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UPSC Key: Recognising the Palestine state, EC brings in e-sign feature, and GST 2.0

Why is the rollout of the ‘e-sign’ feature by Election Commission important for your UPSC exam? What significance do topics such as GST 2.0, the L-1 visa comparison with H-1B visa, and Oju hydroelectric project have for both the Preliminary and Main exams? You can learn more by reading the Indian Express UPSC Key for September 24, 2025.

UNGA, France, UPSC key, PalestineFrench President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a high-profile meeting at the United Nations aimed at galvanizing support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at UN headquarters. Know more in our UPSC Key. (AP Photo)

Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for September 24, 2025. If you missed the September 23, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.

EXPLAINED

Recognising the Palestine state

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

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

What’s the ongoing story: At the UN General Assembly on Monday, France became the latest global power to recognise Palestine statehood, a day after the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia did so. Portugal, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco have also confirmed their recognition of the State of Palestine.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Know about the role and significance of the UNGA

— What is the composition of the UNGA?

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— How does this recognition help Palestine, and does it change anything in the ongoing war?

— Know about the background of the Israel-Palestine war

Map work: Location of the West Bank, the Golan heights, Gaza Strip

Key Takeaways:

— Objectively, increased diplomatic recognition for Palestinian statehood is insufficient to alter the course of the ongoing war in Gaza, in the absence of decisive action against Israel.

— Consequently, the burden of action to end the war is shifting to states facilitating Israeli non-compliance.

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— European states, including the UK, are taking gradual steps to limit (but not cut off) export control licences, direct arms sales, spare components, and other military equipment to Israel.

— However, the United States continues to provide unconditional material and military support to Israel, and the Trump administration is set to clear $6.4 billion more in weapons sales.

— International law and practice for an entity to be a “State” has four principal requirements, as implied in the 1933 Montevideo Convention — a defined territory; a permanent population; a government; and a capacity to enter into relations with other states.

— Israel practically occupies 100% of Palestinian territories, by virtue of its occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and now the Gaza Strip, and its decades-long control over air, land, and sea access to all these regions.

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— Palestinian control over its territories is set to decrease further with Israel’s construction of new settlements and the Knesset’s July vote to support Israeli “annexation” of the West Bank.

— The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory concluded on September 16 that “Israeli authorities and Israeli security forces have the genocidal intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.”

— The Palestinian Authority (PA) has acted as the de jure authority in limited enclaves of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, but de facto control has been with Israel. In Gaza, Hamas has served as the de jure government after ejecting the PA in 2007 (following the PA’s initial refusal to accept Hamas’ electoral victory in 2006).

— However, Hamas has governed under Israel’s complete land, air, and naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

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— At present, global recognition of Palestine occurs alongside calls for the PA to reform, which it has committed to, and for Hamas to disarm and remove itself from Palestinian politics, which it has rejected. Even if the latter is achieved, a demilitarised Palestine will not be fully sovereign and Israel is unlikely to cede control over military and defence issues.

— The reality on the ground does not weaken Palestine’s case to statehood, but proves that it is only the Palestinian capacity to conduct inter-state relations where greater international recognition of statehood yields a direct benefit, for now.

Do You Know:

— The United Nations (UN) came into existence on 24 October 1945, after being ratified by 51 nations, which included five permanent members or P5 (France, the Republic of China, the Soviet Union, the UK and the US) and 46 other signatories. The first meeting of the General Assembly took place on January 10, 1946. At present, 193 countries are members of the United Nations.

— The UN Charter established six main organs of the United Nations, including the UN Security Council (UNSC). The UNSC held its first session on 17 January 1946 at Church House, Westminster, London. Since its first meeting, the Security Council has taken permanent residence at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

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— The UNSC is composed of 15 members: five permanent members — China, France, Russian Federation, the United States, and the United Kingdom — and 10 non-permanent members who are elected by the General Assembly. The non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms — so every year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members out of the total 10.

