UPSC Key: Tianjin troika, India’s cancer map, and Afghanistan earthquake

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; Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

What’s the ongoing story: Outlining India’s vision and policy regarding the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) as built on three key pillars — Security, Connectivity and Opportunity — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Pahalgam terror attack was “not only an assault on the conscience of India, but also an open challenge to every nation” and underlined that “double standards on terrorism are unacceptable”.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the SCO?

— What are the permanent bodies of SCO?

— When did India become a member of the SCO?

— What is the significance of SCO for India and in the current geopolitical context?

— What is the function of the SCO-RATS?

— What is the purpose of the proposed Global Governance Initiative (GGI)?

Key Takeaways:

— Modi made these remarks at the opening session of the SCO leaders’ summit here. While the session was chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was among those present.

— Coming in the backdrop of the deepening trust deficit between India and the United States over the 50 per cent tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration, these images are significant — the US administration, especially White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, has expressed strong criticism and concern at India engaging with China and Russia.

— China and India are the biggest buyers of crude oil from Russia. Trump has imposed 25% additional tariffs on India over purchase of Russian oil, but not on China.

— Modi said the SCO-RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) has played a significant role in this regard. This year, while leading the Joint Information Operation, India undertook an initiative to counter Al-Qaeda and its affiliated terrorist organisations.

— On connectivity, India is working on initiatives such as the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor. Through these, India can enhance its linkages with Afghanistan and Central Asia, he said.

— Recalling India’s experience with the motto of “reform, perform and transform”, he said Delhi has been “consistently pursuing wide-ranging reforms, which are creating new opportunities for both national development and international cooperation,” and invited SCO member countries to be a part of India’s development journey.

— PM Modi further proposed the formation of a ‘Civilisation Dialogue Forum’ to enhance people-to-people ties in the SCO, stating that this would provide a global platform for the countries to share ancient civilisation, culture, traditions, and literature.

SCO Summit: Xi pushes for equal, multipolar global order as he slams Trump over tariffs

— Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the SCO plus leaders’ summit as he advocated practising multilateralism.

— He said, “First, we should adhere to sovereign equality. We should maintain that all countries, regardless of size, strength and wealth, are equal participants, decision-makers and beneficiaries in global governance.”

— The meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation security group coincides with the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in the second world war, which China will mark on Wednesday.

— Second, Xi said, “We should abide by international rule of law. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter and other universally recognised basic norms of international relations must be observed comprehensively, fully and in their entirety.”

— Third, he said, “we should practice multilateralism. We should uphold the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, strengthen solidarity and coordination, and oppose unilateralism.”

Do You Know:

— The origins of SCO lie in the “Shanghai Five” which was formed in 1996, consisting of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

— With the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 into 15 independent countries, there were concerns in the region about extremist religious groups and ethnic tensions coming to the fore. To manage these issues, a grouping was created for cooperation on security matters.

— Building on this, SCO was established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai as an international organisation, and also included Uzbekistan as a sixth member.

— The Charter of the SCO was signed at the St. Petersburg Summit in June 2002 and became effective on September 19, 2003. Additionally, in 2006, the SCO announced plans to combat international drug trafficking as a means to finance global terrorism.

— It consists of 10 member countries- India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍UPSC Knowledge Nugget of the day: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

📍Express view on SCO summit

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(1) The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as

(a) G20

(b) ASEAN

(c) SCO

(d) SAARC

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

📍Virus of Conflict is affecting the functioning of the SCO; In the light of the above statement point out the role of India in mitigating the problems. (UPSC CSE 2023)

First data out: More women get cancer than men, but lower share in deaths 

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national 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: Women accounted for a higher proportion of cancer cases in the country (51.1%) but a lower proportion of cancer deaths (45%). Oral cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the most common type of the disease among men. Cancer occurrence was among the highest in the northeastern states. These are some of the key findings of an analysis by researchers from premier institutions of data collected from 43 cancer registries across the country between 2015 and 2019 — a period when 7.08 lakh cancer cases and 2.06 lakh deaths were recorded.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is Cancer? 

