Daily Current Affair 19-September-2025

{GS2 – Governance – Issues} Narcotics Control Bureau Annual Report

Context (TH):
 The Ministry of Home Affairs has published the NCB Annual Report 2024, highlighting record seizures, new trafficking patterns, and India’s designation by the US as a “major drug transit/producing country.”

Current Illicit Drug Landscape in India

• Record Seizures: In 2024, enforcement agencies confiscated 13,306 quintals of narcotics, with cannabis (41%) and opiates (39%) making up nearly 80%. This reflects not just improved detection but also the sheer scale of illicit trade.
  
  
• Drone Proliferation: The number of drone-borne smuggling cases surged from 3 in 2021 to 179 in 2024, showing how traffickers are leveraging low-cost UAVs to bypass ground surveillance. Punjab has emerged as a key entry point.
  
  
• Maritime Vulnerability: Seizures from coastal routes increased 500-fold since 2019, reaching 10,564 kg in 2024. Weak monitoring of western ports and harbours makes them attractive for traffickers.
  
  
• Synthetic Drugs: A six-fold increase in synthetic drugs (to 11,994 kg) signals a structural shift from plant-based opiates to locally manufactured chemicals, often in hidden labs.
  
  
• Enforcement vs Convictions: Despite 1.22 lakh arrests, the conviction rate remains low, underscoring judicial backlogs and investigative challenges.
  
  

Factors Behind Rising Narcotics Growth

• Geostrategic Location: India lies between two global narcotics hotspots—Golden Crescent (opium-rich Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan) and Death Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, hubs of methamphetamine). Its porous borders make it vulnerable.
  
  
• Technological Abuse: Traffickers use encrypted apps, dark web transactions, drones, and cryptocurrencies, making tracking and prosecution harder for enforcement agencies.
  
  
• Clandestine Labs: Domestic production of methamphetamine and synthetic opioids is rising, with labs detected in Punjab and Maharashtra, reducing dependence on imports.
  
  
• Pharmaceutical Diversion: Controlled medications such as codeine-based cough syrups and tramadol are being siphoned off to illegal markets. In 2024 alone, 2.43 lakh kg was seized.
  
  
• Narco-Terror Nexus: Drug money is often laundered through hawala networks, financing terrorism and extremist groups, thereby converting narcotics into a national security challenge.
  
  

Way Forward

• Tiered Enforcement: Strengthen coordination between NCB, CBI, DRI, and state police to attack cartels at entry points, wholesale markets, and street-level retail simultaneously.
  
  
• Demand Reduction: Scale up Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan through rehabilitation centres, counselling, and school-level awareness, as enforcement alone cannot curb demand.
  
  
• Financial Tracking: Establish state-level financial intelligence units to follow crypto and hawala trails, integrating with PMLA frameworks.
  
  
• Tech-Enabled Surveillance: Deploy AI-based border monitoring, anti-drone jammers, and blockchain for tracking pharmaceutical supply chains.
  
  
• International Cooperation: Deepen joint maritime patrols and extradition treaties via INTERPOL and BIMSTEC to choke supply routes from Afghanistan–Pakistan and Myanmar–Laos.
  
  

{GS2 – Governance – Laws} Draft Civil Drone Bill 2025

Context (NIE):
 The Government has released the Draft Civil Drone Bill, 2025, replacing Drone Rules, 2021. It aims to balance innovation in drone technology with the growing concerns of misuse and safety.

Key Features of the Bill

• Broad Applicability: The law applies to all individuals—citizens, foreigners, or companies—engaged in designing, importing, selling, operating, or maintaining drones in India. However, military and paramilitary drones are exempt, while larger drones (>500 kg) come under a different aviation law (BVA 2024).
  
  
• Regulatory Authority: The DGCA is made the nodal body for certification, licensing, safety oversight, and enforcement. This centralises accountability and creates uniform standards.
  
  
• Mandatory Identification: Every drone must carry a DGCA-issued Unique Identification Number (UIN) before being sold, operated, or transferred. This creates a digital trail for accountability.
  
