UPSC Key: Stampede in Mahakumbh, Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code and National Critical Minerals Mission

On Maha Kumbh’s big day, at least 30 killed, 60 injured in stampede

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Disaster and disaster management.

What’s the ongoing story: Thirty people died and at least 60 were injured in a pre-dawn stampede Wednesday at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj where hundreds of thousands gathered to take a dip at the Sangam.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is stampede

• What triggered stampede in Mahakumbh?

• What are the primary causes of stampedes during large religious gatherings like the Mahakumbh?

• How do people die at these events?

• ‘These kind of events exposes lax safety rules and regulatory failures’-Discuss

• What role did the ‘rumour’ play in these events?

• “A rumour can kill thousands than a bullet can”-Decode the quote with respect to stampede and rumour

• Is there any National Guide on Crowd Management in India?

• Suggest measures for effective crowd management in events like Mahakumbh

Key Takeaways:

• The stampede took place in the early hours of Wednesday (January 29), a day unusually large crowds were flocking to the riverbank for the ritual dip. This was because January 29 is Mauni Amavasya, one of the days considered very auspicious for taking a bath at the Kumbh Mela. PTI had reported that 10 crore pilgrims were expected to make their way to the Maha Kumbh in just a day on January 29.

• The incident took place shortly after 1.30 am as people headed towards the Sangam Nose – it’s the strip of land at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati – for a ritual bath on the day of Mauni Amavasya which is considered auspicious.

• The dead and injured were taken to medical facilities on the Maha Kumbh grounds and to hospitals in the city. Following the incident, the snans (ritual bath) were halted but resumed in the afternoon. Officials estimated that over 10 crore people had taken a dip in the waters until evening.

• Officials blamed the incident on the heavy rush towards the Sangam Nose and felling of barricades on the route meant for akharas headed for the Amrit Snan.

• Witnesses said the stampede took place when a crowd going towards the Sangam ran into those returning. Other witnesses said barricades along the route meant for the akharas were felled and people charged towards the Sangam Nose.

Do You Know:

• Mauni Amavasya is the new moon night of the krishna paksha (the waning moon fortnight) of the Hindu month of Magh. On this day, both the Sun and Moon are in the same raashi of Makar (Capricorn), which makes it astrologically significant. Maun means silence, and on Mauni Amavasya, it is believed that observing silence, at least till before one takes a bath, is beneficial.

• “According to Hindu religious beliefs, taking a ritual bath in a river on Mauni Amavasya washes away one’s sins. Triveni in Prayagraj (the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati) is considered a sacred spot. Taking a dip in the Triveni on a Mauni Amavasya during Kumbh Mela is, thus, of added spiritual significance,” Dr Ramesh Kumar Upadhyay, president of the Bhartiya Jyotish Aadhyatm parishad in Jamshedpur, said.

• About why silence is observed on this day, Upadhyay said, “The new moon is a day of big happenings in the world of nature. The high tide and low tide are more pronounced, the moon is between the earth and the sun. On such a day, when nature is so dynamic, Hindu sages have advised stillness and silence for humans.”

• In the ongoing Kumbh, Makar Sankranti was the first amrit snan (earlier called shahi snan) day, and Mauni Amavasya the second. The third is Vasant Panchami on February 3. Shiv Ratri, which falls on February 26, the last day of the Kumbh Mela, is also significant.

• On these days, the saadhus who gather at the Kumbh take the first ritual dip as part of the amrit snan, followed by other devotees. It is the specific planetary alignments of a day that make it specially auspicious.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍When unbridled devotion led to disaster: Remembering the 1954 Kumbh Mela stampede

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
1. Which of the following factors are the primary causes of stampedes at religious gatherings like the Kumbh Mela?
(a) Poor crowd management and lack of emergency exits
(b) Sudden panic among pilgrims
(c) Inadequate security arrangements
(d) All of the above

UPSC Previous Year Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (2020)

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

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Main Examination: 

• General Studies II: Indian Constitution—significant provisions etc.

• 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: A 16-page form that needs to be filled, Aadhaar-linked OTP, registration fee, a certificate from a religious leader that the couple is eligible to marry if they so wish, and details of previous relationships — these are among the rules prescribed by the Uttarakhand government for registration of live-in relationships under its Uniform Civil Code.
Key Points to Ponder:

• Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand-What you know so far?

• The history of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) pitch in Uttarakhand-How it started?

• How does the Uttarakhand UCC align with the constitutional provisions related to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)?

• What are the major features of the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code

• How does Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code impact personal laws in the state?

• Examine the sociological implications of implementing a Uniform Civil Code in Uttrakhand

Key Takeaways:

• 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

• The Rules, which came into effect January 2, outline the documentation required for the registration process – it can be done both offline and online.

