UPSC Key: Live-in Relationship, Einstein Ring and New Income-Tax Bill

Trump, Putin discuss ending Ukraine war, prisoner exchange; agree to meet

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests,

What’s the ongoing story: President Donald Trump, in his second term, held what he described as a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, signalling the beginning of a US-backed negotiation to end the war in Ukraine.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Map Work-Ukraine and Russia

• Discuss the historical and geopolitical factors that led to the Russia-Ukraine war.

• Evaluate the impact of Trump’s past and potential future foreign policy stance on US-Russia relations.

• Compare and contrast the foreign policy approaches of Donald Trump and Joe Biden concerning the Ukraine war.

• Examine the role of diplomatic negotiations in resolving international conflicts, with special reference to Trump’s proposal for ending the Ukraine war.

• Analyse the significance of India’s neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. How does it align with India’s foreign policy principles?

Key Takeaways:

• This marked their first confirmed conversation since Trump resumed office, as the President has prioritized finding a diplomatic resolution to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

• Trump characterized the call as laying the groundwork for future cooperation between the US and Russia, stating that discussions included a wide array of topics ranging from energy, artificial intelligence, and the US dollar to geopolitics in the Middle East.

• The announcement underscores Trump’s desire to step into a mediating role in resolving the war, a goal he has made clear to his advisors since the beginning of his second term.

• Trump’s negotiating team for the effort is expected to include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. Notably, Witkoff was recently involved in securing the release of Marc Fogel, an American schoolteacher imprisoned in Russia for over three years, and was in Moscow earlier this week.

• The US team’s objective will be to facilitate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, with the aim of putting an end to the conflict that has destabilized the region and had a significant impact on global markets and security.

• In Moscow, the Kremlin confirmed the details of the call. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov informed reporters that the two leaders spoke
for approximately 90 minutes and discussed their mutual desire for stronger cooperation. Peskov added that Putin extended an invitation to Trump to visit Moscow, signalling an openness to further diplomatic engagement between the two powers.

Do You Know:

• The phone call, however, also underlines a nuanced shift in Trump’s posture toward Russia. During his first term, Trump faced widespread criticism for his perceived leniency toward Putin and his public praise of the Russian leader. In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Trump notably referred to Putin as a “genius,” a remark that had sparked considerable backlash.

• While the phone call indicates an opening for diplomatic progress, significant challenges remain. Ukraine, under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has shown little willingness to negotiate with Russia on terms that would cede territory or compromise Ukrainian sovereignty.

• Trump has indicated that he plans to inform Zelenskyy of the US-Russian discussions and that both sides will “start negotiations immediately.” However, Ukraine’s position has been bolstered by substantial Western military and financial support, complicating the prospect of swift diplomatic resolutions.

• On 24 February 2022, Putin announced a “special military operation” to “demilitarize and denazify” Ukraine, claiming Russia had no plans to occupy the country. The Russian invasion that followed was internationally condemned; many countries imposed sanctions against Russia, and sent humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍US President Trump says he has spoken to Putin about ending Ukraine war

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
1. Consider the following pairs: (2019)
Sea Bordering Country
1. Adriatic Sea : Albania
2. Black Sea : Croatia
3. Caspian Sea : Kazakhstan
4. Mediterranean Sea : Morocco
5. Red Sea : Syria
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Trump’s trade advisors finalise reciprocal tariffs

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: Hours before PM Narendra Modi is set to commence his two days US visit and meet President Donald Trump, White House on Wednesday said that Trump could announce his reciprocal tariff plan before he meets with Indian Prime Minister on Thursday.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What best defines reciprocal tariffs?

• The United States imposed Section 232 tariffs under the pretext of what?

• The reciprocal tariffs imposed by India on US products primarily targeted what?

• If the US imposes reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports, what could be an immediate effect?

• How do reciprocal tariffs impact international trade and diplomatic relations?

• Discuss the role of World Trade Organization (WTO) in resolving tariff disputes between nations.

• Examine the key trade disputes between India and the US over the last decade.

• How do tariff-related trade policies impact Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives?

Key Takeaways:

• Trump said recently that he planned to slap reciprocal tariffs on “every country” that imposes import duties on the US. “It’s time to be reciprocal,” Trump said on Air Force One, NBC News reported. “You’ll be hearing that word a lot. Reciprocal. If they charge us, we charge them.”

• Explaining on why tariffs are crucial, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “It’s very simple logic as to why the President wants to impose reciprocal tariffs, it’s the golden rule which we all learned when we were growing up in school – Treat others the way, you want to be treated, and far too many nations around this world have been ripping off the United States of America for far too long and that’s why the President believes this will be a great policy.”