  
• Built-In Safety & Traceability: Drones must have tamper-proof airworthiness and traceability features. Disabling these will be treated as a punishable offence, ensuring drones cannot be easily modified for illicit activities.
  
  
• Insurance & Liability: Drone operators must carry third-party insurance. In case of accidents, there is a fixed no-fault compensation—₹2.5 lakh for death and ₹1 lakh for grievous injury—irrespective of who was at fault.
  
  
• Pilot Training & Licensing: No individual can operate a drone without DGCA-issued certification. Training will be provided only by DGCA-authorised institutions, ensuring professional standards.
  
  
• Airspace Management: Airspace is digitally mapped into Green (free to operate), Yellow (requires ATC clearance), and Red (restricted, government-only). This reduces risks of drone misuse near sensitive zones like airports or defence installations.
  
  
• Legal Sanctions: Violations can invite imprisonment up to one year or fines up to ₹1 lakh, along with drone confiscation. Claims will be settled through Motor Accident Tribunals, with appeals to High Courts.
  
  

Significance
 The draft bill brings clarity and enforceability to India’s drone ecosystem. By mandating traceability, licensing, and liability norms, it addresses security risks (smuggling, surveillance breaches) while enabling legitimate use in agriculture, logistics, and emergency response.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – Women} POSH Act, 2013

Context (DH):
 The Supreme Court recently ruled that political parties cannot be treated as “workplaces,” thereby excluding them from the POSH Act’s ambit.

About the POSH Act

• Background: Enacted in 2013 to provide statutory backing to the Vishakha Guidelines (1997) laid down by the Supreme Court.
  
  
• Scope of Workplace: Includes government/private offices, NGOs, schools, hospitals, households employing domestic workers, and even transport and virtual work setups. This ensures women are protected in both formal and informal sectors.
  
  
• Objective: To create a safe and harassment-free environment for women at the workplace, recognising sexual harassment as a violation of fundamental rights (Article 14, 15, 21).
  
  
• Institutional Mechanism: All organisations with more than 10 employees must set up Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) to investigate complaints. For smaller organisations, Local Complaints Committees (LCCs) are set up by district officers.
  
  
• Procedural Safeguards: Women can file complaints within 3 months of the incident (extendable), ensuring access to redressal. ICCs have powers similar to civil courts in gathering evidence.
  
  
• Challenges: Poor implementation, lack of awareness, fear of stigma, and absence of ICCs in many establishments undermine the Act’s intent.
  
  

 

 

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health} GLP-1 Drugs & WHO Essential Medicines List

Context (TH):
 WHO has added GLP-1 receptor agonists to its Essential Medicines List (EML), acknowledging their role in treating type-2 diabetes and obesity.

About GLP-1 Drugs

• Function: These drugs mimic the natural GLP-1 hormone, stimulating insulin secretion, slowing stomach emptying, reducing appetite, and lowering blood sugar levels.
  
  
• Uses: Primarily prescribed for adults with type-2 diabetes, especially those with co-morbidities like obesity, heart, or kidney disease.
  
  
• Significance: They not only manage diabetes but also aid in weight reduction, making them a dual-benefit drug in the fight against metabolic disorders.
  
  

About WHO Essential Medicines List (EML)

• Purpose: Identifies medicines that meet the priority health needs of populations, ensuring universal accessibility and affordability.
  
  
• Process: Updated every two years by WHO’s expert committee based on evidence of efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
  
  
• India’s Framework: In India, the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), updated last in 2022, serves a similar role. Drugs listed in NLEM are price-regulated by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
  
  
• Accessibility Measures: Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana distribute essential drugs at affordable prices, bridging healthcare equity gaps.
  
  

{GS3 – Indian Economy – Exports} Smartphone Exports Cross ₹1 Trillion

Context (BS):
 India’s smartphone exports touched ₹1 trillion in Apr–Aug FY26, a 55% YoY jump, driven by the PLI scheme and global “China+1” strategy.

Smartphone Manufacturing Landscape in India

• Global Standing: By FY25, India became the world’s second-largest smartphone producer, hosting 300+ manufacturing plants compared to just 2 in 2014.
  
