Nuclear Scientist Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber Killed In Israeli Strike: Report
Iranian state television said Tuesday an overnight Israeli strike killed a nuclear scientist in northern Iran, before US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire was taking effect between the Middle Eastern foes.
Citing sources, the broadcaster reported the killing of Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber at his parents' residence in Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh in northern Iran.
Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber was under US sanctions. Several days ago, his 17-year-old son was reported killed in a strike on their home in Tehran, the broadcaster said.
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The Hindu
34 minutes ago
- The Hindu
India stands ready to help resolve conflict: MEA on West Asia situation
Hours after U.S. President Donald Trump's claims of an Iran-Israel ceasefire, India on Tuesday (June 24, 2025) said it stands ready to play its part to resolve the situation and insisted on "dialogue and diplomacy" as the way forward. New Delhi said it remained "deeply concerned" about the overall situation, but welcomed reports of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Israel-Iran conflict updates on June 24, 2025 "We have been following developments overnight relating to the conflict between Iran and Israel, including the US action against Iran's nuclear facilities and Iranian retaliation against US military bases in Qatar," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. "While we remain deeply concerned about the prospects for overall and sustained regional security and stability, we welcome reports of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel and the role played by the US and Qatar in bringing it about," it said. New Delhi again called for resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. "We wish to reiterate that there is no alternative to dialogue and diplomacy in order to address and resolve the multiple conflicts in the region," the MEA said in a statement. "India stands ready to play its part in these efforts and hopes that all concerned parties will work towards sustained peace and stability," it said.
News18
37 minutes ago
- News18
Protests, CIA's Coup & $5 Million: How US Changed Regime In Iran In 1953 Explained
Last Updated: The 1953 Iran coup: Years after Iranian PM Mohammad Mossadegh was overthrown, a declassified CIA document revealed how the agency was involved in it In the Israel-Iran conflict, US President Donald Trump has joined hands with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has been repeatedly exerting pressure on Iran, even mentioning the possibility of ouster of Tehran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranians, however, are not new to the United States (US) enforcing a regime change in their country. In 1953, the US helped stage a coup to overthrow Iran's democratically elected prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh. Why? Mossadegh wanted to nationalise the country's oil fields, which would hit the US and Great Britain, which were dependent on oil from the Middle East. The move gained popularity in Iran and was seen as victory for the then-USSR. The coup was meant to support Iran's monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to rule as Shah of Iran, and appoint a new prime minister – General Fazlollah Zahedi. The independent National Security Archive research institute had published the document. The the declassification marked the CIA's first formal acknowledgment of its involvement. The documents were declassified in 2011 and given to George Washington University research group under the Freedom of Information Act. WHAT THE DOCUMENTS SHOWED According to a CNN report, the documents showed that the CIA, along with the British Secret Intelligence Service, organised large protests against Mossadegh in 1953, which the Army eventually joined. To offer some stability to Zahedi, the CIA made $5,000,000 available within two days of him taking power. The Shah was an ally of the US. However, unhappy with the interference, the anti-American sentiment kept growing in the country. In the late 1970s, millions of Iranians took to the streets against his regime, which they viewed as corrupt and illegitimate. The Shah was toppled in the 1979 Islamic revolution, which ended the country's western-backed monarchy and ushered in the start of the Islamic Republic and clerical rule. Thus began the rule of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a Shia cleric, as the Supreme Leader, the highest authority in the new system based on Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist). After Khomeini's death, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei became the Supreme Leader of Iran on June 4, 1989. 