• Trump has not held back his frustration over India’s high tariffs, labelling the country a “very big abuser” and accusing it of blocking US imports.

• With the almost $200 billion bilateral trade, what irks Trump is the $40-50 billion surplus that is in India’s favour.

• And, while Trump has emphasised his desire for a trade relationship with India that is more “fair,” Delhi has already signalled its willingness to negotiate a limited trade deal to address Washington’s concerns over market access.

Do You Know:

• On Monday, Trump closed exemptions to his 2018 tariffs on steel and aluminium, while also raising the tariff rates on aluminium. He has also floated the idea of imposing further tariffs on imported automobiles, computer chips, and pharmaceutical drugs.

• The tariffs rattled India’s steel and aluminium industries threatening billions of dollars in exports each year. The Indian Steel Association warned on Tuesday that the steel tariff alone could cut exports to the US by 85%, significantly impacting the sector.

• Since taking office less than a month ago, Trump has aggressively pursued a series of tariffs, fully embracing a protectionist economic strategy.

• The move signals his belief that his policies will ultimately benefit American voters—despite acknowledging that the import taxes could lead to inflation and economic disruptions. The impact of these measures will largely depend on their specifics and how other nations react.

• One of Trump’s key moves has been imposing 10% tariffs on China for its role in the production of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. In response, China has introduced retaliatory measures.

• Additionally, Trump has warned that if necessary, he will impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada starting March 1—after a 30-day suspension—citing concerns over illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Trump to announce reciprocal tariffs in two days amid 25% tariff on steel, aluminium

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
2. Which of the following is a major reason for US-India trade tensions?
(a) India’s import restrictions on American dairy products
(b) India’s purchase of defense equipment from Russia
(c) The US demand for better intellectual property protections
(d) All of the above

FRONT PAGE

What’s wrong in regulating live-ins, asks HC on plea against UCC

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Main Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

What’s the ongoing story: Observing that the self-respect of a person cannot be sacrificed in the garb of invasion of privacy, especially when he is a child born in a live-in relationship, the Uttarakhand High Court Wednesday asked what was wrong with regulating such relationships.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Examine the legal status of live-in relationships in India.

• How has the judiciary interpreted Article 21 in the context of live-in relationships in India?

• The Uttarakhand Chief Justice recently suggested the need for regulating live-in relationships—Discuss the pros and cons

• Do you think that legal recognition of live-in relationships can help in women’s empowerment in India? Provide arguments for and against.

• Compare the status of live-in relationships in India with that in Western democracies. Should India adopt a similar legal framework?

• What lessons can India learn from France’s PACS (Civil Solidarity Pact) or Sweden’s cohabitation laws in regulating live-in relationships?

Key Takeaways:

• The Bench of Chief Justice G Narender was hearing a petition challenging provisions of the Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand Act, 2024 — especially those pertaining to live-in relationships.

• The petition, filed by Almasuddin Siddiqui through advocate Kartikey Hari Gupta, also challenges the list of prohibited relationships mentioned in the code and says that it not only hinders petitioners’ religious right to marry but also declares such marriage void and criminalises it.

• Appearing for the Uttarakhand and the central governments, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought six weeks to file a response to the petition after the Chief Justice sought justification on Section 387(1) of the law, which criminalises non-registration of live-in relationships with either imprisonment up to three months or a fine of R 10,000 or both.

• In his oral observations, the CJ asked what was wrong in regulating live-in relationships. “There is also a fallout of this. What happens if this relationship breaks up? What if there is a child out of this relationship? In respect of marriage, there is a presumption regarding paternity but in a live-in relationship, where is that presumption? In the garb of invasion of your privacy, can the self-respect of another person be sacrificed, that too when he is your child and there is no proof of marriage… or paternity,” he said.

Do You Know:

• The UCC Act, which was passed by the state Assembly in February 2024, makes it mandatory for couples to register with the government, both while initiating and terminating a live-in relationship. Failure to register carries a jail term up to six months. This applies to residents of Uttarakhand as well as state residents living elsewhere in India.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍16-page form to priest certificate: Uttarakhand UCC rules for live-in

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
3. A legislation that confers on the executive or administrative authority an unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power in the matter of the application of law violates which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India?
(a) Article 14
(b) Article 28
(c) Article 32
(d) Article 44
UPSC Previous Year Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍Discuss the possible factors that inhibit India from enacting for its citizens a uniform civil code as provided for in the Directive Principles of State Policy. (2015)

N-reactors, missiles, engines: India and France deepen ties

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: India and France Wednesday agreed to jointly develop modern nuclear reactors, boost defence cooperation with procurement of missiles, submarines, engines for aircraft and helicopters, and jointly work on projects in third countries.

