Latest news with #QuadCriticalMineralsInitiative
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Quad foreign ministers' meeting, PM's visit to Ghana, and Gaden Phodrang Trust
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for July 3, 2025. If you missed the July 2, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here 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 Quad foreign ministers on Wednesday strongly condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack, called for the 'perpetrators, organisers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay', and urged all UN member countries to cooperate with all authorities under international law in this regard. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the purpose of the Quad foreign ministers' meeting? • What are the key takeaways from this meeting? • Why was Quad formed? • Who is hosting the Quad's leaders' summit in 2025? • What is the significance of the Quad for India? • Why is the mention of the Pahalgam terror attack significant? • What is the significance of a resilient supply chain for critical minerals? • Is QUAD a military bloc? • What are critical minerals? Key Takeaways: • External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japan Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met in Washington, D.C, for the second Quad foreign ministers' meeting this year, and the first since Operation Sindoor • They also launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative and announced plans to host the first Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network field training exercise this year and launch the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership in Mumbai this year. • The next Quad Leaders' Summit is to be hosted by India later this year. • 'We are launching today the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, an ambitious expansion of our partnership to strengthen economic security and collective resilience by collaborating to secure and diversify critical minerals supply chains,' the statement said. • Reaffirming its steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Quad said, 'We underscore our commitment to defending the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. As four leading maritime nations in the Indo-Pacific, we are united in our conviction that peace and stability in the maritime domain underpin the security and prosperity of the region.' • 'To ensure the Quad's enduring impact, we are pleased to announce today a new, ambitious, and strong agenda focused on four key areas: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response', it said. • On China, the Quad foreign ministers said, 'We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea. We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.' • The Quad foreign ministers said their cooperation with and support for ASEAN and its centrality and unity, the Pacific Islands Forum and Pacific-led regional groupings, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association 'remain unwavering'. • They also expressed concern about supply chains. 'We are deeply concerned about the abrupt constriction and future reliability of key supply chains, specifically for critical minerals.' • The Quad foreign ministers also condemned 'North Korea's destabilising launches using ballistic missile technology and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs)'. • The Quad said it continues to coordinate rapid responses to regional disasters and collectively contributed 'over USD $30 million in humanitarian assistance to support communities affected by the earthquake that struck central Myanmar in March 2025'. • It concluded by saying that as the 'Quad continues to evolve, our four democracies remain committed to deepening our cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and ensuring our cooperation has an enduring impact on the region's top challenges and opportunities in the 21st century.' Do You Know: • The Quad, comprising India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, has launched an initiative to secure supply chains of critical minerals, as worries grow around China's stranglehold over the resources, which are vital to new technologies. • Critical minerals, which include rare earth elements (REEs), are an important component of various cutting-edge hardware, ranging from semiconductors and electric vehicles to jet fighters. • Rare earth magnets, especially neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, are crucial for EV manufacturing, particularly in electric motors. They provide the strong magnetic fields needed for efficient and powerful electric motors, including traction motors that drive EVs. These magnets also play a major role in other EV components such as power steering systems, wiper motors, and braking systems. China has a near monopoly over the production of these rare earth magnets. • While the availability of rare earth metals is not limited to China, it is in the efficient processing of these critical elements where Beijing has a substantial lead, which was once enjoyed by the US and Japan. • The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or the Quad, comprises India, Japan, Australia, and the US. It was formed as an informal alliance after the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. It was formalised in 2007 by the efforts of the then-Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe. • The United States is hosting the 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting, and India will host the 2025 Quad Leaders Summit. • According to a report published by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) in 2024, India's demand for critical minerals is expected to more than double by 2030, while domestic mining operations may take over a decade to start producing. • The report said India depends heavily on China for synthetic graphite and natural graphite, and it should explore cooperation initiatives with countries like Mozambique, Madagascar, Brazil, and Tanzania, which are some of the highest graphite-producing countries. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Quad comes together to create supply chains for critical minerals: Can it counter China? 📍Why is Quad Critical Minerals Initiative important for your UPSC exam Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (1) Consider the following statements about the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP): 1. The NATO-led initiative was launched to create a global supply chain of critical minerals. 