2025: US SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL Israel wants the US to join the conflict and use its unique military edge and weaponry, such as the GBU-57 bunker-busting bomb, to destroy the Iranian nuclear complex at Fordow, which is buried deep underground. The general opinion is that Israel can delay the programme, but only the US can destroy it. The US has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East, deploying over 31 refueling aircraft to Europe and redirecting the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the region. The move is to enhance air power and ensure protection of American assets amid the intensifying conflict. Trump has warned Tehran's residents to ' evacuate", signaling a readiness for more direct involvement if necessary. On Monday evening, the president wrote on Truth Social that 'IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON". He has also clearly said that 'Iran cannot win this war". Trump refused to sign a draft joint statement prepared by G7 leaders calling for a de-escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran. The US President, however, vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. top videos View all Meanwhile, in a sign that Iran did not want US involvement, it has not directly targeted US bases or personnel, nor has it widened the conflict, by going after shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. With CNN Inputs First Published: News explainers Protests, CIA's Coup & $5 Million: How US Changed Regime In Iran In 1953 Explained
Indian Express
37 minutes ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Al Udeid air base, State of Climate in Asia and Child labour in India
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for June 24, 2025. If you missed the June 23, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE War widens: Iran hits US base in Qatar Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests What's the ongoing story: Iran said it had fired missiles at Al Udeid air base in Qatar. This came after the United States carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Residents of Doha, the capital of Qatar, saw missiles and defence systems in action during the night. Iran's state TV said the attack on Al Udeid was 'a mighty and successful response' to what it called 'America's aggression.' Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work-Al Udeid air base • Iran's missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar-what you know so far? • How the advance warning by Iran to the U.S. and Qatar reflects a calibrated military messaging strategy? • What is the role of Qatar's air defences in regional security and the implications of a Gulf ally being directly involved? • How the expansion of the conflict zone to include Qatar reflects broader regional escalation dynamics? • India and Qatar-know in detail • Indians in Qatar-Know in detail Key Takeaways: • Al Udeid Air Base is very important for the US military in the Middle East. It is the main base for US Central Command, also called CENTCOM, which oversees military operations in the region. The base is located in the desert outside Doha. • According to the US Congressional Research Service (CRS), the base covers 24 hectares and houses around 10,000 US troops at any time. The base has been used by US forces for more than 20 years. Since 2003, Qatar has spent over $8 billion to help build and improve the base. The agreement allowing US forces to use Al Udeid was recently extended for another 10 years. • Al Udeid hosts a range of military equipment. This includes refuelling planes (KC-135 Stratotankers), large cargo aircraft (C-17 Globemasters and C-130 Hercules), surveillance aircraft, and missile defence systems like the Patriot system. The base also has advanced radar to help detect missiles. • The base plays a key role in US efforts to deter Iran, counter extremist groups, and support allies in the region, according to CRS reports. Al Udeid is CENTCOM's forward headquarters. The main CENTCOM headquarters is in Florida. • Al Udeid is also linked to other US activities in Qatar. A nearby former army base, Camp As Sayliyah, has been used to process Afghans seeking resettlement since 2022. • Iran's attack on the base marks a major rise in tensions. The base is a central point for US military action in the region and could be targeted again if the conflict continues. Do You Know: • The Indian community is the largest expat community in the country, which has one of the highest per capita income in the world. • India has had a robust political and economic relationship with Qatar, and has maintained high-level contacts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Qatar on February 14-15, 2024. This was his second visit to Qatar. Modi had been on a state visit to Doha on June 4-5, 2016. • There are over 20,000 big and small Indian companies operating in Qatar, either wholly-owned or joint ventures, in sectors like infrastructure, communications and information technology, energy. • The over 8.3 lakh-strong Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Qatar and is engaged in a wide spectrum of professions including medicine, engineering, education, finance, banking, business and media apart from a large number of blue-collared workers. • According to Invest Qatar, Indian companies have invested over USD 350 million in Qatar for the period 2017-2025. Indian companies from across sectors have been present in Qatar for over several years. • Currently, there are over 60,000 Indian students studying in 19 Indian schools and a few in international schools all over Qatar. There are approximately 4,500 faculty and non-faculty in Indian Schools alone. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Qatar condemns attack, Bahrain suspends flights in its airspace India set to ramp up oil imports from Russia, Africa, US and Latin America Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests. What's the ongoing story: The escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict and Tehran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz are likely to push Indian refiners to further ramp up oil purchases from non-West Asian suppliers — mainly Russia, West Africa, the US and Latin America — as shipping routes to Indian ports from these suppliers are detached from the critical choke point in the Persian Gulf, according to industry sources and experts. Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work-Strait of Hormuz • What is the Strait of Hormuz? • Why is the Strait of Hormuz strategically important for India? • How does the Israel-Iran conflict pose a threat to global oil and gas flows? • India's dependency on oil imports through the Strait of Hormuz-know in detail • What are the potential economic consequences of a conflict-induced blockade of the Strait of Hormuz especially for India? • India's diversification of crude oil imports-why? • What are the benefits and risks of India's increasing dependence on discounted Russian crude in the current global geopolitical climate? • How India's ramped-up imports from Africa support its pursuit of energy security? • How does crude import strategy interact with India's broader clean energy transition and environmental goals? • Analyse the relationship between crude oil import and India's energy security. • What steps can the government take to mitigate the impact of fluctuating crude oil imports? Key Takeaways: • In fact, India's oil sourcing strategy is already reflecting a risk-hedged posture pertaining to West Asian oil flows with Russian oil dominating India's oil import mix. • Following US air strikes at Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, Iran's parliament Sunday approved a motion calling for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit choke point in global energy flows. It is now up to Iran's Supreme National Security Council to decide on whether or not to go ahead to try and choke the Strait of Hormuz. • Iran has in the past threatened to close the strait on multiple occasions, but has never actually done it. Even in the current scenario, industry experts also expect the possibility of an actual closure to be really low. Notwithstanding that, a heightened risk of the closure is bound to raise concerns globally, including in India, particularly with regard to oil and gas supply security, and could lead to a jump in energy prices. Do You Know: • The Strait of Hormuz is a critical and narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) calls it the 'world's most important oil transit chokepoint', with around one-fifth of global liquid petroleum fuel consumption and global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade transiting the strait. • According to tanker data analysed by The Indian Express, over 45 per cent of crude oil imported by Indian refiners in May was likely to have been transported via the Strait of Hormuz. The importance of the chokepoint for India's energy supply and security cannot be understated because the country is the world's third-largest consumer of crude oil and depends on imports to meet over 85 per cent of its requirement. • Tanker data sourced from commodity market analytics firm Kpler shows that so far in June, India has imported over 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil, accounting for over 41 per cent of the country's oil imports. • Crude oil imports from the US have also grown sequentially, while imports from West Asia – primarily Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait – have largely remained stable. A bulk of these import cargoes would have been scheduled before the latest conflagration between Israel and Iran, and therefore, would not have fully factored in the recent escalation in tensions. • India's oil import strategy has evolved significantly over the past two-three years, with Russia displacing the West Asian majors as India's largest source of crude. And Russian oil is logistically detached from the Strait of Hormuz as it reaches India mostly via the Suez Canal and Red Sea route, and in some cases via the Cape of Good Hope and the Pacific Ocean routes. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Strait of Hormuz closure: What's in store for energy markets, India's oil imports India seeks pause in World Bank expert's proceedings over Kishanganga & Ratle Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighbourhood- relations. What's the ongoing story: India has written to the World Bank's neutral expert, Michel Lino, requesting a pause in his proceedings on the Ratle and Kishanganga hydropower disputes, following the Union government's decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, The Indian Express has learned. Key Points to Ponder: • What is Ratle and Kishanganga hydropower disputes? • What and why India has written to the World Bank's neutral expert, Michel Lino? • What triggered India's move to pause World Bank-appointed proceedings under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)? • What are the implications of India's suspension of the IWT on the viability of dispute resolution mechanisms under the treaty