Current Affairs of 9 June 2026

by Vajiram & Ravi - 9 June 2026

Vajiram and Ravi provide Current Affairs of 9 June 2026 for UPSC aspirants. We cover all relevant news and important events crucial for the exam, helping you stay updated and well prepared.

Technology Ethics, Need, Principles, Issues, AI, Measures, Significance

June 9, 2026
Technology Ethics

Technology ethics refers to the basic ideas of right and wrong in how we create, use, and manage technology in our daily lives. As technology becomes a part of everything from communication, education, business, and healthcare, it is important to think about how it affects people and society. Technology ethics helps us understand questions like whether something is fair, safe, and respectful of privacy. It encourages individuals, companies, and governments to use technology in a responsible way so that it benefits everyone without causing harm. 

About Technology Ethics

  • Technology ethics refers to applying ideas of right and wrong to the way we develop, use, and control technology in society. It is about making responsible choices so that technology benefits people without causing harm.
  • As technology becomes more powerful, it gives humans the ability to do things that were not possible earlier. Because of this, we are no longer limited by our physical abilities. Instead, we must now limit ourselves through ethical thinking and judgment.

Also Read : Media Ethics 

Growing Importance of Technology Ethics 

  • In earlier times, many ethical questions did not arise because technology was not advanced enough to create such situations.
  • Today, new technologies in areas like medicine, communication and defence have created completely new moral challenges that society must deal with.
  • For example:
    • In medical science, machines can now keep a person alive artificially, raising difficult questions like when does life actually end?
    • In social media, people have access to large audiences and information, which has led to issues like fake news, misinformation and misuse of data
    • In military technology, the invention of nuclear weapons has made it possible to destroy entire civilizations, something that was unimaginable earlier
  • These examples show that technological growth brings both opportunities and serious ethical risks.

Also Read : Business Ethics

Need for Ethical Control Over Technology

  • Human Responsibility: Since technology is created by humans, we have the responsibility to decide what to develop and how to use it, ensuring it serves society in a positive way.
  • Right Choices in Development: Ethical control helps in choosing useful and beneficial technologies, instead of those that may cause harm or serve only limited interests.
  • Guided Use of Technology: Technology should be used in a responsible and controlled manner, avoiding misuse like privacy invasion, misinformation or harmful activities.
  • Need for Regulations: Proper laws and rules are necessary to control technology, prevent misuse and ensure accountability of individuals and companies.
  • Role of Ethical Values: Values like fairness, dignity and responsibility guide technology in the right direction and prevent unethical practices.
  • Global Cooperation: Since technology crosses borders, international agreements are important to manage global risks like cybercrime and data misuse.
  • Prevention of Inequality: Without control, technology can increase inequality and harm weaker sections, so regulation is essential.
  • Avoiding Major Risks: Uncontrolled technology can lead to serious dangers and large-scale harm, making ethical control very important.

Also Read : Professional Ethics

Key Ethical Principles in Technology

  • Beneficence and Non-maleficence: Technology should be created and used in a way that improves human life and promotes well-being, such as solving problems in healthcare, education and daily living, while at the same time ensuring that it does not cause harm or negative consequences, including unintended effects like job loss, misuse or social damage.
  • Transparency and Honesty: There must be clarity and openness about how technology works, what kind of data is being collected and for what purpose it is used, so that users are not misled and can make informed decisions, which also helps in building trust between technology creators and users.
  • Fairness and Justice: Technology should ensure equal treatment and opportunities for all people, avoiding any form of bias or discrimination in systems like algorithms and AI, so that no group is unfairly treated and the technology supports social equality and protection of human rights.
  • Privacy and Autonomy: Individuals should have control over their personal data and choices, meaning technology must protect sensitive information, prevent unauthorized access or surveillance and allow people to make decisions freely without manipulation or pressure from digital systems.
  • Accountability and Responsibility: Developers, companies, and governments must take responsibility for the outcomes of the technologies they create and use, ensuring that if something goes wrong, there are clear systems for answerability, correction, and justice.
  • Security and Safety: Technology should be designed to protect users from risks such as cyberattacks, data breaches, and system failures, ensuring a safe environment where people can rely on digital systems without fear of harm.
  • Human Control and Oversight: Even with advanced automation and AI, humans should remain in control of important decisions, especially in sensitive areas like healthcare, law, and defense, to ensure ethical judgment is always applied.
  • Sustainability and Social Good: Technology should be developed in a way that supports long-term environmental sustainability and overall societal welfare, rather than focusing only on short-term profits or benefits for a limited group.

Key Technological Ethical Issues

  • Privacy and Data Misuse: One of the biggest issues today is the collection and misuse of personal data, where companies or platforms gather large amounts of user information, sometimes without proper consent, leading to risks like surveillance, identity theft, and loss of individual privacy.
  • Bias and Discrimination in Technology: Many technologies, especially AI and algorithms, can show bias based on data they are trained on, which may lead to unfair treatment of certain groups in areas like hiring, lending, or law enforcement.
  • Misinformation and Fake News: With the rise of social media and digital platforms, technology has made it easy to spread false information quickly, which can mislead people, influence opinions, and even harm democracy and social harmony.
  • Cybersecurity Threats: Increasing dependence on technology has also increased risks of cyberattacks, hacking, and data breaches, which can harm individuals, businesses, and even national security.
  • Automation and Job Loss: The use of advanced machines and AI can lead to replacement of human jobs, creating unemployment and economic inequality if not managed properly.
  • Digital Divide: Not everyone has equal access to technology, leading to a gap between those who benefit from technology and those who do not, which can increase social and economic inequalities.
  • Misuse of Advanced Technologies: Powerful technologies like AI, biotechnology, and weapons can be used for harmful purposes, such as surveillance, manipulation, or large-scale destruction, if not properly controlled.
  • Lack of Accountability: When technology causes harm, it is often unclear who is responsible - the developer, company, or user, making it difficult to ensure justice and proper action.
  • Addiction and Overdependence: Excessive use of technology, especially social media and digital devices, can lead to addiction, reduced productivity, and negative effects on mental health.
  • Environmental Impact: The production and use of technology can cause environmental harm, such as e-waste, energy consumption, and pollution, raising concerns about sustainability.

Ethical Issues in Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) is developed to improve understanding and decision-making, which makes it closely connected to ethics.
  • However, an important point to remember is:
    • Efficiency does not mean morality
    • Just because something works faster or better does not mean it is ethically right
  • For example:
    • Technology can create highly efficient weapons, but that does not make them morally acceptable
    • Even creating such weapons can harm society because resources could have been used for better purposes like education or healthcare

Human Enhancement and Ethical Risks

  • Modern technologies like genetic engineering and biomedical devices have made it possible to:
    • Modify human genes
    • Improve or alter human physical and mental abilities
  • Currently, these technologies are mainly used for treatment, but in the future, they may be used for enhancement, which raises serious ethical concerns.
  • There is even a possibility that humans could change their own nature, which creates deep moral questions about identity, equality, and fairness.

Measures to Ensure Ethics in Technology

  • Strong laws and regulations: Governments should create clear and updated rules for the development and use of technology, especially in areas like AI, data protection, and biotechnology, so that misuse can be prevented and companies remain accountable.
  • Ethical guidelines and standards: Organizations should follow proper ethical frameworks and codes of conduct while designing technology, ensuring that values like fairness, privacy, and safety are considered from the beginning itself.
  • Transparency in systems: Companies must make their technologies more open and understandable, especially algorithms and AI systems, so that users know how decisions are being made and can trust the system.
  • Data protection and privacy safeguards: Strong systems should be in place to protect personal data, including secure storage, limited data collection, and strict rules against misuse or unauthorized access.
  • Regular audits and monitoring: Technology systems should be continuously checked and evaluated to identify biases, errors, or risks, and improvements should be made whenever problems are found.
  • Public awareness and digital literacy: People should be educated about how technology works and their rights as users, so they can make informed choices and avoid being misled or exploited.
  • Inclusive and fair design: Developers should ensure that technology is designed for all sections of society, taking into account different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds to avoid discrimination.
  • Human oversight and control: Even in automated systems, there should always be human supervision, especially in critical areas, so that ethical judgment can be applied when needed.
  • Corporate responsibility: Companies should go beyond profit and focus on social responsibility, ensuring that their technologies contribute positively to society.
  • International cooperation: Since technology crosses borders, countries should work together to create global standards and agreements to handle issues like cybercrime, AI risks, and data security.

Significance of Ethical Values in Technology

  • Respect for Human Dignity: As technology becomes more powerful, it is important to ensure that it always respects the value and dignity of every human being, meaning people should never be treated merely as data, numbers, or tools, but as individuals with rights, emotions, and freedom.
  • Fairness and Equality: Ethical values help ensure that technology is used in a way that treats everyone equally, without discrimination or bias, so that no group is unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged, especially in areas like hiring, education, or access to digital services.
  • Promotion of the Common Good: Technology should not be developed only for profit or personal gain, but should aim to benefit society as a whole, improving overall well-being, solving social problems, and contributing to a better future for all.
  • Prevention of Harmful Use: Without ethical thinking, technology can easily be misused in harmful ways, such as spreading misinformation, invading privacy, or creating dangerous weapons, which can negatively impact individuals as well as society.
  • Risk of Destructive Outcomes: Unethical use of technology can lead to serious and sometimes irreversible consequences, including social division, economic inequality, or environmental damage, making it essential to guide technology with strong moral values.
  • Threat to Human Survival: In extreme cases, misuse of powerful technologies like nuclear weapons or advanced AI can pose a serious threat to human existence, which is why ethical responsibility becomes even more important as technological power increases.
  • Need for Responsible Decision-Making: Ethical values guide individuals, companies, and governments to make careful and responsible choices, ensuring that technological progress leads to positive outcomes rather than harm.

Technology Ethics FAQs

Q1: What is Technology Ethics?

Ans: Technology Ethics refers to the moral principles that guide the development, use, and impact of technology to ensure it benefits society and avoids harm.

Q2: Why is Technology Ethics important today?

Ans: It is important because technology is rapidly growing and affecting daily life, so ethical guidance is needed to protect human values, privacy, and safety.

Q3: hat are the key ethical issues in technology?

Ans: Major issues include privacy concerns, data misuse, bias in AI, misinformation, cybersecurity threats, and job displacement due to automation.

Q4: How does technology affect human dignity and equality?

Ans: If misused, technology can lead to discrimination, inequality, and loss of dignity, especially when systems are biased or access is unequal.

Q5: What happens if technology is used without ethics?

Ans: Without ethics, technology can become harmful, leading to misuse, social damage, inequality, and even threats to human survival.

Doomsday Fish, Meaning, Natural Disaster Link, Appearance in India

June 9, 2026
Doomsday Fish

The Giant Oarfish is most commonly known as the Doomsday Fish. It is a rare deep sea species that has attracted global attention due to its unusual appearances near shorelines. Recently, two giant oarfish were spotted close to the coast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, an exceptionally rare event because this fish normally inhabits deep ocean waters. Its mysterious nature, enormous size and association with disaster folklore have made it one of the most discussed deep sea creatures in the world.

What is a Doomsday Fish?

The Doomsday Fish is among the ocean’s most unusual and least understood deep sea species.

  • Names: The species is scientifically called Regalecus glesne and is commonly known as the Oarfish, Doomsday Fish, Orafish, or occasionally the “Sea Serpent” because of its extraordinary appearance.
  • Habitat: These usually live between 200 and 1,000 meters deep near continental slopes, oceanic trenches and the mesopelagic zone.
  • Distribution: Oarfish inhabit deep waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
  • Size: It is recognized as the longest bony fish in the world, reaching lengths of about 9 meters or 30 feet, while some records indicate individuals can grow up to 11 meters.
  • Distinctive Appearance: The fish possesses a long ribbon like silver body with a bright red dorsal fin extending almost its entire length and red spines forming a crown like structure on its head.
  • Camouflage Strategy: Oarfish often float vertically in the water column, using their reflective silver bodies as camouflage, helping them remain inconspicuous in deep sea environments.
  • Feeding Behaviour: It is a filter feeder that survives mainly on krill, plankton and other small crustaceans, consuming tiny marine organisms drifting through ocean currents.
  • Lifespan: Scientists estimate the species can live for nearly 20 years.
  • Rarity: The direct observations of the fish has remained extremely limited because of its remote deep sea habitat.

