UPSC Key: G20 declaration, ACITI Partnership, and COP30

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

What’s the ongoing story: The G20 leaders’ summit barely mentioned Ukraine, did not mention the Gaza peace plan or the conflict in the Middle East, and had a single line on terrorism — condemning it in all its forms and manifestations. This makes the G20 declaration in Johannesburg one of the weakest declarations in the history of G20 summits, which was boycotted by the US for the first time. So, the diplomats of G20 countries negotiated the declaration without the US being on board.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is G20?

— What are the key highlights of the G20 declaration?

— What are the initiatives proposed by India in G20 summit this year?

— What is the significance of the G20 for India?

— What are the challenges associated with the G20?

— What is Global South?

— What do you understand by the Drug-terror nexus?

— What is fentanyl?

— Read about the United Nations and reforms required in it. 

Key Takeaways:

— It however, said that all countries “must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state” — an oblique reference to conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, the Middle East, and in the Indo-Pacific where China’s belligerent behaviour is visible.

— The 122-paragraph G20 declaration was adopted by world leaders, including PM Narendra Modi, who have gathered in South Africa, for the first time in the African region.

— Officials said India managed to echo the key outcomes of the Indian G20 presidency in the G20 South African Summit, where the leaders declaration ensured that the issues and priorities of the Global South are reflected.

— From India’s point of view, terrorism in all its forms and manifestations has also been condemned. “We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the one-line sixth paragraph said.

— The declaration, which was adopted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said, “We, Leaders of the G20, who gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa… for the first time, G20 Leaders have convened in Africa. In the spirit of Ubuntu, we recognise that individual nations cannot thrive in isolation. The African philosophy of ‘Ubuntu’, often translated as ‘I am because we are’, emphasises the interconnectedness of individuals within a broader communal, societal, economic, and environmental context.”

— It also said, “We affirm our unwavering commitment to act in accordance with international law including international humanitarian law and the Charter of the United Nations and its principle of peaceful settlement of disputes and in this regard, we condemn all attacks against civilians and infrastructure.”

— India also pushed for a call to reform the UN Security Council that improves its representation. The G20 declaration said, “We pledge to reform the Security Council through a transformative reform that aligns it with the realities and demands of the 21st century… We call for an enlarged Security Council composition that improves the representation of the underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups, such as Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean.”

From Front Page “Drug-terror nexus a global threat, act now: PM to G20”

— Flagging the issue of drug trafficking including that of fentanyl, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the G20 leaders’ summit Saturday that this poses a serious challenge to global security and is a major means of financing terrorism. To effectively address this global threat, he proposed the “G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus” to “weaken” the “drug-terror economy”.

— Modi, who arrived in Johannesburg Friday and was welcomed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the summit, reached out to Africa by proposing a G20-Africa Skills Multiplier initiative that will train one million certified trainers in Africa over the next 10 years.

— He also proposed formation of a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team, creation of a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository, an Open Satellite Data Partnership and a Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative. In all, the Prime Minister, elaborating India’s approach to growth, development and well-being for all, proposed six ideas for the G20 to consider.

— In the joint declaration, sources said India ensured “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations” is condemned.

— Sources said India has managed to echo the key outcomes of the Indian G20 presidency in the G20 South African Summit: Leaders Declaration as well as ensured that the issues and priorities of the Global South are reflected.

— The key outcomes from India’s point of view span technology, women empowerment, role of traditional complementary medicine, climate finance and UN Security Council reforms.

— The importance of embracing sustainable production and consumption patterns and mainstreaming Lifestyles for Sustainable Development (LiFE) has been recognised, sources said, adding that India also pushed for a call to reform the United Nations Security Council that improves its representation.

From World Page- “ G20 summit adopts declaration on climate despite US opposition”

— Group of 20 leaders adopted a declaration addressing the climate crisis and other global challenges on Saturday over U.S. objections, prompting the White House to accuse South Africa of weaponizing its leadership of the group this year.

— The declaration, which was drafted without input from the United States, “can’t be renegotiated,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson told reporters, reflecting strains between Pretoria and U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, which boycotted the event.

Do You Know:

— The G20, or the Group of Twenty, is an informal grouping of 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States), European Union, and African Union.

— Notably, the African Union, a grouping that represents 55 countries, was admitted as a new member of the G20 in June 2023.

— The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty was officially launched at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). It aims to accelerate efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty while promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍As the US boycotts G20, what lies ahead for the international forum?

