{"id":1709,"date":"2025-09-30T07:14:05","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T07:14:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/?p=1709"},"modified":"2025-10-21T13:48:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T13:48:32","slug":"current-affairs-19th-september-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/2025\/09\/30\/current-affairs-19th-september-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Affairs 19th September 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><u>1. Equalising primary food consumption in India<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>General Studies Paper 1 (Indian Society) :Topic:\u00a0Issues related to Poverty and Vulnerability<\/p>\n<p>General Studies Paper 2 :Topic:\u00a0Poverty, Social Justice and Social Empowerment<\/p>\n<p>General Studies Paper 3 (Economy and Development) :Topic:\u00a0Inclusive Growth and Issues Arising from it<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context: <\/strong>RBI\u2019s 2024 NSS 2022-23 Household Consumption Survey estimated India\u2019s poverty rate at a low 2.5%, a sharp drop from 21.6% in 2011-12.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The World Bank report shows slower declines (~10-12%), prompting debates on poverty measurement and true deprivation levels.<\/li>\n<li>The findings highlight the role of PDS in food security but reveal nutritional gaps.<\/li>\n<li>The report influences policy reforms focusing on protein-rich food distribution in the 2025-26 Union Budget.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Contrasting Narratives of Poverty in India<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>RBI data shows poverty falling dramatically; World Bank\u2019s multidimensional metric shows less steep drops.<\/li>\n<li>Consumption data masks uneven subsidy access; urban areas lag rural, protein deficiency persists despite calorie adequacy.<\/li>\n<li>RBI\u2019s &#8220;thali meal&#8221; metric may undercount protein-poor but calorie-adequate households.<\/li>\n<li>Post-pandemic survey shows rural resilience but high vulnerability in urban slums.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why Measure Poverty Through the Thali Meal?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The \u2018thali meal\u2019 includes cereals, pulses, vegetables, and proteins: a balanced nutritional unit beyond mere calorie intake.<\/li>\n<li>This metric targets households unable to afford a balanced meal for better poverty identification.<\/li>\n<li>Reveals \u201chidden poverty\u201d from protein deficits missed by income-only measures.<\/li>\n<li>Supports linking subsidies to nutritional goals like anemia reduction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Effectiveness of the Public Distribution System (PDS)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>PDS covers 88% households with subsidized cereals, reducing inflation and aiding rural poor.<\/li>\n<li>Rural coverage is higher than urban; urban poor have limited full access.<\/li>\n<li>High cereal subsidy efficiency vs. low coverage for pulses, limiting overall nutrition.<\/li>\n<li>Leakages and over-dependency on cereals exacerbate malnutrition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why Cereals Are Not Enough ?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cereals provide 70-80% of calories but only 20-30% of protein intake.<\/li>\n<li>60% of rural people consume less than recommended pulses amount.<\/li>\n<li>Poor households prioritize cereals due to cost, leading to protein deficiency.<\/li>\n<li>This imbalance links to anemia and child stunting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Policy Path: Equalizing Food Consumption Through Pulses<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Expand PDS subsidies for pulses at 50% below market price, targeting bottom 40%.<\/li>\n<li>Allocate 20% PDS quota to pulses\/millets with strong audit mechanisms.<\/li>\n<li>Procure pulses from farmers cooperatives lowering cost &amp; boosting income.<\/li>\n<li>Integrate pulses with school meal schemes like PM-POSHAN reaching millions.<\/li>\n<li>Use Aadhaar-based digital tracking to ensure subsidy equity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>NSS poverty decline contrasts with persistent nutritional inequities.<\/li>\n<li>\u2018Thali meal\u2019 approach refocuses poverty on balanced nutrition, not just calories.<\/li>\n<li>PDS diversification towards pulses can curb hidden malnutrition and promote equity.<\/li>\n<li>Decisive policy reforms can align India with sustainable development goals and end food deprivation by 2030.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>2. U.S. visas of Indian executives for smuggling ingredients used in fentanyl<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GS Paper 2 (International Relations and Governance),<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GS Paper 3 (Internal Security and Disaster Management)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Context: On<\/strong> September 18, 2025, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi revoked and denied visas for certain Indian business executives and their families due to alleged involvement in trafficking fentanyl precursors.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This follows U.S. charges against two Indian companies for smuggling fentanyl ingredients into the U.S. earlier in 2025.