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Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for September 3, 2025. If you missed the September 2, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
What’s the ongoing story: Announcing that his government was working on the “next phase” of the India Semiconductor Mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said “the day is not far when India’s smallest chip will drive the biggest change in the world”.
Key Points to Ponder:
— What is the India Semiconductor Mission?
— What do you understand about the plug-and-play infrastructure model?
— What is the status of India in the Intellectual Property?
— There is a saying in the world of semiconductors, oil was black gold, but chips are digital diamonds. What does this mean?
— What is the importance of rare earth minerals for semiconductors?
— What are the challenges related to supply chain management for semiconductors?
Key Takeaways:
— Speaking at the inauguration of ‘Semicon India 2025’, Modi made a strong pitch to global investors, citing single-window clearance, plug-and-play infrastructure model for semiconductor parks, skilled worker pool, production-linked incentives, design-linked grants, and end-to-end capabilities.
— Modi’s reference to the next phase of the mission could signal the start of a second comprehensive incentive package to drive the country’s aspirations in the chip space, which it sees as a major economic driver.
— The PM also said that as part of the next incentives for designing chips in the country, the government would stress on creating intellectual property that could be accrued to India.
— Under the first phase of the scheme, which was launched in 2021 with a financial outlay of Rs 76,000 crore, India has approved 10 semiconductor plants, including two fabrication facilities and eight packaging and testing facilities.
— The Indian Express had earlier reported that the next phase could be worth $15 billion, with incentives for capital goods and raw materials industry as well.
— Saying that the global semiconductor market is reaching $600 billion, and is set to cross $1 trillion in the next few years, he said: “With the speed at which India is progressing in the semiconductor sector, it is going to have a significant share in this $1 trillion market”.
— The PM had earlier announced that the first commercial Made-in-India chip would be available in the market, and Murugappa Group’s CG Semi is expected to make the first chip from its pilot line.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw writes: Just as steel is the base for building factories, bridges, and railways, semiconductors are the base for the digital economy. Without chips, there can be no modern communication, no data processing, no AI, no renewable energy systems, and no secure defence.
— The recent focus on rare earth magnets is a stark reminder of how control over critical resources can shape global power. Similarly, semiconductors have become a crucial resource of the digital age.
— Start-ups are energising India’s chip design ecosystem with strong government support. Mindgrove Technologies is developing IoT chips built on the indigenously developed SHAKTI processor from IIT Madras.
— Global leaders are also investing in India’s talent. Lam Research is going to train 60,000 engineers in India. Applied Materials, AMD, and Microchip are committing $1.1 billion for R&D. Partnerships with IISc, IITs, and others are ensuring a strong lab-to-fab workforce.
— Bharat’s semiconductor journey is part of the larger vision of PM Modi. It began with Digital India, a mission that built digital infrastructure and empowered citizens. The India Stack, UPI, Aadhaar, and our telecom networks gave every Indian access to technology at their fingertips.
Do You Know:
— Most modern-day semiconductors are integrated circuits, also referred to as ‘chips’ — essentially a set of minute electronic circuits comprising transistors and diodes, as well as capacitors and resistors, and the myriad interconnections between them, layered on a wafer sheet of silicon.
— Fabs are the highly specialised semiconductor manufacturing facilities that print the miniaturised integrated circuits from the chip design into the silicon wafers.
— The fabrication process is intricate and requires clean rooms designed to maintain sterile conditions to prevent contamination by air particles.
— There could be between 500 and 1,500 steps in the overall manufacturing process of semiconductor wafers, requiring multiple inputs that include silicon wafers, commodity chemicals, speciality chemicals, and other infrastructural prerequisites such as clean water supply and uninterrupted power supply.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍How India’s first semiconductor fabrication plant can help plug in to global value chain
📍What is India’s share in rare earth elements, the backbone of modern technologies?
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
(1) Which one of the following laser types is used in a laser printer? (UPSC CSE 2008)
(a) Dye laser
(b) Gas laser
(c) Semiconductor laser
(d) Excimer laser
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
What’s the ongoing story: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong arrived in India on Tuesday for a three-day visit, during which the two countries will sign key agreements to shore up ties in sectors such as green energy, shipping, civil aviation and space. This is Wong’s first visit to India as Singapore’s Prime Minister.