📍G20 Summit in South Africa set to open without US as Trump announces boycott: 8 things to know

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(1) With reference to the “G20 Common Framework”, consider the following statements (UPSC CSE 2022)

1. It is an initiative endorsed by the G20 together with the Paris Club.

2. It is an initiative to support Low Income Countries with unsustainable debt.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

IMF flags Pak’s corruption, eroding public trust, system favouring elite

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

What’s the ongoing story: Corruption is a “persistent feature” of Pakistan’s governance landscape, its enforcement action in prosecuting money-laundering is “weak”, “judicial institutions” are perceived as “corrupt” and anti-corruption institutions have a “history of political influence” — these are among the key findings of a scathing International Monetary Fund (IMF) report published earlier this week.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Read about the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

(Thought Process: Understand the history and mandate for the formation of the IMF, its functions, etc.)

— What kind of financial assistance does the IMF offer?

— What is the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) lending program?

— What is Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF)?

— What are India’s concerns about frequent bailouts to Pakistan?

— How are the members’ voting powers decided in the IMF?

— What are the Special Drawing Rights?

— Read about Pakistan’s 27th Constitutional Amendment. 

— What are the reports published by the IMF?

Key Takeaways:

— The Governance and Corruption Diagnostic (GCD) was conducted at the request and with the support of Pakistan Government to identify and analyse governance weaknesses and corruption vulnerabilities that undermine economic performance. An interdepartmental IMF team, joined by experts from the World Bank, initiated the GCD in January 2025.

— Over the course of 8 months, and two field missions, the GCD took place within the context of a 37-month $7-billion IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) approved on September 25, 2024. The publication of the report is a precondition for the IMF executive board’s approval of a $1.2-billion disbursement next month.

— The report comes at a time of the controversial 27th constitutional amendment, which increases the powers of Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and curtails the powers of the Supreme Court by establishing another court above it.

— Pakistan is targeting 4.2% growth this year and IMF estimates that Islamabad could boost economic growth by about 5 to 6.5% over five years if it implements a package of governance reforms beginning within next three to six months.

— The diagnostic found that “corruption is a persistent feature of Pakistan’s governance landscape, with significant adverse effects on economic gro­wth, investment, and public trust”. It said that Pakistan’s governance indicators consistently rank poorly, reflecting weaknesses in controlling corruption, enforcing contracts, and protecting property rights.

— It said that Anti Money laundering/combating financing of terrorism frameworks have improved, enabling Pakistan’s removal from the FATF grey list, “yet enforcement remains weak, especially in prosecuting corruption-related money laundering…”

Do You Know:

— Set up in 1945 , the International Monetary Fund (IMF) works to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity for all of its 191 member countries. It does so by supporting economic policies that promote financial stability and monetary cooperation, which are essential to increase productivity, job creation, and economic well-being.

— According to the official website of IMF, “Unlike development banks, the IMF does not lend for specific projects. Instead, the IMF provides financial support to countries hit by crises to create breathing room as they implement policies that restore economic stability and growth. It also provides precautionary financing to help prevent crises.”

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Knowledge Nugget: Why IMF, its Bailouts, and Extended Fund Facility (EFF) should be in focus for your UPSC Exam

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(2) “Rapid Financing Instrument” and “Rapid Credit Facility” are related to the provisions of lending by which one of the following? (UPSC CSE 2022)

(a) Asian Development Bank

(b) International Monetary Fund

(c) United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative

(d) World Bank

PM: Trilateral tech alliance with Canada and Australia

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, Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story: India, Australia and Canada Saturday agreed to a new “technology and innovation” partnership in which they will step up cooperation on “critical and emerging technologies”, including on mass adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the “Five Eyes” intelligence network?

— Read about Artificial Intelligence and its application.

— What is the significance of the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership for India?

— What is the status of India’s bilateral relations with Canada and Australia?

— What are the areas of cooperation between India and Australia?

— What are the areas of cooperation and conflict between India and Canada?

Key Takeaways:

— This was announced after PM Narendra Modi, Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Canadian PM Mark Carney met on Saturday on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

— This partnership is significant given that Canada and Australia are part of the “Five Eyes” intelligence network and have access to cutting-edge tech and information with the US, UK and New Zealand.

— “A new trilateral technology and innovation partnership! Had an excellent meeting with Mr. Anthony Albanese, PM of Australia and Mr. Mark Carney, PM of Canada on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. We are delighted to announce an Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership today,” Modi said on X.

