Rajpura thermal plant named best in country for low emission
Rajpura thermal power plant is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro and comprises two supercritical units of 700 MW each, commissioned in 2014. The acknowledgement comes as part of CSE's recently released report, titled 'Decarbonizing the Coal-based Thermal Power Sector in India: A Roadmap'.
The report evaluated emission intensity across all coal-based thermal power plants in the country, placing Rajpura TPP among the top performers.
According to the report, Rajpura plant achieved an emission factor of 0.84 tonne/MWh, better than the national average of 0.97 tonne/MWh. Additionally, the plant recorded an auxiliary power consumption rate of just 4.62%, the lowest in the sector. Auxiliary power consumption refers to the electricity used internally by the plant to operate essential systems — a lower rate indicates higher operational efficiency.
'Rajpura TPP's benchmark nudges other coal-based plants to adopt operational and modernisation measures to improve emission performance,' said Parth Kumar, programme manager at CSE.
NPL chief executive SK Narang said, 'This is a proud moment for us. It validates our focus on operational efficiency, environmental responsibility and adoption of best-in-class technologies. We remain committed to sustainable power generation.'
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UPSC Key: Ad valorem duty, Phone Tapping and Sylheti
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 7, 2025. If you missed the August 6, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Trump doubles India tariff to 50%, opens 21-day window Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. 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: Ramping up pressure ahead of the expected arrival in India of US trade negotiators on August 25, President Donald Trump Wednesday doubled the tariffs on India to 50 per cent, but opened a 21-day window before the additional tariff of 25 per cent kicks in. Key Points to Ponder: • What do you mean by ad valorem duty? • What you understand by the term tariff of 50 per cent or tariff of 25 per cent? • What reasons did the U.S. government cite for imposing the additional tariffs on India? • In response to rising U.S. tariffs, how India is considering to respond? • What can be the economic implications of the 50% tariff for India's GDP? • What are the diplomatic and policy challenges facing India in navigating the 21 day window offered for negotiations with the U.S.? • How India's energy diplomacy and dependence on Russian oil complicate its trade relations with the U.S.? Key Takeaways: • A White House statement said the US will impose 'additional 25 per cent ad valorem duty' above the 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs announced on August 1 to 'deal with the national emergency stemming from Russia's actions in Ukraine'. This tariff is deemed necessary and appropriate due to India's 'direct or indirect import of Russian Federation oil', which the President judges will more effectively address the national emergency, the executive order said. • The additional tariff dramatically raises pressure on India as most of its competitors such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and now China are at lower tariffs. However, exporters said that the US tariff-related uncertainty is already disrupting trade. About half of India's total exports of $80 billion are, however, in the exemption list that include products such as pharma and electronics goods. • While the fresh order takes the total US tariffs to its highest on any country globally, it also offers a fresh window for discussion. Last Saturday, The Indian Express reported that key economic ministries had been asked for inputs to sweeten the trade deal stuck on India's resistance to US demand for access to the Indian agriculture market. • Hours before the announcement of additional tariff, Trump, while responding to a question from news agency ANI on US import of Russian chemicals and fertilisers, said: 'I don't know anything about it. I'd have to check, but we'll get back to you on that.' Do You Know: • While Delhi has called the targeting of India over the purchase of Russian oil 'unjustified and unreasonable' and vowed to take 'all necessary measures' to safeguard its 'national interests and economic security', Indian exporters are in a fix, scrambling to retain access to the US, their most valuable export market, accounting for nearly 20 per cent of India's total outbound shipments. • Reacting to higher than expected US tariffs, Indian exporters said they are not in a position to absorb such high tariffs. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) president, S C Ralhan, said: 'This (US) move is a severe setback for Indian exports, with nearly 55 per cent of our shipments to the US market directly affected. The 50 per cent reciprocal tariff effectively imposes a cost burden, placing our exporters at a 30-35 per cent competitive disadvantage compared to peers from countries with lesser reciprocal tariff,' he said. • CITI Chairman Rakesh Mehra said, 'The US tariff announcement of August 6 is a huge setback for India's textile and apparel exporters as it has further complicated the challenging situation we were already grappling with and will significantly weaken our ability to compete effectively vis-a-vis many other countries for a larger share of the US market.' • Incidentally, China is the largest buyer of Russian oil, at about 2 million barrels per day, followed by India (just under 2 million barrels a day) and Turkey. The US had agreed to lower tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 per cent from 145 per cent in May. • New Delhi-based think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that in 2024 alone, China bought $62.6 billion of Russian oil – more than India's $52.7 billion. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍To secure US trade deal, key ministries told to list what they can bring to talks table 📍Agri a stumbling block in talks, but India-US trade in sector sees surge PM likely to be in China for SCO meet, his first visit in 7 yrs Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. 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: Preparations are underway to schedule a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China where leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will gather for the Summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, sources said Wednesday. Key Points to Ponder: • What is Shanghai Cooperation Organisation? • What kind of a grouping is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation? • Know the members and observer countries in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation • Map Work-Mark Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member countries with their capital • When did India become permanent member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation? • What is the importance of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for India? • Under what circumstances did India enter the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation? • How does membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation help India? • How does global geopolitics play out for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and India? • How does it play out in the India-Pakistan or India-China relationship? • Why PM Modi's China visit is significant? • How India-China ties have improved recently? • How India-China engagement at the SCO summit intersects with India's broader strategic interests? Key Takeaways: • On the sidelines of the Summit, if the visit materialises, Modi is also expected to hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a meeting that will take place amid rising tensions with the US over trade tariffs and purchase of Russian oil. • The two leaders last met on October 23, 2024 on the margins of the BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan, setting the stage for the disengagement of troops at two friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh and resumption of patrolling. • The Prime Minister's visit, which sources said is still being planned, will be his first to China in seven years – the last visit was in 2018. The military standoff along the LAC in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020 following Chinese incursions. The disengagement process was completed in November 2024, days after the meeting in Kazan. • The two countries have since sought to repair ties, resuming the Mansarovar Yatra, visas for Chinese tourists and looking at revival of direct flights. But these efforts took a hit in May when India came across evidence of active Chinese assistance to the Pakistan military during the hostilities that followed Operation Sindoor. Do You Know: • Incidentally, Modi's last visit to China in 2018 was also for a Summit of the SCO leaders in Qingdao in June that year. Xi travelled to India in October 2019, months before the Chinese incursions in eastern Ladakh. • According to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's website, 'the SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization established on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai (PRC) by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Its predecessor was the mechanism of the Shanghai Five.' • In 2002, the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was signed at the meeting of the Council of Heads of States in St. Petersburg, which entered into force on September 19, 2003. It is a statute that stipulates the goals, principles, structure and major areas of activities of the organization. The goals of the SCO are: —To strengthen mutual trust, friendship and good-neighbourliness between the Member States; —To encourage the effective cooperation between the Member States in such spheres as politics, trade, economy, science and technology, culture, education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, etc; —To jointly ensure and maintain peace, security and stability in the region; and —To promote a new democratic, fair and rational international political and economic international order. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍What is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit? Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍Terrorist activities and mutual distrust have clouded India-Pakistan relations. To what extent the use of soft power like sports and cultural exchanges could help generate goodwill between the two countries? Discuss with suitable examples.(UPSC CSE GS2, 2015) Top-secret letters by telecom providers blew lid off 'illegal surveillance' during BRS regime Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance Main 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: On December 6, 2023, a routine letter from a telecom service provider reached Telangana's Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) office in Hyderabad. Called a reconciliation letter in official parlance, it was marked 'top secret' and addressed to the then DIG of SIB. Key Points to Ponder: • How are phones tapped in India? • Who can tap phones? • What laws govern this? • Who authorises phone tapping? • Indian Telegraph Act, 1885-Historical Background and Present Relevance • Reforms needed or Revoking Indian Telegraph Act 1885? • Phone Tapping and Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 • Legality of Phone Tapping and Article 21 of the Indian Constitution • Authenticity of An Intercepted Conversation as an Evidence-know in brief • How anti Naxal surveillance has been the misused for political ends? Key Takeaways: • The accused in the case are former SIB chief and IPS officer T Prabhakar Rao, Deputy Superintendent of Police D Praneeth Rao, Additional Superintendents of Police M Thirupathanna and N Bhujanga Rao, former Superintendent of Police P Radhakishan Rao, and a TV channel owner, A Shravan Kumar Rao. • While the Supreme Court had given Prabhakar Rao protection from arrest until August 5, Praneeth Rao, Thirupathanna, Bhujanga Rao and Radhakishan Rao were arrested and are out on bail. A Shravan Kumar Rao is lodged in a Central prison in Hyderabad in connection with a different case. • The BRS, which was earlier called Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), was in power in the newly formed state of Telangana for 10 years starting 2014. BRS leader and two-time Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao also held the state intelligence portfolio. It was when the BRS lost elections to the Congress on December 3, 2023, that the case against the six blew open. On December 4, a day after the election results were announced, SIB chief Prabhakar Rao resigned from his official post. • According to investigators, in the destroyed and formatted electronic devices, some of which were recovered from the Musi river in Hyderabad, were 'political profiles of BRS opponents generated through intelligence gathered illegally using SIB's resources or the state's resources'. • Under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, surveillance in the interest of public safety, in case of a public emergency or in cases of incitement against the state is allowed with due authorisation. According to investigators, in this case, the designated authority for authorisation was Prabhakar Rao, and the review committee comprising the Chief Secretary, Secretary of the General Administration Department and the Law Secretary followed his lead. • The allegations of illegal phone tapping first surfaced on March 10, 2024, when an Additional Superintendent of Police of the SIB lodged a complaint at Hyderabad's Punjagutta police station, accusing DSP Praneeth Rao of using illegal means to gather intelligence and then destroying the evidence. Do You Know: • In the era of fixed-line phones, mechanical exchanges would link circuits together to route the audio signal from the call. When exchanges went digital, tapping was done through a computer. Today, when most conversations happen through mobile phones, authorities make a request to the service provider, which is bound by law to record the conversations on the given number and provide these in real time through a connected computer. • In the states, police have the powers to tap phones. At the Centre, 10 agencies are authorised to do so: Intelligence Bureau, CBI, Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, National Investigation Agency, R&AW, Directorate of Signal Intelligence, and the Delhi Police Commissioner. Tapping by any other agency would be considered illegal. Phone tapping in India is governed by the The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. • Section 5(2) says that 'on the occurrence of any public emergency, or in the interest of the public safety', phone tapping can be done by the Centre or states if they are satisfied it is necessary in the interest of 'public safety', 'sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of an offence'. • Rule 419A of the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2007, says phone tapping orders 'shall not be issued except by an order made by the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs in the case of Government of India and by the Secretary to the State Government in-charge of the Home Department in the case of a State Government'. The order has to conveyed to the service provider in writing; only then can the tapping begin. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Telangana phone tapping case: 2 more senior police officers held IN PARLIAMENT Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill clears House Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international 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: Rajya Sabha Wednesday passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, by voice vote, amidst protests by the members of the Opposition demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision(SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway in poll-bound Bihar. Key Points to Ponder: • The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025-know its key features • India's Maritime Sector-what you about the same? • The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025 seeks to replace which pre independence legislation? • What is the significance of replacing the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925 with the new Bill? Key Takeaways: • The House was adjourned for the day, just half an hour after the afternoon proceedings began, soon after the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill was passed. • When the members of the Opposition tried to raise a point of order, the Chair, Bhubaneswar Kalita, said he would allow a point of order only when there was order in the house. He then asked all the members to return to their seats. • Lok Sabha passed the Bill, which replaces the 1925 Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, in March this year. The Bill aligns India's maritime law with international conventions and seeks to modernise provisions governing the transport of goods by sea. • The Bill, which replaces the 1925 Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, aligns India's maritime law with international conventions and seeks to modernise provisions governing the transport of goods by sea. Do You Know: • The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024 was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 9, 2024. The Bill seeks to replace the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925. The Act establishes the responsibilities, liabilities, rights, and immunities in case of goods carried from a port in India to another port in India or any other port in the world. The Act is in conformance with the International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law relating to Bills of Lading of August 1924 (Hague Rules) and subsequent amendments to it. • The Bill empowers the central government to: (i) issue directions for carrying out provisions of the Bill, and (ii) amend the schedule specifying rules applicable to bills of lading. A bill of lading refers to a document issued by a freight carrier to a shipper. It contains details such as the type, quantity, condition, and destination of goods being carried. The rules outline the responsibilities, liabilities, rights, and immunities of goods carriers. • The bill adopts the Hague-Visby Rules, a globally accepted maritime standard also followed by countries like the United Kingdom. By replacing complexity with clarity, the legislation is expected to simplify maritime trade laws, reduce litigation risks, and enhance transparency and commercial efficiency in cargo movement by sea. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Lok Sabha passes Bill to simplify maritime regulations for shippers THE IDEAS PAGE Absence is abdication Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Salient features of the Representation of People's Act. What's the ongoing story: S Y Quraishi Writes: In the wake of controversial electoral roll revision, a boycott would be an abdication and a political blunder. Key Points to Ponder: • What you know about Special Intensive Revision (SIR)? • What is the controversy about Special Intensive Revision (SIR)? • Under which provision does the Election Commission of India (ECI) conduct a 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) of electoral rolls? • What is the primary objective of the 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) of electoral rolls? • How does Special Intensive Revision (SIR) impacts the credibility of elections? • What challenges are associated with maintaining accurate and inclusive electoral rolls in India? • How the SIR of electoral rolls can affect marginalized and migrant populations in Bihar? • What is the role of the Supreme Court in overseeing election matters and its response to petitions against the SIR? Key Takeaways: S Y Quraishi Writes: • In the festival of democracy that elections represent, participation is both a right and a responsibility. Yet, from time to time, political actors withdraw from this arena, hoping that their absence will make a louder statement than their presence. • The tactic of boycotting elections — either by political parties or segments of the electorate — has become a recurring feature across democracies, old and new. But history offers a sobering lesson: Election boycotts rarely succeed. Instead, they often backfire, weakening opposition forces and strengthening incumbents. • Calls for boycotting the upcoming elections in Bihar have gained ground in recent weeks, driven by serious apprehensions about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) ordered by the Election Commission (EC). • Critics allege that the SIR is being used as a tool for mass deletion of voter names, disproportionately affecting the poor, minorities and migrants. Reports of a lack of transparency in verification processes have fuelled public distrust. While concerns about electoral integrity must be addressed seriously — and urgently — by the EC, the call for a boycott as a political response deserves deeper scrutiny. • India, too, has witnessed its share of election boycotts — Punjab's 1992 assembly elections, for example. With the Shiromani Akali Dal boycotting, turnout plunged to as low as 13 per cent in some districts, and Beant Singh won on the votes of a tiny fraction of the electorate. The boycott handed Congress an easy victory and left democracy poorer for the lack of real competition. Do You Know: • The nomenclature 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) indicates that the ECI is exercising its discretionary powers under Section 21(3) of the 1950 law, which permits it to revise electoral rolls 'in such manner as it thinks fit'. For this exercise, the ECI has adopted a hybrid approach — combining door-to-door field verification that is characteristic of an intensive revision with elements of a summary revision, such as the reliance on existing electoral rolls to distribute enumeration forms. • According to the EC's June 24 order, all electors of Bihar had to submit enumeration forms by July 25 to make it to the draft roll to be published on August 1. From August 1 to September 1, the electors would have to submit documents, from a list of 11 specified by the EC in its order, to establish their eligibility. These documents would then be scrutinised and the final roll published on September 30, as per the schedule. • For those on the 2003 electoral roll, when the last intensive revision was done, the EC order says the extract of the roll would do. The 11 documents include caste certificate, matriculation/ educational certificate, passport and birth certificate, but not the widely held Aadhaar, Voter ID and ration card. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Bihar special roll revision: Volunteers will help electors get govt documents, says EC Previous year UPSC Main Question Covering similar theme: 📍Examine the need for electoral reforms as suggested by various committees with particular reference to 'one nation – one election' principle. (2024) Nuclear dialogue, sans politics Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighbourhood- relations. What's the ongoing story: Arun Prakash Writes: Since 1998, the Subcontinent has seen a few sporadic attempts at evolving confidence-building measures and nuclear risk reduction measures. But these are not enough, and a sustained dialogue is essential. Key Points to Ponder: • The 1999 Lahore MoU primarily aims what? • According to the article, what is described as not enough without sustained dialogue? • How the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima serves as a platform to reassess nuclear norms and risk in the Indo Pacific region, especially post Operation Sindoor? • 'Sustained dialogue is essential in the nuclear domain for South Asia'-discuss • How does the role of historical memory and symbolic anniversaries like Hiroshima's influences modern nuclear policy discourse in India? • In light of the article, how can renewed nuclear conversations contribute to preventing escalation in future India Pakistan crises? Key Takeaways: Arun Prakash Writes: • Lost in the thrust and parry of the parliamentary debate on Operation Sindoor were PM Narendra Modi's several references to Pakistan's 'nuclear threats' and 'nuclear blackmail'. They reflected a deliberate articulation of India's more assertive security doctrine, representing a calculated move to redefine the deterrence equation in South Asia. That India is prepared to act against terrorism regardless of Pakistan's 'nuclear bluff' is ostensibly intended to enhance India's deterrent credibility. • The three-way China-India-Pakistan nuclear relationship has created a complex web of interlocking deterrence. All three countries are modernising and expanding their nuclear arsenals and delivery systems. • Given the lack of transparency regarding nuclear arsenals and doctrines, and a marked reluctance to engage in a dialogue on measures to mitigate nuclear risk, the ongoing arms race can further destabilise the region, especially in a crisis such as Pahalgam. • August 6, the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, was a reminder of the horrors of a nuclear holocaust. We need to focus on the management of this complex dynamic and on the prevention of accidental or intentional escalation. • Since 1998, the Subcontinent has seen a few sporadic attempts at evolving confidence-building measures and nuclear risk reduction measures (NRRMs), including the 1999 Lahore MoU on measures to prevent accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons, the 2005 Agreement on Pre-Notification of Missile Tests, and the 2007 Agreement to Reduce Nuclear Risks. But these are not enough, and a sustained dialogue is essential. • In the context of NRRMs, serious note needs to be taken of media reports citing open-source intelligence that during Operation Sindoor, some of the Indian missiles that targeted Mushaf air base in Pakistan's Sargodha region and the Nur Khan air base near Rawalpindi had impacted in the close vicinity of either nuclear warhead storages or Pakistan's nuclear command and control nodes. Do You Know: • Hiroshima Day, observed on August 6 every year, marks the tragic anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city, Hiroshima, by the United States during World War II in 1945. • The bombing had been carried out by the B-29 bomber Enola Gay, nicknamed 'Little Boy', which exploded about 600 metres above Hiroshima, releasing an intense blast wave, high temperatures and lethal radiation, fatally killing an estimated 70,000-80,000 people instantly and about tens of thousands more dying from injuries and radiation exposure. • The city's infrastructure was destroyed, and survivors, known as Hibakusha, experienced long-term health problems and significant psychological trauma. • This year, in 2025, the day marks its 80th anniversary and will be observed on Wednesday, August 8 with this anniversary considered the last milestone event for many of them, as the number of survivors is rapidly declining, and their average age is now exceeding 86. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Hiroshima Day 2025: Date, history, significance — all you need to know 📍Man survived Hiroshima bombing, took a train out of the city, survived Nagasaki as well; James Cameron is going to make a movie on him EXPLAINED Rise of the herbicides Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies III: Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers. What's the ongoing story: Crop protection chemicals are commonly known as 'pesticides'. These are basically substances sprayed on crops to protect against insects ('pests') that cause damage, whether directly (by feeding on them) or indirectly (by transmitting disease). Key Points to Ponder: • What is herbicide? • What is the difference between a herbicide and a pesticide? • What is cited as the primary reason for the rising demand for herbicides in India? • Which two pesticide categories are losing market growth momentum compared to herbicides? • What traditional agricultural practice's decline is influencing herbicide demand? • What is the implication of switching to herbicides in terms of labour dynamics on Indian farms? • Know the socio-economic consequences of reduced demand for manual weeding in Indian agriculture. Key Takeaways: • India's organised domestic crop protection chemicals market is valued at roughly Rs 24,500 crore. • Take the white-backed plant hopper, a pest that both feeds on rice plants and also spreads the Fiji virus disease, resulting in their stunted growth. This 'dwarfing' disease has been reported by many paddy farmers in Punjab and Haryana during the current kharif growing season. The vector insect here injects the virus while sucking the sap from mostly young plants. • But crop protection chemicals aren't limited to insecticides. They also include fungicides (to control fungal diseases such as blast and sheath blight in rice or powdery mildew and rusts in wheat) and herbicides (to kill or inhibit the growth of weeds). • The largest segment within that is insecticides (Rs 10,700 crore), followed by herbicides (Rs 8,200 crore) and fungicides (Rs 5,600 crore). As the accompanying chart shows, it is the market for herbicides that's growing at the highest rate – over 10% annually. • Much of that is controlled by multinational companies: Bayer AG (which has an estimated 15% market share), Syngenta (12%), ADAMA (10%), Corteva Agriscience (7%) and Sumitomo Chemical (6%). While Bayer is German, Corteva is from the US and Sumitomo is Japanese, the Basel (Switzerland) and Ashdod (Israel)-headquartered Syngenta and ADAMA respectively are both owned by the Chinese state-owned Sinochem Holdings Corporation. • However, the herbicide segment has Indian players, too, such as Dhanuka Agritech (estimated 6% share) and Crystal Crop Protection Ltd (CCPL: 4%). CCPL recently purchased the rights to Ethoxysulfuron, a herbicide used against broad-leaved weeds and sedges in rice and sugarcane, from Bayer AG for sales in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Southeast Asian countries. • The deal, announced in January 2025, also covered the latter's 'Sunrice' trademark for mixture products containing this active ingredient. Earlier, in December 2023, CCPL had acquired 'Gramoxone', a broad-spectrum herbicide containing the active ingredient Paraquat, from Syngenta for sale in India. Do You Know: • Weeds, unlike insect pests and disease-causing pathogens, don't directly damage or destroy crops. Instead, they compete with them for nutrients, water and sunlight. Yield losses happen because the crops are deprived of these essential resources. Besides growing at their expense, weeds sometimes even harbour pests and pathogens inflicting further harm. • Weed control has traditionally been through manual removal by hand or simple lightweight short-handled tools with flat blades such as khurpi. There are also power weeders with 3-10 horsepower engine capacity that can be run between rows of standing crops to remove weeds in and around those spaces. • Farmers generally spray insecticides and fungicides only when they physical observe and assess the pest population or disease incidence to be significant enough to impact crop yield and quality/marketability. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: Biostimulants that aid plant growth, now under the Centre's scrutiny Why Sylheti, spoken by millions in Northeast, is not a 'Bangladeshi language' Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies I:Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. What's the ongoing story: Amid a roiling controversy triggered by a Delhi Police letter seemingly referring to Bengali as the 'Bangladeshi national language,' a social media post by BJP leader Amit Malviya has sparked an outcry in Assam's Barak Valley. Key Points to Ponder: • What is Sylheti? • What is the history of its speakers? • Which unique script is historically associated with Sylheti, though termed 'esoteric' by some scholars? • The article highlights that Sylheti is spoken in Assam's Barak Valley and which two other Indian regions? • What is the role of mutual intelligibility in determining whether Sylheti is a language or a dialect? • Know the sociolinguistic status of Sylheti vis-à-vis Standard Bengali within Bangladesh. • Why have Malviya's comments touched a raw nerve in Assam? Key Takeaways: • In his defence of the letter, Malviya claimed it was referring to 'a set of dialects, syntax, and speech patterns that are distinctly different from the Bangla spoken in India', and gave the example of 'Sylhelti' as being 'nearly incomprehensible to Indian Bengalis'. • Sylheti is spoken on both sides of the border, in the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh as well as the Barak Valley Division of southern Assam. There is also a sizable presence of Sylheti-speakers in neighbouring Meghalaya and Tripura. • The primary argument for referring to Sylheti as a dialect of Bengali — and not a language in its own right — is mutual intelligibility, that is, speakers of both tongues understand each other. However, there is scholarly disagreement on the matter. • 'The claim of mutual intelligibility by some speakers of both Sylheti and Bengali may be more an effect of the speakers' exposure to both languages,' linguists Candide Simard, Sarah M Dopierala, and E Marie Thaut wrote in their paper 'Introducing the Sylheti language and its speakers' (2020). • 'Sylheti-speaking areas of Bangladesh and India are characterised by diglossia, where standard Bengali is the language of education and literacy and Sylheti is the vernacular variety used in everyday interactions,' the linguists wrote. • Speakers on both sides of the border nonetheless have a strong affinity to the Bengali language, and often identify as Bengali themselves. Do You Know: • Tapodhir Bhattacharjee, a former vice-chancellor of Assam University Silchar and a Bengali literary theorist, said that the primary difference between the Sylheti dialect and standardised Bengali is phonetic, while the two are almost identical in morphology and syntax. • While Bhattacharjee recognises that there was once a Sylhet-Nagri script — the existence of a unique system of writing is often seen as a marker of a language — he refers to it as an 'esoteric script'. • Historian Ashfaque Hossain refers to Sylhet as historically being 'a frontier of Bengal'. • The present-day Sylhet Division in Bangladesh, comprising the districts of Habibganj, Sunamganj, Sylhet, and Moulvibazar, was made a part of Assam soon after it was split from Bengal in 1874. • Geographically contiguous with Cachar in the Bengali-majority Barak Valley, between 1874 and 1947, Sylhet witnessed a sustained churn over the question of whether it should be a part of Assam or Bengal. 'On one side, this was a matter of Bengali versus Assamese, and on the other, Hindu versus Muslim,' Hossain wrote. • Historian Anindita Dasgupta wrote in 'Remembering Sylhet: A Forgotten Story of India's 1947 Partition', '… the Hindus of Sylhet demanded for a return to the more 'advanced' Bengal, whereas the Muslims by and large preferred to remain in Assam where its leaders, along with the Assamese Muslims, found a more powerful political voice…' • The story of Sylheti migration to parts of present-day Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura, however, is even older. Dasgupta wrote about 'Sylheti Hindu bhodrolok' who were 'economic migrants' across the region. • Malviya's claim of the dialect being 'a shorthand for the linguistic markers used to profile illegal immigrants from Bangladesh' has thus drawn strong reactions not only from the BJP's political opponents in the Barak Valley but from within the party. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Letter from Delhi Police refers to Bangla as 'Bangladeshi language', TMC demands apology 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. Priya Kumari Shukla is a Senior Copy Editor in the Indian Express (digital). She contributes to the UPSC Section of Indian Express (digital) and started niche initiatives such as UPSC Key, UPSC Ethics Simplified, and The 360° UPSC Debate. The UPSC Key aims to assist students and aspirants in their preparation for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations. It provides valuable guidance on effective strategies for reading and comprehending newspaper content. The 360° UPSC Debate tackles a topic from all perspectives after sorting through various publications. The chosen framework for the discussion is structured in a manner that encompasses both the arguments in favour and against the topic, ensuring comprehensive coverage of many perspectives. Prior to her involvement with the Indian Express, she had affiliations with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as several coaching and edutech enterprises. In her prior professional experience, she was responsible for creating and refining material in various domains, including article composition and voiceover video production. She has written in-house books on many subjects, including modern India, ancient Indian history, internal security, international relations, and the Indian economy. She has more than eight years of expertise in the field of content writing. Priya holds a Master's degree in Electronic Science from the University of Pune as well as an Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, widely recognised as one of the most prestigious business schools in India. She is also an alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University Residential Coaching Academy (RCA). Priya has made diligent efforts to engage in research endeavours, acquiring the necessary skills to effectively examine and synthesise facts and empirical evidence prior to presenting their perspective. Priya demonstrates a strong passion for reading, particularly in the genres of classical Hindi, English, Maithili, and Marathi novels and novellas. Additionally, she possessed the distinction of being a cricket player at the national level. Qualification, Degrees / other achievements: Master's degree in Electronic Science from University of Pune and Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ... Read More
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Flash Floods in Uttarkashi, India-Philippines and Prime Minister Internship Scheme
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 6, 2025. If you missed the August 5, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Trump warns of tariff hike in 24 hrs, Russia says countries can choose trade partners Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. 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: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would raise the tariff on India 'very substantially over the next 24 hours', stating that while India is set to offer the US 'zero tariffs' under a trade deal, it would not be good enough due to its purchase of Russian oil. Key Points to Ponder: • U.S. unilateral tariff threats on India-what you know about the same so far? • What are the implications of U.S. unilateral tariff threats on India's sovereignty to conduct its foreign policy? • How economic retaliation like tariff hikes can influence geopolitical alignments? • How India responded diplomatically regarding U.S. imports from Russia, in the backdrop of Trump's tariff threats? • With reference to U.S.-Russia trade data (2021–2025), what have been the shifts in commodity patterns and volumes? • How the shift in U.S. stance from encouraging Russian crude imports under Biden to penalising them under Trump reflects evolving geopolitical strategies? Key Takeaways: • On Monday, too, Trump had warned that he would raise the tariff on India 'substantially', saying that India was not only buying 'massive amounts of Russian oil' but also selling it 'on the open market for big profits'. • Russia's RT channel reported that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had reached Moscow Tuesday for talks. • In the sharpest statement since Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods from August 7, along with an unspecified penalty for its defence and energy imports from Russia, New Delhi hit back on Monday, saying the targeting of India was 'unjustified and unreasonable', and the country would take 'all necessary measures' to safeguard its 'national interests and economic security'. • On Tuesday, Russia said sovereign countries have the right to select their partners in trade and economic cooperation based on their interests. 'We believe that sovereign countries must have, and do have, the right to choose their trade partners, the partners in trade and economic cooperation, on their own, and independently determine those modes of trade and economic cooperation that suit the interests of a country in question,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, commenting on the US's threats regarding India. • In his latest statement on the issue, Trump said in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday: 'With India, what people don't like to say about India, they're the highest tariff nation. They have the highest tariff of anybody. We do very, very little business with India because their tariffs are so high.' Do You Know: • The rating agency ICRA revised India's FY26 GDP growth forecast downward from 6.2 per cent to 6.0 per cent, citing US tariff and uncertainty around potential penalties as key risks. Despite a robust trade surplus with the US — which rose to $41 billion in FY2025 from $21 billion in FY2015 — India's competitive edge could be eroded in the absence of a bilateral trade resolution, ICRA said. • The agency identified textiles, auto components, tyres, chemicals, agrochemicals, and cut & polished diamonds (CPD) as the worst-hit sectors. On the other hand, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products and telecom instruments remain relatively stable, according to the report. • The report also said there are signs of export re-routing as Indian exporters seek to maintain access to the US market. CPD exporters, for example, may shift to trade hubs such as Belgium and the UAE, while firms in sectors like auto and tyres are attempting to diversify into the EU, UK, and Asia-Pacific markets, though this will take time, it said. • ICRA said that unless a bilateral trade agreement is swiftly concluded, the current tariff structure could significantly alter India's export trajectory in FY2026 and beyond. The high sectoral dependence on US markets, coupled with tariff asymmetry, poses a serious challenge to India's trade competitiveness, the report said. WITH PTI inputs from Moscow Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Surge in US imports from Russia: Uranium, fertilisers 📍Reminder for Trump: US had wanted India to buy Russian oil to keep market, prices stable Flash floods hit Uttarkashi, several soldiers among 60 people missing Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World. Mains Examination: General Studies I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. What's the ongoing story: Flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Dharali have left over 60 missing, including 11 Army personnel and 28 tourists. Rescue efforts continue amid landslides and heavy rains. Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work– Uttarkashi • What is the topography of Uttarkashi? • How much rainfall does Uttarkashi receive annually? • What is deglaciation? • Why was this rain not a 'cloudburst'? • What is difference between Cloudburst and flash floods? • What are the ecological problems faced by the Uttarakhand? • How disaster management is done in the landslide and subsidence-hit zone? • What Ravi Chopra committee which was constituted by the Supreme Court says about the developmental project in Himalayan States? • What are the disaster governance challenges revealed by the Uttarkashi flash floods? • How did the interplay between extreme weather events and fragile Himalayan topography lead to the recent Uttarkashi disaster? Key Takeaways: • Rescue operations continued on Wednesday in flood-hit Dharali village in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district after devastating flash floods and landslides swept away homes, vehicles, and left dozens missing the previous day. • The flash floods struck Dharali, a key tourist destination and stopover en route to Gangotri, where the Ganga originates. The village, located about 140 km from Dehradun, is home to several hotels and homestays. Many tourists had gathered for the Har Dudh fair when the disaster hit. • Heavy rain across Uttarakhand has led to many rivers flowing above danger levels, including the Mandakini in Rudraprayag, the Banganga in Haridwar, and the Bhagirathi in Devprayag, as per the Central Water Commission. • A landslide on Tuesday evening disrupted train services from Haridwar towards Rishikesh and Dehradun after debris fell on railway tracks in the Motichur range of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve. A help desk has been established at Haridwar railway station for passenger assistance. Do You Know: • Uttarkashi district is located at a high elevation ranging between 800 and 6,900 metres above mean sea level. Large geographical areas are covered with snow throughout the year, and there are glaciers in many parts of the district. • It has the upper reaches of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, and contains their snowbound source region near Gangotri and Yamunotri respectively. There are also a series of high ridges, perennial rivers, and valleys in Uttarkashi. The rugged topography of the district features sharp undulations due to high mountains, narrow valleys, and deep gorges. • Since a large part of the district is situated on the southern slope of the Himalayas, monsoon currents generally penetrate through deeply trenched valleys. Rainfall is at its maximum during the southwest monsoon season (June to September), particularly in the southern part of the district. • Uttarkashi receives about 1,289 mm of rain on average in a year. Past records show that the highest annual rainfall of 2,436 mm (189 per cent above normal) was recorded in 1969. July is the district's wettest month, during which it receives about 312 mm of rain on average. • The topography, combined with the continuous rainfall over the past few days, probably created the perfect scenario for triggering mudslides, debris slides and flash floods as experienced on Tuesday. • The increase in rainfall intensity owing to climate change has added to the pressure on glaciers and snow accumulated during the winter months. As a result, the deglaciation rate in the area has accelerated. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Heavy rainfall, rugged topography: What caused flash floods in Uttarkashi? Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats. (2021) 📍The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides.' Discuss the causes and suggest suitable measures of mitigation. (2016) Elevating ties, Manila hails Delhi's defence capabilities, BrahMos Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's Interest What's the ongoing story: Calling India and the Philippines as two countries which are 'friends by choice and partners by destiny', Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held talks Tuesday with visiting President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership. Key Points to Ponder: • 'India-Philippines ties are evolving from transactional to strategic'-Know the bilateral relations between India-Philippines • How India's 'Act East Policy' has contributed to strengthening its bilateral relations with the Philippines? • What are the key areas of collaboration between India and the Philippines? • What are the challenges and opportunities in enhancing economic and trade ties between India and the Philippines? • What is the strategic significance of India elevating its ties with the Philippines to a Strategic Partnership? • Know the role of military hardware exports (BrahMos) as a tool of India's foreign policy toward Southeast Asia? • What is the Scarborough Shoal issue? • Locate on Map-Scarborough Shoal • What is the dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea? • Why are countries interested in these waters? • What is the nine-dash line? • Have they tried to reach a resolution? • Why has the Philippine grounded a warship on a reef? Key Takeaways: • As Marcos underlined 'satisfaction over the rapid pace of the Philippines' ongoing defense modernisation and the expanding capabilities and footprint of India's indigenous defense industry as a partner in this undertaking, exemplified by our BrahMos project,' the two countries, focusing on greater defence cooperation and maritime security, brought out a Plan of Action (2025-2029) to guide the strategic partnership over the next five years. • The elevation of ties was announced after talks between Modi and Marcos, just a day after the navies of the two countries conducted their first joint drill off the Philippines coast, in the South China Sea. • India and the Philippines also signed nine agreements. These include talks among the armies, air forces and navies of the two countries and cooperation on the peaceful use of outer space. • At a joint press briefing along with Marcos who is in India on a five-day visit, Modi said, 'India and the Philippines are friends by choice and partners by destiny. From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, we are united by shared values. Ours is not just a friendship of the past, it is a promise to the future.' He said the Philippines is an important partner in India's Act East Policy. Do You Know: • India and the Philippines are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations and the two leaders released a postage stamp to commemorate the occasion. • The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., also popularly known as Bongbong Marcos, arrived in India for a four-day state visit beginning Monday (August 4). • This comes at a time when the Philippines and China have increasingly been involved in minor clashes in the South China Sea, where both countries (and several others in Southeast Asia) have laid territorial claims. This is Marcos Jr's first visit to India since he was elected President of the Philippines in 2022. The record margin of his victory marked a full circle after his own father and former President, Ferdinand Marcos Sr, was forced to step down in 1986 following a popular uprising. • India and the Philippines began the two-day 'bilateral maritime cooperative activity' in waters close to the Scarborough Shoal, which has previously figured in the China-Philippines dispute. Beyond the pure territorial significance, the South China Sea also sees huge volumes of trade passing through, and has reserves of fish and hydrocarbons. • In June last year, a submerged reef called the Second Thomas Shoal became a flashpoint. The Philippines said its boats and crew for servicing an old ship on the shoal were hurt by the Chinese boats' aggressive tactics. • India delivered the first batch of BrahMos missile system to the Philippines on April 19, 2024, making it the first foreign nation to acquire the missile weapon system. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India, Philippines announce strategic partnership Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍Evaluate the economic and strategic dimensions of India's Look East Policy in the context of the post-Cold War international scenario. (2016) THE IDEAS PAGE The new techno-capitalism Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. 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: C Raja Mohan writes: There was a time when values, scientific internationalism drove India-US tech cooperation. Now, the White House and Silicon Valley's 'broligarchy' are pursuing strategic dominance, not ideals Key Points to Ponder: • What is Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE)? • The term 'tech broligarchy' primarily refers to what? • What does technocapitalism emphasise in modern economies? • The GENIUS Act, mentioned in the article, is legislation pertaining to what? • How Trump's techno capitalism represents a departure from earlier visions of the internet as a decentralized and democratic space? • To what extent does the concentration of tech power challenge the sovereignty of nation states? Key Takeaways: C Raja Mohan writes: • An important anniversary in India's technological history passed largely unnoticed last week — the launch of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) in 1975. • A pioneering collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), SITE used the American ATS-6 satellite to beam educational programmes in local languages to over 2,400 villages across six of India's most underdeveloped states. The content included primary education, health awareness, agricultural practices, and national integration. • SITE remains a landmark in the technological imagination of India's developmental state. For the US, the project was an expression of 'scientific internationalism'— the Cold War-era belief that modern science and technology could advance peace and prosperity through international collaboration. • Whether ICET can survive renewed political turbulence in the bilateral relationship — marked by differences on Russia, trade, and Pakistan — remains