Key Points to Ponder:
— Background of India-Singapore relationship
— What is India’s Act East Policy and how does Singapore fit into it?
— What do you understand about Comprehensive Strategic Partnership?
— What are the different areas of cooperation between India and Singapore?
— What is the strategic significance of Singapore for India?
— Know the geographical location of Singapore
Key Takeaways:
— PM Modi and PM Wong will hold bilateral discussions and sign key agreements on Thursday. The visiting PM will also call on President Droupadi Murmu and meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other Cabinet ministers. He is also scheduled to visit Rajghat to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
— “Singapore is an important partner for India, including in our ‘Act East’ Policy,” said the MEA on Tuesday. During the visit of PM Modi to Singapore in September 2024, bilateral ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
— The two PMs will virtually inaugurate a container terminal in Maharashtra on Thursday, wherein Singapore has invested over USD 1 billion (Rs 8,800 crore).
— They say the two countries are expanding and deepening collaboration in future-oriented areas such as sustainability, advanced manufacturing, digitalisation, skills development, connectivity and space.
— This is also aimed at tackling current geopolitical challenges and building resilience for the future in the wake of disruptions caused by wars and trade and tariff barriers.
— Singapore is India’s top foreign investor and has accounted for about 24% of India’s FDI equity inflows since 2000.
Do You Know:
— The year 2025 marks the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore.
— Singapore stands as India’s largest trading partner within ASEAN and ranks as the sixth-largest globally. The significance of this relationship is evident in the robust trade and investment flows between the two countries.
— Over the years, Singapore has become a leading source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India, contributing a cumulative USD 160 billion since 2000.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍India & Singapore to boost ties in key areas, from healthcare to tech
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
(2) What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in South-East Asia as one proceeds from south to north? (UPSC CSE 2014)
1. Bangkok
2. Hanoi
3. Jakarta
4. Singapore
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 4 – 2 – 1 – 3
(b) 3 – 2 – 4 – 1
(c) 3 – 4 – 1 – 2
(d) 4 – 3 – 2 – 1
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: Indian and American troops have gathered at Fort Wainwright in Alaska for Yudh Abhyas, a two-week military exercise that underlines their steady strategic and defence ties despite the strain in relations between Delhi and Washington over the issue of tariffs, India’s purchase of Russian oil and a trade deal that has hit roadblocks.
Key Points to Ponder:
— What is the history of India-US bilateral ties?
— Read about the US-India Roadmap for Defence Industrial Cooperation.
— What are the areas of cooperation between India and the US?
— What are the key defence agreements signed between India and the US?
(Thought Process: Know about the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Intelligence (BECA), Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), Communication Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), and General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA).
— What are the challenges to India-US bilateral ties?
— What are the other joint exercises between India and US?
Key Takeaways:
— At the 21st edition of Yudh Abhyas, the annual joint military exercise from September 1 to 14, the Indian contingent, comprising personnel from a battalion of the Madras Regiment, will train alongside US soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment ‘Bobcats’ of the Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division.
— According to the Ministry of Defence, the troops will rehearse a spectrum of tactical drills, including heliborne operations, the employment of surveillance resources and unmanned aerial systems, rockcraft, mountain warfare, casualty evacuation, combat medical aid, and the integrated use of artillery, aviation, and electronic warfare systems.
— Subject-matter experts from both armies will conduct working groups on critical domains, including UAS and Counter-UAS operations, information warfare, communications, and logistics.
— The exercise will conclude in jointly planned and executed tactical manoeuvres, ranging from live-fire exercises to high-altitude warfare scenarios, with a focus on improving capabilities for UN peacekeeping operations and strengthening preparedness for multi-domain challenges, the Ministry said.
— The annual bilateral exercise in the backdrop of ongoing tariff tensions indicates no visible dip in military ties between the two countries despite President Donald Trump flagging that India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia and little from the US.