Doomsday Fish Link to Natural Disaster

The Doomsday Fish is famous for its association with earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disaster predictions.

  • Japanese Folklore Connection: In Japanese mythology, the oarfish is called “Ryugu no tsukai,” meaning “Messenger from the Sea God’s Palace,” a belief that dates back to the 17th century and links the fish with future calamities.
  • Harbinger of Disaster: Traditional folklore in several coastal communities considers the rare surfacing of oarfish a warning sign of impending earthquakes, tsunamis, destruction, or major disturbances beneath the ocean.
  • Tohoku Earthquake Association: The legend gained international attention after around 20 oarfish reportedly washed ashore in Japan before the devastating 9.0 magnitude Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami of 2011.
  • Recent Sighting: Concern resurfaced when rare oarfish were recently observed near Baja California Sur and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, prompting renewed discussion about possible links to seismic activity.
  • Seismic Sensitivity Theory: Some researchers suggest deep sea species may detect underwater vibrations, tectonic movements, or disturbances along fault lines before humans can identify them, causing unusual surfacing behaviour.
  • Scientific Evidence Gap: Despite popular beliefs, no conclusive scientific proof has established a direct relationship between oarfish appearances and earthquakes, tsunamis, or other natural disasters.
  • Findings of Scientific Studies: A 2019 study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America examined Japanese records and found no measurable correlation between oarfish sightings and earthquake occurrences.
  • Alternative Explanations: Scientists believe sightings are more likely linked to illness, injury, disorientation, changing ocean currents, storms, underwater disturbances, or variations in water temperature and pressure.
  • Influence of Climate Patterns: Large scale oceanic events such as El Niño may alter deep sea conditions and fish movements, potentially increasing the chances of oarfish reaching shallow coastal waters.
  • Conservation Perspective: Knowledge about oarfish behaviour remains limited because they inhabit one of Earth’s least explored marine zones. Growing concerns over plastic pollution and deep sea ecosystem degradation highlight the need for stronger ocean conservation efforts.

Doomsday Fish in India

The Doomsday Fish has also been recorded in Indian waters, drawing significant public attention due to its rarity and disaster related folklore.

  • Recent Indian Sighting: In 2025, fishermen off the coast of Tamil Nadu caught a rare giant oarfish, making it one of the most notable Doomsday Fish sightings reported from India in recent years.
  • Size: Reports from Tamil Nadu described the fish as nearly 30 feet long. Its enormous ribbon like silver body and red crest attracted large crowds and widespread discussion.
  • Scientific Perspective: Marine experts maintain that no proven evidence connects oarfish sightings with future disasters. Researchers suggest that illness, injury, changing ocean conditions, currents, or temperature variations are more likely reasons for their appearance near the surface.

Doomsday Fish FAQs

Q1: Which fish is commonly known as the “Doomsday Fish”?

Ans: The Oarfish is commonly known as the Doomsday Fish.

Q2: Why is the oarfish called the “Doomsday Fish”?

Ans: Because folklore associates its appearance near the surface with natural disasters or bad events.

Q3: In which ocean zone do oarfish mainly live?

Ans: They are deep-sea dwellers, thriving most often in the zone least explored by scientists to date: the mesopelagic zone (waters down to 1,000 meters).

Q4: What is the typical body shape of an oarfish?

Ans: It has a long, ribbon-like body.

Q5: Why is the oarfish considered unique among fishes?

Ans: It is the longest bony fish in the ocean.

UPSC Daily Quiz 9 June 2026

June 9, 2026
UPSC Daily Quiz

[WpProQuiz 181]

UPSC Daily Quiz FAQs

Q1: What is the Daily UPSC Quiz?

Ans: The Daily UPSC Quiz is a set of practice questions based on current affairs, static subjects, and PYQs that help aspirants enhance retention and test conceptual clarity regularly.

Q2: How is the Daily Quiz useful for UPSC preparation?

Ans: Daily quizzes support learning, help in revision, improve time management, and boost accuracy for both UPSC Prelims and Mains through consistent practice.

Q3: Are the quiz questions based on the UPSC syllabus?

Ans: Yes, all questions are aligned with the UPSC Syllabus 2025, covering key areas like Polity, Economy, Environment, History, Geography, and Current Affairs.

Q4: Are solutions and explanations provided with the quiz?

Ans: Yes, each quiz includes detailed explanations and source references to enhance conceptual understanding and enable self-assessment.

Q5: Is the Daily UPSC Quiz suitable for both Prelims and Mains?

Ans: Primarily focused on Prelims (MCQ format), but it also indirectly helps in Mains by strengthening subject knowledge and factual clarity.

Project 18 Programme

June 9, 2026
Project 18 Programme

Project 18 Programme Latest News

India’s ambitious Project 18 programme is steadily taking shape as what is expected to be one of the most powerful surface combatant projects ever undertaken by the Indian Navy, according to a recent report.

About Project 18 Programme

  • Project 18 (P-18) Indian Navy’s Next-Generation Destroyer (NGD) programme. 
  • It is overseen by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) in collaboration with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). 
  • Conceived as a successor to the Visakhapatnam-class (P-15B) destroyers, the P-18 class will be a fleet of advanced, multi-role stealth destroyers.
  • Features:
    • With an estimated displacement exceeding 13,000 tonnes, the P-18 will rank among the largest destroyers ever operated by the Indian Navy.
    • Under international classification, warships above 10,000 tonnes fall into the cruiser category — a segment that India currently does not possess. Project 18 will mark India’s entry into this class of warships.
    • They will use an advanced electric propulsion system powered by gas turbines and diesel generators.
    • It is also expected to incorporate extensive automation throughout the ship, reducing crew requirements by an estimated 25 to 30 percent compared to existing platforms.  
    • Each ship will feature 114 vertical launch systems capable of firing a range of India’s homegrown missiles, such as:
      • BrahMos and BrahMos Next Generation
      • Long-Range Land-Attack Cruise Missiles (LR-LACM)
      • Precision-Guided Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (PGLRSAM)
      • Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (SRSAM)
      • Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART)
    • The ships will be able to carry unmanned underwater vehicles and kamikaze drones, used for surveillance, detecting mines, and attacking submarines. 
    • Advanced radar systems will give the ships 360-degree awareness and the ability to detect threats up to 500 kilometres away.

News: TEN

Project 18 Programme FAQ's

Q1: What is Project 18 Programme?

Ans: It is Indian Navy’s Next-Generation Destroyer (NGD) programme.

Q2: Which organisation oversees the Project 18 programme?

Ans: It is overseen by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) in collaboration with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).

Q3: What is the displacement of Project 18 destroyers?

Ans: It has an estimated displacement exceeding 13000 tonnes

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan

June 9, 2026
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan Latest News

The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry will launch nationwide celebrations to commemorate ten years of successful implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan.

About Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan

  • It was launched on June 9, 2016 by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW).
  • It aims to ensure early risk detection, timely medical intervention, and safer pregnancies for every woman in India, regardless of where she lives.

Key Features of Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan 

  • It provides free, comprehensive antenatal care to pregnant women — particularly those in their second and third trimesters — at designated government health facilities on the 9th of every month.
  • Minimum one comprehensive and quality antenatal checkup by Obstetrician & Gynaecologist or Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC).
  • Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) / Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) trained doctor during the second or third trimester.
  • Mobilizing the pregnant women for specialist Antenatal care services at designated public health facilities.
  • High Risk Pregnancy (HRP) identification by screening for 25 high risk factors and management at an early stage.
  • Linking of HRPs to the nearest first referral unit (FRU) for a safe delivery.
  • Empanelment of private service providers for PMSMA service provision.
  • High-risk pregnancy cases receive priority attention and follow-up care.
  • Women who are dropouts from regular antenatal care are actively encouraged to participate.

Source: News On Air

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan FAQs

Q1: Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan was launched in which year?

Ans: Launched on 9th June 2016

Q2: Under PMSMA, free antenatal check-ups are provided on which day of every month?

Ans: 9th of every month at public health facilities

Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project

June 9, 2026
Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project

Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project Latest News

Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) recently secured a contract worth Rs 127 crore from Wangchhu Hydroelectric Power (WHPL), Bhutan, for construction works related to the Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project.

About Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project

  • It is a 570 MW run-of-river hydropower project being built on the Wangchu River/basin in Chukha District, Bhutan. 
    • The Wangchu River (also called Raidāk River in India) is a significant tributary of the Brahmaputra River.
  • It is being developed by Wangchhu Hydroelectric Power Limited (WHPL), a joint venture company formed by India’s Adani Power Limited (APL) and Bhutan’s state-owned Druk Green Power Corporation Ltd (DGPC).
  • DGPC holds a controlling 51% stake in the venture, with Adani Power owning the remaining 49%. 
  • The project, valued at Rs 6,000 crore, will follow a Build, Own, Operate, Transfer (BOOT) model.  
  • Under the BOOT framework, Adani Power will construct, operate, and manage the project for a fixed period before transferring ownership to the Bhutanese government.  
  • It is the first initiative under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in May 2025 between Adani Power and DGPC to jointly develop 5,000 MW of hydropower capacity in Bhutan.  
  • The facility will function as a peaking run-of-river plant, helping Bhutan manage seasonal fluctuations in hydropower generation.
  • The facility will feature four turbines, each rated at 142.5 MW, producing roughly 2,478.93 GWh annually.
  • It is designed to meet Bhutan’s peak winter electricity demand while exporting surplus power to India during the summer months.

Source: BS

Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project FAQs

Q1: Where is the Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project located?

Ans: It is being built on the Wangchu River/basin in Chukha District, Bhutan.

Q2: What is the installed capacity of the Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project?

Ans: 570 MW.

Q3: What type of hydropower project is the Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project?

Ans: A run-of-river hydropower project.

Q4: The Wangchu River is a tributary of which major river?

Ans: The Brahmaputra River.

Maharaja Chhatrasal

June 9, 2026
Maharaja Chhatrasal

Maharaja Chhatrasal Latest News

Underway at the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum at Shyamal Hills in Bhopal, the second day of Mahua Festival carried a theme steeped in local legend: the life of Maharaja Chhatrasal.

About Maharaja Chhatrasal

  • Maharaja Chhatrasal (4 May 1649 – 19 December 1731) was a medieval Indian warrior who fought against the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and established his own kingdom in Bundelkhand.
  • He belonged to the Bundela clan of Rajputs, born under Mughal supremacy but died as an independent king of an independent kingdom.  
  • His father had raised the banner for freedom a generation earlier but was killed in battle with the Mughals after killing the favourite of the emperor, Abu Fazl. 
  • Maharaja Chhatrasal started a revolt at the age of 22 and formed a kingdom of his own at the age of 26 against Mughal dominance.  
  • During the first ten years of his revolt, he conquered a large tract of land between Chitrakoot and Panna on the east and Gwalior on the west. 
  • His victory march continued as far as Malwa, Punjab, Rajasthan, establishing the Bundela kingdom.  
  • Some of the Mughal generals who were defeated by him were Rohilla Khan, Kaliq, Munawwar Khan, Sadruddin, Sheikh Anwar, Sayyid Latif, Bahlol Khan and Abdus Ahmed. 
  • Alliance with the Marathas:
    • In 1729, Chhatrasal sought help from Peshwa Baji Rao I against the Mughal commander Muhammad Khan Bangash.
    • Baji Rao I defeated Bangash and helped Chhatrasal retain his kingdom.
    • In gratitude, Chhatrasal granted a portion of his territory to the Marathas, strengthening Maratha influence in central India.
    • Chhatrasal also gave his daughter Mastani as a bride to Baji Rao I. 
  • He was not only a great warrior but an able administrator too; his governance ensured his kingdom would always have a full treasury. 
  • Highly respected for his sense of honour and love for his people, he was given the title of 'Maharaja' by Sant Prannath.

Source: TOI

Maharaja Chhatrasal FAQs

Q1: Who was Maharaja Chhatrasal?

Ans: A medieval Indian warrior who fought against Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and established an independent kingdom in Bundelkhand.

Q2: Where did Maharaja Chhatrasal establish his independent kingdom?

Ans: Bundelkhand.

Q3: Who was Maharaja Chhatrasal's father?

Ans: Champat Rai.

Q4: Against which Mughal commander did Chhatrasal seek Maratha assistance?

Ans: Muhammad Khan Bangash.

Q5: Why is Maharaja Chhatrasal remembered in Indian history?

