What’s in Today’s Article?

• Civil Services in India Latest News
• Introduction
• Evolution and Role of Civil Services in India
• Structural Framework and the Merit vs. Spoils System
• Major Challenges Facing Indian Civil Services
• Reforms for a Future-Ready Civil Service
• Conclusion
• Civil Services Reform FAQs

Civil Services in India Latest News

• On the occasion of Civil Services Day (April 21), Cabinet Secretary T. V. Somanathan IAS, spoke about the importance of civil services in maintaining and strengthening democracy.

Introduction

• On Civil Services Day 2025, Cabinet Secretary T. V. Somanathan highlighted the indispensable role of civil services in upholding Indian democracy. 
• While praising their contributions to governance, elections, and development administration, he also acknowledged the deep-rooted challenges that impede their efficiency and credibility. 
• In the context of evolving governance needs, civil services in India stand at a critical juncture where reform is not just desirable, but imperative.

Evolution and Role of Civil Services in India

• Civil services in India date back to 1858, when the British established the Indian Civil Service based on a merit system to manage administrative functions. 
• Post-independence, this role was taken over by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which has since remained the cornerstone of merit-based recruitment.
• Civil servants have consistently been central to:
  • Conducting free and fair elections.
  • Ensuring continuity of governance during President’s Rule in states.
  • Advising political executives in policy formulation.
  • Implementing welfare schemes and disaster relief efforts.
  • Managing day-to-day administrative functions such as public service delivery and regulation enforcement.
• They serve as the institutional memory of governance and act as the fulcrum of state functionality.

Structural Framework and the Merit vs. Spoils System

• India follows a merit-based system, which entails rigorous selection through competitive examinations conducted by independent agencies like UPSC. 
• In contrast, the spoils system, historically practiced in the U.S., involved appointments based on political allegiance and was largely dismantled by 1883.
• Despite India’s formal reliance on merit, creeping political interference threatens to convert the Indian system into a partial spoils framework, especially in appointments, transfers, and tenures.

Major Challenges Facing Indian Civil Services

• Erosion of Neutrality:
  • A foundational trait of civil services, neutrality is fast declining. Bureaucrats are increasingly seen aligning with political interests, which compromises the integrity and impartiality expected of them.
• Political Interference:
  • Frequent and arbitrary transfers, especially of upright officers, discourage independent functioning. Administrative decisions are often influenced by political calculations rather than public interest.
• Generalist Bias and Lack of Domain Expertise:
  • The generalist model of the Indian bureaucracy, where officers rotate across sectors, limits their capacity to address increasingly technical and specialized challenges. This results in sub-optimal policy design and implementation.
• Endemic Corruption:
  • Corruption exists at multiple levels of the bureaucracy. Despite the existence of vigilance mechanisms, many cases go unpunished, eroding public trust in civil servants.

Reforms for a Future-Ready Civil Service

• Insulation from Political Pressure:
  • To ensure the rule of law and constitutional governance, civil servants must be granted a reasonable degree of autonomy in postings, tenures, and transfers.
• Shift from Procedures to Outcomes:
  • Currently, bureaucratic performance is judged by inputs (expenditure) or outputs (activities). There is a need to transition to outcome-based monitoring to align public service with actual societal impact.
• Lateral Entry of Domain Experts:
  • Introducing professionals from outside the service at senior levels can bring fresh perspectives and technical proficiency. This complements the institutional knowledge of career bureaucrats and enhances governance quality.
• Strengthening Accountability and Transparency:
  • Internal performance audits, independent vigilance mechanisms, and a digital record of administrative decisions can strengthen accountability within the system.

Conclusion

• Civil services have been the backbone of India’s democratic and administrative machinery. 
• However, the changing landscape of governance, growing public expectations, and the complexity of socio-economic challenges demand structural reforms. 
• A balance must be struck between political accountability and bureaucratic independence. 
• By shifting towards an outcome-oriented, expertise-driven, and politically insulated civil service, India can strengthen its governance foundations for the future.

Civil Services Reform FAQs

Q1. What is the biggest challenge faced by Indian civil services today?

Ans. Political interference in postings and decisions is a major challenge eroding bureaucratic neutrality.

Q2. Why is lateral entry into civil services being recommended?

Ans. Lateral entry allows subject-matter experts to bring technical skills and new perspectives to policy-making.

Q3. How does the merit system differ from the spoils system?

Ans. The merit system relies on competitive selection and neutrality, while the spoils system favors political loyalty in appointments.

Q4. What reform is needed in bureaucratic performance monitoring?

Ans. A shift from output-based monitoring to outcome-based evaluation is needed for effective governance.

Q5. What role do civil services play during President’s Rule in states?

Ans. Civil servants ensure uninterrupted administration and continuity of governance during such times.