2. In 2023, India and Sri Lanka became members of MSP, taking the total count to 14. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present times. Discuss. (UPSC CSE 2020) 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. General Studies-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment What's the ongoing story: United States President Donald Trump has said his administration is going to sign 'a very big' trade deal 'to open up India', 'where we are able to go in and compete (with) much less tariffs'. Key Points to Ponder: • Know about the cultivation and production of corn (maize), ethanol, soyabean and dairy. • What are genetically modified crops? • How is feedstock used to manufacture ethanol? • How is ethanol manufactured in India? • What is the significance of biotechnology in agriculture? • What are the concerns associated with GM crops? • What are the points of contestation between India and the US trade deal? Key Takeaways: • India has maintained that agriculture and dairy are its 'red lines' in its ongoing negotiations with the US. 'There's no way we could do anything that would weaken our agriculture, our farmers' positions,' Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in an interview with the Financial Express. • It basically reduces to four farm products: corn (maize), ethanol, soyabean and dairy. On these, India imposes both tariff and non-tariff restrictions, and the US is pushing for greater market access. • Corn: The US is the world's biggest maize producer and exporter, with an estimated 377.6 million tonnes (mt) output, as against India's 42.3 mt, in 2024-25. As much as 94% of the total area planted to corn in the US last year was under genetically modified (GM) varieties. • India charges 15% duty on maize imports of up to 0.5 mt annually, with quantities beyond that attracting a higher 50% rate. Moreover, it neither grows nor allows import of GM maize. • One proposal mooted is to permit import of GM maize exclusively for use as a feedstock to manufacture fuel ethanol. Over 46% of the ethanol being made available by Indian distilleries for blending with petrol is, in fact, currently coming from maize. That's more than the share of other feedstocks: Sugarcane juice/molasses (32%) and surplus/broken rice (22%). • Ethanol: The US is the world's biggest producer and exporter of ethanol too. In 2024, it exported $4.3 billion worth of ethanol, with India being the third largest market (at $441.3 million) after Canada ($1.5 billion) and United Kingdom ($535.1 million). • India now allows ethanol imports only against 'actual user' licence for non-fuel industrial purposes. Imports can be for manufacturing alcohol-based chemicals, medicines or beverages, but not for blending in petrol and diesel. • Given India's total projected ethanol consumption of 11,350 million litres in 2025, with fuel's share at 9,650 million and industrial use at just 1,700 million litres, the US would want an opening up of the market. • Soybean: US is the second biggest producer and exporter of soyabean after Brazil. With 96% of acreage in the US and 99% in Brazil under herbicide-tolerant GM varieties, the average per-hectare yields of 3.4-3.5 tonnes in these two countries are way above India's 0.9 tonnes. • India allows import of GM soyabean oil. However, imports of both whole GM soyabean and the residual de-oiled cake (DOC) after extraction of oil are prohibited. The reason: The GM protein matter is present only in the raw bean and DOC, not the oil. • Diary: The US isn't as big a player as New Zealand and the European Union in dairy, when it comes to the global milk powder and butter trade. • The duties that India currently levies — 30% on cheese, 40% on butter and 60% on milk powder — render imports from even low-cost producers such as New Zealand and Australia unviable. Do You Know: • In India, only the GM crop- Bt cotton- is allowed for commercial production since 2002. Cotton production increased remarkably from a mere 13.6 million bales (1 bale = 170 kg) in 2002-03 to 39.8 million bales in 2013-14, registering an increase of 192 per cent in just 12 years, ushering the famous 'gene revolution' • The success of Bt cotton holds many lessons for policymakers but it is not free from controversy and debate. Several concerns have been expressed by NGOs, civil society groups and farmers' groups from time to time to emphasise the risks associated with GM crops. • Some of these include — enhanced sucking pest damage in Bt cotton; increase in secondary pests such as mired bugs and Spodoptera; emergence of pest resistance; environmental and health implications in terms of toxicity and allergenicity that can cause hematotoxin reactions in the human body and, of course, farmers' exposure to a greater risk of monopoly in the seed business. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Why India cannot afford to ignore the GM crop revolution 📍Why the Supreme Court couldn't agree on environmental release of GM mustard UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (2) Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created? (2012) 1. To enable them to withstand drought 2. To increase the nutritive value of the produce 3. To enable them to grow and do photosynthesis in spaceships and space stations 4. To increase their shelf life Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (3). Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of (UPSC CSE 2021) (a) clonal propagation of crop plants (b) developing genetically modified crop plants (c) production of plant growth substances (d) production of biofertilizers UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: How can biotechnology help to improve the living standards of farmers? (UPSC CSE 2019) 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: Since the 1990s, Kerala has been known as India's most literate state. Under the Centre's 2022 literacy programme, Mizoram has pipped the southern state to emerge as India's 'first fully literate state'. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the ULLAS programme? • What is the National Literacy Mission (NLM)? • What is the New Education Policy? • What is the objective of the ULLAS programme? • What are the government policies for the promotion of education in India? • What is the status of literacy in India? Key Takeaways: • Mizoram has now become India's 'first fully literate state' under the Centre's ULLAS programme, officially called the Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram or the New India Literacy Programme. The literacy rate in Mizoram now stands at 98.2%. According to the Ministry of Education's 2024 definition, a state can be called 'fully literate' if it achieves 95% literacy. • The ULLAS programme, which has a five-year timeline aimed at non-literate people aged 15 years and above, was first implemented across the country in 2022. • There are competing claims on which state became 'fully literate' first based on different datasets. Kerala achieved 'total literacy' in 1991 as per the National Literacy Mission (NLM) norms, which required 90% of a state's population aged between 15 and 35 years to be literate. Kerala had claimed that 90% of its population aged between 15 and 60 years was literate back then. • According to the 2011 Census, literacy in Kerala was 93.91% and 91.58% in Mizoram. Under the 'Household Social Consumption: Education' survey, a part of the National Sample Survey from July 2017 to June 2018, literacy among those aged 7 years and above in Kerala was 96.2%. This survey did not have data on Mizoram. • However, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey's annual report from July 2023 to June 2024, Mizoram's literacy rate for those aged 7 years and above was 98.2%, while Kerala's stood at 95.3%. Do You Know: • The Ministry of Education wrote to the states in August last year, defining 'literacy' and '100% literacy' for ULLAS. Literacy was defined as 'the ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension, i.e., to identify, understand, interpret and create, along with critical life skills such as digital literacy, financial literacy, etc.' • It added that achieving 95% literacy in a state/UT may be considered equivalent to being fully literate. The communication also referred to the National Education Policy 2020, which calls for government initiatives for adult education to 'expedite the all-important aim of achieving 100% literacy'. • ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram or New India Literacy Programme (NILP) is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented from 2022-2027. It aims to equip 5 crore 'non-literate individuals' over the age of 15 across the country with foundational literacy and numeracy skills, which means basic reading and writing and simple arithmetic learnt in primary classes. The teaching material is also meant to impart 'critical life skills' like financial and digital literacy. • The scheme aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It is based on the spirit of Kartvya Bodh and is being implemented on volunteerism. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍UPSC Issue at a Glance | India's literacy drive and its fully literate states— All you need to know for UPSC Prelims and Mains Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (4) Which of the following provisions of the Constitution does India have a bearing on Education? (UPSC CSE 2012) 1. Directive Principles of State Policy 2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies 3. Fifth Schedule 4. Sixth Schedule 5. Seventh Schedule Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3, 4 and 5 only (c) 1, 2 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 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: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a five-nation tour, arrived in Ghana Wednesday on a two-day State visit, during which he will hold talks with the West African country's top leadership and review the strong bilateral partnership. Key Points to Ponder: • Where is Ghana located? • Trace the history of the relationship between India and Ghana • What do you understand by the Global South? • What is the significance of Ghana in cooperation among the Global South? • What are the potential areas of cooperation between both two countries? Key Takeaways: • This is the first visit by an Indian PM to Ghana in the last three decades. • Ghana is a valued partner in the Global South and plays an important role in the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, Modi said in his departure statement. • Modi said he looked forward to talks aimed at deepening the two countries' historical ties and opening up new windows of cooperation, including in the areas of investment, energy, health, security, capacity building and development partnership. 'As fellow democracies, it will be an honour to speak at the Parliament of Ghana,' he said • According to the MEA, PM Modi will hold talks with the President of Ghana to review the strong bilateral partnership and discuss ways to enhance it through economic, energy, and defence collaboration. • From Ghana, Modi will travel to Trinidad and Tobago on a two-day visit from July 3 to 4. The PM will then visit Argentina from July 4 to 5. In the fourth leg, Modi will travel to Brazil for the BRICS summit. On his way back, he will stop over in Namibia. Do You Know: • Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana', the country's national honour, for his 'distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership'. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍PM Modi conferred Ghana's national honour Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (5) Consider the following statements about Ghana: 1. Located in East Africa 2. Touches the boundary with Ethiopia and Kenya 3. Surrounded by Indian Ocean Which of the following statements is/are incorrect? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights. What's the ongoing story: In two key copyright cases last week, US courts ruled in favour of tech companies developing artificial intelligence (AI) models. While the two judgments arrived at their conclusions differently, they are the first to address a central question around generative AI models: are these built on stolen creative work? Key Points to Ponder: • What do you understand by copyright? • What are the laws governing copyrights in India? • What are the issues of copyright and AI? • What are the Large Language Models (LLMs)? • What are the international bodies governing the copyright issues? • 'Transformative' AI models fall within the ambit of 'fair use' – what does this mean? Key Takeaways: • At a very basic level, AI models such as ChatGPT and Gemini identify patterns from massive amounts of data. Their ability to generate passages, scenes, videos, and songs in response to prompts depends on the quality of the data they have been trained on. This training data has thus far come from a wide range of