Ans: For successfully resisting Mughal domination and establishing an independent Bundela kingdom in Bundelkhand.

Bovista colorata

June 9, 2026
Bovista colorata

Bovista colorata Latest News

Researchers recently documented a rare bright yellow puffball mushroom named Bovista colorata in Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding district.

About Bovista colorata

  • Bovista colorata, commonly known as the yellow puffball mushroom, is a species of puffball fungus belonging to the family Agaricaceae. 
  • It is generally found in grasslands, open fields, meadows, and disturbed soils. 
  • Bovista colorata has a spherical shape and striking yellow fruiting body. 
  • Unlike conventional mushrooms that produce spores through gills beneath a cap, puffball fungi develop spores inside a closed spherical fruiting body. 
    • As the mushroom matures, the internal tissue transforms into a fine powdery mass of spores, which are dispersed through wind, raindrops, or physical disturbance, allowing the species to spread over considerable distances. 
    • Puffball species play an important ecological role as decomposers, aiding nutrient recycling, carbon cycling and soil formation. 
    • Some species are also known for their nutritional value and bioactive compounds with potential medicinal properties.

Source: IT

Bovista colorata FAQs

Q1: What is Bovista colorata commonly known as?

Ans: The yellow puffball mushroom.

Q2: Where is Bovista colorata generally found?

Ans: In grasslands, open fields, meadows, and disturbed soils.

Q3: How does Bovista colorata differ from conventional mushrooms in spore production?

Ans: It develops spores inside a closed spherical fruiting body rather than on gills beneath a cap.

Q4: Where are the spores of puffball fungi produced?

Ans: Inside a closed spherical fruiting body.

Afforestation, Definition, Status in India, Government Initiatives

June 9, 2026
Afforestation

Afforestation is the process of establishing forests on land that has not been under forest cover in the recent past. It is an important environmental strategy used to restore degraded landscapes, improve ecological balance, increase carbon sequestration, reduce desertification and enhance biodiversity. Across the world, Afforestation is being adopted to address climate change, land degradation, soil erosion and declining ecosystem services. Countries such as India, China, Australia and several African nations are implementing large scale Afforestation programmes to create sustainable and climate resilient landscapes.

What is Afforestation?

Afforestation refers to planting trees and creating forests on barren, degraded, abandoned, or non forest lands where forests did not previously exist or disappeared long ago. Unlike reforestation, which restores forests in recently deforested areas, Afforestation establishes new forest ecosystems. It is commonly undertaken on abandoned agricultural fields, overgrazed lands, industrial wastelands, urban vacant spaces and desertified regions.

Afforestation in India

Afforestation has become a major component of India's environmental and climate strategy, helping expand green cover, restore degraded ecosystems and strengthen carbon sinks.

  • Forest and tree cover status: According to India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, India's forest and tree cover reached 8.27 lakh sq km, accounting for 25.17% of the country's geographical area. Forest cover alone stands at 7.15 lakh sq km or 21.76%, while tree cover contributes 1.12 lakh sq km or 3.41%.
  • Carbon sequestration: India's forests currently store around 30.43 billion tonnes of carbon stock, making them one of the country's most valuable natural assets for climate change mitigation and ecological security.
  • Forest growth: Since the 1950s, India has increased forest cover by nearly 30 million hectares. The country now maintains approximately 24-25% of its geographical area under forest and tree cover.
  • Decadal forest cover: Forest Survey of India data shows overall forest cover increased by 21,762 sq km between 2011 and 2021. Forest cover rose from 6,92,027 sq km in 2011 to 7,13,789 sq km in 2021.
  • Recent forest cover gains: Between ISFR 2019 and ISFR 2021, India's forest cover increased by 1,540 sq km. Significant gains were recorded in Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km), Telangana (632 sq km), Odisha (537 sq km), Karnataka (155 sq km) and Jharkhand (110 sq km).
  • Afforestation Achievements: Under Twenty Point Programme reporting, nearly 18.94 million hectares of land were brought under Afforestation between 2011-12 and 2021-22 through coordinated efforts of central and state governments.
  • Climate commitment: Afforestation supports India's climate goals by helping create an additional carbon sink. India aims to achieve a carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through increased forest and tree cover.
  • Bonn Challenge commitment: India pledged to restore 26 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge, making it one of the world's largest landscape restoration commitments.
  • Mass plantation campaigns: Uttar Pradesh demonstrated large scale public participation when nearly one million people planted about 220 million trees in a single day, showcasing community driven Afforestation efforts.
  • Need: Rapid urbanisation, land degradation, desertification, biodiversity loss, climate change impacts, declining soil fertility and increasing carbon emissions make Afforestation essential for India's sustainable development and ecological resilience.
  • Ganga Basin Restoration: Under the Namami Gange Programme, approximately 33,024 hectares have been afforested with an expenditure of ₹414 crore to improve ecological health and biodiversity across the river basin.
  • Multi Sectoral Implementation: Afforestation activities in India are undertaken through government departments, NGOs, civil society organizations, corporate bodies and local communities, ensuring a broad based approach to environmental restoration.

Afforestation Government Initiatives

India has launched multiple programmes to increase forest cover, restore degraded landscapes, improve biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience.

National Forest Policy (NFP) 1988

The key features of the National Forest Policy 1988 has been listed below:

  • National forest cover target: The policy aims to bring at least one-third of India's total geographical area under forest or tree cover to maintain ecological balance and environmental stability.
  • Ecological security focus: It prioritizes conservation of natural heritage, biodiversity protection, watershed management and prevention of soil erosion across river and reservoir catchments.
  • Sustainable resource management: The policy promotes sustainable forest management while balancing ecological requirements with developmental needs.
  • Community participation: People's involvement in forest protection and regeneration forms a key component of the policy framework.
  • Environmental conservation: The policy emphasizes maintaining environmental stability rather than maximizing revenue from forests.
  • Desertification control: Forest expansion under the policy helps combat land degradation and desertification in vulnerable regions.

National Mission for a Green India (GIM)

The Green India Mission highlights the below discussed features:

  • Climate mission status: Green India Mission is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
  • Ecosystem restoration: It focuses on restoring degraded forest landscapes, enhancing biodiversity and improving ecosystem services.
  • Community based approach: The mission promotes Afforestation activities through active participation of local communities and stakeholders.
  • Financial support: As of March 2026, ₹1,019.26 crore had been released to states under the mission for restoration and Afforestation activities.
  • Rainwater conservation: The programme integrates Afforestation with rainwater harvesting and soil moisture conservation measures.
  • Climate adaptation benefits: It strengthens ecological resilience while improving carbon sequestration and environmental sustainability.
  • State level implementation: Funds have been released to states including Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Karnataka, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and others for Afforestation projects.
  • Degraded forest improvement: Special focus is given to improving forest quality rather than merely increasing forest area.

Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) and CAMPA

The major features of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) and CAMPA has been discussed below:

  • Legal framework: The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act was enacted in 2016, while implementation rules were notified in 2018.
  • Forest diversion compensation: Agencies diverting forest land for mining, industry and infrastructure projects must finance Afforestation activities.
  • Fund allocation formula: Under CAF provisions, 90% of funds are transferred to states while 10% remains with the Centre.
  • Massive financial support: States received ₹8,493.68 crore during 2022-23 and ₹7,057.35 crore during 2023-24 for Afforestation and restoration activities.
  • Large scale Afforestation: More than 3.20 lakh hectares underwent compensatory Afforestation between FY 2020-21 and FY 2024-25.
  • Technology integration: GIS based monitoring systems, Digital Annual Plans and HARIT SANKALP platforms improve transparency and tracking.
  • Wider conservation activities: Funds support wildlife management, catchment treatment, forest regeneration, village relocation and conflict mitigation.
  • Major beneficiary states: Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Uttarakhand received substantial allocations for Afforestation programmes.

Nagar Van Yojana (NVY)

The major features of the Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) has been given here:

  • Launch and objective: Introduced in 2020, the scheme aims to create 1,000 Nagar Vans and urban green spaces across India.
  • Urban forest development: It focuses on establishing forests in cities governed by Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Urban Local Bodies.
  • Environmental improvement: Urban forests help reduce pollution, mitigate heat island effects, improve air quality and conserve biodiversity.
  • Public awareness creation: The programme promotes environmental stewardship and awareness about plants and biodiversity among citizens.
  • In situ conservation: It facilitates conservation of region specific flora within urban environments.
  • Significant progress: By March 2026, 626 Nagar Vans and Vatikas had been supported through releases totaling ₹557.62 crore.
  • Project expansion: A total of 385 projects have been sanctioned nationwide since the scheme's launch.
  • Climate resilient cities: The initiative helps make cities healthier, greener and more resilient to climate change impacts.

Green Credit Programme (GCP)

The key highlighting features of the Green Credit Programme (GCP) has been given below:

  • Innovative restoration model: Launched under Green Credit Rules 2023, the programme incentivizes voluntary environmental actions.
  • Afforestation incentives: Individuals, communities and organizations receive recognition for ecosystem restoration and tree plantation activities.
  • Landscape restoration: The programme supports restoration of degraded forest lands and biodiversity enhancement.
  • LiFE integration: It aligns with Mission LiFE by encouraging environmentally responsible behaviour.
  • Carbon sink enhancement: Afforestation under GCP contributes to increased carbon sequestration and ecological restoration.
  • Land identification: By March 2026, around 4,391 hectares of degraded forest land across 12 states had been identified for restoration.

National Coastal Mission Programme

The key highlighting features of the National Coastal Mission Programme has been detailed here:

  • Coastal ecosystem restoration: The programme supports mangrove conservation and restoration across coastal states and union territories.
  • Annual action plans: Management Action Plans are prepared regularly for mangrove protection and sustainable management.
  • Climate resilience benefits: Mangroves act as natural barriers against cyclones, erosion and sea level rise.
  • Biodiversity conservation: Coastal Afforestation strengthens habitats for marine and coastal species.
  • Carbon storage contribution: Mangrove forests serve as efficient blue carbon ecosystems.
  • Ecosystem based adaptation: The programme improves resilience of coastal communities against climate related disasters.

Mission Haritha Haram

The key detailed related to the Mission Haritha Haram has been discussed below:

  • State flagship initiative: Telangana launched Mission Haritha Haram to substantially expand green cover across the state.
  • Forest cover target: The programme aims to increase green cover from 25.16% to 33% of the state's geographical area.
  • Large scale plantation: Extensive plantation drives are undertaken in forests, urban areas and public lands.
  • Ecological restoration: The initiative contributes to biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
  • Community participation: Local communities actively participate in plantation and protection activities.
  • Sustainable development support: Increased green cover strengthens environmental sustainability and ecosystem health.

Green Wall Initiative

The key features of the Green Wall Initiative of India or Aravalli Restoration Programme has been discussed here:

  • Aravalli restoration programme: The initiative focuses on restoring and protecting the Aravalli mountain ecosystem.
  • Geographic coverage: It covers Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi through a large green belt network.
  • Scale of project: A 1,400 km long and 5 km wide green buffer is planned around the Aravalli range.
  • Landscape restoration target: The Aravalli Green Wall Initiative aims to restore approximately 6.31 million hectares of degraded landscapes.
  • Nursery infrastructure: About 435 nurseries with a capacity of 393.24 lakh seedlings have been established.
  • Restoration progress: Around 36,025 hectares were restored during 2025 alone.
  • Desertification control: The initiative helps prevent land degradation and dust movement in vulnerable regions.
  • Biodiversity enhancement: Restored landscapes improve habitat connectivity and ecological resilience.

Afforestation Challenges

Afforestation faces multiple ecological, social, technical and economic challenges that affect long term sustainability and effectiveness.

  • Species selection: Choosing inappropriate species can reduce survival rates and disrupt local ecosystems. Non native species may outcompete indigenous vegetation and affect biodiversity.
  • Soil degradation: Severely degraded lands often have poor fertility, hard soil layers and nutrient deficiencies that hinder successful forest establishment.
  • Water availability constraints: Limited rainfall and groundwater scarcity significantly affect sapling survival, particularly in arid and semi arid regions.
  • Desertification pressures: Ongoing land degradation and desertification reduce the effectiveness of plantation efforts in vulnerable landscapes.
  • Climate change impacts: Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, droughts and extreme weather events affect tree growth and survival.
  • Competition for land: Afforestation often competes with agriculture, urban expansion, infrastructure development and industrial activities for available land.
  • Monoculture plantations: Excessive reliance on single species plantations may reduce biodiversity and create ecological imbalance.
  • Community participation gaps: Lack of local involvement can weaken long term protection, maintenance and sustainability of Afforestation projects.
  • Forest fire risks: Increasing frequency of forest fires threatens newly established plantations and restoration efforts.
  • Monitoring challenges: Large scale Afforestation projects require continuous monitoring, maintenance and technological support to ensure long term success.

