Daily Current Affair 16-September-2025

Rationalising Tariffs for a Competitive India

Syllabus: GS-III (Economy)

Source: Indian Express

Context: India has been labelled the “Tariff King” by the US, which recently imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods. This reignited debate on India’s high import duties and their impact on competitiveness.

About Rationalising Tariffs for a Competitive India

India’s Tariff Landscape

• High Average Tariffs: India’s simple average tariff is 16.2% (2nd highest in G20 after Turkey).
  
  
• Agricultural Protectionism: 64.3% trade-weighted agricultural tariffs — world’s highest — protecting 46% workforce.
  
  
• Non-Agriculture Duties: Industrial goods face 9.2% tariffs, higher than EU/China.
  
  
• Irrational Dispersion: Duty-free cotton vs. 60% on milk powder, 150% on food preparations.
  
  
• Trade Barrier: High tariffs stall India-UK FTA, India-EU BTIA talks.
  
  

Need for Rationalisation

• Boost competitiveness & efficiency (example: post-1991 auto sector).
  
  
• Lower consumer prices → inflation relief, nutrition security.
  
  
• Attract FDI & integrate into global value chains (China+1 strategy).
  
  
• Diplomatic leverage in FTAs.
  
  
• Reduce retaliation (US imposed 50% tariffs recently).
  
  

Implications

• Growth boost via exports & GVCs.
  
  
• Farmer shift to high-value crops with support.
  
  
• Price stability for consumers/MSMEs.
  
  
• Improves India’s global trade image.
  
  
• Pushes innovation & R&D.
  
  

Challenges

• Farmer backlash (dairy, sugar, pulses).
  
  
• Customs revenue loss.
  
  
• MSME fears of cheap imports.
  
  
• Infrastructure gaps.
  
  
• Policy inertia & lobbying.
  
  

Suggested Reforms

• Tiered tariff structure:
  
  
  • Raw materials: 0–10%
    
    
  • Non-sensitive goods: 10–20%
    
    
  • Sensitive goods: 20–35%
    
    
  • Luxury items: 35–50%
    
    
• Use Tariff Rate Quotas for sensitive crops.
  
  
• Boost Agri R&D to 1% of Agri-GDP.
  
  
• DBT-based fertiliser subsidy reform.
  
  
• Invest in cold chains, logistics.
  
  
• Simplify tariff code aligned with GST.
  
  
• Digital customs clearance for transparency.
  
  

Conclusion

India must move from a “Tariff Maharaja” to a competitive, innovation-driven trade regime. Imports should be seen as growth drivers under Ricardo’s comparative advantage. Balanced reforms will enhance resilience, consumer welfare, and farmer incomes.

Global Plastic Pollution Crisis

Syllabus: GS-III (Environment)

Source: The Hindu

Context: Plastic waste projected to triple by 2060 to 1.2 billion tonnes, threatening climate, biodiversity, and human health.

About the Crisis

• Explosive growth: Plastic production doubled (2000–2019), reaching 460 MT.
  
  
• Low recycling: Only 9% recycled.
  
  
• Marine threat: 11 MT enters oceans annually.
  
  
• Microplastics: Found in soil, air, water, even human blood.
  
  
• Future outlook: Waste to nearly triple by 2060 (OECD).
  
  

 

 

Problems

• Persistence: Non-degradable.
  
  
• Climate: 3.4% of global GHG from plastics.
  
  
• Biodiversity loss: Starvation/poisoning of species.
  
  
• Health risk: Carcinogens, endocrine disruptors.
  
  
• Economy: $13 bn losses in fisheries/tourism annually.
  
  

Initiatives

• Global:
  
  
  • UNEA-5 Treaty (2022): Towards binding plastic treaty.
    
    
  • SDGs support (12, 13, 14).
    
    
  • Circular economy campaigns.
    
    
• India:
  
  
  • Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016/22).
    
    
  • Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0.
    
    
  • Plastic roads: 1.2 lakh km built.
    
    

Role of Stakeholders

• Individuals: Refuse single-use, segregate waste, eco-friendly choices.
  
  
• Communities: Clean-ups, Plastic Banks, PPPs.
  
  
• Governments: Strict bans, enforce EPR, landfill taxes, incentives for alternatives.
  
  

Way Ahead

• Adopt 6Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Redesign.
  
  
• Promote circular economy.
  
  
• Boost R&D in biodegradable plastics.
  
  
• Decentralise waste mgmt to ULBs/panchayats.
  
  
• Behavioural shift through campaigns.
  
  

Conclusion

Plastic pollution is a man-made ecological disaster. A mix of strong governance, industry responsibility, and citizen action is key to a sustainable, plastic-free future.

Judicial Backlog

Syllabus: GS-II (Polity & Governance)

Source: UPSC CME

Context: SC pendency reached 88,417 cases (Sept 2025) despite full judge strength.

About Judicial Backlog

• Definition: Accumulation of cases pending beyond reasonable timeframe → delays access to justice.
  
  
• Trends:
  
  
  • 69,553 civil & 18,864 criminal pending.
    
    
  • Disposal ~80% of monthly filings (Aug 2025).
    
    
  • 52,630 cases filed vs. 46,309 disposed in 2025.
    
    
• Historic High: Rising since 2023.
  
  
• Institutional Efforts: Summer “partial working days” (21 benches).
  
