The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the southwest monsoon began its first entry into the Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Nicobar Islands. This is ahead of schedule, with heavy showers and thunderstorms predicted in central and southern India. Although the monsoon generally takes around 10 days to reach Kerala, no date of onset has yet been declared officially. India will receive more than normal rainfall this year, just like last year.

Key Points:

• The southwest monsoon has progressed over some areas of the south Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.

• Heavy to very heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning is forecast over Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

• The onset date of the monsoon over Kerala is likely to be declared later this month.

• India is predicted to see "above normal" monsoon rains this year, which is like the 8% above normal rains of 2023.

• Heavy rain also lies ahead for northeast India over the next five days.

Monsoon Seasons of India

• Southwest Monsoon:

  • Happens from June to September.

  • Brings seasonal rain, essential for agriculture in India.

  • Comes in two branches:

    • Arabian Sea branch: Comes in from the west.

    • Bay of Bengal branch: Comes in from the southeast.

• Retreating Monsoon:

  • Happens during October and November.

  • Characterized by clear skies and increasing temperatures.

  • Heavy rains in southern India were caused by cyclonic depressions.

  • Characterized by "October heat" and heavy rains in eastern parts.

Factors that Affect the Formation of the South-West Monsoon

• Differential Heating:

  • Land heats quicker than water, producing low pressure over land.

  • High pressure over oceans results in wind movement that brings moisture.

• Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ):

  • A region of low pressure close to the equator, moving with the sun.

  • Controls wind patterns and influences the strength of the monsoon.

• El Niño:

  • The reversal of pressure over the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean impacts rainfall.

  • Increased ocean temperature can lower rainfall.

• Tibetan Plateau:

  • Severe heating during summer produces strong air currents, which create low pressure in higher altitudes.

• Jet Streams:

  • The Easterly Jet helps bring the monsoon rains.

Mechanism of the Southwest Monsoon

• Onset: The ITCZ shifts north in June, enabling southeast trade winds to take up moisture from the Indian Ocean.

• Monsoon Branches:

  • Arabian Sea: Carries moisture over Western India.

  • Bay of Bengal: Carries moisture over Eastern India.

• Monsoon Trough: Over the Indo-Gangetic Plain, an area of low pressure develops and is related to rainfall.

Impact of Monsoons on Life in India

• Positive Impacts

• Agriculture:

  • About 64% of India's population relies on agriculture.

  • Timely rains are required for planting and reaping crops.

  • Used to recharge dams and reservoirs for water supply and hydro power.

• Regional Differences:

  • Different crops grow in different areas because of varying patterns of rain.

• Negative Effects

  • Unpredictable Rainfall:

    • Floods or droughts can happen because of unpredictable monsoon activity.

    • Heavy rains cause soil erosion and landslides.

  • Infrastructure Destruction:

    • Transportation and life get disrupted by floods and landslides, and economic loss is incurred.

Monsoon Prediction and Challenges

• Traditional Forecasting: IMD's earlier forecasts used snow cover to forecast monsoon results.

• Modern Forecasting: IMD employs numerical models and satellite information but continues to have problems with long-term forecasting because of data limitations and large uncertainty.

Recent Initiatives and Future Outlook

• Monsoon Mission (2012):

  • Focused on enhancing seasonal and intra-seasonal forecasting.

  • Delivers district-level agro-meteorological advisories to farmers.

• International Collaboration:

  • Indo-US Expedition (2018) for comprehending the Bay of Bengal's role in the monsoon.

  • National Supercomputing Mission to increase computing power for precise forecasts.

• Global Warming Impact:

  • Climate change is causing more unpredictable and intense rainfall, and more droughts in certain areas.

Way Forward:

• Water storage for irrigation and hydropower to enhance food security.

• Investment in improved prediction models and timely advisories for sustainable agriculture.

Conclusion:

The progress of the southwest monsoon into the Andaman Sea marks the start of a possibly heavy monsoon season, with southern India getting substantial rainfall. The forecast of more-than-usual rainfall will be good news for agriculture but also carry threats like flooding and landslides. Monitoring and preparedness are essential to offset negative effects on infrastructure and livelihoods, especially in flood-vulnerable regions.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a high-level review meeting of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). He also called for targeted interventions, with a focus on technology-based outreach and data analytics. The target is for early TB diagnosis and treatment among vulnerable groups, such as workers in high-risk occupations. The Prime Minister underlined the achievement of 18% decline in TB incidence in India between 2015-2023.