• Rule 15 (3) in Chapter 5 outlines the “information to be included in the Statement of Live-in Relationship”. These documents are to be attached with a 16-page form – Form 3 of the Annexures to the Rules by those “already in a live-in relationship or intending to enter into a live-in relationship”.

• The Rules require in prescribed format “proof of permissibility of marriage between the registrants if they are within the degrees of prohibited relationship”.

• For proof of previous history of relationship, the Rules require details of “marital or live-in relationship prior to the onset of the current live-in relationship”. These documents could include final decree of divorce; final decree annulling a marriage; death certificate of a spouse; certificate of terminated live-in relationship. For marriages dissolved under customary religious practices, then proof of such dissolution would be required.

• Under the UCC, the Registrar has powers to issue notice on his own or on the basis of a complaint to an individual to register their live-in relationship. Additionally, apart from conducting a summary inquiry into the veracity of the documents, the Registrar has to inform the legal guardian or parent of the parties registering their live-in relationship if they are below age 21.

• The law states that the registration is only for the “purposes of record keeping.” However, the Rules require the Registrar to forward these registrations to the local police stations where the couple resides and makes it mandatory for landlords to demand a “provisional” or final certificate of registration of the live-in relationship.

Do You Know:

• The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution provides that both the Centre and state legislatures can legislate on matters pertaining to family laws.

• The Code applies to residents of the state, but only to those who identify within the binary genders of male and female who are in heterosexual relationships, thus leaving most LGBT persons outside its ambit.

• The Code, which borrows significantly from secular laws such as The Special Marriage Act, 1954, and The Indian Succession Act, 1925, repeals all family laws — secular, personal, and customary — to the extent that they are inconsistent with it.

• The Code defines live-in relationships as a relationship in the “nature of marriage” between a man and a woman cohabiting in a shared household, and requires compulsory registration of live-in relationships through a “statement of live-in relationship”.

• A live-in relationship may be terminated by either of the parties to the live-in relationship by submitting a “statement of termination”.
Failure to register a live-in relationship within one month of entering into the relationship has been criminalised, with punishment up to
three months in jail or fine not exceeding Rs 10,000.

• The Registrar may require the parties to submit the statement of live-in relationship, through a notice, on his/ her own motion or on a complaint filed by a third party.

• A progressive reform reflected in the Code pertains to the abolishment of the concept of “illegitimate children”.
At present, parent-child relations are governed by both secular and personal laws on guardianship, which discriminate against children born out of wedlock by deeming them illegitimate and not granting them rights at par with children born within wedlock. While courts have attempted to extend certain rights to children born out of wedlock specifically in matters pertaining to inheritance under Hindu law, as well as maintenance, the concept of an “illegitimate” child continues to prevail.

• The Uttarakhand UCC treats children born in void and voidable marriages, as well as children born in live-in relationships, as legitimate.

• One striking feature of the Code is that it abolishes the coparcenary system, which exists under Hindu personal law. Under the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, property can be held as coparcenary property or self-acquired property. Four generations of Hindus hold ancestral property as coparceners. Self-acquired property is individual property, and passes as per rules for intestate succession on death.

• The share of the deceased in the coparcenary property forms part of the property pool again. Consequently, for a person to get their individual share in coparcenary property, the property has to be partitioned. The Uttarakhand UCC does away with the coparcenary system, and extends the same scheme of succession to all persons irrespective of religion. Thus, all property will pass as individual property as per the scheme of intestate succession laid down under the Code.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Hits and misses of Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code: What the Bill does, and does not do

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
2. Consider the following provisions under the Directive Principles of State Policy as enshrined in the Constitution of India: (2012)
1. Securing for citizens of India a uniform civil code
2. Organising village Panchayats
3. Promoting cottage industries in rural areas
4. Securing for all the workers reasonable leisure and cultural opportunities
Which of the above are the Gandhian Principles that are reflected in the Directive Principles of State Policy?
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

GOVT & POLITICS

Waqf Bill draft report adopted, House panel flags concerns raised during submissions

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

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: From attempting to address concerns over the omission of Waqf-by-user, the need to consider the long-term links between the tenants’ associations and Waqf properties and suggestions for a legislation to check declaration of tribal lands as Waqf properties, the 655-page draft report of the Joint Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill has flagged several aspects of the proposed legislation.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is the meaning of ‘Waqf’?

• What are Waqf properties, and why do they hold importance in India’s socio-political landscape?

• Analyse the significance of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 in the context of managing and regulating Waqf properties in India.

• What are the key legislative changes and developments in the administration of Waqf properties in India through Waqf Act?

• What are the issues concerned with Waqf Board?

