At 156.87%, groundwater extraction highest in Punjab: Report
The report, released ahead of World Environment Day on June 5 by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth, highlights that over 75% of Punjab's blocks are classified as overexploited, with groundwater extraction soaring to 156.87%—the highest in the country.
Punjab also faces widespread contamination of its groundwater with toxic elements such as uranium, arsenic, and nitrate, affecting nearly all its districts, according to the report.
The number of districts with groundwater levels deeper than 40 metres rose from three in 2014 to 11 in 2024 in Punjab, while those with shallower water tables have declined.
Punjab also suffers from severe contamination issues. Nine of its 23 districts show abnormal salinity levels; 17 report fluoride anomalies; uranium contamination affects 20 districts; nitrate and iron pollutants appear in 20 and 18 districts, respectively; and arsenic contamination is present in 12 districts, according to the report.
The report further said that Punjab, alongside Ladakh, ranks lowest in the country for tree and forest cover.
At the national level, India, according to the report, has witnessed a decline in agricultural land from 62.33% in 1952-53 to 58.69% in 2022-23, driven by population growth, rapid urbanisation, and industrialisation. Irrigation has increasingly shifted towards tubewell dependence, rising from 0.55% in 1960-61 to 43.34% in 2022-23, with Punjab among 10 states relying almost entirely on tubewells for irrigating farmland.
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Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Anti-Defection Law, Linguistic division of states and Myanmar junta
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 1, 2025. If you missed the July 31, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Sense in Govt: Stay calm amid headwinds, not get pushed into 'bad deal' Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: Indications are that the outer limit for a deal with the US, currently pegged at around October from New Delhi's perspective, could be brought forward, if fresh negotiations are positive from India's point of view. Key Points to Ponder: • Why India's assumptions like preferential tariff differentials and respect for its traditional trade redlines were upended by Trump's abrupt tariff-plus-penalty announcement? • What are the projected economic impact as per economists? • Know the rationale behind India's strategic logic in refusing to rush exports-based trade negotiations. • Why is a 'bad deal' seen as more damaging than temporary tariff impact? • 'India's policy of balancing strategic autonomy (e.g. Russia defence ties) with trade expediency'-what are the long-term trade-offs? Key Takeaways: • Amid all the upheaval thrown up by Donald Trump's tariff blitzkrieg, there are some assumptions that the Indian government had implicitly factored in: —That a bilateral trade deal, like all deals, would involve some give and take; that Washington DC will maintain a differential of 10-20 per cent in tariffs between China and countries such as India; —That the American side would be cognizant of India's traditional redlines that have endured for decades, including concerns over GM food crops and the need to safeguard the interest of the country's vast subsistence-level manufacturing base that has an oversized contribution to the country's labour-intensive exports. • All those assumptions are now under a cloud, as policymakers in New Delhi grapple with Trump's statement announcing a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods from August 1, alongside an additional but unspecified 'penalty' for its defence and energy imports from Russia. Do You Know: • From India's perspective, a deal needs to be clinched precisely for ensuring the gap in tariffs between India and China is maintained, even with a limited early-harvest type of deal. New Delhi did back out at the last minute from signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (a trade deal among Asia-Pacific countries including China) given the sensitivities of agri livelihoods. • There is, however, greater receptiveness now within India's policy circles to cut tariffs on some industrial goods, alongside a willingness to grant concessions in sectors such as public procurement and agri provided these are matched by the other side, like in the case of the UK deal. • India has indicated its willingness to import more from the US, especially in three big-ticket sectors – defence equipment, fossil fuels and nuclear – to manage Trump's constant references to the trade gap. • There is also an understanding in sections of the Indian government that the US has historically maintained an open stance on trade, which fostered decades of globalisation that benefited everybody, including America. • China is the largest buyer of Russian oil, at about 2 million barrels per day, followed by India (just under 2 million a day) and Turkey. China had agreed to cut tariffs on US goods to 10 per cent from 125 per cent in May, while the US had agreed to lower tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 per cent from 145 per cent. • New Delhi is closely tracking the final American duty offer on China, given its belief that Trump will maintain a tariff differential. US and Chinese officials wrapped up two days of discussions in Stockholm with no breakthrough announced. • For Indian negotiators, extra tariffs on steel and aluminium, over and above the baseline, is an added complication, alongside the proposed BRICS tariff. New 50 per cent tariffs on copper products from August 1 is yet another problem for India, which exported $2 billion worth of copper and copper products globally in 2024-25, with the US accounting for 17 per cent of that amount. Trump's insistence on zero duty access to the Indian markets, like in its deals with Vietnam and Indonesia, is yet another problem for India. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍On tariffs, a what-if story 📍Surprise 25%+ US tariff could pull down India's GDP growth below 6% EXPRESS NETWORK 10 BRS MLAs' disqualification: SC gives Speaker 3 months to decide Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. What's the ongoing story: The Supreme Court noted that Parliament needs to examine whether the current mechanism of assigning the Speaker the responsibility of deciding on the disqualification of legislators who defect is sufficient. Key Points to Ponder: • What are Articles 122 and 212 of the Constitution of India? • Which constitutional amendment introduced the Anti-Defection Law? • What was the key criticism the Court made regarding the Speaker's delay? • Under Tenth Schedule, who decides defection cases? • 'Supreme Court's rationale in setting a strict timeline for speaker decisions under the Anti-Defection Law'-Discuss • Know the role of the Telangana Speaker in the delay of disqualification petitions. • How the 52nd and 91st Constitutional Amendments shape the exercise of disqualification powers? • What is the Kihoto vs Zachillhu case? • What Supreme Court of India said in Kihoto Hollohan case (1993)? • What Supreme Court said in the SR Bommai case (1994) with respect to Defection? • Compare the Telangana case with other defection crises. Key Takeaways: • DIRECTING THE Speaker of the Telangana Assembly to decide within three months petitions seeking disqualification of 10 BRS MLAs who had switched to Congress following the November 2023 elections, the Supreme Court Thursday called upon Parliament 'to consider whether the mechanism of entrusting the Speaker/Chairman the important task of deciding the issue of disqualification on the ground of defection, is serving the purpose of effectively combating political defections or not'. • 'With the experience of over 30 years of working of the Tenth Schedule (dealing with the anti-defection law) to the Constitution, the question that we will have to ask ourselves is as to whether the trust which Parliament entrusted in the high office of the Speaker or the Chairman of avoiding delays in deciding the issue with regard to disqualification has been adhered to by the incumbents… or not?' • Recounting the various cases that have come up before it challenging the delay by the Speaker/Chairman in deciding disqualification petitions, the bench said, 'We need not answer this question, since the facts of the various cases we have referred to… themselves provide the answer.' • The BRS had initially moved the Telangana High Court, where a single-judge bench gave the Speaker four weeks to fix a schedule for hearing the disqualification petitions. On appeal by the Secretary of the Telangana Assembly, a division bench on November 22, 2024, set aside the single-judge order and asked the Speaker to decide the petitions in a reasonable time. • Directing the Speaker to decide the disqualification petitions expeditiously, within a maximum of three months, the court asked the Speaker not to permit any of the MLAs who are sought to be disqualified to protract the proceedings. 'In the event, any of such MLAs attempts to protract the proceedings, the Speaker would draw an adverse inference against such of the MLAs,' the court said. Do You Know: • The anti-defection law punishes individual MPs/MLAs for leaving one party for another. It allows a group of MP/MLAs to join (i.e. merge with) another political party without inviting the penalty for defection. And it does not penalise political parties for encouraging or accepting defecting legislators. Parliament added it to the Constitution as the Tenth Schedule in 1985. Its purpose was to bring stability to governments by discouraging legislators from changing parties. It was a response to the toppling of multiple state governments by party-hopping MLAs after the general elections of 1967. • The law covers three kinds of scenarios. One is when legislators elected on the ticket of one political party 'voluntarily give up' membership of that party or vote in the legislature against the party's wishes. A legislator's speech and conduct inside and outside the legislature can lead to deciding the voluntarily giving up membership. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: The anti-defection law, and how it has often failed to discourage defection Previous Year Mains Questions Covering the same theme: 📍The role of individual MPs (Members of Parliament) has diminished over the years and as a result healthy constructive debates on policy issues are not usually witnessed. How far can this be attributed to the anti-defection law, which was legislated but with a different intention? (UPSC Mains GS2, 2013) EXPLAINED Language & division of states Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance Main Examination: • General Studies I: Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country • General Studies II: Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure What's the ongoing story: Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has criticised the linguistic division of states. But language was not the only basis of reorganisation in 1956. Scholars have long argued that linguistic states helped ensure India's unity. Key Points to Ponder: • 'The 'linguistic division of states', saying it had created 'second-class citizens'-What you understand by the same? • States Reorganization Act, 1956-What you know about the same? • 'The linguistic reorganization of states has resolved some issues but has also led to new disputes'—Do you agree with the same? • What is the impact of linguistic-based state formation in India? • Despite decades of negotiation, the linguistic dispute persists—Why? • What are the socio-political and economic implications of such disputes on regional development and governance? • Discuss the balance between federalism and regionalism in India in the light of intrastate border disputes. Key Takeaways: • Amid a recent resurgence of language politics in the country, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Tuesday stirred up a fresh row by criticising the linguistic division of states which, he said, had turned a large section of the populace into 'second-class citizens'. • Scholars have long argued, however, that the linguistic organisation of states has been critical in ensuring India's continued unity and integrity. • The British had administered India with two systems running in parallel — a system of direct control in its provinces, and a system of indirect control across 565 princely states. The provincial boundaries India inherited in 1947, were thus products of colonial administrative exigencies and the historical process of integration of erstwhile principalities and kingdoms into the Empire. • The Constitution, which came into force on January 26, 1950, declared India to be a 'Union of States'. The country, at the time, was divided into 28 states, falling under four categories. —There were nine Part A states (governors' provinces in British India), which were ruled by elected legislatures. These were: Assam, Bihar, Bombay, East Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Madras, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. —There were eight Part B states (former princely states or group of princely states), which were ruled by elected legislatures and a rajpramukh. These were: Hyderabad, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Bharat, Mysore, Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), Rajasthan, Saurashtra, and Travancore-Cochin. —The ten Part C states included both the former chief commissioners' provinces and some princely states, and were governed by a chief commissioner appointed by the President. These were: Ajmer, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Coorg State, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Kutch, Manipur, Tripura, and Vindhya Pradesh. —There was only one Part D state, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which was governed by a lieutenant governor appointed by the President. Do You Know: • Pre-Independence, the Congress had supported the formation of linguistic provinces. But after witnessing Partition, New Delhi was not too keen on immediately creating further linguistic divisions. The so-called JVP committee set up in 1949, comprising Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, head of the States Ministry Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Congress president Pattabhi Sittaramaya, cautioned against the 'disintegrative effects of reorganisation'. • But by the early 1950s, there was momentum in many regions for the creation of linguistic states. On October 19, 1952, Potti Sriramulu, a 51-year-old railway engineer, went on a hunger strike demanding the creation of a Telugu-speaking Andhra state. His death, after a 58-day-long fast, triggered widespread public outcry and protests. Two days later, on December 17, Nehru announced the creation of Andhra, which would officially become a state on October 1, 1953. • The creation of Andhra opened a floodgate of demands for linguistic statehood. Less than three months after the state officially came into being, the Centre set up the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) under Justice Fazl Ali. • Justice Ali submitted a 267-page report on September 30, 1955. Based on the SRC's recommendations, the political map of India was redrawn to comprise 14 states and six Union Territories (UTs). • In its December 1953 resolution on the SRC in Parliament, the Centre had made clear that language would not be the only criterion for the reorganisation of states. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍'Linguistic division of states after Independence has created second-class citizens': Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi UPSC Previous Year Mains Practice Question Covering similar theme: 📍Constitutional mechanisms to resolve the inter-state water disputes have failed to address and solve the problems. Is the failure due to structural or process inadequacy or both? Discuss. (2013) ECONOMY The Russian 'penalty': India's move to tank up on discounted oil from Russia faces scrutiny Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: With the West's effort to target Russia's oil revenue gathering steam over the past few weeks, India's significant Russian oil imports are now being subjected to a more aggressive stance by Western powers. Key Points to Ponder: • What percentage of India's oil import is imported from Russia? • What is the significance of Trump's 'Russian penalty' threat for India's energy security? • How credible is Trump's threat? • How much trade does India have with Russia? • Why India imports more oil from Russia? • How can India reduce its dependency on oil imports? • What crude oil means? • What are the types of crude oil? • Why India is dependent on crude oil? • Where does India import oil? • India's domestic crude oil and natural gas production has declined steadily-why? • What steps have been taken by the Government of India to reduce the imports of crude oil? • What is the difference between Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP), New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) and Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP)? • How high reliance on imported crude oil impacts the Indian economy? Key Takeaways: • After threatening 'biting' secondary tariffs of 100 per cent on buyers of Russian exports, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods from August 1, alongside an additional but unspecified 'penalty' for India's defence and oil imports from Russia. • Earlier in July, the European Union announced a sanctions package, widely seen as the most comprehensive effort yet by the EU to restrict Russia's revenue stream, placing a ban on import of fuels into Europe if made from Russian oil in third countries like India. • Among other steps, the EU also sanctioned Russian oil giant Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy that operates the 20-million-tonnes-per-annum Vadinar refinery in Gujarat. • A few weeks ago, concerns surfaced in India over a controversial bill in the US that proposes 500 per cent tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Russia. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had also said that countries like India, China, and Brazil could be hit very hard by secondary sanctions if they continued to do business with Russia. • These renewed efforts from the West — exerting pressure on Russia's top trade partners to cut down on imports from the country — are clearly targetted at forcing the Kremlin's hand into ending the war in Ukraine. Do You Know: • Over the past nearly three-and-a-half years, India has openly defended its higher purchases of Russian crude, arguing the primacy of its critical energy needs in its priority. India depends on imports to meet around 88 per cent of its crude oil needs, and Russia has been the mainstay of India's oil imports for nearly three years now. • Russian oil flows to India have so far remained robust, despite criticism from sections of the West and actions by US and its allies against Russia's oil trade. India has, time and again, maintained that it is willing to buy oil from whoever offers a good price, as long as the oil is not under sanctions. Russia has been offering discounts on its oil, its crude is not technically under sanctions, and is only subject to a price cap imposed by the G7 countries and their allies. • It is no secret that Trump has been rather impulsive and unpredictable when it comes to trade tariffs; making sweeping announcements, then pausing and negotiating. The hope in India's oil sector is that the US won't actually implement higher tariffs related to India's oil imports from Russia, as it is in the interest of the US and the global economy that the international oil market remains well-supplied. If Russia is unable to supply its crude, global oil prices are bound to rise due to lower supply being available. • If India indeed decides to cut down on its appetite for Russian crude under US pressure, industry insiders and experts expect New Delhi to negotiate a potential wind-down period for reducing supplies, as replacing nearly 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil supply overnight is impossible, and it would take at least three-four months to substantially cut down on Russian oil volumes. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India-Russia oil trade a 'point of irritation' in ties with US: Marco Rubio after Trump's 25% tariff plus 'penalty' THE WORLD Canada plans to recognise Palestine, Trump steps up trade war over move Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that Canada's decision to support Palestinian statehood could make it difficult to finalise a trade agreement between the two nations, just a day ahead of looming tariff deadline. Key Points to Ponder: • What does it mean to be recognised as a state? • What is the status of Palestine at the UN? • Which countries recognise Palestine as a state? • What is India's stand on Palestine? • What is the significance of the Canada's plan to recognise a Palestinian state? • Know the implications of linking Canada's recognition of a Palestinian state to its U.S. trade negotiations. • Compare Canada's position and responses with those of France and the UK regarding Palestinian recognition. Key Takeaways: • Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney said that the country plans to recognise a Palestinian state in September, becoming the third G7 nation after France and the UK to make such an announcement, stating that his goal was to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution. • The two countries are currently in negotiations to reach a trade deal before August 1, the date Trump has set as the deadline to impose a 35% tariff on Canadian goods not covered under the existing US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). • Carney said Wednesday that the tariff discussions with the Trump administration had been constructive, but cautioned that a deal might not be reached by the deadline. • Israel and the United States have both rejected Carney's announcement backing Palestinian statehood. Almost 150 countries out of the 193 member countries of the United Nations formally recognise a Palestinian state. Do You Know: • The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933), identified four conditions of a state: 'a permanent population, defined territory, government, and capacity to enter into relations with other states'. • Statehood, according to The Cambridge Companion to International Law, 'has long been the central organising idea in the international system'. While several regions and peoples have over the years sought to declare themselves as independent states, their formal recognition depends on how the rest of the world views them. • The United Nations has a broad criterion for accepting states as Members. Article 4 of the UN Charter states: 'Membership in the United Nations is open to all other peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations.' • Procedurally, admission to the UN as a Member State is granted by a two-thirds majority vote in the UN General Assembly. However, the UNGA takes up the candidature only upon the recommendation of the UN Security Council. • The UNSC comprises five permanent members — the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France — and 10 temporary member countries chosen on a rotational basis. For the UNSC recommendation to pass there must be a vote, with at least nine members in favour and no permanent members using their veto. Essentially, it is the P5 who determine the fate of an issue in the UNSC. • Currently, Palestine is a 'Permanent Observer State' — and not a 'Member State' — at the UN. There is one other Permanent Observer State in the UN — the Holy See, representing Vatican City. As a Permanent Observer State, Palestine is allowed to 'participate in all of the Organization's proceedings, except for voting on draft resolutions and decisions in its main organs and bodies, from the Security Council to the General Assembly and its six main committees'. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍French President Macron says France will recognise Palestine as a state 📍UK plans to recognise Palestine in Sept unless Israel meets conditions: Starmer Myanmar ends state of emergency, junta chief takes charge as head of interim govt Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighbourhood- relations What's the ongoing story: Myanmar's military junta has lifted the state of emergency imposed since the 2021 coup, signalling its intent to proceed with long-delayed elections in December. The junta announced the formation of an 11-member election commission led by military chief and de facto ruler Min Aung Hlaing, Reuters reported on Thursday citing state broadcaster MRTV. Key Points to Ponder: • Who is Myanmar junta? • Who is in charge of Myanmar now? • Know India-Myanmar bilateral relations in detail • Why is Myanmar important for India? • Since coup in Myanmar, how India has taken diplomatic approach on Myanmar? • Know the significance of the junta's lifting of the 4½-year state of emergency. • Know the Myanmar's political trajectory since the 2021 coup. Key Takeaways: • China has welcomed Myanmar's decision to end the state of emergency and called for political differences to be resolved peacefully. 'We are willing to continue to actively carry out efforts to promote peace talks in accordance with the needs of all parties in Myanmar,' foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing, as reported by Reuters. • Since seizing power from Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in February 2021, the military regime has faced sustained resistance from pro-democracy fighters, ethnic armed groups, and civilian militias. The conflict has led to thousands of deaths and widespread displacement. • Amid these tensions, the junta has introduced harsh laws, including prison terms of up to 10 years for speech or protests aimed at disrupting the election process. In a bid to quell rebellion ahead of the vote, it has also offered cash rewards to militants who surrender. Do You Know: • The word junta originates from Spanish, meaning 'meeting' or 'committee'. The term was widely used in 16th-Century Spain to refer to various government advisory committees as a junta. In 1808, national and local juntas were organised as part of Spain's resistance against Napoleon's invasion. In the following years, the word junta was used to describe governing bodies that emerged during political instability in Spain, Greece, and Latin America. • Subsequently, the term became associated with military rule. Notably, it is different from a military dictatorship. While a junta involves a military cabinet acting as the agent of the ruling military organisation, military dictatorship 'involves a military president not acting as the agent of the military and perhaps even converting the military into an instrument of his personal rule,' Paul Brooker wrote in Non-Democratic Regimes (2000). • In the 20th Century, military junta was frequently witnessed in Latin America. But it was different from juntas elsewhere in the world. 'An institutionalised, highly corporate/professional junta became the norm in Latin America, with the core membership being the heads of the three armed services — army, navy and air force,' wrote Brooker. The juntas outside Latin America, however, had 11 members on average. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍This Word Means: Junta For any queries and feedback, contact Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Priya Kumari Shukla is a Senior Copy Editor in the Indian Express (digital). She contributes to the UPSC Section of Indian Express (digital) and started niche initiatives such as UPSC Key, UPSC Ethics Simplified, and The 360° UPSC Debate. The UPSC Key aims to assist students and aspirants in their preparation for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations. It provides valuable guidance on effective strategies for reading and comprehending newspaper content. The 360° UPSC Debate tackles a topic from all perspectives after sorting through various publications. The chosen framework for the discussion is structured in a manner that encompasses both the arguments in favour and against the topic, ensuring comprehensive coverage of many perspectives. Prior to her involvement with the Indian Express, she had affiliations with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as several coaching and edutech enterprises. In her prior professional experience, she was responsible for creating and refining material in various domains, including article composition and voiceover video production. She has written in-house books on many subjects, including modern India, ancient Indian history, internal security, international relations, and the Indian economy. She has more than eight years of expertise in the field of content writing. Priya holds a Master's degree in Electronic Science from the University of Pune as well as an Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, widely recognised as one of the most prestigious business schools in India. She is also an alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University Residential Coaching Academy (RCA). Priya has made diligent efforts to engage in research endeavours, acquiring the necessary skills to effectively examine and synthesise facts and empirical evidence prior to presenting their perspective. Priya demonstrates a strong passion for reading, particularly in the genres of classical Hindi, English, Maithili, and Marathi novels and novellas. Additionally, she possessed the distinction of being a cricket player at the national level. Qualification, Degrees / other achievements: Master's degree in Electronic Science from University of Pune and Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ... Read More
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: The 25 per cent tariff, The Resistance Front and Kamchatka Earthquakes