  
• Domestic Demand Met: Nearly 99.2% of domestic demand is now met locally, freeing capacity for exports.
  
  
• Production Value: Output rose from ₹18,900 crore in FY14 to ₹4.22 lakh crore in FY24, sustaining 24% CAGR, creating ~12 lakh jobs.
  
  
• Export Growth: From negligible levels in 2014 to ₹1.29 lakh crore in FY24; FY26’s first five months alone crossed ₹1 trillion.
  
  
• Value Addition: Domestic component manufacturing has improved, with value addition rising from 5–6% in 2021 to ~19% in 2025.
  
  
• Growth Drivers:
  
  
  • PLI Scheme: Offset cost disadvantages; disbursed ₹11,600 crore by FY25.
    
    
  • China+1 Strategy: Apple and other global players diversified supply chains to India.
    
    
  • Supportive Policies: Duty exemptions, 100% FDI allowance.
    
    
  • Domestic Saturation: Self-sufficiency freed resources for exports.
    
    

{GS3 – Indian Economy – Taxes} Pink Tax

Context (TH):
 NCDRC ruled that companies must avoid gender-based price discrimination, sparking debate on the so-called “Pink Tax.”

About Pink Tax

• Definition: Not a government tax, but a market phenomenon where products for women (razors, clothes, personal care) are priced higher than men’s equivalents despite minimal differences.
  
  
• Mechanism: Companies exploit packaging, design, and “women-specific” branding to justify inflated costs.
  
  
• India’s Scenario: No law prohibits such pricing, leaving it to market dynamics and consumer protection rulings.
  
  

Economic & Social Implications

• Higher Lifetime Costs: Women end up paying significantly more across their lifetime for basic goods, despite lower average earnings.
  
  
• Deepening Gender Inequality: It exacerbates financial burdens in households where women have less or no income.
  
  
• Market Fairness: Raises ethical questions on consumer rights, equality, and transparency in pricing practices.
  
  

{GS3 – Environment – Renewable Energy} India’s RE Capacity

Context (IE | BS):
 India added 23 GW renewable capacity in the first 5 months of FY26, leading the fastest global clean energy expansion.

Other Key Achievements

• Paris Target Achieved Early: India achieved 50% non-fossil capacity by 2021, 9 years ahead of the 2030 deadline.
  
  
• Current Capacity: Non-fossil fuel capacity stands at ~252 GW, halfway to the 500 GW 2030 target.
  
  
• Manufacturing Boost: Solar module production capacity expanded to 100 GW by 2025. PV cell output tripled in one year (9 GW → 27 GW).
  
  
• Rooftop Solarisation: 2 million homes solarised under PM Surya Ghar Yojana, advancing toward the 10 million target.
  
  
• Global Significance: India is one of the few G20 nations on track to meet Paris commitments, strengthening its climate leadership.
  
  

{GS3 – Environment – Water Conservation} Wastewater Management

Context (IE):
 India faces acute water stress with per capita freshwater availability below UN thresholds. Wastewater reuse is emerging as a sustainable alternative.

About Wastewater

• Wastewater is water discharged from households, industries, and agriculture, often containing pollutants.
  
  
• Sources: Industrial effluents (e.g., 3,519 industries in Ganga basin), urban sewage (~72,000 MLD daily), and agricultural runoff.
  
  
• Impacts: Causes eutrophication, contaminates rivers, spreads waterborne diseases (impacting ~37 million annually), and damages aquatic ecosystems (e.g., Yamuna).
  
  

Role in Water Security

• Reuse Potential: NITI Aayog notes that 80% of wastewater can be treated and reused.
  
  
• Augmenting Supply: Reuse in irrigation and industry can save freshwater for drinking.
  
  
• Resource Recovery: Nutrient extraction and biogas production make wastewater a resource.
  
  
• Groundwater Recharge: Treated wastewater has been successfully used to replenish aquifers (e.g., Kolar, Karnataka).
  
  

Challenges

• Policy Gaps: No binding national mandate for reuse; Draft Rules 2024 pending.
  