• How are Hindu and Sikh endowments administered? Are their adherents non-Hindu and non-Sikh?

• Does the Collector possess any authority over Hindu and Sikh endowments?

• Why was the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 has been referred to the Joint Committee of Parliament?

• Why Joint Committee of Parliament said about the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024?

• Discuss the significance of parliamentary oversight on issues like Waqf properties.

Key Takeaways:

• On the ‘Waqf by user’ issue, which implies that if a property is being used as Waqf it will continue to be so, the committee is learnt to be of the view that the removal of the provision from the legislation will not have an impact on registered Waqf in the absence of a Waqf deed.

• The committee, it is learnt, has suggested that the omission of ‘Waqf by user’ from the definition of Waqf should apply prospectively, and that cases of existing Waqf properties already registered as ‘Waqf by user’ not be reopened.

• The committee, however, is of the view that this clause should be subject to the condition that the property is not involved in a dispute or is a government property.

• The Waqf Act of 1995 states that “Waqf includes a Waqf by user, but such Waqf shall not cease to be a Waqf by reason only of the user having ceased irrespective of the period of such cesser.”

• When the proposed Bill was tabled in Parliament in August last year, it had sought to omit the provisions relating to ‘Waqf by user’, making a Waqf property suspect in the absence of a valid Waqf deed.

• It is learnt that the committee, while noting submissions made by the tenants’ associations about their long-term association with Waqf properties, has underlined the need to address their concerns compassionately during the formulation of lease rules.

• The panel wants the Ministry of Minority Affairs to consider the concerns of Waqf tenants across the country and introduce laws that allow for long-term leases to keep their legitimate rights safe.

• It is learnt that the committee is of the view that protection should be given to Scheduled Tribes and tribal lands under provisions of the Constitution.
It wants the Ministry of Minority Affairs to take legislative steps to stall declaration of tribal lands as Waqf land so that scheduled areas and tribal areas are protected.

Do You Know:
• Waqf refers to properties dedicated exclusively for religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law, and any other use or sale of the property is prohibited.
—Waqf means that the ownership of the property is now taken away from the person making Waqf and transferred and detained by Allah.
— ‘Waqif’ is a person who creates a waqf for the beneficiary.
—As Waqf properties are bestowed upon Allah, in the absence of a physically tangible entity, a ‘mutawalli’ is appointed by the waqif, or by a competent authority, to manage or administer a Waqf. —Once designated as waqf, the ownership is transferred from the person making the waqf (waqif) to Allah, making it irrevocable.
—In India, the history of Waqf can be traced back to the early days of the Delhi Sultanate when Sultan Muizuddin Sam Ghaor dedicated two villages in favour of the Jama Masjid of Multan and handed its administration to Shaikhul Islam.
—As the Delhi Sultanate and later Islamic dynasties flourished in India, the number of Waqf properties kept increasing in India.
—There was a case made for the abolition of Waqfs in India in the late 19th Century when a dispute over a Waqf property ended up in the Privy Council of London during the days of the British Raj.
—The four British judges who heard the case described the Waqf as “a perpetuity of the worst and the most pernicious kind” and declared Waqf to be invalid. However, the decision by the four judges was not accepted in India, and the Mussalman Waqf Validating Act of 1913 saved the institution of Waqf in India. Since then, no attempt has been made to curb Waqfs.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Waqf panel clears 14 amendments by NDA MPs, rejects 44 by Opposition

EXPRESS NETWORK

SC: Domicile-based quota in PG medical courses unconstitutional

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

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: THE SUPREME Court on Wednesday held that domicile-based reservation for admission to post-graduate medical courses within the State quota is unconstitutional as it violates the Right to Equality under Article 14.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the domicile quota?

• Examine the constitutional provisions related to educational reservations in India.

• How does the Supreme Court’s verdict on domicile-based reservations for PG medical admissions align with constitutional provisions?

• Analyse the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision striking down domicile-based reservation for PG medical courses on medical education in India.

• Discuss the conflict between domicile-based reservations and merit-based admissions in higher education, with reference to the Supreme Court’s latest ruling.

• What are the key differences between undergraduate and postgraduate medical admissions in India regarding reservation policies?

• Explain the role of the National Medical Commission (NMC) in regulating medical education in India.

Key Takeaways:

• “So far as question… whether providing for domicile/residence-based reservation in admission to PG medical courses within the State quota is constitutionally invalid and impermissible is concerned, our answer is in the affirmative. Yes, it is constitutionally invalid. In other words, providing for domicile or residence-based reservation in PG medical courses is constitutionally impermissible and cannot be done,” said a three-Judge Bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia and S V N Bhatti.