— Why are cancer cases rising in India? 

— Why is early awareness and detection important? 

— Which type of cancer is the most common among men in India?

— Read about the CAR-T cell therapy

— What are some of the major government programmes aimed at cancer care and treatment in India?

— Know about the Cancer Moonshot Initiative

Key Takeaways:

— Based on the analysis, the researchers also estimated that a total of 15.6 lakh cancer cases and 8.74 lakh deaths occurred across the country in 2024.

— Population-based cancer registries collect data on new cancer cases, deaths and trends in selected geographical areas. India’s registry currently covers 23 states and Union Territories, either partially or fully, and monitors trends in 10% to 18% of the population, with newer registries in regions such as Kashmir, Prayagraj and Thiruvananthapuram.

— The analysis was conducted by a group of national investigators from data collected by various hospitals, such as AIIMS-Delhi, Adyar Cancer Institute-Chennai, PD Hinduja-Mumbai, Tata Memorial Centre-Navi Mumbai, and Assam Medical College and Hospital. The data for 2020 was not included in the analysis due to the impact of Covid on health systems and the registry.

— The Government has several cancer care programmes in place and on the anvil, including, screening at the lowest levels through health and wellness centres, day care centres to be rolled out across all districts and treatment in tertiary centres under Ayushman Bharat. It has also been working on making newer cancer drugs cheaper by cutting related duties.

From Explained: What India’s cancer map shows

— Breast and cervical cancers, which together account for 40% of cases in women, are easier to detect early and have better outcomes. In contrast, Dr Abhishek Shankar, oncologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said that “commonly occurring cancers in men such as lung and gastric cancers are more difficult to treat.”

— There is much variation in cancer incidence across India. The highest lifetime risk of cancer was found to be in Mizoram, where it stood at 21.1% for men and 18.9% for women, higher than the 11% rate nationally.

— The accompanying table shows cities/regions/states with the highest incidence of oral, breast, cervical, lung, and prostate cancers.

— This data can help the Centre and states effectively plan their cancer care programs, from screening programs in primary health centres and specially organised camps to treatment of cancer in tertiary centres under the Centre’s flagship Ayushman Bharat programme.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Knowledge nugget of the day: Cancer Moonshot Initiative

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(2) With reference to the treatment of cancerous tumours, a tool called cyberknife has been making the news. In this context, which one of the following statements is not correct? (UPSC CSE 2010)

(a) It is a robotic image guided system   

(b) It delivers an extremely precise dose of radiation   

(c) It has the capability of achieving sub-millimetre accuracy   

(d) It can map the spread of tumour in the body

 

SCO SUMMIT

Russia oil helped India save $12.6 billion in 39 months

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination:

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

General Studies-III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc

What’s the ongoing story: India’s Russian oil imports, which have evidently emerged as a major sticking point for the Donald Trump administration in its relationship with New Delhi, helped Indian refiners save at least $12.6 billion in a little over three years, shows an analysis of India’s official trade data by The Indian Express, comparing the landed price of India’s Russian oil imports with crude from other countries.

Key Points to Ponder:

—  India’s economy is vulnerable to global oil price volatility. What do you understand by this statement?

— India imports oil from which countries?

— How does oil import impact the government bills?

— How India’s dependence on West Asia has changed over time?

— What steps need to be taken to decrease the oil import dependency for India?

— Why has the Indian government termed the Trump administration’s tariff on India as “unjustified and unreasonable”?

Key Takeaways:

—  These apparent savings—while significant for Indian refiners—are not as high as what had been anticipated initially, and the effective discounts on Russian crude narrowed considerably over time, falling to their lowest in the 2024-25 fiscal. But there may be much more than meets the eye.

— It is worth remembering that had New Delhi not stepped in to buy Russian oil, global crude prices would most likely have been considerably higher, which would have led to a ballooning of India’s oil import bill as well given the country’s extreme reliance on oil imports.