Key Points to Ponder:

• How PM Modi’s recent visit to France has contributed to enhancing Indo-French ties in defence, nuclear energy, and space cooperation.

• India-France Roadmap on Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Know in detail

• What is India-France Indo-Pacific Triangular Development Cooperation?

• Map Work-Marseille

• “In India’s quest for freedom, Marseille holds special significance.”—What is so special about Marseille?

Key Takeaways:

• These were the outcome of bilateral discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on board the Presidential aircraft while flying from Paris to Marseille.

• Describing the decision to travel together on the Presidential aircraft “an exceptional gesture by President Macron, emblematic of deep personal trust between the two leaders, and remarkable confidence they have in each other”, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India-France “ties literally touched new heights”.

• The two leaders, Misri said, reviewed the bilateral cooperation in areas of defence, space and civil nuclear cooperation, health and people-to-people ties. AI was a “major area” of the discussion, he said.

• According to the joint statement, Prime Minister Modi and President Macron stressed that nuclear energy is an essential part of the energy mix for strengthening energy security and transitioning towards a low-carbon economy. Both leaders acknowledged the India-France civil nuclear ties and efforts in cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, notably in relation with the Jaitapur nuclear power plant project.

• President Macron welcomed the decision to include India as an observer to the Eurodrone MALE (medium altitude long endurance) programme managed by OCCAR, which is another step forward in the growing strength of our partnership in defence equipment programmes,” the joint statement said.

• On cooperation in third countries, it said that they hailed the launch of the “India-France Indo-Pacific Triangular Development Cooperation, aiming to support climate- and SDG-focused projects from third countries in the Indo-Pacific region”.

• Both leaders announced the inauguration of the India-France Year of Innovation in New Delhi in March 2026 by launching its logo.

Do You Know:

• PM Modi recalled how during the First World War, Marseille was an important base for Indian troops. This city, he said, had a close link with Veer Savarkar as well.

• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was arrested in London in March 1910, on charges of anti-state acts and abetment of Nashik magistrate A M T Jackson’s murder. While being brought to India for trial onboard the commercial ship SS Morea, Savarkar tried to escape from custody in Marseille.

• According to the records of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), on July 8, 1910, Savarkar, who was being closely guarded, sought permission to use the washroom. He then bolted the toilet from inside, jumped out of the ship’s porthole, and swam ashore.

• However, Savarkar was soon apprehended by a brigadier of the French maritime gendarmerie, who handed him over to guards from the ship after mistaking him for a crew member. Savarkar’s escape, however, sparked a dispute between France and Great Britain, which was settled by the PCA.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍PM Modi recalls: Story of Savarkar’s attempted escape from ship docked in Marseille

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
4. In 1920, which of the following changed its name to “Swarajya Sabha”? (2018)
(a) All India Home Rule League
(b) Hindu Mahasabha
(c) South Indian Liberal Federation
(d) The Servants of India Society

SC slams poll freebies: ‘Are we not creating a class of parasites?”

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes

What’s the ongoing story: Coming down heavily on the announcement of freebies by governments and political parties before elections, the Supreme Court Wednesday asked “are we not creating a class of parasites”, and said freebies are disincentivising people from working and, in states like Maharashtra, drying up the labour force.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is “Freebies”?

• Is there any definition of the term “freebies” given in the existing legal/policy framework?

• What is wrong with freebies?

• Critics have pointed out that provisions to poor beneficiaries are termed as “revdi” while state-sponsored support to the rich is called “incentive”-Compare and Contrast between “Revdi” and “Incentive”

• How freebies Impact Union and State budgets?

• Why the word ‘Freebie’ is almost sounds pejorative especially in political and policy circle?

• The political dialogue built around freebies is fraught with danger. What ‘danger’ is associated with Freebies scheme?

Key Takeaways:

• When the bench of Justices B R Gavai and A G Masih was hearing a plea regarding shelter homes for the homeless, a petitioner said policies are only designed for the rich.

• Justice Gavai took exception to the submission that compassion is only for the rich, and cautioned him not to make political speeches. “Don’t make a speech (like) at Ramlila Maidan in this court. In court, restrict yourself to the argument. If you are espousing the cause of someone, restrict it (to that). Don’t make unnecessary allegations. Don’t make a political speech here. We will not allow our court hall to be converted into a political platform,” he said.

• Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who was appearing for another petitioner, sought to explain that the submission had been made because some of the shelters had been removed for beautification of the area.