Afforestation Significance

Afforestation provides ecological, economic, climatic and social benefits that contribute significantly to sustainable development and environmental security.

  • Carbon sequestration: Trees absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and store carbon in biomass and soils, helping mitigate climate change. Studies indicate large scale Afforestation could remove over 191 gigatons of carbon by 2100.
  • Climate regulation: Forests regulate temperature, rainfall patterns and local climatic conditions while reducing the impacts of global warming.
  • Soil conservation: Tree roots reduce soil erosion, improve soil structure, enhance fertility and increase nitrogen fixation in degraded landscapes.
  • Desertification control: Afforestation stabilizes land surfaces and helps prevent the expansion of deserts and barren areas.
  • Water quality improvement: Forests reduce runoff, improve groundwater recharge and act as natural filters that enhance water quality.
  • Biodiversity conservation: New forests create habitats for birds, insects, mammals and other wildlife, strengthening ecosystem diversity.
  • Dust storm prevention: Shelterbelt plantations reduce wind speed, protect agricultural fields and control dust storms in arid regions.
  • Livelihood generation: Afforestation provides employment opportunities and supports sustainable income through forestry related activities.
  • Food and economic benefits: Plantation of fruit bearing and economically valuable trees can provide food, fuelwood and revenue for local communities.
  • Urban environmental improvement: Urban Afforestation improves air quality, reduces noise pollution, provides shade and lowers urban heat island effects.
  • Disaster resilience: Forest ecosystems strengthen resilience against floods, droughts, landslides and other environmental hazards.
  • National sustainability goals: Afforestation supports biodiversity conservation, land restoration, climate commitments and long term ecological security while contributing to sustainable development objectives.

Afforestation FAQs

Q1: What is Afforestation?

Ans: Afforestation is the process of planting trees and creating forests on land that has not been under forest cover in the recent past.

Q2: How is Afforestation different from reforestation?

Ans: Afforestation creates forests on non forest land, while reforestation restores forests in areas that were previously forested but lost tree cover.

Q3: Why is Afforestation important for climate change?

Ans: Afforestation helps absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, increases carbon sinks and reduces the impact of global warming.

Q4: Which is India's flagship Afforestation programme?

Ans: The National Mission for a Green India (GIM) is India's flagship Afforestation programme focused on increasing forest and tree cover.

Q5: What is the target of the National Forest Policy 1988?

Ans: The National Forest Policy, 1988 aims to bring at least one-third of India's total geographical area under forest or tree cover.

Aurora Borealis

June 9, 2026
Aurora Borealis

Aurora Borealis Latest News

Recently, ‘Aurora Borealis’, more popularly called ‘northern lights’ was expected to be visible in India. 

About Aurora Borealis

  • It is popularly called ‘northern lights’.
  • The phenomenon is called ‘northern lights’ because they are concentrated around the North Pole or the magnetic pole in Earth’s northern hemisphere.
  • They are frequently seen in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Alaska, and Greenland. 
  • Aurora Borealis’ is the scientific name for these lights in the night sky in the northern hemisphere.
  • The ones in the southern hemisphere are called ‘Aurora Australis’ or ‘southern lights.’

Formation of Auroras

  • It is due to activity on the surface of the Sun.
  • The star continuously releases a stream of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, and magnetic fields called the solar wind.
  • As the solar wind approaches the Earth, it is deflected by the planet’s magnetic field, which acts like a protective shield.
  • However, some of the charged particles are trapped in the magnetic field and they travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into the upper atmosphere of the Earth.
  • These particles then interact with different gases present there, resulting in tiny flashes that light up the night sky.
  • When solar wind particles collide with oxygen, a green colour light is produced. Interaction with nitrogen produces shades of blue and purple.
  • Auroras expand to midlatitudes when the solar wind is extremely strong.
    • This happens when the activity on the Sun’s surface goes up, leading to solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are essentially extra bursts of energy in the solar wind.
    • In such cases, the solar wind is so intense that it can result in a geomagnetic storm, also known as a magnetic storm — a temporary disturbance of the Earth’s magnetic field. 

Source: TH

Aurora Borealis FAQs

Q1: In which atmospheric layer are auroras formed?

Ans: Thermosphere/Ionosphere

Q2: Which gas produces green color in Aurora Borealis?

Ans: Oxygen

Gallantry Awards

June 9, 2026
Gallantry Awards

Gallantry Awards Latest News

Recently, the President of India conferred Gallantry Awards to the personnel of the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces, and State and Union Territory Police during the Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

About Gallantry Awards

  • It recognises acts of exceptional bravery, courage and devotion to duty by the Armed Forces and security personnel.
  • Ministry: The Ministry of Defence seeks recommendations twice annually from the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Home Affairs for Gallantry Awards in India.
  • These gallantry awards are announced twice in a year - first on the occasion of the Republic Day and then on the occasion of the Independence Day.
  • History of Gallantry Awards
    • Three gallantry awards, namely Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra, were instituted by the Government of India on 26th January, 1950.
    • Thereafter, the other three gallantry awards, i.e. the Ashoka Chakra Class-I, the Ashoka Chakra Class-II and the Ashoka Chakra Class-III were instituted in 1952.
    • These were later renamed in January 1967 as Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra, respectively.
  • Order of precedence: The order of precedence of these awards is the Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.
  • These awards are divided into two main categories based on whether the act of bravery occurs in the presence of the enemy or in peacetime situations.
    • Wartime Gallantry Awards: Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra
    • Peacetime Gallantry Awards: Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra are awarded for courageous actions during peacetime.

Source: News On Air

Gallantry Awards FAQs

Q1: Which is the highest peacetime gallantry award in India?

Ans: Ashoka Chakra for peacetime

Q2: What is the minimum age to receive a gallantry award?

Ans: There is no age bar.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

June 9, 2026
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Latest News

Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all food business operators to immediately discontinue the use of newspapers for packing or serving food items, citing serious health risks.

About Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

  • It is a statutory institution formed by the Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Government of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
  • Mandate: FSSAI is responsible for setting food standards, regulating the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food, and ensuring the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

Functions of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

  • Standards Development: It formulates standards for various food products, ensuring they are safe for consumption.
  • Food Safety Management Systems: It provides guidelines for businesses to implement effective food safety management practices.
  • Licensing and Registration: FSSAI manages the licensing process for food businesses, ensuring they comply with food safety regulations.
  • Surveillance and Monitoring: Regular inspections and audits are conducted to assess compliance with food safety standards.
  • Consumer Awareness: Initiatives to educate the public about food safety, hygiene, and nutrition are a key focus area.
  • Accreditation: The FSSAI is also responsible for the accreditation of food testing laboratories throughout India.

Source: News On Air

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FAQs

Q1: Which index is released by FSSAI to measure states' performance on food safety?

Ans: State Food Safety Index, released annually since 2019

Q2: FSSAI functions under which ministry?

Ans: Ministry of Health and Family welfare

Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025, Registration, Eligibility, Theme

June 9, 2026
Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025

The Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 is India’s largest student innovation movement, launched by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and AICTE. It aims to inspire school students of Classes 6-12 to ideate, innovate, and solve real-life challenges through creativity and teamwork. The initiative aligns with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, promoting a culture of innovation and self-reliance from the grassroots level.

Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025

Launched on 23 September 2025 by Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, the Buildathon will engage over 1 crore students from 1.5 lakh+ schools across India. The initiative encourages innovation in four core areas- Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, Vocal for Local, and Samriddhi. It is not just a contest but a nationwide innovation platform that nurtures critical thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial skills in students.

Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 Overview

The Buildathon embodies India’s vision to transform its education system into a creator-driven model.

Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 Overview

Aspect

Desccription

Launched By

Ministry of Education, AIM (NITI Aayog), AICTE

Launch Date

23 September 2025

Target Group

Students of Classes VI to XII

Schools Involved

1.5 lakh+

Students Engaged

1 crore+

Core Themes

Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, Vocal for Local, Samriddhi

Culmination

January 2026 (Results & Felicitation)

Mode

Hybrid (School & Online Activities)

Participation Focus

Aspirational Districts, Tribal & Remote Regions

Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 Theme

The four key themes reflect India’s long-term development goals and provide a broad framework for students’ ideas and innovations.

  1. Atmanirbhar Bharat: Building indigenous and self-reliant technological solutions.
  2. Swadeshi: Reviving and modernizing traditional knowledge systems.
  3. Vocal for Local: Promoting local crafts, products, and industries.
  4. Samriddhi: Ensuring sustainable prosperity and inclusive development.

Apply Online for Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025

Students from Classes VI to XII can apply online through their schools. The registration process is entirely digital and free of cost. Last Date to Apply is 6 October 2025. All participating teams will receive digital Participation Certificates from the Ministry of Education. Schools are required to register the team of students.

Click Here to Register for Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 [Active]

Steps to Apply Online for Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025

  1. Visit the official website vbb.mic.gov.in.
  2. Schools must register themselves and create student teams of 5-7 members.
  3. Upload project ideas, concepts, or prototype plans.
  4. Submit entries in the form of photos and videos before the last date.
  5. Save confirmation for participation and certificates.

Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 Important Dates

The Buildathon follows a structured timeline, ensuring synchronized participation across India. The Live Innovation Event on 13 October 2025 will witness simultaneous participation of 1 crore students, making it one of the world’s largest synchronized innovation activities.

Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 Timeline
Phase Activity Dates

Phase 1

Launch by Union Education Minister

23 September 2025

Phase 2

Registration Window

23 September - 6 October 2025

Phase 3

Preparation & Mentoring Period

6 - 12 October 2025

Phase 4

Nationwide Live Buildathon

13 October 2025

Phase 5

Entry Submission

14 - 31 October 2025

Phase 6

Evaluation of Entries

November 2025

Phase 7

Results & Felicitation Ceremony

January 2026

Viksit Bharat Buildathon Eligibility Criteria 2025

To ensure fairness and inclusivity, the Ministry has laid down uniform participation rules.

  • Teams must consist of 5-7 students from the same school.
  • Each school can register multiple teams.
  • Entries can be in prototype, concept, or working model format.
  • Mentors (teachers) will guide teams during the preparation period.
  • Entries will be evaluated by a national panel of experts based on innovation, feasibility, and social impact.

Viksit Bharat Buildathon Objectives

The Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 is more than an educational activity- it is a nation-building exercise. It seeks to ignite innovation among young minds and prepare them to lead India’s technological and developmental journey.

  • Foster innovation culture in schools through experiential learning.
  • Strengthen India’s position as a global innovation hub.
  • Align school-level education with the goals of Viksit Bharat @2047.
  • Encourage local problem-solving and sustainable entrepreneurship.
  • Empower students from marginalized and rural communities.

Viksit Bharat Buildathon Challenges

The Buildathon has created an unprecedented wave of creativity and innovation. However, challenges such as digital divide, lack of resources, and mentor availability remain. India must now ensure sustainability and scalability of this movement.

Way Forward

These steps can turn the Buildathon into a continuous innovation ecosystem shaping India’s young innovators:

  • Expand Innovation Infrastructure: Establish Atal Tinkering Labs in every district.
  • Teacher Training: Conduct regular capacity-building programs for school mentors.
  • Public-Private Partnerships: Encourage industry mentoring and CSR participation.
  • Digital Access: Strengthen ICT infrastructure in rural and tribal schools.
  • Continuous Engagement: Integrate Buildathon outcomes into long-term innovation programs.
  • Recognition and Patenting: Support winning ideas with incubation and patent filing assistance.
Also Check Related Links
PM Vishwakarma Scheme Poshan Abhiyan
SAMARTH Scheme Atal Innovation Mission

Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 FAQs

Q1: Who launched the Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025?

Ans: It was launched by Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan on 23 September 2025.

Q2: What is the eligibility for participation for Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025?

Ans: Students from Classes VI to XII can participate in teams of 5-7 members through their schools.

Q3: What are the four main themes of the Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025?