— When viewed from that lens, the presumptive savings for India would be significantly more than what the trade data analysis suggests, depending on how much higher the international price of oil would have gone had India not ramped up the import of Russian crude after it was eschewed by much of the West.

— This may be among the reasons why India has shown no signs of buckling under American pressure on the issue of oil imports from Russia.

— Oil exports are the biggest source of revenue for Moscow, and New Delhi is the second-largest buyer of its oil after Beijing.

— Early August, Trump announced an additional 25 per cent tariff—over and above the 25 per cent tariff announced on Indian goods—as a penalty for India’s Russian oil imports.

— New Delhi has termed the Trump administration’s action “unjustified and unreasonable” and said these imports began as its traditional supplies were diverted to Europe, with the US having “actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability”.

— The reason was simple: Russia is a major oil exporter and if a bulk of its oil goes off the market for dearth of buyers, international oil prices could shoot up, something that the US itself did not desire.

— When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow’s share in New Delhi’s oil imports was less than 2 per cent. With much of the West snubbing Russian crude following the invasion, Russia began offering discounts on its oil to willing buyers.

— Indian refiners were quick to avail the opportunity, leading to Russia—earlier a peripheral supplier of oil to India—emerging as India’s biggest source of crude within a matter of months, displacing the traditional West Asian suppliers.

— Even today, industry experts and analysts believe that global oil prices would jump if India stops buying Russian crude, as much of that supply is unlikely to find buyers elsewhere given the current circumstances.

— India’s economy is vulnerable to global oil price volatility. It also has a bearing on the country’s trade deficit, foreign exchange reserves, the rupee’s exchange rate, and inflation rate, among others.

Do You Know:

— Historically, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), led by Saudi Arabia, which is the largest exporter of crude oil in the world (single-handedly exporting 10% of the global demand), used to work as a cartel and fix prices in a favourable band. It could bring down prices by increasing oil production and raise prices by cutting production.

— In the recent past, the OPEC has been working with Russia, as OPEC+, to fix the global prices and supply.

— The objective of the OPEC is to “coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its Member Countries and ensure the stabilisation of oil markets in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers and a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry,” according to the OPEC website.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Trade war, Saudi quest to protect market share have oil prices spiralling; India not complaining

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(3) The term ‘West Texas Intermediate’, sometimes found in news, refers to a grade of (UPSC CSE 2020)

(a) Crude oil

(b) Bullion

(c) Rare earth elements

(d) Uranium

 

EXPLAINED

Why earthquakes occur, why Afghanistan is so vulnerable 

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.

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

What’s the ongoing story: An earthquake of 6.0 magnitude struck north-east Afghanistan on Sunday night (August 31), killing more than 800 people and injuring at least 2,000. The quake’s epicentre was 27 km northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, and its depth was just eight kilometres.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is an earthquake?

— What causes an earthquake?

— Why does the depth of an earthquake matter?

— What are p-waves and s-waves?

—- What are tectonic plates?

— What is the theory of plate tectonics?

— What are the different earthquake zones in India?

— What are the most earthquake-prone countries in the world?

Key Takeaways:

— Afghanistan is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. In 2023, the country’s Herat province experienced three major earthquakes, which killed nearly 1,300 people and wounded around 1,700. In 2022, a 5.9-magnitude quake killed at least 1,300 people in the southeast region.

— An earthquake is an intense shaking of the ground caused by movement under the Earth’s surface. It happens when two blocks of the Earth suddenly slip past one another. This releases stored-up ‘elastic strain’ energy in the form of seismic waves, which spread through the Earth and cause the shaking of the ground.

— The Earth’s outermost surface, crust, is fragmented into tectonic plates. The edges of the plates are called plate boundaries, which are made up of faults — zones of fractures between two blocks of rock. The tectonic plates constantly move at a slow pace, sliding past one another and bumping into each other. As the edges of the plates are quite rough, they get stuck with one another while the rest of the plate continues to move.

— An earthquake occurs when the plate has moved far enough and its edges unstick on one of the faults. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) says that “the location below the Earth’s surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter, and the location directly above it on the surface of the Earth is called the epicentre”.