<\/li>\n<li>Part of the Trump Administration&#8217;s intensified campaign against synthetic narcotics, with cooperation from the Indian government to control precursor flow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Background<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In January 2025, two Indian companies\u2014Raxuter Chemicals and Athos Chemicals\u2014were indicted for smuggling fentanyl precursor chemicals to the U.S., with key executives arrested.<\/li>\n<li>These companies used international mail and fraudulent declarations to evade detection.<\/li>\n<li>India was named by the U.S. among major countries under narcotics scrutiny, signaling increased vigilance.<\/li>\n<li>Visa revocations are part of enforcement using U.S. immigration laws to disrupt trafficking networks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What is Fentanyl?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid painkiller, 50-100 times stronger than morphine, used medically under strict regulation.<\/li>\n<li>Illicit fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, making it undetectable and highly risky for users.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Risks and Health Effects<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>High overdose risk causing respiratory failure, coma, or death even in small amounts.<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1710 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-30-124140-298x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"383\" height=\"386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-30-124140-298x300.png 298w, https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-30-124140-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-30-124140.png 393w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 383px) 100vw, 383px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Short-term: drowsiness, confusion, nausea, slowed breathing; long-term: addiction and severe CNS depression.<\/li>\n<li>Accidental exposure, especially to children, can be fatal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Scale of the Crisis<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Over 106,000 annual overdose deaths in the U.S. (2023), with about 70% involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl.<\/li>\n<li>Overdose death rates doubled between 2015 and 2023, especially affecting rural and low-income communities.<\/li>\n<li>Naloxone usage and emergency responses surged due to the crisis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Causes of Addiction<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Often begins with legitimate medical prescriptions but progresses due to rapid tolerance and transition to illicit opioids.<\/li>\n<li>Addiction fueled by easy access, mental health issues, economic despair, and low-cost availability (~$1 per dose).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Global Dimensions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Primary precursor sources include China and India, with production shifting due to regulation changes.<\/li>\n<li>Precursors often diverted via complex international trafficking routes before final fentanyl manufacture in countries like Mexico.<\/li>\n<li>Fentanyl misuse is a growing problem in Europe, Canada, and worldwide, with over 500,000 annual opioid deaths globally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Impact on U.S Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Trump Administration implemented visa bans, tariffs, and stronger border security to disrupt fentanyl supply chains.<\/li>\n<li>Cooperation with countries like India aims to reduce precursor trafficking but challenges remain due to enforcement gaps.<\/li>\n<li>Criticism exists over cuts in prevention and recovery funding, risking sustained successes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Conclusion: The<\/strong> visa action against Indian executives highlights the global scale of the fentanyl crisis.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Synthetic opioids pose severe health risks requiring combined enforcement, treatment expansion, and international cooperation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>3. How the Deepseek-R1 AI model was taught to teach itself to reason<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GS 3: Science and Technology \u2014 Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Advanced Technologies.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Context<\/strong>: DeepSeek-R1 is gaining attention as the first AI to self-learn reasoning without human-annotated data. By teaching itself to reflect and verify, it achieved a leap in performance on the AIME exam, raising accuracy from 15.6% to 86.7% and surpassing top human averages. This marks a major step toward autonomous, self-learning AI.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why is DeepSeek-R1 Important?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>First AI model to teach itself reasoning without human-provided examples.<\/li>\n<li>Improved accuracy on math problems from 15.6% to 86.7%, surpassing top students\u2019 average.<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrated reflection and verification, human-like reasoning traits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What is Reinforcement Learning (RL)?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A trial-and-error learning method where models get rewards for correct answers.