Key Points:

• PM Modi stresses targeted interventions and technology to eliminate TB.

• Prioritizing the identification of high-risk groups like construction and mining workers.

• Heartening figures reveal a huge 18% decline in the incidence of TB in India during the period from 2015 to 2023.

• Upscaling diagnostic facilities, such as 8,540 NAAT and 87 culture/drug susceptibility testing labs.

• Public awareness and hygiene stressed as the main driver of TB elimination.

About Tuberculosis (TB)

• Definition: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mostly infects the lungs but can infect other parts of the body as well, like the abdomen, glands, bones, and nervous system.

• Transmission: TB is transmitted through air, primarily when small droplets from the cough or sneezes of an infected person with TB are breathed in.

Types of TB

Symptoms of TB

• Cough that lasts longer than 3 weeks, sometimes with blood.

• Weight loss, night sweats, high fever, tiredness.

• Loss of appetite, chest pain, swollen lymph nodes.

Treatment & Prevention

• Curable with Antibiotics: Takes 6-18 months of medication.

• BCG Vaccine: Offers moderate protection, primarily for severe TB in children and infants.

Key Highlights of TB in India

• Declining TB Incidence: Tuberculosis incidence in India fell to less than 200 per lakh (2022) from 237 per lakh (2015), a 16% reduction.

• Reduction in TB Mortality: TB-related deaths have decreased by 18% since 2015, now at 23 per lakh population.

Improved Treatment Success Rates:

• MDR-TB Treatment Success Rate: 74%.

• Pre-XDR-TB Success Rate: 68%.

• XDR-TB Success Rate: 45%

State-Wise TB Performance Index

• Best Performing States: Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat.

• Lowest Performing States: Punjab, Bihar, Karnataka.

Conclusion:

India has progressed considerably in lowering TB incidence and mortality, and treatment success rates have been improving continuously. Sustaining such progress and attaining the target of TB elimination is made possible by targeting interventions, analysis of data, and public engagement. The initiatives taken by the government, especially to increase diagnostic facilities, play a pivotal role in addressing this chronic health problem.

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Read the following statements about Tuberculosis (TB) in India:

• TB is caused by a virus that acts mainly on the respiratory system.
• India has committed to eliminating TB by 2025.
• The BCG vaccine provides good lifelong immunity against TB across all ages.

Which of the above given statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Q.1 "India's war against Tuberculosis needs to transcend medicine to be a movement based on public education, targeted outreach, and technological interventions."  Analyze the strategies and achievements under the National TB Elimination Programme with reference to recent trends. (250 words)

The Indian Army launched Operation Keller on May 13, 2025, in the Keller forest region of Shopian district, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation was a counter-terror operation to neutralize militants who carried out the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists. The operation was sparked by Operation Sindoor's success because intelligence reports opened the way for tracking LeT operatives who were hiding in the area.

Key Points

• Launch Date: 13 May, 2025.

• Objective: Operation Keller aimed to neutralize LeT terrorists located in the Shopian Keller area.

• Leadership & Execution:

  • Conducted by Rashtriya Rifles units, assisted possibly by J&K Police and CRPF.

• Terrorist Casualties:

  • Three LeT terrorists were killed in a hot gunfire duel within dense forest cover.

  • Their bodies were recovered from undergrowth.

• Identified Terrorists:

  • Hussain Thokar (localite resident from Anantnag).

  • Ali Bhai (also Talha Bhai, alleged Pakistani terrorist).

  • Hasim Musa (alias Suleiman, also alleged Pakistani terrorist).

Operation Keller: A Follow-Up to Operation Sindoor

• Operation Keller is regarded as an important counter-terror operation after Operation Sindoor, which was initiated following the attack at Pahalgam.

• The operation is a part of India's robust counter-terrorism campaign in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror strike and follow-up attacks on terror targets across the border.

Conclusion:

Operation Keller is a major achievement for the Indian Army in its battle against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The neutralisation of important militants highlights India's determination to improve security in the region and take aggressive measures against militant outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba.

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. The following statements about Operation Keller (2025) are:

• It was initiated in Jammu & Kashmir's Anantnag district.
• The operation was to neutralize the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack.
• Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives were targeted by the operation.

Which of the above given statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Q.1 Operation Keller represents a strategic turn in India's counter-terrorism operations after the Pahalgam attack." Analyze, in this context, the changing dynamics of counter-terror operations in Jammu & Kashmir and the contribution of combined intelligence and military operations. (250 words)