SWAYAM Portal

SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) is India’s own MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course) platform, launched in 2017 as an initiative of the Ministry of Education.

Its objective is to bridge the digital divide for students who have so far remained untouched by the digital revolution and have been unable to join the mainstream of the knowledge-based economy.

It is an indigenous IT platform that ensures online availability of all courses taught from Class 9 up to Post-Graduation.

All these courses are prepared by the best teachers in the country and are freely available to all residents of India.

What is available on SWAYAM?

• Courses from Class 9 to Post-Graduation.
• Courses on SWAYAM are available in four quadrants:
  1. Video lectures
  2. Specially prepared study material (downloadable/printable)
  3. Self-assessment tests and quizzes
  4. Online discussion forums (for Q&A)

Categories of Courses – Engineering, Science, Humanities, Management, Languages, Mathematics, Arts & Recreation, Commerce, General, Library Science, Education.

• Courses are free, but for obtaining a certificate, students must register and pay a nominal fee upon successfully completing the course.
• At the end of each course, a proctored examination will be conducted, and the marks/grades can be added to the students’ academic records.
• UGC and AICTE have already issued the UGC (Credit Framework for Online Learning Courses through SWAYAM) Regulation, 2016, under which universities are directed to identify such courses whose credits can be transferred to students’ academic records.

National Coordinators of SWAYAM

• AICTE – For self-paced and international courses
• NPTEL – For Engineering
• UGC – For Non-technical Post-Graduate Education
• CEC – For Undergraduate Education
• NCERT – For School Education
• NIOS – For School Education
• IGNOU – For Out-of-school students
• IIMB (Bangalore) – For Management Studies
• NITTTR – For Teacher Training Programs
• INI (Institutes of National Importance) – For Non-technical courses

SWAYAM Plus Platform

• This platform offers courses developed in collaboration with industry.
• Its aim is to enhance employability of college students and lifelong learners.
• Programs will include sectors like Manufacturing, Energy, Computer Science & Engineering/IT/ITES, Management Studies, Healthcare, Hospitality & Tourism, and Indian Knowledge Systems.
• Key Features – Multilingual content (available in 12 major Indian languages), AI-enabled guidance, credit recognition, and employment opportunities.
• This platform will be operated by Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras).

Sakura Science Programme

Source: PIB

Context:
A delegation of 34 Indian students has departed for Japan to participate in the Sakura Science Programme 2025.

About the Sakura Science Programme

What is it?

• A youth exchange initiative, officially called the Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science.
• It is managed by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

Launch:

• Started by Japan in 2014.
• India joined in 2016 and has been an active participant since then.

Participating Countries:

• India, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and several other Asian countries.

Objectives:

• To promote scientific curiosity and a global outlook among youth.
• To foster cultural understanding and strengthen bilateral relations with Japan.
• To introduce young people to Japan’s scientific advancements and cultural traditions.
• To build a global network of future innovators and leaders.

Key Features:

• Short-term educational visits to Japan.
• Interaction of students with scientific institutions, universities, and research centers.
• Hands-on experience in science, technology, and innovation.
• Exposure to Japanese culture, discipline, and environmental ethics.

Mercury Sensor Made from E. coli (Escherichia coli)

Source: The Hindu

Context:
Scientists have engineered E. coli bacteria into a mercury sensor capable of detecting toxic metals in water.

What is it?

• A living biosensor created from genetically modified Escherichia coli bacteria.
• It converts the presence of mercury into an electrical signal, which can be read by simple electronic devices.
• Developed by researchers at Imperial College London and Zhejiang University.

Objective:

• To develop a low-cost, self-powered, and programmable biosensor.
• To detect harmful compounds such as heavy metals in water in real time.

How does it work?