— The Ministry of External Affairs released a statement that India, Australia and Canada agreed to enter into a new trilateral technology and innovation agreement: ACITI Partnership.

— “The three sides agreed to strengthen their ambition in cooperation on critical and emerging technologies to complement existing bilateral initiatives. The initiative will draw on the natural strengths of the three countries and have an emphasis on green energy innovation and building resilient supply chains, including in critical minerals… The partnership will also examine the development and mass adoption of artificial intelligence to improve the lives of our citizens,” it said.

— They agreed officials should convene in the first quarter of 2026 to take the initiative forward, the MEA said. India is going to host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.

Do You Know:

— The United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom are the five English-speaking nations that make up the “Five Eyes,” a multilateral intelligence-sharing network that includes over 20 agencies. It uses signals intelligence (SIGINT) as well as surveillance. 

— Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the field of computer science which aims to make computer systems think, reason, learn, and act to solve a complex system like humans.

— AI can be classified into two types: Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) also known as weak AI and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) also referred to as strong AI. 

— ANI is designed for specific tasks and excels within a narrow domain. Examples include virtual assistants like Siri, recommendation systems on platforms like Netflix, and image recognition software. ANI systems are highly specialised and cannot transfer their expertise to unrelated tasks. 

— In contrast, AGI aims to replicate human cognitive abilities, enabling it to perform any intellectual task a human can do. AGI would possess general reasoning skills, understand context, and adapt to new situations across various domains. It would be capable of autonomous learning and problem-solving without requiring task-specific programming.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍AI basics: What are artificial intelligence and machine learning?

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(3) With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (UPSC CSE 2020)

1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units

2. Create meaningful short stories and songs

3. Disease diagnosis

4. Text-to-Speech Conversion

5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

 

FRONT

COP backs push against trade curbs linked to climate change, silent on fossil fuel roadmap

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. 

What’s the ongoing story: In a clear indication of a shift in power balance in the absence of the United States, the COP30 climate meeting in Belem, Brazil adopted an agreement that accommodated the main concerns of developing countries like India and China, but left out any mention of a roadmap on fossil fuel phase-out which the European Union and some other countries had identified as a non-negotiable.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the Conference of the Parties, or COP?

— Read about the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 2015 Paris Agreement.

— What are the major outcomes of the COP30?

— What is the role played by the Global South in taking climate actions?

— What are the major international agreements on phasing out the use of fossil fuels?

— What is the Belém Political Package?

— What is Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement?

— What is the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF)?

Key Takeaways:

— The showpiece outcome from COP30, being referred to as a political package, has taken on board two big issues flagged by the developing countries — implementation of a key finance provision in Article 9.1 of Paris Agreement, and unilateral trade measures like EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) — though not in the same way as was being demanded.

— It has proposed to establish a two-year work programme to discuss all issues on climate finance, including Article 9.1 of Paris Agreement. Developing countries, led by India, have been insisting that this particular provision which says that developed countries “shall provide financial resources” has been ignored till now, including in the comprehensive finance agreement reached last year. These countries have argued that all decisions on climate finance till now, have addressed only Article 9.3 which only asks the developed world to “take the lead in mobilising climate finance”.

— On the issue of unilateral trade measures, the agreement has acknowledged the concern of countries like China and India that response measures on climate change must not constitute a means of “arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or disguised restriction on international trade”.

— This is almost the full recognition of the positions taken by China and India on CBAM which seeks to put additional tariff on imported goods whose production has a higher carbon footprint than what is allowed for European manufacturers of the same goods. India, China and some other countries have called such measures discriminatory and violative of international trade laws.

— In contrast, the agreement completely left out any mention of a fossil fuel exit roadmap, which the European Union, some Latin American countries and small island nations had been pushing hard for. 

— On Friday, these countries said they would not support any outcome that omitted a roadmap on transitioning away from fossil fuels. But when the final draft which came out on Saturday, omitted the issue again, it was clear that the overall mood was not in their favour.

— The final outcome, thus, was reflective of the shift in power balance at these climate negotiations, with the bloc of large developing countries, particularly the BRICS grouping (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) decisively calling the shots. In the absence of the United States, which did not send an official delegation at these talks for the first time in the last 30 years of negotiations, the European Union and countries like Australia seemed to lack adequate heft to force their agenda, which they had managed to do till now. 