  
• Capacity Deficit: Only ~44% of generated wastewater can be treated; just 36% of plants function.
  
  
• Infrastructure Shortfall: Over half of households lack sewage connectivity.
  
  
• Financial & Social Barriers: High costs and farmer reluctance to use treated water hinder adoption.
  
  

Way Forward

• National Standards: Enforce Draft Liquid Waste Rules with penalties and market frameworks.
  
  
• Decentralised Solutions: Promote DEWATS for local-level treatment.
  
  
• PPP Models: Attract private investment (Nagpur plant as example).
  
  
• Technology Mix: Use cost-effective (UASB) and advanced (RO, nano-filters) as per need.
  
  
• Renewable Integration: Combine solar energy with treatment plants for cost efficiency.
  
  

{GS3 – Science & Tech – Defence} Indian Army Drone Training

Context (IE):
 The Indian Army will set up drone training centres across 19 establishments post-Operation Sindoor, highlighting drones’ growing military role.

Drone Training Roadmap

• Training hubs at premier Army institutions to standardise drone usage across ranks.
  
  
• Procurement of ~1,000 drones across categories (nano, micro, small, FPV).
  
  
• Simulators, indoor and outdoor training ranges to be operational by Jan 2026.
  
  
• Vendors will initially train batches of 25 soldiers in four major centres (Deolali, Mhow, Dehradun, Bengaluru).
  
  
• ARTRAC has set the goal: all Army soldiers drone-trained by 2027.
  
  

Strategic Significance

• Operational Edge: Enhances surveillance, reconnaissance, and tactical strikes.
  
  
• Modernisation Push: Integrates UAVs and counter-drone systems at battalion levels.
  
  
• Skill Development: Ensures widespread proficiency, reducing over-reliance on specialists.
  
  

Global Innovation Index 2025

Context (IE):
 WIPO released GII 2025 ranking 139 countries; Switzerland tops, India rises to 38th.

Findings

• Global Trends: R&D growth slowed to 2.3% (weakest since 2010). Europe dominates top 25; US ranks 3rd; China 10th.
  
  
• India-Specific:
  
  
  • Rose steadily from 48th (2020) → 38th (2025).
    
    
  • Ranked top among lower-middle-income economies.
    
    
  • Four cities in top 100 science clusters (Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai).
    
    
  • Strong in Knowledge & Tech Outputs (#22); weaker in infrastructure and business sophistication.
    
    
• Innovation Landscape:
  
  
  • 6th in global patents (64,480 in 2023).
    
    
  • Strong ICT exports and AI research leadership.
    
    
  • GERD remains low at 0.64% of GDP.
    
    
  • Startup ecosystem vibrant (1.59 lakh DPIIT-recognised firms).
    
    

Govt Initiatives:
 ANRF, VigyanDhara Scheme, Deep-Tech Policy, RDI Scheme, and Atal Innovation Mission strengthen innovation capacity.

{Prelims – Vulnerable Sections – STs} Manki-Munda System

Context (IE):
 Ho tribe in Jharkhand’s Kolhan protested against administrative interference in their traditional self-governance system.

About Manki-Munda System

• Structure: Each village led by a Munda; a cluster of villages (pidh) overseen by a Manki.
  
  
• Functions: Resolves customary disputes; does not manage revenue or land rights.
  
  
• Colonial Codification: Incorporated into British administrative framework under Wilkinson’s Rules (1833–37).
  
  
• Legal Status: Patna HC (2000) upheld it as a customary system, not a formal law. Many posts now remain vacant.
  
  

About the Ho Tribe

• Identity: Adivasi (ST) group of the Austroasiatic Munda language family.
  
  
• Distribution: Primarily in Jharkhand, also in Odisha, Bengal, Bihar, Nepal, Bangladesh.
  
  
• Language & Script: Ho language uses Devanagari, Latin, Warang Citi.
  
  
• History: Leaders of the Ho Revolt (1821–22) and Kol uprising (1831–33).
  
  
• Religion & Culture: Follow Sarnaism (nature worship); festivals include Mage Parab (creator), Sohrai (harvest), and Ba Parab (flowers).