framework? • How pausing World Bank-appointed proceedings impacts India's legal position and international water diplomacy. • What are the challenges and opportunities that arise from the construction of hydroelectric projects in shared river basins, with specific reference to the Indus River system? Key Takeaways: • Lino is understood to have sought Pakistan's views on India's request, which Islamabad has opposed. The disputes being heard by Lino since 2022 concern two Indian hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir — Kishanganga, on the Kishanganga river, and Ratle, on the Chenab river. • A French dam engineer and, until recently, the president of the International Commission on Large Dams, Lino was appointed by the World Bank on October 13, 2022, under Article IX and Annexure F of the Indus Waters Treaty. • His mandate is to hear both India and Pakistan and determine whether the design of these projects complies with the treaty. Pakistan claims India is violating the treaty, particularly on minimum water flow requirements. • Following the Union Cabinet's decision to keep the the treaty in abeyance 'until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism,' the Indian government formally notified Lino and requested that he vacate the mutually agreed 'work programme' pertaining to the Kishanganga and Ratle disputes. In its response to Lino, Pakistan objected to India's stance and opposed any proposal to suspend the dispute resolution proceedings. • As per the agreed 2025 work programme, which India now wants vacated, Pakistan was to submit its written response – or counter memorial – to India's submission by August 7. The fourth meeting of the neutral expert with both sides was scheduled for November 17 to 22. • This meeting would have been significant, involving the presentation of India's written arguments (memorial) and Pakistan's counter, questioning by the neutral expert, and preparations for a second site visit to India, likely in December. Do You Know: • After The Pahalgam attack, India kept the IWT in abeyance 'until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism'. Under the IWT, the waters of the 'Eastern Rivers' — Sutlej, Beas and Ravi – are for India's unrestricted use, while the 'Western Rivers' – Indus, Jhelum, Chenab – are primarily for Pakistan. • According to top government sources, New Delhi is currently not inclined to engage in discussions with Islamabad on the matter, and the treaty will remain in abeyance for now. • Meanwhile, sources said the government has drawn up a plan to construct a canal to divert water from the Indus river system to various Indian states. It has also carried out two flushing exercises at Baglihar and Salal – two run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects on the Chenab in J&K – to clear sediment that hampers power generation. • These are the first such exercises since Salal was built in 1987 and Baglihar in 2008–09. Pakistan had previously blocked such activities through objections under the IWT. Officials said flushing will now be conducted on a monthly basis. • Earlier, The Indian Express had reported that the Centre is looking to fast-track four hydroelectric projects on the Chenab – Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Ratle (850 MW), Kiru (624 MW) and Kwar (540 MW). Pakal Dul is the first storage-based hydro project being built in J&K. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India-Pak rift on Indus Water Treaty: Neutral expert backs New Delhi's stand THE EDITORIAL PAGE Iran's limited options Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests What's the ongoing story: Sumit Ganguly Writes: With explicit American support for its stated military objectives, Israel is likely to feel even more emboldened. Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work-Iran • Iran before and after Islamic revolution-what you know so far? • How was the relation between Western countries and Iran before the Islamic Revolution in Iran? • Who was Mohammad Reza Pahlavi? • Why did relations with Western countries deteriorate with Iran? • Iran can't have a nuclear weapon-why? • Who to decide whether Iran can have nuclear weapon? • 'Hypocrisy of Israel and America telling Iran it can't have a nuclear weapon'-what is your take? • Why many nations want regime change in Iran? • What is the problem with current regime in Iran? • Who is Ayatollah Khomeini? Key Takeaways: Sumit Ganguly Writes: • The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a UN organisation, has stated that while the bombing has done extensive damage to the facilities at Natanz and Isfahan, it was unable to provide a firm assessment of the harm that was inflicted on Fordow, the subterranean nuclear site. • Quite predictably, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned these attacks in unequivocal terms, referring to them as 'barbaric' and a violation of international law. Other high military officials in Iran have also promised to retaliate against the United States. • Back home in the United States, a handful of the members of the US Congress, both in the House and the Senate, have stated that President Donald Trump's decision to launch these attacks constitutes a violation of the War Powers Act. • Most of the critics are Democrats, but a handful of Republicans have also expressed their