— The COP30 meeting adopted several other agreements, as happens at every such meeting, but none that will have any significant bearing on the effectiveness of global action to fight climate change. One of the main goals, identified by COP30 hosts and president Brazil, going into the conference, was to ensure that the trust in this negotiating process was not further eroded after a disappointing outcome last year and the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement earlier this year. On that count, Brazil can claim success as every country reposed their faith in this UN-mandated process.

— However, on the other objective of expediting climate action, there was little that Brazil, or COP30, could deliver.

Do You Know:

— In 1992, at the Rio Earth Summit, 154 countries signed a multilateral treaty called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It aimed to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations “at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system.”

— The treaty came into force two years later, and since then, countries which are part of the UNFCCC, meet every year at different venues. Today, there are 198 ‘parties’ or signatories of the Convention.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍In accommodating some, ignoring others, COP30 signals key shift in power equations

📍Knowledge Nugget: What happened at COP30 in Brazil? 10 key takeaways for your UPSC Exam

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(4) With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC CSE 2016)

1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.

2. The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. (UPSC CSE 2022)

 

ECONOMY

Timely wages, higher basic pay, health checkups

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story: Timely payment of wages, equal remuneration across genders, flexible working hours not exceeding 12 hours a day and 48 hours a week, an overtime rate at double the normal wage, and deductions from wages not exceeding 50 per cent, implying a higher basic pay — these are some of the key proposals for employees that will now come into effect after the notification of the long-stalled labour codes. A National Floor Wage for defining the baseline for wages across the country is also part of the proposals.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are the four labour codes?

— What is the objective of introducing it?

— What is the National Floor wage?

— Labour laws fall under which list of the Seventh schedule of the Indian Constitution?

— How does the reform in labour laws promote the ease of doing business?

— What benefits do the new codes bring for women employees?

— What are the concerns related to these codes?

— What are the challenges associated with its implementation?

Key Takeaways:

— With the four new labour codes — Code on Wages; Industrial Relations Code; Code on Social Security; and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code — the government primarily aims to create a uniform structure for wages, bonus and wage-related matters with the principle of equal remuneration for equal work.

Proposed changes for employees

— Wage- Includes basic pay; dearness allowance; and retaining allowance. Does not include bonus, value of house accommodation, house rent allowance, travel or conveyance allowance, gratuity or retrenchment compensation among others. The Code on Wages states that deductions cannot exceed 50 per cent of the wages.

— This implies the whole component of wage (basic salary + dearness allowance + retaining allowance) needs to be at 50 per cent of the total pay by the employer. Thus, social security contributions like provident fund, gratuity, maternity benefits and bonus will be based on a larger portion of pay. But it also means the take-home salary will be reduced for an employee.

— Minimum wages for all: The Code on Wages states “no employer shall pay to any employee wages less than the minimum rate of wages notified by the appropriate Government”. This implies that the minimum wage needs to be paid to all the employees regardless of wage ceiling or the employment sector, whether organised or unorganised. This will provide a uniform legal safeguard across the country, reducing wage disparity and is expected to benefit worker groups like casual employees, daily wagers, and migrant labourers.

— At present, the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 is applicable to employees below the wage ceiling of Rs 24,000 per month and the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 is applicable to the establishment covered in the scheduled employment only.

— The minimum wage will consist of a basic rate of wages and an allowance at a rate to be adjusted at specific intervals by the government. The government is likely to revise the minimum wage rate at an interval not exceeding five years.

— Working hours: The Code on Wages provides for the government to fix the number of working hours which shall constitute a normal working day inclusive of one or more specified intervals. The government will also detail a day of rest in every period of seven days which shall be allowed to all employees or to any specified class of employees and for the payment of remuneration for such days of rest.

— The Ministry has said that daily working hours could range between 8 hours and 12 hours, with a weekly limit of 48 hours.

— As per the International Labour Organization (ILO), the working hours in a week are not supposed to exceed 48 hours in the week and 8 hours in the day.

— If an employee works for less than six days in a week, if that flexibility is provided in the rules, the period of work will then be adjusted in such a manner that, including the interval for rest, it will not exceed 12 hours in a day, an official told The Indian Express. The remaining days of that week shall be a paid holiday for the employee.

— Overtime wages: Employers will now be required to pay employees at least twice the normal wage rate for any work beyond normal working hours. At present, The Factories Act limits a worker to a maximum of 10.5 hours daily, or around 63 hours in a six-day week. Of these, only 48 hours are considered regular work hours, 3 hours are considered rest intervals, and the remaining 12 hours count as overtime. Over a 13-week quarter, this would allow for 156 overtime hours, but another provision of the Factories Act caps overtime at only 75 hours per quarter.