sources, from books and articles to images and sounds, and other material available on the Internet. • There are at the moment at least 21 ongoing lawsuits in the US, filed by writers, music labels, and news agencies, among others, against tech companies for training AI models on copyrighted work. This, the petitioners have argued, amounts to 'theft'. • In their defence, tech companies say they are using the data to create 'transformative' AI models, which falls within the ambit of 'fair use' — a concept in law that permits use of copyrighted material in limited capacities for larger public interests (for instance, quoting a paragraph from a book for a review). • As leading publishers in the US and UK clamp down on artificial intelligence (AI) companies scraping news content without consent, Indian digital media houses are ramping up pressure on the government to step in and protect journalistic work from being 'exploited' by commercial AI models. Do You Know: • Under the Copyright Act, 1957, the 'author' of a work has a bundle of legal rights including the right to reproduce, issue copies, perform, adapt, or translate the work in question. Upon the death of the author, the ownership of the copyright falls to her legal heirs. Under Section 18 however, the author can 'assign' the copyright 'wholly or partially' to anyone she pleases, in return for compensation. The Act aims to safeguard creative works considered to be a creator's intellectual property. • A copyrighted work will be considered 'infringed' only if a substantial part is made use of without authorisation. In cases of infringement, the copyright owner can take legal action against any person who infringes on or violates their copyright and is entitled to remedies such as injunctions, damages, and accounts. An injunction is 'an official order given by a law court, usually to stop someone from doing something.' • Section 52 lists acts that don't constitute infringement, even in cases where one has a copyright over the work. Section 52(1)(a) exempts 'a fair dealing with any work' from being termed 'infringement' if it's for private or personal use, like research, criticism or review, or reporting of current events and affairs. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Knowledge nugget of the day: Copyright Act — the focus of Dhanush-Nayanthara dispute 📍'Urge govt to act against AI's unauthorised and rampant data scrapping': News publishers body Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: In a globalized world, Intellectual Property Rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms—Copyrights, Patents and Trade Secrets. (UPSC CSE 2014) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. General Studies-III: India and its neighbourhood- relations What's the ongoing story: The 14th Dalai Lama announced on Wednesday (July 2) 'that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue' and that the Gaden Phodrang Trust shall be the 'sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation'. Key Points to Ponder: • What do you understand by reincarnation? • Who is the Dalai Lama? • What is the angle of China in recognizing future reincarnation? • Why did the 14th Dalai Lama have to escape from Lhasa? • What are the established conventions in choosing the new Dalai Lama? • What is India's stand? • What is the role of Dalai Lama? • The Dalai Lama is associated with which school of Buddhism? • Who are Bodhisattvas? Key Takeaways: • The 'Statement Affirming the Continuation of the Institution of Dalai Lama' came four days before the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists turns 90. • The term Gaden Phodrang refers to the residential quarters of the Dalai Lama lineage from the second Dalai Lama onward at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa. • After the Potala Palace was built (by a decree of the fifth Dalai Lama), the Dalai Lamas moved away from these quarters, and stayed at Potala Palace in winter and Norbulingka (built by the seventh Dalai Lama about 100 years after Potala) in summer. This tradition was followed until the 14th Dalai Lama's escape from Lhasa to India in March 1959. • The Gaden Phodrang Trust is one of three institutions associated with the Dalai Lama. 'There are three registered institutions that are related to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. There is Gaden Phodrang Trust, which is a registered body in India and operates from the office of His Holiness, there is another Dalai Lama Trust, which [too] is a non-profit organisation, and the third is Gaden Phodrang Foundation, which is registered in Zurich.' • The Gaden Phodrang Trust was registered in 2011 in Dharamshala with the aim of recognising the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. It is based in the office of the Dalai Lama, and is managed by the former Kalon Tripa (head of the CTA) Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, a senior monk and a close confidant of the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama heads the trust, whose members include some other aides of the spiritual leader. • The foundation is a tax-exempt Swiss nonprofit with its registered office in Zurich, and is supervised by the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs. It is funded by charitable contributions made by the founder and the public. • The Dalai Lama is the founder and president of the foundation, and Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa (India), Kelsang Gyaltsen (Switzerland), and Jamphel Lhundup (India), are its co-vice presidents. • The foundation says on its website that its aim is to maintain and support the tradition and institution of the Dalai Lama, and to promote basic human values, mutual understanding among religions, peace and non-violence, and protection of the environment. • The Dalai Lama Trust is a non-profit charitable organisation founded by the 14th Dalai Lama in 2009. It is headquartered in New Delhi but works with a range of partners internationally, too. • The purpose of the trust is to support the welfare of the Tibetan people and to promote human values, interfaith harmony, and world peace, which have been key elements of the Dalai Lama's lifelong mission. Do You Know: • India Thursday asserted that the successor to the 14th Dalai Lama has to be decided by established practices and that no one but the present Dalai Lama 'has the right to decide'. • The statement comes after China, which describes the Dalai Lama as a separatist, stated that the spiritual leader's