misgivings about the use of force without appropriate Congressional authorisation. Trump, of course, has already threatened to run a candidate of his choice against Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who had criticised the President's unilateral actions. • The Iranian regime may well deem these acts to be necessary for the purposes of bolstering popular support at home, which had been steadily sagging before the onset of this conflict with Israel and now the United States. In the wake of the attacks, especially those of the United States, press reports indicate that there is a 'rally around the flag' syndrome within Iran. Even Iranians who have grave reservations about Ayatollah Khamenei's Islamic regime are of the view that they find the US and Israeli attacks on their homeland to be unacceptable. Do You Know: • According to CNN, Iran has spent decades developing its nuclear program and sees it as a source of national pride and sovereignty. It maintains the program is solely for peaceful energy purposes and plans to build additional nuclear power plants to meet domestic energy needs and free up more oil for export. Nuclear plants require a fuel called uranium – and according to the UN nuclear watchdog, no other country has the kind of uranium that Iran currently does without also having a nuclear weapons program. • That has fueled suspicions that Iran isn't being fully transparent about its intentions. Tehran has used its stockpile of weapons-grade uranium as a bargaining chip in talks with the United States, repeatedly saying it would get rid of it if US-led sanctions are lifted. • The US launched a nuclear program with Iran in 1957. Back then, the Western-friendly monarch – the Shah – ruled Iran and the two countries were still friends. With backing from the US, Iran started developing its nuclear power program in the 1970s. But the US pulled its support when the Shah was overthrown during the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Since the revolution, which transformed Iran into an Islamic Republic, Western nations have worried the country could use its nuclear program to produce atomic weapons using highly enriched uranium. Iran has maintained that it does not seek to build nuclear weapons. It is a party to the UN's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), under which it has pledged not to develop a bomb. • At the heart of the controversy over Iran's nuclear program is its enrichment of uranium – a process used to produce fuel for power plants that, at higher levels, can also be used to make a nuclear bomb. • In the early 2000s, international inspectors announced that they had found traces of highly enriched uranium at an Iranian plant in Natanz. Iran temporarily halted enrichment, but resumed it in 2006, insisting it was allowed under its agreement with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). • After years of negotiations, Iran and six world powers in 2015 agreed to a nuclear deal that limited Iran's nuclear threat in return for lighter sanctions. The deal required Iran to keep its uranium enrichment levels at no more than 3.67%, down from near 20%, dramatically reduce its uranium stockpile, and phase out its centrifuges, among other measures. Uranium isn't bomb-grade until it's enriched to 90% purity. And nuclear power plants that generate electricity use uranium that is enriched to between 3.5% and 5%. • In 2023, the IAEA said uranium particles enriched to 83.7% purity – close to bomb-grade levels – were found at an Iranian nuclear facility. Its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% had also grown to 128.3 kilograms, the highest level then documented. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: Challenges before IAEA after attacks on Iran's nuclear sites EXPRESS NETWORK Asia warming nearly twice global average, hit hard in 2024: WMO Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What's the ongoing story: Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on record in 2024, with its average temperature 1.04 degree Celsius above the last 30-year average, according to a new report by World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The continent is warming up nearly twice as fast as the global average, the report said. Key Points to Ponder: • What new report by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says? • State of Climate in Asia 2024 report, prepared by WMO-what are the key takeaways? • Why Asia is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average? • Evaluate the implications of accelerated glacier melt in High Mountain Asia for downstream water security. • How accelerated sea level rise in Asia is reshaping vulnerability in low lying megacities. • How does Asia's warming trend influence global climate targets under frameworks like the Paris Agreement? Key Takeaways: • The impact of this high rate of warming in 2024 manifested through a range of extreme weather events such as 29 tropical cyclones, prolonged and intense heat waves and extreme rainfall events, including India. • These weather events also caused substantial loss to local communities and economies at large, said the State of Climate in Asia 2024 report, prepared by WMO in collaboration with regional and international meteorological organisations. • Professor Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, WMO, said the report highlighted how changes in key climate indicators such as surface temperature, glacier mass and sea level will have major repercussions for societies, economies and ecosystems in the region. 