UPSC Key: Punjab flood, Z-plus security and Nuclear energy sector

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation

Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclones. 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.

General Studies-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story: Punjab is currently reeling from one of the worst floods in recent memory. The state government has declared all 23 districts to be flood-hit. Data from Friday show that 1,902 villages have been inundated, more than 3.8 lakh people affected, and more than 11.7 lakh hectares of farmland destroyed. At least 43 people have been killed.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Why is Punjab hailed as the “Rice Bowl”?

— What are the measures taken to protect against flooding?

— What are the reasons for flooding in the Punjab region?

— Know about the origin and tributaries of rivers flowing in this region

— Experts have long called for better management of dams. Why?

— What is the need of desilting bottlenecks on rivers?

Key Takeaways:

— Floods have also ravaged the province of Punjab in Pakistan, where at least 43 people have died and more than 9 lakh people have been displaced, figures released on Friday by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Punjab (Pakistan), stated.

— This flooding is not entirely out of the ordinary: the geography of Punjab, the land of the five rivers, makes the region naturally flood-prone. That said, human factors also play a part.

— Three perennial rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — flow through the state of Punjab. The Ravi passes through Pathankot and Gurdaspur; the Beas through Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur,  Kapurthala, Amritsar, Tarn Taran (Harike wetland), and Harike; and the Sutlej through Nangal, Ropar, Nawanshahr, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Moga, Ferozepur, and Tarn Taran  (Harike wetland).

— The seasonal river Ghaggar, and smaller tributaries and hill streams, known locally as choes, also cut across the state.

— These rivers, and the alluvium they carry, makes Punjab one of the most fertile places on the planet. For millennia, agriculture has thrived on the floodplains. Today, Punjab, often hailed as the “food bowl” of India, produces nearly 20% of the country’s wheat and 12% of its rice, despite making up only 1.5% of its landmass.

— This fertility, however, comes at a cost. Rainfall in Punjab and upstream catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) make Punjab’s rivers swell up during the monsoon. While an elaborate system of dhussi bundhs (earthen embankments) form a first line of defence against flooding, heavy rain often overwhelms these.

— The Bhakra dam sits on the Sutlej in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district, and the Pong dam sits on the Beas in Himachal’s Kangra district. Both are operated by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), a statutory body constituted under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.

— The Thein dam (officially the Ranjit Sagar dam) sits on the Ravi at the border of J&K and Punjab, and is operated by the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd and the state’s Irrigation Department.

— When excessive rainfall fills up the dams’ reservoirs, water must be released to prevent overtopping, a potentially catastrophic situation when the water level in the reservoir exceeds the dam’s crest.

— During heavy rainfall, even controlled releases can cause flooding downstream. This is what happened this year.

— Punjab, however, has long felt that the BBMB does not act in its interest. State officials say that the Board keeps the reservoir levels too high in July and August to ensure water for winter irrigation and power, not leaving much cushion for when sudden rain arrives in August and September. Moreover, officials say, the BBMB often does not provide timely warnings, with sudden releases often blindsiding state officials downstream.

— At the heart of Punjab’s problems with the BBMB lies in its constitution. The state feels it has too little say in the Centre-controlled Board whose primary mandate is to provide irrigation and generate power, not flood-management.

— The Centre’s decision to amend BBMB rules in 2022, which now allow officers from across India, not just Punjab and Haryana, to hold top posts in the Board, has only aggravated Punjab’s concerns.

— Experts have long called for better management of dams. And not just the ones operated by the BBMB.

— This year, the Ravi flooded after two gates of the Madhopur barrage were destroyed after water was released from the Thein dam on August 26. The volume of rainfall aside, sources blame a lack of communication between officials upstream and downstream for the gates not being opened on time. In this case, both belonged to Punjab’s Irrigation Department.

— Also important is the maintenance of dhussi bundhs. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, after visiting flood-hit districts in Punjab, on Friday blamed illegal mining for weakening these earthen embankments.