— These 10 seats are distributed among the regions of the world: five seats for African and Asian countries; one for Eastern European countries; two for Latin American and Caribbean countries; and two for Western European and Other Countries.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Recognising a Palestinian state: from 1917 to today

📍UPSC Issue at a Glance | Understanding UNSC: Composition, need for reform, and India’s claim for permanent membership

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(1) The Security Council of UN consists of 5 permanent members, and the remaining 10 members are elected by the General Assembly for a term of ( UPSC CSE 2009)

(a) 1 year

(b) 2 years

(c) 3 years

(d) 5 years

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

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📍Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in the UN Security Council (UPSC CSE 2015)

The other work visa for US: How L-1 compares with H-1B

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains 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: At a time when the President Donald Trump administration has announced a steep new $100,000 fee on fresh H-1B applications, many are asking if the lesser-known L-1 visa could be an alternative. The L-1 has been used for decades by multinational firms to shuffle executives and staff between overseas and US offices.

Key Points to Ponder:

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— What is the L-1 visa, and who is eligible to apply?

— How is the L-1 visa different from the H1-B visa?

— What are the advantages and disadvantages of the L-1?

— How have Indians benefited from the H-1B visa?

— Why is the recent increase in the H-1B visa fee a matter of concern for India?

— What is a Green Card programme?

— What do you know about the Golden Card project of Trump?

Key Takeaways:

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— The L-1 is a non-immigrant work visa for intracompany transfers. A worker must have been employed abroad by a multinational’s parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate for at least one continuous year in the last three years, in either an executive/managerial role (L-1A) or a specialised knowledge role (L-1B). Only the company can petition; individuals cannot apply on their own.

— The main attraction is that there is no lottery or quota. Multinationals can apply year-round, and large firms can use “blanket petitions” to speed up processing. The visa also allows dual intent holders can pursue a green card without jeopardising their status, and spouses on L-2 visas can work automatically in the US.

— But the restrictions are sharp. The visa is available only if the worker has already spent a year abroad in the same company. It ties the employee to that firm’s US branch, with no portability to another employer. And it has hard time limits: five years for L-1B and seven for L-1A. Unlike H-1B holders, L-1 workers cannot extend simply because they are waiting for a green card.

The H-1B is meant for “speciality occupation” professionals with a bachelor’s degree or higher, and is capped at 85,000 new visas each year.
— Employers must pay the prevailing wage and prove they are not undermining US workers. By contrast, the L-1 has no cap and no prevailing wage requirement, but only applies to intra-company transferees.

— The L-1 is not a blanket substitute for H-1B. It is a specialised tool, meant for multinational transfers, with big advantages for those who qualify but hard limits for everyone else.

Do You Know:

— The H-1B visa programme allows US employers to hire immigrant workers in specialty occupations that require “a high level of skill” and “at least a bachelor’s degree”, according to the US Department of Labour.

— The program was started in 1990, with the intention of helping “employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the US workforce by authorising the temporary employment of qualified individuals who are not otherwise authorised to work in the United States”.

— The initial validity of the H-1B visa is up to three years. It can be extended once, for another three years, giving a total of up to six years in most cases.

— Currently, there is an annual numerical limit (regular cap) of 65,000 new statuses/ visas under this program each fiscal year, with an extra 20,000 visas available to those with a master’s degree or higher from a US university.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍H-1B $100,000 entry fee explained: Who pays, who’s exempt, and what’s still unclear?

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:

(2) With reference to the H-1B visa program, consider the following statements:

1. It allows American employers to hire non-immigrant workers in specialty occupations that require a high level of skills.

2. There is no capping in the total number of new H-1B visas.

3. In the fiscal year 2023, Indians accounted for more than half of the total H-1B approvals.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 2 and 3 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 3 only

 

FRONT

EC brings in e-sign feature to check misuse of identity for seeking voter list deletions

Syllabus:

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

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies

What’s the ongoing story: The Election Commission has rolled out a new ‘e-sign’ feature on its ECINet portal and app, which requires those seeking to register as voters, or applying for deletion and corrections, to verify their identity using their Aadhaar-linked phone numbers.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the process of adding a name to an electoral roll?

