Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.
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What’s the ongoing story: The Department of Posts, under the Ministry of Communications, on Saturday decided to temporarily suspend the booking of all types of US-bound postal articles with effect from August 25, except letters, documents and gift items up to $100 in value, an official statement said.
Key Points to Ponder:
— What are tariffs? Why are tariffs imposed?
— How are tariffs retaliated?
— Why the U.S. imposition of a 25% tariff plus penalty against India represents a significant departure from prior U.S. trade strategy regarding tariff differentials.
— What are India’s import and export trends with regard to US?
— What can be the implications of the higher tariff imposed by the US on India?
— Read about the India-US trade deal talks.
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— What strategies is India using to navigate potential trade negotiations with the U.S.?
— What is fentanyl?
Key Takeaways:
— This comes after the US, on July 30, withdrew the duty-free de minimis exemption for goods valued up to $800 from August 29. This means that all international postal items destined for the US, regardless of their value, will be subject to customs duties under the US tariff framework.
— “The Department of Posts is closely monitoring the evolving situation in coordination with all stakeholders, and every effort is being made to normalise services at the earliest possible opportunity,” the Ministry of Communications said.
— As per the White House, the de minimis exemption has been “abused”, with shippers sending illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, precursors and paraphernalia into the US “in reliance on the lower security measures applied to de minimis shipments, killing Americans”.
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— New Delhi-based think tank, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), said the suspension underscores the immediate fallout of Washington’s new trade measures, which are expected to disrupt global e-commerce and hit exporters in India and other countries that depended on small-value, duty-free shipping.
— Under the new regime, all inbound parcels will attract tariffs. GTRI explained that international postal shipments will remain duty-free until the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) establishes a new entry process and publishes it.
— However, as US systems to implement these changes are not yet fully in place, there is uncertainty over how much duty will be charged on shipments arriving after August 29. As a precaution, India Post has announced it will halt most mail to the US starting August 25, citing carriers’ inability to process parcels under the new rules, GTRI said.
Do You Know:
— Tariffs are taxes or duties imposed by a government on imported goods and services. Their objective is to make foreign products more expensive compared to domestically produced goods, thereby encouraging consumers to prefer local products. Tariffs also act as a protective measure for domestic industries against foreign competition. Additionally, they serve as a source of revenue for the government.
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— US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, along with a penalty for procuring military equipment and energy from Russia, has key consequences.
— One, it puts India at a disadvantage in comparison to competitors. Two, it put the onus back on the Indian side to fast-track its negotiations for an interim deal with the US. Indications are that the outer limit for a deal, currently pegged at around October from New Delhi’s perspective, might need to be brought forward.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Jaishankar hits out at US tariff, says talks on, ‘lines not cut’
UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
(1) Consider the following statements:
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1. Tariffs are taxes or duties imposed by a government on imported goods and services.
2. Objective of tariffs is to make foreign products more expensive compared to domestically produced goods
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
EXPRESS NETWORK
CJI: Unequal treatment to unequals to make them equal
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
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Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Constitution, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
What’s the ongoing story: Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Saturday raised how he has been criticised for his judgment on the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes for reservation, including by the people from his own community.
Key Points to Ponder:
— What are the constitutional provisions related to the right to equality and for the protection of SC and ST?
— What is the socio-economic status of SC and ST in India?
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— What are the ‘doctrine of equality’ and ‘doctrine of classification’?
— What is the Presidential List of Scheduled Castes?
— What is sub-classification within castes?
— What are the arguments for and against the sub-classification of SC, and ST?
— What is the debate about the ‘creamy layer’ in SC, and ST reservations?
— Why reservations for SC and ST were introduced?
Key Takeaways:
— In a landmark 6-1 majority ruling in August 2024, a seven-judge Constitution Bench held that Scheduled Castes do not constitute a socially homogeneous class and can be sub-classified by states for the purpose of providing reservation to the less privileged among them.
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— The CJI said the Article 14 of the Constitution “does not mean that equality amongst all equals”.
— “What is contemplated is that an unequal treatment to unequals so that they become equal, is what our Constitution promises. And therefore, by putting a child of a labourer residing in a village and a child of a chief secretary residing in Mumbai and studying in the best of the schools and the best of facilities, my view was that it hits at the very basic concept of equality, and fortunately, my view is supported by three other Honourable judges of the SC,” the CJI said.