reincarnation must be approved by the Chinese Central government. • The Dalai Lama, literally 'Ocean of Wisdom, is believed to be the manifestation of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of compassion, and the patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are persons who are on the path to becoming a Buddha, but who put the liberation of other sentient beings ahead of entering nirvana themselves. • The institution of the Dalai Lama is part of the tulku concept in Tibetan Buddhism, in which spiritual masters are reincarnated upon their death, so that their teachings can be preserved and carried forward. • The first Dalai Lama, Gedun Drupa, was born in 1391. Beginning with Lobsang Gyatso (1617-82), the fifth of the line, the Dalai Lama became both the spiritual and political leader of Tibetan Buddhists. • The present Dalai Lama was found by a search party in 1939, six years after the 13th Dalai Lama Thupten Gyatso passed away in 1933. The reincarnation was recognised by several signs, including a vision revealed to a senior monk. In 1940, the little boy was taken to Potala Palace in Lhasa and officially enthroned. • China denounces the 14th Dalai Lama as a 'splittist', 'traitor', and an exile with 'no right to represent the Tibetan people', and prohibits any public show of devotion towards him. • In his 2011 statement, the Dalai Lama had said that his reincarnation should be found in a 'free country, not under Chinese control'. He also said that 'no recognition should be given to a reincarnation selected for political purposes by the Chinese government'. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍The Dalai Lama, his successor, and China Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (6) With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2016) 1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism. 2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment. 3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment; Inclusive growth and issues arising from it What's the ongoing story: The difference in daily per capita calorie intake between India's top and bottom 5 per cent of consumers narrowed in 2023-24, with the former eating fewer calories and the latter increasing their intake. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the impact lesser calorie intake on the human body? • What is the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES)? • Who conducts the HCES? • How poverty level measured using the calorie intake in India? • What are the criticisms related to poverty estimation? Key Takeaways: • In 2023-24, the top 5 per cent of Indians urban areas, as measured by their Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE), consumed 3,092 kilocalories (Kcal) per day, 82.3 per cent more than the 1,696 Kcal of the bottom 5 per cent, according to nutritional intake data based on the statistics ministry's latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES). In 2022-23, the difference was 114.3 per cent. • In rural India, the daily calorie intake of the top 5 per cent was 2,941 Kcal, 74.2 per cent higher than that of the bottom 5 per cent's 1,688 Kcal. In 2022-23, the difference was 93.9 per cent. • Overall, the daily per capita calorie intake in rural India in 2023-24 was down 0.9 per cent from 2022-23 at 2,212 Kcal, while that in urban areas was 0.4 per cent lower at 2,240 Kcal. Compared to 2011-12, the daily per capita calorie consumption in urban areas was 1.5 per cent higher in 2023-24, although it was down 0.9 per cent in rural areas. • The narrowing of the gap in daily per capita calorie intake between the top and bottom 5 per cent in both rural and urban areas was primarily a result of lower consumption by the top 5 per cent and an increase in intake by the bottom 5 per cent. • According to the MoSPI data, the calorie intake of the top 5 per cent of Indians in urban regions fell by as much as 11.1 per cent in 2023-24 from 2022-23. The reduction in calorie intake of the top 5 per cent in rural areas was 5.6 per cent. • Interestingly, Indians in urban areas reduced their daily consumption of fat in 2023-24 to 69.8 grams (gm) from 70.5 gm in 2022-23, while those in rural areas increased it to 60.4 gm from 59.7 gm. • Protein intake, meanwhile, was largely steady. In rural areas, the daily per capita protein intake in 2023-24 was 61.8 gm as against 61.9 gm in 2022-23. The intake was higher in urban areas at 63.4 gm, marginally up from 63.2 gm in 2022-23. • This marks a departure from the situation in 2011-12, when daily per capita protein intake was slightly higher in rural India than urban. In 2011-12, the average daily protein intake was 60.3 gm in urban areas and 60.7 gm in rural areas. Do You Know: • Officially approved poverty measurement in India has involved estimating the level of consumption expenditure sufficient to enable the minimum calorie intake necessary for living and working. As calories measure the energy ingested through food and drink, the methodology represents a physiological approach. • The poverty line is the level of income used as a cut-off point for deciding who is poor in any economy. It represents the minimum income level necessary to meet basic needs, and varies across countries depending on their overall economic conditions. It is important to note here that the context (both time period and location) is critical to arriving at a meaningful poverty line. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Measuring poverty shouldn't be about calories. India needs a thali index 📍Knowledge Nugget: World Bank's revised poverty line and India — A must-know for UPSC Exam Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (7) In a given year in India, official poverty lines are higher in some States than in others because (2019) (a) poverty rates vary from State to State (b) price levels vary from State to State (c) Gross State Product varies from State to State (d) quality of public distribution varies from State to State The Land Pooling Policy, 2025 is a flagship initiative of the Punjab government with the stated aim of promoting 'planned urban development'. Unlike in traditional land acquisition, where the state simply acquires land for compensation, the pooling initiative is meant to be voluntary. 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. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
India.com
2 hours ago
- Business
- India.com
Bad news for China! QUAD makes big plan to end Beijing's dominance in…, good news for India due to….
