GS PAPER 1
International Relations
On the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus for the first time after the regime change in Dhaka. The meeting marks a significant diplomatic engagement amidst recent tensions in bilateral relations.
Key Issues Discussed:
- Minorities’ Safety in Bangladesh:
- India expressed concern about violence against minorities (especially Hindus) post the exit of Sheikh Hasina.
- PM Modi urged Bangladesh to ensure accountability and protection of minority communities.
- This aligns with India’s broader emphasis on human rights and regional stability.
- Extradition of Sheikh Hasina:
- Bangladesh demanded extradition of the former PM, showing the political volatility in Dhaka and its international dimensions.
- India’s stance remains cautious, indicating a wait-and-watch policy due to legitimacy concerns.
- Border Security:
- Both sides reaffirmed cooperation on curbing cross-border crimes, smuggling, and infiltration.
- Ensuring border stability is crucial given the dense population and cultural links across borders.
Diplomatic Tone and Future Engagements:
- Despite contentious topics, the tone of the meeting was cordial and cooperative.
- Modi congratulated Bangladesh for chairing the next BIMSTEC summit, a move reflecting diplomatic continuity.
- No clarity was provided on whether Yunus had received an invitation to visit India, indicating limited formal recognition.
Wider Regional Diplomacy:
- PM Modi also met with:
- Myanmar’s General Min Aung Hlaing – India pushed for democratic restoration and thanked for earthquake relief coordination.
- Nepal PM K.P. Sharma Oli – Focus on connectivity, energy, digital tech, and cultural ties.
All three leaders have shown leanings towards China, underscoring India’s strategic concerns in its neighborhood.
Geopolitical Implications:
- India is recalibrating ties in a region where authoritarianism and political transitions are becoming frequent.
- Balancing democratic values with strategic interests (e.g., border stability, counter-China influence) remains a major foreign policy challenge.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques :Discuss the recent developments in India-Bangladesh relations in the context of the regime change in Dhaka. What are the implications for regional stability and India’s strategic interests?(250 words)
GS PAPER 2
International Relations
In a sharp retaliation to the U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, China announced a 34% tariff on all U.S. goods, effective April 10, 2025. This marks a renewed escalation in the U.S.-China trade war, with broader implications for global trade, strategic sectors, and multilateralism.
Key Developments:
- Tit-for-Tat Tariff Hike:
- S. imposes 34% tariffs on Chinese exports (termed “Liberation Day tariffs”).
- China responds with equivalent 34% tariffs on all U.S. products, significantly expanding the scope of the trade conflict.
- Export Controls on Rare Earth Elements:
- China announced curbs on exports of rare earths like samarium and gadolinium.
- These materials are critical for semiconductors, EV batteries, medical imaging, and defense equipment.
- Signals China’s use of strategic resources as leverage in global tech competition.
- Non-Tariff Measures:
- Suspension of U.S. chicken and sorghum imports citing health violations.
- Addition of 27 U.S. companies to trade sanction and export control lists, including:
- High Point Aerotechnologies (defense)
- Universal Logistics Holding (transportation)
- Launch of WTO complaint against U.S. tariffs and investigations against DuPont and others.
Strategic and Economic Implications:
- Impact on Global Trade and WTO:
- Both nations are accusing each other of WTO violations, risking further weakening of the rules-based multilateral trading system.
- The dispute fuels trade protectionism, possibly undermining global supply chains.
- Rare Earths as Strategic Assets:
- China controls more than 70% of global rare earth production.
- Export controls can disrupt global tech and defense industries, especially in the West.
- Raises concerns over resource weaponization, echoing past energy conflicts.
- Political Messaging:
- Trump’s comment – “China panicked” – reflects the election-year posturing and political narrative of strength.
- Beijing’s counteraccusations of “bullying” portray the U.S. as undermining global economic stability.
- Risk to Multinational Corporations:
- Trade barriers, sanctions, and investigations create uncertainty for global firms.
- May accelerate decoupling trends, with companies diversifying supply chains out of China (e.g., to India, Vietnam).
India’s Strategic Perspective:
- Opportunities:
- India could benefit from supply chain shifts, attracting firms in semiconductors, electronics, and rare earth processing.
- Potential to expand exports in agriculture, IT, and pharmaceuticals to fill U.S. and Chinese market gaps.
- Challenges:
- Global economic slowdown due to trade tensions could affect India’s exports and FDI inflows.