• Writing for the Bench, Justice Dhulia said: “We are all domiciled in the territory of India. We are all residents of India. Our common bond as citizens and residents of one country gives us the right not only to choose our residence anywhere in India, but also gives us the right to carry on trade and business or a profession anywhere in India. It also gives us the right to seek admission in educational institutions across India.”

• The court said that while such reservation may be permissible “to a certain degree” in MBBS courses, it is impermissible in PG medical courses.

• “The benefit of reservation in educational institutions, including medical colleges, to those who reside in a particular State can be given to a certain degree only in MBBS courses, for which we have assigned reasons in preceding paragraphs. But considering the importance of specialist doctors in PG medical course, reservation at the higher level on the basis of residence would be violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India,” the court said.

• “If such a reservation is permitted, it would be an invasion on the fundamental rights of several students who are being treated unequally simply for the reason that they belong to a different State in the Union. This would be a violation of the equality clause in Article 14 of the Constitution and would amount to a denial of equality before the law,” it said.

• “The State quota seats, apart from a reasonable number of institution-based reservations, have to be filled strictly on the basis of merit in all-India examination,” the court said, while adding that its decision would not affect admissions already granted on the basis of domicile-based reservation.

• “Domicile in normal parlance denotes ‘the place of living’ or permanent residence. The legal concept is, however, different,” the court said. “The very concept of a provincial or State domicile in India is a misconception. There is only one domicile in India, which we refer to as domicile in the territory of India as given under Article 52. All Indians have only one domicile, which is the Domicile of India,” it said.

• The Bench also noted that in Dr Pradeep Jain vs Union of India, the SC had, in 1984, explained why residence-based reservation in PG medical courses was violative of Article 14, and such reservation may be permissible in MBBS courses.

Do You Know:

• For postgraduate medical seats, the Centre conducts counselling for only 50% of the total intake while the rest is filled by state counseling bodies as per their own rules. Within this remaining 50%, states earmark a quota for ‘domicile’ candidates.

• SC ruling on domicile-based reservation: Key points
—Violation of Article 14: The Court stated that the practice of domicile-based reservation in PG medical admissions goes against the Right to Equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution.
—Right to choose residence and profession: Justice Dhulia, reading out the operative part of the judgment, emphasised that all Indian citizens are entitled to a single domicile — that of India. Citizens have the right to reside anywhere in the country, practice any profession and seek educational opportunities anywhere without restrictions.
—Reservations only permissible in MBBS courses: While the Court acknowledged that some degree of domicile-based reservation in undergraduate (MBBS) courses after NEET UG might be permissible, it categorically stated that this should not extend to PG medical courses due to their specialised nature.
—Clarification on existing reservations: The ruling clarified that it would not affect any domicile-based reservations that have already been granted for PG medical admissions prior to the judgement.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍NEET PG: SC declares domicile-based reservation for postgraduate medical admissions unconstitutional

UPSC Practice Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
3. The Supreme Court’s judgment is in line with which of the following landmark cases concerning medical admissions?
(a) Pradeep Jain vs. Union of India (1984)
(b) Ashoka Kumar Thakur vs. Union of India (2008)
(c) Mohini Jain vs. State of Karnataka (1992)
(d) Minerva Mills vs. Union of India (1980)

FDA clears Ozempic for diabetics to cut kidney disease risk

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

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: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Novo Nordisk’s diabetes-cum-weight loss drug Ozempic for patients with both chronic kidney disease and diabetes.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the significance of the FDA’s approval of Ozempic for reducing kidney disease risk in diabetes patients.

• Examine the role of drug regulatory bodies such as the FDA in ensuring safe and effective treatments for chronic diseases like diabetes.

• How does India’s regulatory framework compare with that of the US?

• What are the challenges faced by diabetic patients in India in accessing advanced medications like Ozempic?

• Suggest policy measures to improve access to modern diabetes treatments.

• Evaluate the role of pharmaceutical innovations in managing non-communicable diseases like diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

• What lessons can India learn from the FDA’s approach?

Key Takeaways:

• This came after clinical trials showed it reduced risk of kidney failure, disease progression and death due to heart problems.

• This is a significant breakthrough in managing diabetes-related conditions.

• The FDA approval is based on results from a trial investigating the effects of once-a-week Ozempic injections on major kidney and cardiovascular outcomes in adults with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. It showed a 24 per cent reduced risk of worsening kidney disease and kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease) and also led to a 4.9 per cent risk reduction in death from cardiovascular disease.

Do You Know:

• Ozempic contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist (RA), which mimics the function of a hormone released by the intestine after eating. It lowers blood sugar by helping the pancreas make more of the glucose-regulating hormone called insulin. It can also help with weight loss by reducing appetite and increasing the feeling of “fullness”.