'Extreme weather is already exacting an unacceptably high toll,' she said • According to the report, the surface temperatures were warmer than average for almost the entire region, particularly from western China to Japan, over the Indochina Peninsula, the Middle East and central northern Siberia. Japan, for instance, experienced its warmest year on record, exceeding the previous record set in 2023. • The region was hit by intense land heat waves as well as marine heatwaves. East Asia saw prolonged heatwaves from April to November, and the monthly average temperature records were shattered in Japan, Republic of Korea and China. Do You Know: • In India, extreme heatwaves caused over 450 deaths across the country, the report said. During heatwaves in 2024, temperatures were in the range of 45-48 degree Celsius for sustained periods and touched a high of 50 degrees at some locations. The country also saw deadly lightning events, killing about 1,300 people, the report said. • Asia's strongest and deadliest tropical cyclone in 2024 was Yagi. It impacted the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, and according to estimates the damages ran into billions of dollars. While three tropical cyclones – Remal, Fengal, Dana – made landfall in the Indian sub-continent and killed about 90 people, cyclone Asna originating from Arabian Sea caused flooding in Gujarat and killed about 50 people. • In terms of extent, marine heatwaves created a record in 2024, impacting an area of nearly 15 million square kilometres. The northern Indian Ocean, adjacent to Japan and the Yellow and East China seas faced particularly severe or extreme intensity of marine heatwaves. • Glaciers continued to lose mass, as per the report, with 23 out of 24 glaciers in the High Mountain Asia region of central-south Asia spanning Himalayas, Pamir mountains, Karakoram, Hindu Kush. • In terms of rainfall, above normal rain was observed in Arabian desert, Balochistan, parts of Myanmar, certain islands in Japan and even in Siberian plains. Very heavy rainfall affected western Asia in mid-April with daily rainfall in some areas exceeding long-term annual average rainfall. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Asia warming nearly twice global average, hit hard in 2024: WMO Rajasthan, Telangana, Bihar record highest child labour rescues in FY25: Report Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. What's the ongoing story: Signifying a major crackdown on child labour and trafficking networks, Telangana, Bihar and Rajasthan have emerged as the top three states in India for child labour rescues as well as for the number of arrests in child labour related cases in 2024-25, a study by a network working in the field of child rights has shown. Key Points to Ponder: • What report titled 'Building the Case for Zero: How Prosecution Acts as a Tipping Point to End Child Labour' says? • Which state recorded the highest number of child labour rescues in 2024 25? • What does the data say about child labour in India? • Why increase in child labour in India? • Know the socio-economic impact of child labour? • What are the steps and initiatives have been taken by the Government of India to curb child labour? • Know the state-wise distribution of child labour rescues in 2024 25 and discuss regional enforcement variations. • Explain the emergence of non-traditional sectors like spas and orchestras as hotspots for child labour, and its implications. Key Takeaways: • Of the 53,651 children rescued nationwide by a network of over 250 NGOs, Rajasthan accounted for as many as 3,847 child labour rescues while Telangana topped the list with 11,063 rescues followed by Bihar with 3,974 rescues. The network, Just Rights for Children (JRC), led the 38,889 rescue operations across 24 states and union territories in coordination with the law enforcement agencies, JRC said Monday. • The report reveals even more disturbing trends: nearly 90 percent of children rescued across India were found working in sectors classified as the worst forms of child labour — including spas, massage parlours, and orchestras — where children are subjected to prostitution, pornography, and other forms of sexual exploitation. The findings are part of the report titled 'Building the Case for Zero: How Prosecution Acts as a Tipping Point to End Child Labour', published by the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB), the research wing of JRC partner India Child Protection. • The report further states that following the raids, 38,388 FIRs were registered and 5,809 arrests were made, 85 percent of which were related to child labour. Telangana led with 11,063 children rescued, followed by Bihar (3,974), Rajasthan (3,847), Uttar Pradesh (3,804), and Delhi (2,588). A total of 5,809 individuals were arrested, 85 percent of them in child labour – related cases. Telangana, Bihar, and Rajasthan reported the highest arrests, while states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh had fewer arrests despite high rescue numbers — highlighting enforcement gaps, the report said. • Given the gravity of the situation, the