- Pressure to balance relations with both major powers amid geopolitical rivalries.
UPSC MainsPractice Question
Ques :Discuss how the U.S.-China trade war reflects a shift from economic interdependence to strategic decoupling. What implications does this have for India’s trade and foreign policy?
GS PAPER 3
Indian Polity and Governance
The first Budget Session of the 18th Lok Sabha concluded with notable legislative productivity but also political friction. Key highlights include the passage of 16 Bills, record-breaking sessions, and debates on contentious issues like the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the President’s Rule in Manipur.
Key Developments:
- High Legislative Productivity:
- Lok Sabha productivity: 118%
- Rajya Sabha productivity: 119%
- Rajya Sabha worked non-stop for 17.02 hours to pass important legislation — a record in recent history.
- Key Bills Passed:
- Waqf (Amendment) Bill: A controversial legislation seeking changes to governance and property rights related to Waqf assets.
- Endorsement of President’s Rule in Manipur
- A total of 16 Bills cleared by both Houses.
- Disruptions and Political Protests:
- Trinamool Congress protested non-acceptance of a debate on Electoral Photo Identity Card duplication.
- Disruptions by Treasury benches in Rajya Sabha over the Supreme Court’s validation of the Calcutta HC verdict that cancelled thousands of teacher appointments in West Bengal.
- Allegations of Treasury benches themselves stalling Parliament, which is uncommon.
Institutional Observations:
- Remarks by Leaders:
- Kiren Rijiju called it a “historic” session, citing productivity and legislative output.
- Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar praised the tone and quality of debates, highlighting “wit, repartee, and intellectual fusion”.
Parliamentary Functioning:
- High productivity indicates institutional robustness, but the value of such productivity is also measured by quality of debates and consensus.
- Non-stop sessions, while record-breaking, raise questions on procedural scrutiny and time available for democratic deliberation.
Role of Opposition and Debate:
- Repeated instances of denial of discussion requests point to concerns over parliamentary democracy and opposition rights.
- Allegations of Treasury bench disruptions are unusual and reflect growing politicisation of procedural tools.
Legislation without Discussion:
- Despite high productivity, fast-track passage of controversial Bills (e.g., Waqf Amendment Bill) without in-depth debate may be viewed as undermining deliberative democracy.
Judiciary vs Legislature Dynamics:
- Rajya Sabha protests against a judicial decision reveal ongoing tensions between constitutional organs.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques :High productivity in Parliament does not always reflect quality in law-making. Critically examine this statement in the context of the recent Budget Session of the 18th Lok Sabha.
GS PAPER 4
Science and Technology
CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), for the first time, has signed a Technology Transfer (ToT) agreement with a private firm — Pioneer Clean AMPS Pvt Ltd — to manufacture HANSA-3 NG trainer aircraft in India.
Key Highlights:
- Indigenous Development:
- The HANSA-3 NG is fully designed and developed indigenously by CSIR-NAL — marking a significant milestone in India’s self-reliance in aerospace technology.
- First Private ToT in Aerospace:
- This is the first time a private company will manufacture trainer aircraft using technology transferred from a CSIR body.
- Features of HANSA-3 NG:
- Two-seater aircraft.
- Powered by a Rotax Digital Control Engine.
- Lightweight composite airframe.
- Glass cockpit and bubble canopy for panoramic visibility.
- Electrically operated flaps and other modern avionics.
- Role of the Private Firm:
- Pioneer Clean AMPS will set up manufacturing units.
- Responsible for marketing, servicing, and after-sales support.
- CSIR-NAL will support operations in the initial phase.
Significance:
- Boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat:
- Demonstrates the success of indigenous R&D and promotes Make in India in the critical aviation sector.
- Reduces reliance on foreign trainer aircraft and imports.
- Public-Private Collaboration:
- Reflects a maturing ecosystem where public R&D institutions collaborate with private industry for technology commercialization.
- Encourages innovation and entrepreneurship in aerospace.
- Strategic and Economic Impact:
- Enhances India’s capability in civil aviation training infrastructure.
- Opens potential for exports and economic returns from indigenous technologies.
- Skill Development and Employment:
- Likely to create jobs and boost technical skills in aircraft manufacturing and servicing.
Challenges Ahead:
- Ensuring quality control and certification for mass production.
- Market competition from established foreign aircraft manufacturers.
- Need for sustained policy and financial support to scale indigenous efforts.
Way Forward:
- Encourage more such technology transfers from labs to industry.