  

Nepal: From Discord to Accord

Syllabus: GS-II (Polity & Governance); GS-IV (Ethics); Essay

Source: UPSC CME

Context: Gen-Z digital uprising in Nepal via Discord protests led to PM Oli’s resignation and Justice Sushila Karki becoming interim PM.

Case Study Highlights

• Trigger: Govt’s 4 Sept 2025 social media ban.
  
  
• Youth used Discord to coordinate protests, vote, and mobilise.
  
  
• Result: Resignation of PM, rise of people-powered governance.
  
  

Relevance

• GS-II Polity: Popular participation, democratic transition, South Asia case study.
  
  
• GS-IV Ethics: Values of justice, equality, probity vs. national security dilemma.
  
  
• Essay: Youth & democracy, social media & governance.
  
  

Manki-Munda System

Syllabus: GS-I (Society, Tribal Systems)

Source: Indian Express

Context: Ho tribals in Jharkhand protested interference in their traditional self-governance system.

 

 

About the System

• What it is: Traditional self-rule by Mundas (village heads) & Mankis (pidh heads).
  
  
• Origin: Pre-British, codified under Wilkinson’s Rules (1833).
  
  
• How it works:
  
  
  • Munda = village head.
    
    
  • Manki = pidh head (8–15 villages).
    
    
  • Resolves disputes via customary law.
    
    
• Features:
  
  
  • Hereditary leadership.
    
    
  • Community-based, decentralised.
    
    
  • Protects Ho traditions, land rights.
    
    

SC Guidelines on DNA

Syllabus: GS-II (Polity, Criminal Justice)

Source: The Hindu

Context: In Kattavellai @ Devakar v. Tamil Nadu (2025), SC issued uniform guidelines for handling DNA samples.

Key Features

• Proper documentation (FIR, IO, witnesses).
  
  
• 48-hour dispatch rule to FSL.
  
  
• No tampering/resealing without court order.
  
  
• Chain of custody register mandatory.
  
  

Judicial Precedents

• Anil v. Maharashtra (2014) – Valid DNA but lab QC matters.
  
  
• Manoj v. MP (2022) – Report rejected due to contamination risk.
  
  
• Rahul v. Delhi (2022) – DNA rejected due to poor storage.
  
  

Eustoma

Syllabus: GS-III (Agriculture, Economy, S&T)

Source: The Hindu

Context: Exotic Eustoma (Lisianthus) bloomed for first time in Odisha (CSIR–NBRI polyhouse).

Features

• Ornamental flower (pink, purple, white, blue).
  
  
• Native: Mexico, USA, Caribbean.
  
  
• Economic potential: ₹2 lakh/acre per season.
  
  
• Uses: Floriculture, weddings, exports, landscaping.
  
  
• Significance: Reduces imports, boosts farmer income.
  
  

India’s First Bamboo-Based Ethanol Plant (Assam)

Syllabus: GS-III (Economy, Environment, Energy Security)

Source: NIE

Context: PM inaugurated bamboo-based ethanol plant at Numaligarh Refinery, Assam.

About the Plant

• What it is: Converts bamboo biomass → 2G ethanol.
  
  
• Capacity: 60,000 KL/year.
  
  
• Technology: Enzymatic hydrolysis + fermentation.
  
  
• Developed by: ABEL + NRL.
  
  

Significance

• Saves ₹1,000+ crore in oil imports annually.
  
  
• Boosts bamboo cultivation & farmer income.
  
  
• Supports Net Zero 2070 & Ethanol Blending Programme.
  
  

Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2025

Syllabus: GS-III (Defence, Economy, Governance)

Source: News on Air

Context: MoD approved new DPM 2025, replacing 2009 manual.

Features

• Streamlines procurement worth ₹1 lakh crore annually.
  
  
• Ease of doing business → removes redundant approvals, timely payments.
  
  
• Assured orders (5–10 yrs) for industry confidence.
  
  
• Relaxed penalties (LD capped at 5%).
  
  
• Decentralised decision-making (field-level CFAs).
  
  
• Innovation & R&D push with IITs, IISc.
  
  
• Clear procedure for G2G deals.
  
  
• Alignment with MoF procurement norms.
  
  

Grey Rhino Event

Syllabus: GS-III (Disaster Management, Environment)

Source: DTE

Context: Kerala’s Wayanad landslide (July 2024) termed a “grey rhino” — a predictable but neglected ecological disaster.

Concept

• Grey Rhino: High-probability, high-impact, obvious but ignored risk.
  
  
• Coined by: Michele Wucker (2016).
  
  
• Features: Predictable, visible, neglected, high-impact, actionable.
  
  

Significance

• Encourages proactive disaster governance.
  
  
• Helps policymakers prioritise obvious risks.
  
  

Salamis Bay (Mapping)

Syllabus: GS-I (Geography); GS-II (IR)

Source: PIB

Context: INS Trikand reached Salamis Bay, Greece for first-ever Indo-Greek naval exercise.

About Salamis Bay

• Natural bay on west coast of Salamis Island, Greece (near Athens).
  
  
• Site of Battle of Salamis (480 BCE) — Greeks defeated Persians.
  
  
• Length: ~9 km, connects to Saronic Gulf.
  
  

About Greece

• Location: Southern Europe, Balkan Peninsula.
  
  
• Capital: Athens.
  
  
• Borders: Albania, N. Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey.
  
  
• Known as cradle of democracy, 20 UNESCO sites, longest Mediterranean coastline.