Source: TH

What’s in Today’s Article?

• UK-India Free Trade Agreement 2025 Latest News
• Background: From "Diwali Deadline" to Final Agreement
• Key Highlights of the UK-India Trade Deal
• Reasons Behind the Push for the Deal
• Key Issues During Negotiations
• Beyond Trade: A Platform for Wider Collaboration
• UK-India Free Trade Agreement 2025 FAQs

UK-India Free Trade Agreement 2025 Latest News

• India and the UK signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) after nearly three years of negotiations. The agreement reduces tariffs on 90% of goods.
• The deal aims to boost trade, investment, job creation, and innovation. It comes at a time of global trade uncertainty and marks a major economic collaboration between the world’s fifth and sixth largest economies.

Background: From "Diwali Deadline" to Final Agreement

• The FTA was first targeted for completion by Diwali 2022 during British PM Boris Johnson's India visit, where he called Modi his “khaas dost.”
• Despite missing the initial deadline, the agreement was finally achieved in 2025, marking a major milestone.

UK First Among Western Trade Partners

• The UK beat the US and EU in sealing an FTA with India — a strategic win for both nations.
• This puts India in a stronger position for ongoing trade talks with Washington and Brussels, as the UK deal becomes a benchmark for future agreements.

Key Highlights of the UK-India Trade Deal

• Trade Expansion:
  • The deal is projected to increase annual bilateral trade by £25.5 billion from 2040 onward.
  • In 2024, UK-India trade stood at £42.6 billion, with UK exports at £17.1 billion and imports from India at £25.5 billion.
  • India ranked as the UK’s 11th-largest trading partner in 2024.
• Tariff Reductions and Market Access
  • India’s Gains:
    • 99% of Indian exports to the UK will enjoy zero-duty access.
    • Boost for labour-intensive sectors: textiles, marine products, leather, footwear, sports goods, toys, gems & jewellery, engineering goods, auto parts, and organic chemicals.
  • UK’s Gains:
    • India to slash duties on 90% of tariff lines, with 85% becoming fully tariff-free within 10 years.
    • Lower Indian tariffs on whisky, medical devices, advanced machinery, and lamb to make UK exports more competitive.
• Major Sectors Benefitting:
  • Alcohol: Tariffs on whisky and gin will drop from 150% to 75% initially, reaching 40% by the tenth year—boosting the UK’s Scotch whisky exports.
  • Automobiles: India will cut auto import tariffs to 10% under a quota system (down from over 100%).
  • Other Goods: Reduced tariffs for British exports such as cosmetics, aerospace components, lamb, medical devices, salmon, electrical machinery, soft drinks, chocolate, and biscuits.
• Services and Workforce Mobility:
  • The deal includes increased quotas for Indian workers to take up employment in specific sectors in the UK, enhancing labour mobility and service trade cooperation.
  • Indian workers in the UK will receive a three-year exemption from social security payments, reducing financial burden and improving mobility opportunities.

Reasons Behind the Push for the Deal

• Supply Chain Disruptions & China Diversification:
  • The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of global supply chains overly reliant on China. 
  • Western countries, including the UK, sought to implement a ‘China-plus one’ strategy—diversifying supply chains by partnering with countries like India.
• Post-Brexit Market Realignment
  • After Brexit, the UK lost access to the EU’s Single Market. 
  • India, with its large and growing consumer base, emerged as a critical alternative to offset this economic gap.
• Economic Pressures in the UK
  • The UK has been grappling with a cost-of-living crisis. 
  • The FTA is viewed as a timely economic boost and a political win for PM Keir Starmer, who assumed office in July 2024.
• India’s Shift from RCEP
  • In 2019, India opted out of the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), increasing the urgency to find alternative trade alliances like the UK.

Key Issues During Negotiations

• Limited Trade Gains for India
  • According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), many Indian exports already benefit from low or zero tariffs in the UK, so the FTA’s impact on trade volume may be limited.
• Services and Work Visas
  • India prioritized better access for its service professionals, particularly in IT and healthcare. 
  • However, immigration remains a sensitive issue for the UK post-Brexit.
  • Eventually, only about 100 new work visas per year for Indian professionals were agreed upon.
• Carbon Tax Dispute
  • The UK’s proposal to impose a carbon tax on metal imports (based on emissions) raised concerns for Indian exporters, particularly in steel and aluminum. 
  • Negotiations were needed to address the potential impact on India’s competitiveness.

Beyond Trade: A Platform for Wider Collaboration

The FTA is seen as a foundation for deeper cooperation in sectors such as: Defence and security; Critical technologies; Education; Tourism and Indian diaspora engagement.

An Indian official aptly remarked: “The FTA is the floor, not the ceiling.”