- Strengthen linkages between R&D institutions and MSMEs/startups.
- Invest in aviation research infrastructure and certification capabilities.
- Explore regional and global markets for export opportunities.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques :The transfer of indigenous aerospace technologies to private players marks a new era in India’s self-reliance journey.” In the context of the HANSA-3 NG aircraft, discuss the significance of public-private collaboration in promoting indigenous technology and innovation in India.
In News : Ionian Islands
- A groundbreaking archaeological find in Lefkada, Greece, has unveiled the first-ever ancient Greek theater discovered in the Ionian Islands.
About Ionian Islands
- The Ionian Islands are a group of islands that are located off the western coast of Greece in the eastern part of the Ionian Sea.
- Collectively, the Ionian islands occupy a total land area of 2,306.94 sq.km. and comprise seven major islands and several smaller islands.
- These islands are also often referred to as “Heptanese” or “Seven Islands.”
- The major islands in the Ionian Island group include Kerkyra (Corfu), Paxi, Lefkada, Ithaki, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, and Kythira.
- Kefalonia/Cephalonia is the largest among all the Ionian islands.
- Mount Ainos, which rises to an elevation of 1,628 m, is the highest point on Ionian Island.
- History:
- Controlled by Venice in the 15th and 16th centuries, they were taken by Russian and Turkish forces in 1799.
- In 1815 the Treaty of Paris placed them under the control of Britain; the British ceded them to Greece in 1864.
UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Ques :The Ionian Islands, recently in news, are situated in which of the following seas?
- Aegean Sea
- Adriatic Sea
- Tyrrhenian Sea
- Ionian Sea
Ans : D)
GS PAPER 5
Editorial Analysis
Context :
- The article, published around International Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31), highlights the persistent social, economic, and institutional discrimination faced by transgender individuals in India despite progressive legal frameworks like the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
Legal and Policy Frameworks:
- Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019:
- Aimed at protecting the rights and dignity of transgender individuals.
- Mandates identity cards, welfare schemes, and prohibition of discrimination.
- Challenges:
- Bureaucratic hurdles in certification.
- Weak enforcement.
- Inadequate addressal of issues like police harassment and family rejection.
- Other Positive Initiatives:
- Ayushman Bharat TG Plus: ₹5 lakh health coverage for transgender individuals.
- Finance Ministry Clarification (2024): LGBTQ+ persons can open joint accounts and nominate partners.
Persistent Challenges:
- Education:
- Transgender literacy rate is 56.1% (2011 Census), well below the national average.
- High dropout rates due to bullying and harassment (Kerala: 58% dropout).
- Limited implementation of inclusive education policies.
- Employment & Economic Empowerment:
- 48% transgender unemployment rate (2022 study).
- 92% excluded from economic activities (NHRC 2018).
- Discrimination in hiring, lack of gender-neutral facilities, and workplace hostility.
- Positive example: Tata Steel’s transgender hiring initiative, but not widespread.
- Financial Inclusion:
- Many transgender persons lack access to bank accounts, credit, and insurance.
- Joint accounts and nominee rights granted recently, but broader exclusion continues.
- Health Care:
- 27% denied medical care due to gender identity.
- Cost of gender-affirming surgeries: ₹2–5 lakh.
- Lack of trained health-care professionals and poor mental health support.
- Ayushman Bharat TG Plus exists but suffers from poor implementation.
Efforts at Inclusion:
- State-level interventions:
- Maharashtra: Transgender cells in colleges.
- Kerala University: Reserved seats and hostels.
- Campaigns:
- ‘I Am Also Human’ by Humsafar Trust.
- Tamil Nadu’s Koovagam Festival – promotes cultural acceptance.
- Media and Society:
- Need for positive, non-stereotypical representations.
- Gender sensitisation in schools and workplaces is essential.
Way Forward:
- Policy & Implementation:
- Streamline ID card processes and shift toward self-identification models.
- Ensure affirmative action in education and employment.
- Strengthen anti-discrimination laws with enforcement mechanisms.
- Education & Awareness:
- Introduce gender-inclusive curricula.
- Train educators and HR professionals on gender sensitivity.
- Healthcare Reform:
- Establish dedicated transgender clinics.
- Include gender-affirming care in insurance.
- Expand mental health support networks.
- Economic Inclusion:
- Promote diversity hiring, skill training, and entrepreneurship support.
- Provide targeted government loans and financial literacy.