• The FDA approval is significant for India, where Ozempic will likely be available soon. “Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease so the medicine will be beneficial on a large scale. Prevention is of crucial importance so that we do not create an economic burden by increasing the number of kidney transplants,” said Dr Himanshu Verma, professor and head of the Nephrology department at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Obesity real risk for blood sugar: Why weight loss drugs are preventing other diseases too

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
4. Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2019)
1. According to the Indian Patent Act, a biological process to create a seed can be patented in India
2. In India, there is no Intellectual Property Appellate Board.
3. Plant varieties are not eligible to be patented in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

THE IDEAS PAGE

Busting free trade myths

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, Indian diaspora.

What’s the ongoing story: Rajat Kathuria, Neha Gupta Writes: Contrary to the narrative that India is being used as a dumping ground, it has maintained a surplus in finished goods trade with many FTA partners, including ASEAN countries

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?

• Know about other types of trade agreements like Bilateral investment treaty (BIT), Preferential Trade Area, Single market, Customs Union etc.

• Discuss the concept of free trade and its impact on India’s economy.

• What are the advantages and challenges associated with free trade policies?

• Analyse India’s stance on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in recent years.

• How has India’s policy evolved in response to global trade dynamics?

• What are the key concerns of domestic industries regarding India’s free trade agreements?

• Suggest policy measures to balance domestic economic interests with trade liberalization.

• Evaluate India’s decision to stay out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

• How do free trade policies align with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative? Discuss whether they are complementary or contradictory.

Key Takeaways:

Rajat Kathuria, Neha Gupta Writes:

• In the upcoming budget, we expect to hear announcements relating to reducing the trade deficit, stemming the rupee’s depreciation and promoting exports — all in the same breath.

• It is widely felt that India’s relatively high tariff rates are inimical to more integration into GVCs. It is also true that customs duties are no longer an important source of overall tax revenue, but rather an instrument to accomplish other policy objectives, one of which is protectionism. US President Donald Trump levied tariffs on ChFinese imports in 2018, citing its unfair practice of state support for enterprises.

• China retaliated, which led to an escalation of tensions. Trade wars hurt everybody. Although Trump says “tariff” is his “favourite word in the dictionary” and that he would use tariffs to boost domestic manufacturing, he has held off on the 60 per cent increase he had promised on the campaign trail. Instead, 10 per cent is all that is supposed to be levied on specific Chinese goods beginning February 1. Perhaps the message in Trump dialling down is that tariffs are not the best way to boost local manufacturing in an interconnected world.

• India will do well to internalise that lesson. Combined with high tariffs, frequent changes do not help. An example is the fluctuating tariff on components used in mobile phone manufacturing. Lenses for camera modules in phones, initially duty-free in 2019, were subject to a 2.5 per cent duty in 2021, only to become duty-free again in 2023.

• Similarly, PCBAs and moulded plastics for phone chargers faced a duty hike of 10 per cent in 2018, which was further increased to 15 per cent in 2021. While parts of chargers became zero duty in 2018, these were subsequently taxed at 10 per cent in 2021. The last budget saw a reduction in the basic customs duty on mobile phones, their chargers and PCBAs to 15 per cent from the 20 per cent imposed in the 2018-20 period.

Do You Know:

• India’s export growth remains stagnant; its share in global exports lingers around two per cent. Lowering customs duties and stabilising policy are, however, unlikely to be sufficient either in the upcoming budget or subsequently.

• Trade policy requires comprehensive reform, including the establishment of a dedicated committee to ensure policy consistency and to formulate an action plan to achieve the objective of $2 trillion in exports by 2030.

• In this regard, the recent declaration by the CEO of NITI Aayog that “India is one of the few (big) economies which is not a part of large trade agreements” needs serious evaluation. Mega trade blocs such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are reshaping global trade, but India is ambivalent about their utility.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Pharma & consumer goods: Donald Trump’s tariff threats, and where India could feel the heat

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
5. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of free trade?
(a) Increased market access for exporters
(b) Lower prices for consumers
(c) Reduction in competition for domestic industries
(d) Greater efficiency and innovation

EXPLAINED

India-China thaw: What fine print of the countries’ statements says

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighbourhood- relations.

What’s the ongoing story: In a major diplomatic breakthrough, New Delhi and Beijing have decided on a slew of measures to repair bilateral ties: resuming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this summer, restoring direct flights between the two capitals, issuing visas for journalists and think tanks, and sharing trans-border river data.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the significance of recent diplomatic engagements between India and China. How do their official statements reflect changes in their foreign policy approaches?

• Analyse the key challenges in India-China relations, focusing on border disputes, trade imbalances, and geopolitical tensions.