— That’s because shallow quakes are generally more dangerous as they carry more energy when they emerge to the surface, when compared to quakes that occur deeper underneath the surface. While deeper quakes do indeed spread farther as seismic waves move radially upwards to the surface, they lose energy while travelling greater distances. Shallow earthquakes generally have a depth of between zero and 70 km.

— Apart from the depth, the magnitude of an earthquake is also an indicator of how destructive a quake could be. Magnitude tells how big the seismic waves are, while strength refers to the energy they carry. 

— Afghanistan is situated on top of a number of fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian plates meet. These plates collide often, leading to significant tectonic activity in the region.

Do You Know:

— Ranking as the seventh most earthquake-prone country in the world, India is vulnerable to seismic activity. India’s vulnerability to earthquakes stems from its geographical position at the convergence of multiple tectonic plates, its intricate geological structure, and a rapidly growing population paired with widespread unregulated construction practices.

— According to ndma.gov.in, approximately 59 per cent of its land area is at risk of experiencing moderate to severe seismic events, capable of registering an intensity of VII on the MSK scale or higher.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Knowledge nugget of the day: Earthquakes—Why is the Himalayan zone seismically active?

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades. (UPSC CSE 2021)

GOVT & POLITICS

Supreme Court: RTE exemption to minority institutions should be revised

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: Stating that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, “ought to apply to all minority institutions, whether aided or unaided”, the SC on Monday called for a reconsideration of its 2014 constitution bench judgment granting them blanket exemption from the applicability of the law, saying “it seems unavoidable”.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are the constitutional provisions for the RTE?

— How are minority schools defined?

— What do you understand by this statement, “There is no inherent conflict between Article 21A (right to education) and Article 30(1); both can and must co-exist mutually”?

— What is the purpose of enacting Article 21A?

— How are minority institutions kept outside the purview of the RTE?

Key Takeaways:

— In the ‘Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust v. Union of India’ case, a five-judge SC bench in 2014 had held that the RTE Act, insofar as it is made applicable to minority schools covered under Article 30(1) (which deals with the right of religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice), aided or unaided, is ultra vires the Constitution.

— On Monday, a two-judge bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan that considered the 2014 decision in a bunch of appeals raising the question of applicability of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) to minority educational institutions.

— Writing for the bench, Justice Datta said, “In our considered opinion, the RTE Act ought to apply to all minority institutions, whether aided or unaided.” The court said that “its implementation does not erode—let alone annihilate—the minority character protected under Article 30(1).

— On the contrary, applying the RTE Act aligns with the purposive interpretation of Article 30(1)… There is no inherent conflict between Article 21A (right to education) and Article 30(1); both can and must co-exist mutually.”

— The bench said that “Section 12(1)(c)” of the Act, “which mandates 25% reservation for children from disadvantaged groups and weaker sections at the entry level, serves the broader purpose of social inclusion and universalisation of elementary education.

— The court said that “Section 12(1)(c) does not alter school demographics in a way that would compromise the minority identity of minority schools. Minority institutions undisputedly admit students from outside their community; doing so under a transparent, state-guided framework does not affect any right.

Do You Know:

— Article 30(1) says that “all minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.”

— Article 21A deals with the Right to Education and says, “The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine.” The top court said the RTE Act ensured children, a range of entitlements such as basic infrastructure, trained teachers, books, uniforms and mid-day meals.

— In 2014, the SC heard a challenge to the constitutionality of Article 21A. The court held that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2006 (RTE Act) must not apply to minority institutions as it may destroy their minority character.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍‘Minority character of an institution not a rigid concept’: SC overrules 1967 verdict that removed AMU’s minority tag

📍Why the Supreme Court upheld constitutional validity of UP Madarsa Act, 2004

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(4) In India, if a religious sect/community is given the status of a national minority, what special advantages it is entitled to? (UPSC CSE 2011)

1. It can establish and administer exclusive educational institutions.

2. The President of India automatically nominates a representative of the community to Lok Sabha.

3. It can derive benefits from the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme.

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

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

Whether the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) can enforce the implementation of constitutional reservation for the Scheduled Castes in the religious minority institutions? Examine. (UPSC CSE 2018)

 

ECONOMY

Why have bond yields risen despite RBI’s rate cuts?

