UPSC Civil Services Mains schedule out; to be held in August
This year, the Commission notified a total of 979 vacancies. The Preliminary exam was conducted on May 25, 2025, and the results were announced in June.
Direct link to the exam schedule.
Meanwhile, the registrations are underway for the AO, JSO, other posts at upsc.gov.in. Candidates can submit their forms till July 17, 2025. The recruitment drive aims to fill 241 vacancies. Applicants can check the eligibility criteria, age limit, pay scale, and other details available in the notification below:
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The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Google vs CCI: What the Android antitrust case means for India's digital ecosystem
Story so far: On August 8, 2025, the Supreme Court admitted an appeal filed by Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, against a judgment of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). The tribunal had earlier upheld, at least in part, the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) findings that Google had abused its dominant position in the Android ecosystem to indulge in anti-competitive practices. Alongside Google's appeal, the Court also admitted related petitions from the CCI itself and the Alliance Digital India Foundation (ADIF), which is a coalition of Indian startups critical of Big Tech dominance. A bench led by Justice P.S. Narasimha has listed the matter for a detailed hearing in November. What has the CCI accused Google of? The CCI's investigation into Google began in 2020, sparked by complaints from app developers and industry groups who alleged that Google was using its market dominance in Android to push its own services and restrict fair competition. By 2022, the Commission concluded that Google had engaged in multiple anti-competitive practices. Chief among them was the mandatory use of the Google Play Billing System (GPBS) for in-app purchases on the Play Store. This meant that developers had to use Google's payment processing system, paying a commission that typically ranged between 15% and 30%, rather than integrating their own billing solutions. The regulator also found that Google exempted its own app YouTube from these billing requirements, giving them a cost advantage over competing services. This, the CCI argued, distorted the level-playing field and harmed both rival developers and consumers. In addition, the CCI highlighted that the Android licensing model required smartphone makers to pre-install Google's suite of apps — Search, Chrome, YouTube, and others — as a condition for access to the Google Play Store. According to the Commission, this bundling restricted consumer choice and suppressed innovation from alternative app providers. Based on these findings, the CCI imposed a fine of ₹936.44 crore on Google and issued a set of behavioural remedies, including directives to decouple Google's payment system from Play Store access, ensure transparency in billing data, and refrain from using such data to advantage its own services. What is Google's defence? Google rejected the CCI's conclusions, arguing that its practices were designed to enhance user experience, maintain security, and enable a sustainable business model for the Android ecosystem. The company maintained that Android is an open-source operating system, available for free to device manufacturers, and that OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) are not obligated to install Google's proprietary apps if they choose to license the core Android platform without Play Store access. It argued that pre-installing a set of Google apps was a matter of efficiency and user convenience, and did not prevent users from downloading competing apps. On the billing side, Google claimed that GPBS ensured safe and reliable transactions for users, helping to prevent fraud and reduce payment failures. The commission fees, it said, were consistent with industry standards and provided developers access to Google's global infrastructure, distribution reach, and regular security updates. Google also argued that exempting certain in-house services from GPBS was not anti-competitive but a recognition of differences in their business models. It pointed out that many leading Indian apps like PhonePe, Paytm, and Hotstar had grown successfully on Android, which shows that the market remained vibrant and competitive. What was the NCLAT's judgment? In March, the NCLAT delivered its ruling on Google's appeal against the CCI's 2022 order. The tribunal upheld several of the CCI's findings, agreeing that Google's mandatory billing policy and bundling of apps amounted to abuse of dominance. However, it reduced the financial penalty from ₹936.44 crore to ₹216.69 crore, reasoning that the original amount was disproportionate to the conduct in question. The NCLAT also struck down some of the CCI's behavioural directions, holding that certain remedies were either over-broad or lacked sufficient evidentiary basis. In May 2025, following a review petition, the tribunal reinstated two key directions that Google must be transparent about its billing data policies, and that it must not use such data to gain a competitive advantage for its own apps and services. This partial victory left all parties dissatisfied. Google sought a complete reversal of the findings, the CCI wanted its original penalties and remedies restored in full, and ADIF argued that the tribunal had gone too easy on Google. What's at stake now? The case raises fundamental questions about how much control a dominant platform like Android should have over the devices and services it supports, and to what extent regulators can intervene in the name of competition. For consumers, a ruling in favour of the CCI could mean more choice and potentially lower prices. If developers can bypass GPBS and use cheaper payment systems, they might pass on some of the savings to users. Greater transparency and restrictions on data use could also enhance privacy and fairness in app rankings and recommendations. However, industry observers warn that loosening Google's control could lead to more fragmentation in Android, with different devices offering inconsistent user experiences. For smartphone makers, the verdict could influence licensing costs and product flexibility. If the Supreme Court upholds the CCI's original remedies, OEMs might gain more leeway to pre-install competing services or experiment with alternative Android versions without losing access to the Play Store. This could be especially significant for smaller Indian brands that have struggled to differentiate themselves in a Google-centric ecosystem. For Indian startups and app developers, the case represents an opportunity to level the playing field against a global giant. ADIF has argued that Google's policies not only limit payment options but also give it an undue edge in promoting its own apps. A strong pro-CCI ruling could give local companies better bargaining power and distribution access. For Google, the stakes go beyond India. The country is one of its largest markets by user base, and an adverse ruling here could trigger similar regulatory demands in other jurisdictions. It could also force Google to reconsider its global Android business model, especially if courts require it to unbundle services or open its billing systems. What's the road ahead? The Supreme Court's hearings in November will likely examine both the legal interpretation of 'abuse of dominance' under Indian competition law and the economic realities of platform markets. Whatever the outcome, the decision will set an important precedent for how India balances innovation, consumer protection, and market fairness in the digital era. With Android powering over 95% of smartphones in the country, the Court's ruling will directly influence how hundreds of millions of Indians access apps, make payments, and use mobile services in the years to come. If the case ends with strong enforcement of the CCI's original directions, India could emerge as a leading example of robust digital market regulation outside the EU. On the other hand, if the Court sides with Google, it will reaffirm the status quo.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Why is the IMF's World Economic Outlook relevant for UPSC Exam?