<\/li>\n<li>DeepSeek-R1 was rewarded only for correct final answers, not steps.<\/li>\n<li>Resulted in adaptive reasoning that adjusts thinking time for complexity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>How Did DeepSeek-R1 Achieve Self-Reasoning?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>DeepSeek-R1 began its learning in the R1-Zero phase by solving math and coding problems, expressing reasoning in\u00a0&lt;think&gt;\u00a0tags and answers in\u00a0&lt;answer&gt;\u00a0tags.<\/li>\n<li>It learned via trial and error: incorrect reasoning paths were penalized while correct ones were reinforced.<\/li>\n<li>The model then developed self-reflection abilities, using prompts like \u201cwait\u201d or \u201clet\u2019s try again\u201d to review and improve its answers independently.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What Were the Major Successes?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Improved math problem-solving from 15.6% to 77.9%, then 86.7% post fine-tuning on AIME.<\/li>\n<li>Achieved 25% better general knowledge accuracy and 17% better instruction following.<\/li>\n<li>Adapted reasoning length to task difficulty for efficiency.<\/li>\n<li>Enhanced language readability, safety, and alignment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Limitations and Risks<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Reinforcement learning consumes high energy.<\/li>\n<li>Creative tasks still require human-labelled data for reward models.<\/li>\n<li>Reflection capability risks generating unsafe or manipulative content.<\/li>\n<li>Strong safeguards needed to prevent misuse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why This Matters for AI\u2019s Future ?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Reduces reliance on costly human-labelled data.<\/li>\n<li>Opens potential for AI creativity and understanding through incentive-based learning.<\/li>\n<li>Marks shift from learning by example to learning by exploration.<\/li>\n<li>Has wide implications across education, governance, ethics, and AI applications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Conclusion: <\/strong>DeepSeek-R1 marks a milestone in AI evolution by enabling machine reasoning via reinforcement learning alone. Challenges the belief that human-labelled data is essential. Poses new challenges around creativity, autonomy, safety, and ethics requiring oversight in AI deployment.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><u>4. World\u2019s top 10 happiest cities in 2025:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Why in News?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The 2025 Happy City Index ranks the world&#8217;s happiest cities using 82 indicators across six themes.<\/li>\n<li>The report gained attention post-COP29, with Copenhagen topping for environment and citizen engagement.<\/li>\n<li>A new &#8220;Health&#8221; category was added, reflecting COVID-19 impacts on public health priorities.<\/li>\n<li>No Indian cities ranked, sparking debates on urban governance and pollution challenges versus Asian peers like Singapore.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What Makes a City Happy?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cities evaluated on six themes: Citizens, Governance, Environment, Economy, Health, and Mobility.<\/li>\n<li>Factors include infrastructure, work-life balance, and eco-friendly initiatives promoting well-being.<\/li>\n<li>Rankings split into Gold (top 31), Silver (32-100), and Bronze (101-200) tiers.<\/li>\n<li>Nordic cities excel due to balanced policies and strong social safety nets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Top 10 Happiest Cities in 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n<table width=\"698\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"66\"><strong>Rank<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"268\"><strong>City, Country<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Score<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Key Strengths<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"66\">1<\/td>\n<td width=\"268\">Copenhagen, Denmark<\/td>\n<td>1039<\/td>\n<td>Environment, Citizens<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"66\">2<\/td>\n<td width=\"268\">Zurich, Switzerland<\/td>\n<td>993<\/td>\n<td>Citizens, Governance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"66\">3<\/td>\n<td width=\"268\">Singapore<\/td>\n<td>979<\/td>\n<td>Citizens, Health<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"66\">4<\/td>\n<td width=\"268\">Aarhus, Denmark<\/td>\n<td>958<\/td>\n<td>Citizens, Governance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"66\">5<\/td>\n<td width=\"268\">Antwerp, Belgium<\/td>\n<td>956<\/td>\n<td>Citizens, Governance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"66\">6<\/td>\n<td width=\"268\">Seoul, South Korea<\/td>\n<td>942<\/td>\n<td>Citizens, Governance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"66\">7<\/td>\n<td width=\"268\">Stockholm, Sweden<\/td>\n<td>941<\/td>\n<td>Citizens, Environment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"66\">8<\/td>\n<td width=\"268\">Taipei, Taiwan<\/td>\n<td>936<\/td>\n<td>Governance, Environment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"66\">9<\/td>\n<td width=\"268\">Munich, Germany<\/td>\n<td>931<\/td>\n<td>Citizens, Health<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"66\">10<\/td>\n<td width=\"268\">Rotterdam, Netherlands<\/td>\n<td>920<\/td>\n<td>Environment, Health<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>European Dominance and Asian Presence<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Europe claims 7 top 10 spots, including Copenhagen and Aarhus from Denmark.