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development.

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

What’s the ongoing story: In a somewhat unexpected turn, India’s 10-year benchmark government bond yield has risen by about 26 basis points over the past month, even though the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cut its key policy rate — the repo rate — by 100 basis points to 5.50 per cent over the past seven months. As of Monday, the yield, which was at 6.62 per cent last week, was quoted at 6.60 per cent, signalling investor unease and shifting market sentiment.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the bond yield in India?

— What is the difference between interest rate and bond yield?

— What are the factors that impact the bond yield in India?

— How does a change in the RBI’s monetary policy impact bond yields?

— Know the relationship between bond yields, interest rates, and inflation.

— Read about the government securities (G-Secs).

— What is Open Market Operations (OMO), or Operation Twist?

Key Takeaways:

— This rise in yields comes down to two key factors: the RBI’s hawkish stance on inflation and concerns over higher government borrowing due to proposed tax reforms. Although bond yields typically fall when interest rates are reduced, the market’s reaction has been different this time. When bond yields rise, it usually indicates falling bond prices, reflecting investor selling pressure.

— According to Care Ratings, the yield curve has steepened, especially at the long end, suggesting that investors expect higher borrowing costs in the future. Their report added that unless external risks like persistent US tariffs or domestic growth shocks emerge, the RBI is unlikely to cut rates again in the short term. In such a case, further policy support might be needed, possibly through more accommodative tools beyond rate cuts.

— Another major concern that has driven bond yields higher is the central government’s draft proposal to rationalise GST slabs. The current system of four rates — 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent, and 28 per cent — may soon be simplified into just two primary slabs: 5 per cent for essential goods and 18 per cent for most others. In addition, a 40 per cent rate is proposed for “sin” or demerit goods.

— While the reform aims to simplify the tax structure, markets fear a short-term revenue hit. Estimates suggest that if implemented by Diwali, GST collections could decline by Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 crore. This potential revenue shortfall raises the spectre of fiscal slippage, where the government might exceed its targeted fiscal deficit.

— Investors are concerned that to make up for this shortfall, the government might need to increase borrowing. An increase in government bond supply would push prices down and yields up — a reaction already visible in recent trading.

— To address these market concerns and stabilise bond yields, analysts expect the government and RBI to adjust their borrowing strategy. Care Ratings suggests the government may shift its borrowing from long-term to shorter and medium-term maturities. Additionally, the RBI could step in with Open Market Operations (OMO) or Operation Twist.

— Under OMOs, the RBI would buy long-term bonds from the market, reducing supply and bringing down yields. In Operation Twist, the central bank buys long-term bonds and simultaneously sells short-term ones. Both strategies aim to reduce pressure on long-end yields and ensure overall market stability.

Do You Know:

— According to the Investopedia, a bond yield is the return an investor realizes on a bond. Put simply, a bond yield is the return on the capital invested by an investor. Bond yields are different from bond prices—both of which share an inverse relationship. The yield matches the bond’s coupon rate when the bond is issued. Bond yields can be derived in different ways, including the coupon yield and current yield. Additional calculations of a bond’s yield include yield to maturity (YTM) among others.

— According to the Investopedia, a bond yield is the return an investor realizes on a bond. Put simply, a bond yield is the return on the capital invested by an investor. Bond yields are different from bond prices—both of which share an inverse relationship. 

— The yield matches the bond’s coupon rate when the bond is issued. Bond yields can be derived in different ways, including the coupon yield and current yield. Additional calculations of a bond’s yield include yield to maturity (YTM) among others.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Explained: Bonds, yields, and inversions

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(5) Indian Government Bond Yields are influenced by which of the following? (UPSC CSE 2021)

1. Actions of the United States Federal Reserve

2. Actions of the Reserve Bank of India

3. Inflation and short-term interest rates

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

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