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your UPSC current affairs knowledge nugget for today on IMF's World Economic Outlook. (Relevance: International reports and organisations, especially the International Monetary Fund, form a crucial part of the UPSC CSE syllabus. Previously, various questions have been asked with regard to the IMF and its facilities and reports. Thus, knowing about it and its recently released report becomes important.) On July 29, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released the latest update of its World Economic Outlook (WEO). The WEO is the IMF's benchmark publication as it provides a comprehensive picture of the global economy as well as details of individual countries. In this context, knowing about the WEO, its highlights becomes important. 1. The IMF releases the WEO twice every year, in April and October, apart from updating it twice — in January and July. The document released on 29th July is the July update to the WEO released in April. 2. The broader message of updated WEO is captured by its title— 'Global Economy: Tenuous Resilience amid Persistent Uncertainty'. There are two main takeaways for the state of the global economy. 3. First, the global economy has proven to be resilient, albeit tenuous, and second, the outlook is plagued by persistent uncertainty. 4. Despite all upheavals (such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the tariff onslaught unleashed by the second Trump Administration), the global economy has managed to continue growing. That is the meaning of resilience. 5. According to the latest update by the IMF, 'Global growth is projected at 3.0 percent for 2025 and 3.1 percent in 2026. The forecast for 2025 is 0.2 percentage points higher than that in the reference forecast of the April 2025 World Economic Outlook (WEO) and 0.1 percentage points higher for 2026.' 6. However, this resilience is 'tenuous' (that is, unstable or with weak foundations). That's because, while the tariff situation isn't as bad as it appeared in April when US President Donald Trump first announced them on Liberation Day, it is not as if there is enough clarity about the eventual tariff rates. 7. Another big downside risk comes from the geopolitical tensions (such as the ones in the Middle East and Ukraine), which could 'disrupt global supply chains and push commodity prices up'. 1. The US, from where most of the policy uncertainty is emanating at present, is expected to lose growth momentum in 2025, as against the past two years. By the end of 2025, US GDP would be close to $31 trillion. In 2026, the US growth is expected to slow down even further to just 1.2%. 2. In sharp contrast, China, which is the main economic threat to the US, is expected to slow down only marginally and still manage to grow at a respectable rate of 4.8% for an economy with an annual GDP of over $19 trillion. 3. India continues to be a bright spot in the global economy. It is expected to grow 6.4% in 2025. While this rate is substantially slower than 2023, the fact is that by growing at over 6% in a world where competing economies are struggling to grow even at one-third that rate, India is fast bridging the gap and ensuring that it overtakes one developed economy after another, at least in terms of total GDP. 1. Set up in 1945 , the IMF works to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity for all of its 191 member countries. It does so by supporting economic policies that promote financial stability and monetary cooperation, which are essential to increase productivity, job creation, and economic well-being. 2. It has three critical missions: (i) Furthering international monetary cooperation, (ii) Encouraging the expansion of trade and economic growth, and (iii) Discouraging policies that would harm prosperity. 3. According to official website of IMF, 'Unlike development banks, the IMF does not lend for specific projects. Instead, the IMF provides financial support to countries hit by crises to create breathing room as they implement policies that restore economic stability and growth. It also provides precautionary financing to help prevent crises.' 4. Board of Governors is the highest decision-making body of the IMF. It normally meets once a year. It consists of one governor and one alternate governor for each member country. The governor is appointed by the member country and is usually the minister of finance or the governor of the central bank. 5. All powers of the IMF are vested in the Board of Governors. The Board of Governors may delegate to the Executive Board all except certain reserved powers. 