• What diplomatic steps can be taken to improve bilateral ties?

• Examine the role of high-level diplomatic dialogues, such as the Special Representatives (SR) talks and Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC), in resolving India-China border tensions.

• Evaluate the impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on India-China relations.

• Why has India consistently opposed the BRI?

• Analyse the implications of India’s trade deficit with China and the steps required to address it.

• How does the India-China border dispute impact regional security in South Asia?

Key Takeaways:

• These decisions were arrived at after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during a recent China visit, met the country’s Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Minister of International Department of the Communist Party of China Liu Jianchao.
But the fine print of the two countries’ statements reveal convergences and divergences in their approach.

• While India talked about what was “agreed” between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s President Xi Jinping in Kazan, China talked about the “important consensus” reached by the leaders.

• India said they “reviewed the state of India-China bilateral relations comprehensively” and agreed to take certain “people-centric steps to stabilise and rebuild ties”. So, the focus is on “review” and “people-centric steps”.

• China said that they were discussing measures for the “improvement and development” of China-India relations, and that the two sides reached “consensus” on specific measures. Thus, Delhi’s statement is more nuanced and cautious, while Beijing has a more optimistic assessment of the talks.

• On Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the two statements almost echo each other, but the Chinese statement reflects more urgency, with a mention of “as soon as possible”. The Indian statement said the two sides “decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025; the relevant mechanism will discuss the modalities for doing so as per existing agreements”. The Chinese statement said: “The two sides agreed to resume the Indian pilgrims’ visit to Kailash Mansarovar in Xizang Autonomous Region, China in 2025, and will discuss relevant arrangements as soon as possible.”

• On direct flights, a careful reading of the two statements shows that Delhi wants a new pact, while China has linked it to visas and resident journalists.

• On trans-border rivers like the Brahmaputra, both sides agreed to hold an early meeting of India-China Expert Level Mechanism. This will involve sharing of data, which has been an issue recently.

Do You Know:

• On the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of ties — the two countries had established diplomatic ties in 1949 — the emphasis is again
a bit different. While the Indian government is looking at “restoring public trust”, the Chinese have linked it to visas. While China claims it is issuing a large number of visas to Indian nationals, Indian visa issuances to Chinese nationals have reportedly crashed from around 2 lakh in 2019 to a few thousands in 2024. In January 2024, the Chinese embassy in Delhi had said that over 180,000 Chinese visas were issued to Indian citizens in 2023.

• The Line of Actual Control (LAC) is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory. India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around 2,000 km. It is divided into three sectors: the eastern sector which spans Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the middle sector in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and the western sector in Ladakh.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍A much-needed thaw

UPSC Previous Year 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 neighbour. (UPSC CSE GS2, 2017)
📍With respect to the South China sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China. (UPSC CSE GS2, 2014)

Promise of nuclear fusion

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

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

What’s the ongoing story: An experimental nuclear fusion reactor in China last week triggered a lot of excitement by keeping its operational state maintained for more than 1,000 seconds, or over 17 minutes, which is a new record. Nuclear fusion is what produces the energy in the Sun, or any other star.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is Fusion?

• Fusion vs Fission-Compare and contrast

• China has made significant advancements in nuclear fusion technology. Discuss the potential implications of this breakthrough for global energy security and geopolitics.

• What are the key scientific and technological challenges in achieving a commercially viable nuclear fusion reactor?

• India is part of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project. Discuss India’s role in nuclear fusion research and its potential benefits for the country.

• Analyse the economic and environmental feasibility of nuclear fusion as an alternative energy source. Can it replace fossil fuels completely in the future?

Key Takeaways:

• Fusion reactions require very high temperatures, hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius — higher than the temperatures in the Sun’s core.

• At such high temperatures, matter exists only in the plasma state, in which atoms get split into positively and negatively charged particles. But such hot plasma cannot be handled by or contained in any material.

• Within the reactor, this plasma needs to be kept suspended in a confined space, surrounded by very strong magnetic fields acting as
walls.

• Charged particles respond to magnetic fields, and this property is used to guide the flow of plasma within an enclosed space, separated from any matter. This condition, necessary for facilitating fusion reactions, is extremely delicate and unstable, with the tiniest of changes in the magnetic field disturbing the whole set-up. Scientists have not been able to maintain these conditions for longer than a few seconds.

• That is why the achievement of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor, located at the Institute of Plasma Physics in Anhui province in eastern China, is being seen as so important. It is a significant improvement on this reactor’s previous record of a little over 400 seconds achieved in 2023.

• Real-life electricity-generating reactors would require this state to be maintained for hours, even days, at a stretch. Only then would continuous operations be possible, like current nuclear reactors which are based on fission technology.