• Justice Gavai said an affidavit filed in the matter mentioned the facilities to be provided. “So, rather than promoting them to be a part of the mainstream of society by contributing to the development of the nation, are we not creating a class of parasites?” he said.

Do You Know:

• This was not the first time Justice Gavai had flagged the issue of freebies. On January 7, while hearing a matter related to payment of salaries and pensions of judicial officers, he said, “The states have all the money for people who don’t do any work. When we talk about financial constraints, we also have to look at this. Come elections you declare Ladli Behna and other new schemes where you pay fixed amounts. In Delhi, we have announcements now from some party or the other saying they will pay Rs 2500 if they come to power.”

• Incidentally, the Supreme Court is seized of petitions challenging freebies by political parties ahead of elections, but it is yet to
start hearing the matter in detail.

• A two-judge bench had, in the Subramaniam Balaji case in 2013, held that the “state distributing largesse in the form of distribution of colour TVs, laptops, etc. to eligible and deserving persons is directly related to the Directive Principles of State Policy” and warrants no interference by the court.

• On August 26, 2022, a bench, headed by the then Chief Justice of India, referred petitions seeking a ban on freebies to a three-judge bench which it said would look into prayers for reconsidering the judgement in the Subramaniam Balaji case.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍From freebies to welfare

How the new I-T Bill is different: Shorter, simplified, brings in concept of ‘tax year’

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

Main Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story: SIMPLIFIED, CRISP language, removal of extra provisos and explanations along with expanded definition of income – these are some of the key features of the new Income-Tax Bill, 2025. The 622-page Bill has also defined a new concept of ‘tax year’ as the 12-month period beginning from April 1 and removes the term ‘assessment year’.

Key Points to Ponder:

• New Income-Tax Bill, 2025-know its key features

• What is the new concept of ‘tax year’ in the new bill?

• Discuss the key objectives and features of the new Income-Tax Bill.

• The government has proposed shifting from the Financial Year (April-March) to a Tax Year system. Examine the benefits and challenges of this transition.

• How the new tax structure aims to promote Ease of Doing Business in India.

• Compare India’s proposed Tax Year model with international taxation systems.

Key Takeaways:

• However, no major structural change has been incorporated in the new Bill, with experts saying it is broadly a simplification exercise that will ensure continuity, with consolidated sections to reduce cross references, but lacks any major tweaks in penalty or compliance provisions. The new income-tax legislation is likely to come into effect from April 1, 2026.

• Virtual digital assets have been included in the definition of property to be counted as a capital asset of the assessee along with existing categories of immovable property such as land and building, shares and securities, bullion, jewellery, archaeological collections, drawings, paintings, sculptures and any work of art.

• Various provisions have been provided in tabular format such as tax deducted at source (TDS) provisions, presumptive taxation rates, assessment time limits among others.

• The section on Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) has clearly provided the points of determination, decision, and the reasons behind it, marking a shift from the earlier section which lacked clarity on the manner of issuing DRP directions, experts said.

• Section 54E that details exemptions for capital gains on transfer of capital assets prior to April 1992 has been removed in the new Bill along with streamlining of deductions and removal of outdated exemptions.

• Also, the old tax regime is a part of the new Bill, and hence, indicates continuity alongside the new regime.

Do You Know:

• Defining the new concept of ‘tax year’, the Bill states that in case of a business or a newly set up profession, the tax year will begin from the date of setting up of such a business of profession, and will end with the said financial year. In other words, income tax will be levied on the basis of the economic activity and income earned in a ‘tax year’.

• At present, income tax has the concept of ‘assessment year’, which assesses tax on income earned in the previous financial year. For instance, income earned in the financial year 2024-25 (April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025) will be assessed in assessment year 2025-26 (beginning April 1, 2025). The change in terminology might build base for a more fluid income tax reporting regime in the coming years, experts said.

• With a more simplified language and removal of redundant provisions, the Income-Tax Bill has seen a reduction in length from 823 pages to 622 pages. Even as the number of chapters remain the same at 23 in both the new Income-Tax Bill, 2025 and the old Income-tax Act, 1961, there are 536 clauses in the new Bill, higher than 298 sections at present. The schedules have increased to 16 from 14 at present.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍New Income Tax Bill: It aims to modernise India’s tax system

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
5. With reference to India’s decision to levy an equalization tax of 6% on online advertisement services offered by non-resident entities, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2018)
1. It is introduced as a part of the Income Tax Act.
2. Non-resident entities that offer advertisement services in India can claim a tax credit in their home country under the “Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements”.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

EXPRESS NETWORK

J&K HC backs 29-year-old who was denied passport: ‘Conduct of applicant, not kin, should form basis’

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

What’s the ongoing story: Citing Article 21 of the Constitution, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has said that the conduct of the applicant — and not his relatives — should form the basis for accepting or rejecting a passport application. Politicians cutting across party lines welcomed the order.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Which Article of the Indian Constitution guarantees the Right to Freedom of Movement, which includes the right to travel abroad?