• Scientists modified E. coli bacteria to act like tiny “detectors.”
• When these bacteria sense mercury in water, a special protein (MerR) gets activated.
• This protein instructs the bacteria to produce specific molecules (phenazines).
• These molecules touch the electrode and generate an electric current.
• The more mercury present → the stronger the current produced.
• This signal can be directly read by simple electronic devices.

Applications:

• Water Safety: Detecting heavy metals like mercury in drinking water.
• Environmental Monitoring: Tracking pollution in rivers, lakes, and industrial waste.
• Public Health: Early warning system for communities exposed to contaminated water.
• Low-Cost Electronics: Compatible with portable devices for field use.
• Synthetic Biology Research: Opening new pathways for programmable bioelectronics and smart diagnostics.

Honor Killings in India

Syllabus: Indian Society (Main Features, Diversity, Issues)
Source: The Hindu

Recent caste-based murders in Tamil Nadu and other states have reignited the debate on honor crimes (honor killings).

• These incidents reveal that families and community structures still legitimize violence in the name of caste and “honor.”

What is Honor Killing?

• Definition: The killing of an individual by family or community members when they marry or choose a partner outside caste, religion, or clan (gotra).
• Target: Most victims are inter-caste or inter-faith couples, especially cases where a Dalit man marries an upper-caste woman.
• Underlying Belief: Families claim they are protecting “honor,” but in reality, it is an attempt to preserve social control, hierarchy, and patriarchy.

Causes of Honor Killings

1. Caste and Community Pressure

• Endogamy (caste-based marriage) is a tool to preserve caste hierarchy.
• Families believe inter-caste marriages lower their “honor/status.”
• Example: Sharp backlash in Tamil Nadu against marriages involving Dalits.

2. Patriarchal Control

• Women’s autonomy (choosing a life partner) challenges male dominance.
• Families consider women the “bearers of family honor” and restrict their choices.

3. Economic and Social Interests

• Intra-caste marriages ensure dowry practices, property rights, and business ties remain secure.
• Inter-caste marriages threaten these interests.

4. Fear of Social Ostracism

• Families fear humiliation or expulsion from caste networks.
• Honor killings serve as a “deterrent” to other young couples.

5. Khap and Caste Panchayats

• In regions like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, caste panchayats issue diktats against inter-caste marriages.
• Such bodies legitimize violence and weaken the rule of law.

6. Weak Law Enforcement

• Police often avoid clashing with powerful caste groups.
• Lack of protection makes couples more vulnerable.

Consequences

1. Violation of Fundamental Rights
   • Direct attack on Article 21 (Right to Life and Dignity) and Article 19 (Freedom of Choice).
2. Gender Injustice
   • Women disproportionately face violence as they are seen as symbols of community honor.
3. Perpetuation of Casteism
   • Instead of weakening caste, honor crimes reinforce the caste system.
4. Threat to Democracy and Rule of Law
   • When parallel caste panchayats override constitutional courts, democracy is undermined.
5. Psychological and Social Fear
   • Youth face trauma, insecurity, and hesitation in marrying outside caste/religion.

Legal and Constitutional Provisions

Constitutional Provisions:

• Article 14: Equality before law.
• Article 15: Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of caste, religion, sex, etc.
• Article 19: Freedom of choice and association.
• Article 21: Right to life and personal liberty.

Statutory Provisions:

• Indian Penal Code (now Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita – BNS):
  • Section 103: Murder / culpable homicide.
  • Section 109: Attempt to murder.
  • Section 61: Conspiracy.
• Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 – safeguard marital autonomy.

Proposed Law:

• Prevention of Crimes in the Name of Honour Bill – seeks to explicitly criminalize honor killings.

Judicial Stand

• Lata Singh vs. State of Uttar Pradesh (2006): SC upheld inter-caste marriage as a valid exercise of freedom.
• Arumugam Servai vs. State of Tamil Nadu (2011): SC declared khap diktats unconstitutional and illegal.
• Shakti Vahini vs. Union of India (2018): Landmark judgment directing states to:
  • Establish safe houses for couples.
  • Monitor unlawful caste assemblies.
  • Punish officials who fail to prevent honor crimes.