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for July 31, 2025. If you missed the July 30, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Trump hits India with 25% tariff plus a Russia penalty Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, along with a penalty for procuring military equipment and energy from Russia, comes barely a day before the intended deadline to conclude agreements. Key Points to Ponder: • 'US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports'-Know in detail • Apart from the 25% tariff, what additional threat did President Trump mention regarding India? • Why the U.S. imposition of a 25% tariff plus penalty against India represented a significant departure from prior U.S. trade strategy regarding tariff differentials. • How India responded? • Compare the tariff rates imposed on India with those on other U.S. trading partners like Vietnam or Japan. • What is US-Pakistan oil agreement? • What does it mean for Pakistan? • What does US-Pakistan trade deal mean for India? Key Takeaways: • All those assumptions are now under a cloud, as policymakers in New Delhi grapple with Trump's statement announcing a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods from August 1, alongside an additional but unspecified 'penalty' for its defence and energy imports from Russia. • On the face of it, India's Commerce and Industry Ministry said the government had taken note of Trump's statement and was 'studying its implications'. Alongside this, the trade ministry also reiterated its engagement in negotiations that aimed at concluding 'a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement', which placed importance on 'protecting and promoting the welfare of India's farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs'. • The official also underlined that the view in government here is that a majority of those who have rushed in to sign deals with the world's biggest economy have ended up with lopsided agreements that effectively extracted more than what it gave. This includes countries such as the UK and Australia that have a trade deficit with the US. • Trump on Monday had cut short a deadline for Moscow to make progress toward a Ukraine war peace deal or see its oil customers slapped with secondary tariffs of 100 per cent in 10-12 days. 'So I think anyone who buys sanctioned Russian oil should be ready for this,' US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said. • China is the largest buyer of Russian oil, at about 2 million barrels per day, followed by India (just under 2 million a day) and Turkey. China had agreed to cut tariffs on US goods to 10 per cent from 125 per cent in May, while the US had agreed to lower tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 per cent from 145 per cent. Do You Know: US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, has key consequences. • One, it puts India at a disadvantage in comparison to competitors. Two, it put the onus back on the Indian side to fast-track its negotiations for an interim deal with the US. Indications are that the outer limit for a deal, currently pegged at around October from New Delhi's perspective, might need to be brought forward. • What complicates the equation for India is that the Chinese are at an advanced stage of negotiations towards a deal, which could have a favourable tariff rate and potential waivers on secondary tariffs, which include the tariff on account of Russian oil imports and the proposed 10 per cent BRICS tariff. • Though Trump did not specify the rate of penalty for India on account of Russian oil and defence imports, earlier statements made by Trump indicate that it could be to the tune of 100 per cent. • This way, India stands to potentially lose the US tariff advantage vis-a-vis China at least till the time a deal is struck, even if Beijing, too, faces the same penalty for importing from Russia. Beijing does stand to have a first-mover advantage as it has already wrapped up its negotiations ahead of India with the US. A final China deal, however, is still elusive. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Road to October pact gets tougher, shrinks room to drive a better deal 📍How Trump's 25% tariffs announcement could impact future India-US trade negotiations 📍Trump announces 'deal' with Islamabad to develop Pakistan's oil reserves: 'Maybe they'll sell to India someday' ISRO-NASA satellite placed in orbit, to map Earth in detail Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights. What's the ongoing story: In its most significant launch since the Moon-landing Chandrayaan-3 in 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday placed NISAR satellite, a first-of-its-kind collaborative project between India and the US, into its intended orbit. Key Points to Ponder: • NISAR mission-know its features and objectives • What is the significance of the NASA–ISRO collaborative model in the NISAR mission? • What is the potential use of NISAR data? • How NISAR complements India's existing earth observation systems? • What are the geopolitical and scientific significance of the ISRO NASA collaboration on NISAR? • What are the advantages of dual frequency SAR (L band and S band) in studying Earth surface processes? • Know the role of NISAR in India's disaster management strategy, especially in hazard prone regions like the Himalayas. • How NISAR complements existing Indian remote sensing satellites like CARTOSAT and RISAT? Key Takeaways: • The uniqueness of the satellite lies in the fact that it carries two Synthetic Aperture Radars (SARs) of different frequencies that are designed to work together to produce some of the most detailed images of the Earth ever captured from space. SARs are imaging equipment that use the non-visible microwave radiation to create pictures of the Earth from space. Never before have two SARs been mounted on a single satellite. • The NISAR satellite flew on a GSLV rocket launched from Sriharikota Wednesday evening. The satellite was deposited in the Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO), about 747 km from the Earth, within 19 minutes of the launch. This was the first time that ISRO used its powerful GSLV rocket to drop a satellite in the SSPO. Usually, the PSLV rocket is used to access these orbits, but NISAR satellite was too heavy to be handled by PSLV. In fact, at 2,392 kgs, NISAR is the heaviest Earth observation satellite ever. Do You Know: • NISAR is meant to take high-resolution pictures of the Earth, which will be useful for a wide range of research activities, including in climate change, disaster management, agriculture, forestry and urban planning. The two SARs, working in tandem, can map the terrain in minute detail, and, by repeating their observations in a cyclic fashion, can capture the changes happening at as small a scale as one centimetre. • NISAR satellite would map the entire globe every 12 days, providing a series of detailed images that can have various applications ranging from predicting disasters, helping in rescue efforts afterwards, developing new models for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and most importantly studying the impacts of climate change. The mission life of the satellite is five years. • The concept for a NISAR-like mission emerged in 2007 when a US committee had recommended a space mission to study how changes in land, ice or vegetation cover were taking place. The mission was supposed to carry out surface deformation monitoring to facilitate studies of earthquakes, landslides and volcanoes, apart from making observations that will help the study of climate change, global carbon cycle, changes in vegetation, biomass and ice-cover. • NASA began working on the project in 2008. ISRO came into the picture four years later, when it identified science studies and applications that were complementary to the primary objective of the mission. NASA and ISRO had collaborated earlier — there was a NASA payload on ISRO's Chandrayaan-1 — but never jointly developed or executed a space mission. The two agencies signed a deal on NISAR in 2014, and have been engaged in developing this mission since then. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍NISAR's two eyes on Earth UNSC report names The Resistance Front, cites Pahalgam terror attack Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: • General Studies II: India and its neighbourhood- relations. • General Studies III: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security What's the ongoing story: In a first, The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba that had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, has found mention in a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report monitoring sanctions on terror outfits. Key Points to Ponder: • The Resistance Front (TRF)-know in detail • The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to the Pahalgam attack, is believed to be an offshoot of which terrorist organisation? • Know the role of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in past terrorist activities against India. • What are the challenges and consequences of conducting precision strikes on foreign soil, considering international law and diplomatic relations. • Know the historical patterns of terrorist attacks by groups like LeT and JeM and how India's military responses have evolved over time. • Know the significance of TRF being named by the UNSC Monitoring Team. • How TRF operates as a proxy of LeT and the implications of such organizational front structures for counter-terror policy? Key Takeaways: • According to the report of the Monitoring Team (MT) of the UNSC 1267 [ISIS (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida] Sanctions Committee, the entry under the Asia section reads: 'On 22 April, five terrorists attacked a tourist spot in Pahalgam, in Jammu and Kashmir. Twenty-six civilians were killed. The attack was claimed that same day by The Resistance Front (TRF), who in parallel published a photograph of the attack site. The claim of responsibility was repeated the following day.' • Sources pointed out that the paragraph on TRF and the Pahalgam terror attack is the first and largest part under the South Asia section. 