• In which landmark case did the Supreme Court affirm the right to travel abroad as part of Article 21?

• What is the primary reason cited by authorities when denying a passport to individuals in Jammu and Kashmir?

• Discuss the significance of the J-K High Court’s ruling on passport issuance in the context of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

• How the denial of passports on security grounds affects an individual’s fundamental rights.

• Analyse the Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) case and its impact on the interpretation of Article 21 and passport issuance.

Key Takeaways:

• Issuing an order on a petition filed by Amir Malik, a 29-year-old from Ramban, Justice MA Chowdhary said Tuesday, “It should have been the activities of the petitioner which should have formed the basis either for permitting or rejecting the request for issuance of passport in his favour”.

• In his petition, Malik claims that he was denied a passport despite waiting for a year, citing authorities’ objections to his family’s alleged links to the Hizbul Mujahideen.

• The judge noted that the petitioner apprehends that his case has been “deliberately delayed” by the authorities “in order to carve out a false ground, and the reason for denying the passport to the petitioner is that one of the brothers of the petitioner, namely, Late Mohd Ayaz Malik, was killed by the security forces in an encounter in a militancy related incident” in April 2011. His father has also been named as an overground worker (OGW) of the Hizbul Mujahideen.

• The ruling also notes objections from the Additional Director General of Police (CID) J&K in Jammu, who says that given the family’s “history of affiliation” to the Hizbul Mujahideen, “the possibility of the applicant coming under duress, influence or extraneous pressure of anti-Indian, terrorist/separatist/secessionist outfits of elements of hostile foreign agencies has been assessed to be of very high probability”.

• In his order, the court said that the argument “deserves to be rejected”, and added that the petitioner cannot be deprived of his fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. It also said that non-recommendation of the petitioner’s case is based on material that can be said to be “nothing but in the realm of speculation”.

Do You Know:

• The denial of passports and travel documents to local residents due to relatives’ “militancy-related antecedents” has been a cause for concern in Kashmir and was also an election issue in last year’s Lok Sabha as well as Assembly polls.

• According to Soli J. Sorabjee, the right to travel abroad and return to one’s country has been spelt out from the expression “personal liberty” in Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court has also ruled that right to education until the age of 14 is a fundamental right emanating from the all-pervasive Article 21.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Right to travel a fundamental right, can be curtailed only in exceptional circumstances: Delhi HC

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
6. The Supreme Court of India has upheld that the right to travel abroad is a part of which fundamental right?
(a) Right to Equality
(b) Right to Life and Personal Liberty
(c) Right to Freedom of Speech
(d) Right to Constitutional Remedies

SC pulls up ED: PMLA concept is not to keep a person in jail

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Money laundering and its prevention.

What’s the ongoing story: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took exception to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) continuing to keep Indian Telecommunication Service officer Arun Kumar Tripathi in custody even after the order taking cognisance of its complaint against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam had been quashed by the High Court.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Assess the Supreme Court’s recent observations on PMLA and the Enforcement Directorate’s powers.

• How the Supreme Court’s recent observations on PMLA impact the principle of personal liberty under Article 21?

• Examine the role of the judiciary in ensuring that anti-money laundering laws do not violate the fundamental rights of individuals.

• How does the Supreme Court’s scrutiny of ED’s powers highlight the need for greater accountability?

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in curbing financial crimes. Should there be more oversight mechanisms to ensure fairness?

Key Takeaways:

• Directing that he be released on bail, a bench of Justices A S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said that the “concept of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cannot be to ensure that a person should remain in jail”.

• The ED had arrested Tripathi on August 8, 2024, but the Chhattisgarh High Court quashed the Special Court order taking cognisance of the complaint against him on February 7, 2025, saying no sanction had been obtained to prosecute him.

• The HC based its decision on the November 6, 2024 decision by a two-judge bench presided by Justice Oka which said Section 197(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) that mandates prior sanction from the government to take cognisance of an offence against public servants will apply to cases under the PMLA too.

Do You Know:

• With the advent of global terrorism in the 1990s, there was a focus internationally on choking terror financing and the movement of illicit money across borders. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was created in 1989 to coordinate anti-money laundering efforts across the world — and as a member, it was incumbent upon India to do its bit.

