is the regulatory authority established under the Act. Its key functions include monitoring compliance, imposing penalties (up to ₹250 Crore per violation), investigating data breaches, and adjudicating complaints. It is designed as a digital-first body to ensure speedy and accessible resolution of disputes. Appeals against DPBI decisions lie with the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).
Criticisms and Concerns
The Act faces criticism for granting broad exemptions to the government, potentially enabling a surveillance state. Changes to the Right to Information (RTI) Act are seen as undermining transparency. Concerns also exist about the independence of the DPBI, given the short tenure of its members. The omission of rights like data portability and the right to be forgotten is also a point of contention.
GS Paper III: Himalayan Glacial Melt
The Accelerating Glacier Meltdown
The Himalayan region, often called the "Third Pole," holds the largest ice concentration outside the polar regions and feeds major rivers like the Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra, supporting over 1.3 billion people. These glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate, warming at twice the global average. This is driven by global warming, changing precipitation patterns, and deposition of black carbon. The rapid melt increases river runoff temporarily but heightens the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and long-term water scarcity.
Impacts on Water Security and Disasters
Glacial melt has severe consequences:
- Water Security: Reduced freshwater availability, disrupted river flows, and threats to food and energy security (hydropower).
- Disaster Risks: A significant increase in the frequency and intensity of GLOFs. The 2021 Chamoli tragedy and the 2023 Teesta-III dam breach in Sikkim are recent examples. Over 100 dams in Himalayan states are at risk.
India's National Adaptation Strategies
India's response is primarily under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), launched in 2008. The key mission is the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE), which focuses on monitoring, research, capacity building, and policy formulation. Disaster preparedness measures include new guidelines by the Central Water Commission (CWC) for GLOF risk mitigation and the development of Early Warning Systems (EWS).
Regional Cooperation Initiatives: SAARC, BIMSTEC, and ICIMOD
Addressing this transboundary issue requires regional cooperation.
- SAARC: Has frameworks like the Thimphu Statement on Climate Change (2010), but progress is hindered by political differences.
- BIMSTEC: Focuses on disaster management and recently adopted the Bangkok Vision 2030, which includes the "mountain economy" as a key cooperation area.
- ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development): A key knowledge center promoting science diplomacy, data sharing, and transboundary water management initiatives in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region.
Mains Practice Questions
Q1. "India's National Green Hydrogen Mission is a critical step towards energy security and climate mitigation, yet it faces significant technological and financial hurdles. Analyze the mission's objectives, its strategic interventions to overcome these challenges, and the broader implications for India's sustainable development goals." (250 words)
Q2. "The Indo-Pacific region, while a hub of global economic activity, is increasingly characterized by complex maritime security challenges. Discuss India's strategic vision and key initiatives to address these challenges, highlighting the role of multilateral groupings and the persistent obstacles to effective cooperation." (250 words)
Q3. "The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, is a landmark legislation in India's digital governance. Critically evaluate its key provisions, the powers vested in the Data Protection Board of India, and the criticisms surrounding its potential impact on individual privacy and transparency." (250 words)
Q4. "The rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers poses a multi-dimensional threat to water security and disaster management in South Asia. Analyze the causes and impacts of this phenomenon, and critically evaluate the effectiveness of national and regional cooperation mechanisms in addressing these challenges." (250 words)
Daily Quiz
Q1. Which of the following is the primary objective of India's National Green Hydrogen Mission?
(a) To increase fossil fuel imports.
(b) ✅ To become a global hub for green hydrogen production and export.
(c) To solely focus on domestic consumption of green hydrogen.
(d) To replace all renewable energy sources with green hydrogen.
Answer: B. The mission's overarching objective is to make India a "Global Hub for production, usage and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives".
Q2. The Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India judgment in 2017 is significant for:
(a) Establishing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India.
(b) ✅ Affirming the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right.
(c) Introducing the National Education Policy.
(d) Regulating foreign direct investment in India.
Answer: B. The landmark Supreme Court judgment declared the Right to Privacy an intrinsic part of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21.
Q3. The term "SAGAR" in India's foreign policy context primarily refers to:
(a) A bilateral trade agreement with Southeast Asian nations.
(b) ✅ A strategic initiative for maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
(c) An environmental conservation project in the Himalayan region.
(d) A cultural exchange program with African countries.
Answer: B. SAGAR stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region, which is India's geopolitical framework for maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean.
Q4. Which of the following is NOT a projected outcome of India's National Green Hydrogen Mission by 2030?
(a) Creation of over Six lakh jobs.
(b) Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports over Rs. One lakh crore.
(c) Development of 5 MMT green hydrogen production capacity.
(d) ✅ Increase in annual greenhouse gas emissions by 50 MMT.
Answer: D. The mission aims to ABATE (reduce) nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions, not increase them.
Q5. The phenomenon of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the Himalayas is primarily caused by:
(a) Increased seismic activity in the region.
(b) ✅ Rapid retreat and melting of glaciers due to climate change.
(c) Unregulated tourism activities near glacial lakes.
(d) Construction of large dams in mountainous areas.
Answer: B. GLOFs occur when the natural dams (ice or moraines) containing expanding glacial lakes fail, a direct consequence of accelerated melting from climate change.
Daily Flashcards
Sources
This article is compiled from information available in the public domain, primarily sourced from The Hindu, The Indian Express, Press Information Bureau (PIB), PRS India, and various government ministry websites (e.g., mnre.gov.in).
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