— What is the Form 7 of the Election Commission?

— What are the issues with the deletion of names from the electoral roll?

— What is the role and function of the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs)?

— Who has the responsibility of preparing an electoral roll?

Key Takeaways:

— The EC move comes less than a week after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged the misuse of online voter deletion forms in Karnataka’s Aland constituency, ahead of the 2023 state Assembly polls, as part of his press conference on “electoral fraud”.

— Earlier, applicants could submit forms on the EC apps and portal after connecting a phone number with an existing Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number, with no verification done of whether the details indeed belonged to them.

— The e-sign feature, not present till Monday, could be seen on the EC’s ECINet portal on Tuesday while submitting forms. An applicant filling Form 6 (for registration of new electors), or Form 7 (for objecting to proposed inclusion/deletion of a name in existing rolls), or Form 8 (for correction of entries), on the ECINet portal now has to clear the e-sign requirement.

— This means the portal warns the applicant to ensure that their name on the voter card that they are using for their application is the same as the one on their Aadhaar, and that the mobile number they are using is also linked to Aadhaar.

— After an applicant has filled the form, they are taken to an external e-sign portal hosted by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), which operates under the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

— On the CDAC portal, the applicant is required to enter their Aadhaar number and then generate an “Aadhaar OTP”, where the OTP is sent on the phone number linked with that Aadhaar number.

— The applicant has to then consent to the Aadhaar-based authentication and complete the verification. Only after that is completed is the applicant re-directed to the ECINet portal to submit the form.

— With the e-sign feature being rolled out, sources say the possibility of what happened in Aland is greatly reduced.

— The ECINet, launched earlier this year, is one portal and app that combines around 40 earlier apps and portals of the EC meant for voters and officials, including ERONet. The EC had launched ERONet in 2018 as a centralised portal for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).

— Through ECINet, electors can submit forms and election officials can process them. In each case, the Booth Level Officer and ERO concerned are supposed to conduct an inquiry.

Do You Know:

— Electoral registration officers (EROs) of Parliamentary constituencies are empowered by Section 22 of the Representation of the People (RP) Act, 1950, to make corrections and deletions to the electoral roll either on their own or acting on applications made to them.

— In each case, they must conduct an inquiry, give the elector concerned time to respond and then pass an order.

— The ERO can delete an entry from the electoral roll in case the person has died, or is no longer ordinarily resident in that constituency, or has been found ineligible — meaning, they are not a citizen or are under the age of 18 years.

— Under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, the forms for new applications, corrections and deletions from electoral rolls have been prescribed.

— Form 7 is the one for making “objection for proposed inclusion/deletion of name in existing roll”. Electors can file a Form 7 if they want to delete their own name or if they want to object to any other elector in their constituency.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Aland voter deletion: How names can be removed from rolls

UPSC Prelims practise Question Covering similar theme:

(3) Consider the following statements:

1. Electoral registration officers (EROs)  are empowered to make corrections and deletions to the electoral roll.

2. An applicant fills Form 7 for registration as a new elector.

Which of the statements mentioned above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

📍To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful? (UPSC CSE 2017)

 

EXPRESS NETWORK

Expert committee nod for 2,200-MW Oju hydel project near China border

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclones. etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes

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

What’s the ongoing story: An expert panel of the Union Environment Ministry has recommended environmental clearance for the 2,220 MW Oju hydroelectric project proposed on the Subansiri river in Taksing near the China border.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Subansiri is a tributary of which river?

— What is an Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA)?

— What is the significance of the EIA?

— What are the initiatives taken by the government for the development of infrastructure in the North East?

— What is the potential of NE in renewable energy?