• The PMLA was also enacted in response to the political declaration adopted by the special session of the United Nations General Assembly held on June 8 and 10, 1998, calling on member states to put in place national anti-money laundering legislation.

• The Prevention of Money-Laundering Bill, 1998 was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 4, 1998, by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. The proposed law was focused on preventing money laundering and connected activities, confiscation of the proceeds of crime, setting up of agencies and mechanisms to coordinate measures to combat money laundering, etc.

• The Bill was referred to the Department-related Standing Committee on Finance, which presented its 12th Report on March 4, 1999, to Lok Sabha. On October 29, 1999, the government introduced The Prevention of Money-Laundering Bill, 1999 in Lok Sabha. The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on February 12, 1999, and by Rajya Sabha on July 25, 2002.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍How anti-money laundering law came to have a vast scope, granting police powers to ED

UPSC Previous Year Mains Practice Question Covering similar theme:
📍Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international levels. (2021)

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

DON’T GO IT ALONE

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

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

What’s the ongoing story: Prabhash Ranjan Writes: A recurring demand from a section of Indian farmers is that India should exit the World Trade Organisation (WTO). They believe WTO rules hinder their ability to secure a legal guarantee for a minimum support price (MSP).

Key Points to Ponder:

• The WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) is based on which three pillars?

• Analyze the role of the WTO in global trade governance.

• Discuss the importance of trade multilateralism in the current global economic order.

• Why should India focus on strengthening its role in WTO rather than withdrawing?

• The “Peace Clause” under WTO agreements was a temporary solution for India’s food security programs. Do you think India should push for a permanent resolution?

Key Takeaways:

Prabhash Ranjan Writes:

• Under the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), MSP is categorised as a trade-distorting subsidy. The rationale is that if countries are permitted to provide such subsidies to their farmers, it would give them an unfair advantage in the global market, rendering agricultural products from other countries uncompetitive. As a result, trade-distorting subsidies like MSP are subject to specific limits.

• The AoA has significant imbalances. The external reference price (ERP) — an average price established based on the base years of 1986-88 against which MSP is compared to determine trade-distorting subsidies — has not been revised in decades. Consequently, the gap between the MSP and the fixed ERP has widened dramatically due to inflation.

• India has been negotiating diligently at the WTO to rectify this issue but without success. Exiting the WTO, which can be accomplished by providing a six-month notice under Article XV of the WTO agreement, would legally allow India to set any MSP for as many crops as it wishes.

Do You Know:

Prabhash Ranjan Writes:

• It is important to note that the WTO encompasses more than just agricultural trade. It plays a crucial role in international trade law, aiming to create a level playing field for all countries by safeguarding their goods and services against discrimination in export markets.

• If India were to leave the WTO, its exports would lose national treatment (ensuring no discrimination between imported and domestic products) and most-favoured-nation treatment (which ensures no discrimination between trading partners).

• India would then need to negotiate numerous bilateral or free trade agreements (FTAs) — a process that would be complicated, elevate bureaucratic costs, and harm businesses excessively.

• FTAs typically present more stringent terms than those of the WTO, particularly when they involve a developing country negotiating with a developed country.

• Another critical aspect of the WTO is that it provides a relatively sophisticated mechanism for resolving trade disputes.

• The WTO is currently facing a significant crisis, especially with the US turning its back on it. A weakened WTO will enable the US to act unilaterally to confront the economic challenges posed by China. During such a critical time of rising trade protectionism, India should not withdraw but instead work to strengthen the WTO.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍The WTO is having an existential crisis

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
7. The terms ‘Agreement on Agriculture’, ‘Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures’ and ‘Peace Clause’ appear in the news frequently in the context of the affairs of the (2015)
(a) Food and Agriculture Organization
(b) United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change
(c) World Trade Organization
(d) United Nations Environment Programme

THE IDEAS PAGE

For good and for all

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.

• General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

What’s the ongoing story: Narendra Modi Writes: Some people worry about machines becoming superior in intelligence to humans. But, no one holds the key to our collective future and shared destiny other than us humans

Key Points to Ponder:

• What does the term “AI for All” signify in India’s AI policy framework?

• Discuss the ethical challenges associated with Artificial Intelligence.

• How can India ensure responsible AI development?

• “AI must be inclusive and equitable for all.” Analyze this statement in the context of India’s AI policy

• Critically examine the role of AI in transforming India’s economy.

Key Takeaways:

Narendra Modi Writes:

• AI is already re-shaping our polity, our economy, our security and even our society. AI is writing the code for humanity in this
century. But, it is very different from other technology milestones in human history.

• AI is developing at an unprecedented scale and speed. And being adopted and deployed even faster. There is also a deep inter-dependence across borders. Therefore, there is a need for collective global efforts to establish governance and standards, that uphold our shared values, address risks, and build trust.