The Quad alliance has unveiled a bold initiative planned at securing a stable supply of critical minerals, as part of its broader efforts to enhance economic security. The move was taken after growing concerns over China's practices like price manipulation and export restrictions on these essential resources. The decision on rolling out the 'Quad Critical Minerals Initiative' was announced after a meeting of foreign ministers of the member nations of the grouping in the US capital on Tuesday. QUAD's Action Plan On Critical Minerals Critical minerals such as lithium, nickel and graphite are considered vital for high-end technology products, including electric vehicles (EVs), drones, and battery storage. China has been a dominant player in the critical minerals supply chain globally. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya. In a joint statement, the Quad foreign ministers expressed 'deep concern' over the 'abrupt constriction and future reliability' of key supply chains, specifically for critical minerals, remarks which are seen as directed at China. The ministers unveiled a broader agenda covering four areas: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. What's Quad's Next Plan? The Quad said it is committed to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific and is aiming to strengthen energy security across the region besides promoting resilient supply chains and quality infrastructure projects that are transparent and secure. It was also announced that the grouping will formally launch the 'Quad Ports of the Future Partnership' by hosting a transportation and logistics conference with Indo-Pacific partners in Mumbai in October 2025. A readout of the foreign ministerial meeting said the new initiative on critical minerals is an 'ambitious expansion' of the Quad partnership to strengthen economic security and collective resilience by collaborating on securing and diversifying critical mineral supply chains. 'Today, Quad Foreign Ministers are proud to announce the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, an ambitious expansion of our partnership to strengthen economic security and collective resilience by collaborating on securing and diversifying critical mineral supply chains,' it said. 'This new flagship initiative, alongside the high-impact programmes and outcomes the Quad is realising, will enable our four countries to bring economic opportunity and prosperity to our people and the region,' it said. In a joint statement, the Quad foreign ministers expressed 'deep concern' over use of non-market policies and practices for critical minerals and mineral processing technology. 'We underscore the importance of diversified and reliable global supply chains. Reliance on any one country for processing and refining critical minerals and derivative goods production exposes our industries to economic coercion, price manipulation, and supply chain disruptions, which further harms our economic and national security,' they said. A fact-sheet unveiled at the end of the meeting said the Quad is expanding maritime law enforcement cooperation which will support efforts to curtail illicit maritime activity, including piracy, drug trafficking, infringements on border security, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. (With Inputs From PTI)
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Quad comes together to create supply chains for critical minerals: Can it counter China?
The Quad, comprising India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, has launched an initiative to secure supply chains of critical minerals, as worries grow around China's stranglehold over the resources, which are vital to new technologies. In a joint statement released late on Wednesday evening, the Quad members said they were 'deeply concerned' about the 'abrupt constriction and future reliability of key supply chains, specifically for critical minerals'. In a direct reference to China, they said that 'reliance on any one country for processing and refining critical minerals and derivative goods production exposes our industries to economic coercion, price manipulation, and supply chain disruptions, which further harms our economic and national security'. To create an alternative supply chain for critical minerals, which are used in a number of sectors including electric vehicles (EVs), electronics, and defence, the grouping launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, to 'strengthen economic security and collective resilience by collaborating to secure and diversify critical minerals supply chains'. 'We are deeply concerned about the abrupt constriction and future reliability of key supply chains, specifically for critical minerals. This includes the use of non-market policies and practices for critical minerals, certain derivative products, and mineral processing technology. We underscore the importance of diversified and reliable global supply chains. Reliance on any one country for processing and refining critical minerals and derivative goods production exposes our industries to economic coercion, price manipulation, and supply chain disruptions, which further harms our economic and national security,' the Quad statement said. 'The Quad Critical Minerals Initiative will strengthen cooperation on priorities such as securing and diversifying reliable supply chains, and electronic waste (e-waste) critical minerals recovery and reprocessing. The initiative will expand the Quad's cooperation on supply chain resilience measures for critical minerals, and we look forward to coordinating with private sector partners to facilitate increased investments,' India's External Affairs Ministry said in a fact sheet on the Quad statement. Critical minerals, which include rare earth elements (REEs), are an important component of various cutting-edge hardware, ranging from semiconductors and electric vehicles to jet fighters. Rare earth magnets, especially neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, are crucial for EV manufacturing, particularly in electric motors. They provide the strong magnetic fields needed for efficient and powerful electric motors, including traction motors that drive EVs. These magnets also play a major role in other EV components such as power steering systems, wiper motors, and braking systems. China has a near monopoly over the production of these rare earth magnets. Following US President Donal Trump's tariff onslaught on other countries in April, China implemented specifically designed bureaucratic hurdles for foreign companies looking to source critical minerals from the country. While the availability of rare earth metals is not limited to China, it is in the efficient processing of these critical elements where Beijing has a substantial lead, which was once enjoyed by the US and Japan. In recent years, Japan has been able to restart some of its minerals processing industry owing to government policies, but countries like the US and India are heavily dependent on Chinese exports of these metals. In response to the US administration's reciprocal tariff heat, China restricted exports of seven heavy rare earth metals including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium, as well as rare earth magnets. Earlier, it had also banned exports to the US of gallium, germanium, antimony, and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications. India's nascent but slowly growing EV industry has faced a direct impact of Chinese restrictions on export of rare earth magnets. None of the applications made by Indian carmakers to source the critical minerals have yet been accepted by Beijing, with automakers staring at shortages and potential setbacks to production plans. China requires companies to secure an end-user