Do You Know:

— Experts believe a combination of factors have led to repeated floods in Punjab.

— High dependence on rivers: Punjab’s river system, including perennial rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and the rain-fed Ghaggar River and its tributaries, are prone to overflowing during heavy monsoon rain or water release from upstream areas.

— Climate change: Increased frequency of extreme rain events in recent decades.

— Poor drainage: The state’s flat topography and encroachments on natural drains worsen waterlogging.

— Water release from dams: Sudden discharge from dams during peak monsoon aggravates flooding in downstream areas. Punjab has no crop insurance system, thus worsening the state’s economic condition besides leaving farmers to bear the brunt of major losses.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Reaching out to Punjab 

📍Rain and ruin: a timeline of Punjab’s most devastating floods since 1955

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

(1) With reference to the Indus river system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of them which joins the Indus direct. Among the following, which one is such river that joins the Indus direct? (UPSC CSE 2021)

(a) Chenab

(b) Jhelum

(c) Ravi

(d) Sutlej

What Rajasthan’s coaching centre Bill says, why it matters

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains 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: The Rajasthan Assembly this week passed a Bill to regulate the coaching centre industry in the state, and to “create a healthier and more supportive environment” for students to pursue “their academic and professional goals”. However, it has also faced criticism from Opposition leaders. Here is what to know.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What was the need for the government to legislate for regulating the coaching centre industry?

— What is the status of the mental health care system in India?

— What are the steps taken by the government to address the challenges faced by students in unregulated coaching institutions?

— What is the National Suicide Prevention Strategy?

Key Takeaways:

— The Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Bill, 2025, passed on September 3, makes provisions for the registration, control, and regulation of coaching centres, and to determine the minimum standards and requirements for their registration.

— It seeks to “take care of interests of students [in coaching centres] and provide them career guidance and psychological counselling for mental well-being,… take appropriate measures to provide security and reduce [their] stress…and…[ensure their] holistic development…in preparation of different competitive examinations…”.

— The Bill is described as “a decisive step to curb the commercialization of coaching institutes and [to] ensure that they operate within a framework prioritizing the well-being and success of students”.

— Rajasthan High Court took suo motu cognizance of student suicides almost 10 years ago, after 19 students were reported to have taken their lives in coaching centres in 2015.

— Over the years, the HC commissioned a study into student stress by Tata Institute of Social Sciences, issued guidelines, set up a committee, and pushed for the formulation of legislation.

— The proposed law will be enforced by a Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Authority, which will have senior Education and police officials, a psychiatrist, and representatives of coaching centres and parents’ bodies.

— Committees at the district level will have the district magistrate, superintendent of police, and chief medical and health officer among their members. The district authority will ensure the registration of coaching centres and their compliance with the law, and the setting up of grievance redressal cells.

— The district committees will also oversee various aspects of the functioning of the coaching centres, including the way in which fees are charged, complaints are dealt with, and teaching is carried out.

— Coaching centres are required to apply for registration within three months of the Act coming into force. Eligibility conditions include having a physical area of not less than 1 sq metre per student, engaging tutors with at least a graduate degree, and not making “misleading promises or guarantee of rank or good marks”.

— During the Assembly debate on the Bill in March, deviations from the “Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centres”, published by the Union Ministry of Education in January 2024, were flagged. These included the requirement that “no coaching centre shall enroll a student below the age of 16 years”.

— Other criticisms of the Bill included its alleged failure to adequately address the problem of suicides and its officials-heavy nature that could promote red-tapism and inspector raj.

Do You Know:

— Drastically varying economic conditions, pronounced issues of class, caste, low literacy, poor and unevenly distributed medical infrastructure, low funding for research, development and implementation of mental health policies are all factors that make mental health difficult to ascertain and improve in the country.