Ans: Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, Vocal for Local, and Samriddhi.

Q4: What is the official registration link for Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025?

Ans: Schools can apply online at https://vbb.mic.gov.in.

Q5: When will the results of the Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 be declared?

Ans: Results will be announced in January 2026, followed by a national felicitation event.

UGC Act, New UGC Rules 2026, Provisions, Download UGC Bill PDF

June 9, 2026
New UGC Rule 2026

The University Grants Commission (UGC) notified the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 to strengthen fairness, inclusion, and equal treatment across Indian universities and colleges. These rules aim to eliminate discrimination on campuses and ensure that students, teachers, and staff from all backgrounds feel safe, respected, and supported. The detailed UGC Act and New UGC Rules 2026 have been discussed below in detail.

Supreme Court Decision on UGC Rules 2026

The Supreme Court has stayed the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, observing that the regulations raise serious constitutional and social concerns which, if left unaddressed, could have far-reaching and divisive consequences for society, prompting judicial scrutiny of their validity and impact.

What is University Grants Commission?

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a statutory body responsible for the coordination, funding, and maintenance of standards in higher education in India. It was established to ensure uniform quality and systematic development of universities across the country.

  • The idea of a national higher education system originated from the Sargeant Report, 1944.
  • A University Grants Committee was formed in 1945 to supervise Aligarh, Banaras, and Delhi universities.
  • By 1947, its jurisdiction was extended to all existing universities in India.
  • The University Education Commission (1948) chaired by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan recommended restructuring it on the British model.
  • In 1952, the Union Government designated the University Grants Commission to oversee grants for higher education institutions.
  • The UGC was formally inaugurated in 1953 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
  • It became a statutory body in 1956 under the UGC Act, 1956.
  • The UGC is headquartered in New Delhi.
  • It consists of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and ten members appointed by the Central Government.
  • Its main functions include grant allocation, advising on higher education reforms, and maintaining academic standards.

University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 Provisions

  • Comprehensive Coverage of Caste-Based Discrimination: The regulations clearly define caste-based discrimination to include unfair or biased treatment against Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). This explicitly extends legal protection to OBCs and addresses a major gap in earlier policy frameworks.
  • Expanded and Inclusive Definition of Discrimination: Discrimination is broadly defined as any unfair, biased, or differential treatment, whether direct or indirect, based on caste, religion, race, gender, place of birth, or disability. It also includes actions that undermine equality in education or violate human dignity.
  • Mandatory Establishment of Equal Opportunity Centres (EOCs): All higher education institutions are required to establish an Equal Opportunity Centre (EOC) to promote equity, social inclusion, and equal access, and to handle complaints related to discrimination on campus.
  • Formation of Equity Committees under EOCs: Each institution must constitute an Equity Committee under the EOC, chaired by the head of the institution, with compulsory representation from SCs, STs, OBCs, women, and persons with disabilities, ensuring inclusive and balanced decision-making.
  • Reporting and Compliance Framework: Equal Opportunity Centres must submit bi-annual reports, and institutions are required to file an annual report on equity-related measures with the UGC, strengthening transparency and institutional accountability.
  • Institutional Responsibility and Leadership Accountability: The regulations place a clear obligation on institutions to eliminate discrimination and promote equity, with the head of the institution held directly responsible for effective implementation and compliance.
  • National-Level Monitoring Mechanism: The UGC will set up a national monitoring committee comprising representatives from statutory bodies and civil society to oversee implementation, review complaints, and recommend preventive measures. The committee will meet at least twice a year.
  • Strict Penalties for Non-Compliance: Institutions that violate the regulations may face debarment from UGC schemes, restrictions on offering degree, distance, or online programmes, or withdrawal of UGC recognition, making the regulations legally enforceable rather than merely advisory

UGC Bill 2026 PDF Link

UGC New Rules 2026 is the official notification of the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, which many sources refer to informally as the UGC Bill 2026. It contains the full text of the new regulations that were published in the Official Gazette. 

Click here to download UGC Bill 2026 PDF

What is UGC Bill 2026 in Hindi?

UGC बिल 2026 केंद्र सरकार द्वारा प्रस्तावित एक नया कानून है, जिसका उद्देश्य उच्च शिक्षा प्रणाली को अधिक पारदर्शी, समान और गुणवत्तापूर्ण बनाना है। इस बिल के तहत विश्वविद्यालयों में समान अवसर, जवाबदेही और छात्रों की शिकायतों के समाधान की व्यवस्था को मजबूत किया गया है। इसमें इक्विटी कमेटी, ओम्बड्सपर्सन और समान अवसर केंद्र जैसी संस्थागत व्यवस्थाओं को अनिवार्य किया गया है। UGC बिल 2026 का मुख्य लक्ष्य उच्च शिक्षा में भेदभाव समाप्त करना और सभी छात्रों को समान अवसर प्रदान करना है।

What is Ombudsperson in New UGC Rules 2026

An Ombudsperson is an independent authority responsible for hearing appeals related to equity-based grievances when a complainant is not satisfied with the decision taken by the institution’s internal mechanisms.

  • The Ombudsperson acts as a neutral and impartial appellate authority.
  • Students or staff can approach the Ombudsperson if their complaint regarding discrimination, exclusion, or unfair treatment is not adequately resolved by the Equity Committee.
  • The Ombudsperson ensures transparency, fairness, and timely justice.
  • Decisions of the Ombudsperson are binding on the institution.

Role of Equal Opportunity Centre

The Equal Opportunity Centre (EOC) is the core institutional mechanism under the 2026 regulations. It functions as the nodal body for promoting equity and inclusion on campus.

  1. Promotion of Equity and Social Inclusion: Ensure equity and equal opportunity for all stakeholders in the HEI and foster social inclusion across the campus.
  2. Elimination of Discrimination: Promote fairness among students, teaching, and non-teaching staff while removing actual and perceived discrimination.
  3. Inclusive and Conducive Campus Environment: Create a socially harmonious atmosphere that encourages healthy academic interaction among students from diverse social backgrounds.
  4. Awareness and Sensitisation: Sensitise students, faculty, and staff on issues of social inclusion, equity, and non-discrimination.
  5. Support and Protection for Disadvantaged Groups: Provide assistance to individuals or groups from disadvantaged sections and protect complainants from retaliation.
  6. Information Dissemination and Reporting Mechanisms: Disseminate information on welfare schemes and maintain an online portal for reporting incidents of discrimination.
  7. Institutional Coordination and Inclusive Processes: Develop inclusive admission procedures and coordinate with government and other agencies to mobilise academic and financial support for disadvantaged students.

Equity Committee Composition

Every Higher Education Institution must constitute an Equity Committee under the Equal Opportunity Centre. The committee examines complaints, recommends action, and ensures compliance with equity norms.

  1. The Head of the Institution shall be the ex-officio Chairperson
  2. Three Professors/Senior Faculty Members of the HEI, as Members
  3. One Staff Member, other than a teacher, of the HEI, as a Member
  4. Two representatives from civil society having relevant experience, as Members
  5. Two student representatives, to be nominated based on academic merit/excellence in sports/performance in co-curricular activities, as Special Invitees.
  6. The Coordinator of the Equal Opportunity Centre shall act as the ex-officio Member Secretary

Representation Requirement

The committee must ensure adequate representation of:

  • Scheduled Castes (SC)
  • Scheduled Tribes (ST)
  • Other Backward Classes (OBC)
  • Women
  • Persons with Disabilities

Legal Provisions Against Caste Discrimination

India has a strong constitutional and legal framework to prevent caste-based discrimination and ensure equality, dignity, and social justice. These provisions protect historically disadvantaged communities, especially Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), from exclusion and abuse.

  • Article 14 (Right to Equality): Guarantees equality before law and equal protection of laws to all persons, prohibiting arbitrary discrimination.
  • Article 15 (Prohibition of Discrimination): Prohibits discrimination by the State on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth and allows affirmative action for socially and educationally backward classes.
    Article 16 (Equality of Opportunity in Public Employment): Ensures equal opportunity in public employment and permits reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs.
  • Article 17 (Abolition of Untouchability): Abolishes untouchability in all forms and declares its practice a punishable offence.
  • Article 46 (Directive Principle of State Policy): Directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of SCs, STs, and other weaker sections and protect them from social injustice and exploitation.
    Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: Enforces Article 17 by prescribing penalties for practising untouchability and denying civil rights.
  • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Provides stringent punishment for offences against SCs and STs and aims to prevent social, economic, and physical exploitation.
  • Right to Education Act, 2009: Promotes inclusive and non-discriminatory access to elementary education for all children.
  • University Grants Commission Regulations: Mandate higher education institutions to prevent caste-based discrimination and establish grievance redressal and equity mechanisms.
  • Judicial Safeguards: Indian courts have consistently upheld constitutional values of equality and dignity and expanded protections through progressive interpretations.

Impact of Caste-Based Discrimination on Access to Education

  • Erosion of Constitutional Values: Caste discrimination undermines equality, dignity, and fraternity, weakening trust in affirmative action and democratic institutions.
  • Restricted Access to Quality Education: Prejudice and poor schooling outcomes reduce the representation of SC/ST/OBC students in elite institutions, limiting social mobility.
  • Higher Dropout Rates: Combined academic, financial, and psychological pressures result in disproportionately higher dropout rates among marginalised communities.
  • Psychological Exclusion: Stigma associated with “reserved category” status causes anxiety, low self-esteem, and adverse academic outcomes.
  • Weak Grievance Redressal: SC/ST Cells in many institutions lack autonomy and effective enforcement powers, often prioritising institutional reputation.
  • Campus Segregation: The Thorat Committee (2007) highlighted segregation in hostels, dining spaces, and sports facilities, leading to isolation of marginalised students.

[youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPOJcuHeJ14" width="560" height="315"]

UGC Rules 2026 FAQs

Q1: What are the UGC Promotion of Equity Regulations, 2026?

Ans: These are regulations notified by the University Grants Commission to prevent caste-based discrimination and promote equity, inclusion, and equal access in higher education institutions.

Q2: What is the UGC new rule in 2026?

Ans: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 to eliminate caste-based discrimination.

Q3: What is the UGC Act 2026 controversy?

Ans: These regulations replace the 2012 framework and introduce a stricter system to address caste-based discrimination on campuses.

Q4: How do the 2026 regulations define discrimination?

Ans: Discrimination includes any direct or indirect, explicit or implicit unfair treatment based on caste, religion, gender, race, place of birth, or disability that undermines equality or human dignity.

Q5: What is the role of the Equal Opportunity Centre (EOC)?

Ans: The EOC promotes equity and inclusion, handles discrimination complaints, provides support to affected persons, and conducts awareness programmes within institutions.

Japan

June 9, 2026
Japan

Japan Latest News

Recently, India and Japan reviewed outcomes of recent high-level exchanges and senior-level talks while discussing measures to further strengthen bilateral ties.

About Japan

  • Location: It is an island nation in East Asia, situated in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean.
  • Maritime borders: It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean (East), Sea of Okhotsk (North), Sea of Japan (West East) and East China Sea (Southwest).
  • Capital City: Tokyo.

Geographical Features of Japan

  • It comprises a chain of islands stretching ~1,500 miles in a northeast–southwest arc.
  • Terrain: Over 80% mountainous, with rugged terrain.
  • Main Islands (north to south): Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
  • Climate: It ranges from subarctic in the north to humid subtropical in the south.
  • Volcanic activity: It is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire – a major zone of earthquakes and active volcanoes.
  • Highest peak: Mount Fuji (3,776 m), which is a stratovolcano.
  • Major mountain ranges: Japanese Alps.
  • Major rivers: Shinano River (longest), Tone River, Kiso River.
  • Natural Resources: It mainly consists of Coal, iron ore, zinc, lead, copper, sulfur, gold, and silver

Source: DD News

Japan FAQs

Q1: Japan is located on which tectonic boundary?

Ans: Pacific Ring of Fire, hence frequent earthquakes & volcanoes

Q2: India-Japan civil nuclear deal was signed in which year?

Ans: Signed in November 2016

National Family Health Survey – Key Indicators and Changes

June 9, 2026
National Family Health Survey

National Family Health Survey Latest News

  • The Union Health Ministry has released NFHS-6 fact sheets revealing notable gains in maternal care and child nutrition, but with a net reduction of 30 indicators, including critical metrics like anaemia, mortality, and sex ratio at birth.