Key Takeaways:

— It is located uppermost among a cascade of hydroelectric projects planned in the Subansiri basin, and will be the largest in terms of its approved capacity.

— The other hydro projects planned in the Subansiri basin are Niare, Naba, Nalo, Dengser, upper Subansiri and Lower Subansiri, as per the project’s environment impact assessment report. The ministry’s expert appraisal committee (EAC) on hydroelectric and river valley projects cleared the project.

— However, last month, Assam-based environmentalist and activist Bimal Gogoi had written to the panel, saying that cumulative impact assessment study (CIA) and carrying capacity study (CCS) — which scrutinise impact of multiple hydel projects on river basins — on Subansiri river basin was dated as it was completed in 2014, and sought that these be updated.

— According to the minutes of its September 12 meeting, the EAC noted that the studies of the Subansiri basin were completed in 2014, and the data used therein was now more than 10 years old. However, it said that after detailed deliberations on hydrology and ecological flow data, it accepted submissions made by the project proponent in this regard.

— The Oju project is proposed on the Subansiri river, 5 km downstream of Redi village of Taksing block in Upper Subansiri district, and it will be developed by Oju Subansiri Hydro Power Corporation Pvt Ltd.

Do You Know:

— The strength of the Northeast region lies in renewable energy, tourism and human resources. The Northeast accounts for over 40 per cent — estimated at 62,000 MW — of India’s hydropower potential, of which only 6.9 per cent is currently being harnessed.

— Similarly, the region has an estimated solar power potential of 57,360 MW, though only 17 per cent of the capacity is installed. Investments in solar, wind, and small-scale hydro projects offer a huge opportunity.

— The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways allocated 10 per cent of its budget to the N-E region, constructing 4,950 km of National Highways, investing over $5 billion.

—  The North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) was launched in 2018. It has a billion-dollar budget for roads, water supply and power infrastructure.

— The Northeast is a region with unique potential. It is the only region in the country to have 5,484 km of international borders with five neighbours — Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet (China).

— Proposed projects like the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, and the revival of the Stilwell Road will enhance the opportunities for land-based trade between India and Southeast Asia.

— EIA is a systematic process used to evaluate the potential environmental effects – both positive and negative – of a proposed project or development before it is approved. The primary objectives of EIA include the prediction and evaluation of the environmental, economic and social impacts of development projects.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Ram Madhav writes: A new vision for the Northeast

📍Environmental Impact Assessment: Navigating the development-environment dilemma

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(4) Consider the following rivers (UPSC CSE 2014)

1. Barak

2. Lohit

3. Subansiri

Which of the above flows/flow through Arunachal Pradesh?

(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:

📍Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before project is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at Pitheads. (UPSC CSE 2014)

ECONOMY

GST 2.0: Centre keeping watch on price tweaks, no knee-jerk reaction to plaints

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance, Economic and social development.

Mains Examination: General Studies- II, III: Government policies and interventions, Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story: After having issued a directive to its field officers to monitor the price changes for 54 product categories under GST 2.0, the Centre is keeping a close watch on the benefits being passed on to the consumers as the sweeping tax rate cuts became effective from September 22, government sources said Tuesday.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the Goods and Services Tax (GST)?

— What are the key GST 2.0 institutional reforms?

— What is the objective of introducing next-generation reforms?

— What are the various tax slabs before and after the reform?

— What are the  fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)?

— What is inverted duty structure (IDS)?

— What is input tax credit?

— How will the new GST rates boost consumption and benefit the Indian economy?

— What is the role and function of the GST council?

Key Takeaways:

— The government has also asked consumers to raise complaints on the National Consumer Helpline about the GST benefits not getting passed on to them.

— While the consumers have raised complaints on social media about prices of several items, especially in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) space, not reflecting the cut in GST rates on e-commerce platforms, the government does not want to give a “knee-jerk” reaction and will wait for the field officers to submit their report.

— In a FAQ issued late Tuesday, the government said consumers can raise queries or complaints about not receiving benefits of GST rate changes on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) via toll free number 1915 or Whatsapp at 8800001915.