— Social security coverage, fund for gig workers: The provisions of Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will now apply to all establishments employing 20 or more employees, regardless of the type of industry. Currently, the EPFO Act is applicable only for the establishments mentioned in the Schedule 1 of  the Act, primarily of the manufacturing sector. This norm has now been removed under the Code on Social Security.

— Also, the Code includes unorganised, gig, and platform workers within the ambit of social security benefits for the first time. Social security schemes such as life and disability cover; accident insurance; health and maternity benefits; crèche will be notified by the government under the Code, with schemes being partly or wholly funded by the Centre or the states or the contributions made by the aggregators. The aggregators employing gig workers will have to contribute 1-2 per cent of annual turnover for social security, with the total contribution not exceeding 5 per cent of the amount payable by the aggregator.

— No gender discrimination, night shifts for women: The Code on Wages states there shall be no discrimination among employees on the ground of gender in matters relating to wages by the same employer, in respect of the same work or work of a similar nature done by any employee in an establishment.

— This provision ensures equal pay for equal work, expands protection to cover not just wages, but also recruitment and employment conditions, and promotes workplace equality, giving women and men the same opportunities in hiring, pay, and treatment, the official said.

— The new labour codes also pave the way for women workers to work at night. The OSH Code permits women to work in an establishment before 6 AM and beyond 7 PM, subject to their consent and provisions for safety.

Do You Know:

— India’s old labour laws were too many, too complex, and outdated. They increased the compliance burden and discouraged businesses from hiring. Many workers, especially gig, platform, MSME, and migrant workers, had no uniform social security. States had already begun reforming their labour laws, leading to fragmented rules. The new Labour Codes try to fix all this.

— Labour is a Concurrent List subject, and while most states have finalised rules aligned with the four Codes, central-level implementation remains pending. This delay results in: Uneven social security coverage for workers, and Compliance complexity for employers operating across multiple states

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍MSMEs: Gains from cut in compliance may offset any cost increase

📍Wider social security net to minimum wage: Long stalled, labour reforms roll in

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(5) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2017)

1. The Factories Act, 1881 was passed with a view to fix the wages of industrial workers and to allow the workers to form trade unions.

2. N.M. Lokhande was a pioneer in organizing the labour movement in British India.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

“Success of ‘Make in India’ programme depends on the success of ‘Skill India’ programme and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments. (UPSC CSE 2015)

ALSO IN NEWS
Bill on civil nuclear sector among 10 listed for Winter Session	From proposing the inclusion of the UT of Chandigarh under the ambit of Article 240 of the Constitution, which empowers the President to make regulations for the UT and legislate directly, to seeking to open up the civil nuclear sector for private players, 10 Bills have been listed by the government for introduction in the Winter Session, beginning December 1. Besides the crucial Atomic Energy Bill, 2025, which seeks to govern the use and regulation of atomic energy in India, the Higher Education Commission of India Bill is also on the age­nda. According to a Lok Sabha bulletin, the proposed law seeks to set up a Higher Education Commission of India to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutes to become independent and self-governing.
Centre’s Bill to let Delhi run Chandigarh directly sets off uproar in Punjab	The Centre proposes to include Chandigarh under the ambit of Article 240 of the Constitution that empowers the President to make regulations for the Union Territory and legislate directly. This will pave the way for the appointment of an independent Administrator or Lt Governor, a move that is likely to weaken Punjab’s claim to the city. According to a bulletin of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the government will introduce The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025 in the upcoming winter session of Parliament that gets underway December 1. This has led to an uproar in Punjab where the ruling AAP and Opposition Congress are targeting the BJP-led Centre, saying it is a move to weaken the state’s claim to Chandigarh, which it currently shares with Haryana as a joint capital. Currently, the Punjab Governor also holds additional charge as the Administrator of the UT of Chandigarh.
What is GRAP and how it is implemented	Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a mechanism to decide the actions that governments in Delhi-NCR must take as the levels of air pollution rise through various stages. The idea of GRAP is to put certain steps or restrictions in place as soon as air pollution reaches a specific level, instead of waiting for the air to become worse. The GRAP framework was approved by the Supreme Court in 2016, and its implementation has since been overseen by the CAQM.  There are four stages in GRAP, each linked to the Air Quality Index (AQI) at the time.

 

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (c)   2. (b)   3. (b)   4. (b)   5. (b)

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.

🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for November 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