Do You Know:
— Article 341 of the Constitution allows the President, through a public notification, to list as SC “castes, races or tribes” that suffered from the historical injustice of untouchability. SC groups are jointly accorded 15% reservation in education and public employment.
— The landmark 6-1 majority ruling in August 2024 of a seven-judge Constitution Bench overturned the apex court’s 2004 decision in E V Chinnaiah v State of Andhra Pradesh, in which it had held that the SC/ST list is a “homogenous group” that cannot be divided further.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Explained: Supreme Court’s verdict on sub-classification of SCs and STs
📍Milestone after Mandal: Supreme Court allows new quotas within SC/ST quota
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering Similar Theme:
(2) Consider the following organizations/bodies in India: (UPSC CSE 2023)
1. The National Commission for Backward Classes
2. The National Human Rights Commission
3. The National Law Commission
4. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
How many of the above constitutional bodies?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs). (UPSC CSE 2017)
ECONOMY
As EU eases climate trade rules under US pressure, India to press for similar relief
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation.
Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
What’s the ongoing story: With the European Union (EU) offering concessions to US manufacturers on contentious climate-related trade rules such as the carbon tax and deforestation regulation, Indian negotiators plan to push for similar relief during the upcoming round of talks in Brussels next month, a senior government official told The Indian Express.
Key Points to Ponder:
— Read about the EU and India-EU trade deal.
— What is the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)? Which sectors are presently covered under the EU’s CBAM?
— What can be the potential impact of the EU’s CBAM on India’s exports?
— What is the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)?
— What are the key challenges in India-EU trade negotiations with respect to carbon taxation and data privacy concerns?
— What are India’s concerns regarding the EU climate regulations?
— What is the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)? How does it apply to India’s opposition to the EU’s carbon tax?
Key Takeaways:
— Negotiations on the entire gamut of climate-related trade rules, particularly the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), have been among the most challenging areas in the India-EU trade deal, as New Delhi is concerned that EU climate regulations could erode the benefits Indian exporters receive under the trade agreement.
— According to the EU-US trade deal joint statement released last week, EU said: “Taking note of the US concerns related to treatment of US small and medium-sized businesses under CBAM, the European Commission, in addition to the recently agreed increase of the de minimis exception, commits to work to provide additional flexibilities in the CBAM implementation.”
— The carbon tax, which will ensure that imported carbon-intensive goods into the EU bear a carbon cost starting January 2026, is seen by several developing nations as discriminatory and in conflict with international environmental law. Brazil, China, India and South Africa have raised serious concerns about CBAM in World Trade Organization (WTO) forums and Russia initiated a formal dispute on May 12 this year.
— The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) makes large companies legally responsible for identifying and addressing human rights and environmental risks throughout their operations and global supply chains.
— Official trade data shows that steel and aluminium shipments to the EU have already dropped by 24.4 per cent – from $7.71 billion to $5.82 billion in FY25 compared with the previous financial year. This is concerning as Indian products are already facing 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium in the US market.
— The EU’s CBAM currently covers iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen. However, the provisions suggest that the list of items could be expanded, potentially raising the risk for Indian exporters. India’s exports to Europe reached $98 billion during the last financial year, according to official data.
— Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal have described the CBAM as an “unfair” measure and a violation of the “common but differentiated responsibilities” (CBDR) principle of multilateral climate negotiations. This principle asserts that while all countries must act on climate change, their responsibilities are not equal due to differing levels of economic development.
Do You Know:
— The CBAM or Carbon Tax was first introduced by the European Union in 2021. It taxes certain products coming in from other countries based on their carbon emissions footprint in their production process. For instance, if the imported steel was produced through a process that entailed higher emissions than the emissions standards for that product in Europe, it would be taxed.
— CBAM allows industries in Europe to remain competitive while continuing to maintain high environmental standards. It prevents these industries from relocating their production to countries where the production might be cheap owing to less strict emission norms, a situation described as carbon leakage. In the process, it hopes to contribute to reducing global emissions.
— However, it hurts the export competitiveness of developing countries such as China and India. The developing countries point out that CBAM overlooks the “differentiation” embedded in the global climate architecture that allows them to be treated differently from the developed nations.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Knowledge Nugget: What is Carbon Tax and why is it important for UPSC exam?