Way Forward

1. Special Law on Honor Crimes
   • Enact a dedicated law with stringent punishments and police accountability.
2. Strengthening Law Enforcement
   • Train police to handle cases sensitively.
   • Fast-track courts and witness protection for couples.
3. Community Reforms
   • Engage caste and religious leaders in awareness campaigns.
   • Promote inter-caste marriages as socially beneficial.
4. Safe Houses and Support Systems
   • Expand government shelters with counseling, legal aid, and financial support.
5. Educational and Digital Awareness
   • Programs on constitutional morality in schools/colleges.
   • Use social media to challenge caste pride and share success stories of inter-caste marriages.
6. Incentives for Inter-Caste Marriages
   • Strengthen Dr. Ambedkar Social Integration Scheme with financial and social security support.

Revival of Coral Reefs in the Gulf of Mannar

Syllabus: Environment
Source: The Hindu

Coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, are reviving due to nearly two decades of scientific restoration efforts.

• Coral reefs are marine ecosystems formed from calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals.
• They are called the “rainforests of the sea” because they:
  • Support about 25% of marine biodiversity.
  • Protect coastlines from erosion.
  • Provide livelihood through fisheries and eco-tourism.
• Gulf of Mannar Reefs: Spread across 21 islands, home to species such as Acropora, Montipora, Porites, etc.

Causes of Coral Degradation

1. Anthropogenic Causes:

• Coral mining (1960–1990).
• Overfishing and destructive fishing practices, pollution.
• Coastal development and sedimentation.

2. Climate Change Causes:

• Rising sea surface temperature → mass coral bleaching (2010, 2016).
• Ocean acidification lowering coral resilience.

Coral Restoration Efforts in Gulf of Mannar

• Led by SDMRI (Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute) and Tamil Nadu Forest Department since 2002.

Methods:

• Artificial bases – concrete frames, clay pots, cement slabs.
• Artificial reef modules – Triangular Artificial Reefs (TARs) and Perforated Trapezoidal Artificial Reefs (PTARs).
• Transplantation of 20 coral species; fast-growing Acropora species most successful.

Scale:

• 51,183 coral fragments transplanted on 5,550 bases.
• Nearly 40,000 sq. meters of degraded reefs restored.

Outcomes

• Survival Rate: 55–79%, with some species up to 89%.
• Biodiversity: Coral recruitment in TARs rose from 1.23 (2004) to 24.77 (2020).
• Fish Density: Increased from 14.5 (per 250 sq. meters) in 2006 to 310 in 2020.

Challenges Facing Coral Reefs

• Frequent bleaching due to global warming: Rising sea surface temperatures stress corals, causing them to expel symbiotic algae, leading to mass mortality.
• High-cost and labor-intensive process: Coral transplantation and artificial reef building require trained divers, resources, and long-term monitoring.
• Dependence on fast-growing species: Over-reliance on Acropora may cause diseases and ecological imbalance.
• Ongoing pressures: Plastic pollution, coastal projects, mass tourism → marine debris, unregulated coastal expansion, and habitat destruction.

Way Ahead

• Expand restoration to other reef sites in India – Andaman, Lakshadweep, Lakhpat reefs.
• Engage local fishing communities as “reef guardians” – promote community-based conservation and sustainable fishing.
• Use technology – AI, drones, remote sensing for monitoring.
• Develop heat-resistant corals through assisted evolution.
• Strengthen global partnerships – under SDG-14 (Life Below Water) and the Paris Agreement.

Conclusion

The revival of corals in the Gulf of Mannar demonstrates that scientific innovation, policy support, and community participation can rescue marine ecosystems from crisis. It serves as a model of climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation. Continued efforts will ensure that India’s coral reefs remain not only an ecological heritage but also a vital source of livelihood for millions.