• AI can help transform millions of lives by improving health, education, agriculture and so much more. It can help create a world in which the journey to sustainable development goals becomes easier and faster.

• We must develop open-source systems that enhance trust and transparency. We must build quality data sets free from biases. We must democratise technology and create people-centric applications. We must address concerns related to cyber security, disinformation, and
deep fakes. And, we must also ensure that technology is rooted in local ecosystems for it to be effective and useful.

• India and France have worked together for years through initiatives like the International Solar Alliance to harness the power of the sun. As we advance our partnership to AI, it is a natural progression from sustainability to innovation to shape a smarter and responsible future.

Do You Know:

• The invitation to India to co-chair the AI Summit is being seen as a recognition of New Delhi’s approach to AI, and its expanding role in the domain of new and emerging technologies. While China is a global leader in this breakthrough technology, the choice made by Paris signals the importance it attaches to shared values and convergences.

• SAYING THAT the world is at the “dawn of the AI (Artificial Intelligence) age”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for collective efforts to establish a global framework for AI that upholds shared values, addresses risks, builds trust and ensures access to all, especially the Global South.

• Co-chairing the AI Action Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Modi underlined the need for open-source systems that enhance trust and transparency, and building data sets “free from biases”. He also offered to host the next summit in India.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍‘AI shaping our polity, economy, security and society’: PM Modi co-chairs AI Action Summit in Paris

ECONOMY

Among biggest-ever renewable energy buys: ONGC-NTPC JV inks $2.3-bn deal

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

What’s the ongoing story: In one of the biggest-ever acquisitions in India’s clean energy space, ONGC NTPC Green Energy (ONGPL) on Wednesday inked the share purchase agreement for 100 per cent stake in renewable energy player Ayana Renewable Power for an enterprise value of Rs 19,500 crore, or $2.3 billion.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the significance of India’s investment in renewable energy, particularly in the context of the ONGC-NTPC deal with Ayana.

• Evaluate the challenges and opportunities in India’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

• How do large-scale investments in renewable energy, such as the ONGC-NTPC-Ayana deal, contribute to India’s economic growth and energy security?

• What are the key challenges India faces in attracting foreign investment in renewable energy?

• Examine the technological and infrastructural challenges in large-scale renewable energy adoption in India. What role does public-private partnership (PPP) play in overcoming these challenges?

Key Takeaways:

• ONGPL is a 50:50 joint venture between green energy arms of public sector majors Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and NTPC, and this is the JV’s first strategic investment since being established in November last year.

• The deal, which is second only to Adani group’s $3.5-billion acquisition of SB Energy India from Softbank in 2021, is expected to aid ONGC and NTPC in achieving their respective emission targets, and will contribute towards their ambitions in the green energy space.

• ONGC wants to build a renewable energy portfolio of 10 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, while NTPC is looking at a renewable energy capacity target of 60 GW by 2032.

• In September 2024, the oil major had acquired renewable energy company PTC Energy for over Rs 900 crore.

Do You Know:

• Global moves to reduce carbon emissions to slow down climate change have led to oil and gas companies around the world investing in renewable energy to reduce their carbon footprint and diversify offerings. State-owned upstream and downstream oil and gas companies are also taking part in energy investments to help achieve the government’s ambitious renewable energy targets

• India is targeting 450 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030 up from about 100 GW currently.

• India’s largest upstream oil and gas company, ONGC, is targeting 10 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2040, up from 178MW of renewable energy capacity at the end of FY20.

• India’s top natural gas company, GAIL, is also looking at acquisitions to augment its 130 MW renewable energy portfolio. The company is aiming at reaching 1 GW of renewable capacity within 3-4 years.

• IndianOil also has a JV with Israel-based battery technology startup Phinergy to develop aluminium-air technology based battery systems for electric vehicles and stationary storage.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍ONGC gets Petroleum Ministry’s nod for green energy subsidiary

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
8. With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct? (2015)
1. It is a Public Limited Government Company.
2. It is a Non-Banking Financial Company.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
UPSC Previous Year Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍 “Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (2018)

India’s natural gas demand may jump 60% by 2030: IEA

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

What’s the ongoing story: India’s natural gas consumption is expected to see a significant jump by the end of this decade, which in turn is set to lead to a surge in the country’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) said Wednesday.

Key Points to Ponder:

• “India’s natural gas demand is projected to grow by 60% by 2030.” Analyse the factors driving this increase and discuss the implications for India’s energy security.

• Discuss the significance of LNG in India’s energy transition. How does it contribute to reducing carbon emissions compared to coal and oil?