6. As per the IMF, the Executive Board is responsible for conducting the day-to-day business of the IMF. It is composed of 25 Directors, who are elected by member countries or by groups of countries, and the Managing Director, who serves as its Chairman. IMF funds come from three sources: member quotas, multilateral and bilateral borrowing agreements. Quotas are the IMF's main source of financing, wherein each member of the IMF is assigned a quota, based broadly on its relative position in the world economy. Kristalina Georgieva has been serving as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund since October 1, 2019. She began her second term on October 1, 2024. The IMF lends money to the economies in peril in the form of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), which is a basket of five currencies — US dollar, Euro, Chinese Yuan, Japanese Yen and British Pound. It can be executed in the form of loans, cash, bonds, or stock purchases. Released by the IMF, the Global Financial Stability Report provides an assessment of the global financial system and markets and addresses emerging market financing in a global context. It focuses on current market conditions, highlighting systemic issues that could pose a risk to financial stability and sustained market access by emerging market borrowers. It draws out the financial ramifications of economic imbalances highlighted by the IMF's World Economic Outlook. (1) 'Rapid Financing Instrument' and 'Rapid Credit Facility' are related to the provisions of lending by which one of the following? (UPSC CSE 2022) (a) Asian Development Bank (b) International Monetary Fund (c) United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (d) World Bank (2) 'Global Financial Stability Report' is prepared by the (UPSC CSE 2016) (a) European Central Bank (b) International Monetary Fund (c) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (d) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (Sources: ExplainSpeaking: Key takeaways from IMF's latest World Economic Outlook on India, the US, and the world, Knowledge Nugget: Why IMF, its Bailouts, and Extended Fund Facility (EFF) should be in focus for your UPSC Exam) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
SEP Commission opposes foreign universities setting up campuses in Karnataka
State Education Policy (SEP) Commission chairman Sukhadeo Thorat told The Hindu that the commission in its report submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday, had opposed allowing foreign universities directly setting up their campuses in Karnataka. 'We are not in favour of foreign universities opening their campuses in Karnataka. It will not be accessible for the poor and it is very expensive. Therefore, we have favoured institutional collaboration with foreign universities for awarding degrees,' Prof. Thorat said. The University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, is expected to open its campus in Bengaluru in September 2026. Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil earlier this year said that University of East London, York University, and University of Wolverhampton have expressed keen interest in Karnataka's KWIN City initiative. Several other foreign universities from Australia, United States of America, and Italy are also said to be keen to establish their campuses in Karnataka. Instead, the SEP Commission has recommended accessible online education for all students, increasing the job oriented course in all streams of education, and introducing new courses on emerging technologies like quantum computing, Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, nano science in technical education. Low GER in Karnataka Prof. Thorat expressed concern over low gross enrollment ratio (GER) for higher education. 'GER in Karnataka for higher education is about 30% to 35%, ranking ninth among States in GER, while it ranks second in per capita income. So we need to look at other reasons for low GER,' he said. 'Regional disparity is one among the major reasons for this lower GER. Kalyana Karnataka has a GER in the range of 20-25%, while GER in coastal and inland Karnataka is around 37%. There are seven or eight districts with GER less than 20%. We have suggested measures to improve GER in Kalyana Karnataka,' Prof. Thorat said. The commission has found low GER in disadvantaged communities. 'Poor coverage of post-matric scholarship, financial assistance is one of the reasons for low GER in these communities. In the case of SCs and STs, the income limit is very low compared to others. Even with ₹2.5 lakh of annual income, so many students are deprived of scholarships. Meanwhile, income limit for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students is pegged at ₹8 lakh and for OBCs at ₹6 lakh per annum. Therefore, we have suggested income limit exemption up to ₹10 lakh for SC and ST students,' he said. Prof. Thorat further said that they have recommended that the government should provide free education for rural girls, along with other financial incentives to reduce their domestic work, not to go for early marriages etc. 'We have also recommended some incentives to married women as well,' he said. The SEP Commission has also recommended setting up of a Finance Corporation, under the PPP mode which will give education loans. According to the SEP report, higher educational institutions in Karnataka are not performing well. 'In the national ranking list of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Karnataka's universities and colleges are not doing well. There are very few government colleges that have a NAAC rank. Lack of permanent faculties, low quality of teaching and lack of infrastructure are major reasons for this poor performance. There are about 20,000 teaching posts vacant at government higher educational institutions. Therefore, we have recommended that these posts should be filled within the next five years. In future, there should be no guest faculties in higher educational institutions,' he said.