— The bilateral exercise comes within a week of the US submarine support ship USS Frank Cable visiting Chennai on a scheduled port visit — the Military Sealift Command’s second to the region in two years.
Do You Know:
— In August last year, both countries signed a Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) and Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers, among other bilateral military agreements that have enhanced defence and security cooperation.
— The vision for bilateral defence cooperation was encapsulated in the September 2013 Joint US-India Declaration on Defence Cooperation and the 2015 Framework for the US-India Defence Relationship, in which the two countries committed themselves to increasing cooperation in the sector.
— Between 2016 and 2020, the two sides signed four more agreements, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016, the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) in 2020.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Knowledge Nugget | Yudh Abhyas: What UPSC aspirants must know for the exam
Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
(3) With reference to the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), consider the following statements:
1. It is signed between India and Ukraine.
2. It is a binding agreement.
3. The arrangement will enable both countries to acquire the industrial resources to meet national security needs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
‘What introduces friction into the ties between India and the United States is that Washington is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy, which would satisfy India’s National self-esteem and ambitions’. Explain with suitable examples. (UPSC CSE 2019)
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
What’s the ongoing story: Suicide accounts for one in every 100 deaths globally. According to new data released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 727,000 people across all ages lost their lives to suicide in 2021, with one suicide death happening in over 20 suicide attempts. The WHO further says that more than a billion people are living with mental health disorders.
Key Points to Ponder:
— What is the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing suicide mortality?
— What is the status of the mental health care system in India?
— Where does the challenge lie?
— What is the National Suicide Prevention Strategy?
— The model of care must shift from custodial to therapeutic approaches. What does it mean?
Key Takeaways:
— The new findings were published in two reports – ‘World Mental Health Today’ and ‘Mental Health Atlas 2024.’ Over the next few weeks, WHO will also be releasing country profiles as part of ‘Mental Health Atlas 2024,’ the first after Covid and factors in after-effects of the pandemic.
— The most common mental disorders are anxiety and depressive disorders, which together accounted for more than two-thirds of all mental health conditions in 2021. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of people living with mental disorders increased faster than the global population.
— As a result, the global age-standardized point prevalence of mental disorders reached 13.6 per cent, which is 0.9 per cent higher than a decade ago.
— Younger adults aged 20–29 years are estimated to have the largest increases (1.8 per cent) in prevalence since 2011. Males are estimated to more commonly have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders, and idiopathic disorder of intellectual development (comprising intellectual disability from any unknown source).
— Females are estimated to more often experience anxiety, depressive and eating disorders. Anxiety disorders typically emerge earlier than depressive disorders, which are rare before ten years of age.
— After the age of 40 years, depressive disorders become more prevalent than anxiety disorders, peaking between ages 50 and 69 years.
— Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people across all countries and socio-economic contexts. Yet, progress in reducing suicide mortality is too low to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of a one-third reduction in suicide rates by 2030.
— Given current status, only a 12 per cent reduction will be achieved by that deadline, according to estimates in the report.
— The challenge is a huge scarcity of trained mental healthcare personnel, including nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and other paid mental health workers.
— For mental health management to be streamlined, the chain of care must be carefully established. “This means availability of professional help, continuity and availability of treatment and medicines and economic conditions to cope with the financial load.
Do You Know:
— The Government has released the National Suicide Prevention Strategy in November, 2022. The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention provides a framework for multiple stakeholders to implement activities for prevention of suicides in India.
— This national strategy aims to reduce suicide mortality by 10% in the country by 2030. The national strategy includes an action framework with proposed actions with key stakeholders, implementation framework and mechanism, thus providing a path forward for preventing suicides.
— According to the annual report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), released in August, 1.64 lakh people died by suicide in 2021 — an increase of 7.2 per cent from 2020. This is 10 per cent higher than the COVID deaths (1.48 lakh) in India in 2020, and 6.8 times the maternal deaths (23,800) in the same year.
— The NCRB report also stated that more than 1,00,000 people die by suicide in the country every year. A total of 25,891 suicides were reported in the 53 megacities of the country during 2021, with the highest in Delhi.