— Globalisation and the post 90s economic boom that led to rapid changes in job markets and created stressful corporate work environments with no separation between personal and professional lives, and long working hours exacerbated existing mental health issues in India. All of these issues have only become more pronounced in the last decade, especially post pandemic as boundaries between work, rest and recreation increasingly blur.

— All pervasive technology that keeps our brains stimulated, speeding paces of living and breakdown of community structures lead to more isolation and increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression in all age groups and demographics across the country. Who we are, what we feel, say, do and how we respond to the many events and people around us is much like a conversation between or a continuum of our internal and external landscape at all times.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Lancet study rethinks suicide prevention strategy: Why we need to look at socio-economic triggers beyond mental health

📍World Mental Health Day 2024: Towards a holistic understanding of mental health

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

Why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society? (UPSC CSE 2023)

FRONT

As Govt plans legal tweaks to open up n-sector, foreign vendors flag quality gaps in supplier base

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

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

General Studies-III: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

What’s the ongoing story: As the government attempts to cobble together a consensus for pushing through two key legal amendments that aim to liberalise India’s nuclear energy sector, foreign equipment vendors have flagged the need for putting in place quality standards to upgrade the country’s mid-and lower-tier nuclear supplier base.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are India’s nuclear liability laws?

— What do you know about light water reactors (LWR), Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) technology and small modular reactors (SMR)?

— What do you understand about nuclear power plant cybersecurity?

— Know the location of major nuclear power plants in India?

— India is cooperating with which countries in the development of nuclear plants?

— What are the initiatives taken by the government for the development of India’s nuclear security?

— How is Nuclear energy helping India to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality?

Key Takeaways:

— Global companies that have commenced exploratory talks for partnerships and are auditing India’s nuclear supply chains have cited the need to develop quality standards for manufacturing processes in the nuclear value chain.

— Rolling out a national programme to train equipment suppliers has been suggested, especially for newer technological formats such as light water reactors (LWR) assembly and fabricating small modular reactors (SMR).

— Alongside this, the need for a robust cybersecurity protocol is also learnt to have been flagged in these early deliberations, with global vendors citing potential risks including loss of control over vital information that can possibly impact nuclear plant operations and hold plant operators hostage in the event of a cyber attack.

— There are multiple national templates for quality upgrades. In Japan, there was a national push to expand the country’s nuclear power programme in the mid-70s after nuclear energy was declared a national strategic priority in 1973.

— This phase coincided with a national quality pursuit by the Japanese industry. This led to companies such as Toyota and Sony becoming synonymous with quality benchmarks.

— Around the same time, global nuclear watchdog IAEA started developing detailed quality assurance codes and safety guides, with publications like “Quality Assurance for Nuclear Power Plants: A Code of Practice” in 1978, which became a framework that would influence Japan’s regulatory approach.

— Simultaneously, on the cybersecurity challenges, Indian manufacturers are not yet equipped to handle threats from cyberspace and a robust cybersecurity protocol in the nuclear sector must be instituted, the executive said.

— The Indian government has committed to getting two key legislative amendments passed, including an explicit assurance to this effect made in the union budget presented earlier this year, even though the legislative route for at least one of the two proposed bills would be an arduous one.

— With the legislative amendments done, India plans to get into the manufacturing value chain of SMRs — increasingly seen as important for nuclear energy to remain a commercially competitive option into the future.

— Alongside partnerships, the government is working on its own SMRs that are being designed and developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), a constituent unit of the DAE. — These reactors are the Bharat Small Reactor (220 MWe PHWR), the Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR200 MWe PWR) and another small modular reactor (SMR-55 MWe PWR), which are being indigenously designed and developed with an objective of repurposing of retiring fossil fuel-based power plants, captive plants for energy intensive industries and off-grid applications for remote locations.

Do You Know:

— India owes the vision of the three-phase programme of nuclear power to ensure energy security to Dr Homi J Bhabha, the father of India’s nuclear programme, and Dr Vikram Sarabhai, who recognised the need for developing FBRs, as these reactors generate more nuclear fuel than they consume due to the gainful conversion of fertile isotopes into fissile material.