<\/li>\n<li>Asian cities: Singapore (#3), Seoul (#6), and Taipei (#8), known for governance and health.<\/li>\n<li>US, UK, and China cities absent in top 10; highest ranks: New York (#17), London (#31), Beijing (#54).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>India\u2019s Position<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>No Indian city in top 200 due to governance, pollution, and health service issues.<\/li>\n<li>Challenges include air pollution, inequality, and infrastructure deficits in cities like Mumbai and Delhi.<\/li>\n<li>Opportunity for sustainable urban development aligned with India\u2019s Smart Cities Mission.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The index stresses holistic well-being beyond just economic growth.<\/li>\n<li>Gold-tier cities balance all well-being factors effectively.<\/li>\n<li>Calls for policies fostering inclusive happiness and sustainable urban planning globally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>5. Global Innovation Index (GII)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Why in the News?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has released the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>About the Global Innovation Index (GII):<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Annual ranking of 139 economies based on their innovation capacity and success.<\/li>\n<li>Published jointly by Cornell University, INSEAD, and WIPO.<\/li>\n<li>First published in 2007.<\/li>\n<li>Evaluates innovation using 80+ metrics across 7 pillars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Structure of GII:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Innovation Input Sub-Index: Includes institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication, business sophistication.<\/li>\n<li>Innovation Output Sub-Index: Covers knowledge and technology outputs, creative outputs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Purpose:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Helps governments assess how effectively R&amp;D, education, and infrastructure translate into innovation outcomes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Key Highlights of GII 2025:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Global R&amp;D growth slowed to 2.9% in 2024 and projected at 2.3% in 2025, the lowest since 2010 financial crisis.<\/li>\n<li>Top ranking countries: Switzerland (1st), Sweden (2nd), United States (3rd), followed by South Korea, Singapore, UK, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, and China (10th).<\/li>\n<li>China leads in knowledge and technology outputs, patent filings, and ranks 2nd in R&amp;D expenditure.<\/li>\n<li>Europe dominates with 15 of the top 25 economies; Southeast, East Asia, and Oceania region has 6 in the top 25.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>India&#8217;s Performance:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ranked 38th globally with an approximate score of 40.5.<\/li>\n<li>Top among lower-middle-income countries and in the Central &amp; Southern Asia region.<\/li>\n<li>Strengths: Knowledge and technology outputs (22nd), market sophistication, human capital, and research.<\/li>\n<li>Weaknesses: Business sophistication, infrastructure, and institutions lag behind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>6. NCST FORMS PANEL TO LOOK INTO DUTIES GIVEN IN 2005<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>GS-II (Polity, Governance, Social Justice) \u2013 highlights institutional reforms for vulnerable sections.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Context: <\/strong>On September 18, 2025, NCST formed a special internal committee to examine eight additional duties assigned in 2005.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This marks the first structured effort in over 20 years to address those responsibilities.<\/li>\n<li>The committee aims to prepare a report by the financial year-end, possibly including field visits and consultant support.<\/li>\n<li>The move responds to past criticisms about NCST\u2019s resource constraints limiting its effectiveness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"height: 209px;\" width=\"1045\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"670\"><strong>Background: What is NCST?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) is a constitutional body established under Article 338A by the 89th Amendment Act, 2003, operational from 2004.<\/li>\n<li>It comprises a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and three members, appointed by the President.<\/li>\n<li>It monitors constitutional safeguards, investigates grievances, advises on tribal welfare, and submits annual reports to the President.<\/li>\n<li>NCST functions as an advisory and watchdog body on tribal cultural, social, economic, and political welfare without executive powers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>2005 Notification: Expansion of NCST Role<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Ministry of Tribal Affairs issued a notification assigning eight additional duties, including:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Protecting ownership of minor forest produce.