— In August 2025, Supreme Court issued 15 binding directions applicable to all schools, colleges, hostels, and coaching centres across the country, aimed at institutionalising mental-health support and safeguarding the psychological well-being of students.
— The verdict asks all educational institutions to adopt a uniform mental-health policy, taking cues from existing frameworks such as the UMMEED Draft Guidelines, the Ministry of Education’s MANODARPAN initiative, and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
Why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society? (UPSC CSE 2023)
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues
Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Constitution of India —historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
What’s the ongoing story: The Supreme Court on Monday cast doubt on a Constitution Bench judgment from a decade ago that exempted minority educational institutions from the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act).
Key Points to Ponder:
— What is the objective of the RTE Act?
— What is the rationale behind exempting minority institutions from the provisions of the RTE Act?
— Know about the ruling in Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust v Union of India (2014)
— What is the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET)?
— Know about the Article 21A and 30(1)
— What do you understand by the harmonious interpretation?
— What are Private unaided schools?
Key Takeaways:
— A two-judge Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan, while deciding on whether the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) was mandatory for minority schools, held that the ruling in Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust v Union of India (2014) requires reconsideration by a larger Bench of the SC.
— The court observed that by taking minority schools out of the ambit of the RTE Act, the Pramati judgment may have jeopardised the fundamental right to quality education for children studying in them.
— The two-judge Bench ruled on a batch of appeals on whether
(i) TET could be made mandatory for teachers in minority schools, and
(ii) in-service teachers in non-minority schools who were appointed before the RTE Act came into force, must pass TET to be eligible for promotion or continue in service.
— The court referred the issue of the applicability of the RTE Act to minority schools to a larger Bench, and passed a nuanced order for in-service teachers of non-minority schools.
— The court pointed to a critical conflict created by the sweeping exemption: While Article 30(1) of the Constitution protects the right of minority groups to establish and administer their institutions, Article 21A guarantees every child a fundamental right to education.
— Therefore, the Bench reasoned, exempting minority schools from the Act denies children studying in them the statutory benefits and protections that flow from the fundamental right under Article 21A.
— The Bench called for a harmonious interpretation where the rights under Article 21A and Article 30(1) “can and must co-exist mutually” rather than one being treated as an “unqualified trump card” over the other.
— In the Pramati case, the five-judge Constitution Bench was deciding the validity of The Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002, which introduced Article 21A, and The Constitution (93rd Amendment) Act, 2005, which introduced Article 15(5) in the Constitution.
— Pramati upheld the validity of both amendments, but ruled that the RTE Act was unconstitutional “insofar as it applies to minority schools, aided or unaided, covered under clause (1) of Article 30…”.
— The court reasoned that the unique character of minority institutions must be protected. It feared that forcing these institutions to comply with the RTE Act would lead to an “abrogation” of their fundamental right under Article 30(1) to “establish and administer educational institutions of their choice”.
Do You Know:
— TET is the minimum qualification for appointment as teacher for Classes 1 to 8.
— The RTE Act guarantees free elementary education for children of ages 6-14. Government schools are required to provide free education to all enrolled children; aided schools must provide free seats proportionate to the aid they receive.
— Private unaided schools are required to reserve 25% of entry-level seats for children from disadvantaged groups, reimbursed by the state (Section 12(1)(c)).
The Act sets minimum standards of pupil-teacher ratios, trained teachers, infrastructure, and libraries, bans corporal punishment and capitation fees, and places an obligation on all schools to contribute to universal education.
— The two-judge Bench cited a study by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which found that only 8.76% students in minority schools were from disadvantaged backgrounds, and that 62.5% of students belonged to non-minority communities.
— “This is indicative of many institutions labelled as ‘minority’ not serving their communities exclusively, but continuing to enjoy exemption from inclusionary mandates,” the Bench said.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Why the Supreme Court upheld constitutional validity of UP Madarsa Act, 2004
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
(4) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2018)
1. As per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a State, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualification laid down by the concerned State Council of Teacher Education.
2. As per the RTE Act, for teaching primary classes, a candidate is required to pass a Teacher Eligibility Test conducted in a accordance with the National Council of Teacher Education guidelines.