uncertain. Yet, a more structural challenge looms: The increasingly divergent trajectories of the Indian and American technology ecosystems. • Even in 1975, the SITE programme featured private sector participation. The ATS satellite was built by the Fairchild Corporation (now defunct). But in the years since, the American technology landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation. NASA, once the dominant actor in space, now shares the stage with private firms like Elon Musk's SpaceX, which conducts more launches annually than the government agency itself. Do You Know: C Raja Mohan writes: • Trump's techno-capitalism also extends into financial innovation. The recently enacted 'GENIUS Act' marks a decisive break from the Biden administration's cautious approach to cryptocurrencies. The Act creates a framework for dollar-backed stable coins, requiring them to be fully backed 1:1 by liquid US assets such as cash or short-term treasuries. It also mandates reserve disclosures and consumer protections, laying the groundwork for mainstream adoption of stable coins as digital payment systems. • The policy aims to reinforce the US dollar's role as the world's reserve currency and counter growing calls for 'de-dollarisation,' including from BRICS nations. • At the ideological heart of this techno-capitalist revolution is Peter Thiel, a venture capitalist and co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, and a staunch supporter of Trump's tech agenda. This marks a decisive break from the techno-optimism of the 1990s, when the rise of the internet was seen as heralding a borderless, decentralised world where the state would gradually recede. • India cannot remain untouched by these shifts. The celebrated Indian IT sector— long a symbol of the country's global economic integration and a major contributor to its GDP—now faces serious vulnerabilities. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍MIT wanted him, so did Vikram Sarabhai: how EV Chitnis, who turns 100 today, was crucial to India's space programme Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍What is India's plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our space programme? (2019) 📍Discuss India's achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology helped India in its socio-economic development? (2016) EXPLAINED India's diplomacy with EU, US: Pushback in recent yrs, challenges over the past decades Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. 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: The strong Indian pushback to President Donald Trump's aggressive tirade is the newest twist in the testing times that the India-United States strategic partnership is passing through. Key Points to Ponder: • Discuss the evolution of India–EU strategic partnership since 1994. • What are the factors contributing to the stalled EU India BTIA talks? • What are the challenges and opportunities in cooperation on digital regulation and cross border data flow between India and the EU? • Know the geopolitical dynamics behind India's recent resistance to U.S. pressure over Russian oil imports. • What can be the long term impact of Trump-era tariff actions on India's trade policy sovereignty and bilateral relations with the U.S? • How India has navigated its multi-alignment policy amid rising pressure from Western powers in recent years? Key Takeaways: • While India's response on Monday was its first after Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods, plus a 'penalty' for its defence and energy imports from Russia, New Delhi has a record of pushing back against the Americans and the Europeans whenever its vital national interests have been at stake. • Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said that the targeting of India by the US and European Union (EU) was 'unjustified and unreasonable', and that India would take 'all necessary measures' to safeguard its 'national interests and economic security'. • External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been vocal in articulating India's stand on the global stage over the past three years. Do You Know: • The relationship between India and the United States has faced several challenges over the decades. —The cyclical up-down in ties can be traced back more than half a century to the time when President Richard Nixon backed Pakistan during the 1971 war. —The US and much of the West imposed sanctions on India after the nuclear tests in Pokhran in May 1998. —In December 2013, Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was detained and searched following allegations that she was not paying her help enough. The incident infuriated Indian diplomats, and the government took steps to make a point — removing security barricades around the US embassy in New Delhi, and scrutinising diplomatic privileges for American diplomats in India. • Jaishankar was India's ambassador to the US at the time, and he played a key role in securing the release of Khobragade. But the ties with the US suffered a severe setback in the last six months of the UPA II government. It took a call between US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2014 to bring ties back on track. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍As Trump warns of more tariffs, India hits back: 'Unjustified' ECONOMY Exporters flag China price war, unclear 'penalty' in tariff talks with US importers Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. 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: Amid a sudden escalation of trade tensions between India and the US, with American President Donald Trump threatening to impose tariffs 'substantially' higher than the 25 per cent announced earlier, Indian exporters face a two-pronged challenge in maintaining access to their largest export market — the US. Key Points to Ponder: • What do you understand by the term 'penalty' as mentioned in the article? • Which sectors are primarily concerned by the stalled contracts due to tariff uncertainty? • What are the implications of an unspecified 'penalty' on Indian exports in the context of uncertainty in tariff agreements with the U.S? • China price war and its impact on Indian exporters-know in detail • How U.S. unilateral tariff actions challenges the WTO based multilateral trading regime? Key Takeaways: • On the one hand, China has begun aggressively undercutting prices to outcompete other countries; on the other hand, the undefined 'penalty' over and above the 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs has complicated negotiations between US importers and Indian exporters, especially in low-margin products such as apparel and footwear. • The uncertainty over the 'penalty' on India for purchasing Russian oil has come at a time when Indian exporters typically receive bulk summer orders, including for cotton garments, lightweight footwear, and linen clothing. Normally, exporters and importers share the burden of additional tariffs, but exporters said contracts have stalled due to the unknown penalty amount. • US retailers and apparel companies typically begin shipping merchandise from global suppliers at least two to three months before the summer season starts in April. Traders, typically, begin negotiating contracts much earlier. • However, after Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Indian goods over its purchase of Russian oil, New Delhi on Monday said the targeting of India was 'unjustified and unreasonable', and that the country would take 'all necessary measures' to safeguard its 'national interests and economic security'. Do You Know: • Rating agency ICRA said that the higher-than-expected US tariffs on India — and the potential penalty linked to India's crude and defence purchases from Russia — are likely to pose a headwind to India's GDP growth in the current fiscal. 'We have lowered our growth forecast for India for FY2026 by 20 basis points to 6.0 per cent; the extent of the said penalties could result in a further downside,' the agency said. • Simon J Evenett, Professor of Geopolitics and Strategy at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), an independent academic institute in Switzerland, said in a LinkedIn post that tariff threats against India have 'nothing to do with economics'. He said that the United States has now antagonised all five of the original BRICS nations, home to more than 3.2 billion people. • As Trump has threatened several countries with additional tariffs over the re-routing of goods to the US, Deborah Elms, a trade and economic policy expert with the Hinrich Foundation, said in a LinkedIn post that one key complaint from the business community is the lack of clarity on what the US currently means by 'transshipment'. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍US–China trade war: India imposes 12% safeguard duty on certain steel imports amid dumping fears 📍India still has a slight tariff edge over China but loses advantage with Vietnam Female applicants' share rises to 41% in round-II of internship scheme Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. What's the ongoing story: A mismatch between internship opportunities and participation, and a significant gender imbalance in the first pilot round of the PM Internship Scheme earlier this year forced the government to tweak the norms of this flagship scheme. Key Points to Ponder: • Prime Minister Internship Scheme-know key details • What is the primary objective of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme launched in 2024? • Which ministry is responsible for implementing the PM Internship Scheme? • Know the significance of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme in enhancing the employability of Indian youth. • How does practical industry exposure complement formal education in bridging the skill gap? • What is the role of public-private partnerships in the successful implementation of large-scale internship programs like the PM Internship Scheme? • Why increasing female participation from 31 % to 41 % in the PM Internship Scheme's Round II is significant? • Do you think that gender imbalances in flagship government programs often reflect broader structural inequities? Key Takeaways: • The gender imbalance with the ratio of male to female interns of 72:28 was one of the key concerns flagged by Parliament's Standing Committee on Finance to the government, as per a report of the Committee tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday. —'While appreciating the Ministry (of Corporate Affairs) for taking all efforts to achieve the ambitious target of the scheme; the Committee urges the Ministry to act swiftly and decisively to overcome/address the key challenges faced during pilot phase viz. mismatch between the number of internship opportunities offered and actual participation; longer duration of internships; under-utilisation of funds; imbalanced gender ratio of male to female interns stands at 72:28; lack of alignment between candidates' interests and the roles offered,' the report stated. • The government had responded by saying that the numbers picked up after the first pilot. 'With reference to the observed gender imbalance among interns selected under the Scheme, it is submitted that in the Round I of the Pilot Project, 31 per cent of applicants were female candidates. The representation of females amongst the interns stands at 28 percent which is almost consistent with the representation of females at the application stage,' it said in response to the Committee. • Low acceptance rate of the offers made under the Internship Scheme has been a key concern. Prospective applicants have also flagged some of the issues under the Scheme with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs earlier including a request to relax the age limit from 24 years to 25 years, employment prospects after internship and few openings in the IT sector in the 'Candidate Open House for the PM Internship Scheme' in March. Do You Know: • The scheme aims to provide internships to one crore youth in top 500 companies over five years. Under the scheme, an amount of Rs 4,500 will be provided per month by the Government of India through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) with an additional Rs 500 offset to be provided by the company's CSR (corporate social responsibility) funds. • The government will also provide a one-time grant of Rs 6,000 per annum for incidentals to cover miscellaneous expenses incurred by the selected candidate during the internship. • The internship scheme was a part of the Prime Minister's Package for Employment and Skilling announced in FY25 Budget with an overall outlay of Rs 2 lakh crore. • The package was allocated Rs 12,000 crore for this financial year, out of which Rs 10,000 crore was allocated to the Ministry of Labour and Employment for the three Employment Linked-Incentive schemes and Rs 2,000 crore was provided to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for the internship programme. • In the revised estimates for 2024-25, the amount allocated for the internship scheme was scaled down to Rs 380 crore. For 2025-26, an amount of Rs 10,831 crore has been provided for the internship scheme in the Budget, including Rs 59.77 crore of capital outlay. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Govt to seek Cabinet nod to tweak PM Internship Scheme Based on pilot rounds Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍'Demographic Dividend in India will remain only theoretical unless our manpower becomes more educated, aware, skilled and creative.' What measures have been taken by the government to enhance the capacity of our population to be more productive and employable? (2016) 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. Priya Kumari Shukla is a Senior Copy Editor in the Indian Express (digital). She contributes to the UPSC Section of Indian Express (digital) and started niche initiatives such as UPSC Key, UPSC Ethics Simplified, and The 360° UPSC Debate. The UPSC Key aims to assist students and aspirants in their preparation for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations. It provides valuable guidance on effective strategies for reading and comprehending newspaper content. The 360° UPSC Debate tackles a topic from all perspectives after sorting through various publications. The chosen framework for the discussion is structured in a manner that encompasses both the arguments in favour and against the topic, ensuring comprehensive coverage of many perspectives. Prior to her involvement with the Indian Express, she had affiliations with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as several coaching and edutech enterprises. In her prior professional experience, she was responsible for creating and refining material in various domains, including article composition and voiceover video production. She has written in-house books on many subjects, including modern India, ancient Indian history, internal security, international relations, and the Indian economy. She has more than eight years of expertise in the field of content writing. Priya holds a Master's degree in Electronic Science from the University of Pune as well as an Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, widely recognised as one of the most prestigious business schools in India. She is also an alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University Residential Coaching Academy (RCA). Priya has made diligent efforts to engage in research endeavours, acquiring the necessary skills to effectively examine and synthesise facts and empirical evidence prior to presenting their perspective. Priya demonstrates a strong passion for reading, particularly in the genres of classical Hindi, English, Maithili, and Marathi novels and novellas. Additionally, she possessed the distinction of being a cricket player at the national level. Qualification, Degrees / other achievements: Master's degree in Electronic Science from University of Pune and Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ... Read More
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Rajpura thermal plant named best in country for low emission
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a research and advocacy organisation, has named Nabha Power Limited's (NPL) Rajpura facility as India's best-performing supercritical coal-based thermal power plant in terms of emission intensity. This recognition is in the below 800 MW capacity unit category. According to the report, Rajpura plant achieved an emission factor of 0.84 tonne/MWh, better than the national average of 0.97 tonne/MWh. (HT) Rajpura thermal power plant is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro and comprises two supercritical units of 700 MW each, commissioned in 2014. The acknowledgement comes as part of CSE's recently released report, titled 'Decarbonizing the Coal-based Thermal Power Sector in India: A Roadmap'. The report evaluated emission intensity across all coal-based thermal power plants in the country, placing Rajpura TPP among the top performers. According to the report, Rajpura plant achieved an emission factor of 0.84 tonne/MWh, better than the national average of 0.97 tonne/MWh. Additionally, the plant recorded an auxiliary power consumption rate of just 4.62%, the lowest in the sector. Auxiliary power consumption refers to the electricity used internally by the plant to operate essential systems — a lower rate indicates higher operational efficiency. 'Rajpura TPP's benchmark nudges other coal-based plants to adopt operational and modernisation measures to improve emission performance,' said Parth Kumar, programme manager at CSE. NPL chief executive SK Narang said, 'This is a proud moment for us. It validates our focus on operational efficiency, environmental responsibility and adoption of best-in-class technologies. We remain committed to sustainable power generation.'