<\/li>\n<li>Ensuring tribal rights over water and mineral resources.<\/li>\n<li>Preventing land alienation.<\/li>\n<li>Full implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996.<\/li>\n<li>Developing livelihood strategies.<\/li>\n<li>Evaluating rehabilitation programs for tribals displaced by development projects.<\/li>\n<li>Enhancing tribal participation in forest conservation.<\/li>\n<li>Reducing and eliminating shifting cultivation practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Problems Till Now<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The 2005 NCST report cited serious staff and fund shortages, hindering duties execution.<\/li>\n<li>Subsequent reports lacked mention or progress on these duties.<\/li>\n<li>NCST lacks independence, prosecutorial powers, and timely report submissions.<\/li>\n<li>Resource constraints limit field investigations and preventive roles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What\u2019s New in 2025? <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>NCST created a special committee of 11 members divided into 3 sub-committees:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Sub-committee 1 (Jatothu Hussain): Livelihood strategies, ownership of forest produce, minerals, and water.<\/li>\n<li>Sub-committee 2 (Asha Lakra): Land alienation and rehabilitation for displaced tribals.<\/li>\n<li>Sub-committee 3 (Nirupam Chakma): PESA implementation, forest conservation, and shifting cultivation elimination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Plans include field visits and engaging consultants if necessary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why This is Significant?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Addresses long-pending tribal rights issues like land alienation, resource ownership.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0PESA implementation, crucial for ST empowerment and governance in scheduled areas.<\/li>\n<li>Enhances NCST&#8217;s advisory role in socio-economic development, potentially influencing policies on forest rights (FRA 2006 linkage) and displacement.<\/li>\n<li>Timely amid rising tribal concerns, such as illegal land grabs (e.g., Asha Lakra&#8217;s report on Jharkhand), and could lead to better enforcement of safeguards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Persistent shortages of staff and funds may impede comprehensive reporting.<\/li>\n<li>Lack of binding powers leads to implementation gaps.<\/li>\n<li>Delays, coordination issues with states, and political influence affect effectiveness.<\/li>\n<li>Data inadequacies and overlapping roles with other bodies complicate governance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>7. U.S to revoke waiver on Chabahar port sanctions<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GS-II (IR): U.S. sanctions, multi-alignment challenges, U.S.-India-Iran relations, QUAD\/I2U2 contexts.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GS-III (Economy): Trade corridors, sanctions impact, regional infrastructure strategies.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Context: <\/strong>On September 18, 2025, the U.S. State Department announced revocation of India&#8217;s waiver on sanctions regarding the Chabahar port in Iran, effective September 29, 2025.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This decision represents an escalation of U.S. sanctions pressure on Iran, disrupting India\u2019s strategic regional connectivity plans.<\/li>\n<li>It follows recent talks signaling U.S.-India trade rapprochement but highlights tensions in other bilateral and regional issues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What is Chabahar Port?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Chabahar is a strategic port in southeastern Iran, developed jointly by India and Iran to enhance trade connectivity.<\/li>\n<li>It serves as an alternative trade route for India, bypassing Pakistan, to access Afghanistan and Central Asia.<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1711 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-30-124254-300x211.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"471\" height=\"331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-30-124254-300x211.png 300w, https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-30-124254.png 319w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 471px) 100vw, 471px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>The port is crucial for fostering regional economic integration and reducing reliance on contentious routes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Background of the US Waiver<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In 2018, the U.S. had provided India a special waiver exempting its activities in Chabahar from sanctions imposed on Iran.<\/li>\n<li>The waiver was intended to support India\u2019s efforts in regional connectivity and counterbalance China-Pakistan influence.<\/li>\n<li>It allowed India to develop the Shahid Beheshti terminal and operate despite broader US sanctions on Iran.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What Happened Now in 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>President Trump\u2019s executive order on February 5, 2025, mandated a review of all Iran sanctions waivers.