licence, along with an endorsement from the local government that the minerals will not be used for military applications. However, the fact that China has not yet cleared any application from Indian entities is a cause of concern. Worrying still is a fresh insistence from Beijing that instead of sourcing magnets separately, carmakers buy entire electric motor assemblies from Chinese companies, or simply wait for the Chinese authorities to issue export permits to local rare earth magnet producers, as has been done, according to Reuters, for at least four magnet producers that include suppliers to Volkswagen – the first granted since Beijing restricted shipments last month. The German carmaker is said to have lobbied hard with Beijing to get this done. The announcement of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative follows the Critical Minerals Action Plan put forth at the G7 Summit in Canada last month, which was also endorsed by India. Two of India's Quad partners – the US and Japan – are a part of the G7. The action plan said G7 countries are committed to cooperating with 'mineral-rich emerging market and developing country partners' to build capacity, diversify supply chains, and 'foster local value creation'. At the summit, G7 finance ministers also pledged to strengthen the World Bank-led Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain Enhancement (RISE) initiative for critical minerals, which received a commitment for initial contributions worth $25 million from Japan, and another $25 million from Canada, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and the UK. In November last year, the Union Mines Ministry had proposed external funding for India's National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) through the RISE initiative in a meeting with officials from the Department of Economic Affairs. The NCMM has an outlay of Rs 16,300 crore aimed at strengthening India's critical minerals supply chain, from boosting domestic exploration and funding overseas assets to promoting R&D in processing and incentivising recycling. The summit action plan did not unanimously endorse the US-led Minerals Security Partnership and its MSP Forum, asserting that only 'interested G7 members' will support the Biden-era collaboration. The MSP was formed in June 2022 with all G7 countries and a few others like Australia, South Korea, Finland, and Sweden. India joined the initiative a year later in June 2023. Despite being on track to withdraw from core energy transition sectors such as EVs, solar, and wind, President Trump has placed critical minerals at the centre of his agenda. The exception is largely due to their application in a wide array of industries, inducing defence and aerospace. Since taking office in January, he has issued a series of executive orders aimed at fast-tracking mining projects and unlocking funding to secure domestic supply chains. On the bilateral front, the US and India deepened cooperation on critical minerals during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington DC in February, when the two sides signed the Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) initiative. The agreement focuses on developing technologies for the extraction and processing of key minerals, including lithium and rare earth elements. Shortly after the visit, Tom Lograsso, director of the Critical Materials Innovation Hub – a US Department of Energy-backed centre – travelled to Mumbai and Pune to explore partnerships with Indian companies for developing and licensing technologies related to critical mineral production. Aggam Walia is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, reporting on power, renewables, and mining. His work unpacks intricate ties between corporations, government, and policy, often relying on documents sourced via the RTI Act. Off the beat, he enjoys running through Delhi's parks and forests, walking to places, and cooking pasta. ... Read More Soumyarendra Barik is Special Correspondent with The Indian Express and reports on the intersection of technology, policy and society. With over five years of newsroom experience, he has reported on issues of gig workers' rights, privacy, India's prevalent digital divide and a range of other policy interventions that impact big tech companies. He once also tailed a food delivery worker for over 12 hours to quantify the amount of money they make, and the pain they go through while doing so. In his free time, he likes to nerd about watches, Formula 1 and football. ... Read More
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Why is Quad Critical Minerals Initiative important for your UPSC exam
Take a look at the essential concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up on your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today. (Relevance: QUAD groupings and their initiatives are essential from the exam perspective. More importantly, critical minerals have become the 'oil' of the new world; new groupings in managing the supply chain are significant from a holistic perspective. UPSC has asked questions on minerals and international groups. In light of ongoing trade tussles, this initiative is very important for your exam.) The second Quad foreign ministers' meeting was held in Washington, DC. It was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japan Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. They strongly condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack, called for the 'perpetrators, organisers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay', and urged all UN member countries to cooperate with all authorities under international law in this regard. The QUAD foreign ministers also launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative and announced plans to host the first Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network field training exercise this year and launch the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership in Mumbai this year. 1. The joint statement said that to ensure the Quad's enduring impact, the focus has been on four key areas: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. 2. They expressed concern about the abrupt constriction and future reliability of key supply chains, specifically for critical minerals. The issues highlighted were the use of non-market policies and practices for critical minerals, certain derivative products, and mineral processing technology. 3. This QUAD critical minerals initiative underscores the importance of diversified and reliable global supply chains. 'Reliance on any one country for processing and refining critical minerals and derivative goods production exposes our industries to economic coercion, price manipulation, and supply chain disruptions, which further harms our economic and national security,' said the statement. We are launching today the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, an ambitious expansion of our partnership to strengthen economic security and collective resilience by collaborating to secure and diversify critical minerals supply chains. 4. According to the Report of the Committee on Identification of Critical Minerals, 'Critical minerals are the foundation on which modern technology is built. From solar panels to semiconductors, wind turbines to advanced batteries for storage and transportation, the world needs critical minerals to build these products.' In simple terms, without critical minerals, there is no energy transition, which is why their supply chain resilience has become an increasing priority for major countries. 