• India aims to increase the share of natural gas in its energy mix from 6% to 15% by 2030. What are the key infrastructural and regulatory challenges in achieving this target?

• What role does the development of LNG terminals and pipelines play in India’s energy strategy?

Key Takeaways:

• According to IEA’s estimates, India’s gas consumption is seen rising nearly 60 per cent over to 2023 levels to 103 billion cubic metres (bcm), while LNG imports are set to more than double between 2023 and 2030 to 65 bcm a year, driven by steady demand growth and a much slower rise in domestic production.

• In view of the anticipated growth in gas consumption, the multilateral energy agency recommended that India should completely deregulate pricing of domestic natural gas, unbundle gas marketing and transportation businesses, and focus on enhancing gas-related infrastructure and ensuring gas supply security, among others.

Do You Know:

• The targeted strategies mentioned by the IEA include driving higher utilisation of gas-based power plants, faster adoption of LNG in heavy-duty transport, and further accelerating expansion of city gas infrastructure.

• Following over a decade of slow growth and periodic declines, India’s natural gas demand increased by more than 10 per cent in 2023 as well as 2024, indicating an “inflection point”, according to the IEA. India aims to increase the share of natural gas in its primary energy mix to 15 per cent by 2030 from a little over 6 per cent currently.

• But India’s domestic gas production, which met nearly half of the country’s gas demand in 2023, is expected to grow only moderately through 2030. This means that much of the expected gas consumption surge will have to be serviced through import of LNG, or super-chilled gas.

• The IEA, however, cautioned that India should undertake strategic planning in LNG procurement and import infrastructure over the coming years as the country could face a widening gap between contracted LNG supply and projected demand, particularly after 2028.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍India’s reliance on imported oil, natural gas grows as stagnant domestic production lags demand growth

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
9. The term ‘West Texas Intermediate’, sometimes found in news, refers to a grade of (2020)
(a) Crude oil
(b) Bullion
(c) Rare earth elements
(d) Uranium

EXPLAINED

EINSTEIN RING

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

What’s the ongoing story: The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid space telescope has discovered a rare ring of light, known as an Einstein ring, around a galaxy nearly 590 million light-years away from Earth.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Explain the concept of an Einstein Ring in the context of gravitational lensing.

• What is General Theory of Relativity?

• What is Special theory of relativity?

• How does the study of Einstein Rings contribute to our understanding of dark matter and dark energy?

• Discuss the role of modern telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope in observing gravitational lensing and Einstein Rings.

• How do Einstein Rings help in determining the mass distribution of distant galaxies?

• What role can India play in the study of gravitational lensing and Einstein Rings?

Key Takeaways:

• Photos, which were taken by Euclid in September 2023 but released on Monday, of the Einstein ring show a bright ball of light in the centre with a bright, cloudy ring around it. The ring was discovered around NGC 6505, a galaxy that was first found in the 19th Century.

• These rings help scientists investigate dark matter, which has never been detected but is believed to make up 85% of the total matter in the universe.

• Conor O’Riordan, a postdoctoral scholar at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (Germany), told CNN, “This dark matter does not interact with light, but it does have a gravitational effect… Gravitational lensing therefore is sensitive to the presence of this dark matter, allowing us to indirectly detect it.”

• Moreover, Einstein rings enable scientists to learn about distant galaxies, which otherwise might not be visible. They can also provide information about the expansion of the universe as the space between the Earth and other galaxies — both in the foreground and the background — is stretching, according to NASA.

Do You Know:

• An Einstein ring is a ring of light around a form of dark matter, galaxy or cluster of galaxies. It is essentially an example of gravitational lensing. Gravitational lensing is a phenomenon which occurs when a massive celestial body — such as a galaxy or cluster of galaxies — creates a gravitational field which distorts and amplifies the light from distant galaxies that are behind it but in the same line of sight, according to a report on the website of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The body causing the light to curve is called a gravitational lens.

• In the case of the recently discovered Einstein ring, NGC 6505 was the gravitational lens. The nearer galaxy distorted and amplified the light coming from a distant unnamed galaxy, located 4.42 billion light-years away. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year, which is 9.46 trillion kilometres.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Albert Einstein’s relativity theory reconfirmed: gravity behaves same across billions of light years, says new study

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
10. Consider the following phenomena: (2018)
1. Light is affected by gravity.
2. The Universe is constantly expanding.
3. Matter warps its surrounding space-time.
Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

 

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (b)  2. (d) 3. (a) 4.(a) 5.(d) 6.(b) 7.(c) 8.(C) 9.(a) 10.(d)

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