Do You Know:

• Fusion technology has been under development for more than 70 years but progress has been slow. Even the optimistic forecasts, at least till a few years ago, suggested a functional fusion reactor, producing electricity at a commercial scale, would not be realised before 2050.
For this reason, none of the global energy transition pathways for a net-zero world in 2050, or 2070, factor in the potential of fusion electricity. Each one of those pathways, incidentally, is heavily dependent on the success of several other uncertain technologies such as carbon sequestration and carbon removal, whose technical and economic viability remain under doubt.

• The nuclear energy currently in use across the world comes from the fission process, in which the nucleus of a heavier element is split into those of lighter elements in a controlled manner.

• In fusion, nuclei of two lighter elements are made to fuse together to form the nucleus of a heavier atom. A large amount of energy is released in both these processes, but substantially more in fusion than fission. For example, the fusion of two nuclei of a heavier isotope of hydrogen, called tritium, produces at least four times as much energy as the fission of a uranium atom which is the normal process of generating electricity in a nuclear reactor. Besides greater energy yield, fusion is also a carbon-free source of energy, and has negligible radiation risks.

• In the last few years, fusion research has produced a string of breakthroughs. In December 2021, the United Kingdom-based JET laboratory set a new record in the amount of energy produced through fusion. It produced about 12 MW of electricity for five seconds, enough to cater to the demands of about 10,000 homes for that period of time.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍The fusion energy breakthrough

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
6. India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage of India?
a) It can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation
b) It can attain a global role in satellite navigation
c) It can drastically improve the efficiency of its fission reactors in power generation
d) It can build fusion reactors for power generation

ISRO celebrates 100th launch: Its journey so far, some upcoming ventures

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

What’s the ongoing story: With the first launch of 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation achieved the significant milestone of having carried out 100 launches. 

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is the significance of ISRO’s 100th launch?

• How has ISRO contributed to India’s space capabilities over the years?

• Examine the role of PSLV in India’s space missions.

• Analyse the impact of India’s space program on its strategic, economic, and technological growth.

• Discuss how ISRO’s achievements have strengthened India’s position in the global space economy.

• Evaluate the role of private players in boosting India’s space industry.

• How ISRO’s commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), is contributing to making India a global hub for satellite launches.

Key Takeaways:

• The GSLV-F15 put in orbit the navigation satellite NVS-02 on Wednesday early morning. After the launch, the new Isro chairperson Dr V Narayanan, recalled the greats like Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, and APJ Abdul Kalam. “On behalf of the present generation of Isro leaders, I salute all the previous generation of leaders, the past and present employees, and our family members,” he said.

• With the space agency targeting big-ticket missions such as the sample return mission from the moon, the mission to Venus, setting up an Indian space station, and sending a man to the moon, ISRO is working towards developing a heavier rocket called Next Generation Launch Vehicle.

• NGLV will be capable of carrying up to 30,000 kg to low earth orbit. It will be 91 metres tall as compared to the 43 metres of LVM3. It will also have a re-usable first stage, which would be utilised 15 to 20 times, to make the launches more affordable.

• NVS-02 is one of the five replacement satellites for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, also referred to as NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation). The new generation satellites are heavier with longer mission life. They carry the indigenously developed atomic clock onboard. And, importantly, they have been enabled with a third frequency L1, which is mostly utilised by the US Global Positioning System (GPS). This will help in the utilisation of the NavIC signals more, with almost all devices including smaller ones such as personal trackers also carrying receivers for L1 band signals.

• NavIC is a seven-satellite regional positioning system that can provide location data on the Indian mainland and up to 1,500 kilometres around. The NavIC satellites can provide position accuracy of up to 20 m under standard positioning service that is available to all and a restricted service for better accuracy available to customers.

Do You Know:

• The space agency has its roots in the Indian National Committee for Space Research set up under the Department of Atomic Energy in 1962. The Indian Space Research Organisation that we know today was set up in 1969 — the same year that the United States sent men to the moon. A separate department of space was created only in 1972.
The space agency has since developed several rockets, becoming a reliable launch partner even for satellites from other countries. It has also carried out scientific missions such as the three Chandrayaan missions, which provide useful data not only to researchers from within the country but across the world.

• Isro has so far developed at least six generations of launch vehicles, of which four remain in operation. The first two generations of launchers are no longer in use. There were three developmental flights and one operational flight of the four-stage, solid fuel vehicle SLV-3 that could carry 40 kg to low earth orbit. And, there were only four development flights of its augmented version that could carry 150 kg to low earth orbit.