5. Dhiraj Nayyar in The Indian Express writes, 'Coal powered the first industrial revolution of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Oil and its derivatives fuelled the Second Industrial Revolution (think cars and planes), and global prosperity in the second half of the 20th century. Now, the long 21st century is going to be the critical minerals age.' QUAD groupings The United States is hosting the 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting, and India will host the 2025 Quad Leaders Summit. Dependence on China for critical minerals 📍Dhiraj Nayyar writes, China alone accounts for two-thirds of global rare earths mining. Australia, Chile, and China account for a majority of lithium mining. In processing, there is complete dominance across the board by just one country, China. Sixty-six per cent of the processing of critical minerals (also including copper and aluminium) takes place in China. For rare earths, this goes up to more than 90 per cent. China alone can bring the global EV industry to a halt by restricting the supply of rare earths. 📍As per the International Energy Agency, China accounts for a 35 per cent share in the refining of nickel, 50-70 per cent of lithium and cobalt and around 90 per cent for rare earth elements. China not only dominates the production of rare earths, but also has the most reserves. As per data from the US Geological Survey, the country's reserves have been estimated at 44 million metric tons. Brazil's reserves have been pegged at 21 million metric tons, India's at 6.9 million, Australia's at 5.7 million, Russia's at 3.8 million, and Vietnam's at 3.5 million. 1. In January 2025, India launched a National Critical Mineral Mission to help achieve self-reliance in the critical mineral sector. In 2023, the Centre also identified 30 critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, tin and copper, which are essential for the country's economic development and national security. 2. The Rs 16,300-crore National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) is to promote the exploration of critical minerals within the country and at offshore locations. It aims to intensify the exploration of critical minerals within the country and in its offshore areas. It plans to create a fast-track regulatory approval process for critical mineral mining projects. National Critical Minerals Mission aims to reduce import dependence, strengthen domestic value chains, and support India's 'Net Zero by 2070' goal. – Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi 3. According to a report published by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) in 2024, India's demand for critical minerals is expected to more than double by 2030, while domestic mining operations may take over a decade to start producing. 4. The report said India depends heavily on China for synthetic graphite and natural graphite, and it should explore cooperation initiatives with countries like Mozambique, Madagascar, Brazil, and Tanzania, which are some of the highest graphite-producing countries. 5. India has committed to achieving 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil fuel-based electricity installed capacity by 2030. In light of this, India becoming a member of the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) in 2023 and QUAD Critical Minerals Initiative are important steps to fulfill the commitment. 1. In June 2023, India was inducted into the MSP, a US-led collaboration of 14 countries that aimed to catalyse public and private investment in critical mineral supply chains globally. Last year, India also became a part of the Minerals Security Finance Network (MSFN). 2. MSP partners include Australia, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union (represented by the European Commission). 3. The MSP grouping is focused on the supply chains of minerals such as Cobalt, Nickel, Lithium, and also the 17 'rare earth' minerals. The alliance is seen as primarily focused on evolving an alternative to China, which has created processing infrastructure in rare earth minerals and has acquired mines in Africa for elements such as Cobalt. 4. The collaboration is engaged in fostering a critical minerals and metals cooperation forum for the sharing of expertise, building a robust battery materials supply chain, and jointly developing a minerals processing facility in South America. (1) Consider the following statements about the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP): 1. The NATO-led initiative was launched to create a global supply chain of critical minerals. 2. In 2023, India and Sri Lanka became members of MSP, taking the total count to 14. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (2) Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called 'rare earth metals'. Why? (UPSC CSE 2012) 1. China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export. 2. Other than China, Australia, Canada, and Chile, these elements are not found in any country. 3. Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 (Source: Cabinet approves critical minerals mission with Rs 16,300 crore outlay, India needs a strategy to deal with China's restrictions on exports of rare earths, What is India's share in rare earth elements, the backbone of modern technologies?, Quad leaders condemn 'reprehensible' Pahalgam attack) 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 June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Qatar Tribune
17 hours ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
US, Japan, India, Australia pledge mineral cooperation
Agencies The United States, Japan, India and Australia pledged Tuesday to work together to ensure a stable supply of critical minerals, as worries grow over China's dominance in resources vital to new technologies. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed his counterparts from the so-called 'Quad' to Washington in a shift of focus to Asia, after spending much of his first six months on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and on President Donald Trump's domestic priorities such as migration. The four countries said in a joint statement that they were establishing the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, aimed at 'collaborating on securing and diversifying' supply chains. They offered little detail but made clear the goal was to reduce reliance on China, which has used restrictions as leverage as the United States in turn curbs its access to semiconductors and as Trump threatens steep tariffs — including on Quad countries. 'Reliance on any one country for processing and refining critical minerals and derivative goods production exposes our industries to economic coercion, price manipulation and supply chain disruptions,' the statement said. The ministers were careful not to mention China by name but voiced 'serious concerns regarding dangerous and provocative actions' in the South China Sea and East China Sea that 'threaten peace and stability in the region.' China holds major reserves of several key minerals including the vast majority of the world's graphite, which is crucial for electric vehicles. In brief remarks alongside the other ministers, Rubio said he has 'personally been very focused' on diversifying supply chains and wanted 'real progress.' The four-way partnership was first conceived by late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who saw an alliance of democracies surrounding China — which has repeatedly alleged that the Quad is a way to contain it. Rubio had welcomed the Quad foreign ministers on January 21 in his first meeting after Trump's inauguration, seen as a sign the new administration would prioritize engagement with like-minded countries to counter China. But to the surprise of many, China has not topped the early agenda of Trump, who has spoken respectfully about his counterpart Xi Jinping and reached a truce with Beijing to avoid a wider trade war between the world's two largest economies.