UK-India Free Trade Agreement 2025 FAQs

Q1. When was the UK-India FTA signed and why is it significant?

Ans. Signed in 2025, it boosts trade, jobs, and investment, marking India’s first major Western FTA post-Brexit.

Q2. What are the key benefits for India under the FTA?

Ans. India gains zero-duty access for 99% exports, helping textiles, gems, auto parts, toys, chemicals, and more.

Q3. How will the FTA affect UK exports to India?

Ans. India reduces tariffs on whisky, medical devices, cars, machinery, and lamb—improving UK’s competitiveness in Indian markets.

Q4. Does the deal include services or worker mobility?

Ans. Yes, Indian workers get sector-specific UK employment quotas and a 3-year social security exemption for cost relief.

Q5. What broader collaborations are expected post-FTA?

Ans. FTA opens doors for deeper ties in defence, technology, education, tourism, and engagement with the Indian diaspora.

Source: IE | IE | TH | ToI

What’s in Today’s Article?

• India Satellite Communication Guidelines Latest News
• Key Compliance Requirements for Satcom Companies in India
• Current Regulatory Landscape
• India Satellite Communication Guidelines FAQs

India Satellite Communication Guidelines Latest News

• India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued stricter security guidelines for satellite communication (satcom) services. 
• It added new conditions related to data localization, website blocking, metadata collection, and the integration of the indigenous NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) positioning system. 

Key Compliance Requirements for Satcom Companies in India

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a set of security and operational guidelines for satellite communication firms such as Starlink (Elon Musk), Amazon’s Kuiper, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Jio.

Key Compliance Requirements

• Local Manufacturing
  • Companies must submit a year-wise phased manufacturing plan, aiming to indigenise at least 20% of the ground segment within five years of starting commercial operations.
• Data Localisation
  • All satellite communication-related data must be stored within India.
• Domestic Navigation System Integration
  • Mandatory integration of NavIC, India’s regional navigation system, in user terminals on a best-effort basis, with full transition required by 2029.
• Website Blocking Mechanism
  • Firms must enable systems to block government-identified websites.
• Cooperation with Law Enforcement
  • Companies are required to collect and share metadata with security agencies when requested.

Enhanced Data Localisation Requirements

• No Routing Through Foreign Gateways
  • Satcom operators must ensure that user traffic originating from or destined for India is not routed through any foreign gateway, Point of Presence (PoP), or space system not part of the designated satellite constellation.
• No Data Mirroring Abroad
  • Operators are prohibited from mirroring Indian user traffic to any server/system located outside India.
• Decryption Ban Outside India
  • Companies must undertake not to copy or decrypt Indian telecom data outside the country.
• India-Based Infrastructure Mandate
  • Data centres, DNS resolution systems, and lawful interception mechanisms must be located within India.
  • Network control, user terminal monitoring, and equipment control must also operate from within Indian territory.

National Security and Law Enforcement Cooperation

• Service Restrictions During Emergencies
  • Companies must be capable of restricting services to individuals, subscriber groups, or regions during periods of hostilities or national emergencies.
• Clearances for Voice and Data Services
  • Separate security clearances are required before launching voice or data communication services.
• Special Monitoring Zones (SMZs)
  • Designated zones include areas within 50 km of international borders and coastal regions up to the Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nautical miles).
  • These zones will be monitored by law enforcement and security agencies.
• Real-Time User Terminal Tracking
  • Operators must provide real-time location data (latitude-longitude) of all user terminals, both fixed and mobile, upon request.
  • They must also report foreign or unregistered terminals connecting from within Indian territory.

Strategic Intent

• These guidelines reflect India’s push for:
  • Digital sovereignty
  • National security
  • Promotion of indigenous technologies like NavIC
  • Boosting local manufacturing in telecom infrastructure

Current Regulatory Landscape

• Starlink is currently undergoing security clearance to begin operations in India.
• It has already formed retail partnerships with Airtel and Jio.
• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is finalising the satellite spectrum allocation framework, which will impact how these companies operate.

India Satellite Communication Guidelines FAQs

Q1. What is NavIC and why must satcom firms use it?

Ans. NavIC is India’s regional navigation system; satcom firms must integrate it for better national security and self-reliance.

Q2. What are India’s new data localisation rules for satellite firms?

Ans. Firms must store all user data in India and avoid routing or mirroring traffic through foreign servers or systems.

Q3. Which companies are affected by these new DoT guidelines?

Ans. Starlink, Amazon Kuiper, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Jio must follow India’s new rules to operate satellite communication services.

Q4. What infrastructure must satcom companies locate within India?

Ans. Data centers, DNS resolution, lawful interception, and user monitoring systems must be physically based within Indian territory.

Q5. How must firms cooperate with Indian law enforcement?

Ans. They must provide real-time user tracking, metadata, and block access in sensitive zones when requested by authorities.