UPSC Prelims Practice and Previous year Question Covering similar theme:
(3) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2023)
Statement-I: Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change.
Statement-II: Carbon markets transfer resources from the private sector to the State.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
(4) With reference to Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM), consider the following statements:
1. It is an import duty that is imposed by the US on goods produced in other countries by processes that lead to greater carbon emissions than domestic US manufacturers are allowed to emit.
2. BRICS nations have “condemned and rejected” this mechanism and similar restrictive trade measures, saying they undermine their transition to a cleaner economy.
Which of the statements given above is/are true?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Science behind road laying, drain construction offers a fix for waterlogged roads
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance.
Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
What’s the ongoing story: Just a single bout of heavy rain exposes the big gap in the very foundational infrastructure of Delhi-NCR or any city across India — their roads and drains. In suburbs such as Gurugram, touted as a showpiece of India’s economic prowess, most roads periodically turn into waterways.
Key Points to Ponder:
— Urbanisation and challenges associated with it- Know in detail
— What are the factors that lead to waterlogging in urban areas?
— What are the Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines for urban drainage?
— What is hydroplaning?
— Why is coordination between local bodies and road authorities important in preventing urban waterlogging?
— What is the role of rainwater harvesting and stormwater management practices as solutions to the problem of waterlogging?
Key Takeaways:
— While there are many factors that lead to water logging in an area, whether the construction of the road and its drainage system was done in a scientific manner holds prime importance. Indian Road Congress (IRC), the premier technical body of highway engineers, has laid down codes and standards for road, highway and drainage construction.
— According to the IRC, a road drainage system must satisfy two main criteria for it to be effective throughout its design life — it must drain surface and subsurface water away from the roadway and dispose it off in a way that prevents excessive collection of water in unstable areas and subsequent downstream erosion.
— The drainage system should be designed in line with the IRC codes namely IRC:SP:42-2014 (Guidelines on Rural Drainage), IRC:SP:50-2013 (Guidelines on Urban Drainage) and IRC:SP-90-2023 (Manual for Grade Separators and Elevated Structures). In addition, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ (MoRTH) specifications for Road and Bridges (5th Revision) under clauses 309 and 704 provide the framework for effective surface and subsurface drainage.
— The IRC guidelines for urban drainage, which were first published in 1999 and revised in 2013, list out a total of seven key structures and their parameters or specifications for an effective drainage system integrated with the roads and highways. These elements are:
• Road surface drainage
• Storm water management practices
• Storm water drainage system and appurtenances
• Sub surface drainage
• Drainage of special locations
• Rain water harvesting (RWH) in buildings
• Drainage through pumping.
— Urban drainage systems, an official said referring to the IRC Code, should be designed to promote infiltration of storm water into the ground starting from street-level drains and continuing through tertiary, secondary, and primary drains. This can be achieved by redesigning existing drainage cross-sections and providing filter mediums (e.g., gravel, sand, perforated polyester fabric like geotextile) or filter beds at alternate junctions, according to the guidelines.
— Rainwater on flyovers should be drained through an efficient piping network (down-take pipes or pipes embedded in piers) to rainwater harvesting systems or drains, avoiding direct discharge onto the road below.
— Road construction is a complex process as it involves multiple stakeholders and clearances from many departments. The coordination between the relevant departments, especially local bodies, is necessary to get rid of the problem of waterlogging.
Do You Know:
— India has the second largest road network in the World of about 63.45 lakh km, comprising national highways (1.46 lakh km), expressways, state Highways (1.79 lakh km), Major District Roads, other district roads and village roads. These roads come under the jurisdiction of multiple authorities such as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), and the Public Work Departments (PWDs), among others.
— Thus, the role of local authorities such as municipal corporations becomes important because they have to link the drainage along these highways and roads to the main drainage system of the city.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Indian cities have a drainage problem
📍Knowledge Nugget: World Bank report on Indian cities — why it matters for UPSC prep
OPINION
Untold stories of Bengali women revolutionaries
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: History of India and Indian National Movement.