About NFHS

  • The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round household survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, as the nodal agency. 
  • It provides reliable data on population, health, and nutrition indicators.
  • NFHS-4 (2015-16): Introduced district-level estimates and tablet-based digital interviewing, measuring 114 indicators.
  • NFHS-5 (2019-21): Expanded to 131 key indicators, introducing new topics like preschool education, disability, and menstrual practices.
  • NFHS-6 (2023-24): Covered nearly 6.8 lakh households across all states and UTs except Manipur.
  • Historically, the NFHS has been additive by design, retaining previous questionnaires and adding new ones. 
  • However, NFHS-6 marks a departure, for the first time, the survey has subtracted overall.

What NFHS-6 Gained

  • NFHS-6 introduced several new dimensions:
    • Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT)
    • Self-Help Group (SHG) memberships
    • Digital literacy
    • Financial transactions
    • Hepatitis-B and Hepatitis-C testing among women and men
    • Dried blood spot collection from children aged 4-5 for Hepatitis-B testing
    • Biological HIV testing has been brought back as part of clinical and biochemical testing
  • Improvements in Key Indicators
    • Mothers receiving at least 4 antenatal check-ups: Up about 7 percentage points from NFHS-5.
    • Institutional births: Increased to 90.6% from 88.6%.
    • Women's Internet use: Notable increase across states.
    • Stunting among children under 5: Declined by over 6 percentage points, compared to under 3 percentage points between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5.
    • Spousal violence: Dropped from 29.3% to 22.3%.
  • State-Level Highlights
    • Health insurance coverage in West Bengal rose from 33.7% to 88.2%, the largest increase.
    • Women's Internet use in Andhra Pradesh jumped from 21% to 63.6%, the steepest rise.
    • However, the share of women classified as overweight or obese increased in every state.

What NFHS-6 Lost

  • The preliminary fact sheet of NFHS-6 has only 101 indicators, compared to 131 in NFHS-5, a net reduction of 30 indicators (43 dropped, 13 added).
  • Anaemia Dropped
    • Anaemia had shown a worsening picture between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5:
        • Children: 58.6% to 67.1%
        • Women aged 15-49: 53.1% to 57%
        • Pregnant women: 50.4% to 52.2%
        • The rise was near-universal, with child anaemia increasing in 28 states/UTs despite the Anaemia Mukt Bharat campaign (2018).
    • Why dropped? NFHS measured haemoglobin from a finger-prick blood sample read on a portable analyser, which several nutrition researchers argued overstated anaemia compared to venous blood drawn by other surveys.
    • Replacement: Anaemia will now be tracked through the Diet and Biomarkers Survey, launched in December 2022 at the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. This survey uses venous blood instead of the finger-prick method and tracks obesity alongside anaemia for the first time. Data collection is complete but yet to be released.
  • Mortality Indicators Removed
    • Three mortality indicators have been cut:
      • Neonatal mortality
      • Infant mortality
      • Under-five mortality
      • These will now be tracked by the Sample Registration System (SRS), whose latest bulletin pegged infant mortality at 24 per 1,000 live births. However, SRS does not provide district-level data or socio-economic breakdowns available in NFHS.
  • Sex Ratio Indicators Removed
    • Both the sex ratio of the total population and the sex ratio at birth (929 females per 1,000 males in NFHS-5) are absent. 
    • This removes a key signal of sex-selective practices in the country.
  • Sanitation and Clean Cooking Fuel Dropped
    • Two indicators closely tied to flagship government programmes have been removed:
    • Access to sanitation facilities: NFHS-5 recorded 70%, a measure linked to the Swachh Bharat Mission and the 2019 declaration of India as open defecation-free.
    • Clean cooking fuel use: 58.6% in NFHS-5, a direct measure of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana's success.
  • Cancer Screening Indicators Gone
    • Four cancer-screening indicators covering cervical, breast, and oral cancer, introduced for the first time in NFHS-5, have been dropped after a single round.

Implications of the Changes

  • Data Gaps: The removals leave no current survey-based national figure for:
    • Infant mortality with district-level breakdowns
    • Sanitation coverage
    • Sex ratio at birth
    • Cancer screening rates
    • Comprehensive HIV knowledge
    • These are gaps that no other single source fills at the same scale.
  • Concerns Over Programme Evaluation
    • The removal of indicators tied to flagship schemes, sanitation, clean cooking fuel, anaemia, limits the ability to:
    • Independently evaluate the effectiveness of programmes like Swachh Bharat Mission, Ujjwala Yojana, and Anaemia Mukt Bharat.
    • Track district-level disparities that aggregate statistics cannot reveal.
    • Identify socio-economic patterns in health outcomes.
  • Trade-offs in Survey Design
    • The shift represents a fundamental change in NFHS philosophy, moving from an additive design to a more selective approach. 
    • While this may reduce respondent burden and improve data quality, it also reduces the survey's role as a single comprehensive source of health and demographic data.

Significance of NFHS-6 Changes

  • Methodological Improvements
    • The dropping of finger-prick anaemia measurement in favour of venous blood methods reflects efforts to improve data accuracy. 
    • The reintroduction of biological HIV testing addresses a gap from NFHS-5.
  • New Areas of Inquiry
    • The addition of digital literacy, DBT, and SHG indicators acknowledges the changing landscape of welfare delivery and women's empowerment in India.
  • Concerns Over Transparency
    • The lack of a published rationale for many changes raises questions about:
    • Transparency in survey design decisions.
    • Consistency in measuring progress over time.
    • Continuity of long-term data series critical for policy evaluation.

Source: TH

National Family Health Survey FAQs

Q1: How many indicators are in NFHS-6 compared to NFHS-5?

Ans: NFHS-6 has 101 indicators compared to 131 in NFHS-5 — a net reduction of 30 indicators.

Q2: Why was anaemia dropped from NFHS-6?

Ans: The finger-prick method used by NFHS was found to overstate anaemia. It will now be tracked through the Diet and Biomarkers Survey using venous blood samples.

Q3: Which mortality indicators were removed from NFHS-6?

Ans: Neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality indicators were removed; these will now be tracked by the Sample Registration System.

Q4: What new topics were added in NFHS-6?

Ans: Direct Benefit Transfers, Self-Help Group memberships, digital literacy, financial transactions, and Hepatitis-B and C testing were newly added.

Q5: Which state recorded the largest increase in health insurance coverage?

Ans: West Bengal recorded the largest increase, with household health insurance coverage rising from 33.7% to 88.2%.

What Is Holding Back Household Solar Adoption in India? The Subsidy Paradox Explained

June 9, 2026
Solar Adoption in India

Solar Adoption in India Latest News

  • India added more solar power in 2025 than any country in the world except China. Solar now accounts for nearly 30% of India's total installed electricity capacity. 
  • Yet two flagship government schemes for decentralised solar — PM Suryaghar Yojana and PM-KUSUM — are performing well below their targets. 
  • The article examines why, and arrives at a counter-intuitive finding: existing power subsidies are undermining solar adoption, and the solution being explored is more subsidies.

The Two Flagship Schemes

  • PM Suryaghar Yojana: Targets installation of rooftop solar units on one crore households. Benefits include free electricity up to 300 units per month and a cash subsidy for equipment purchase.
  • PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan): Targets farmers — helping them set up small solar plants on unused land or install solar water pumps for irrigation. Farmers can earn income by selling surplus solar electricity or save on diesel and pump electricity bills.
  • Together, both schemes carry a combined budget of roughly Rs 95,000 crore.

Achievements: How Far Have These Two Schemes Reached

  • Combined, the two schemes have installed about 13 GW of decentralised solar against a target of 40 GW by the end of the FY2025-26 — less than one-third of the goal.
  • PM-KUSUM's most successful component has been standalone off-grid solar water pumps for farmers — 10.9 lakh pumps installed against a target of 14 lakh. 
  • The scheme, originally meant to be completed by 2022, has been extended due to pandemic disruptions.
  • Under PM Suryaghar, the five best-performing states — Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Rajasthan — account for nearly 70% of all 33 lakh rooftop installations so far. 
  • States like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Punjab, Bihar, and Jharkhand lag significantly.

The Central Problem: Free Electricity Kills the Incentive

  • When grid electricity is already free or heavily subsidised, households and farmers have no financial reason to invest in rooftop solar. 
  • Installing a solar system requires an upfront cost of a few lakh rupees. That investment only makes financial sense if it saves you money on your electricity bill. If your bill is already near zero, the calculation simply does not work.
    • The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy itself confirmed this to Parliament's Estimates Committee: one of the primary reasons for low PM Suryaghar adoption is that the effective electricity tariff for domestic consumers is near zero or actually zero in many states.
  • Punjab is the clearest example. It offers 300 units of free electricity to domestic consumers every month and completely free power to all agricultural tubewells. 
  • Punjab's annual power subsidy bill exceeded Rs 20,000 crore last year — yet its adoption of both solar schemes is among the lowest in the country.
  • Similarly, Karnataka (Rs 27,000 crore subsidy bill) and Tamil Nadu (Rs 15,700 crore subsidy bill) show relatively poor solar scheme uptake. 
  • In contrast, Gujarat, Kerala, and Maharashtra — which have higher electricity tariff rates, especially for large consumers — have seen much higher adoption.

The Solution: Ironically, More Subsidies

  • The answer some states have found is to offer additional, one-time financial incentives on top of the central scheme's benefits — making the upfront equipment purchase easier to bear.
  • Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, both of which already offer heavily subsidised power, have done remarkably well on PM Suryaghar and PM-KUSUM by layering extra state-level subsidies to help consumers cross the upfront cost barrier.
  • This is not as contradictory as it sounds. Recurring power subsidies are an unending fiscal liability for state governments — they go on forever. 
  • A one-time equipment subsidy is a finite expenditure that eventually reduces the need for recurring subsidies. 
  • The Estimates Committee of Parliament endorsed this logic and suggested the government explore ways to make upfront costs easier for consumers.
  • If PM Suryaghar is fully implemented, it is estimated to save the government approximately Rs 75,000 crore per year in electricity costs.

Why Decentralised Solar Is Increasingly Urgent

  • There are two structural reasons why getting households and farmers onto solar matters beyond just reducing subsidy bills.
  • Land scarcity for large solar parks is becoming a real constraint on India's centralised solar expansion. Decentralised generation — on rooftops and farmlands — uses space that already exists without displacing other land uses.
  • Hydropower is stagnating as a backup source. Traditionally, hydropower supplemented grid electricity during peak summer demand, driven by monsoon reservoir levels. 
  • But large hydropower capacity has stopped growing, and peak electricity demands in April-May 2026 were met largely through solar power — not hydro. 
  • In a year of low rainfall and high temperatures, which is increasingly the norm due to climate change, decentralised solar becomes a critical buffer against grid stress.

Conclusion

  • India aims for 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. Understanding why decentralised solar schemes underperform despite large budgets is important for policy analysis.
  • The paradox of power subsidies undermining solar adoption illustrates the unintended consequences of poorly designed subsidy regimes.
  • Also, the wide variation in solar scheme performance across states reflects how state-level electricity pricing decisions can either enable or undermine central government clean energy programmes.

Source: IE

Solar Adoption in India FAQs

Q1: What Is Holding Back Household Solar Adoption in India despite government support?

Ans: What Is Holding Back Household Solar Adoption in India is largely the availability of free or heavily subsidised electricity, which reduces the financial incentive for solar investments.

Q2: How do electricity subsidies affect household solar adoption?

Ans: What Is Holding Back Household Solar Adoption in India is the fact that consumers with near-zero electricity bills see little economic benefit from rooftop solar systems.

Q3: Which government schemes aim to promote solar adoption?

Ans: What Is Holding Back Household Solar Adoption in India is being addressed through PM Suryaghar Yojana and PM-KUSUM, which provide subsidies and support for decentralised solar.

Q4: Why are some states performing better in solar adoption than others?

Ans: What Is Holding Back Household Solar Adoption in India varies across states because electricity pricing policies and additional state-level incentives significantly influence adoption rates.

Q5: Why is decentralised solar important for India's energy future?

Ans: What Is Holding Back Household Solar Adoption in India matters because decentralised solar can reduce subsidy burdens, ease land constraints, and strengthen energy security amid climate challenges.