— Under the next-generation reforms for the GST, multiple slabs – 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent – were replaced with a broad two-slab structure – a merit rate of 5 per cent and a standard rate of 18 per cent – in addition to a special demerit rate of 40 per cent for sin and demerit goods such as pan masala, tobacco and cigarettes. This has resulted in significant tax rate cuts for several common-use items and aspirational goods such as white goods.

—  Field officers have already started compiling the price data, an official said, adding that most items have seen a price reduction but some items are yet to see a commensurate reduction in prices because of the existing unsold stock.

— At present, there is no legal anti-profiteering provision under GST. At the time of the rollout of the indirect tax regime in July 2017, an anti-profiteering provision was incorporated in the Central GST (CGST) Act through Section 171(2).

— A National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) was then set up in November 2017 to check unfair profiteering activities by registered suppliers and ensure that commensurate benefits of reduction in GST rates on goods and services and of the input tax credit are passed on to consumers by way of reduction in prices.

—  Initially, it was set up for two years till 2019, but was later provided an extension. All GST anti-profiteering complaints were then dealt with by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) from December 1, 2022.

— In a notification dated October 1, 2024, the government then empowered the Principal bench of GSTAT (GST Appellate Tribunal) as the authority for anti-profiteering cases and notified April 1, 2025, as the sunset date for the anti-profiteering clause in the GST law.

— After the 56th GST Council meeting, held on September 3, Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava had said that only around 704 cases were registered with the NAA since inception of the anti-profiteering body that is no more in existence.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Knowledge Nugget: What is GST Council, and what were key decisions taken during its 56th meeting? Here’s everything you need to know for UPSC exam

📍Explained: What is the GST Council, and what does it do?

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(5) What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing ‘Goods and Services Tax (GST)’? (UPSC CSE 2017)

1. It will replace multiple taxes collected by multiple authorities and will thus create a single market in India.

2. It will drastically reduce the ‘Current Account Deficit’ of India and will enable it to increase its foreign exchange reserves.

3. It will enormously increase the growth and size of the economy of India and will enable it to overtake China in the near future.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(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:

📍Enumerate the indirect taxes which have been subsumed in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. Also, comment on the revenue implications of the GST introduced in India since July 2017. (UPSC CSE 2019)

THE IDEAS PAGE

$100,000 fee, Asian opportunity

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: Krishna Sharma and Narendra Regmi write: As the US administration imposes a $1,00,000 fee on new H-1B visas and much of the West makes immigration procedures increasingly stringent, something remarkable is unfolding in India.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is venture capital?

— What is the significance of eliminating angel tax and simplifying foreign venture capital investor registrations?

— What do you understand by this statement: The global AI race is reshaping technological leadership?

— How can India become a leader in AI development?

— What is the potential of the Production Linked Incentive scheme for indigenous development of  AI hardware components?

Key Takeaways:

— India’s venture capital funding jumped 43 per cent in 2024 to $13.7 billion, reinforcing its position as Asia-Pacific’s second-largest VC destination. For perhaps the first time in decades, the economic mathematics may favour building technological capabilities closer to home.

— The global AI race is reshaping technological leadership. China has accumulated approximately 70 per cent of global AI patents, including over 38,000 generative AI patents between 2014 and 2023, compared to America’s 6,276.

— These developments suggest that innovation centres are becoming more geographically distributed, with India’s strength in software services complementing manufacturing capabilities elsewhere, while our large consumer market provides valuable data for AI system training.

— The government’s recent elimination of angel tax and simplified foreign venture capital investor registrations represent important steps, but more targeted interventions could amplify our advantages.

— India should consider establishing dedicated AI research zones with streamlined regulations, like Special Economic Zones, but focused on emerging technologies. These zones could offer fast-track approvals for AI startups, reduced compliance burdens, and direct government-industry collaboration on projects like autonomous vehicle testing or healthcare AI deployment.