report recommends launching a National Mission to End Child Labour, allocating adequate resources for it, and forming district-level Child Labour Task Forces. The report, which is based on the data from the rescue operations conducted by the country's largest NGO network working for child protection, is for the period April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. Do You Know: • The report also emphasises legal action, education, and rehabilitation for the eradication of child labour and makes several recommendations. It said that unless strict legal action is taken against offenders, it will be difficult to curb child labour. Moreover, if there are no arrangements for the education and rehabilitation of rescued children, they will fall back into the vicious cycle of child labour. Hence, a Child Labour Rehabilitation Fund is the need of the hour. • Also, ensuring free and compulsory education for up to 18 years will help in preventing child labour, as children who drop out of school are more likely to get trapped in exploitative labour, the report has stated. The report calls for comprehensive policy changes, a zero-tolerance policy on the use of child labour in government procurement, an expansion of the list of hazardous industries, state-specific child labour policies, extending the SDG 8.7 deadline to 2030, and strict, time-bound legal action against perpetrators. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Elimination of child labour a distant goal, country needs uniform definition of 'child' first: Parliamentary panel Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍Examine the main provisions of the National Child Policy and throw light on the status of its implementation. (2016) ECONOMY Statistics ministry to conduct first-ever household income survey in 2026 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. What's the ongoing story: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will conduct the first-ever Household Income Survey in 2026, with a Technical Expert Group (TEG) being set up to guide the ministry on the method of estimation and other aspects of the survey. In addition to measuring household income, the proposed survey will also try to assess the impact of adoption of technology on wages, the statistics ministry said on Monday. Key Points to Ponder: • First-ever comprehensive Household Income Survey-what you know so far? • Why has India, despite earlier attempts since the 1950s, struggled to generate reliable household income data? • Discuss the potential impact of the household income survey on India's policymaking and targeted welfare programs. • Examine the challenges of measuring household income vs consumption. • How integrating technology adoption into income surveys can help capture the changing nature of work. Key Takeaways: • The survey will be MoSPI's latest attempt to measure household income in India, with pilots conducted in the past not resulting in a nationwide survey due to difficulties in collecting reliable income data, the ministry said. These past attempts date back to the 1950s, when it tried to collect information on income as part of its consumer expenditure surveys on an experimental basis. Further attempts were made in the 1960s as part of the Integrated Household Survey. • 'However, these efforts were not continued as it was found that the estimates of income were lower than the estimates of consumption and savings put together,' MoSPI said. In the 1980s, it was again explored if it was operationally feasible to collect household income data, but it did not lead to a national survey. • According to MoSPI's latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data, India's per capita gross national income in 2024-25 was Rs 2.31 lakh in current prices, up 8.7 per cent from 2023-24. • The expert group constituted on Monday will be chaired by economist Surjit Bhalla, formerly India's Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund and a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Do You Know: • MoSPI, over the last couple of years, has conducted a variety of surveys to shed light on different parts of the Indian economy in addition to the regular ones that are used to compile key macroeconomic indicators such as GDP, Consumer Price Index, and Index of Industrial Production. These include annual surveys on unincorporated enterprises, the service sector, a forward-looking survey on private sector capital expenditure, and domestic travel and tourism, among others. • Last month, the ministry released the result of its maiden monthly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which had so far been conducted only on a quarterly basis for urban areas and annually for rural areas. The revamped monthly PLFS also seeks details about households' usual monthly income from rent, pension, interest, and remittances. However, the findings related to these details have so far not been released. • Some of the key surveys whose results will be released over the next few months include the Annual Survey of Industries for 2023-24 and Household Social Consumption: Health. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India's top 1% income, wealth shares have reached historical highs: World Inequality Lab For any queries and feedback, contact Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