'It is in sync with what we have been stating on the links between the TRF and the LeT and its support from Pakistan,' a source said. • This is the first time that the TRF has been mentioned in any UN document, sources said. In the past, India's consistent efforts for naming the TRF in the UNSC statements were stymied by Pakistan. • The development is significant as all decisions of the 1267 Sanctions Committee, including MT reports, are adopted by consensus by members of the UNSC. Pakistan is a non-permanent member of the UNSC. • After Operation Sindoor, which followed the Pahalgam attack, India had reached out to most of the UNSC member countries — permanent and non-permanent members – with multi-party political delegations visiting these countries in May-June. • According to sources, the inclusion of TRF in the MT report despite Pakistan's efforts highlights Islamabad's undeniable involvement in fomenting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. 'It also attests to our credibility in the UN on the counter-terror front,' the source said. Do You Know: • On July 18, the US State Department had designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). 'TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by LeT. TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024,' the US State Department had said. • The Resistance Front (TRF) had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists, sources in central agencies said. The Resistance Front (TRF) is an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared the TRF a 'terrorist organisation' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in January 2023. The government said it was engaged in propaganda on terror activities, recruitment of terrorists, infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir. • But the TRF first started making headlines in 2020. In May of that year, five Army commandos were killed in a gunbattle in Keran, in which five TRF militants were also killed. Similar clashes occurred around that time in Handwara and Sopore, killing security personnel. • The first was the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 in August 2019. The second was the decapitation of the LeT in Kashmir in 2018. • The Lashkar-e-Taiba was founded around 1985, and one of its main goals was merging the whole of Kashmir with Pakistan. However, by the end of 2018, it had suffered significant reverses at the hands of Indian security forces. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Pahalgam attack: How 'The Resistance Front' grew, spread in Kashmir 📍2000, '02, J&K terror's old ghost: attack during high-profile US visit Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: 1. Hand-in-Hand 2007' a joint anti-terrorism military training was held by the officers of the Indian Army and officers of Army of which one of the following countries? (2008) (a) China (b) Japan (c) Russia (d) USA Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to national security. What solutions do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the major sources of terrorist funding? (2017) GOVT & POLITICS Cash row: 1985 Act empowers us to call in-house inquiry, SC tells Justice Varma Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance Main Examination: General Studies II: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government and their role in the Polity. What's the ongoing story: The Supreme Court Wednesday reserved decision on Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma's plea challenging the in-house inquiry ordered by the Chief Justice of India over allegations of cash discovery from his official residence in Delhi, and remarked orally that The Judges (Protection) Act, 1985, 'empowers' the top court to order such a probe 'for maintaining institutional integrity'. Key Points to Ponder: • Who is Justice Yashwant Varma? • Why Justice Yashwant Varma is in news? • What is the Judges (Protection) Act, 1985? • What you know about Justice Varma case? • Discuss the significance of judicial accountability in ensuring the independence of the judiciary in India. • The Justice Varma case highlights what? • The judiciary is expected to remain impartial and independent of political influence—analyse judicial appointments and removals impact this independence. • How a Sitting Judge Can Be Removed From Office? • What is the Procedure for Removal of a Judge in India? • What is Impeachment? • What are the constitutional provisions and procedures governing the impeachment of High court judges? • The process of impeachment of a judge of the Supreme Court is laid down in Article 124(4) of the Constitution of India-True or false? • What Article 218 of the Constitution of India says? • What are the Grounds of Impeachment? • What role do parliamentary Houses and presiding officers play in the impeachment of High court judges? Key Takeaways: • Justice Dipankar Datta, presiding over a two-judge bench which heard Justice Yashwant Varma's plea, pointed to Section 3(2) of the Act. 'Nothing in sub-section (1) shall debar or affect in any manner the power of the Central Government or the State Government or the Supreme Court of India or any High Court or any other authority under any law for the time being in force to take such action (whether by way of civil, criminal, or departmental proceedings or otherwise) against any person who is or was a Judge.' • The bench, also comprising Justice A G Masih, made it clear that the remit of the in-house inquiry panel was not to find out who the cash discovered at Justice Varma's house during an accidental fire belonged to. 'Why do you want to invite us to the report, whether it's your money or not? That was not the remit of the committee,' Justice Datta told Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Justice Varma. • Justice Datta said the term 'otherwise' appearing in the 1985 Act 'has to be given some meaning.' 'It means a non-punitive proceeding which is contemplated by the in-house procedure for maintaining the institutional integrity. And, therefore, this 'otherwise', other than the judgements, empowers the Supreme Court of India to direct this in-house inquiry.' Do You Know: Shashank Maheshwari Writes: • The judiciary forms one of the three pillars of a democracy and derives its authority from the Constitution. The outdated notion of legislative supremacy has now been replaced: The Supreme Court in Keshav Singh vs Speaker, Legislative Assembly (1965) and People's Union For Civil Liberties vs Union of India (2005) recognised that the Constitution is supreme. The Constitution provides strong safeguards for judicial independence, including security of tenure, fixed salaries charged to the Consolidated Fund, protection from discussion in legislatures, and immunity under laws like the Judges (Protection) Act, 1985. Provisions for the removal of high court and SC judges by Parliament on grounds of 'proven misbehaviour' or 'incapacity' under Articles 124 and 217 create an accountability mechanism. • Under Article 124(5), Parliament enacted the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, which provides the procedures to investigate judicial misconduct. Further, on May 7, 1997, the SC's Full Court adopted the 'Restatement of Values of Judicial Life'. It authorises the Chief Justice to constitute an in-house committee to investigate allegations against judges of the higher judiciary. This was recognised in C Ravichandran Iyer vs Justice A M Bhattacharjee (1995). • While drafting the Judges Inquiry Bill, 1964 under Article 124(5), eminent legal figures like C K Daphtary and G S Pathak emphasised that complaints against judges should originate from MPs, not the executive, and be submitted to the Speaker or Chairman. If accepted, a three-member judicial committee would investigate the charges. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Who is Justice Yashwant Varma, the Delhi HC judge in middle of 'cash recovered at home' row? EXPRESS NETWORK Sacred Buddhist Piprahwa gemstones, put up for auction, repatriated to India after 127 years Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: History of India Main Examination: General Studies I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. What's the ongoing story: Jewels forming a portion of the sacred Piprahwa relics of the Buddha, which had recently come up for auction at Sotheby's Hong Kong, were repatriated to India on Wednesday, 127 years after they were taken away during colonial rule. Key Points to Ponder: • What are the Piprahwa relics of Buddha? • What are the Piprahwa gems? • What the controversy is about? • What is the significance of the Piprahwa gem repatriation? • Know the role of public private partnerships such as that between the Indian government and Godrej Industries in securing cultural artefacts. • What are the strengths and possible limitations of public private partnerships model for heritage diplomacy? Key Takeaways: • Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X: 'It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years. These sacred relics highlight India's close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings. It also illustrates our commitment to preserving and protecting different aspects of our glorious culture.' • The relics were discovered during the excavation of an ancient Buddhist stupa in Uttar Pradesh's Piprahwa, near the India-Nepal border. They hold immense religious and cultural importance for the Buddhist community. • Besides the ornaments and gemstones that appeared for auction, the Piprawaha tranche comprises bone fragments believed to be that of the Buddha, along with soapstone and crystal caskets, and a sandstone coffer. • The other portions of the Piprahwa relics have been held in the vaults of Kolkata's Indian Museum since 1898. These will also be displayed at an exhibition in Delhi's National Museum along with the repatriated gems. • The gemstones, meanwhile, became part of the private collection of William Claxton Peppé, who had conducted the excavation. His grandson and heir Chris Peppé put them up for auction through Sotheby's Hong Kong. Do You Know: • Pirojsha Godrej of Godrej Industries Group stepped forward to acquire the collection of 349 jewels, officials from the Ministry of Culture told reporters Wednesday. The value of the transaction was not disclosed but the collection is estimated to be worth over $100 million. • With this unconventional move by allowing a private industrialist to step in and get back the sacred relics, right from Hong Kong which has a huge Chinese influence, the government has reaffirmed India's bid to establish itself as the birthplace of Buddhism vis-à-vis China. The move also allowed the government to not get into a commercial transaction for the relics, which would have raised ethical issues. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Ministry of Culture Takes Steps to Halt Auction of Piprahwa Relics by Sotheby's Hong Kong EXPLAINED The Kamchatka quakes Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World. Mains Examination: General Studies I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. What's the ongoing story: An 8.8 magnitude earthquake, one of the strongest on record, struck the Kamchatka Peninsula, in Russia's far-east, about 6,500 km east of Moscow, on Wednesday morning, triggering a tsunami that struck several countries on both sides of the northern Pacific Ocean. Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work-Kamchatka Peninsula • Map Work-Earthquake-prone areas in India and in the World • Map Work-Mark Circum-Pacific Belt • Earthquake zones in World-Know in detail • Circum-Pacific Belt and Earthquake-Connect the dot • Where and when did the earthquake occur? • What is called Ring of Fire? • What does the Ring of Fire have to do with Kamchatka Peninsula? • Why does the earth shake when there is an earthquake? • What are the Major and Minor Plates? • The movement of the tectonic plates creates three types of tectonic boundaries-What are they? • Why earthquakes remain unpredictable? • What exactly causes earthquakes? • Can earthquakes be predicted? • What is focus or seismic focus of Earthquake? • What is epicentre of Earthquake? • The intensity of earthquake is highest in the epicentre and decreases as one moves away-True or False? • What is continental drift and how does it differ from plate tectonics? • Do shallow earthquakes cause greater damage? • What are the pre disaster measures taken to manage earthquake disaster? • What is post-disaster management of earthquakes? • What is it about an earthquake that causes a tsunami? • What is a tsunami? Key Takeaways: • The tsunami generated waves as high as 3-4 metres in the Kamchatka Peninsula and some other places, about five feet in Hawaii, and about two feet in Japan. Flooding and damage were reported from several places, but no lives were lost. • The earthquake in Kamchatka was the strongest since the 9.1 magnitude quake that had struck Japan in 2011. That quake too had caused a major tsunami which then led to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima. • Wednesday's event was rare — only five earthquakes of magnitude 8.5 and above have occurred in the past 20 years — but it occurred in a region that is one of the most earthquake prone in the world. Do You Know: • Kamchatka Peninsula lies on the Circum-Pacific seismic belt, more popularly known as the 'Ring of Fire', that witnesses the maximum number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on Earth. • This seismically active belt encircles almost the entire Pacific Ocean — on its eastern side is the western coast of the Americas, and on its western side lies the Far East and Oceania. It touches countries like the United States, Mexico, Chile, Peru, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan and Russia. • According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Ring of Fire accounts for more than 80% of the planet's largest earthquakes. The biggest recorded earthquake, of magnitude 9.5 in Chile in 1960, occurred in this belt, and so did a magnitude 9.2 event in Alaska in 1964. In fact, each of the 23 events of 8-plus magnitude recorded in the last 20 years have happened along this seismic belt. • The nearly 2,000-km long region extending from Kamchatka Peninsula in the north to northern Japan in the south, and including the volcanically-active Kuril Islands of Russia, has witnessed more than 130 earthquake events of 7-plus magnitude since 1900, USGS data show. In 1952, this region even recorded a magnitude 9 earthquake. • The Circum-Pacific seismic belt is home to multiple subduction processes, in which the Pacific tectonic plate is clashing against continental land. • Subduction is a geological process in which one tectonic plate — put simply, a large section of the Earth's crust — presses against another. Usually, the heavier or denser plate, that is, the one with more mass per unit of area, tends to go below the lighter plate. But this process results in deformities and creates a huge stress at the plate boundaries. It is this stress that is released in the form of earthquakes. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Massive 8.8 quake hits Russia, tsunami waves reach Japan, Hawaii, California For any queries and feedback, contact Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Priya Kumari Shukla is a Senior Copy Editor in the Indian Express (digital). She contributes to the UPSC Section of Indian Express (digital) and started niche initiatives such as UPSC Key, UPSC Ethics Simplified, and The 360° UPSC Debate. The UPSC Key aims to assist students and aspirants in their preparation for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations. It provides valuable guidance on effective strategies for reading and comprehending newspaper content. The 360° UPSC Debate tackles a topic from all perspectives after sorting through various publications. The chosen framework for the discussion is structured in a manner that encompasses both the arguments in favour and against the topic, ensuring comprehensive coverage of many perspectives. Prior to her involvement with the Indian Express, she had affiliations with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as several coaching and edutech enterprises. In her prior professional experience, she was responsible for creating and refining material in various domains, including article composition and voiceover video production. She has written in-house books on many subjects, including modern India, ancient Indian history, internal security, international relations, and the Indian economy. She has more than eight years of expertise in the field of content writing. Priya holds a Master's degree in Electronic Science from the University of Pune as well as an Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, widely recognised as one of the most prestigious business schools in India. She is also an alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University Residential Coaching Academy (RCA). Priya has made diligent efforts to engage in research endeavours, acquiring the necessary skills to effectively examine and synthesise facts and empirical evidence prior to presenting their perspective. Priya demonstrates a strong passion for reading, particularly in the genres of classical Hindi, English, Maithili, and Marathi novels and novellas. Additionally, she possessed the distinction of being a cricket player at the national level. Qualification, Degrees / other achievements: Master's degree in Electronic Science from University of Pune and Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ... Read More
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: India-UK FTA, Chola emperor Rajendra I and Genetically modified agricultural products
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for July 27, 2025. If you missed the July 26, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here. Goyal: UK deal 'gold standard' for FTAs, will retaliate if their carbon tax hurts us Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said the India-UK trade deal can serve as a gold standard for India's trade negotiations with other partners, as it opens India's doors for business while protecting sensitive sectors. He added that India will retaliate if the UK's carbon tax, set to come into effect on January 1, 2027, harms India's interests. Key Points to Ponder: • What are the key highlights of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA)? • How does the India-UK FTA represent a significant shift in India's historically protectionist trade strategy? • What is the significance of the India-UK FTA? • What is the UK's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)? • What are India's concerns regarding CBAM? • What are the critical minerals? • What is the role of the WTO in resolving disputes between nations? • Which countries does India have an FTA with? • What are the benefits and challenges of the India-UK trade deal for the textiles sector? Key Takeaways: • Goyal said most of India's free trade agreements (FTAs) are with countries that do not compete with India on anything, and that under the deal, the UK will be sending products which are in short supply in India. 'In every respect, this is an agreement which opens far greater opportunities for India than any other agreement,' the minister said. • On concerns that the UK's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) could negate the tariff concessions India has received under the trade deal, Goyal said: 'Currently there is no CBAM in effect. So it cannot be addressed in the FTA. But India is a sovereign country, and if our export interests are hurt, we will react and retaliate, or 'rebalance'. I can assure everyone that no unilateral measure will go away without a proportionate response,' he said. • 'There is a lot of opposition to CBAM in the EU as well, as the EU's cost of manufacturing and housing will become costlier, and so the sufferer will be the industry in the EU,' Goyal reiterated. • Goyal said India and the UK plan to address the issue of critical minerals together, stating that 'concentration of certain supply chains in certain geographies' is a common problem, and both countries plan to work jointly on this. • The India-UK Vision 2035, a document outlining the broader collaborative goals of the free trade agreement between the two, stated that both countries will work together to develop cutting-edge technology and research, building on the Technology Security Initiative. This will focus on future telecoms, artificial intelligence and critical minerals, laying the ground for future collaboration on semiconductors, quantum, biotechnology and advanced materials. • To further cooperation in critical minerals, the two countries will also establish a