India Revamps Its Bilateral Investment Treaty Model to Balance FDI and Sovereignty

June 9, 2026
Bilateral Investment Treaty Model

Bilateral Investment Treaty Model Latest News

  • India is remodelling its Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) framework around three key principles: a minimum two-year local remedy window before international arbitration, no Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause, and exclusion of tax-related provisions. 
  • The Union Budget 2025-26 had announced a revamp of the existing 2016 BIT model to make it more investor-friendly. 
  • The new model is still being finalised, with the government considering tailoring terms country-by-country.

What Is a BIT and Why Does It Matter

  • A Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) is an agreement between two countries to promote and protect investments made by investors of each country in the other's territory. 
  • It gives foreign investors certain guarantees — against arbitrary treatment, expropriation without compensation, and denial of justice. 
  • When disputes arise, BITs typically allow investors to take the host country to international arbitration.
  • BITs are crucial for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). They signal to investors that the host country offers a stable, rules-based environment for investment.

India's BIT History: From 1993 to 2016

  • India signed BITs with 83 countries based on its 1993 model (amended in 2003). Of these, 74 were ratified. 
  • The 1993 model allowed foreign investors to go directly to international arbitration without exhausting domestic remedies first.
  • A turning point came when global companies like Vodafone and Cairn Energy filed international arbitration cases against India in tax disputes — and won. 
  • These cases exposed India to significant financial liability and raised concerns about regulatory sovereignty. India responded by overhauling its BIT framework.
  • The 2016 BIT model introduced a major change: foreign investors must now exhaust all domestic remedies before initiating international arbitration. 
  • Of the 74 ratified BITs, India issued termination notices to 68 countries and asked them to renegotiate on the basis of the 2016 model.

The Three Pillars of the New Model

  • Two-Year Local Remedy Window
    • The most debated feature of the 2016 model was the requirement to exhaust local remedies for five years before accessing international arbitration. Critics called this excessive and investor-unfriendly.
    • The new model proposes reducing this to a minimum of two years. For some countries, even a one-year cooling window is being considered during ongoing negotiations. The India-UAE BIT had already reduced this to three years.
    • The government's rationale is clear: India must protect its parliamentary sovereignty and judicial authority. 
    • International arbitration — where India has limited representation and faces discretionary decisions — should be a last resort, not the first recourse.
  • No Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Clause
    • The MFN clause in investment treaties requires a country to extend to the treaty partner whatever favourable treatment it gives to any third country. 
    • If India signs a more liberal BIT with Country B, Country A can use the MFN clause to claim the same benefits.
    • Removing MFN gives India flexibility to negotiate different terms with different countries based on the nature of bilateral engagement — without being locked into automatic extension of better terms across all treaties.
  • Taxation Kept Outside BITs
    • Tax disputes — like the Vodafone and Cairn cases — triggered India's BIT crisis in the first place. 
    • The new model explicitly excludes tax-related provisions from BITs, insulating domestic tax policy from investor-state arbitration.
    • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reinforced this in February 2025, stating that BITs should be negotiated separately from Free Trade Agreements, by specialists with expertise in taxation and policy.

The Ongoing Debate

  • Critics: The Local Remedy Window Is Still Too Long
    • The experts argued that the "most damaging provision" in India's BIT was the five-year local remedy requirement. 
    • Even the proposed two-year window, he argued, is far above global norms. 
    • They cited Indonesia's model — which scrapped its old BITs in 2014 and restarted with a 12-month cooling period, a three-judge panel, and a presiding judge agreed upon by both parties who cannot be a national of either country. 
  • Government's Defence
    • Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran responded that academic research shows weak or no relationship between individual BIT signings and FDI inflows. 
    • What matters is the cumulative stock of treaties — which signals an overall regime of investor protection. 
    • He acknowledged that the investment climate needs continuous improvement and that the BIT revision is still incomplete.
  • Global Trend: Moving Away from ISDS
    • Many countries are moving away from Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) — the traditional model where investors can directly sue host governments in international tribunals. 
    • Australia and the UAE, for example, have shifted to State-to-State Dispute Settlement (SSDS) in their bilateral investment treaty, where disputes are resolved between governments rather than between investors and states.

Where Things Stand

  • Since the 2016 model, India has signed new BITs with Belarus, Kyrgyz Republic, Brazil (as an Investment Cooperation and Facilitation Treaty), UAE, and Uzbekistan. 
  • A Bilateral Investment Agreement has also been signed with Taiwan (through the India Taipei Association).
  • The new model being developed is expected to be country-specific and flexible — with terms calibrated to the nature of each bilateral relationship — rather than a single rigid template applied universally.

Source: IE

Bilateral Investment Treaty Model FAQs

Q1: Why is India Revamps Its Bilateral Investment Treaty Model significant?

Ans: India Revamps Its Bilateral Investment Treaty Model to attract foreign investment while safeguarding regulatory autonomy, judicial authority, and parliamentary sovereignty.

Q2: What are the key changes under India Revamps Its Bilateral Investment Treaty Model?

Ans: India Revamps Its Bilateral Investment Treaty Model introduces a two-year local remedy window, removes the MFN clause, and excludes taxation matters from BIT coverage.

Q3: Why did India decide to revise its BIT framework?

Ans: India Revamps Its Bilateral Investment Treaty Model following arbitration disputes such as Vodafone and Cairn, which raised concerns about regulatory and fiscal sovereignty.

Q4: What is the debate surrounding India Revamps Its Bilateral Investment Treaty Model?

Ans: Critics argue that local remedy requirements remain lengthy, while supporters believe they protect domestic institutions and reduce excessive reliance on international arbitration.

Q5: How could India Revamps Its Bilateral Investment Treaty Model affect FDI?

Ans: India Revamps Its Bilateral Investment Treaty Model seeks to create a balanced investment environment that protects investors while preserving national policy flexibility.

Shiveluch Volcano

June 9, 2026
Shiveluch Volcano

Shiveluch Volcano Latest News

The Shiveluch Volcano in Russia's Far East erupted recently, sending ash plumes 10 km into the air and triggering red-level aviation alerts for the area.

About Shiveluch Volcano

  • It is one of the largest and most active volcanoes located on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, one of the most intense volcanic regions in the world.
  • It’s estimated to be between 60,000-70,000 years old.
  • It is a stratovolcano—a steep-sloped volcano composed of alternating layers of solidified ash, hardened lava, and volcanic rocks.
  • It sports a summit reaching 3,283 meters (10,771 feet).
  • The summit is truncated by a broad 9-km-wide caldera. The lava dome complex was constructed within the large open caldera. 
  • Many lava domes occur on the outer flanks.  
  • Frequent collapses of the dome complex have produced debris avalanches; the resulting deposits cover much of the caldera floor. 
  • It has had more major eruptions than any other volcano in our current period of geologic time,  with an estimated 60 substantial eruptions in the past 10,000 years.
  • The volcano has been continuously erupting since August 1999, but occasionally undergoes powerful explosive events.
  • It has been spewing ash and steam intermittently—with occasional dome collapses, pyroclastic flows, and lava flows, as well—for the past decade.

Source: IS

Shiveluch Volcano FAQs

Q1: Where is the Shiveluch Volcano located?

Ans: On Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.

Q2: What type of volcano is Shiveluch?

Ans: A stratovolcano.

Q3: Why is Shiveluch considered one of the most active volcanoes?

Ans: It has had more major eruptions than any other volcano in the current geologic period.

Q4: Is Shiveluch known for frequent dome collapses?

Ans: es, frequent dome collapses are a characteristic feature of the volcano.

Daily Editorial Analysis 9 June 2026

June 9, 2026
Daily-Editorial-Analysis

A Troubling Judgment and Endorsement of the SIR

Context

  • The Supreme Court's judgment upholding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) has generated significant debate regarding electoral governance, constitutional authority, and democratic participation.
  • While the judgment endorses the ECI's efforts to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls, concerns remain about the legality of the exercise, the timing of its implementation, and the implications for the right to vote and citizenship verification.
  • These issues have far-reaching consequences for India's electoral democracy and the protection of citizens' political rights.

Constitutional and Legal Framework Governing Electoral Rolls

  • Constitutional Provisions
    • The Constitution establishes the foundation of electoral democracy in India through several key provisions:
      • Article 324 empowers the ECI to supervise elections and prepare electoral rolls.
      • Article 325 guarantees a common electoral roll and prohibits discrimination in voter registration.
      • Article 326 provides for universal adult suffrage, ensuring voting rights for all eligible citizens.
      • Article 327 authorizes Parliament to enact laws relating to elections and electoral rolls.
    • Together, these provisions seek to balance electoral integrity with democratic inclusion.
  • Statutory Framework
    • Electoral roll preparation and revision are governed by the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
      • Section 21(2) provides for regular revisions of electoral rolls before elections and permits intensive revision according to prescribed procedures.
      • Section 21(3) allows the ECI to conduct a special revision in a constituency or part thereof when necessary.
      • Rule 25 outlines the procedure for intensive and summary revisions.

Controversy Surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

  • Question of Statutory Validity
    • A major controversy concerns the legal basis of the SIR. The Supreme Court accepted that the exercise could be undertaken under Section 21(3).
    • However, an alternative interpretation suggests that the provision authorizes only a special revision, not an intensive revision.
    • Since intensive revision is specifically provided under Section 21(2) and Rule 25, combining both categories into a single exercise may blur an important statutory distinction.
    • This raises questions about whether the SIR was conducted under the appropriate legal provision.
  • Timing of the Revision
    • Intensive revisions involve extensive verification of voter records and generally require substantial time for implementation.
    • In States such as Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal, the exercise was undertaken shortly before Assembly elections.
    • The statutory scheme traditionally favours summary revision close to elections in order to minimise disruption and ensure voter participation.
    • Conducting a large-scale intensive revision during this period creates concerns regarding voter exclusion, procedural fairness, and access to effective remedies.

Citizenship Verification and Institutional Authority

  • Determination of Citizenship Documents
    • Another contentious issue relates to the identification of documents required to establish citizenship.
    • The Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for administering citizenship laws and determining legal standards for proof of citizenship.
    • The ECI's role has traditionally been limited to verifying voter eligibility on the basis of legally recognized documents.
    • By prescribing specific documentation requirements, the ECI exercised considerable discretion in determining voter eligibility.
    • This development raises questions about the division of responsibilities between electoral authorities and agencies responsible for citizenship matters.
  • Implications for Voter Inclusion
    • The judgment grants significant authority to the ECI in assessing citizenship-related documentation for electoral purposes.
    • While the final determination of citizenship remains with the competent authorities, exclusion from electoral rolls can have substantial consequences.
    • Individuals unable to satisfy documentary requirements may face disenfranchisement, reduced political participation, and uncertainty regarding their civic status.
    • Consequently, the issue extends beyond electoral administration and touches upon broader concerns of citizens' rights and democratic representation.

Impact on Electoral Administration

  • The judgment also refers to cumulative inaccuracies and structural deficiencies in electoral rolls prepared over several decades.
  • These observations suggest a need for reforms aimed at improving the accuracy and reliability of voter lists.
  • At the same time, broad criticism of past electoral roll management may affect public confidence in electoral institutions.
  • Therefore, efforts to strengthen electoral accuracy must be accompanied by robust safeguards that protect legitimate voters from wrongful exclusion.

Conclusion

  • Accurate voter rolls are essential for free and fair elections, but the process of maintaining them must remain consistent with constitutional principles and statutory safeguards.
  • The Supreme Court's judgment significantly strengthens the authority of the Election Commission of India, particularly in matters relating to electoral roll revision and voter verification.
  • However, it also raises important questions concerning judicial oversight, administrative accountability, citizenship verification, and the protection of voting rights.
  • As a result, the judgment is likely to remain a landmark reference point in future debates on electoral reforms, democratic governance, and constitutional democracy in India.

A Troubling Judgment and Endorsement of the SIR FAQs

Q1. What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

Ans. The Special Intensive Revision is a comprehensive exercise undertaken by the Election Commission of India to revise and verify electoral rolls.

Q2. Which constitutional provision empowers the ECI to prepare electoral rolls?

Ans. Article 324 of the Constitution empowers the Election Commission of India to prepare electoral rolls and conduct elections.

Q3. Why has the legality of the SIR been questioned?

Ans. The legality of the SIR has been questioned because critics argue that intensive revision is permitted under Section 21(2), not Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

Q4. What concern arises from conducting the SIR close to elections?

Ans. Conducting the SIR close to elections may lead to voter exclusion and reduce opportunities for affected voters to seek redress.