Source: IE | LM | TR

What’s in Today’s Article?

• The Doctrine of Separation of Power Latest News
• Key Constitutional Principles
• Dissecting the Vice-President’s Remarks
• Judicial Accountability Mechanisms
• Interplay Between Judicial Independence, Popular Sovereignty, and Judicial Activism
• Conclusion
• The Doctrine of Separation of Power FAQs

The Doctrine of Separation of Power Latest News

• Recent comments by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar have stirred a constitutional and political debate regarding the role and powers of the judiciary vis-à-vis the executive.
• Concerns arise from his remarks calling judges a "super parliament", questioning their power to direct the President, and asserting judges are not accountable under the law.

Key Constitutional Principles

• Separation of powers:
  • The doctrine of separation of powers is a cornerstone of the Indian Constitution.
  • It ensures that the three organs - Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary - function independently.
  • Any overreach by one organ into another's domain undermines constitutional governance.
  • Even the independence of the judiciary is fully secured because of the principle of separation of powers [L. Chandra Kumar versus Union of India (1997)]. 
  • If at any time judges try to exercise their powers arbitrarily, it shall be a gross violation of Article 50 of DPSP, and the government may initiate a process for a removal of the judge concerned.
• Supremacy of the Constitution:
  • The rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution are foundational doctrines.
  • Even the President, Governors, and judiciary are bound by constitutional provisions.
  • No authority is beyond scrutiny if it violates constitutional boundaries.

Dissecting the Vice-President’s Remarks

• The 'super parliament' comment:
  • The term "super parliament" is misleading and constitutionally unsound.
  • Parliament, as a body elected by the people, holds legislative power - but this does not mean that the judiciary’s constitutional review powers encroach upon Parliament's supremacy.
  • The judiciary acts as a guardian of the Constitution, ensuring no law violates constitutional limits.
• Judiciary's role regarding Presidential assent:
  • The President of India, under Article 52, is the constitutional head and must act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers (Articles 74, 78).
  • S/he is elected according to the provisions contained in Articles 54 and 55 establishing India as a Republic.
  • If there is undue delay in granting assent to a bill, the judiciary can intervene to protect popular sovereignty.

Judicial Accountability Mechanisms

• Constitutional limits on judicial power:
• All judicial powers stem from the Constitution and must be exercised within its limits.
• Judges can be removed only on grounds of "proved misbehaviour", which includes violation of the Constitution.
• Parliament's role:
• Parliament holds the power to enact laws that can alter or overrule judicial decisions, provided it follows constitutional procedure.
• This reflects the democratic principle of checks and balances.

Interplay Between Judicial Independence, Popular Sovereignty, and Judicial Activism

• Judicial independence:
  • Vital for upholding the basic structure doctrine.
  • Shielded from arbitrary executive or legislative interference.
• Popular sovereignty: The judiciary’s actions, such as setting deadlines for the President or Governor to assent bills, aim to uphold public interest and constitutional compliance.
• Article 142 and judicial activism:
  • Empowers the Supreme Court to pass orders for complete justice.
  • Such provisions underscore the Court's role in filling legislative or executive voids when constitutional mechanisms are silent.

Conclusion

• The constitutional authorities, particularly those in high office, must speak responsibly. 
• The statement given by the VP that the law of the land does not apply to judges is not at all rational because he himself, as the second highest constitutional authority, questions the rule of law in India.
• Therefore, it is necessary to uphold the judiciary's constitutional role and emphasize that the rule of law, accountability, and constitutional supremacy are the guiding lights of Indian democracy.

The Doctrine of Separation of Power FAQs

Q1. What is the constitutional implication of calling the judiciary a ‘super parliament’?

Ans. Calling the judiciary a ‘super parliament’ is constitutionally misleading, as the judiciary functions within the doctrine of separation of powers and cannot override the will of the people represented through Parliament.

Q2. How does the Constitution ensure judicial accountability in India?

Ans. Judicial accountability is ensured through constitutional provisions allowing removal of judges on grounds of proved misbehaviour, including violation of the Constitution.

Q3. Can the judiciary set deadlines for the President or Governors regarding assent to bills? Justify.

Ans. Yes, the judiciary can set deadlines as undue delay in granting assent undermines popular sovereignty, and such directions ensure adherence to constitutional mandates.

Q4. Why is the statement that “law of the land does not apply to judges” constitutionally incorrect?

Ans. It is incorrect because all judicial powers are derived from the Constitution, and judges are bound by its provisions under the doctrine of constitutional supremacy.

Q5. How does Article 142 empower the Supreme Court in maintaining constitutional governance?

Ans. Article 142 empowers the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary to do complete justice, especially when constitutional provisions or laws are silent on a matter.

Source: TH