UK-India Critical Minerals Guild to 'transform financing standards and innovation', according to a joint statement by the two. • India has protected all sensitive sectors, including dairy, rice and sugar, in the free trade agreement with the UK, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday. • The pact will help boost exports of labour-intensive products like footwear, textiles, and gems and jewellery, he added. From Front Page 'UK's duty concession on textiles is only half the battle won for India' • One of the key highlights for Indian industry under the India-UK trade deal signed on Thursday is the benefit extended to India's labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, footwear, and gems and jewellery, which will now see tariff elimination compared to pre-deal rates ranging from 4 to 12 per cent. • However, tariff elimination under a trade deal does not always translate into export gains—particularly in advanced markets where competitors such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, and China already have secured supply chains and a well-established presence. • Several competitors in the UK market already enjoy zero-duty access and have entrenched supply chains. Bangladesh, for instance, holds a 20 per cent share of UK RMG imports and benefits from zero-duty access to the premium market due to its Least Developed Country (LDC) status. Turkey, too, has zero-duty market access for its RMG exports to the UK and commands an 8 per cent share. Do You Know: • CBAM is an import duty imposed by Europe on items manufactured in foreign nations using procedures that result in more carbon emissions than domestic European businesses are permitted to generate. • The stated goal is to reduce 'carbon leakage,' but this has the effect of raising the cost of steel and cement produced in nations such as India, making them less competitive in European markets. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India-UK: Deal's Done 📍India misses chance to tackle UK carbon tax in trade pact. Why is it concerning? UPSC Prelims Practice and Previous Year Question Covering similar theme: (1) Consider the following statements about Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM): 1. It is an import duty that is imposed by Europe on goods produced in other countries by processes that lead to greater carbon emissions than domestic European manufacturers are allowed to emit. 2. Its purpose is to check 'carbon leakage'. 3. It does not have any effect on the manufacturing of steel or cement. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (2) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2023) Statement-I: Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change. Statement-II: Carbon markets transfer resources from the private sector to the State. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: Marking the reset in bilateral ties between India and the Maldives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Independence Day celebrations of the island nation as the guest of honour on Saturday. As Modi left for India in the evening, President Mohamad Muizzu said it was 'a defining visit that sets a clear path for the future of Maldives-India relations'. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the history of India-Maldives relations? • What are the areas of cooperation between both countries? • What are the challenges seen between the nations in recent years? • What is India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy? • What is the significance of the Maldives for India? • What are the major agreements signed during your recent visit? • What is the 'India-out' campaign? How did it affect the India-Maldives relationship? • Know about the SAGAR and MAHASAGAR? • Map work: Location of Maldives and surrounding islands Key Takeaways: • Earlier in the day, Modi was welcomed by Muizzu at the iconic Republic Square, the venue of the ceremony at the heart of the Maldivian capital. Modi sat next to Muizzu and watched the over 50-minute event marking the 60th anniversary of the independence of the Maldives, which included a military parade and colourful cultural performances by children and traditional artistes. • Besides the top political and military brass of the Maldives, several members of the Prime Minister's delegation including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also attended the event. • Muizzu noted that the relationship between the two countries extends far beyond formal diplomacy, with deep-rooted connections dating back centuries, according to a statement issued by the President's Office. He referred to the Indian Ocean as a living testament to these long-standing ties, emphasising that the shared journey of both nations, as traders and neighbours, has forged a resilient and unbreakable bond. • The visit marks a defining reset in ties that had come under strain almost 20 months ago. Arguably, New Delhi's sustained efforts, including its assistance to the island nation to deal with economic hardship, helped bring the relations back on track. Do You Know: Significance of Maldives for India • Location and maritime security: Maldives' proximity to the west coast of India, and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean imbues it with significant strategic importance to India. The security scenario in India's periphery in the Indian Ocean is very much linked to the maritime strength of Maldives. • Defence: This is the reason why India invests on Maldives' security by training its defence forces. Estimates suggest that almost 70 per cent of Maldives' defence training is done by India… • China: India is obviously concerned at the expanding Chinese footprint there. So, from a purely strategic perspective, India needs Maldives on its side to secure its maritime periphery, keep an eye on the Indian Ocean, and check the influence of China in its neighbourhood. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Key takeaways from the India-Maldives vision document: health, education, start-ups, political exchanges 📍Maldives, India, China: history shapes the present UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme: (3) India and Maldives are separated by which of the following channels? (a) Seven Degree Channel (b) Eight Degree Channel (c) Nine Degree Channel (d) Ten Degree Channel Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: Discuss the geopolitical and geostrategic importance of Maldives for India with a focus on global trade and energy flows. Further also discuss how this relationship affects India's maritime security and regional stability amidst international competition? (UPSC CSE 2024) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of National importance, History of India. Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Ancient history, Architecture from ancient to modern times. What's the ongoing story: Arun Janardhanan writes- 'An emperor who ruled a thousand years ago has drawn two political heavyweights into the same arena, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi making separate efforts to honour the legacy of Rajendra Chola I (1014–1044 CE), the maritime monarch of the Chola dynasty.' Key Points to Ponder: • Read about the Chola Kingdom. • Know about the Emperors of the Chola Kingdom. • What is the Chola architectural style? • Read about the Chola emperor Rajendra I and his maritime legacy. • Know about the achievements of the Chola dynasty with reference to the Cholagangam tank and its historical importance. • Why are the preservation and promotion of historical capitals like Gangaikonda Cholapuram crucial for national identity and tourism? • What are the distinguishing architectural designs of Chola temples? In what ways did these temples serve as political statements as much as religious structures? Key Takeaways: • 'While Stalin has declared the emperor's birth anniversary as an official state celebration and announced several initiatives to commemorate his rule, Modi is set to visit Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district, which was once the Chola capital, on July 27 to unveil a commemorative coin and inaugurate an exhibition on Rajendra Chola's northern conquest. The Union Ministry of Culture is hosting a four-day festival in the town commemorating 1,000 years of Rajendra Chola's maritime expedition to Southeast Asia and the commencement of the construction of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple.' • 'Rajendra Chola inherited a powerful kingdom from his father Rajaraja I, but it was his bold campaigns from the Ganga to Suvarnadwipa (an ancient term for islands in Southeast Asia, including Java and Sumatra) that turned the Cholas into a pan-Asian maritime empire.' • 'To commemorate his successful northern expedition, Rajendra Chola established Gangaikonda Cholapuram and ceremonially poured Ganges water brought back by his army into a vast man-made reservoir known as the Cholagangam tank, locally referred to as Ponneri. This act was immortalised in copper plate inscriptions, including those cited by K A Nilakanta Sastri in The Cholas, describing how Rajendra created a 'liquid pillar of victory (ganga-jalamayam jayastambham) using sacred water from the Ganga.' • 'According to the Trichinopoly Gazetteer (1855 edition) by British civil service officer F R Hemingway, the Cholagangam tank once irrigated approximately 1,564 acres of land. Later reports note that the embankment extended some 25 km, with multiple sluices engineered to manage water flow.' • 'The tank, once the hydrological heart of Gangaikonda Cholapuram and an engineering marvel, now lies in disrepair. As recorded in the Trichinopoly Gazetteer by Hemingway, the tank embankments were fortified by laterite stone and sluices designed to control sediment flow.' • 'The British dismantled much of the town's granite fortifications in 1832 to construct the Lower Kollidam Anaicut, breaking promises to rebuild its outer wall. The destruction was resisted by locals who were reportedly punished for their defiance. 'A promise was made that a brick wall would be built in place of the stone wall that was pulled down,' the 1855 Gazetteer mentions. 