• It was the third generation PSLV that continues to be Isro’s workhorse launcher. The four-stage rocket with solid and liquid fuel-based engines is capable of carrying just under 2,000 kg to low earth orbit. There have been 62 flights of PSLV, including three development flights. Only two of the launches using PSLV have been unsuccessful.

• Then came the GSLV, whose initial flights used cryogenic engines supplied by Russia. When the technology could not be transferred from Russia because of geopolitical reasons, India developed its own cryogenic engine. GSLV-F15 utilised for the 100th launch is a variation of this vehicle — and the eleventh flight using an indigenously developed cryogenic engine.

• In the 100 launches so far, the space agency has placed in orbit 548 satellites weighing 120 tonnes in total. This includes 433 satellites weighing 23 tonnes that came from foreign nations. Isro has launched communication satellites, earth observation satellites, navigation satellites, and experimental satellites.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍ISRO scores a century of missions with launch of navigation satellite

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
7. Consider the following statements: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO (UPSC CSE 2016)
1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

ECONOMY

Cabinet approves critical minerals mission with `16,300 crore outlay

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

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

What’s the ongoing story: The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) on Wednesday with a budgetary outlay of Rs 16,300 crore over seven years, with an additional Rs 18,000 crore expected in investments from central public sector undertakings (PSUs).

Key Points to Ponder:

• What are critical minerals?

• Why critical minerals are significant for India’s economic and strategic security?

• Discuss the objectives and key features of the newly approved National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM).

• Analyse the role of critical minerals in India’s transition to renewable energy, electric mobility, and high-tech manufacturing.

• Explain the global supply chain dynamics of critical minerals.

• How does the Critical Minerals Mission align with India’s broader industrial policies such as ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’?

Key Takeaways:

• With Rs 3,000 crore budgeted for the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) andRs 4,000 crore for the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the NCMM targets 1,200 domestic critical mineral exploration projects till 2030-31. The Ministry of Mines also aims to auction over 100 critical mineral blocks by then.

• A boost in exploration of critical minerals will provide potential investors with key data on reserves, which in turn will increase interest and participation in auctions. Till now, GSI has undertaken 368 exploration projects over the past three years, with 195 projects currently underway, and the mines ministry has auctioned off 24 critical mineral blocks.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the NCMM as a “major step towards self-reliance” in critical minerals. “The Union Cabinet’s decision on National Critical Mineral Mission will encourage India’s high-tech, clean energy, defence and other key industries,” he posted on X.

Do You Know:

• Critical minerals that are essential for economic development and national security, and the lack of availability of these minerals or the concentration of extraction or processing in a few geographical locations could potentially lead to “supply chain vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies”. This is true for minerals such as lithium, graphite, cobalt, titanium, and rare earth elements, which are essential for the advancement of many sectors, including high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transport, and defence.

• One of the definitions cited in the report characterises a mineral as critical when the risk of supply shortage and associated impact on the economy is (relatively) higher than other raw materials. This definition of a critical mineral was first adopted in the US and the subsequent legislation that resulted from the analysis, the report said. The European Union also carried out a similar exercise and categorised critical minerals on the basis of two prerequisites: supply risk and economic importance.

• Under the mission, an additional Rs 5,600 crore is allocated to the NMET to finance risk coverage for foreign sourcing and to support exploration activities outside India.

• The mines ministry seeks to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act to enable the NMET to fund the proposed activities of the mission.

• Announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in last year’s Union Budget, the mission aims to strengthen India’s critical minerals value chain by building a technological, regulatory, and financial ecosystem to ensure mineral availability from both domestic and foreign sources.

• The mission is set to boost access to raw materials used across strategic sectors, from clean energy and electronics to defence and agriculture.

• NCMM will receive Rs 1,000 crore from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and other R&D schemes, and Rs 2,600 crore in budgetary support.

• In a meeting with officials from the Department of Economic Affairs in November, the mines ministry had proposed external funding for the NCMM through the World Bank’s Resilient and Inclusive Supply-Chain Enhancement (RISE) initiative.

• As of February 2024, only $50 million have been pledged as initial contributions to the RISE initiative, with Japan contributing $25 million and the remaining from other countries, including Canada, Germany, Italy, the Republic of Korea, and the UK.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Govt approves Rs 16,300-cr National Critical Minerals Mission

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
8. With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements: (2019)
1. Sand is a ‘minor mineral’ according to the prevailing law in the country
2. State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government.
3. State Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

9. What is/are the purpose/purposes of ‘District Mineral Foundations’ in India? (2016)
1. Promoting mineral exploration activities in mineral-rich districts
2. Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations
3. Authorizing State Governments to issue licenses for mineral exploration
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY
1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4.(c) 5.(c) 6.(d) 7.(c) 8.(a) 9.(b)

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