— STAGE 1: Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) use natural uranium-based fuels to generate electricity, while producing fissile plutonium (Pu239), which can be extracted by reprocessing the spent fuel. It uses heavy water (deuterium oxide) both as a coolant and moderator. The programme has been supplemented by the construction of imported Light Water Reactors (LWRs).

— STAGE 2: It involves setting up Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) of the kind at Kalpakkam, using plutonium-based fuels, which can enhance nuclear power capacity, and convert fertile thorium into fissile uranium (U233). Reprocessing of the spent fuel is vital for efficient utilisation of the plutonium inventory.

— STAGE 3: The third stage will be based on the ThU233 cycle. U233 produced in the second stage can be used for the third stage of the power programme, which consists of advanced thermal and fast breeder reactors, for long-term energy security. The Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) is proposed for this. Now, the use of molten salt reactors is also seen as an option.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Knowledge Nugget: India’s three-stage nuclear programme — A must-know for UPSC exams

📍How India’s nuclear mission can be both ambitious and realistic

UPSC Prelims Practise Question Covering similar theme:

(2) Consider the following statements:

1. Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) are envisioned as the third stage of India’s three-stage nuclear programme.

2. Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) use heavy water (deuterium oxide) as a coolant.

3. Thorium-bearing monazite is an example of fissile material.

How many of the above statements is/are incorrect?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

📍With growing energy needs should India keep on expanding its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy. (2018)

📍Give an account of the growth and development of nuclear science and technology in India. What is the advantage of fast breeder reactor programme in India? (2017)

On Centre’s table: Transferring V-P’s Z-plus cover from Delhi police to CRPF

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

What’s the ongoing story: After receiving fresh threat inputs and conducting a security assessment, the Centre is planning to hand over the Z-plus security cover for the Vice-President to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) instead of Delhi Police, The Indian Express has learnt.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is Z-plus security?

— Who gets the Z-plus security?

— Who has the authority to decide the level of security to an individual or a post?

— What is the role and function of the CRPF?

—  What is the Special Protection Group cover? Who are provided with this?

Key Takeaways:

— According to protocol, the V-P gets Z-plus cover from the security division of Delhi Police, including three officers holding the rank of Assistant Police Commissioner as Personal Security Officers.

— It is the second-highest security category in the country after the Special Protection Group cover for the Prime Minister and immediate family members. In the Z-plus category, around 50 personnel work in shifts with enhanced arrangements for the residence and cavalcade.

— The security protocol for the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister is based on guidelines detailed in the respective “Blue Book” issued by the Union Home Ministry under the Special Protection Group Act.

— Last year, the Home Ministry had sanctioned a fresh battalion of specially trained personnel, withdrawn from Parliament duty, to be attached to the CRPF’s VIP security wing.

Do You Know:

— Protection is generally given to someone who holds a position of consequence either in the government or in civil society — hence the informal description “VIP security”.

— But the Centre is usually not keen to give protection to individuals — and therefore, a large number of even “important people” whose lives are deemed to be in danger, are provided security by state police forces based on assessments made by the state government.

— The level of security is decided by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the case of the Centre, and by the state government in the case of states.

— The assessment is based on inputs received from intelligence agencies, which include the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing at the level of the Centre, and the state intelligence department in the case of the state government.

— There are largely six types of security cover: X, Y, Y plus, Z, Z plus, and SPG (Special Protection Group). While the SPG is meant only for the PM and his immediate family, other protection categories can be provided to anyone about whom the Centre or state governments have inputs about a threat.

— X category security usually entails one gunman protecting the individual; Y has one gunman for mobile security and one (plus four on rotation) for static security; Y plus has two policemen (plus four on rotation) for mobile security, and one (plus four on rotation) for residence security; Z has six gunmen for mobile security, and two (plus eight) for residence security; and Z plus has 10 security personnel for mobile security and two (plus eight) for residence security.