Q5. Why is the issue of citizenship verification controversial?

Ans. The issue is controversial because determining proof of citizenship is generally considered the responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs, not the Election Commission of India.

Source: The Hindu

The Oman CEPA, A New Gateway For India’s Exports

Context

  • The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into force on June 1, 2026.
  • Bilateral trade between India and Oman has already grown from $8.94 billion in FY2023-24 to $11.18 billion in FY2025-26, reflecting deepening economic complementarities even before the CEPA came into effect.
  • In this context, this article highlights that the CEPA agreement is far more than a trade deal — it is a modern framework that builds on one of the world's oldest bilateral relationships and opens a strategic gateway for India into the Gulf, the Indian Ocean, and East Africa.

India's Expanding Trade Architecture

  • The Oman CEPA does not stand alone. It is part of India's deliberate strategy of deepening trade ties through comprehensive agreements.
  • India has recently concluded or is pursuing CEPAs with the UAE, Australia, EFTA, UK, New Zealand, and the EU.
  • Oman is the latest addition — and a strategically important one, given its location at the crossroads of the Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
  • Before this agreement, only 15.33% of India's exports entered Oman at zero duty under the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) regime.
  • The CEPA changes this dramatically: Oman now offers duty-free access on 08% of its tariff lines, covering 99.38% of India's exports by value.
  • This is a sweeping competitiveness boost for Indian exporters.

Sector-by-Sector Benefits

  • Textiles and Apparel
    • India already holds a dominant position — 43% of Oman's woven apparel imports and 31% of knitted apparel imports.
    • The existing 5% tariff is now eliminated. This directly strengthens India's competitiveness against China, the other major supplier in this market.
  • Chemicals
    • India supplies nearly 39% of Oman's inorganic chemical imports. Tariff-free access will amplify this already strong position further.
  • Engineering Goods
    • This is perhaps the biggest opportunity. Oman imports over $3.7 billion in mechanical machinery and $3.3 billion in automotives annually.
    • India's current market share is just 5% and 2% respectively — indicating enormous headroom for growth.
    • The CEPA's preferential access can help Indian engineering exports penetrate Oman's infrastructure, construction, and industrial sectors.
  • Pharmaceuticals
    • India holds around 10% market share in Oman's pharmaceutical market.
    • Here, the benefit is not tariff reduction but regulatory facilitation — products approved by leading international regulators will receive fast-tracked approvals, reducing compliance costs and accelerating market entry.
  • Food and Agriculture
    • Duty-free access has been granted for products like meat, eggs, honey, butter, and processed foods.
    • However, sensitive sectors — dairy, cereals, edible oils, and key agricultural commodities — have been kept outside tariff concessions, protecting domestic producers.

Trade Facilitation: Cutting Red Tape

  • Beyond tariffs, the CEPA introduces important procedural reforms:
    • Oman will accept certificates from India's Export Inspection Council (EIC), eliminating duplicative testing.
    • India's NPOP organic certification and halal certification systems are now recognised.
    • Dedicated provisions on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) will improve regulatory transparency.
    • Fast-track customs clearance for perishables will reduce costs and improve efficiency for time-sensitive exports.

Services and Professional Mobility

  • This is where the CEPA breaks new ground. Bilateral services trade stood at $863 million in 2024, with India enjoying a surplus of nearly $447 million.
  • Yet India's share in Oman's global services imports is just over 5% — indicating substantial untapped potential.
  • Oman has made binding commitments for Indian professionals in accounting, engineering, IT, healthcare, education, and consulting.
  • Quotas for intra-corporate transferees have been raised, enabling greater movement of Indian specialists.
  • Provisions for AYUSH and traditional medicine create additional opportunities in the Gulf's growing wellness sector.

Oman's Strategic Location: A Gateway, Not Just a Market

  • The editorial's most important insight is geographical. Oman is not just a destination market — it is a logistics and strategic hub.
  • Its ports at Sohar, Duqm, and Salalah are emerging as major industrial and shipping hubs connecting the Gulf, Indian Ocean, and East African economies.
  • For Indian businesses, the CEPA makes Oman a potential launchpad into the wider GCC region and East Africa — markets far larger than Oman itself.
  • This strategic dimension elevates the agreement well beyond bilateral trade.
  • The benefits will reach across India's industrial geography — textile clusters in Tamil Nadu, gems and jewellery in Gujarat, engineering hubs in Maharashtra and Punjab, pharma manufacturers in Telangana, and seafood exporters in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

Conclusion

  • The Oman CEPA is history meeting opportunity — an ancient maritime partnership reimagined for the 21st century.
  • Its true worth will be measured not in its text, but in how boldly Indian businesses choose to walk through the door it has opened.

The Oman CEPA, A New Gateway For India’s Exports FAQs

Q1. Why is the Oman CEPA important for India's trade strategy?

Ans. The Oman CEPA expands India's trade network, provides extensive duty-free market access, and strengthens economic integration with the Gulf and neighbouring regions.

Q2. How does the Oman CEPA benefit Indian exporters?

Ans. The agreement grants duty-free access to most Indian exports, improving competitiveness in sectors such as textiles, chemicals, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, and food products.

Q3. What advantages does the Oman CEPA offer for services and professionals?

Ans. The CEPA provides market access and mobility opportunities for Indian professionals in IT, healthcare, engineering, education, consulting, and accounting sectors.

Q4. Why is Oman's geographical location strategically significant for India?

Ans. Oman's ports connect the Gulf, Indian Ocean, and East Africa, making the country a logistics hub and gateway for expanding Indian trade.

Q5. What trade facilitation measures are included in the Oman CEPA?

Ans. The agreement recognises Indian certifications, streamlines customs procedures, improves regulatory transparency, and enables faster clearance of perishable and agricultural exports.

Source: TH

India’s Expanding FTA Network - Opportunities and Emerging Structural Challenges

Context

  • With the India–Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) coming into force on June 1, India now has 15 FTAs covering 27 countries, while nine more agreements involving 42 countries are nearing completion.
  • Once finalized, FTA partner countries could account for nearly 75% of India’s exports.
  • However, the rapid expansion of FTAs has highlighted four major concerns: rising trade deficits, low utilisation of FTA benefits, worsening inverted duty structures, and the relocation of manufacturing to FTA partner countries.

Rising Trade Deficits with Major FTA Partners

  • Key trends:
    • Between 2007-09 and 2024-25, the trade deficit with ASEAN increased by 381%, with Japan it increased by 318%, and with South Korea it increased by 268%.
    • In contrast, India’s trade deficit with the rest of the world rose by 142%.
    • Over the last three years, the average annual trade deficit with ASEAN, Japan and South Korea reached around $62 billion.
    • Under newer FTAs (UAE, Australia, Mauritius and EFTA countries), India exported $48.6 billion in FY2025 but imported nearly $100 billion, creating a deficit exceeding $50 billion.
  • Exception: South Asia remains an outlier, where India’s trade surplus expanded from $6.7 billion to $20 billion.
  • Structural reason:
    • Most FTA partners already maintain low Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariffs, whereas India’s trade-weighted MFN tariff remains around 12.6%.
    • Consequently, tariff reductions provide substantial benefits to foreign exporters entering India. Indian exporters gain limited additional market access because partner-country tariffs were already low or zero.

Low Utilisation of FTA Benefits by Indian Exporters

  • Despite numerous FTAs, Indian exporters make limited use of preferential market access.
  • Reasons for low utilisation:
    • Many partner countries already offer near-zero MFN tariffs.
    • Potential tariff savings are often too small to justify compliance costs related to rules of origin (RoO), certification procedures, documentation and paperwork.
  • Outcome:
    • Only 20–30% of eligible Indian exports utilise FTA preferences.
    • In contrast, import-side utilisation rates are estimated at 60–70% because tariff reductions in India generate significant cost advantages for foreign suppliers.
  • Core issue: Both rising imports and low export utilisation stem from the same factor: tariff asymmetry between India and its FTA partners.

Worsening Inverted Duty Structure

  • Meaning: An inverted duty structure occurs when import duties on raw materials and intermediate goods are higher than duties on finished products.
  • Impact of FTAs: Many finished goods from ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, UAE and Australia enter India at low or zero duty, while domestic manufacturers continue to pay duties on imported inputs.
  • Sectoral examples:
    • Engineering and machinery:
      • Steel and aluminium attract MFN duties of 7.5–10%. Machinery and engineering products made from these materials often enter duty-free under FTAs.
      • Domestic manufacturers face higher production costs than foreign competitors.
    • Chemicals, plastics and textiles:
      • Inputs such as caustic soda, soda ash, polypropylene, PVC, and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), attract import duties. Finished products can often be imported at lower tariffs.
    • Consequences: Reduced competitiveness of downstream industries, lower domestic value addition, and challenges to the objectives of Make in India and manufacturing-led growth.

“Make in ASEAN, Sell in India” Phenomenon

  • A growing concern is the relocation of production to FTA partner countries.
  • How it happens: Inputs imported into India remain costly due to tariffs. Finished goods manufactured in FTA partner countries can be exported to India duty-free. Firms therefore find offshore production more profitable.
  • Emerging trends:
    • ASEAN economies such as Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia are increasingly serving as manufacturing hubs for the Indian market.
    • Chinese firms have invested heavily in these countries.
    • Several Indian companies have also established factories and joint ventures there.
  • Affected sectors: Electronics, steel, chemicals, plastics, consumer goods, and engineering products.
  • Implications: Movement of investment and jobs outside India. Weakening of domestic manufacturing ecosystems. Erosion of supply-chain resilience and industrial capacity.

Way Forward

  • To ensure FTAs support industrial development rather than undermine it, India must:
    • Align tariffs on industrial inputs with FTA commitments.
    • Rationalise inverted duty structures.
    • Improve FTA utilisation through simpler compliance procedures.
    • Strengthen domestic manufacturing competitiveness.
    • Conduct regular impact assessments of FTAs on trade, employment and industrial growth.
    • Integrate trade policy with the goals of Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and global value chain participation.

Conclusion

  • India’s FTAs are expanding its global economic integration and export opportunities, but persistent trade deficits, low export utilisation, inverted tariff structures, and offshore manufacturing incentives pose significant challenges.
  • Addressing these structural issues is essential to ensure that FTAs become instruments of industrial strengthening, employment generation, and sustainable economic growth rather than drivers of import dependence and deindustrialisation.

India’s Expanding FTA Network FAQs

Q1. How does tariff asymmetry contribute to rising trade deficits under India’s FTAs?

Ans. Higher Indian MFN tariffs compared to low tariffs in partner countries make imports grow faster than exports after tariff reductions under FTAs.

Q2. Why is the utilisation rate of FTA benefits by Indian exporters relatively low?

Ans. Low or zero MFN tariffs in partner countries reduce the incentive to comply with Rules of Origin for marginal tariff savings.

Q3. What is an inverted duty structure, and how do FTAs aggravate it?

Ans. It occurs when duties on inputs exceed those on finished goods, and FTAs worsen it by allowing many finished products to enter India at low or zero tariffs.

Q4. What is the phenomenon of “Make in ASEAN, Sell in India” in the context of FTAs?

Ans. Firms increasingly relocate production to ASEAN countries to benefit from lower costs and duty-free access to the Indian market.

Q5.  What policy measures are necessary to ensure FTAs strengthen India's manufacturing sector?

Ans. India must rationalise input tariffs, correct inverted duty structures, improve FTA utilisation, etc.

Source: IE

Daily Editorial Analysis 2026 FAQs

Q1: What is editorial analysis?

Ans: Editorial analysis is the critical examination and interpretation of newspaper editorials to extract key insights, arguments, and perspectives relevant to UPSC preparation.

Q2: What is an editorial analyst?

Ans: An editorial analyst is someone who studies and breaks down editorials to highlight their relevance, structure, and usefulness for competitive exams like the UPSC.

Q3: What is an editorial for UPSC?

Ans: For UPSC, an editorial refers to opinion-based articles in reputed newspapers that provide analysis on current affairs, governance, policy, and socio-economic issues.

Q4: What are the sources of UPSC Editorial Analysis?

Ans: Key sources include editorials from The Hindu and Indian Express.

Q5: Can Editorial Analysis help in Mains Answer Writing?

Ans: Yes, editorial analysis enhances content quality, analytical depth, and structure in Mains answer writing.

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