— Additionally, expanding the Production Linked Incentive scheme to cover AI hardware components would reduce our dependence on imports while building domestic manufacturing capabilities.

— India’s engineering talent pool remains unmatched globally, but policy interventions could maximise this advantage. Creating specialised policy for returning Indian diaspora technologists, offering tax incentives for international patents filed by Indian residents, and establishing government-backed venture funds targeting deep tech startups would strengthen our innovation ecosystem.

— Current global trends present both opportunities and risks. Changes in visa policies affect talent mobility. These shifts could potentially redirect talent flows toward Asian innovation hubs. — Our returning diaspora brings valuable networks and expertise, while policy changes both at home and in host countries may accelerate the trend of global companies establishing significant operations in India.

— A more integrated South Asian tech ecosystem could theoretically offer complementary advantages: Software expertise from India, manufacturing capabilities from China, emerging talent pools from other regional economies, and combined market access representing nearly half the world’s population.

— Practical cooperation with China could begin in carefully selected, non-sensitive areas. Joint research initiatives on climate modelling, traffic optimisation algorithms, or medical diagnostics could demonstrate mutual benefits while maintaining appropriate security protocols.

— However, we must be realistic about the challenges. Security concerns, regulatory differences, intellectual property protection, and ongoing political tensions create substantial obstacles.

— The key is positioning India to benefit regardless of how regional cooperation evolves. Whether through partnership or independent development, our technological capabilities must continue to strengthen.

— Regardless of the prospects for regional cooperation, India must prioritise strengthening its own capabilities. With 23 Indian startups preparing for IPOs in early 2025 and sustained growth in software and SaaS funding, the country’s technological ecosystem is gaining strong momentum.

— By 2030, leadership in AI development will be a decisive factor shaping the global economy. India possesses the talent, increasingly supportive policies, and expanding capital markets to claim a major role.

— The question is no longer whether India can build a technological future, but how swiftly it can unlock its potential.

Do You Know:

— Since its launch in April 2020, the PLI scheme covers 14 sectors as of now. It has helped India achieve scale in manufacturing by attracting OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) as well as contract manufacturers in designated sectors.

— It has also contributed to limited value addition is segments such as surface mounting and PCB (printed circuit board) assembly, product testing, and packaging.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍PLI review 5 years on | On Govt table: PLI 2.0, what next to push manufacturing

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

📍Discuss the rationale of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. What are its achievements? In what way can the functioning and outcomes of the scheme be improved? (UPSC CSE 2025)

ALSO IN NEWS
Climate crisis: SC seeks Himachal’s response Pointing out that all the states in the Himalayan region “are facing a serious existential crisis”, Supreme Court Tuesday posed a series of questions to the Himachal Pradesh government, including whether the state has a climate change policy and details of disaster management plans.

Taking note of the loss of lives and ecological damage following the recent rain in Himachal Pradesh, the SC on July 28 registered a suo motu case and sought response from the state.

The top court also sought to know details of the number of mining operations/leases presently ongoing in the State and those which are pending approval as on date, and details of hotel/industries/short-term rental accommodations for which permissions have been granted by the state over the last 10 years.

71st National Film Awards 2025  The winners of the 71st National Film Awards were announced in August and, on September 23, the winners were conferred with the awards by President of India, Droupadi Murmu. The ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Mohanlal, Vikrant Massey, Karan Johar, Vaibhavi Merchant and Ronnie Screwala were among those who were honoured.

 

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY
1. (b)    2. (c)     3. (a)     4. (b)     5. (a)

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Explained live

Turmoil in Nepal: what does it mean?
You are invited to the next Express Explained.live with Ranjit Rae, Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal in conversation with Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor, The Indian Express.

Date:- Sep 25, 2025 l Time:- 6:00 P.M.|Place:- Zoom

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Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: khushboo.kumari@indianexpress.com ... Read More

Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: roshni.yadav@indianexpress.com ... Read More

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