— According to the SPG (Amendment) Act 2019, the SPG protects the prime minister and members of his immediate family residing with him at his official residence. It also provides security to former prime ministers and their immediate family members staying with them at the residence allotted for a period of five years from the date on which they cease to hold the office.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Explained: What is SPG protection and who gets it?

📍Explained: Who gets VIP security cover, and how?

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(3) With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2023)

1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government.

2. The role of the Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in maintenance of the internal security.

3. To present infiltration on the international border/coastal areas, the Border Wings Home Guards Battalions have been raised in some States.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

 

GOVT & POLITICS

More exemptions for mineral exploration drilling on forest land

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

What’s the ongoing story: The Union environment ministry’s forest advisory committee (FAC) has approved requests to allow more bore holes to be drilled on forest land for mineral exploration activity without seeking clearance under the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980, as per ministry documents.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the role and function of the forest advisory committee (FAC)?

— Why are surveys and explorations put under the exemption category under the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam?

— What is the importance of critical wildlife breeding and nesting areas?

— What are key environmental concerns with mineral exploration in protected areas of forest?

— How to create a balance between development and conservation?

Key Takeaways:

— The ministry will now allow 62 to 80 bore holes of up to 6-inch diameter per 10 sq km, for survey and explorations under the exemption category, depending on the type of mineral deposits or ore explored. Bore holes are narrow, deep holes drilled into the earth to explore minerals, ores or oil and gas.

— The FAC’s decision comes on the back of relaxations sought by the Ministry of Coal and Ministry of Mines, as per minutes of FAC’s meeting. The policy decision was based on a report of the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, which assessed the issue and its impact on forest area.

— As per the existing guidelines under the forest conservation law, drilling of up to 25 bore holes per 10 sq km and 80 shot holes per sq km, along with felling of up to 100 trees in the said area was exempted from forest clearance.

— While granting the relaxation, the ministry directed to ensure that there should be minimum impact of the drilling and other associated activities on wildlife. It said that the survey and exploration activities, including drilling, shall be limited from 9 am to 5.30 pm to align with the diurnal pattern of wildlife. It added that the bore holes should be plugged with cement immediately after completion of all bore hole related activities.

— IIFM, though, added that the noise created by the drilling rig can disturb the wildlife and force them to change their movement paths.

— The FAC also stated that the standard operating procedure for mineral exploration in forest areas is to be followed. The SoP stated that no drilling will be allowed within high-sensitivity areas to protect ecological hotspots.

— These included critical wildlife breeding and nesting areas, water sources, high-biodiversity forest patches, areas with endangered or endemic species, and culturally or religiously significant forest areas.

— The SoP stated that a reconnaissance is necessary prior to the drilling activity to identify critical habitats, only to avoid them. The environment ministry granted exemptions for exploratory drilling on forest land when the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 was amended in 2023.

Do You Know:

— Forests in India are not just trees but have been a lifeline for millions of people. They hold socio-economic and cultural significance and are one of the primary indicators of the country’s ecological health. This is why maintaining 33% of the country’s geographical area under forest cover has long been a key policy in India.

— However, according to the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2023, the total forest and tree cover of the country is 8,27,356.95 km2, which is around 24% of the geographical area of the country. While there has been a slight increase in the green cover as compared to the last ISFR, the report shows a decline in the eco-sensitive zones, mangroves, and natural forests.

— The legal framework on forest conservation in India has evolved from both pre-independence and post-independence laws. The Indian Forest Act of 1927 is the foundational legislation that classifies and regulates the use of forests without defining it. It enables/allows the government to prepare the record of forest land.