'But it has never been redeemed.' • 'The PM visit also carries its symbolic weight. On Sunday, he will unveil a commemorative coin to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Rajendra Chola's Gangetic campaign, while musician Ilaiyaraaja is set to perform a 20-minute concert. An exhibition will showcase trophies and miniature sculptures from the Chola period. The town, which British officers compared to ancient Babylon, is being repainted and refenced.' • 'A millennium after Rajendra's ships left Tamil shores for faraway islands, his legacy is back at the centre of a different expedition. As historian Tansen Sen writes in The Military Campaigns of Rajendra Chola, Rajendra's campaigns were not about empire-building or expansionism in the modern sense but 'strategic signalling' to regional powers, asserting Tamil commercial presence across Asia.' Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Today in Politics: PM Modi in Tamil Nadu to inaugurate projects, honour Chola emperor UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme: (4) With reference to the Chola Empire, consider the following statements: 1. The Chola kingdom stretched across present-day Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. 2. The empire was at its most expansive under Rajendra. 3. Arulmozhivarman was one of the only Indian monarchs to conquer territory outside the Indian subcontinent. 4. The gigantic Bridheshwara Temple is one of the finest examples of artistic brilliance. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies- II, III: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Effects of liberalisation on the economy, Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. What's the ongoing story: India is unlikely to agree to US demands to accept genetically modified (GM) agricultural products such as corn and soya during the ongoing negotiations for a trade deal, a source closely monitoring the talks has indicated. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the history of India-US relations? • What are the areas of cooperation between India and the US? • Know about the India-US trade talks. • What is the current status of GM crop cultivation in India, and how is it regulated? • What are the benefits of GM crops? What are the major concerns associated with the GM crops? • How is gene modification different from gene editing? • What can be the impact of allowing GM agricultural imports on India's agriculture? • What are the scientific and environmental risks associated with the use of genetically modified crops and products? Key Takeaways: • 'Some things are matters of principle. We can't import GM,' the source said in response to a query over the government's position on GM imports from the US. • This assumes significance since agriculture remains one of the contentious issues between the two countries, and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has previously flagged restrictions on its GM products by countries as discriminatory. • 'The Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 includes specific provisions for regulating food products derived from genetically engineered (GE) sources; however, as of December 31, 2024, the FSSAI was still in the process of establishing its regulations. India's biotechnology approval processes are slow, opaque, and subject to political influences, and do not appear to take into account science-based approval processes for GE products in exporting countries,' the USTR report had said. • While India is seeking greater market access for its textiles, leather and footwear, the US is pushing for access to India's agricultural and dairy markets — a major hurdle, as Indian farmers often operate on small land parcels with limited technological support. In contrast, the US has demanded that India should drop its GM regulation. • There is significant resistance to genetically modified (GM) crops in India. Only one GM crop — Bt cotton — is approved for cultivation. No GM food crop is commercially grown, although experimental trials continue. However, imports of GM soybean oil and canola oil are permitted. • A 2013 report by the European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER) emphasised that many studies deeming GM foods safe were industry-funded, and that long‑term, independent studies were lacking. • New Delhi‑based think tank GTRI said: 'Environmental studies have shown that widespread use of Bt crops can lead to pest resistance, such as in the pink bollworm, and pose risks to non‑target species such as monarch butterflies, as suggested in a 1999 Nature study. Additionally, the overuse of glyphosate with herbicide-tolerant GM crops has led to 'superweeds' and increased herbicide use.' • The GTRI said that GM and non‑GM crops may intermingle at various stages of the supply chain — during transport, storage or processing. 'Once GM material enters, there is a high risk it could leak into local farming systems or processed food chains, posing risks to food safety, environmental integrity, and India's export reputation — especially in GM‑sensitive markets such as the EU,' the think tank warned. Do You Know: • Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) involve the modification of the genetic material of the host by the introduction of foreign genetic material. Notably, GMOs is a broader term that includes GM crops as a subset. GM crops are plants used in agriculture whose DNA has been altered to add desired properties. They are usually developed to increase yield, resist pests/herbicides, and withstand extreme weather conditions. • Gene modification is different from genetic editing (GE). GM involves the introduction of genes from unrelated species into host plants. 'GM is nothing more than a breeding technique, much like crossing that we've been doing for thousands of years. But it's more sophisticated, so we can make very precise changes very rapidly,' said David Spencer, a phytopathologist and spokesperson for Replanet, an alliance of NGOs advocating for science-based solutions to climate change and the loss of biodiversity. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍UPSC Issue at a Glance | Genetically Modified (GM) Crops and India: 4 essential questions to understand the debate Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (5) Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created? (UPSC CSE 2012) 1. To enable them to withstand drought 2. To increase the nutritive value of the produce 3. To enable them to grow and do photosynthesis in spaceships and space stations 4. To increase their shelf life Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 'What introduces friction into the ties between India and the United States is that Washington is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy, which would satisfy India's National self-esteem and ambitions'. Explain with suitable examples. (UPSC CSE 2019) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: As border clashes continue between Thailand and Cambodia, India on Saturday said it was closely monitoring the situation and hoped both sides would take measures for cessation of hostilities. Key Points to Ponder: • Read about the status of India's bilateral relations with Cambodia and Thailand. • What is happening at the Thailand-Cambodia border? • Why have Thailand-Cambodia ties deteriorated of late? • What is India's diplomatic response to the Thailand-Cambodia clashes? • Read about Prasat Ta Muen Thom. • What is ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)? • What is the significance of regional groupings like ASEAN in conflict resolution within Southeast Asia? • What is India's Act East Policy? • How do border disputes in Southeast Asia impact India's Act East Policy? • Map work: Cambodia, Thailand and ASEAN member countries Key Takeaways: • The Ministry of External Affairs also urged Indian travellers in both countries to contact embassies in case they needed any assistance. • 'We are closely monitoring the situation along the border between Cambodia and Thailand,' said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal while responding to media queries. • 'India has close and friendly relations with both countries and hopes that both sides will take measures for a cessation of hostilities and prevention of further escalation,' he said, adding, 'Indian travellers in the region may contact our respective embassies in the two countries for any assistance.' • At least 32 people have been killed and nearly 1,50,000 displaced in the border clashes between the two Southeast Asian countries that erupted on Thursday. Both countries have recalled their ambassadors and Thailand has closed its northeastern border crossings with Cambodia. • During an emergency meeting on Friday, members of the United Nations Security Council called for de-escalation and urged the regional bloc, the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), to mediate a peaceful solution. Do You Know: • Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet Sunday said he agreed to an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' in armed clashes with Thailand following a phone call with US President Donald Trump late Saturday night. In an official statement, Hun Manet said, 'On the night of Saturday, 26 July 2025, I had a phone discussion with Honorable Donald Trump, President of the United States, regarding the armed clashes along the Cambodia–Thailand border.' • He added, 'The President of the United States expressed his desire not to see war or fighting that would lead to many deaths and injuries on both sides, including soldiers and civilians.' • Thailand confirmed in principle its agreement to a ceasefire but urged 'sincere intention' from Cambodia. 'Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is severely lacking in good faith and repeatedly violating the basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law,' Thailand's foreign ministry said in a statement cited by AP. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: The border dispute, and the Hindu temples at the heart of deadly Cambodia-Thailand clashes Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. 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