<\/li>\n<li>The State Department revoked the Chabahar waiver, effective September 29, citing changed circumstances like Taliban\u2019s control in Afghanistan and port revenues funding Iran\u2019s proxies.<\/li>\n<li>Indian firms involved risk sanctions including asset freezes and transaction bans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Impact on India: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Economic Loss: <\/strong>Risks \u20b9200 crore already invested of a \u20b9400 crore allocation in port development.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>$120 million worth of equipment investment at stake.<\/li>\n<li>Disrupts trade worth $1-2 billion annually via the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).<\/li>\n<li>Includes Afghan exports and Indian exports to Eurasia.<\/li>\n<li>Possibility of 25% U.S. tariffs on Indian goods used as leverage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Diplomatic Tensions: <\/strong>Strains the U.S.-India strategic partnership, including QUAD cooperation.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Complicates India-Iran relations, e.g., delaying $500 million funding releases for Chabahar.<\/li>\n<li>Reminiscent of 2018-19 U.S. demands for reduced Iranian oil imports.<\/li>\n<li>Tests the effectiveness of India\u2019s \u2018neighbourhood first\u2019 diplomacy under the Modi government.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Connectivity Plans Hit: Jeopardizes<\/strong> the INSTC and Chabahar\u2019s role as an alternative in the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hampers access to around 800 million consumers in Central Asia.<\/li>\n<li>Risks undoing recent gains like a 43% rise in vessel traffic and 34% growth in container traffic (2023-24).<\/li>\n<li>Delays India\u2019s goals of regional integration and trade expansion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Geopolitical Shift: <\/strong>Strengthens China\u2019s Belt and Road Initiative dominance via Gwadar port, which is 170 km from Chabahar.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Weakens India\u2019s influence in Afghanistan, especially post-Taliban takeover.<\/li>\n<li>Shifts regional power balance in favour of Pakistan.<\/li>\n<li>Undermines India\u2019s strategy to encircle China through regional partnerships.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why is the U.S. Doing This? <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The U.S. action aligns with Trump\u2019s &#8220;maximum pressure&#8221; campaign to isolate Iran and prevent its nuclear weapons development.<\/li>\n<li>It targets Iran\u2019s support for proxy groups like Houthis and Hezbollah that threaten U.S. allies such as Israel and Saudi Arabia.<\/li>\n<li>Revenues from Chabahar port are viewed as funding Iran\u2019s &#8220;axis of resistance&#8221; and ballistic missile programs.<\/li>\n<li>The Taliban\u2019s 2021 takeover of Afghanistan reduced the initial humanitarian rationale for the Chabahar waiver.<\/li>\n<li>The revocation is part of a broader review of Obama-Biden-era sanctions waivers aimed at reimposing maximum economic pressure.<\/li>\n<li>It signals pressure on India to align away from the Iran-Russia axis, especially regarding oil imports amid the Ukraine conflict.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>India\u2019s Options Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Diplomatic talks with U.S. for renewed waivers or carve-outs.<\/li>\n<li>Diversify investments to Bandar Abbas, Duqm, and enhance Bay of Bengal corridors.<\/li>\n<li>Strengthen INSTC trilaterally with Iran, Armenia; leverage BRICS\/SCO diplomacy.<\/li>\n<li>Strategically hedge by discreetly sustaining Chabahar ops, deepen Russia\/Central Asia ties.<\/li>\n<li>Balance multi-alignment between U.S. partnerships and Eurasian outreach.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. Equalising primary food consumption in India General Studies Paper 1 (Indian Society) :Topic:\u00a0Issues related to Poverty and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2514,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-current-affairs"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-36.jpg",2048,2048,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-36-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-36-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-36-768x768.jpg",640,640,true],"large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-36-1024x1024.jpg",640,640,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-36-1536x1536.jpg",1536,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-36.jpg",2048,2048,false],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-36-825x575.jpg",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-36-590x410.jpg",590,410,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"ArkReflections","author_link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/author\/arkreflectionsiaspost\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/category\/daily-current-affairs\/\" rel=\"category tag\">DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS<\/a>","tag_info":"DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1709"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1709\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1712,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1709\/revisions\/1712"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2514"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}