— It was enacted to strengthen the colonial power on the Indian forests, restricting the rights of tribal communities and ignoring the conservation aspect of forest governance. After independence, the subject of the forest was placed under the State List of the Constitution, which led to the over-exploitation of forests by the state and rapidly declining forest cover.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Rapid development, shrinking green cover: Why forest conservation cannot wait

Previous year UPSC Prelims/Mains Question Covering similar theme:

(4) Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 ?

(a) Central Water Commission

(b) Central Ground Water Board

(c) Central Ground Water. Authority

(d) National Water Development Agency

 

ECONOMY

India’s diesel exports to Europe skyrocket in run-up to EU ban on fuels made from Russian oil

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: As the Europe Union prepares to ban petroleum products refined from Russian crude from January 2026, India’s diesel exports to Europe jumped to an 11-month high in August, according to vessel tracking data.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Why has the EU banned petroleum product imports from Russia?

— What is the status of crude oil import in India?

— “India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.” What does it mean?

— How significant is Russian oil for India?

Key Takeaways:

— Industry insiders and experts believe that India’s petroleum product exports to Europe, particularly diesel, should remain robust in the months leading up to the EU ban as the continent would be stockpiling fuels and mitigating anticipated supply shortfalls.

— Europe’s increased lifting of diesel from India comes at a time when the US and some of its Western allies have amped up the rhetoric against India over its hefty purchases of Russian crude, and have alleged that the country is profiteering by supplying products derived from discounted Russian crude to the West—mainly Europe—which has an embargo on Russian oil and petroleum products.

— India has rejected these allegations, stating that there is nothing illegal in importing Russian oil and exporting petroleum products, and countries that have a problem can just stop importing fuels from India.

— Among the key reasons for the surge in diesel exports to Europe is the advancing of maintenance shutdown of Shell’s Pernis refinery in the Netherlands from 2026, which is being seen as part of Europe’s plan to ensure that its own refineries are not bogged down with turnaround schedules once the January 2026 ban takes effect.

— The EU had banned petroleum product imports from Russia—its key source market—in February 2023 as part of its actions to penalize Russia for the war in Ukraine. In the months leading up to the ban, European countries had significantly increased petroleum product imports to build heavy stockpiles.

— The ban, which will take effect on January 21, 2026, could severely hit India’s fuel exports to Europe, given the significant share of Russian crude in India’s oil import basket.

— Indian oil industry officials said that even in the event of Europe stopping all fuel imports from India, the impact would only be transitory as there are other markets where the fuels can be exported.

Do You Know:

— India is the world’s third-largest consumer of crude and depends on imports to meet around 88 per cent of its requirement. Russian crude, which usually comes at a discount, has helped India save foreign exchange worth billions of dollars over the last three years.

— Amid the strain in ties between Delhi and Washington following US punitive tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Friday that Delhi will continue to buy oil from Moscow because India’s oil purchases are driven by economic and commercial considerations.

— She said the impact of 50 per cent tariffs imposed on Indian goods by the Trump administration will be offset to a certain extent by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, which included simplification and reduction of indirect tax rates on numerous items. The government, she said, is also working on measures to “handhold” those hit by the high US tariffs.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Pushback: We will buy Russian oil, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman; Jaishankar to attend BRICS

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(5) In the context of global oil prices, “Brent crude oil” is frequently referred to in the news. What does this term imply? (UPSC CSE 2011)

1. It is a major classification of crude oil.

2. It is sourced from the North Sea.

3. It does not contain sulfur.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 2 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

ALSO IN NEWS

National Teachers’ Awards: Smart teachers more important than smart classrooms, says President

Educating girls is the most effective way to ensure women-led development, President Droupadi Murmu said on Friday as she conferred the National Teachers’ Awards upon 81 educators in the national capital on Teachers’ Day. President Droupadi Murmu confer the prestigious National Teachers’ Awards to 45 teachers from across the country. Each recipient of the National Teachers’ Award 2025 is honoured with a certificate of merit, a cash prize of Rs 50,000, and a silver medal.

 

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

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

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