3. In India, more than 90% of teacher education institutions are directly under the State Governments.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Mains Examination: General Studies-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations, Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
What’s the ongoing story: C. Raja Mohan writes- “The brief video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding hands with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin has gone viral. The three-way handshake, occurring against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s relentless effort to bully friend and foe alike, symbolises a moment when major powers are jockeying for geopolitical advantage. Yet a photo-op does not a grand alliance make.”
Key Points to Ponder:
— Read about World War II.
— How World War II has shaped India’s geopolitical identity and foreign policy orientation.
— Know the history of India-China relations.
— What are the areas of cooperation and conflict between India and China?
— Read about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
— What is the significance of SCO?
Key Takeaways:
— “If anything, the impracticality of a Eurasian coalition against America is highlighted by Modi’s absence from China’s spectacular military parade in Beijing on Wednesday to mark its victory in World War II. Xi will preside over the display of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) formidable military prowess in Tiananmen Square. Modi’s decision to skip the parade underlines India’s continuing distance from Beijing’s efforts to reinterpret the past for present purposes. Those who claimed that the SCO handshake buried the Quad will note that Modi’s absence puts him in the same company as the leaders of Australia, Japan, and the United States, who will also stay away.”
— “In September 1945, Imperial Japan surrendered, ending the war in Asia. In Europe, the victors and a defeated Germany collectively mark the end of hostilities. Asia, however, remains divided in its memory. Reconciliation is elusive even eight decades later. China calls its commemoration, “The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War”. Yet the military parade, arguably, is less about the past and more about enduring rivalries. Beijing seeks to mobilise nationalist sentiment against Japan and position itself as Asia’s pre-eminent power.”
— “Tokyo, unsurprisingly, urged countries not to attend. Australia, India, and the US — all critical to the Allied victory in Asia — declined invitations, as did Britain, France, and the Netherlands (the European powers with a major presence in Asia in World War II). For the Quad powers, participation would have been less about celebrating the shared struggle of 1945 than legitimising China’s aspirations for the domination of Asia.”
— “By contrast, many Southeast and Central Asian leaders have shown up in Beijing. Their attendance is less about the War’s memory than about signalling positive sentiments towards China. One notable absence is the Philippines, a major theatre of World War II. It is now at the receiving end of Chinese military power in the South China Sea.”
— “If Indian and Chinese nationalists shared an anti-imperial sentiment, why did they not collaborate? The answer lies in the adversaries they faced. India’s battle was against Britain, China’s against Japan. Indian nationalism was deeply divided. Gandhi refused to back Britain’s war effort, launching Quit India in 1942. Bose allied with Japan and raised the INA. The Indian communists, a powerful force then, initially dismissed the War as an “inter-imperialist” conflict. After Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union, they became staunch supporters of the anti-fascist war.”
— “Indian and Chinese nationalist movements failed to find solidarity at a critical juncture in the 20th century despite their shared sense of anti-imperialism. Since then, their repeated efforts to find common ground have been unsuccessful. That situation has not changed with an hour-long meeting between Modi and Xi in Tianjin on Monday. Modi’s refusal to attend the Beijing parade underscores the deep divergence in how Delhi and Beijing interpret the past and envision Asia’s future.”
— “For India, the challenge is more complex. World War II left Delhi struggling with the consequences of the geopolitical fragmentation of the Subcontinent and Partition. The Indian elite’s misreading of the politics of that era proved costly. Today, the stakes are equally high. India risks repeating the error if it fails to grasp the dynamic interplay between Washington, Moscow, and Beijing and define a clear sense of its own interests.”
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
(5) “Belt and Road Initiative” is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of : (UPSC CSE 2016)
(a) African Union
(b) Brazil
(c) European Union
(d) China
Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
‘China is using its economic relations and positive trade surplus as tools to develop potential military power status in Asia’, In the light of this statement, discuss its impact on India as her neighbor. (UPSC CSE 2017)
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| PRELIMS ANSWER KEY |
| 1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (c) 4. (b) 5. (d) |
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