Mains Examination: General Studies-II: The Freedom Struggle —its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
What’s the ongoing story: Samayeta Bal writes- “On August 15, India celebrated its 79th Independence Day. While the freedom struggle continues to be defined by towering figures and well-documented milestones, it is equally marked by quiet, determined resistance, often led by those whose names were pushed to the margins. Among these are the women revolutionaries of Bengal, who not only confronted the British Empire but also defied the deeply entrenched patriarchy of their own society. Their legacy is not only inspirational; it is essential to our understanding of what true freedom demands.”
Key Points to Ponder:
— Read about the women revolutionaries of India’s freedom struggle.
— How did women revolutionaries challenge colonial rule and patriarchy?
— How literary resistance contributed to India’s nationalist movement.
— In what ways did female revolutionaries like Savitribai Phule and Begum Rokeya challenge caste- and religion-based discrimination in education?
— How can the legacy of female revolutionaries inspire action to address the gender gap in education today?
Key Takeaways:
— “These women waged a battle on two fronts: Against colonial domination and social constraints. In early 20th-century Bengal, women were expected to adhere to narrow roles — their education was discouraged, early marriage and widowhood were common, and purdah kept upper-caste women confined to the domestic sphere. In this atmosphere, even joining the nationalist cause came with suspicion. Revolutionary groups like Surya Sen’s initially doubted women’s capacity for leadership and sacrifice.”
— “Despite such scepticism, they emerged as forces of resistance, often surpassing expectations. Their methods ranged from the armed and overt to the intellectual and covert. Some led attacks, some smuggled weapons, and others educated the next generation of girls quietly in their courtyards. Every act was calibrated resistance.”
— “Pritilata Waddedar, for instance, led a daring armed assault on the European Club at Chittagong in 1932, a site infamous for its racial segregation policies. Refusing capture, she consumed cyanide and embraced martyrdom, leaving behind leaflets and letters urging Indian women to “not remain in the background. Her courage was matched by Kalpana Datta, who participated in the Chittagong armoury raid and later chronicled her experience, documenting how women were not mere auxiliaries but “equal tacticians and partners”.”
— “Parallel to these overt actions ran a powerful current of literary resistance. Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, whose contributions predate the armed revolutionaries, remains a towering figure in feminist and intellectual circles. Her novella Sultana’s Dream envisioned a society led by women, governed by reason and peace, and freed from the shackles of both patriarchy and colonialism.”
— “Her writing was not utopian fantasy but a radical blueprint. She not only established schools for Muslim girls in Kolkata but went door to door, persuading families to educate their daughters, turning quiet dialogue into a revolutionary act.”
— “Then, there were those who used their bodies as shields. Nanibala Devi, a widowed Brahmin woman, defied caste and gender expectations by posing as a mother, wife, servant — anything the revolution required. Arrested and tortured in Peshawar, she chose silence over betrayal. Her story, like so many others, survived not in textbooks but in oral histories, forgotten journals and the recollections of fellow fighters.”
— “The legend of Matangini Hazra, affectionately remembered as Gandhi Buri, underscores the scope of popular resistance among women across class lines. An illiterate widow from Tamluk, she led a procession during the Quit India Movement in 1942 and was shot multiple times while holding the tricolour aloft, chanting “Vande Mataram” till her final breath. Her death was not just an act of martyrdom; it was a national statement. It declared that freedom was not the preserve of the elite, but the rightful inheritance of every Indian soul.”
— “These stories do not exist in isolation. They represent a powerful continuum of resistance that has too often been overshadowed by male-centric narratives. From Pather Dabi hidden in bags to underground journals passed in secret, and leading armed raids to enduring torture in silence, these women expanded the very definition of what it meant to be a revolutionary.”
— “As India stands tall this Independence Day, it is time to remember these women — not as footnotes to a masculine history, but as foundational architects of freedom.”
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Explained: Women heroes of India’s freedom struggle
📍The forgotten revolutionaries of Bengal
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
(5) With reference to Indian freedom struggle, Usha Mehta is well-known for ( UPSC CSE 2011)
(a) Running the secret Congress Radio in the wake of Quit India Movement
(b) Participating in the Second Round Table Conference
(c) Leading a contingent of Indian National Army
(d) Assisting in the formation of Interim Government under Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
ALSO IN NEWS
Additionally, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has finalised French major Safran to join hands with the Bengaluru-based Gas Turbine Research Establishment to manufacture an advanced jet engine in India which will power India’s indigenous fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
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