Brief Summary
This session provides a comprehensive analysis of ten articles from The Hindu and Indian Express, focusing on topics relevant to the civil services examination. Key areas covered include economic growth indicators, waste management, environmental policies, national security concerns, intellectual property rights, monsoon effects on marine life, international monetary fund assistance, support for deep tech startups, and security audits of tourist locations. The discussion aims to equip aspirants with the knowledge to tackle prelims and mains questions effectively.
- Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and its implications for economic growth.
- India's role as a major plastic polluter and the need for better waste management strategies.
- The importance of expanding tree cover to achieve net-zero emissions targets.
- The ongoing debate surrounding the use of Pegasus spyware and its impact on national security.
- The re-inclusion of India on the United States' IPR watch list and its potential consequences.
Introduction
The session begins with an introduction to Unacademy IAS, highlighting its role as a resource for civil services aspirants. The presenter, Sham Kaguro, outlines the session's structure, which includes a detailed discussion of ten articles from The Hindu and Indian Express. The aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of current affairs to help students answer questions in the civil services examination. An announcement is made regarding the Manzil event, where toppers shared strategies for success, including covering static portions, updating current affairs, solving previous year papers, and revising.
Growth Pangs
This section focuses on an editorial discussing "growth pangs" in the Indian economy, particularly concerning the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The IIP measures changes in the volume of production across three sectors: mining, manufacturing, and electricity. The data is published monthly by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MOSPI). Manufacturing holds the highest weightage (approximately 77%), followed by mining (around 14%) and electricity (around 8%). The article highlights a concerning trend: the IIP growth rate for the financial year 2025 is around 4%, lower than the 5.9% growth in the previous year. This slowdown is attributed to uncertainties and volatilities in the global market, impacting exports, especially for MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises). Consumption, particularly in rural areas, has also been affected by high inflation. Private sector investment is down due to uncertain demand and global market conditions. Despite the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reducing interest rates to boost investment, the IIP growth remains sluggish, indicating the policy's limited effectiveness. Bilateral trade agreements are suggested as a way to restore confidence and stimulate investment.
Waste Management & Judiciary
This chapter addresses waste management in India, with a focus on plastic waste. India is identified as the largest polluter of plastic, releasing an estimated 9.3 million tons annually. However, the writer argues that this figure is likely an underestimation due to issues with data collection. The data is collected by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from state pollution control boards (SPCBs), which in turn gather data from municipalities. The methodology used for data collection lacks transparency, making it difficult to assess the accuracy of the estimates. A significant amount of plastic waste is not collected and the informal sector's contribution to waste collection is not adequately accounted for. The writer suggests better estimation processes, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and improved recycling facilities in municipalities. The role of the judiciary is highlighted through a Supreme Court order related to tanneries in Tamil Nadu, which are polluting rivers and lakes. The Supreme Court has set up a committee to review the implementation of environmental regulations and has imposed penalties on the tanneries to provide relief to affected populations and conduct environmental protection measures.
Net Zero & Tree Cover
The discussion shifts to the importance of expanding tree cover to achieve India's net-zero emissions target by 2070. The writer advocates for a combination of a forestation and planting trees, including agroforestry. Government initiatives such as the Green India Mission (GIM), a component of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are mentioned. Plants play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide and protecting soil. The writer connects plantation efforts with industrialisation, noting that the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), set to come into force in 2026, will impact Indian exports. To mitigate this, India needs a robust carbon trading mechanism.
Pegasus & National Security
This section examines the ongoing controversy surrounding the Pegasus spyware and its implications for national security. Following an investigative report in 2021, allegations arose that the Indian government used Pegasus to infiltrate the phones of journalists and opposition leaders. The Supreme Court of India set up a technical committee, which reported that the government did not provide adequate support and that some phones appeared to have the spyware, but it could not be conclusively linked to the government. In 2025, the issue is still being heard, with lawyers asking the government to confirm or deny the purchase of Pegasus. The Supreme Court justices have stated that owning the spyware is not inherently wrong, but using it to spy on citizens would be a violation of privacy. The court has offered to allow individuals who suspect their phones were infected to review the report, but it will not be made public due to national security concerns.
India Put Back on IPR Watchlist
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has placed India back on its IPR watch list, citing concerns about intellectual property rights protection. The USTR publishes an annual Special 301 report, assessing how well countries protect IPRs. The report criticises India's intellectual property act for using vague language, leading to confusion. The process of allocating intellectual properties in India is described as lengthy and cumbersome. High customs duties on imported pharmaceutical products and machines are also a concern. The report also highlights issues with copyright infringement, such as the availability of pirated movies and music. While this listing may not have immediate consequences, the US government may use it to negotiate better terms with India and push for stronger IPR protections.
Changes in Monsoons Affect Marine Productivity
This chapter discusses how changes in monsoon patterns affect marine productivity in the Bay of Bengal. Excess or lower monsoon rainfall can significantly impact fishing activities. The Bay of Bengal accounts for approximately 8% of the total fishing activity in the oceans, despite covering only 1% of the ocean area. Many coastal states in India depend on the sea for fish, which serves as a crucial source of protein and supports economic activities. The article notes that excess monsoon rainfall disrupts the mixing of fresh and saltwater, affecting marine life.
IMF Assistance
The discussion turns to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a Congress representative's call for India to oppose fresh IMF assistance to Pakistan. The focus is on the IMF's resilience and sustainability facility, which provides concessional and non-concessional loans to member countries. The IMF uses various accounts, including the general resources account (GRA) with market-driven interest rates, and the poverty reduction and growth trust (PRGT) with a 0% interest rate. Pakistan is seeking a $1.3 billion loan under the resilience and sustainability facility, which offers loans to low and middle-income countries with applicable interest rates. While India can oppose the loan, the decision ultimately rests with the IMF's board of directors, based on a simple majority vote.
Insufficient Support for Deep Tech Startups
This section addresses the insufficient support for deep tech startups in India. Deep tech companies, which focus on research and development in areas like robotics, AI, and semiconductors, often require significant investment and have a longer time to generate revenue. The writer notes that India lacks sufficient support from both the private sector and the government. Unlike countries like South Korea, India does not have specific policies or incubators targeting deep tech. Private sector investors often prefer faster returns from companies like Swiggy and Zepto. The writer suggests that the government should implement policies specifically for deep tech startups, provide incentives, and promote patient capital investment.
Security Audit of Tourist Spots
The session concludes with an update on Jammu and Kashmir, where a security audit has led to the temporary closure of over 40 tourist spots. The government has restricted access to these locations due to security concerns and plans to review the measures before reopening them to tourists.
